October 14, 2004

VIRILITY SPREADS THE SEEDS OF CHANGE

Sculptor and environmentalist Peter Adams laments the beating of democracy in Australia, and urges depressive dipsticks nationwide to "remain virile":

All of us, especially those elders among us; those with a few more years of experiencing life in its fullness; those who have been at the forefront of environmental and social change; and those of us who have touched the void before and have come back with a deeper wisdom.... we have to remain virile in body and spirit. We can never give up on the spreading of seeds of change.

This is a cry from the heart of hearts asking us all to embrace the day, feet planted into the earth with arms thrust upward into the sky and beyond to the stars. Let fly into the air seeds of hope, stories of love, words of delight for all things green, all creatures great and small. Constantly sing up the earth. Breathe in fear and despair and blow out a never ending stream of activity; of decent activity. And the stronger our exhale, the further our seeds will travel.

It is true that in our lifetime we might not see the fruit of the seeds we have planted. But it is so very important to keep planting them, despite what seems as hopeless odds; despite the seeming unjustness of it all; despite just wanting to curl up in bed and face the wall. If we're in the "wilderness" for a few more years, so be it.

I thought environmentalists liked being in the wilderness. Andrew Bolt says it’s time to make the Greens pay, and Imre Salusinszky has the latest on Australia’s voter-led coup:

Last night the UN Security Council was in emergency session on the situation in Australia, where John Howard seized power in a bloodless election on Saturday. The defeat of democracy had been long foreshadowed by the country's artists and intellectuals, as well as by some prominent columnists.

"For this to happen in one of the world's most stable democracies is a tragedy that must not be allowed to go unchallenged", said UN Secretary General Kofi Annan.

Mr Howard's election coup occurred without violence. It was brilliantly organised and took the form of more than 7700 mini-coups in so-called "polling places" around the nation.

Posted by Tim Blair at October 14, 2004 02:14 PM
Comments

If some of these seeds Peter releases into the air happen to impregnate some women, will they be able to sue him for rape?

Posted by: kbiel at October 14, 2004 at 02:24 PM

"Let fly into the air seeds of hope..."

Is that what they're calling it these days?

Posted by: Jim Treacher at October 14, 2004 at 02:25 PM

It's time to hit them with a Greens tax on ash blonde hair dyes, personal trainers, four-wheel-drives, Pilates lessons, polished floorboards, golf club fees, snow chains, imported champagne, private en-tout-cas tennis courts, Melbourne Arts Festival tickets and subscriptions to The Age.

At first I thought Bolt had stuffed up, as 4WDs don't need snow chains - but that's NSW. Googling indicates that even 4WDs are required to carry snow chains in Victorian ski areas.

Of course, this'd be a non-issue to me. To paraphrase a LGF headline: "Who needs snow-chains? I ride the bus"

Posted by: Andjam at October 14, 2004 at 02:54 PM

The worst dictator Howard can expect from the UN is an expression of disapproval - a most strongly worded one mind.

Posted by: graboy at October 14, 2004 at 03:02 PM

Sounds like a good idea to hit these pseudo-commies where it hurts most...

Meanwhile, the landscape is getting better and better:

"THE Coalition was poised to secure a Senate majority last night after Liberal Russell Trood claimed the party's third upper house seat in Queensland and the Nationals became the favourite to win the decisive 39th seat in the 76-seat chamber.

"The latest Senate counting showed the Nationals' Senate candidate Barnaby Joyce was edging ahead of the Greens' Drew Hutton for the vital sixth Senate position in Queensland – putting a Senate majority in reach for the first time since Malcolm Fraser's prime ministership."

"And in a setback for the Greens yesterday, Liberal Party scrutineers suggested that in Tasmania, independent Shayne Murphy or Family First candidate Jacquie Petrusma might defeat the presumed Greens victor Christine Milne."
(The Australian)

All in all, great news. I reckon the chardonnay must be tasting a bit sour at Toorak lately...

