Still replying to Scout, a second message, due to the word limit.

I do see Australia’s “Britishness” as significant, because I would like to see Australia less isolated in the world, and I do not think that a geographically-based EU-style integration would work for us. I see great benefits, for example, in a close alliance and close trade ties with Japan, but I do not see Australia and Japan as being part of the same thing: I see no real scope for any kind of political integration. We can be close friends, good allies, reliable and important trade partners, but I cannot imagine us ever making laws together.

I can, on the other hand, easily imagine Australia as part of an integrated international grouping together with New Zealand, Canada and the United Kingdom. We already see each other as similar enough to share consular services in a number of countries around the world, for example. I have no difficulty in imagining the peoples of our four countries electing a common parliament, just as the peoples of our six colonies agreed to elect a common parliament at Federation, a century ago. We can think on a larger scale now.

When the UN voted on the new Human Rights Council last week, Canada, Australia and New Zealand issued a joint statement on the proposal. In fact, the CANZ group is a recognised entity within the United Nations, and the three of us typically speak with a single voice on many issues and support each other’s candidates.

Graham Kelly, New Zealand’s High Commissioner to Canada, says that the CANZ Group makes us “more effective on the world stage, more than our respective size would warrant otherwise.” Isn’t that a good thing? Couldn’t we take it further? Canada is a G7 member: couldn’t a formalised CANZ Group hold a joint seat in that forum, for example? Wouldn’t that sort of integration put us in a stronger position to negotiate for our interests? And wouldn’t it be a good way to start redefining our very unequal relationship with the United States?

Thanks Scout.

(re bookmarking http://www.copernican.info/)

Come on the Queen is after all one of the last we shall have , the shill outbursts from those who care for her and her line seem to agree.
She is from a past that we no longer need, and besides I will no longer need to turn of the medea till after her tour ends if this is her last visit, gone yet has she?.

Hello Ian

I have spent some time O/S as well and very much identify with what you are saying vis a vis 'british' background. In fact, travel made me realise just how unique and loaded with potential Australia really is.

If we, as human beings, have any chance to live in relative peace and accommodate the technology which is shrinking our world and blurring our borders we can not afford to think so much in terms of race. We certainly need solidarity within our commonwealth - this gives us much potential for trade and the spread of commonwealth countries opens up areas we don't have such close geographical ties as we do with Asia.

It is the long term which we must plan for - people I deal with daily from friends to business are primarily anglo/european and Asian. As such I tend to see them all as just 'people'. Cultural differences are very much an abstraction - our basic 'humanity' is endemic to all. I see no impediment to close ties with any Asian countries apart from our own (and their) primarily artificial cultural constructs. This is a big topic and I am having difficulty finding the 'right' words.

As the advert used to say - it won't 'heppen overnight' and it won't be easy, and there will be lots of problems along the way, but it is more than just Australia's coming of age - it is time to work towards the maturity of our species.

The more we cling to our perceived differences the more conflict we will find eg, religious differences being a major problem right now. In light of all this, I find the idea of a monarchy not just outmoded but irrelevant.

I am aware that much of this sounds very idealistic, but what else is there to work towards if not a cohesive world?

Regards

Scout,
So dropping the Crown from our constitution will mean the development of our human species. Interesting. Please indicate how Australians will lead the way in the advancement of the human species above others because we wish to become like many having a Republican society?

I thought Australia was now among the top in the fields of inteligence and creative development. Well it is good to have a fantacy a dream when you cannot have the reality yourself.

Until the illegal acquisition of this country by the British -which was compounded by federaltion and then addressed in international and constitional law, questions relating to republic or monarchy will be what they continue to be, obsessive and banal.
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