Thursday, February 19, 2015
Data retention: Wizardry or Incompetence.
Firstly, let's define what's happening here in 25 words or less... You might have got to the term 'data retention' and already tuned out... I don't blame you. It sounds boring, it is boring, and it is an incredibly and fundamentally important issue.
So what is it: The proposed Data Retention Legislation will require service providers i.e. private companies (like Telstra or your local ISP) to retain, for up to two years, 'metadata' (we will get to what that is) that tracks your telecommunications use. That is tracking and recording every phone call, location of, website use, and tracking of emails to and from every man, woman and child in the nation.This information is purported to be essential to stopping a future impending wave of crime or terrorism.
Tony Abbot said this: "If we don't keep this data, our crime fighting agencies and the police are flying blind." Certainly a great message of fear from our illustrious leader and his party.
What is it really about though? Let's start with METADATA. The word is thrown around a lot and our revered attorney general George Brandis recently told parliament that "this is a term that does not have a precise definition. It is a description rather than a definition.". No George, it actually does have a precise meaning, and let's hope you understand that BEFORE drafting legislation. Laws tend to be defined by precise definitions
So here it is: METADATA is DATA that describes OTHER DATA. Not that hard was it George?
So in the case of tracking a phone call for example: What you say on the call would be classed as PRIMARY DATA and everything else about the phone call: the time of the call; who you called; where you were when making the call; how long the call lasted; how much it cost; who paid for it; who owns the account; where the account holder lives; who they are married to; where they work; and so on and so forth... you get the idea: ALL THAT IS METADATA.
So in no particular order let's discuss the advantages and disadvantages:
No one would deny that increased foresight and awareness of criminal terrorist behavior would be a good thing for law enforcement. Advantage.
Achieving this increased awareness is dependent on one overriding principle. THE EFFECTIVENESS OF DATA RETENTION IS CONTINGENT ON ENSURING THAT 100% OF EVERY PIECE OF DATA TRANSMITTED IN AND OUT AND AROUND THE COUNTRY IS RETAINED AND ANALYSED.
Here's where it all falls apart. The legislation describes 'in scope' and 'out of scope' data.
No self respecting terrorist or criminal organisation is going to use a channel of communication that falls inside the scope of the data retention legislation. They are going to use methods outside the scope the legislation therefore rendering the purpose of the legislation inert.
The scheme describes that if you have an email account with say, BIGPOND then your metadata and activity will be tracked. If you opt to use an international email provider then it won't? What sort of incompetence is this? Yes, MR TERRORIST I know which one I will use.
...and then there is ENCRYPTION: technology available to every user on the internet. Available to encrypt data to and from internet connected devices so you have no idea what activity if any is being conducted. So, MR TERRORIST could conceivably create an encrypted 'tunnel' that connects to an endpoint outside the country, browse the web, make phone calls, send emails while all the time being outside the scope of the data retention legislation.
If that's not enough it's going to cost you and I around half a billion dollars to implement for little or no real benefit to national security. It is also going to significantly increase the operating costs of service providers, who will ultimately pass those costs onto you, the consumer, or fold as a number of providers are already doing because of compliance barriers.
Finally, there are the philosophical principles of privacy. In a world where our whole lives are on display people tend to treat this as nebulous, but privacy is a very real human need. It goes a long way to making us feel secure and safe, something every individual has a right to. People who dismiss this concern with the adage 'if you aren't doing something wrong you have no need to fear' need to reassess their idea that boundaries for human behaviour are fixed... They aren't. What is legal and acceptable now only changes because someone makes a law. It is law that shapes our social and national identity and our perception of who we are in the context of the greater international community.
In the end this story looks like legislation that is designed to surveil free citizens of Australia for little or no benefit to national security. A conspiracy theory might undertake that this is already known by the government and that national security is not the point. The alternative is even more preposterous, that the people designing the legislation have such a limited understanding of the implications and technological restrictions that they verge on incompetent. ( I personally think this is more likely) There is so much wrong with this idea we don't need any conspiracies to prove the point.
Thursday, January 22, 2015
I can't stand politics and I don't know how to vote.
So a number of people in the past few weeks have expressed to me these sentiments.
"I can't stand politics" : What you really mean is you can't stand the hype, the lies, the lack of integrity, the puffery and possibly even you can't see that it is relevant to your life.
"I don't know how to vote" or ("I just draw a cock and balls on it") :). So you turn up cast a vote (based on the best looking tie or hairstyle), you cast a donkey vote (put numbers in boxes according to any random method other than what policy they represent) or do an informal vote (get your name ticked off and ... draw a cock and balls).
So why is politics important to you. Voting age or not. Politics are important because other people are making decisions about your life without asking you. They make decisions on how much money you make (and how much they take off you), whether you can get welfare, who you can marry, how much things cost, whether you can get education, training or a job, when you can drink and have sex (and who you are allowed to do that with)... they are even making laws on how you are allowed to dress and what you are allowed to say. You may not like politics but you need to be involved. If you choose not to then you give permission for others to do what they like with your life without complaint. Don't vote effectively and you permit the same thing. I find it ironic when I see a Facebook complaint about the government.. but in the next breath they admit to not voting.
"My votes doesn't count." Especially true when you don't cast one. The media and the party based governments LOVE to try to control your vote but it's the only thing they can't control fully. Don't for a second believe that when you hear phrases like "A vote for an independent is a wasted vote" or "Putting independents in parliament means ineffective government" that these sayings are not created for a specific purpose. Translated in big party speak "A vote for an independent means we don't have control over that persons opinions in parliament, an independent is likely to form their opinions by representing their constituents at a grassroots level instead of mirroring the party line." I don't know about you but I can see clearly how damaging it would be to the major parties if parliament has a high number of independents. Don't be manipulated. A conscientious vote regardless of who you vote for ALP, LNP, Greens etc or an independent is never wasted, it is in fact your very important obligation. Individually we might all be worker bees... but imagine if each worker bee had the opinion that they didn't count. No honey for anyone.