Posted by: JPB at October 14, 2004 at 03:09 PM

As someone who sometimes does bush-walking and has just taken up cross-country skiing, I'm under no illusions that they are neccessarily environmentally friendly activities. If you love the environment, you'd stay away from undeveloped areas, and it seems green voters live well away from undeveloped areas.

Posted by: Andjam at October 14, 2004 at 03:11 PM


But wait, the election ISN'T in the bag -

http://www.themercury.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,11067491%255E3462,00.html

A SENATE candidate in Tasmania who received just 31 primary votes is preparing a high court challenge in a bid to have the weekend's Federal election ruled invalid.

Independent candidate Ellen Gargan, of West Hobart, says the voting process used to elect senators is unconstitutional.

----------

Well thats it then...

Posted by: Harry Tuttle at October 14, 2004 at 03:22 PM

Hah! All of this brings back vivid memories of a "Yes Minister" or "Yes Prime-Minister" episode (apologies to all the ankle-biters who weren't born then) when the immortal Jim Hacker declares that the only ones who were concerned about the countryside were those that didn't have to live there.
The time that I first saw this episode (my city-bound sister used to record them for me) I was managing a 30,000 hectare sheep station in Far Western NSW and every month or so was called upon to rescue assorted 'Green' townies who'd finally found that the 'Toyota Cruiser, go any where' ads were just so much bulls**t. The thing that used to reduce me helpless laughter was the complaints when we had to leave the Honda generator, TV and electric cook- top back in the swamp into which the 'back-to-nature' brigade had blundered

Posted by: Boss Hog at October 14, 2004 at 03:22 PM

I'm sure that Peter Adams will be happy to know that I've been sowing my wild oats all over the electorate, lately...and overseas as well :-)

Posted by: Richard at October 14, 2004 at 03:26 PM

Yeah, I hear the UN is waiting on the Carter Center to lodge its official list of "voting irregularities" from last Saturday's "election."

Posted by: Mark at October 14, 2004 at 03:30 PM

A SENATE candidate in Tasmania who received just 31 primary votes is preparing a high court challenge in a bid to have the weekend's Federal election ruled invalid.

Independent candidate Ellen Gargan, of West Hobart, says the voting process used to elect senators is unconstitutional.

Why, does she expect to win under some other system? Boggle...

Posted by: PW at October 14, 2004 at 03:33 PM

"and those of us who have touched the void"

Well excuse me while I kiss the sky..

"seeds of hope" eh?

Think he meant "seeds of dope".

Man.

Posted by: Sweet sweet Bundy at October 14, 2004 at 03:52 PM

Half your luck Richard! I swear these Leftoids are just down right crazy. Raving loon enviro-zealots. Plainly damaged goods.

Posted by: Dog at October 14, 2004 at 04:10 PM

Tim,

God, this guy should write for Home and Away, he is the man of cliches.

BTW, what's exactly an environmentalist?
Do you need to plant at least one tree, or is it sufficient to be just a pompous wanker?

Posted by: Honkie Hammer at October 14, 2004 at 04:37 PM

Well done Imre, well done. Hey, I'm not lettin' any of Margo's seeds anywhere near me.

Posted by: nic at October 14, 2004 at 04:44 PM

Let fly into the air seeds of hope,

Rhetorical Onanism, is what that is. Bleh. Just don't get any on ya...

Posted by: Spiny Norman at October 14, 2004 at 05:01 PM

Thank you to all the margos,ramseys.adams,mannes and the gurus of SBS and the ABC for ensuring Johnny got a majority beyond his wildest wet dream.
May you keep writing your hateful drivel for many years to come(at least until the next election)and thank you for doing it entirely free!Not one cent of cost to Howard's coffers!

