They don't speak for us

It's getting ugly out there.

Last week, a candidate from Katter's Australia Party had to be reprimanded for comparing gay marriage to paedophilia. On Friday, an esteemed ABC journalist and his two year old daughter were hurled racist vitriol while travelling on a Sydney bus¹.

Then, on Monday, ABC's 7:30 covered the launch of a new political party, "Rise Up" (name sound familiar?!), that is waging a war against multiculturalism, marriage equality, climate action, and pretty much everything we stand for. Best of all, cringe-worthy climate denier Lord Monckton is touring our country again. Appalling? Yes. It's time to rally the troops.

Right now, these are the kinds of ideas that dominate our newspapers and news feeds. Now more than ever we need to mobilise and prove that racism, intolerance and hate isn't the norm. Among the rising tide of intolerance, let's show Australia that these people don't speak for us.

www.getup.org.au/what-were-fighting-for

There's no overstating how important this election year is for the issues we've all worked for.

We're up against much more than a rogue racist outburst and the formation of a couple of fringe right-wing groups hoping to follow in the footsteps of America's tea party movement. What we're witnessing is a rise in conservative forces and policies that threaten much of what we've fought for.

That doesn't mean we should lose hope. If anything, recent events should serve as a call to action for a bold, positive movement.

We know the kind of impact our movement can have in an election year.

Last election, GetUp members...

• Won a High Court case that put 169,000 disenfranchised voters on the roll -- so many that in 11 electorates, those voters determined the result.
• Raised over 4 million dollars to run national TV and print ads, becoming one of the biggest political media buyers in the country and reclaiming the airwaves from vested interests like Clubs Australia and the Minerals Council.
• Volunteered on the ground in our tens of thousands, speaking directly with our neighbours through doorknocking, local events, and handing out election scorecards.
• Helped keep climate action on the agenda, fought for a fair go for aslyum seekers, and won over 2 billion dollars in commitments for mental health care.

This election, we can do it again. We'll start with hundreds of face-to-face meetings across the country next month (stay tuned), meeting up with other local GetUp members to set our agenda for the year. Then, together, we'll roll out a national campaign to put the issues GetUp members care about at the forefront this election -- a campaign planned, funded, and powered by all of us.

Can you get it started by committing to a small, weekly donation to power everything we do for this election? Small weekly donations starting now are particularly helpful. They mean that we can plan our campaign: buying ad spots in advance for our cheeky campaigns (spots get snapped up quickly); hiring volunteer coordinators; building technology to enrol young voters; renting extra office space for volunteers.

www.getup.org.au/what-were-fighting-for

Last election we changed the game. This time there's even more at stake and it's critical we mobilise. Tony Abbott has called the election a referendum on climate action, at a time when there is more alarming evidence than at any point in history about just how rapidly our climate is changing. The Parliament we elect this September will make policy decisions with far-reaching effects on our communities, environment and our cultural fabric. Let's get to work!

Thanks for being part of it,
The GetUp team.

PS - In case you missed the coverage on Monday, both Sunrise and ABC's 7:30 interviewed the new political party called "Rise Up," a group whose leader once publically stated that the Black Saturday bushfires were caused by laws that allow abortion², and whose keynote speaker was cringe-worthy climate denier Lord Monckton (not a Lord, also not a scientist). With voices like that filling our news, we must work even harder to demonstrate that they don't speak for us. They have the right to free speech, but that doesn't mean we have to sit by in silence. Will you help us get in fighting form this election year?

¹Jeremy Fernandez, My Rosa Parks moment in Sydney 2013, The Drum, 11 February 2013.
² Pastor's abortion dream inflames bushfire tragedy, The Age, 11 February 2009

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GetUp is an independent, not-for-profit community campaigning group. We use new technology to empower Australians to have their say on important national issues. We receive no political party or government funding, and every campaign we run is entirely supported by voluntary donations. If you'd like to contribute to help fund GetUp's work, please donate now! If you have trouble with any links in this email, please go directly to www.getup.org.au. To unsubscribe from GetUp, please click here. Authorised by Sam Mclean, Level 2, 104 Commonwealth Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010.