Your vote is protected by the constitution. It cannot be taken away from you ... though some actions by political parties might seem to indicate otherwise. Political parties WANT you to vote... for THEM. They spend millions of dollars persuading you. They manipulate the media, online stories and use a lot of clever and subtle psychology to do so. The average person is unaware of just how much their opinions are being manipulated.
So bottom line: Make sure you make an informed vote!
No matter what party or candidate you vote for there is no wrong answer. This is the basis of democracy. Represent the majority opinion by the casting of an informed anonymous, uninfluenced votes. The only wrong answer is not to vote, and not to be informed.
If you got this far you are already probably tired of thinking about it. I encourage you to hang in there.
So you "don't know how to vote". Well it doesn't have to be a chore.
First find out who your local candidates are. For the upcoming Queensland State election you can go here: http://www.abc.net.au/news/qld-election-2015/guide/
Find your electorate, then your list of candidates. Get a feel for who they are, their history and the platforms they stand for. Most candidates have a webpage or facebook page that outlines what is important to them or what they consider a priority for the electorate or the State. A quick look will give you a good feel for each of the candidates. Each of the major parties also have web pages that outline their policies (whether they can be believed or not is another matter).
Of course you can read for hours... if you want to. However look how far you have come. You now know the electorate you live in, the parties that have candidates standing for election, and depending how much reading you did, you probably know what's important to them and what they promote as a priority for your area.
Here's the kicker: "How do I choose?". I am a big believer in voting with your own conscience. You need to vote for those policies that you feel are important. Whether they be important to you personally or in a broader community context. It's up to you. I once voted ALP because they had a better arts policy than LNP, that's all it took. I am here to reassure you that whatever your rationalisation, as long as it represents your thinking then that is ok. There is no right answer, this is about creating a representative government that reflects the needs and wishes of the people of which you are one, and an important one.
On voting day:
So in the upcoming State Election (31 January 2015) you will go to your local polling booth and get your name checked off on the register (you will need to be enrolled and have ID). You will then receive a ballot paper for the House of Representatives.
The House of Representatives:
This is the house of government that contains your locally elected representatives, they vote on laws, policy, how to spend state money and reforms. This affects you.
The ballot form will have the names of all the candidates in your local area listed randomly. The candidate name will also identify their affiliated party. You can vote in three ways: primary preference, partial preferential and full preferential.
Seems a bit confusing doesn't it? Which option to choose? Well let me encourage you to cast a a full preferential vote. It is important for you to vote for WHO you want elected, but under our preferential voting system it is also important for you to vote for who you DON'T want elected. Let me explain:
For example, if you were to vote for the Greens Candidate, but really didn't want your preferences to go to the LNP or ALP candidate then you would number your ballot paper in preference of the Green's candidate as number '1' and number all other candidates, leaving the ALP and LNP candidates last.
Alternatively if you like the LNP candidate and the Green's candidate you might number the Green's first, LNP second, and then ALP last with all other candidates being numbered in between. Don't waste the power of your preferences.
Finally, your vote is anonymous. Don't write abusive comments on it. No one who matters will ever read it. If you obscure the voting boxes your vote won't count. So as much as you want to, please resist the urge to draw a ' dick and balls' and enjoy exercising your constitutional power. Happy voting!
"I can't stand politics" : What you really mean is you can't stand the hype, the lies, the lack of integrity, the puffery and possibly even you can't see that it is relevant to your life.
"I don't know how to vote" or ("I just draw a cock and balls on it") :). So you turn up cast a vote (based on the best looking tie or hairstyle), you cast a donkey vote (put numbers in boxes according to any random method other than what policy they represent) or do an informal vote (get your name ticked off and ... draw a cock and balls).
So why is politics important to you. Voting age or not. Politics are important because other people are making decisions about your life without asking you. They make decisions on how much money you make (and how much they take off you), whether you can get welfare, who you can marry, how much things cost, whether you can get education, training or a job, when you can drink and have sex (and who you are allowed to do that with)... they are even making laws on how you are allowed to dress and what you are allowed to say. You may not like politics but you need to be involved. If you choose not to then you give permission for others to do what they like with your life without complaint. Don't vote effectively and you permit the same thing. I find it ironic when I see a Facebook complaint about the government.. but in the next breath they admit to not voting.
"My votes doesn't count." Especially true when you don't cast one. The media and the party based governments LOVE to try to control your vote but it's the only thing they can't control fully. Don't for a second believe that when you hear phrases like "A vote for an independent is a wasted vote" or "Putting independents in parliament means ineffective government" that these sayings are not created for a specific purpose. Translated in big party speak "A vote for an independent means we don't have control over that persons opinions in parliament, an independent is likely to form their opinions by representing their constituents at a grassroots level instead of mirroring the party line." I don't know about you but I can see clearly how damaging it would be to the major parties if parliament has a high number of independents. Don't be manipulated. A conscientious vote regardless of who you vote for ALP, LNP, Greens etc or an independent is never wasted, it is in fact your very important obligation. Individually we might all be worker bees... but imagine if each worker bee had the opinion that they didn't count. No honey for anyone.
Your vote is protected by the constitution. It cannot be taken away from you ... though some actions by political parties might seem to indicate otherwise. Political parties WANT you to vote... for THEM. They spend millions of dollars persuading you. They manipulate the media, online stories and use a lot of clever and subtle psychology to do so. The average person is unaware of just how much their opinions are being manipulated.
So bottom line: Make sure you make an informed vote!
No matter what party or candidate you vote for there is no wrong answer. This is the basis of democracy. Represent the majority opinion by the casting of an informed anonymous, uninfluenced votes. The only wrong answer is not to vote, and not to be informed.
