Re- direction

Yer, was a good idea at the time .. but am having far more fun on Womby's drivel.

Mostly because i have yet to be convinced that 'Northern Hemisphere' 'gods', paranoia or "conspiracy theorists" have any relevance to the life, times, basic philosophy of the average Australian voter.

Season's greetings

defense of Julian Assange.

[UPDATED 19 Dec 2010]

For a start; am not a lawyer, nor involved with any “law enforcement” agencies, official or otherwise. Am just an ordinary citizen of Australia (Rtr'd).

All this 'internet' furoré has me fascinated, so was wondering if there was some factual basis. All of the following is opinion.

I see where some politicians are calling for the “arrest” of Julian Assange (fair enough – means 'to bring to a standstill' or 'stop' (from the Old French; arester or Latin; restãre – to stand still). Can quite understand their embarrassment. Being caught with yer pants down does tend to invoke some anger generated by surprise. However, Julian has been very careful to distance himself and the organisation known as “WikiLeaks” from any link, collusion with, or knowledge of who actually happened to “break the law” (according to their own, individual, conscience or motive). “assassination” is quite a different concept, mostly confined to “primitive”, “uneducated” Nations.

There are, actually, quite a few “laws” in many countries around this planet relating to 'confidentiality', 'loyalty' and 'submission'. Most of the 'enlightened' systems of governance rely on individuals 'signing a contract'. Won't go into detail, but the “Spycatcher” case some time ago illustrates the general principal of what am alluding to.

Will also remind readers to read the detail of any TOS - “terms of service” that internet host providers supply. You'd be surprised at how vague some of the clauses are.

As far as I can gather; Julian Assange – by publishing information given to him - has broken no specific law. He is, yes, “Editor in Chief” of WikiLeaks. If, in fact, he IS guilty of “publishing information” given to him in secret - then I would suggest that EVERY “Editor in Chief” of EVERY print, radio, video transmission, media on this planet is, essentially, guilty.

The list, and details, of these sort of practices is far too long for me to summarise here; but am sure you will know what I mean. (Remember “Deep Throat”; Woodward and Bernstein)

As a side-track; Am very disappointed by Julia Gillard and our own Attorney General. Ask Assange to “cease and desist”, perhaps; call for his “arrest”, perhaps. But shouting to the rooftops that what he has done is “illegal” - letting him know that you are just acutely embarrassed, uninformed; is not the mature stance, or response, that I would expect of an Australian National Leadership.

So, let me look at the “legalities” of what happened in Sweden in August, and subsequent.

Timeline1

So, who knows. Am very suspicious about the “timing” -
And it IS tempting to “invent” some dialogues. [Disclaimer – not fact, “rape” is subjectively difficult to define. This is a short summary based on 50 years of interaction between me and various human European origin females; and what have been able to discover from the internet.]

Female 1:(very happy, wanting to share) “'alloo, S here, you know Julian?'
Female 2:“Ya”
Female 1:“We have beautiful night”
2: “Oh”'
1: “ya, he is so beautiful”
2: “you have sex with him?”
1: “Ya, he very strong”.

Long pause …....



Yes, can imagine the sort of thing that happens next. Information sharing. " Me also. What, no condom?” “No”. “Have you?”, “No”, “Oh shit, has he ..?” “No idea”. Ring the bastard! Ask him````````````````````````````. No contact, where is he?, report to police, find him, ask him.

The whole Swedish situation seems to have gone a bit pearshaped from there.

Timeline version2
[added 19 Dec 2010] .One of the better comprehensive precis - aaand ..

Timeline version 3
August /October 2010
The Guardian has been digging
Longish article. If, as the Guardian claims, it has had an (unauthorised) squizz at the police 'record of statement' by the two females involved,  it becomes fascinating and, if true, not good for Assange.  Still classic She said/he said, though..

Thus spake Zarathustra

Much has been made of the battle between "Christians" and "Jews". Latterly between the ideology of "Muslims", "Christians" and "Jews".

Before i will begin to discuss "ideology" start here.

Revisiting history

The History IS History; is fascinating, especially in an era where history is mostly confined to "yesterday" - the 24 hour "news" cycle.  Quick grabs of information, the world is "now", move on.

Debatable point. Attitudes are governed - not by "instant" "changeable" political entities, but by the social indoctrination of the "tribal" society in which one lives.

