Thanks palimpsest.

I worked with Fred Hollows' Trachoma Program in the 70s. We had excellent assistance from the army in remote areas, similar to their logistical support now, and everybody was happy with it, just as most people in communities are happy to see them now.

As for evidence of progress in stopping child sexual abuse in communities as a result of the latest initiatives - it is too early to comment, although you can be sure that some perpetrators will have gone to ground, given the nature of the publicity.

Some people have spoken to the federal police about their concerns and allegations. I don't know of any resultant arrests yet.

I would hope that some men have given up their predatory behaviour in relation to young girls, but this will take sustained police action followed by community activities (to engender conformity to new norms and mores by many men) to consolidate over decades.

Miacat - I agree with all you say, but it's not enough.

As well as a solid longterm resourced DEVELOPMENT PLAN with community participation, to help rebuild and empower rural and isolated communities and meet basic needs (along with respect, communication, community engagement, acceptance and change) we need much more visionary leadership and fearless commitment in the Aboriginal community.

More Aboriginal people have to take responsibility, and exercise selfless leadership.

They will have to develop personal analysis of the problems and solutions, and engender group consciousness that accepts realities, relentlessly solves problems, develops new ways of socialising the young, and adapts social organisation and cultural beliefs.

This will have to include new ways of raising kids in the present circumstances, and adaptation of cultural beliefs and practices to the contemporary era, including respect for the new notions of basic universal human rights, such as the disavowal of violent payback and respect for the equality of women, gays and the frail.

Of course there are Aboriginal people already exercising this leadership and trying to do these things, but many more must join them in oder to meet the massive challenges that lie ahead of us.

Thanks Dan for your especially insightful comments on this issue. You have given me a lot to consider. I will however, somewhat weeplessly, state here that I will triple our annual donation to the Fred Hollows Foundation if, in say three years time from the date of this post, there has been no commencement of a fresh uranium mining lease, or, a waste facility upon an area of the land subject to the 'current national emergency circus'. To quote Kath from 'Kath & Kim' "I have a feeling in my waters.."

For the record, in principle, I have no problem with uranium mining nor the development of nuclear energy, although, I doubt this is the thread to completely uncan that jar of oddly florescent coloured radioactive worms.

That aside, I'd be happy to train any underprivileged person how to do cattle work or play-writing if they'd like to get in touch.

Yours sincerely

simon bedak
"Lorraine"
Wagga Wagga NSW 2650

Simon
I have no doubt that there will be more uranium mining and storage happening within the next few years too, although I don't look forward to this happening, as I think the ultimate costs and dangers may well be too great to justify our indulging ourselves with this development.

However, I find it more than difficult to imagine this occurring on the quite small areas of township land which Brough proposes to take over (via compulsory leases, with compensation) for the next five years.

Do you really think that there are undiscovered (or secretly discovered) uranium deposits under these town areas, or that Brough & Co would tear up towns to develop mines, when uranium is so plentiful elsewhere, and many Aboriginal people are quite willing to come to arrangements for its mining?

As for waste storage, I don't believe that any Australian politicians would be foolhardy enough to place a facility in the immediate vicinity (i.e. within the town boundaries) of a community. Besides which, many Aboriginal people are willing to lease more distant & isolated portions of their land for this or similar purposes anyway.

I fail to understand why Brough would need to cook up such a large, difficult, expensive and elaborate secret plot simply to achieve what his government can achieve by other means.

By the way, if you really want to help train people to be cattlepersons or dramatists, you could do worse than contacting the Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education through their website. They are always looking for trainers, teachers, tutors, lecturers, mentors etc.