Write on: Letters to the editor
Animal consciousness
"Unlike animals, human beings have consciousness, which means our intellect, personality and imagination are part of how we relate to each other." (GLW #382)
By what logic has the author come to this rather clumsy conclusion?
It is quite clear that animals, like human, possess consciousness — to be without it is to be comatose!
Self-consciousness though is a more complex state, and there is no doubt that animals possess this rarefied "human" attribute as well. While the world of animal imagination is closed to us, the fact that animals have individual personalities is self-evident.
We know too that jealousy, anger, love, disappointment, pleasure and pain are but a few of the "human" conditions experienced within the animal kingdom.
Humans are, after all, primate animals — and to see ourselves as such is to begin to reintegrate our troubled species into the Earth's interdependent web of life. It removes from us also the perceived right to do with the "lower" life forms what we will.
While Australian scientists insert electrodes into the brain of conscious monkeys, and our farmers permanently confine their pigs to body hugging cages, the animal as "non-thinking robot" theory serves us well.
Historically, prejudice inevitably confers upon its victims fallacious characteristics — "irrational" women "without mathematical ability", coloured people of "inferior intellect" and "bearing animal traits", "cannibalistic" Aborigines, etc.
Isn't it time we opened our eyes to the richness of the lives of the creatures that surround us, and challenged bigotry's last bastion — speciesism.
Bundeena NSW
Preambling
The Prime Minister's inspiring preamble should have received a resounding endorsement at the referendum. Should it fail to do so, may I humbly submit this tentative alternative draft for the consideration of genuine, right-thinking Australians:
We, the citizens of Australia, assert that our vast and ancient land was preordained by Almighty God to be an outpost of British civilisation. We acknowledge prior occupation by Aborigines, and accept their descendants as fellow citizens with equal voting rights, if not as actual mates.
We also acknowledge and accept immigrants from many non-English speaking countries.
We hold it to be a self-evident truth that the collective goals and values of citizens, henceforward designated as the mainstream, should be articulated by the Prime Minister, as long as said Prime Minister is a dry, nay, desiccated, Liberal.
The Prime Minister's key pronouncements shall be made on commercial radio, without regard to fashion or ideology, and shall have the same inviolable status as Valvoline commercials.
Citizens diverging from the mainstream shall be designated as un-Australian and righteously denounced as such by the Prime Minister, senior Cabinet ministers and wealthy radio presenters.
With trust in the English speaking God, unshakeable commitment to the Bottom Line, and hence forward cleansed of any black band view of history, we proudly set forth the Constitution of the Australian Nation, after the next commercial break.
Inverloch Vic
Genetic lies
In reply to Shua Garfield letter (GLW #382).
The problem with genetic engineering is that it is not and never will be a humanitarian enterprise. GM food is patented like any other product by (mainly) just over a handful of transnational firms.
What makes you think that "GM products" will ever be tested objectively and accurately without these companies having to give away trade secrets to outsiders? Where are the facts on "good deeds" from any of these companies' achievements in solving the world starvation and poverty problem?
Their track records show their true faces and other researchers have not got the funds to independently put their skills to the service of humanity. You don't have to acquire the consciousness of a hippy to grasp that. Besides: sustainable (organic) agriculture is superior long term for global health — and ecology. The world is crying out for more of it.
So please think for yourself and stop believing big business propaganda. Considering the increasing water shortages, organic agriculture and reforestation is the only way to go for the future. So join the anti-genetic engineering campaign, put some vegies in and plant more trees. Be a part-time "neo-hippy" and experience the difference.
Hobart
Fiction
The article by the DSP's Peter Boyle on The Greens attitude to the NSW Upper House elections (GLW Oct 27, 1999) contains an amazing piece of fiction.
Mr Boyle asserts " ... protests from Greens members around the state have begun to hit their parliamentary office". What research did Mr Boyle do to arrive at this conclusion?
Neither The Greens parliamentary office nor The Greens Newtown office have received any complaints from Greens members. Since the article was printed we have received eight email messages, and at least five of these are from people we understand to be members of the Democratic Socialist Party.
We did not receive a phone call from Mr Boyle inquiring whether members were contacting The Greens regarding the proposed electoral changes to the Upper House.
The Greens Convenor, Jamie Parker, has spoken to Mr Boyle about the ALP proposals and had explained that we are opposed to the unnecessary $5000 nomination fee for a ticket of Upper House candidates; the $3500 party registration fee; and the 1000 members per party requirement.
Considering this information was supplied to Mr Boyle it was disappointing that he chose to write an article and Green Left Weekly agreed to print this article that does not accurately present The Greens position on electoral reform.
For the record we do support above the line optional preferential voting which will remove the control of preferences from parties and place it back in the hands of voters. Parties will no longer be able to register preference group tickets and the incentive to create front parties will be removed. Surely we all agree that individuals should determine preferences and not party machines.
The Greens appreciate receipt of DSP preferences in past elections. Hopefully this cooperation can be extended to working together for electoral reform of the NSW parliament.
Ian Cohen
Sydney
Balloon pollution
Vannessa Hearman's article (GLW #380) read: "Red balloons emblazoned with the message 'Let the hostages go home' were released into the air by around 3000 demonstrators".
The ironic thing about this is that you have demonstrators who want to "Save the Rivers from Pollution" or other demonstrators wanting to "Save the Environment." Yet, here you have 3000 demonstrators contributing to the pollution with balloons.
At the opening ceremony of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, it's likely that some tens of thousands of balloons will be released into the sky.
Although that may look spectacular to some, it would look even more spectacular if the police walked out into the middle of the stadium and started writing out tickets for those responsible for releasing the "Litter" into the air, deliberately. What goes up — must come down.
If one really wants a spectacular opening for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, then why not consider something really Australian. In pet shops around Sydney there are thousands of multi-coloured Australian birds. Like cockatoos, parrots, budgies and galahs, plus many, many other types as well which could be "paroled" and set free.
I am sure that thousands of multi-coloured Australian screeching birds released from the middle of the stadium would be more popular than balloons.
Imagine if the American TV host David Letterman interviews a famous American actress who went to the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, and asks, " What was the most memorable event for you at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games?" The actress replies, "When I was bombed [pooped on] by an Australian galah!"
Rockhampton Qld
Creaming off
Our delegates represent the views of a large section of the aged population of New South Wales. We have been concerned at the decline in the standard of living over recent years.
A recent article by Ian Henderson from the October 15 Australian reveals that productivity is at an all time high. Professor Mark Wooden, Flinders University labour market expert, has come to the conclusion that Australian workers are producing far more than any other time from the same amount of labour and capital. It is now quite apparent that the creaming off of profits by business and the lowering of their taxation is preventing the proper share going to workers, social and health services which could be easily met.
Secretary, Council of Retired Union Members Associations of NSW
Burwood NSW