Whatever the locals want, the locals should get. The Kokoda Trail (who decided to call it a track?)does have significance for Australia, but those who had a true experience of it are almost all dead now. the Trail is pounded only by grandstanding contemporary Australians who will never know the true horrors and hardships endured on it.

If foreigners tried to influence what we did in our country, we would rightly fly into an uproar.

How about a bit of respect for the people of New Guinea? Whether or not the landholders involved benefit from mining in the area is up to them and their government.

It is nothing to do with Australia or Australians

aaah CJ.. I have yet much to teach you young Jedi :)

'Salivating'... egging on ?

Cronulla 'included' macho BS.. it was not 'that' which I was egging on, if I was egging at all. I was egging on the assertion of Aussie national Identity, which I do not equate with the flag draped dills who slurred out 'lez gedem'.. er.. no. The organizers of the protest rally had correct motives and methods. It was the ratbag element which hijacked it. Needless to say, if I ever organize any public protest it will be a very 'private' affair :)

I haven't changed my tune, you are just becoming less 'tone deaf'

Agreed about the quality of life thing and the benefits to the Fuzzies. There is a copper mine in Ranau Sabah,Malaysia and it has pretty much killed the river. (and some of the inhabitants I think)..
and I hear stories from Indonesia also about polluted rivers near copper mines.

Oh.. this thread was initially 'rejected'...can anyone see why? because I sure can't.

The interface between developed nations and their less developed neighbours is a pretty important and topical thing to discuss I feel.

Every time I see this kind of 'coal face' stuff.. I recall how the Treaty of Waitangi ended up with 'Visionaries' in Sydney (parasites to the Kiwi's) saying "Oh..lets ramp up white settlement there" and now we are reaping the harvest with increasing anti white racially charged land rights murmuring among Moaris.

I can understand it, after all..history is the great leveller. Once they find out that the treaty was written in 2 versions, one 'looking good'(giving protection) in their language the other 'a land grab' in ours..(them abrogating sovereignty) well.. enuf said.

I think there is a little of the 'white Sydney visionary' in Australian attitudes to PNG sometimes.

Boazy: "'Salivating'... egging on ?

Cronulla 'included' macho BS.. it was not 'that' which I was egging on, if I was egging at all. I was egging on the assertion of Aussie national Identity.."

While I appreciate that the enthusiasm you expressed at the time, for a physical confrontation between the 'Aussies' and the 'Lebs', is probably rather embarrassing in retrospect, you certainly expressed your xenophobia in a "macho BS" way in your posts to this forum and others. We've been through this before, and I can dig out your inflammatory posts if you want.

However, it's off topic so I won't pursue it unless you press the point. That would be another case of Boazy derailing his own thread, wouldn't it?

Kokoda Track; Kokoda Trail. I thought Trail was American and Track was OZ; was it not a Track before it became a Trail?

Mining in PNG can be said to bring a mix of blessings, just as the industrial revolution in the UK brought a mix of blessings. If we view generally increased life-span and education and fewer deaths in childbirth etc as a blessing then on the whole mining has been a positive influence overall.

CJ.. oh that I was perfect, but I'm not. Still, I press on.

I don't recall saying much on OLO of macho BS, but in response to some rather choice vile racist anti Australian sentiments on some other forums, I did get a bit verbally adventurous, and in some instances, they were probably not my better moments.

I'm glad none of us thus far have shown support for Australias 'sentimental claim' in Kokoda... I suppose we should also lump Ancac Cove/Gallipoli here too. I wonder how many Aussies would feel like our flag and veterans and history were being trampled on if the Turks decided in their sovereignty to develop the site for tourism with hotels and all manner of things. Or.. if they put plaques everywhere which gave a very 'Turkish' flavor to the events, such that Australia was demonized.

Galipoli is likely more sensitive than Kokoda.

For me this all underlines the tension between the kingdom of this world, and the kingdom of heaven/God. It is a great emotional relief to know that Jesus said "My kingdom is not 'of' this world" and he connects that sentiment directly with:

"If it were, my followers would fight to defend me"

So, Christians should not hold deep attachments to material things, or.. human governments, or physical structures or chunks of real estate. Certainly not in a way which could ever produce offensive conflict.

Quote! My kingdom is not of this world! Mate! we understand. The little IQ proposal will tell you nothing. Wisdom does not come from "THE BOOK". All-though, books are my best friends. A real person stands alone and everything in this world is our brother's and sister's and What happens next, is just the great never ending story of life! Brain washing is a terrible thing, but don't be afraid! If there is a god, it would love my strength. Isn't that the point?