If you got this far you are already probably tired of thinking about it. I encourage you to hang in there.
So you "don't know how to vote". Well it doesn't have to be a chore.
First find out who your local candidates are. For the upcoming Queensland State election you can go here: http://www.abc.net.au/news/qld-election-2015/guide/
Find your electorate, then your list of candidates. Get a feel for who they are, their history and the platforms they stand for. Most candidates have a webpage or facebook page that outlines what is important to them or what they consider a priority for the electorate or the State. A quick look will give you a good feel for each of the candidates. Each of the major parties also have web pages that outline their policies (whether they can be believed or not is another matter).
Of course you can read for hours... if you want to. However look how far you have come. You now know the electorate you live in, the parties that have candidates standing for election, and depending how much reading you did, you probably know what's important to them and what they promote as a priority for your area.
Here's the kicker: "How do I choose?". I am a big believer in voting with your own conscience. You need to vote for those policies that you feel are important. Whether they be important to you personally or in a broader community context. It's up to you. I once voted ALP because they had a better arts policy than LNP, that's all it took. I am here to reassure you that whatever your rationalisation, as long as it represents your thinking then that is ok. There is no right answer, this is about creating a representative government that reflects the needs and wishes of the people of which you are one, and an important one.
On voting day:
So in the upcoming State Election (31 January 2015) you will go to your local polling booth and get your name checked off on the register (you will need to be enrolled and have ID). You will then receive a ballot paper for the House of Representatives.
The House of Representatives:
This is the house of government that contains your locally elected representatives, they vote on laws, policy, how to spend state money and reforms. This affects you.
The ballot form will have the names of all the candidates in your local area listed randomly. The candidate name will also identify their affiliated party. You can vote in three ways: primary preference, partial preferential and full preferential.
- If you wish to cast a single vote for one candidate only you put a '1' against the candidate name, leave all other boxes empty. Your vote will be counted as a primary vote with no preferences.
- Alternatively, you can number "1,2 and 3" against the names of the top 3 candidates and leave all other boxes empty.
- Finally you can also choose to put a preference against every name in order of first to last preference.
- Voting in any other way will make you vote informal and it will not be counted.
Seems a bit confusing doesn't it? Which option to choose? Well let me encourage you to cast a a full preferential vote. It is important for you to vote for WHO you want elected, but under our preferential voting system it is also important for you to vote for who you DON'T want elected. Let me explain:
For example, if you were to vote for the Greens Candidate, but really didn't want your preferences to go to the LNP or ALP candidate then you would number your ballot paper in preference of the Green's candidate as number '1' and number all other candidates, leaving the ALP and LNP candidates last.
Alternatively if you like the LNP candidate and the Green's candidate you might number the Green's first, LNP second, and then ALP last with all other candidates being numbered in between. Don't waste the power of your preferences.
Finally, your vote is anonymous. Don't write abusive comments on it. No one who matters will ever read it. If you obscure the voting boxes your vote won't count. So as much as you want to, please resist the urge to draw a ' dick and balls' and enjoy exercising your constitutional power. Happy voting!
Monday, November 4, 2013
To Serve and Protect?
It is generally agreed that the most important single function of government is to secure the rights and freedoms of individual citizens. - Ezra Taft Benson
So I read this legislation: The Vicious Lawless Association Disestablishment Bill 2013. On the face of it, it looks like a hard line stance against people associating for the purposes of illegal activity. If you have been wondering what all the hoohah is about, here are a couple of salient problematic points.
1. Under the act: An 'association' can mean a group of 3 or more people gathered in association whether constituted ( as in a club or association ) or informal (as in a bunch of friends) whether legal or illegal. Bottom line this means a group of 3 or more people in any situation can be deemed to be in 'association'.
2. Police action is linked to 'proscribed offences' (from unlawful assembly, and riot to more serious crimes like drugs and murder) i.e. if you commit an a proscribed offence in association with 2 other people then this Act covers your actions.
If these fundamentals are fulfilled then you have committed an offence under the Vicious Lawless Association Disestablishment Bill 2013. As such the courts are obligated to sentence you for the 'crime' and add an additional 15 years mandatory imprisonment above and beyond the initial sentence. If at the time your were an 'office holder' (this covers informal organisers, leaders as well as officials of a formal association) then you will also attract an additional 10 years mandatory sentencing (mandatory means the court has no discretion not to add this sentence).
So for example: If you committed armed robbery as the leader of a bikie gang, you might attract a sentence of 7 years for the armed robbery, 15 years manadatory sentencing as a member of the gang, and an additional 10 years as an official of the gang. A total of 32 years imprisonment with no parole considered on the 25 years extended sentence.
Any thinking, socially conscious person might be excused for thinking "Well if they were acting lawfully they wouldn't be in trouble... so throw away the key!"... To be honest, I am not far off that opinion either HOWEVER this is NOT the full story here.
If this armed robbery was committed with a bunch of mates you are acquainted with... you would also fall under the same rules of association.
You might still say "do the crime do the time". Fair enough.
3 teenagers who shoplift together... on my reading they would still fall under the rules of 'proscribed offence' and 'rules of association'....
Still you might say "throw away the key"... I might not disagree.
Now consider this article : Taking to the streets of Brisbane
Under the new act anyone participating in these protests, if they occured now, would attract mandatory sentencing of 10 years per person and 25 years for protest organisers. (keep in mind unlawful assembly is one of the proscribed offences in the act). Police and the courts do not have the discretion NOT to charge someone covered in this act. It is mandatory.
OK now I hear you say that's all history and we are smarter now? more enlightened?... hmm are we? ... Often it is actions like these that protest the status quo that has historically made the most drastic and positive changes in our society. As the saying goes...what we don't learn from we are doomed to repeat.
