The Turtle House

Sunday, 23 January 2011

Advice to Young Artist

I think a life in Art is excellent and it is good to have 2 foci:
.the expression of art in pure form

.the expression of skill in a way that dovetails with society/occupation and good reward

This does not mean that one becomes a can of Coke.
These two foci are not oppositional especially if approached with open mind and at bright fresh age.
The world is always changing.

The book 'Artist of the Floating World' by Kazuo Ishiguro is well worth reading.
I will send you a copy when you are in Brisbane and I have an address for you. Kazuo is the best living writer of the English Language and the simplicity is remarkable.
His other books are very hard.
"Artist..." is how the world is always changing and with it changes values and meanings etc.
The artist is the 'awareness' of the changes.

Friday, 21 January 2011

DEMONSTRATIONS IN BANGKOK 23 & 25th January 2011

Demonstrations Planned in Bangkok on January 23 and January 25, 2011

This message alerts U.S. citizens traveling to or residing in Thailand that the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (aka UDD, or the "red-shirts") plans to hold a demonstration in Bangkok on Sunday, January 23. Scheduled from approximately 1:00 pm to midnight, the demonstration is to begin at the Rajaprasong area (around Central World) and move to the Democracy Monument.

Streets surrounding the Rajaprasong intersection are expected to be filled with approximately 5,000-10,000 people in all directions. Many participants are expected to park their vehicles on the sides of Rajadamri and Ploenchit roads, impeding traffic throughout the area. Central World and Siam Paragon may also be affected and close early. As many as 20,000 people may participate in the activities around the Democracy Monument. We strongly suggest that you avoid these areas throughout the afternoon and evening of January 23, 2011.

Additionally, on Tuesday, January 25, the People's Alliance for Democracy (aka PAD, or the "yellow-shirts") plans to hold a demonstration in Bangkok. About 2,000 to 3,000 people are expected to pass from around Makkawan Rangsan Bridge onto Rajdamnern Road near the Government House, and finally gather at the Royal Plaza (King Rama V Monument). We strongly suggest that you avoid this area throughout the day and evening since the timing of demonstration is still undetermined.

We are not aware of any general, specific, or implied threat to U.S. citizens or U.S. interests throughout this period. However, even demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and possibly escalate into violence with little or no warning. As a precaution, you should avoid areas that may be targeted for demonstrations. Monitor local media to keep updated with the latest information about demonstrations and areas to avoid. Stay alert, and be cognizant of any unattended packages/bags in public/crowded places. Report any suspicious behavior to law enforcement personnel.

Thursday, 20 January 2011

Queensland Flood Cost

The Federal Govt will cover 75% of the total costs related to the Queensland floods. That's the role of the Federal Government, and it delivers. Meanwhile the Qld Govt keeps massively over estimating the cost, and calling out for donations; and it will collect as much money as it can from good donor-folk and control-release it so that it's not being 'ripped off' whereas in truth, and as usual, the Qld Govt is doing the ripping, and storing most away to support itself and a few friends later on. Money is power. The rain and the tears don't change a thing.

Wednesday, 19 January 2011

Queensland Government

The main concern regarding the Queensland Floods is that the event was forseeable and only very minor infrastructural improvements have occurred since 1974.
The Queensland Government, of all the State and Territory Governments in Australia, is probably best known for never investing in the safety of its people in any real way. It's as if there is a very strong mindset within Government and the Departments to NOT invest.
Even now, the main push of the Government is to seek donations and support from the Federal Government and good minded people rtaher than use any of the $1.2billion it has on hand specifically for disaster relief.
The Queensland Govt on the other hand was happy to invest $250 million in burying CO2 emissions from the coal industry even though this idea doesn't work and has been abandoned. It was poorly researched but did support the coal industry for a few years pretending there was something really good about coal in a time of public outcry regarding pollution global warming etc. So, the investment served its publicity purpose, but was a total disservice to the Qld people. There are quite a few similar and recent failures of Government in Qld...but these are not well-intentioned errors, but rather strong support for various international companies, the price being paid by the people in terms of tax, and loss of life and property eventuating from the Govt's unwillingness to invest in good infrastructure in a State well known for its wild weather and tremendous droughts and floods.
At the same time it is a Government of massive incompetence where all problems are dealt with by protecting higher officials within the organisation itself rather than renovating the system that keeps delivering poor services; so the Govt actually can't learn, can't investigate its own weaknesses. It supports a bullying silence rather than enquiry.
Imagine a Government that spends hundreds of millions on a payroll system for its employees; a system that was not trialled effectively, and doesnt actually work. The outcome: the need to spend hundreds of millions to fix the problem and the only way to find the money to do so, is to discontinue the employment of large numbers of people the payroll system was put in place to actually pay. That's the Queensland Government. No one is to blame. the Chiefs are well protected, and the people suffer through a level of incompetence and indeed bullying that is quite remarkable and would be offensive in a Developing Nation, let alone in something that purports to be part of a First World Nation.
The first thing the Qld Govt did, in regards to the recent and ongoing flooding, was to launch publicity campaigns seeking funds rather than quickly using held monies to deal with the situation. They are still doing this now. I'm sure they will release some funds in the run up to the next election with an expensive publicity campaign noting the stoic brave Queensland people facing up to natural adversity, the great tragedy and loss, and the reliability of the empathetic, compassionate Government at the same time. This is what they always do where in fact the Government and its Department Heads are really best seen as maintaining malevolent negligence in regards to the needs of the people for decades. Recent flood events just add to the long-term mishandling of an economy and the real distain for the society itself.
As for the Australian Government, it's recent capitulation the the Mining Companies (who don't want to have to pay any tax at all), means Australia continues on its lessening revenue path towards a degrading of social infrastructure on the national level; with the only beneficiaries being Boards of Directors in England and the USA, and the Australian Government Ministers themselves.
It is a remarkable situation in which a weak Government, so scared of taxing the super-profits of mining companies at all, allows its own 'governance' role in the economy and in the society to weaken further to a point where all services, all infrastructure, all social planning must be cut back for the long, long term. The benefit? The current weak Government stays in power for maybe two years but only by being more powerless each day and only by leaving the nation's future in the hands of foreign businessmen.
It indicates a Government bereft of policy and of social responsibility not leading at all but rather hiding, only to emerge from time to time and saying 'Oh things will be tough for everyone for awhile; the economy is collapsing in terms of our ability to provide hospitals, schools, pensions and infrastructure well into the next decade, but the mining companies, we are pleased to say, are doing extremely well...and beyond their wildest dreams of avarice.'