Posted by: davo at October 14, 2004 at 05:02 PM

but wait, he's an environmentalist AND a sculptor. I mean, wow, there are just so few of either around, how did thay manage to find someone who does both......
/sarcasm

Posted by: Johnny Wishbone at October 14, 2004 at 05:25 PM

Andrew, Imre, Mark Steyn- this collaborator against democracy is becoming so addicted to your manifestos I'll have to book into a clinic and be deprogrammed, but can't get a bed or room as the psych clinic is full of labor devotees who have developed suicidal and homicidal tendencies and they will have no vacancies until 2006. Have to go out and get at one with nature and turn the compost heap.

Posted by: Rose at October 14, 2004 at 05:35 PM

As the voters proved, while Brown is a Nelson Mandela in the drawing rooms of Surrey Hills, he's a clown in the kitchen of a working family.

They know the smell of manure.

Love it!

Posted by: Michael Sutcliffe at October 14, 2004 at 06:37 PM

If this independant Senate canadate doesn't like our electoral system, she should go to North Korea. Candidate, if your reading this, e-mail your postal address to me, and I will send you a cheque towards your defection.

Posted by: Sheriff at October 14, 2004 at 06:41 PM

"Breathe in fear and despair and blow out a never ending stream of activity; of decent activity."

If they're like the rest of us, what they breath out is a never ending stream of greenhouse gasses.

Posted by: Steven Den Beste at October 14, 2004 at 06:52 PM

If the Coalition gets control in the Senate , does this mean that they can put a stop to compulsory voting? I think that if this happens, Labor will never get re-elected and the greens will be wiped out next election, which has got to be a good thing.

Posted by: John P at October 14, 2004 at 06:53 PM

Peter Adams= insane

Posted by: Le clerc at October 14, 2004 at 08:15 PM

Extract from

“You Have To Tell The Truth”—The Bell Curve After Ten Years

By Steve Sailer

[See also: The Bell Curve, Ten Years After: It Tolls For Us, by Peter Brimelow]

The publication of The Bell Curve: Intelligence and Class Structure in American Life by the late Richard J. Herrnstein and Charles Murray in October 1994 was one of the pivotal events of the last decade. Along with the furious backlash, it permanently changed political movements such as neoliberalism and neoconservatism—not, alas, for the better.

Posted by: testing at October 14, 2004 at 08:32 PM


One of the best things about the Coalition owning the senate is that it will kill all of the 'evil' Liberal govt stuff.

It is hard to credibly argue (as one example) that the Libs support conscription, when they could have it at the stroke of a pen if they wanted it - a whole bunch of those default scare tactics are going to die over the next 3 years.

Posted by: Harry Tuttle at October 14, 2004 at 09:43 PM

Let me apologize in advance in case Jimmy Carter does comment on the Australian elections.
Lord knows it'll be all drivel.

Posted by: Mikey at October 14, 2004 at 09:53 PM

remain virile in body...seeds of change.

This guy really, really needs a date. Given all the 'seeds' imagery, I'm thinking he has a whole different virility issue going on.

Posted by: bkayel at October 14, 2004 at 11:18 PM

If you think this is bad...can you imagine what is going to happen when/if Bush wins re-election? I cannot wait to hear what ludicrous conspiracies these nitwits are going to concoct to allow them to say that Bush "stole" another set of elections.

Posted by: Andrew Ian Dodge at October 14, 2004 at 11:40 PM

"Breathe in fear and despair and blow out a never ending stream of activity; of decent activity."

Breath deep, the gathering gloom,
Watch lights fade from every room.
Bedsitter people look back and lament,
Another day's useless energy spent.
Impassioned lovers wrestle as one,
Lonely man cries for love and has none,
New Mother picks up and suckles her Son,
Senior citizens wish they were young.
Cold hearted orb, that rules the night,
Removes the colours from our sight.
Red is gray, and yellow white,
But we decide which is right.
And which is an illusion???
--Moody Blues

Posted by: LB at October 15, 2004 at 12:01 AM

While Labor is hunting for scapegoats the Greens are into serious denial .. not to mention drug induced hallucinations, as witness this quote from James Norman

"The party was successful in catapulting the Tasmanian forests issue to national prominence, despite Howard's choreographed schmoozing with the radical forestry division of the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union in what can only be described as the Coalition's attempt to pull off "forests overboard". Despite the dramatic front-page images depicting Howard as the hero of Tasmanian workers last week, the Coalition recorded its lowest national vote of 42 per cent in Tasmania – evidence that Tasmanians do wish to see their state's forests saved from the chainsaws."

