What hope is there for the environment in this paradoxical time of political conservatism and an age of global warming? None I would have thought.
It was only about a year ago that there was no apparent environmental imperative from either of Australia’s major political parties. The only issues that seemed to be of significance were the economy, terrorist threats, que jumping illegal immigrants and the War in Iraq. Even though many scientists considered climate change one of the worlds greatest threats, there appeared to be no political interest in dealing with the unsavoury topic at all.
A lot has changed since then. The Labor party has a new leader and there has been a phenomenal shake-up in the upper ranks. Somewhere back in 2005 Peter Garrett joined the Labor Party. Somehow they hooked him in and he’s now the Shadow minister for Climate Change, Environment, Heritage and the Arts! That’s Peter Garrett the former president of the Australian Conservation Foundation, Lead Singer for the most excellent (and often political) Australian rock band Midnight Oil!
When he was presented as a political candidate for the Labor Party I thought (and said) “What a sell out!” How can he possibly continue to stand up for environmental and social issues if he’s a member of either of our major political parties? They have no commitment to the environment; he’ll just be used as a novelty. The relationship will go sour and he’ll be out on his arse! He won’t fit the political mold, they’ll try to control him and that will be the end of it.
Now Mr Garrett is a Shadow Minister on the front bench and fighting strong. I wonder how they will contain him when things get hot? I was wrong to assume so much. Who am I to judge? This guy is awesome he’s a fair-dinkum hero and he will give Australia the integrity and leadership we need to see in our leaders. It is most likely true that the best way to bring about change is from within and if that’s true you couldn’t get any closer to in than Peter Garrett has in such a short time.
Mr Garrett has always made a powerful impression. He delivers his message with such focussed intensity and conviction that I doubt anyone would want to be subjected to his wrath.
Anyway what brings me to this rant? Well actually it was the baby names book my wife has been reading! For some reason she looked up Peter and Garrett in the ‘Book of Baby Names for Australians’ (1991) compiled by Dalys Newman.
Apparently the name Peter means ‘Rock’ but get this! Garrett is Teutonic for ‘Mighty spear worrier’!
If anyone can spearhead the hearts and minds of this nation into a new age of environmental consciousness it is Peter Garrett! If he can’t make an impact on the conscience of this country then there is little hope left for us. I hope this coincidence of name and attitude will be a good omen for the future of Australia. I hope we are encouraged by his passion to see a better country that is guided by the conscience of it’s great thinkers rather than the greed of its bankers. I hope that this new political power lives beyond the fight against our present, economically obsessed, government and comes to represent the hope for an environmentally responsible, and saner future in this Country.
Bring on the Great Spear!
P.S. Just found-out Sam had read an article about Peter Garrett in the Bulletin, written by Rob Hirst (The Oils great lyricist); apparently one of Peter’s nicknames is ‘Rock’! I’ve subsequently read the article it’s ‘Ace’. So that’s where the idea came from to look his name up in that book. Now I’m also wondering why is she looking up baby names anyway?
You can find the article at the Bulletin with Newsweek online, lots of uninspired conservative comments have been left from online readers. :)
It was only about a year ago that there was no apparent environmental imperative from either of Australia’s major political parties. The only issues that seemed to be of significance were the economy, terrorist threats, que jumping illegal immigrants and the War in Iraq. Even though many scientists considered climate change one of the worlds greatest threats, there appeared to be no political interest in dealing with the unsavoury topic at all.
A lot has changed since then. The Labor party has a new leader and there has been a phenomenal shake-up in the upper ranks. Somewhere back in 2005 Peter Garrett joined the Labor Party. Somehow they hooked him in and he’s now the Shadow minister for Climate Change, Environment, Heritage and the Arts! That’s Peter Garrett the former president of the Australian Conservation Foundation, Lead Singer for the most excellent (and often political) Australian rock band Midnight Oil!
When he was presented as a political candidate for the Labor Party I thought (and said) “What a sell out!” How can he possibly continue to stand up for environmental and social issues if he’s a member of either of our major political parties? They have no commitment to the environment; he’ll just be used as a novelty. The relationship will go sour and he’ll be out on his arse! He won’t fit the political mold, they’ll try to control him and that will be the end of it.
Now Mr Garrett is a Shadow Minister on the front bench and fighting strong. I wonder how they will contain him when things get hot? I was wrong to assume so much. Who am I to judge? This guy is awesome he’s a fair-dinkum hero and he will give Australia the integrity and leadership we need to see in our leaders. It is most likely true that the best way to bring about change is from within and if that’s true you couldn’t get any closer to in than Peter Garrett has in such a short time.
Mr Garrett has always made a powerful impression. He delivers his message with such focussed intensity and conviction that I doubt anyone would want to be subjected to his wrath.
Anyway what brings me to this rant? Well actually it was the baby names book my wife has been reading! For some reason she looked up Peter and Garrett in the ‘Book of Baby Names for Australians’ (1991) compiled by Dalys Newman.
Apparently the name Peter means ‘Rock’ but get this! Garrett is Teutonic for ‘Mighty spear worrier’!
If anyone can spearhead the hearts and minds of this nation into a new age of environmental consciousness it is Peter Garrett! If he can’t make an impact on the conscience of this country then there is little hope left for us. I hope this coincidence of name and attitude will be a good omen for the future of Australia. I hope we are encouraged by his passion to see a better country that is guided by the conscience of it’s great thinkers rather than the greed of its bankers. I hope that this new political power lives beyond the fight against our present, economically obsessed, government and comes to represent the hope for an environmentally responsible, and saner future in this Country.
Bring on the Great Spear!
P.S. Just found-out Sam had read an article about Peter Garrett in the Bulletin, written by Rob Hirst (The Oils great lyricist); apparently one of Peter’s nicknames is ‘Rock’! I’ve subsequently read the article it’s ‘Ace’. So that’s where the idea came from to look his name up in that book. Now I’m also wondering why is she looking up baby names anyway?
You can find the article at the Bulletin with Newsweek online, lots of uninspired conservative comments have been left from online readers. :)
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