Most of the women's sufferage protests would have been illegal under this new Act. Women would never have got the vote, as the organisers would have been spending a life sentence in prison.
Women's Sufferage Chronology
There is a strong history of student activism in this country. Student protests are often ad hoc, emotional, responses to a diverse range of concerns. Often guilty of unlawful assembly, most of these protests would fall under the Act. If you do not obtain a permit (from the government) to hold a 'lawful' protest as a group then you will potentially be also covered by this Act. It would be a travesty to spend 15 years in jail for protesting a rise in student fees.
These out of control teen parties would also now be covered by this new act.
http://www.couriermail.com.au/technology/news/reforms-crack-down-on-parents-and-teens-to-control-facebook-parties/story-fniho3wq-1226675350420
http://www.themorningbulletin.com.au/news/party-safe-helps-avoid-problems/1990625/
Time will tell how this legislation will impact the average person in our (yes ours not the government's!) society. Whether the latitude in the Act will be exploited to control the population. (Keep in mind the government is OUR servant not the other way around). Let's hope little Johnny isn't caught up in a drunken teen party that gets out of hand, or anyone wants to gather in the Queen Street Mall to protest this government's new range of behaviour modifying legislations. If you do want to protest, make sure you do it alone, do not discuss it with friends, and make sure you have a permit to do so.
It begs the question. "If it is determined that the state parliament have breached the constitution, and as an association of peers will they be held accountable under the Act?" .. Ok that's bit tongue in cheek... but keep in mind this legislation was passed with no research, and no public consultation in three days of closed parliament. You will hear the government consistently quote "It is only a minority who are against this legislation, most Queenslanders are behind us" ... Again there is no research and no evidence of this. It is all just spin and hype. If you are one of those who accept that "if I think that everyone else thinks something then I might as well agree" then read no further. Turn off your brains you don't need them anymore.
On last comment: Politics has NO BUSINESS directing the judicial system. They are separated for VERY good reasons. This should worry us all.
If you would like to read this legislation in full click on the link below. This Act will be reviewed in 3 years lets hope some sanity is regained. I have my doubts. When has any government relinquished control once granted.
Link to the Vicious Lawless Association Disestablishment Bill 2013
Caveat to the above: I am not a lawyer. I have no legal qualifications. I am just an interested observer as you should be.
So I read this legislation: The Vicious Lawless Association Disestablishment Bill 2013. On the face of it, it looks like a hard line stance against people associating for the purposes of illegal activity. If you have been wondering what all the hoohah is about, here are a couple of salient problematic points.
1. Under the act: An 'association' can mean a group of 3 or more people gathered in association whether constituted ( as in a club or association ) or informal (as in a bunch of friends) whether legal or illegal. Bottom line this means a group of 3 or more people in any situation can be deemed to be in 'association'.
2. Police action is linked to 'proscribed offences' (from unlawful assembly, and riot to more serious crimes like drugs and murder) i.e. if you commit an a proscribed offence in association with 2 other people then this Act covers your actions.
If these fundamentals are fulfilled then you have committed an offence under the Vicious Lawless Association Disestablishment Bill 2013. As such the courts are obligated to sentence you for the 'crime' and add an additional 15 years mandatory imprisonment above and beyond the initial sentence. If at the time your were an 'office holder' (this covers informal organisers, leaders as well as officials of a formal association) then you will also attract an additional 10 years mandatory sentencing (mandatory means the court has no discretion not to add this sentence).
So for example: If you committed armed robbery as the leader of a bikie gang, you might attract a sentence of 7 years for the armed robbery, 15 years manadatory sentencing as a member of the gang, and an additional 10 years as an official of the gang. A total of 32 years imprisonment with no parole considered on the 25 years extended sentence.
Any thinking, socially conscious person might be excused for thinking "Well if they were acting lawfully they wouldn't be in trouble... so throw away the key!"... To be honest, I am not far off that opinion either HOWEVER this is NOT the full story here.
If this armed robbery was committed with a bunch of mates you are acquainted with... you would also fall under the same rules of association.
You might still say "do the crime do the time". Fair enough.
3 teenagers who shoplift together... on my reading they would still fall under the rules of 'proscribed offence' and 'rules of association'....
Still you might say "throw away the key"... I might not disagree.
Now consider this article : Taking to the streets of Brisbane
Under the new act anyone participating in these protests, if they occured now, would attract mandatory sentencing of 10 years per person and 25 years for protest organisers. (keep in mind unlawful assembly is one of the proscribed offences in the act). Police and the courts do not have the discretion NOT to charge someone covered in this act. It is mandatory.
OK now I hear you say that's all history and we are smarter now? more enlightened?... hmm are we? ... Often it is actions like these that protest the status quo that has historically made the most drastic and positive changes in our society. As the saying goes...what we don't learn from we are doomed to repeat.
Most of the women's sufferage protests would have been illegal under this new Act. Women would never have got the vote, as the organisers would have been spending a life sentence in prison.
Women's Sufferage Chronology
There is a strong history of student activism in this country. Student protests are often ad hoc, emotional, responses to a diverse range of concerns. Often guilty of unlawful assembly, most of these protests would fall under the Act. If you do not obtain a permit (from the government) to hold a 'lawful' protest as a group then you will potentially be also covered by this Act. It would be a travesty to spend 15 years in jail for protesting a rise in student fees.
These out of control teen parties would also now be covered by this new act.
http://www.couriermail.com.au/technology/news/reforms-crack-down-on-parents-and-teens-to-control-facebook-parties/story-fniho3wq-1226675350420
http://www.themorningbulletin.com.au/news/party-safe-helps-avoid-problems/1990625/
Time will tell how this legislation will impact the average person in our (yes ours not the government's!) society. Whether the latitude in the Act will be exploited to control the population. (Keep in mind the government is OUR servant not the other way around). Let's hope little Johnny isn't caught up in a drunken teen party that gets out of hand, or anyone wants to gather in the Queen Street Mall to protest this government's new range of behaviour modifying legislations. If you do want to protest, make sure you do it alone, do not discuss it with friends, and make sure you have a permit to do so.
