Review: Plastic Beach
Gorillaz, EMI
Escape to the Plastic Beach Tour
December 6-19, on sale now
Bookings via Ticketek,
Premierticketek.com.au, 132 849
鈥淚f you watch MTV for too long, it鈥檚 a bit like hell 鈥 there鈥檚 nothing of substance there鈥, said Jamie Hewlett, graphic artist and co-creator of 鈥渧irtual band鈥 Gorillaz, in 2005 . 鈥淪o we got this idea for a cartoon band, something that would be a comment on that.鈥
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On August 13, nine leading British medical experts wrote an open letter to the Times calling for an inquiry into the alleged suicide of whistleblower Dr David Kelly in July 2003.
The 59-year-old scientist, the world鈥檚 leading expert in biological and chemical weapons, died shortly after being exposed as the source of a leak to the BBC suggesting that the British government had deliberately 鈥渟exed up鈥 military intelligence about Iraq鈥檚 alleged weapons of mass destruction.
Immigration officials accept about 99% of claims for refugee status by people who have arrived by boats in Australia. But this hasn鈥檛 stopped mainstream politicians from punishing those seeking asylum in this way.
In April, the government announced it would temporarily freeze visa applications from newly arrived Sri Lankan and Afghan asylum seekers. In June, about 70% of Afghan (mostly Hazara) claims were rejected, according to the Refugee Action Coalition (RAC). Such rejection figures have never been seen before.
The article 鈥淎boriginal embassy to appeal decision鈥听(GLW #848) included the sentence: 鈥淭he developer [Stockland] refused to consult the Aboriginal community about the development [at Sandon Point near Wollongong Illawarra], although it was a requirement in the preparation of the Sandon Point Environmental Assessment Report.鈥
The Decline are a punk band from Western Australia that formed in 2006. They 鈥渄eliver catchy, melodic speedy punk rock, with humorous and socially aware lyrics鈥, says. They have opened for groups such as Frenzal Rhomb, No Fun at All and the Flatliners.
The Decline released their first full-length album, I鈥檓 Not Gonna Lie To You, in September 2009. 麻豆传媒 Weekly鈥檚 Chris Peterson spoke to The Decline about the album. You can find out more, and buy the album, at their website.
PERTH 鈥 Members of the Perth Burmese community held a commemoration on August 8 for the democratic uprising that took place in Burma exactly 22 years before.
Speakers at the commemoration called for a restoration of democracy in Burma, including freedom for pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, and for stronger action in support of democracy from the Australian government. A solidarity dinner for the Burmese struggle was also held on August 7.
The Greens could have more power in the Australian parliament than ever before, after the federal election on August 21. Achieving the balance of power in the Senate is within reach for the Greens, meaning that the government would have to negotiate an agreement with either the opposition party or the Greens to pass legislation.
The Greens currently share balance of power with Family First Senator Steve Fielding and independent Nick Xenophon.
鈥淲e have shown a responsibility that the Coalition has shunned鈥, said Bob Brown, leader of the Australian Greens.
The cover of the August 9 edition edition of Time magazine featured a shocking picture of Bibi Aisha, a young woman whose nose and ears had been cut off. The photo was accompanied by the headline: 鈥淲hat happens if we leave Afghanistan鈥. However, what happened to Aisha took place in Afghanistan under Western occupation.
In return for allowing Time to publish her photo, Aisha was flown to the US for reconstructive surgery. However, although Time ensured her mutilated face was seen worldwide, they appear less keen for her voice to be heard.
This open letter to Elton John was released on July 30 by Alexander Billet. It is reprinted from . Billet鈥檚 blog on popular music can be read at .
* * *
Dear Elton,
First of all, I hope you don鈥檛 mind that I refuse to call you 鈥淪ir鈥. Knights swing swords and ride horses. You play a piano.
Outlaw
Directed by James Adler, written by Michael Healy
Studio 2, Northcote Town Hall, Melbourne
August 20 鈥 September 3
Bookings: Eaglenest.eventix.com.au, (03) 9384 6900
鈥淎 tyre slasher in Berlin 鈥 radical green politics or someone just blowing a gasket?鈥, reads the blurb for new play Outlaw. 鈥淭he friends of Tilman Hessel 鈥 the local Green's party leader 鈥 think it might be him ...鈥
In Australia, the question of environmental protection has increasingly been linked to the need to reduce or contain the nation鈥檚 population level size. This is often tied to the argument that the high level of consumption in First World countries is unsustainable.
In his influential 1985 book Abandon Affluence, radical Australian sociologist Ted Trainer made the argument that the capitalist economies of the rich world, and the wasteful consumer culture they spawned, were unsustainable and the ecological limits of capitalist growth were fast approaching.
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