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laurenetrim

~ in this moment

laurenetrim

Category Archives: politics

paid for with blood, sweat and tears

31 Saturday Jan 2015

Posted by laurenetrim in musings, politics

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democracy, equality, history, responsibilities, rights, vote

It’s a thing here in Australia that sports clubs and community associations host sausage sizzles at polling booths. It’s a cheeky barbecue to raise some much needed funds. I’m sure it happens in other countries, but it’s a tradition down under.

The sausage of democracy is your reward for exercising your responsibility as a citizen. You cast your vote to help decide who runs the rules around here. Then you buy a snag.

It costs a paltry $2 – and you get optional onion (it’s not an option though, lets face it – eat the onion) and your choice of sauce for free.

But think on the true cost of it.

Generations of the poor rising up against the rich to have fair representation.

Decades of fight from women prepared to chain themselves up for their right to be heard when even their husbands wouldn’t countenance their point of view held any value.

The centuries of being dismissed by a white majority refusing the basic respect and dignity to even be counted as a human being.

You can keep your fancy Michelin star menus. The humble sausage of democracy is the most expensive meal you’ll ever taste.

IMG_6977

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it’s voting day in Queensland

31 Saturday Jan 2015

Posted by laurenetrim in musings, politics

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campaigning, citizen, community, democracy, political party, politics, responsibilities, vote

I’m off for my Sausage of Democracy at my local voting location. I never look forward to running the gauntlet of pamphlet pushers and assorted delusional manipulators that stretch from the carpark to the booths. I swear some of the zealots think their Jedi mind tricks will work on me. As if. You can’t kid a cynic, Sweetie.

Just as a general shot across the bow, I publish my daily horoscope. Take it how you will.

Aries horoscope for Jan, 31, 2015

You may be feeling the need to get something off your chest, perhaps to tell someone what you think of them. This could be cathartic, Aries, if you go about it in the right way. If your goal is to repair a relationship or to stand up for yourself, then you need to be clear and also compassionate in the delivery of your message. If you are angry, hostile, or resentful, your words will only be met with defensiveness. If you reach out with the goal of a positive outcome, you can have a positive impact.

—
Copyright (c) The DailyHoroscope by FortunesFoundry
http://frtns.com/horoscope

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my Mandela moment

06 Friday Dec 2013

Posted by laurenetrim in musings, politics, travel

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apartheid, history, leaders, Mandela, politis, South Africa, spirit, travel

27 April 1997 – South Africa’s Freedom Day – and 3 years since Mandela had won the Presidency. A small group of us travelling overland through Africa took the day trip out to Robben Island. A bus met us at the jetty and we drove around the island first. We went to the quarry where the prisoners dug a schoolroom and taught each other to read. A quick stop at the old car painted with a welcome message to the All Blacks rugby team. Past the house Robert Subukwe was kept in by an act of parliament – 6 years longer than his sentence.

And then to the prison to get out and walk. The island had been handed over to the Department of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology and they had invited back prisoners to work as guides. Our group was guided around by Lionel – who had served 7 years here as a prisoner.
Journal image
In flicking through my journal from that day, he had so many stories to tell us. About their punishments for “offences”, having to pay for study, receiving one censored letter every 6 months and so on. He took us to Mandela’s cell – and we all took turns looking into the smallest of spaces – trying to imagine it holding for so long the man who was now President.

Robben Island 1997

Robben Island 1997


The one thing that stays strongest with me from that day was the last building we stopped in inside the prison complex.

D Section.

One room where the prisoners spent their time talking. This is the place Lionel got emotional. He said the wardens had made a mistake by allowing them to be together – that the government should have split them up.

He said that it was in this room where they put their ideals into practice. In D Section – with prisoners from different backgrounds/political ideologies/races/education levels and so on – was where they learnt tolerance and their humanity could shine through. In this room they lived a micro-version of what they all hoped and dreamed for outside the prison walls.

Strange, isn’t it? The place the government sent Mandela to punish and break him, was the place where he triumphed.

D Section

D Section

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David Suzuki – is there a Nobel prize for effort?

03 Sunday Nov 2013

Posted by laurenetrim in musings, politics

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economy, energy, environment, future, global

This is the link to the streamed lecture Mr Suzuki gave last month in Sydney. Brilliant. The people I know listen to this man, debate what he says and tend to rate his opinion highly. The POLITICIANS DON’T. Idiots.

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Refugee Council of Australia

04 Wednesday Sep 2013

Posted by laurenetrim in politics

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asylum, Australia, Election, refugee

The Refugee Council of Australia has produced election guides outlining the refugee and asylum policies of the major parties as well as the minor party candidates for the Senate. Summaries of the policy platforms for the Australian Labor Party, the Liberal-National Coalition and The Australian Greens and a summary of the minor party candidates for the Senate can be accessed from their website.

Refugee Council of Australia.

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