Population... size does not matter

For those of us who feel that Australia is at a crossroad on issues around sustainability the debates related to this topic have been more than a little disappointing – and I am not just talking about the election cycle. The issue of sustainability, carrying capacity and population numbers have all been meshed together to give us a linear equation: less people = more sustainability.

I believe that this is a myth that needs to be confront... and so I have grown increasingly frustrated about this debate and have started writing a response to the simplified approach.

You can read the article that I wrote for The Punch here...

In addition, British scientist Fred Pearce, has also challenged some of the numbers people are throwing around in a recent book - read an article by him here...

Hope you enjoy

Cheers, james

This election is driving me nuts

Hey everyone

I have been away for a while and have not posted much... my bad.

Despite this, much has been happening and I need to catch up on documenting it. My gig on FBI Radio is still going and I now have a new column writing for The Punch (following the sad demise of the wonderful New Matilda).

Most recently I have made my feelings known about the inadequate way the two major parties have been dealing with some major issues.

In this article I talk about why I would rather watch Masterchef (not that I ever really watched it) than deal with this election - which, as I argue, is enough to even turn political junkies off.

The article is available here...

As always, your thoughts are appreciated

Cheers, james

Racsim sucks: and so do policies aimed at discriminate against refugees

Hey everyone


I given some thought at all the things that have been happening around refugees. Given the new position (outrageous) by the Rudd Government, I thought it would be time for a bit of a discussion about the way we see the world and our response to refugees.


Why this blog now? Because I am looking into the issue of racism as I prepare for a trip to Stockholm that a very unfriendly volcano seems to have thwarted. What I am researching is the way that the issue of ‘race’ and ‘racism’ is treated in our popular culture. The outcomes of that research are still coming and I am in the midst of writing a paper which I will hopefully publish in the not too distant future.


The motivations for this research have two distinct directions: the first was the underlying themes that emerged in Stieg Larsson’s Millennium trilogy (that is, The girl with the dragon tattoo series, or in its original translation Men who hate women). One of these themes is the way that migrants are the target of violence and derision: ignored, violated, cheap labour and so on.


The second motivation for my research is the fact that Australian pop culture remains, essentially, colour blind. There are few positions for the non-white protagonist in Australian movies and television. Yes, there are exceptions but there is no way that the monochrome world of television reflects our multicultural society. Pop culture is such an important part of our society that we need to use it both as a mirror and as well as a significant guide towards attitudes: what does the lack of diversity tell us about Australian society.


Like I said, I will delve deeper into this at some future point - both with another blog and more formal publishing because now I want to highlight some aspects of refugees and amazing anti-racist activists that are responding to Australia’s stance on refugees – which I believe is deeply problematic and essentially racist.


To begin with, we should note that a refugee, according to the 1951 UN Convention, is:

Any person who owing to a well founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion, is outside the country of his/her nationality and is unable, or owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself/herself of the protection of that country.

It is surprisingly easy to identify who is a genuine refugee: it is hard for someone to pretend to speak another language or fake a religion. If someone claims that they are from somewhere, then it is quite easy to ask them some questions to confirm this.


A few facts from the Edmund Rice Centre that confirm that Australia does not have a refugee problem. Australia remains down the bottom of countries that see both refugee arrivals and those seeking asylum. Let's look at some of the statistics:

• Tanzania hosts one refugee for every 76 Tanzanian people (1:76)
• Britain hosts one refugee for every 530 British people. (1:530)
• Australia hosts one refugee for every 1583 Australian people. (1:1583)

There are many myths about refugees which there is no reason to list here but I recommend you check out the Refugee Council of Australia website where some are listed and responded to.


I can only think what I would do if that was me and my family and we were forced to leave a country or persecuted: I would do anything to protect them. What drives refugees are push factors (that is, things happening back in the home country) not pull factors, such as Australia’s policies on refugees (see http://www.smh.com.au/national/oceans-apart-over-brutal-reality-20100402-rjy2.html).


I fear that the Australian Government’s position, along with the Opposition and the trashy newspapers, radio stations and tv stations is aggravating a sense of concern and unease that Australians are feeling. This sense of unease is being used for political purposes and real leadership should be shown by the Federal Government rather than pandering to the racist posturing by the federal opposition. Both parties need to come together and take a humanitarian stance: we should not be playing with people’s lives.


This is made clear in a recent campaign undertaken by Amnesty International titled Don’t use asylum seekers as political footballs. There is a petition there that over 110,000 people had signed (including me). If you are passionate about this issue or simply want people’s rights and dignity to be respected, I encourage you to sign it.


