Random Act of Blogness

Friday, 11 April 2008

Clarke and Dawe go global with Rudd

10/04/2008 - John Clarke and Bryan Dawe on Rudd's international tour.

Video: Real Media (hi) | Real Media (lo) | Windows Media (hi) | Windows Media (lo)

Rudd speaks his mind

It's a source of pride for me as an Australian that Prime Minister Rudd has spoken so openly in China (and in Mandarin for that matter) about the ongoing human rights abuses in Tibet. It will only be when world leaders stand up to the tyrannical Chinese Government that we will see change beginning in Tibet.

He wasn't bowed by Chinese official protests and spoke to the Chinese people directly at Peking University, allowing them to hear what the world thinks without the official government filter applied.

Congratulations Mr Rudd.

Wednesday, 9 April 2008

Gosper out of touch

Kevan Gosper's comments about the pro-Tibetan protesters is seriously misinformed and ignorant.

He said in Beijing... "These spoilers, these professional spoilers, don't think about this. They are just filled with resentment and hate. They just take their hate out on whatever the issues are at the time, and that hate against the host country is being taken out on our torch."

These comments illustrate why he should keep his mouth shut. John Coates' comments on the other hand were far more balanced and in tune with the Australian view. Gosper sounds like a mouthpiece for the Chinese Communist Party (with ill-fitting dentures).

Tuesday, 8 April 2008

Tibet

The Olympic Torch Relay has been disrupted by protests against Chinese aggression in Tibet. Awarding The Olympics to China was supposed to open them up and bring them towards the modern world. So far, it's exposed China as a totalitarian state that abuses its own people.

We all know that there is no freedom of speech in China. The torch relay is an ideal opportunity for Tibetans and their supporters to protest against China's presence in Tibet and the human rights abuses it carries out there.

Once the Games begin, there will be no opportunity to protest within China itself, so it's left to those around the world - in free countries to protest on their behalf. The "protest zones" to be set up in Beijing seem to be an attempt by China to appear tolerant of protest. They will be highly regulated and the Chinese that take part will be under immense scrutiny. I can only imagine what will happen to them after the Games are over.

Free Tibet!

Monday, 7 April 2008

Wonder Cream

An amazing ointment and a fine example of Engrish!

Click on the picture to enlarge if you can't read it.

Rudd on the world stage

How refreshing it is to see an Australian Prime Minister on a world tour without cringing from embarrassment and shame.

Rudd's friendly, smiling face contrasts nicely with Howard's old fogey grimace.