As a suburban child of the eighties in Australia, my first impression of Nimbin was beamed to me from the butt of a joke. It was either The Comedy Company or Full Frontal, and there was a character who would read a poem from the audience. She was a Hippie, and her poem went like … Continue reading
The facts are there. That to seek asylum is a human right, written into international law in the United Nations Refugee Convention in 1951. That the nation-state of Australia is a signatory to this law, bound by the Convention to provide asylum those who need it. That the vast majority of people who arrive by … Continue reading
“Now, the events occurring in Europe will also predate large capital movements, indeed they are, this extreme capital market volatility, not extreme I shouldn’t overstate it but there’s considerable market volatility at the moment, very important question. If the worse thing happens where does the capital go? It is quite possible of course on this … Continue reading
I have long been a fan of Dr Anita Heiss‘ work as an author, poet, satirist and social commentator. It might even be said that I have a bit of an intellectual crush on her. So imagine my delight when I found myself in Twitter conversation with her. Imagine my epic joy when she sent … Continue reading
In 2000 the sociologist Rob Rosenthal published a study on public representations of homelessness (cited, for example in studies such as this one on homelessness, social work and the print media in Australia). Rosenthal’s study grouped mainstream media representations of homelessness into three loose categories: Lackers, Slackers and Unwilling Victims. I’ve been reflecting (surprise surprise) … Continue reading
Occupy is a troubling word. It makes a good hashtag and just now it’s an inspired counteroffensive to the colonisations of globalised American capital, multiplying from the virtual control centre on Wall Street. A new friend, visiting from Italy, says her son is ‘unoccupied’ at the moment, and then laughs at herself for the way … Continue reading
No, not a 50ft Queenie/Roald Dahl mashup, but a marshalling of a delightful device invented by Deborah M. Withers – that of the Bushian Feminine Subject, or BFS, in her Adventures in Kate Bush and Theory. Withers uses the BFS to work through Kate Bush’s oeuvre, paying particular attention to Bush’s creative labours around gender, … Continue reading
Flat 7 