"My grandfather told me this so it must be true".

so .. rather than repeat myself will begin to direct here. Am elderish, a bit worn out by being alive. The HISTORY "IS", why should i have to repeat it?.

China bans rock lobster imports (?)

[updated 1,2]

This is strange.
(from ABC News)

Australia's biggest market for rock lobsters, China, has halted Australian imports.

Exporters have been told China will not accept the imports, pending negotiations with Australian officials.

Only Australian imports to China have been banned and New Zealand and South Africa can still sell their lobsters to the Chinese.

A South Australian lobster exporter, Andrew Laurie, says the ban will cost millions of dollars and affect SA, Victoria, Tasmania and Western Australia.

"We're at a loss to understand why it's only Aussie lobster that's being singled out," he said.

Why pick on Australia? Seems an irrelevant choice (well, not to the Aussie industry, though).

Um, have just heard on the radio that other bans may be applied. Is China telling  us to keep our nose out of the Korean issue? Can't really see them banning the import of iron ore, though.

While most of the "news" stories express "surprise" at this ban, there is this sidelight from FIS worldnews -

China’s decision is having a devastating impact on the industry, said Rodney Treloggen from the Rock Lobster Fishermen's Association. 

"Up to probably 50-odd boats that are sitting out at sea at the moment around Tasmania that have fish on board, that can't unload," he said, ABC reports. "There is no capacity in the state for them to unload, the processors who hold live fish are at maximum capacity. 

"It's disastrous at the moment, our processors are advising their fishers not to go to sea," he added. 

Although Treloggen recognises that the ban is part of a major onslaught on exports for the Chinese market passing through Hong Kong to skirt high tariffs, the ban now also covers legitimate trade going through Shanghai and Beijing. (my emphasis)

.. and will also mention here that while trying to discover some more info on this - most of the "posts" and information from  "other" internet sources seem to have been "cut 'n' pasted" from the ABC story, with minor modifications.

On the other hand, have just found this -
Note; this was back when Kevin Rudd was Prime Minister; is now Foreign Minister)

PM called to act on Chinese fishing threat

Posted on January 8, 2009, 6:06pm and updated on January 16, 2009 at 11:48 am

The South East’s multi-million-dollar seafood export industry risks having many thousands of dollars of live product seized at Chinese customs, following new health regulations “coming out of the blue”.

The situation was described as a potentially serious by Member for Barker Patrick Secker yesterday, who called for urgent action from the Federal Government.

“Prime Minister Kevin Rudd should pick up the phone to China and use his Mandarin to resolve the problem and give exporters a three-month buffer,” Mr Secker said.

“I am concerned shipments of rock lobster from the South East already on its way to China may be turned back, which would be a dead loss for exporters.”

Mr Secker said the South East was the largest producer of southern rock lobster in Australia and thousands of dollars of the live products was under threat from the shock new rules swept in last week.

“It is pretty unfair on exporters because of the abruptness of the new rules,” he said.

He said the southern rock lobster market in China was worth more than $74m each year, with millions of dollars of lobster coming from South East waters.

and this -
October 2009

 Australia's dwindling rock lobster stocks, forcing severe catch cuts in South Australia and Victoria, now has Tasmanian fishermen on the front foot offering a 20 per cent quota reduction.

Whatever that means, or is even relevant.
update1
OK, further info from the radio this evening suggests that it isn't particularly "political". Apparently there is no "ban" at all .. just difficulties at the ports.More than likely linked to the comment about the "crackdown" on imports through Hong Kong.
update 2
There seems to be some confusion derived from the emotive 'headline' word "ban" - settle down. Chinese authorities are within their rights to try to control "import tariffs" (doesn't everyone?).

Hong Kong has been an interesting experiment for the Chinese Politburo since 1 July 1997 and they are still trying to figure out how to handle it.
[for background; read "The last Governor": Jonathan Dimbleby. First published 1997. My edition published by Warner Books; 1998]

.

Well, somebody needed to have a bittuva chat

Have just pinched this from the China Daily

Foreign and Military Affairs

Senior DPRK leader to visit China

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-11-28 11:20

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BEIJING - Choe Tae Bok, chairman of the Supreme People's Assembly of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, will pay an official visit to China from Nov 30 to Dec 4.

Choe will make the visit at the invitation of Wu Bangguo, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of China.

and it's really quite fascinating reading some of the "discussions" on their forum.

.