Australia---is 'terrorism' getting closer to you?!

In the last two weeks we have seen young people in Australia becoming involved in the 'troubles' we normally associate with areas nearer to the Middle East. That young men are being influenced in a manner that has them planning attacks on policeman or attempting to (and succeeding in some cases) leave Australian shores to join the fight in Syria and Iraq, following their 'heroes' in the ISIS forces, is indeed worrying. I do not doubt for a moment that some of these 'teens' are being influenced by a combination of what they are 'tracking' online and by adhering to the words of some of the 'clerics' who reside in Australia. Sure there are 'new Australians' and their children who have not benefitted from the move from their homelands and there is an element of desperation, fed by the messages of those who would bring the 'holy war' to Australia. Australians do not take these actions lightly and the response from many Aussies is not one that is willing to listen to the 'grievances, real or imagined, expressed by spokes-persons for the former. Now we are seeing an increase in the 'attempts to terrorise and in the level of response from Australian police and other 'agencies.' Aussies do not take kindly to criticism of their 'Aussie ways.' This feeling will be exploited as politicians, mainly from the right, will use this as an excuse to bring in more draconian laws,' citing 'security' and 'freedom' as the justification for their actions. All Australians will be the losers for this. Somehow, I cannot see a meeting of minds over this and the scenes we have witnessed in the last few months are going to be more common. The war--far way, will continue to cast its influence on this great land---eventually spreading to its neighbour--'The Land of The 'Long white Cloud.' I want to be wrong!

Help-------Israel has hit my blog again!

When I look at the 'stats' for my blog, for the day and see that there are 2700 hots from Israel, I just know that something 'seedy' is going on, much like the Dead Sae' rip-off agents, who NZ sent packing last year, type of situation. I am not that well informed about such matters but to put things in perspective, my blog usually has about 20 hits a day, sometimes more and often less. Most of the action for me is re my FB posts. What worries me is that someone will be doing things 'in my name,' and I have no idea how, where or what! I wold love some advice and help re this vexing and troubling issue. The bottom line?----if the hits were genuine, I would be seeing action re downloads for my book, ROSKILL. Well---that is not happening, so----get back to me, my 'real' friends! www.authorneilcoleman.com

Europe faces an impossible situation re refugees.

Almost every day for a few months now we have witnessed tragic scenes as thousands of refugees are drowned in the Mediterranean. That these people are so desperate to risk this dangerous journey, having paid a great deal of money to unscrupulous ‘human traffickers,’ says much about the lives they are leaving. The criminals who prey on them have much to answer for and there seems to be no end in sight re the people lignin up to come. I have heard estimates of one million waiting in Libya alone. Europe is not united in its response to this human tragedy. The politicians do not have an answer and the people of Europe are also divided in the way they see the issue. Opinions range from ‘humanitarian in nature; those wanting to help and accept the migrants, through to a growing number, who wish to have nothing to do with the ‘arrivals. Political parties are staking their fortunes on their response, hence the rise of extreme policies that would stop the ‘flood at sea,’ well before they arrive on European shores. The next test for that is in day or so as the UK goes to the polls. Expect a rise in numbers voting for parties wishing to tighten up on ‘entry to the UK.’ Europe is not going to be able to ‘fill the needs of this modern day exodus!’ The driving force behind the flow of refugees needs to be addressed. People have always sought new futures; indeed I am the product of such desires, so it would be disingenuous of me to claim that others cannot seek a better future, but the fact remains, that Europe is possibly going to take a stronger stance, given that many European economies are also ‘stretched,’ to say the least. What drives the refugees? One hears the term ‘failed nation states,’ a term that accurately describes swathes of Northern Africa and the Middle East. Political struggle, religious divides and wars and an endemic feature of the region. Look back to not so distant events in Europe to witness similar vast movement of people, so we are not dealing with a new phenomenon, more one that is prevalent at the moment. Can we turn to the obvious body that should be seeking solutions to these issues---the UN? Yes, but it does not have the will or the teeth to bring about solutions. Can we trusts ‘coalition-of-the-willing,’ to find a way forward? No----given the results of recent attempts to solve regional issues, militarily, thereby feeding the rise of extremism, in the form of ISIS Boko Haram and similar groups. Would massive ‘economic aid’ to the ‘countries of origin,’ of the refugees work? Not unless those with the political control can work with their populations to forge a better future. I see little evidence that pouring aid into these countries will deliver hope to the people who need it most. The divisions, both historical and more recent, brought about by a combination of colonization and much older divisions, continues to create barriers to peace. I feel pessimistic about just what the future holds, given the history of both Europe and the regions I am discussing. August bodies like the UE, the UN and other power groupings have failed. Now more sinister groups are attempting to forge their own solutions, ones that will impact on Europe and wreak havoc upon the people beyond the shores of the Mediterranean. Underlying this, are those who gain from such ‘permanent chaos—those who manufacture and sell the ‘arms’ that kill and destroy. They are the real constants in this terrible dilemma. No-one else benefits!