It begs the question. "If it is determined that the state parliament have breached the constitution, and as an association of peers will they be held accountable under the Act?" .. Ok that's bit tongue in cheek... but keep in mind this legislation was passed with no research, and no public consultation in three days of closed parliament. You will hear the government consistently quote "It is only a minority who are against this legislation, most Queenslanders are behind us" ... Again there is no research and no evidence of this. It is all just spin and hype. If you are one of those who accept that "if I think that everyone else thinks something then I might as well agree" then read no further. Turn off your brains you don't need them anymore.
On last comment: Politics has NO BUSINESS directing the judicial system. They are separated for VERY good reasons. This should worry us all.
If you would like to read this legislation in full click on the link below. This Act will be reviewed in 3 years lets hope some sanity is regained. I have my doubts. When has any government relinquished control once granted.
Link to the Vicious Lawless Association Disestablishment Bill 2013
Caveat to the above: I am not a lawyer. I have no legal qualifications. I am just an interested observer as you should be.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
On awareness and healing...
Recently a friend asked me what my take on psychic awareness and healing is...
Firstly to separate the concepts... psychic? I don't like the term because it implies some 'special' ability for something I like to think of as a sixth sense which everybody posseses. The difference is that people who are 'psychic' or 'naturally psychic' are more aware of what they are listening to. I think children are naturally aware and we train ourselves out of listening to this sense... or perhaps simply begin to take it for granted as we become comfortable and implicit with the information...
The information we gain from our sixth sense is a bucket of awareness that sits outside of our physical senses... for example when you walk into your home after having been away... you know if someone has been there, is there or if your home is empty. If someone stares at you across the room... you can feel it. Mothers know when their kids are misbehaving... etc it involves intuition, interpretation, imagination and visualisation. When trained and understood I believe this we like to call psychic.
However the extension of this thinking is an understanding that we are not just physical and mental beings but also spiritual or energetic beings. I believe that true health is a balance between these three aspects of the human condition.
We are very familiar with the symptoms of physical ill health... pain, swelling, nausea.. etc. Mental health symptoms are also familiar and an accepted part of modern medical practice... yet even today with evidence to the contrary we often are oblivious to the effect of spiritual health to our overall wellbeing.
Sports people are very familiar with maintaining a balance across these three human aspects during intense training regimes. They will train and feed their bodies, learn skills and strategies to exercise their minds, and motivate and visualise to energise their spirit.
In regard to healing, I don't believe in psychic healing I do believe in tools to heal the body, the mind, and most definitely tools to heal the spirit and that by aligning all aspects in a positive direction that the maximum potential for healing can take place.
The health of the body can determine how we feel mentally, and how we feel mentally can determine the health of our body. This is generally accepted by modern medicine. If you however accept that we are also energetic or spiritual beings then you must also accept the extension that the health of our spiritual aspect can also affect our physical and mental health.
This is in no way a discourse on religion or its merits however most religions have a central focus on spirituality. Simply by merit of identifying our spiritual aspect we are able to bring into focus the integration of mind, body, and spirit. A successful maintenance program of physical, mental and enrgetic wellbeing with ensure you maximise your potential for good health.
So what are the tools of our three human aspects. For the body you will already be familiar with nutrition, hygiene and exercise. For your mind speech, learning and problem solving. Finally, for your spirit, imagination and visualisation.
Think about it. Feed your body and exercise it. Teach your mind and think. Imagine and energise your spirit by visualisation.
An Olympic sprinter will exercise and feed his body. This will increase muscle mass, it will train his body for a specific response to the activity of his event. He will learn the skills, feet positioning, strategies needed to complete the event. He will also imagine and visualise himself winning, breaking the ribbon, and standing on the podium. It is a accepted and encouraged integration of mind, body and spirit that will turn him into a medal winning athlete.
So the question is if this is what it takes to maintain an athlete at peak performance, why don't we apply the same methodology to our everyday lives. Maintaining our physical, mental and energetic well being is infinitely easier than what is required to create a world class athlete. The benefits of maintaining this balance far outway the effort involved and could hold the key to better health, happiness and longevity.
Something to think on anyway... and to be continued
Firstly to separate the concepts... psychic? I don't like the term because it implies some 'special' ability for something I like to think of as a sixth sense which everybody posseses. The difference is that people who are 'psychic' or 'naturally psychic' are more aware of what they are listening to. I think children are naturally aware and we train ourselves out of listening to this sense... or perhaps simply begin to take it for granted as we become comfortable and implicit with the information...
The information we gain from our sixth sense is a bucket of awareness that sits outside of our physical senses... for example when you walk into your home after having been away... you know if someone has been there, is there or if your home is empty. If someone stares at you across the room... you can feel it. Mothers know when their kids are misbehaving... etc it involves intuition, interpretation, imagination and visualisation. When trained and understood I believe this we like to call psychic.
However the extension of this thinking is an understanding that we are not just physical and mental beings but also spiritual or energetic beings. I believe that true health is a balance between these three aspects of the human condition.
We are very familiar with the symptoms of physical ill health... pain, swelling, nausea.. etc. Mental health symptoms are also familiar and an accepted part of modern medical practice... yet even today with evidence to the contrary we often are oblivious to the effect of spiritual health to our overall wellbeing.
Sports people are very familiar with maintaining a balance across these three human aspects during intense training regimes. They will train and feed their bodies, learn skills and strategies to exercise their minds, and motivate and visualise to energise their spirit.
