Jason Mark Roehrig My Web Home

Supposedly over 75% of the population in the UK and USA feel that they are not being sufficiently watched, and I'm pretty sure one will find similar numbers for Australia. In other words, Big Brother isn't forced upon us, as suggested by Orwell, but rather is brought to us upon our own asking. After centuries of indoctrination, human beings are finally prepared to accept an all controlling government.

Great, because what we have discovered in the past couple of decades of increased application of surveillance technologies is not a reduction in criminal activities, but certainly beneficial effects to our economies. And if there is one objective we can all agree upon, it is having a growing economy. Who cares if greater wealth is not linked with greater happiness. Who cares about happiness, as long as we all feel a little bit less secure to keep it all going.

In Germany a bunch of hippies are demonstrating for less surveillance. Best we round them up and look them away for good, so that we all can feel safer from being asked to think for ourselves.

Just always keep in mind: if you haven't done anything wrong, you have nothing to fear! [... besides the authority deciding on right and wrong]

Photo by t_a_i_s.

The human race is slowly reaching total domination of this planet, as there is a difference between domination and total domination. While we already cover a few patches of this planet, there still seems to be too much nature around. And what has nature done for us, besides ensuring pain and suffering? Suggested by our apparent behaviour, and illustrated by the decisions we make in regards to development.

A proposal to build a tunnel from Russia to Alaska, will mean a far more radical change to the environment of Alaska, than most can currently envision. And I'm not only referring to the destruction of natural habitat. Having a direct link connecting the two continents, will radically change the economic significance of Alaska from a relative unimportant state to a power house.

Image of some nice art work
by Zhan Wang.
A creative depiction of Bejing.

Environmental concerns are going to be drowned by the calls for jobs, energy, and development. And I'm certain, that lessons learnt from past mistakes will surely be forgotten and repressed, as cost reduction is what drives profits, and profits drive social change.

Further drilling for oil in Alaska might have been stopped by the US Senate in 2005, but as all involved knew and know, that wasn't the last we were going to hear of such an enterprise. Too tempting are the siren calls of profit. Sustainable development takes time. More than elected officials have to ensure re-election. With the majority of us humans solely concerned with survival, especially at a comfort level regarded as common in the collective, the electorate will rather follow the "we need jobs and economic prosperity" argument. "We need to live in harmony with our environment" is just not sufficiently compelling, leaving an impression of putting nature before humans. And as a species we are determined to ensure our short term existence only. The future will be taken care of by adaptation and developmental progress. Which is not a belief, nor knowledge gained through experience, but our primal instinct.

Current concern for the environment, is nothing but a "global warming fashion". It will pass by, just as every other guilt driven polit-fashion has.

In Sao Paulo this has partly become a reality, what bliss. Though I'm sure, plenty of people have become sufficiently addicted to the constant sensory input, that they will feel some kind of loss.

Advertising has become the modern form of popular art. And instead of thinking for a solution to employ creative people, without having to rely on a monstrous propaganda industry. We have accepted flawed arguments for the need of "information", and the legitimacy of mass manipulation based on the individuals freedom of speech. Especially if the main aim is to create noise to dampen the spread of information. Brands are like spoilt or deprived children, always out to get your attention, no matter at what cost.

I can see how one might argue, that cities will turn gray and boring in the absence of colourful [and especially blinking, buzzing] adverts. What I can not accept, is this being an argument for accepting mass propaganda. While it may not be for totalitarian governments, we have to acknowledge its attempt to create totalitarian products and brands. How about coming up with new ways to finance public art? Why can't it suffice to have a small plaque stating a businesses sponsorship, with a mentioning in the public paper?

Only because we have become accustomed to, and developed a culture of killing small businesses, does not offer sufficient ethical reason for its continued legitimacy.

I'm certainly not for a total ban on advertising, which would be in line with drug and alcohol prohibition. But I'm certainly for a reduction of its prevalence and advertisings seeming boundlessness. Just as with tobacco. I'm not for the prohibition of tobacco products, but I'm for sane laws restricting and limiting its spread and usage. Both, advertising and smoking are bad for our health. The only difference being, that one affects the body, the other warps minds. Our sleeping partner, as the late Alan Carr referred to it, is a powerful persuader, without us even realizing its efficiency. Why else would corporations be spending billions to push their products?

Official Yabun 2007 poster.

Yabun - Celebrating Indigenous Culture

When?

Survival And Invasion Day

10am-6pm

Where?

Victoria Park, Broadway

Why?

Celebrating the survival of indigenous people. Celebrating the beauty of aboriginal culture.

What does Yabun mean?

"Song with a Beat” in the Eora language.

Sydney is lucky to have a LadyMayoress lacking the insidious mind that the Australian Prime Minister harbours.

Lord Mayor Clover Moore MP urged Sydneysiders to
celebrate the survival of Indigenous people and
culture at the Yabun Festival in Victoria Park on 26
January.

“The City’s proud to again sponsor this fantastic
festival which brings together some of the very best
indigenous artists, performers and writers,” Ms Moore
said.
Lifted from the Yabun posting on Active Sydney.

If you're in Sydney come and join the happy people in Victoria Park. There will be music, food, art, craft, and games for the little ones. All located in the heart of Sydney, next to the University of Sydney.

Some Background

January the 26'th is marked officially as Australia Day, an insult to the original inhabitants of the lands forcefully deposed of and appropriated by the British Empire - relabelled to Day of Morning by indigenous activists back in 1938.

A more positive brand Survival Day has emerged in the past couple of years, to mark the strength of the original inhabitants of the island turned nation. Invasion Day is another term chosen to signify the true historic background, which led to the establishment of another Crown colony.

While there has been some improvement for indigenous Australians, they are still being attacked by official institutions and their representatives. The struggle for land rights, and the need to fight back any further attacks by the current government can not be ignored by us happy to live in complacence. Hence the importance of all Australians remembering Invasion Day.