Mother Teresa
Concerning your book review about Mother Theresa! Supposing everything mentioned is 100% true, why was there not one good word about her works? What other individual has accomplished so much with so little! Under such abysmal circumstances!
Who says she has "millions in a bank account"? Maybe she has, but is using the interests of it in her steadily expanding orphanages and homes for destitute females and down-and-outs?
"Religion" is never rammed down the client's throat, if there was a religious message on a wall, too bad, no one is kept against his will and could leave instantly, others too happy to take his place. A great improvement from gutters and back lanes.
What does Australia do to relieve those thousands if not millions of destitute? Australia is one of the lowest contributors to the United Nations relief organisation. What does the other religions do? The facts, figures and forecastings are frightening and getting worse.
I must admit that the lack of contraceptive promotion is an archaic elephant of the Catholic Church. It is surely a matter between God and the individual. Jesus greatest enemies were the people who stuck to laws and regulations like robots. However if this would solve India's population problem is something else as they see their children as a future life insurance policy, because India's millionaires don't get taxed enough for a social security program!
Josie Leeden
South Perth
[Edited for length.]
Homophobia
The pain caused by child abuse is very real. No gay man or lesbian concerned about the Wood Royal Commission is denying this. However John Stewart badly misrepresents what our reaction to the Commission is all about.
First, it is esquiring into a period of time when all homosexuality was illegal. Secondly it is applying the discriminatory 1984 age of consent for gay men, which automatically makes a paedophile of any man who has had sex with a 16- or 17-year old man. Thirdly, at one point the definition of paedophilia was so loose as to include within its scope men who had sex with other men aged under 25! Fourthly, the transcript of witness W17 clearly shows a strongly anti-gay line of questioning.
As to class and sex: First, no distinction is made between abuse and consenting sex with and between young teenagers. Many working class gay men initiated sex with older men. The law cannot simply negate the fact of sexuality among young people. Secondly, it would be useful to explore how far the criminalisation and stigmatisation of young people's sexuality contributes to the existence of organised prostitution. Thirdly, as socialists we would do well to explore and analyse the nexus between youth prostitution and the lack of rights, including economic rights, or young people.
I suggest that John Stewart think again before making his own prejudiced assertions while whitewashing the Commission.
Michael Schembri
Surry Hills NSW
Green ban battlers
The 25th anniversary of what has become known as the Green Ban movement occurred on June 16. Despite the wet, over 300 people of all ages and backgrounds (and including an ex-premier) turned up at Kelly's Bush, Hunters Hill.
A plaque was unveiled and an inspiring little book was launched — The Battlers for Kelly's Bush. Ten of the original 13 women "battlers" are alive and spoke briefly at the celebration.
In the book, they have recounted their own version of the struggle to save a parcel of natural bushland from the "developers". Triumphing over powerful oppositional forces and their own rather minimal differences they managed, from 1971, to enlist public support which ranged from that of Jack Mundey, a leader of the Builders Labourers Federation in 1971 (in 1996 to chair the Silver Jubilee discussed here) to that of the environmentalistic Duke of Edinborough.
The NSW Trades and Labour Council banned all union work on the proposed Kelly's bush "development" — and later, on other "developments" also which were protested by citizens as devastating to the environment.
This alliance between environmentalists, trade unionists and others, which coined the name the Green Ban (rather than "Black Ban") Movement, has inspired similar movements abroad with political implications. Such movements surely give impetus to the saving of planet Earth.
Current president of the Battlers for Kelly's Bush is Monica Sheehan. Still secretary, after 25 years, is Kath Lehany, of 5 Gladstone Avenue, Hunters Hill. Copies of The Battlers for Kelly's Bush may be obtained from Kath, tel (02) 817 2248, Dr Joan Croll, tel (02) 817 1692 and other "Battlers", for $12 (which includes postage). Proceeds are for the Kelly's Bush Regeneration Programme.
From impressed observers:
Evelyn Healy and Kevin Healy
Gladesville NSW