In regard to healing, I don't believe in psychic healing I do believe in tools to heal the body, the mind, and most definitely tools to heal the spirit and that by aligning all aspects in a positive direction that the maximum potential for healing can take place.
The health of the body can determine how we feel mentally, and how we feel mentally can determine the health of our body. This is generally accepted by modern medicine. If you however accept that we are also energetic or spiritual beings then you must also accept the extension that the health of our spiritual aspect can also affect our physical and mental health.
This is in no way a discourse on religion or its merits however most religions have a central focus on spirituality. Simply by merit of identifying our spiritual aspect we are able to bring into focus the integration of mind, body, and spirit. A successful maintenance program of physical, mental and enrgetic wellbeing with ensure you maximise your potential for good health.
So what are the tools of our three human aspects. For the body you will already be familiar with nutrition, hygiene and exercise. For your mind speech, learning and problem solving. Finally, for your spirit, imagination and visualisation.
Think about it. Feed your body and exercise it. Teach your mind and think. Imagine and energise your spirit by visualisation.
An Olympic sprinter will exercise and feed his body. This will increase muscle mass, it will train his body for a specific response to the activity of his event. He will learn the skills, feet positioning, strategies needed to complete the event. He will also imagine and visualise himself winning, breaking the ribbon, and standing on the podium. It is a accepted and encouraged integration of mind, body and spirit that will turn him into a medal winning athlete.
So the question is if this is what it takes to maintain an athlete at peak performance, why don't we apply the same methodology to our everyday lives. Maintaining our physical, mental and energetic well being is infinitely easier than what is required to create a world class athlete. The benefits of maintaining this balance far outway the effort involved and could hold the key to better health, happiness and longevity.
Something to think on anyway... and to be continued
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Is it just me... ?
Is it a sad reflection of our society that we have such poor, insipid leaders? Is this the best our society can produce? The current election has already bored most people to tears with the lack of policy differentiation, and lack of genuine political backbone... Is this the election the nation just has to have? I, for one, can think of better ways to spend my time than watching two very bad actors play their parts, propped up by bad scripting.
It is disappointing to me that two experienced politicians like Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott believe that the average constituent is a moron. With slogans like 'moving forward' and 'fair dinkum' do they really believe Australian public is so naive and gullible? Even the most unsophisticated voter has very real issues they would like addressed. Issues that affect our day to day quality of life.
Let look at some of the BIG issues this election....
Boat People...
Our borders are under threat! No they aren't ... Our so called leaders know this very well. There is no flotilla of boats heading this way threatening our way of life. This is an issue of emotion and moral panic. Who of our brave leaders can best protect us from the nasty invading hoards?
Well dear reader... be informed. Boat people is an issue. It is a problem that needs a solution. It is NOT an election issue. Of the just under 5000 people who sought refugee status in Australia last year..(get ready) ONLY about 160 of those came here by boat. Of the balance most are illegal immigrants by virtue of arriving by plane (almost half) and the balance are people who try to immigrate by overstaying visitors visas. We should be more concerned about the 9000 illegal fishermen destroying our fisheries. We don't hear about the real problem, we hear about the fear. We are tempted to vote on these issues by our so called leaders watering down a standard political process that happens and is managed every year regardless of who is in government. Interesting though that both Gillard and Abbott are both immigrants ... Tony Abbott was born in England and Julia Gillard was born in Wales.
The fact of the immigration issue is that Australia signed a United Nation's agreement that designates us as a safe refuge for people escaping persecution and human rights travesties. This is as it should be... as 'decent' human beings we have an obligation to protect and defend the weak. Of those people who arrived by boat up to 80% were processed and granted genuine refugee status. However if you arrive by boat you will be interred in a processing centre until your refugee status is confirmed. If you are a refugee who arrives by plane you will be granted an immediate bridging visa, allowing you to live and work in the community while your claim is assessed. Only about 50% of refugees who arrive by plane are assessed as genuine refugees. So why dear voter are you voting on an election issue based on boat people? The easiest political motivator - fear.
Ask yourself, why is there a hot election issue about a couple of hundred boat people but we never hear about real australian issues like the estimated 105,000 homeless across the nation. Where are health issues like obesity, smoking, and alcoholism on our political agenda?
Is everyone sick of hearing about climate change... and then hearing our politicians continue to do nothing about it? Simple things? The Labour government tried (and failed) to deliver any substantial climate action. Gillard claims to have buckets of money for renewable energy if she is reelected, they will also roll out the national broadband network, and a computer for every student. We tend to ignore the fact that the previous Labour government used these promises when they first came into government and failed to deliver. Of course the liberal party just has no policy regarding climate change or renewable energy. So vote for the party that doesn't deliver or the part that has no ideas? Not much of a choice.
There are great projects struggling in this country and none of them include adding a new tax to our economy. One of the most simple was the making incandescent lights obsolete. Easy to do.. shares the load of implementation.. saved 0.14% of total carbon emissions .. forever. This dear voter is the tip of the iceberg there are many, many 'changes' in the way we live, manufacture, distribute, grow and travel and none of them require us to adversely impact our economic strength.
Of course then there is health. More beds, more hospitals, more doctors, more nurses!... How about healthier people! How about we regulate what goes into our foods, what we feed our kids, how much 'fast food' is allowed to be more confectionery than staples. Why are we still allowing people to smoke and then letting them get access to free health care. If you intentionally harm yourself... this will render most insurance claims void. However despite the serious and confirmed health problems of putting a cigarette in your mouth, or abusing alcohol knowing the confirmed damage it does.. we as a nation still fund an increasing health care bill. I am not advocating precluding sick people from health care.. but let's try to seriously fix the problem before it becomes one.