Extremism has hijacked 'religion!

I do not take sides re religious debates and the ramifications of such ‘divides.’ One does have to look too hard back into history to see religion used as the excuse to ‘conquer, enrich and divide, politically. The carnage created always results in mass movements of people, if they manage to survive at all. Various extreme movements have taken over large swathes of several regions of late, all under the flag of religious extremism. Much finger pointing has resulted as to the creation of these movements, ranging from those saying that the USA is to blame, whilst it follows its own foreign policy goals, then losing control of the’ produce’ of that policy. Whether it was to counter the influence of the former Soviet Union or to prop up a client state; the debate will go on for many years. Yesterday we witnessed yet another example of ‘extremism ‘and its ramifications. A suburb in Dallas saw the coming together of the two strands in the USA. On one side we have the ‘so-called ‘hate group that was promulgating its own message, using the banner of ‘freedom of speech. That it chose to use a cartoon competition in a manner that could only cause offense, should come as no surprise and the support it got when the ‘proverbial hit the fan,’ in the form of a ‘possible ISIS attack within the USA was the result. The ‘whacky right,’ aligned with some religious groups in the USA was hell-bent on using this occasion to taunt extreme Islamist groups, knowing that doing this would get some sort of response. They achieved their purpose, bringing death to the Dallas suburb. The ripples from this action, will be felt throughout the USA as yet more ‘adherents’ are drawn to the flags of the opposing factions. The vast majority of Americans want no part in this; preferring to stay away from ‘mad religion,’ but the ‘stupidity witnessed on the streets will cause fear. It is fear and feeds the flames. It is the ignorance that goes with such fear that propels people towards the opposing camps. That is the aim of both factions. One will claim ‘loyalty to an ideal, that is the UDA and the other will call the ‘adherents to the faith,’ to revenge the insult to the ‘Prophet.’ Where does this all lead? Simple---more of the same. Now is the time for rational responses, for people in the middle to speak out, for moderates to come to the fore. It is not the time for yet more ‘hate speech and knee-jerk reactions.’ Sadly, going by the posts I see on FB, it is the latter that feeds the frenzy. If there was ever a time for a considered approach, then it is now. The answers of course will involve looking at the bigger picture as to what nurtures these dangerous divides---it is not religion. It is the inequalities; the same ones that drive people to take desperate voyages across oceans, searching for a better life, because their own countries have also been hijacked by those who seek power, but use religion as the excuse to bring people to their selfish causes. Little has changes over the course of human history!

#IACCUSEJOHNKEYOF__At the end of the day!

Of late, many NZers and increasingly those overseas who have had the 'pleasure' of meeting PM, have had to suffer that much overused 'introduction'---AT THE END OF THE DAY--- to yet another announcement or explanation for some weird behaviour the latter has perpetrated. He bored us to death during the election campaign that he won, indication that Kiwis are devils for punishment, or they just don't give a stuff. OOK, he won the election but the vestiges of his many 'uses' of that phrase continues to linger. So many others have taken it up and now every time In hear it I want to head for the dunny! Hardly an interview goes by without the dreaded utterance been thrust upon us. IN itself, there is nothing wrong with it, but day after day, it seems to be a reminder of what we failed to do---send the bugger to Hawaii, his other home. Oh well, at the end of---FECK---now I'm doing it. OK--send me to Hawaii until he arrives! www.authorneilcoleman.com

Sometimes kids can---just 'floor' you!

