The Chasers War on Bush

Stars of the popular ABC cult hit "The Chasers War on Everything" are facing up to six months jail time after their daring Apec skit saw the pass three central points of security in order to make it within ten metres of President George W Bush's hotel. With security rumoured to be worth more than $250 million dollars, the Chasers team consisting of Julian Morrow, Chas Licciarredllo, Andrew Hansen, Craig Reucassel and Chris Taylor were all officially arrested and summoned to appear in court for their skit "gone wrong."

In my opinion it is laughable that the team were able to surpass any of the checkpoints at all, let alone the second checkpoint were they were even checked by sniffer dogs. This daring comic skit, not merely makes a mockery of government security, but depicts the lack of safety we as Australians should feel. While I am a fan of television series, I find it disturbing that they endangered themselves to such an extent that there was a risk of them being shot by snipers, a option the boys most likely had not thought of at the time. Yet this should be seen for what it truly is, a bit of fun. Maybe at the cost of the government's quickly diminishing popularity, but ultimately who is having the last laugh? NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipionec criticised the team of ten men and one female for their stupidity. He said, "It's nothing short of dangerous . The snipers are there for a reason . . . Clearly they are there because they mean business. They're not there for show." I agree that skit was dangerous, but more importantly I see it as team once again highlighting the flaws of Australian government. The team ultimately had a point to make, and even to their own surprise I am sure, they made that point loud and clear.

References:"The Greenleft Weekly"
*picture courtesy of channel 7.

Cancer Victim Condems Excessive Tanning

I like many Australians have been touched by the bravery and integrity of 26 year old cancer sufferer Clare Oliver. Her strength in the face of adversity is a credit to herself and the Australian public. I myself have in the past used solarium's, but it is safe to say now that i have learnt my lesson, fortunately not the hard way like so many young Australians. Solarium's themselves deliver five times more ultraviolet rays than the midday sun and if that in itself does not suggest there is something seriously wrong, then i do not know what will. In her public appearance on the ABC 7:30 Report Ms Oliver said of tanning within Australia, "I guess it's just embedded in the Australian culture to be dark, not just dark but that golden tan. It sort of symbolises health, it symbolises just being a beautiful girl." Ms Oliver now has to pay the price of her life for trying to amount up to what is considered to be the "ideal" in Australia. With skin cancer particularly on the rise with Australia, when will this stupidity be put to an end? Isn't life itself is more precious than vanity and a meaningless tan? Tragically young lives have to be taken like that of Ms Oliver, an itelligent articulate and beautiful young woman.I appalled Ms Oliver's desire to speak publicly about her private plight, her will to live and her desire to speak out has seen her become the star she always longed to be.

*References- The Bulletin

Image from google

Bush's Dismissal of "Katrina"

In American news, President Bush has refused to create more assistance in preventing natural disasters like that of Hurricane Katrina from occurring again. The Bush administration's lack of response to one of the largest natural disasters in the nation's history has had Americans concerned for quite some time. Bush and his government have only recently began to voice measures they will take in order to try to prevent another hurricane from taking places. The measures it seem however, revolve around incompetent contractors attempting to rebuild the damage caused, rather the division of a national plan to protect the U.S. coastline. The hurricane formed on August 23rd during the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season causing much devastation across the coastline.

The most severe affected were those living in New Orleans, Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama.At least 1,836 people lost their lives in Hurricane Katrina and in the subsequent floods, making it the deadliest U.S. hurricane since the 1928 Okeechobee hurricane. Estimated to have been responsible for $81.2 billion US dollars worth of damage, there was widespread Criticism of the federal, state and local governments' reaction to the storm subsequently resulting in an investigation by the United States Congress.

President Bush's dismissal of this natural disaster is disgraceful, showing an utter lack of respect or concern for those who were affected and lost their lives at the hands of Hurricane Katrina. His often disastrous and criticised way of dealing with the public after devastating events has caused much widespread outcry's over his ability to conduct one of the most powerful countries in the world. Lets hope Americans are a little more precise with their choice of president when the next election comes round.