In addition, there is a very cool group that has been set up celebrating Australia’s diversity: The anti-bogan website which states that ‘True Blue is not Skin Deep’. I like these guys – and they have an awesome facebook page! Join up and support their work through their petitions and also spreading the word.


If you want to see the human story about refugees, here is a story featuring a friend of mine. He is interviewed by the voice of America about Afghan refugee and recent Australian government policy to suspend cases of asylum seekers from Afghanistan and Sri Lanka. You can follow watch it here.


I think this remains a key issue for Australia and we need to show everyone that tolerance, peace and humanity over rules hate and ignorance: don’t hate my friends, marinate! This week in Queensland the Hammered music festival was held and it is co-sponsored by the Southern Cross Hammer Skinheads. This is an international race-hate group banned in Germany for spreading Nazi messages! A group of activists stood up to them by holding their own peace festival.


By standing up and refusing to accept racism, we can help blunt those who use it for their own ends. We can also change the political culture of this country!

Cheers, james

New article: Surviving Neo-Liberalism: NGOs Under the Howard Years

I have just had this new article published titled "Surviving Neo-Liberalism: NGOs Under the Howard Years” with NEBULA - an academic journal of Multidisciplinary Scholarship.

In the article I look at the issue of social rights - and int he process provide a historiography of a government that went out of its way to silence dissent...

For those interested in understanding the complex nature of the nation state, check out my previous blog here...

Cheers, james

How to respond to 'ute-gate': time for political donation reform...

Hi everyone, 

Like anyone else interested in politics, I have been following the whole silly 'ute-gate' affair: firstly with amusement, then with disbelief. Watching Treasurer Wayne Swan call an Opposition backbencher a 'moron' in Parliament last week, I was struck by the growing resemblance between the behaviour of politicians during question time and a pre-match interview of the World Wrestling Federation.

I write the following article for the Centre for Policy which can be accessed here and relates how we can use the affair to achieve some real reform around political donations...

Cheers, james

Assessing the role of the Opposition in Australian politics

The other day I was reflecting on the role of the Opposition and how they were doing much better in the polls lately.

Despite this, I am not sure if its actual performance improving?

This piece was published for the Centre for Policy Development

Cheers, james

Are we a racist country?

There was something about former Telstra CEO, Sol Trujillo that many Australians never warmed to: maybe it was his brash style or the fact his vision for Telstra was so far removed from what many of us thought it should be, that any goodwill quickly disappeared. His recent interview confirms he never quite clicked with Australia, and his view that Australia is a racist country confirms he never quite “got” us, or our humour. Or does it?

Check out what Antionette Abboud and I are thinking... and what some of the great resonses are at the Centre for Policy Development...

Feedback welcome

Cheers, james

Putting the politics back into 'Politics'

One of the things that has always interested in me is why the myth persists that 'young people are just not interested in politics'. The truth is that they are...

I just co-wrote a new report for the Whitlam Institute on this issue... but not only highlighting the way that young people are interested in politics, but also, what we can do to make our democratic processes more attractive?

In the report we highlight how both national and international research has found clear evidence to support that young people are interesed in politics, but they are turning their backs on formal political processes (or capital ‘P' politics). Reasons for disengagement include a feeling that their efforts are not appreciated and a sense that no one is listening, a general distrust of politicians and Politics, and a belief that Politics is disconnected from everyday experiences.

To read an overview of the report, check out an article I recently published for the Centre for Policy Development.

If you are interested in the entire Report, it can be found on the Whitlam Institute website.

As always, feedback is welcome

Cheers, james

Why are we still listening to economists?

I am amazed that anyone listens to mainstream economists anymore.

As we have seen during this financial crisis, the economists who occupy the centre of public debate have never got it so wrong. In the face of the current global crisis, those economic liberals who were until recently defenders of the status quo need to face two things: first, this a crisis of their own making; and secondly, they have little (if anything) left to offer.

I published the following opinion piece for the Centre for Policy Development on this issue... check it out at:

http://cpd.org.au/article/why-are-we-still-listening-economists

The referendum in Venezuela...

On 15 February 2009 Venezuelan President, Hugo Chávez, won an historic referendum clearing the way for him to keep running in — and possibly winning — presidential elections. Chávez justified the constitutional change on the grounds that he needs to continue his reign for another 10 years in order to implement his 21st-century version of socialism. He won over 54 per cent in a vote that had the second-lowest abstention rate in the last 10 years.

This seems to be a developing trend in Latin America, with Colombian President proposing a similar referendum.

