The past two weeks have been utterly exhausting. Trying to find a place to live is taking all my energy. I've not been to see any films at the cinema, so no escape from reality. Mark McDean and I saw an exhibition at RMIT gallery on Friday, but even that was uninspiring. Thank goodness my time with Mark was enriching - we discussed place and ways that we might collaborate on an art project together. But I'm wondering now if I'll have the head space. Constantly worrying about where I'm going to live is taking over my thoughts. I've had nothing other than the personal to write on my blog and I'd so wished to be able to give you all some critique of a film or exhibition. Amidst all this, the most inspiring piece of television of late was Dick Smith's documentary on population growth and the Q & A session that followed it. Maybe it's just because I find myself in the thick of being at the mercy of market forces that I totally agree with Smith that we need to have a sustainable population ~ we don't have the infrastructure to cater for the vast amount of people entering our country at the moment, so how are we going to accommodate future needs for housing, medicine, jobs and transport if we continue to have so many people migrating to Australia? When the guys at the 'big end of town' are rubbing their hands together about the amount of money they will make because we have a 'big Australia', why don't they spend a minute thinking about the fact that that 'big Australia' will mean that 'we' the little people are struggling on crowded public transport, competing for inflated rental properties, worrying about rising utilities costs and all the while our health is deteriorating. And whilst I'm having this little whinge, someone should advise all those people who arrive in Australia that a few good manners is in order. I don't know if it's just me, the fact that I'm getting older, but I tire of the dog eat dog approach and every man for himself attitude that people seem to be adopting. Why do I have to keep pointing out to young people that they should not be sitting in the two seats in the tram set aside for older or disabled people?!
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Thought the Dick Smith piece is a near perfect propaganda text pandering to worst fears. We have no infrastructure left because right wing governments sold it off or let it rust, and taxes are so low now after years of tax cuts and middle class welfare that we can't afford more.
ReplyDeleteWell, we might say that every documentary is propoganda?! We have to admit though, that Dick Smith's efforts did contribute to raising the population issue. Also good to hear that Julia G. wants a sustainable Australia rather than a 'big Australia'.
ReplyDeleteDick Smith the Capitalist did not go quite far enough in my opinion, the economic base is the issue to examine, everything else flows from that.
ReplyDeleteNot a concept many wish to consider. I think Julie has given us food for thought as usual.
thanks from
Lauren
It was interesting because Dick Smith appeared to be assessing his life as a capitalist and wanting to give something back to the community. I think his documentary was a valuable contribution to the discussion.
ReplyDelete