As a school counsellor, I have many moments of the ‘emotional kind. Sometimes it is the sad stories, but that is counterbalanced by another one that quite literally ‘floors’ one, in a way that adds interest and joy to the job. Take the other day, for example. I was talking to a young man about some issues, and right at the end of the session he made a comment that quite took me by surprise. I mean one does a small amount of self-sharing as part of the process, but this one took the cake, once I was call upon to answer a ‘question. ‘Sir,’ he asked---maybe tentatively or out of sheer curiosity---not sure, ‘are you shedding?’ What---I thought---am I losing my hair at such a rate that even a kid who hardly knows me notices? He pointed towards the back of my chair—at the white hairs, that seem to stay, no matter how much a try to get rid of them. You see---- they are not mine. I am not blond, neither am I going that way, having gone through the ‘salt and pepper’ stage of life (OK---- going through). I laughed and pointed to a picture on my wall---of Perdy, my crazy Jack Russell, who from time to time, graces my office as an ‘assistant.’ ‘It’s that girl,’ I explained, adding that she sometimes drops copious amounts of dog hair, especially in the summer. The young man went away with a glint in his eye. God knows what he was going to say about the ’visiting blond,’ I entertain in my office. Oh well---such is the nature of being a school counsellor---one never knows what will transpire in a ‘normal’ day. MMM---what the hell is that?! www.authorneilcoleman.com

Indonesia executes the Bali 'Eight.'!

When a traveller lands in Indonesia, two things stand out---especially for NZers. One is the sight of gun toting (they look like semi-automatics) police or soldiers and the other---- the large signs, clearly stating that if you bring in drugs, the death penalty is the consequence. I very much doubt that travellers did not know about the latter! Yet---people still take the risk, and at the moment there are numerous people on ‘death row,’ pursuing appeals and exploring every option re the ‘sometimes’ questionable Indonesian legal system. Many of these litigants have been on death row for many years; in the case of the two Aussies, nine plus years. Their appeals fell of deaf, or some would say ‘politically charged,’ ears, as the new president of Indonesia n refused all calls for clemency. There are those who say he is under pressure, re his presidency---he has not made the differences yet, that he promised in his election campaign. Let’s face it—who does in their first year! There have been accusations that he is doing a ‘classic’ John Key---he has sought a diversion, and the foreigners who transgress Indonesia’s’ tough drug laws are an easy target. He has the vast number of Indonesians behind him re this approach and they too believe that Indonesia has a huge problem with drug use. I have heard figures of up to 80,000 deaths a year attributed to drug use. Put aside those factors and look at Indonesia colonial past. They have had a long history of ‘Western interference’ in their lives and the calls from other nations to change the law, to drop the death penalty, have jigged’ the Indonesian response to one that says---‘leave us to make our own laws---you come here, break them, you accept the consequences. That the UN is one body that also calls for a change has also had no influence. Even in Australia and NZ, there is not a clear majority of those surveyed who wish to change the fate of drug dealers. Both nations are split, seemingly quite evenly on the issue of the death penalty re drug trafficking. The argument is often that---‘if you deal in drugs, you are killing people by your actions.’ Politicians in both countries are more than capable of using the issue for their own purposes. At the last moment we heard form a former lawyer for the Australian men, that two Indonesian judges allegedly tried to gain from the debacle, seeking a bribe to send down sentences that were non-death sentences. It seems that the Jakarta Government put a stop to that. So---there is also the question of corruption in the mix, one that the new president states is one of his main policy platforms. Australia has recalled its ambassador, for ‘consultations,’ an action that is not usual for such events. One would think that it is merely a cooling off. Australia (and NZ) must keep close relationships with its near neighbour. Neither nation can afford a serious breakdown in their ties. They need to work together on a number of issues, not the least being the ‘boat people,’ refugees, and crime. Hey---was it not the Australian police who informed their Indonesian counterparts about the two men and their ‘luggage?’ Australia could be accused of delivering the two men to their fate, so it’s a bit rich complaining after the fact! One thing is for sure. This is going to happen again. It still goes back to people making a decision, when they know the consequences and all the furore about human rights and the sanctity of life are in the end--- not going to make any difference! I do not favour the death sentence, and I would like to see an ‘arrangement’ made between the two Governments to find a better solution, but I can hear the clarion calls, when the cost for this is sent to the taxpayers! I suspect that NZers will remain divided over the whole issue too. One of course always has that feeling--what if they were innocent, as in the case of the ninth accused? That is one of my objections to the death sentence! www.authorneilcoleman.com