In this article, co-written with Amy Tyler, we attempt to consider whether: "Is Chávez's Win A Good Thing?"

Check it out at....

http://www.newmatilda.com/2009/02/27/chavez-win-good

Cheers, james

Political musings: Politics and weight - who have you spotted at the gym?

There is an entire branch of sociology concerned with the study of ‘symbols’ called ‘symbolic interactionism’. In fact, similar fields have emerged in various disciplines and are amongst the more interesting areas to teach sociology students at university.

The theory behind symbolic interactionism is that things are never as they appear and we must look behind certain symbols to understand their true meaning.

An example is someone who lives in the city of Sydney yet purchases one of those large, fuck-off, four-wheel drives. This may seem to be just another car, but depending on where you sit it symbolises something deeper.

For the new owner, amongst others, it is a symbolises success and control: the ability take the car off-road whenever they see fit, taking on the great Australian outback. To others – including me – it simply symbolises someone as a total wanker: having no regard for congestion, pollution, global warming or pedestrian safety.

It is from this perspective we need to understand John Howard’s less than graceful slip the other week. I do not like John Howard – never have – but that is not the point. I gain no enjoyment from seeing some ‘silly old bugger’ (thank you Bob Hawke) fall over. I know of no-one who would enjoy such a spectacle.

No, the Prime Minister’s fall represented something more: a man who has stayed too long and is starting to look a little feeble. This is not a rant against older pollies – I mean some of my best friends are older Australians – it is what the fall symbolises.

In politics, symbols are everything – and this brings me to the issue of weight loss. The theory being that the public would not vote for a fatty – dismissing a politician who does not look like they are willing to take care of themselves. (Phillip Ruddock is probably the exception the proves the rule – but that is a cliché I never really understood.)

In NSW, Barry O’Farrell’s political ambitions were linked to his weight. I suspect that Peter Debnam’s ongoing desire to be photographed in his budgie-smugglers had less to do with an attempt to sell an outdoor, masculine image – I mean who is that gullible – and more to do with taunting Barry. A kind of, ‘check me out Barry, no way you can have my job.’

Peter Debnam was never that smart – and never looked that good in the budgie-smugglers – so when Barry hit the treadmill, we all knew what was coming.

We can draw similar comparisons between John Howard’s morning walk in his tasteful and elegant tracksuit as a taunt to Kim (I save my best speeches when I am about to step down) Beasley. Kim was a sitting duck in terms of symbolic interactionism.

This is not a uniquely Australian phenomenon and is just as important in the USA. A friend tells me there are (unconfirmed) rumours that both Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton have staffers who study the most recent photographs of Al Gore for any hints of weight loss. No word yet on Big Al’s political motivations, but like the Oracle of Delphi, we turn to his ample mid-section as a sign of what we should expect.

It is with interest then, that I read that Newt Gingrich has been ordering oatmeal with no milk or sugar around Washington. Yes, big bad Newt may be the dark horse for the Republican nomination. This is the man who was one of the architects of the Iran-Contra affair and a man who, in 1996, closed the USA government down for 27 days because of a personal stand-off with Bill (please pass my cigar) Clinton. There is also Newt’s hypocrisy: that is, his high moral position while having affairs. I mean, go for it Newt, all power to you, but do not preach family values while you are doing it.

Will the American public may be willing to forget and forgive if Newt tones up a little? The lead Republican candidate, Rudolph Gulliani, is in the box seat, both with weight and fund raising, at the moment. From my intelligence – and I am using this term loosely – he is not phased by Newt’s positioning at the moment.

But is anyone taking Newt seriously?

I spoke to some Americans the other day and they seemed to laugh off any suggestions regarding Newt’s nomination: noting that he was past his best, had no fresh ideas, lacked personality, has his independence compromised by his close relationship to Fox News, is basically known for being a complete knob.

But what of his weight loss I inquired: would a skinny-Newt be any different to a cuddly-Newt? Can politicians re-invent themselves by a bit of weight-loss, some hair colouring, bright teeth and a smile?

Their response threw me: ‘Well, anyone can become President of the USA.’

They then asked me, ‘Can anyone be Prime Minister of Australia?’

I reflected on this, thinking of all the Prime Minister’s I knew, settling on the image of John Howard falling over, and responded with a confident, ‘Yes, I suppose anyone can be Prime Minister.’

In generations to come, sociologists will probably look at what Prime Minister John Howard symbolised and draw their own conclusions.

You decide, I am off to the gym with Brendan, Pete and Malcolm.