Not since The French went into collective denial that Napoleon had lost Waterloo has the world seen such a total loss of reality among supposedly rational beings.

Posted by: Daemon at October 15, 2004 at 12:08 AM

so what's the deal, have the greens lost some seats or gained a couple?

Posted by: Amos at October 15, 2004 at 01:01 AM

So let me get this straight -- when the unwashed philosophers of the 60's were young, youth had all the answers; now that they're a pack of stinking old farts, they have "a few more years of experiencing life in its fullness"? What a disgusting narcissistic bunch.

Posted by: Mark from Monroe at October 15, 2004 at 01:11 AM

Despite the dramatic front-page images depicting Howard as the hero of Tasmanian workers last week

...which helped win the Coalition 2 crucial seats in Tasmania...

the Coalition recorded its lowest national vote of 42 per cent in Tasmania

...up more than 5 percent compared to 2001, their second biggest state-wide gain after Western Australia...

– evidence that Tasmanians do wish to see their state's forests saved from the chainsaws."

...except for those 45% who voted Liberal or Family First, perhaps.

I agree, their comments are plenty delusional.

Posted by: PW at October 15, 2004 at 01:11 AM

"remain virile"???

And what are the women of Australia expected to do then?

Pompous twit.

Posted by: Rebecca at October 15, 2004 at 01:31 AM

A poem I wrote once, similar to Adam's sentiments:

One night in fits of mead and mirth
I copulated with the Earth.
Now I regret my drunken lark,
As all my descendents have leaves, and bark.

-F. Covington

Posted by: Forrest Covington at October 15, 2004 at 01:37 AM

An environmentalist and a sculptor?

But... but.... HE'S CHIPPING THE ROCKS! MONSTER!

Posted by: richard mcenroe at October 15, 2004 at 01:59 AM

God, what a weiner!

Posted by: Darrell at October 15, 2004 at 02:24 AM

I thought Adam's words seemed vagauely familiar, at least in theme, to -
"As long as I breathe I hope. As long as I breathe I shall fight for the future, that radiant future, in which man, strong and beautiful, will become master of the drifting stream of his history and will direct it towards the boundless horizons of beauty, joy and happiness!"
Which is a quote from Leon Trotsky.
Scratch a progressive, find a commie.

Posted by: Terry at October 15, 2004 at 03:55 AM

From Andrew Bolts article: "That the voters who scream loudest about saving forests choose to live exactly in those suburbs with no forests to speak of."

He misses the point. The greens are more interested in saving the MUA (maritime union), raising income tax and nationalising privately owned businesses than they are about saving forests.

Posted by: Jonny at October 15, 2004 at 04:30 AM

Adams has evidently gotten some help from Robert Bosler in getting the nuts and bolts of his creativity flowing.

Posted by: Paul Zrimsek at October 15, 2004 at 05:10 AM

Beating Democracy?

Judging by his verbal - ahem - onanism, I'd say Peter Adams has also been beating something else waaaay too much recently.

We all need to kick in a few bucks so he can visit the local knocking shop.

MarkL
Canberra

Posted by: MarkL at October 15, 2004 at 08:56 AM

Graboy: I don't know. They might possibly send a dismissive look your way. Or perhaps a frown of disapproval. Or even the dread Scowl of Discountance. You'd better be careful.

Posted by: JorgXMcKie at October 15, 2004 at 04:07 PM