 

History of Scouting in Elizabeth

In 2011, I undertook the subject “Write History for Publication” for my Advanced Diploma of Arts (Professional Writing) course. The topic I looked at was Scouting in Elizabeth. I decided to tackle this topic as Elizabeth has a relatively new history when compared to Scouting which was started in 1907.

In the years following World War Two, Australia experienced a sharp increase in the demand for affordable housing, from both the returning soldiers and migrants fleeing war torn Europe. The result of these demands was a need for housing, jobs and products of industry. The Playford Government responded by purchasing more than 4,000 acres of land in Adelaide’s north. Construction started on the satellite city in 1954. The city was named Elizabeth in November 1955.

As with any new area, the needs of families, especially those with children needed to be filled. Amongst the many organizations to respond to this, was the Scout Association. The first group (1^st Elizabeth – later known as Elizabeth South Scout Group) initially held meetings in the old stables at the corner of Kettering Rd and Phillip Highway, which was to later become a factory site. Later, after much fundraising, 1^st Elizabeth purchased its own meeting place in Elizabeth South, next to the Elizabeth South Shopping Centre.

It is here that the topic runs into problems. I have been able to do several interviews with people who have been, and in one case currently, involved with scouting in Elizabeth. The frustration has been that there is limited information at Scout Archives. This is no fault of the people who look after Archives for Scouts Australia – SA Branch.

It is appreciated that people’s personal collections are often passed down through families. The frustration stems from the groups who have closed and their history has not been passed to Scout archives for safe keeping. As a result, aspects of Elizabeth’s social history are not easily accessible. 

Therefore if you or anyone in your family has been involved with scouting in the Elizabeth area, I am interested to hear from you. Please leave a comment below on the best way to get in touch. 

Assignment Re-submission

Teen Sexualisation, Bullying and Social Media

There has been a great deal of debate over the years about children being “sexualised” and influenced by the media. It has caused an increasing number of parents to become more activity interested in the way media are using advertising. They are concerned about the messages that their children, especially pre-teens, are exposed to via advertising in the media and that when they are shopping; they are finding it increasingly difficult to buy items of clothing that are not sexualising their children.

Many parents are also concerned about the links of the ‘sexualisation’ of children and the link to on line bullying. This has been an argument when dealing with on line bullying, and the recent case of Amanda Todd, who was bullied and harassed by an on line sexual predator. However, as Amanda Rishworth wrote on the 4th February 2010, “At the heart of the issue is the reality that sex sells” (http://www.alp.org.au/blogs/alp-blog/february-2010/sexualisation-and-objectification-of-young-women-a/).

What is not answered is the power of the parents when they are shopping for their children and young teens. During reading for this piece, there is little about the buying power of the parents and is not fully explored.  In addition, there is little if any written that peer pressure has always been something that has faced people.

With the use of the internet by teens to communicate after hours, often on laptops and out of view, the on line influences are being felt but not always seen by parents or family members until it is too late. Many teens are using technology that was not around when their parents were teens. Bullying itself has been going on for generations, both within schools and workplaces. However, with the advent of the internet and mobile phones, the bullies are able to contact their victims around the clock.

 
Society is struggling to equip both pre-teens and young teens with the skills to ensure they don’t fall victim to online messages and to be discerning regarding the information that they are accessing. The messages have always been around. It is just that now these messages are more accessible to a wider audience, an audience who are also accessing these messages at a younger age. This is not necessarily the fault of the young or medium used. What is needed is a proactive approach rather than a reactive response.

As a Scout Leader, I am aware that many are concerned with the influences that impact upon their children as well as the amount of time they are spending using social media and watching television. It is due to this concern that many are encouraging their children and pre-teens to get involved with activities, such as scouts, sports and other recreational activities to provide a balance.

