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Talking Headlines - by Bill Green

 

Talking Headlines - October 2006

PETER GARRETT FOR PM

October 26th 2006 01:36
What a great day it will be for Australia if former Midnight Oil lead singer and now Labor Federal Member Peter Garrett ever becomes Prime Minister of Australia. How awe inspiring this will be? The thing you have to love about him, is that he is a passionate advocate and campaigner on a range of contemporary Australian and global issues.

As the dynamic front-man and co-lyricist for 26 groundbreaking years in Midnight Oil they confronted many issues through their protest songs and benefit shows. Significantly they brought issues to prominence by protesting at Jabiluka in the Northern Territory's Kakadu National Park, the anti-Exxon performance on a truck-top in the streets of New York and the 'sorry suits' performance at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games closing ceremony. These moments will always be imprinted in our minds and psyche.


Both Garrett and the Oils were known for their fierce independent stance and active support of a range of contemporary concerns including the plight of homeless youth, indigenous people's rights and the huge commitment to the protection of the environment.

Garrett served two terms as president of the Australian Conservation Foundation and is now the Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Reconciliation and the Arts. He is married with three teenage children.

These commitments say a a lot about Garrett and indicate he is a modern day crusader and vibrant thinker who has talent, creativity and a huge intellectual capacity and most importantly he cares about people and the world we live in.

Imagine having an Australian leader with these characteristics who can see further than his front nose? As well as seeing to our environment and our energy needs, he would address issues concerning the 3R's, Reconciliation, Refugees and the Republic in a way that takes a holistic and positive approach. Australia would soon gets its reputation back as a good global citizen and I am sure he would come up with a whole range of creative ideas that address many disturbing trends such as the increasing gap between the poor and affluent and ethnic marginalization.


Australia needs Garrett. The Labor Party needs Garrett.
It has been said why isn't Garrett screaming high and low about different issues that have arisen - issues he may once have spoken out about?
My take is that Garrett is using this time to settle in, to learn and understand parliamentary processes and to serve his NSW electorate. He is a smart guy. He is probably being prudent.

The only thing holding Garrett back from leading Australia in the future will
be the Labor Party. Man if he gets going. Australia will not be able to resist his inspirational mind and outlook.

We need Garrett. Vote 1 for Garrett for PM.

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SELLING SEXY KIDS

October 11th 2006 03:14
Not a word, story or comment is to be found in Brisbane’s Courier Mail on the Australian Institute’s latest report ‘Corporate Paedophilia’ which discusses the sexualization of children in advertising. The Institute brings to task retailers David Jones and Myers for their consistent portrayal of children in a manner that makes them appear sexy. Why has the Courier Mail omitted this important public news story when ABC radio news and current affairs discussed the issue in detail? Is it because the Courier Mail could lose advertising revenue from these huge advertisers? Have they been warned off? So much for free press in democratic Australia.

According to the report, the sexualization of Australian children for corporate profit is increasing and exposes children to a wide range of risks from a young age. This is a timely report, as a society we know this is true, we actually identify this is happening at both a subconscious or conscious level. However we are numb to the fact, as we are bombarded with so many images, so much social change and so much rampant consumerism, that we can’t think straight anymore. We as consumers go along with the big con of buying sexy clothing for our children marketers have manipulated us to buy. And then we are flat out trying to make our children feel good about themselves.

Australian Institute Director Clive Hamilton and prophetic author of ‘Affluenza’ (when too much is never enough) once again pulls no punches in identifying that children are being targeted from a very young age to dress and look sexy and are posed in ways designed to draw attention to adult sexual features that they yet do not possess. “Children are being eroticised in the interest of the corporate bottom line”.

The report’s author Dr Emma Rush details the wide range of risks when advertisers present pre-pubescent children as sexual objects. “The sexualization of children endangers their development and conveys a message that they are ready for sex and paedophiles search out such images and that advertisers need to take care in how they present child models”.

The report is spot on, children are now prematurely concerned with sexy behaviour and appearance and miss out on middle childhood. By missing this important developmental stage they may be unprepared for emotionally mature relationships and have an unhealthy focus on their bodies and may be encouraged into having a consensual sex from a very early age.

A media spokesperson for David Jones denies their advertising portrays children sexually. If DJ’s doesn’t like the adverse publicity and wish to be good corporate citizens they should go back to their marketing consultants and suppliers and insist that their products and advertising allow children to be children.
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