While on health let's talk about the economy. Labour's economic policy = spend money, make people happy, if we run out, cut low profile programs, add a new tax, increase existing ones or borrow it. Labour's attitude of 'gifting' money to 'needy' programs needs serious reassessment. It is already the nation's money and the government is 'in trust' to manage that money, not just spend it. Liberals have a tendency to run everything as a business which economically is exceptional... but not every worthy program has a financial return.. look at the BIG issue about paid maternity leave. Why do mother's have to fight for this? The formative months of a new born's life are proven to be critical to self esteem, self identity and confidence as a human being. This IS an INVESTMENT in mental health of both the mother/father and the child. Yet both parties seem to treat this like this is some sort of holiday entitlement.
However you vote this election don't get sucked in by the rhetoric. Tony Abbott is a Rhodes scholar with degrees in Law and Economics, and a masters in Arts. he is not a stupid man, nor is he badly spoken... watch the debate recently and you see a man who struggles to get his tongue around the words 'fair dinkum' even though he said this phrase more then 20 times. Julia Gillard is a well spoken, articulate woman who reads her script well, never completed her formal education but instead cut her degree short to work with the Australian Union of Students. My purpose here dear voter is not to disparage education and its value to a potential leader of this nation. It is instead to highlight that what you see is NOT what you are getting. I encourage you look deeper, take responsibility for your vote. God knows how any conscientious, concerned citizen can make a choice between these two candidates.
At least in Masterchef if you don't bake the cake right neither team wins.
It is disappointing to me that two experienced politicians like Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott believe that the average constituent is a moron. With slogans like 'moving forward' and 'fair dinkum' do they really believe Australian public is so naive and gullible? Even the most unsophisticated voter has very real issues they would like addressed. Issues that affect our day to day quality of life.
Let look at some of the BIG issues this election....
Boat People...
Our borders are under threat! No they aren't ... Our so called leaders know this very well. There is no flotilla of boats heading this way threatening our way of life. This is an issue of emotion and moral panic. Who of our brave leaders can best protect us from the nasty invading hoards?
Well dear reader... be informed. Boat people is an issue. It is a problem that needs a solution. It is NOT an election issue. Of the just under 5000 people who sought refugee status in Australia last year..(get ready) ONLY about 160 of those came here by boat. Of the balance most are illegal immigrants by virtue of arriving by plane (almost half) and the balance are people who try to immigrate by overstaying visitors visas. We should be more concerned about the 9000 illegal fishermen destroying our fisheries. We don't hear about the real problem, we hear about the fear. We are tempted to vote on these issues by our so called leaders watering down a standard political process that happens and is managed every year regardless of who is in government. Interesting though that both Gillard and Abbott are both immigrants ... Tony Abbott was born in England and Julia Gillard was born in Wales.
The fact of the immigration issue is that Australia signed a United Nation's agreement that designates us as a safe refuge for people escaping persecution and human rights travesties. This is as it should be... as 'decent' human beings we have an obligation to protect and defend the weak. Of those people who arrived by boat up to 80% were processed and granted genuine refugee status. However if you arrive by boat you will be interred in a processing centre until your refugee status is confirmed. If you are a refugee who arrives by plane you will be granted an immediate bridging visa, allowing you to live and work in the community while your claim is assessed. Only about 50% of refugees who arrive by plane are assessed as genuine refugees. So why dear voter are you voting on an election issue based on boat people? The easiest political motivator - fear.
Ask yourself, why is there a hot election issue about a couple of hundred boat people but we never hear about real australian issues like the estimated 105,000 homeless across the nation. Where are health issues like obesity, smoking, and alcoholism on our political agenda?
Is everyone sick of hearing about climate change... and then hearing our politicians continue to do nothing about it? Simple things? The Labour government tried (and failed) to deliver any substantial climate action. Gillard claims to have buckets of money for renewable energy if she is reelected, they will also roll out the national broadband network, and a computer for every student. We tend to ignore the fact that the previous Labour government used these promises when they first came into government and failed to deliver. Of course the liberal party just has no policy regarding climate change or renewable energy. So vote for the party that doesn't deliver or the part that has no ideas? Not much of a choice.
There are great projects struggling in this country and none of them include adding a new tax to our economy. One of the most simple was the making incandescent lights obsolete. Easy to do.. shares the load of implementation.. saved 0.14% of total carbon emissions .. forever. This dear voter is the tip of the iceberg there are many, many 'changes' in the way we live, manufacture, distribute, grow and travel and none of them require us to adversely impact our economic strength.
Of course then there is health. More beds, more hospitals, more doctors, more nurses!... How about healthier people! How about we regulate what goes into our foods, what we feed our kids, how much 'fast food' is allowed to be more confectionery than staples. Why are we still allowing people to smoke and then letting them get access to free health care. If you intentionally harm yourself... this will render most insurance claims void. However despite the serious and confirmed health problems of putting a cigarette in your mouth, or abusing alcohol knowing the confirmed damage it does.. we as a nation still fund an increasing health care bill. I am not advocating precluding sick people from health care.. but let's try to seriously fix the problem before it becomes one.
While on health let's talk about the economy. Labour's economic policy = spend money, make people happy, if we run out, cut low profile programs, add a new tax, increase existing ones or borrow it. Labour's attitude of 'gifting' money to 'needy' programs needs serious reassessment. It is already the nation's money and the government is 'in trust' to manage that money, not just spend it. Liberals have a tendency to run everything as a business which economically is exceptional... but not every worthy program has a financial return.. look at the BIG issue about paid maternity leave. Why do mother's have to fight for this? The formative months of a new born's life are proven to be critical to self esteem, self identity and confidence as a human being. This IS an INVESTMENT in mental health of both the mother/father and the child. Yet both parties seem to treat this like this is some sort of holiday entitlement.