 There are resources out there that parents can link into to help them cope with the many issues faced by themselves on both issues raised here. There are several that are definitely worth looking at and I have listed them here for people to check if they wish to have a look:

Carly Ryan Foundation

http://www.carlyryanfoundation.com

The Line
http://www.theline.gov.au/home

 Bullying. No Way!

http://bullyingnoway.gov.au/

I would be interested in hearing people’s views on this issue and invite readers to leave comments blow.

Playford Christmas Pageant 2012

The Playford Christmas Pageant is getting close. it now only a few short weeks away.

Refer to the flier above for further details.

Write for On Line Enviroments, Assignment Four - Part One

Teen sexualisation and social media

Concern over children being “sexualised” is fuelling parental social media activism as well as a lot of discussion on line regarding bullying of. Especially when it is combined with bullying, both on line and in the real world. This is has gained even more discussion with the recent death of Canadian Amanda Todd. It clearly highlights that girls are especially vulnerable to imagery sold by the porn industry.

While there are those who would argue that the Amanda Todd case is an isolated case, there are many who are raising concerns. Especially when at the very heart of this, is the reality that sex sells. Many of the messages that females get from advertising is that how we look, how we think is all linked to how others view us. It is not uncommon and has been happening for decades. However, what has not always been in the public debate is the influence this has on how people, particularly young vulnerable females view themselves. However, as Amanda Rishworth wrote on the 4th February 2010, “At the heart of the issue is the reality that sex sells” (http://www.alp.org.au/blogs/alp-blog/february-2010/sexualisation-and-objectification-of-young-women-a/).

Naomi Wolfe put it well recently, when she wrote “The media, as well as the girl's school, have stressed the issue of bullying in this story, but they must also address adult male cyber stalking and the influence of porn on teenage social interaction. The last two issues are often considered too "difficult" to address in the mainstream, even though their influences are very much ingrained in the mainstream.” (Amanda Todd's suicide and social media's sexualisation of youth culture by Naomi Wolfe).

With the increase use of the internet by teens to communicate after hours, often on laptops and out of view, the on line influences are being felt but not always seen by parents or family members until it is too late. Many teens are using technology that was not around when their parents were teens. Bullying itself, has been going on for generations, both within schools and workplaces. However, with the advent of the internet and mobile phones, the bullies are able to contact their victims’ around the clock.

 
Society needs to equip their teens with the skills to ensure they don’t fall victim to online messages and to be disconcerting regarding the information that they are accessing. The messages have always been around. It is just that now these messages are more accessible to a wider audience, an audience who are also accessing these messages at a younger age. This is not necessarily the fault of the young or the medium used. What is needed is a proactive approach rather than a reactive response.

References:

Amanda Todd's suicide and social media's sexualisation of youth culture by Naomi Wolfe Friday 26 October 2012

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/oct/26/amanda-todd-suicide-social-media-sexualisation

Sexualisation and Objectification of young women and girls by Amanda Rishworth posted Thursday, 4 February 2010

http://www.alp.org.au/blogs/alp-blog/february-2010/sexualisation-and-objectification-of-young-women-a/

 

“What mothers say about a 9-year-old dressed like this” by Tory Maguire\

http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/does-it-really-matter-if-this-9-year-old-dresses-like-this/

Sexualisation of Girls - http://www.apa.org/pi/women/programs/girls/report.aspx   accessed 27 October)

4 Corners - Rise of the Superbugs

Rise of the Superbugs - 4 Corners

For anyone who is interested in this sort of story.

I've never been one for taking medication. Probably because I am very rarely sick. The only medication I have really regularly taken is the Pill to prevent becoming pregnant. As to taking antibiotics, I can only recall taking them once, maybe twice in the last 20 years.

I have worked in Aged Care (9 years) as well as doing contract Social Work in the hospital system. I ensure that I have my flu injection (precaution more than anything given the work environment as well as living with a person who suffers several chronic medical conditions).

Million Paws Walk 2012

Today, my dog Ella and I took part in the Million Paws walk. Below are some of the photos I took of the event.