However you vote this election don't get sucked in by the rhetoric. Tony Abbott is a Rhodes scholar with degrees in Law and Economics, and a masters in Arts. he is not a stupid man, nor is he badly spoken... watch the debate recently and you see a man who struggles to get his tongue around the words 'fair dinkum' even though he said this phrase more then 20 times. Julia Gillard is a well spoken, articulate woman who reads her script well, never completed her formal education but instead cut her degree short to work with the Australian Union of Students. My purpose here dear voter is not to disparage education and its value to a potential leader of this nation. It is instead to highlight that what you see is NOT what you are getting. I encourage you look deeper, take responsibility for your vote. God knows how any conscientious, concerned citizen can make a choice between these two candidates.
At least in Masterchef if you don't bake the cake right neither team wins.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
To my friends..
I have found a common theme running through many of my dearest friends lately and I am relating to it as well. This is for all my friends who I admire so much, who astound me with their energy to fight life's battles but sometimes feel they are not moving... change is ever present and if you feel you are not moving then it is only because you are at the centre of the storm.
"Oh dreary dreamer take the energy of your self denial and purpose it to a great fortitude, one that holds the attention of your soul. Deny your doubts and feel the fibre's of your life's pull... Take heart that your purpose is self evident and all it need's is your recognition. Be comforted that it is ever present regardless of your diversions. Take heart dear soul your life is filled with poetry, from the moment you wake the meter of your day is set, all you have to do is express the rhyme and find the words..."
"Oh dreary dreamer take the energy of your self denial and purpose it to a great fortitude, one that holds the attention of your soul. Deny your doubts and feel the fibre's of your life's pull... Take heart that your purpose is self evident and all it need's is your recognition. Be comforted that it is ever present regardless of your diversions. Take heart dear soul your life is filled with poetry, from the moment you wake the meter of your day is set, all you have to do is express the rhyme and find the words..."
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Just in time...
I struggle. Often I feel as if my feet are dragging through the mud of life. As I lift one the other is sucked deeper into the mire.
Our grandparents had the answer. "Don't put off until tomorrow what you can do today"... "A stitch in time saves nine"... "A rolling stone gathers no moss"... and so forth. I can still see my adolescent eyes rolling...
In each generation we gain a lot, but I also believe we lose wisdom. Technology allows instant access to information, technology, services and products. Our lives are convenient, and ready to serve. In the days of our grandparents, they worked for each gain. The ethic of working for gains was apparent, and self evident. If you didn't embrace it you didn't eat. The ethic of getting 'your ducks in a row' was not a matter of good organisation it was a matter of survival.
In our soft, welfare fuelled world where has the drive and competitiveness that kept us healthy and alive gone... Depression is rife... Obesity and diabetes is out of control... our love for our fellow man and our community is desensitised. We are sedantary, in fact energetically we have slowed down so much it is a wonder we are still alive. I despair for us. For our race.
It is time to regain our energy, our self respect, and our connection with life. Issues and problems have a way of clumping together to look bigger than they are. Like the bogey man in the closet, our brains love to over dramatise. I am consistently amazed at problems I solved, almost without effort after months of worrying and procrastination. The Chinese were thinkers. I love thinkers. If you ask the Chinese how to eat an elephant they would tell you 'one bite at a time'. This is also the secret to getting your feet out of the mud and regaining some sense of control in your life.
Identify each of your problems as individual issues, don't waste time with 'what if's' or 'if only's' you will only sink deeper. Once you identify a problem, identify the first thing that can be done about it. Now comes the big secret. DO IT! Do that one thing that can be done right now! Suddenly, like a ball of wool, the problem, that thing that has been holding you back will unravel. Follow the string through to the end. Let it go. This is important once a problem is solved, let it go! Visualise the end of that string being pulled out of your hands or cut with a pair of scissors. It is no longer your problem. Recover the energy you were wasting by worrying and relax. Of course then repeat until you can see the light.
Get your gumboots on and start chewing!
Our grandparents had the answer. "Don't put off until tomorrow what you can do today"... "A stitch in time saves nine"... "A rolling stone gathers no moss"... and so forth. I can still see my adolescent eyes rolling...
In each generation we gain a lot, but I also believe we lose wisdom. Technology allows instant access to information, technology, services and products. Our lives are convenient, and ready to serve. In the days of our grandparents, they worked for each gain. The ethic of working for gains was apparent, and self evident. If you didn't embrace it you didn't eat. The ethic of getting 'your ducks in a row' was not a matter of good organisation it was a matter of survival.
In our soft, welfare fuelled world where has the drive and competitiveness that kept us healthy and alive gone... Depression is rife... Obesity and diabetes is out of control... our love for our fellow man and our community is desensitised. We are sedantary, in fact energetically we have slowed down so much it is a wonder we are still alive. I despair for us. For our race.
It is time to regain our energy, our self respect, and our connection with life. Issues and problems have a way of clumping together to look bigger than they are. Like the bogey man in the closet, our brains love to over dramatise. I am consistently amazed at problems I solved, almost without effort after months of worrying and procrastination. The Chinese were thinkers. I love thinkers. If you ask the Chinese how to eat an elephant they would tell you 'one bite at a time'. This is also the secret to getting your feet out of the mud and regaining some sense of control in your life.
Identify each of your problems as individual issues, don't waste time with 'what if's' or 'if only's' you will only sink deeper. Once you identify a problem, identify the first thing that can be done about it. Now comes the big secret. DO IT! Do that one thing that can be done right now! Suddenly, like a ball of wool, the problem, that thing that has been holding you back will unravel. Follow the string through to the end. Let it go. This is important once a problem is solved, let it go! Visualise the end of that string being pulled out of your hands or cut with a pair of scissors. It is no longer your problem. Recover the energy you were wasting by worrying and relax. Of course then repeat until you can see the light.
Get your gumboots on and start chewing!
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