ANGLICAN BISHOP CHANGES HIS MIND

SHAME, ALL IS SHAME

by Betty Luks
Our sister publication, the British On Target has a lengthy report on some realities in Iraq that we in the 'dumbed-down' west are not meant to know about. As I read the article, I was reminded that in the early days of Australia's involvement in the war of aggression against the Iraqi people, I received a letter from a prominent Australian who took me to task for not supporting John Howard and his cronies in what they were doing in our name. That person couldn't -- or wouldn't -- distinguish between protest against politicians involving Australians in a war of aggression, against a people who had done us no harm, (and as we now know, presented us no threat) and loyalty and support towards our servicemen and women on active duty.

Ten Years of Sanctions and the Depleted Uranium We're Not Meant to Know About
Taken from the British On Target, May, 2004.
"United Kingdom journalist and activist Felicity Arbuthnot has visited Iraq on numerous occasions since the 1991 Gulf War. She has written and broadcast widely on Iraq and was also senior researcher for John Pilger's award-winning documentary "Paying the Price - Killing the Children of Iraq". She has gone where others fear to tread; on dangerous streets, towns, villages and highways of the Middle East. She is not on the political 'take' such that she prospers, as do many 'talking heads' pontificating from the safety of cities in the West, or under guard in foreign hotels.

As the Coalition bludgeons the ancient cultural structures of the Middle East with an alien western-style 'd'markrazy' on the pretext of 'liberating' the people of the oil-rich Iraq, the destruction, the maiming and loss of lives continues to rise.
Felicity could not help but ask -- "Are these people real?" as she heard Brig-Gen. Mark Kimmit idiotically rambling that the Iraqi people "will forgive us," for the appalling atrocities - worse, the flagrant cultural humiliation - of the Abu Ghraib prison.

The one element which has fundamentally altered the conduct and course of this present and any future war is the use of nuclear weapons. As the Iraqi people have found out to their utter agony, so will the Coalition of the willing servicemen; that once contaminated by the depleted uranium from the real 'weapons of mass destruction', the territory now held by the victors, is just as dangerous to both victor and vanquished alike.

The pattern of war has changed -- forever. Recklessly and unprofessionally, the 'Coalition of the Willing' has flouted the nuclear principle; it has wrought a tragedy that is unfolding for friend and foe alike, as well as innocent civilians, the magnitude of which we are only now becoming aware.

Thirteen Years of Sanctions and the Depleted Uranium
Felicity wrote: When Martii Ahtisarri, then Special Rapporteur to the United Nations, visited Iraq in March 1991, just after the Gulf War, he wrote: "Nothing we heard or wrote could have prepared us for this particular devastation - a country reduced to a pre-industrial age for a considerable time to come."
United Nations reports on Iraq's water, electricity, health care, and education in 1989 described Iraq as near First World standards. The country was regarded as having the most sophisticated medical facilities in the Middle East. The embargo implemented on Hiroshima Day, 1990, to pressure Iraq to withdraw from Kuwait, had an almost instant negative impact.

Iraq imported a broad range of items, 70 per cent of everything, from pharmaceuticals to film, educational materials to parts for the electricity grid, water purifying chemicals to everything necessary for waste management; and at the consumer level also, almost everything that a developed society takes for granted was imported.

With all trade denied, the Iraqi dinar (ID), worth US$3 in 1989, became virtually worthless: ID250, formerly US$750 did not even buy a postage stamp in neighbouring Jordan. Staple foods multiplied up to 11,000-fold in price. With no trade, unemployment spiralled, and many, in a country where obesity had been a problem, faced hunger and deprivation. The United States and United Kingdom-driven United Nations sanctions, in fact, mirrored a pitiless Middle Ages siege. With Iraq's withdrawal from Kuwait the embargo should have been lifted, but a further relentless United States and United Kingdom-driven "war of moving goal posts" began, and the majority of children in Iraq -- who are fourteen years old now - have never known a normal childhood…

Ten months after the war, I stood in the paediatric intensive care unit of Baghdad's formerly flagship Paediatric Hospital. A young couple stood, faces frozen with terror, as a nurse tried frantically to clear the airway of their perfect, tiny, premature baby. There was no suction equipment.
"It is at a time like this, all your training becomes a reflex action," remarked my companion, Dr. Janet Cameron, from Glasgow, Scotland, "and in a unit like this, you know exactly where everything will be - but there is nothing here." The fledgling life turned from pink to an ethereal grey, to blue, flickered, and went out.

Hiroshima Day
Since then, over a million lives have gone out due to "embargo related causes," a silent holocaust initiated on Hiroshima Day. Doctors were remarking in bewilderment at the rise in childhood cancers and in birth deformities, which they were ironically comparing with those they had seen in textbooks after the nuclear testing in the Pacific Islands in the 1950s.

In 1991, only the United States and the United Kingdom's top military planners knew they had used radioactive and chemically toxic depleted uranium (D.U.) weapons against the Iraqis. Just weeks later, the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Agency wrote a "self initiated" report and sent it to the United Kingdom Government, warning that if "fifty tonnes of the residual D.U. dust had been left "in the region" there would, they estimated, be 500,000 extra cancer deaths by the end of the century (the year 2000).

The Pentagon eventually admitted to an estimate of 325 tons; some independent analysts estimate as much as 900 tons. Estimates of the added burden of last year's (2003) illegal invasion are that up to a further 2,000 tons of the residual dust remain to poison water, fauna, flora and to be inhaled by the population and the occupiers, causing cancers and genetic mutations in the yet-to-be-conceived.
D.U. remains radioactive for 4,500,000,000 years. Some scientists estimate that it will be poisoning the earth, the unborn, and the newborn "when the sun goes out."

Iraq, the land of ancient Mesopotamia - like Afghanistan and the Balkans - has become a silent potential "Weapons of Mass destruction" for the population and geographical neighbours…

What we sow….
In the West, 70 per cent of cancers are now largely curable or with long remissions. In Iraq they are almost always a death sentence. On another early visit after the war, I went to a ward where just two small boys, aged three and five lay alone, in an attempt to isolate them. They had acute myeloid leukaemia and hopelessly compromised immune systems, rendering them vulnerable to any infection. The three-year-old, whose name translated as "the Vital one", was covered with bruises from the leaking capillaries bleeding internally and rigid with pain.
There was not even an aspirin available. His eyes were full of unshed tears and I realised he had taught himself not to cry - sobs would rack his agonised little body further. Leaving, I stooped to stroke the face of the five-year-old, who was in an identical condition. In a gesture that must have cost more than could be imagined, he reached and clutched my hand tightly, as do children everywhere, responding to affection.
I left the ward, leaned against a wall and prayed that the ground would open up and swallow me. I wrote at the time, "I now know it is actually possible to die of shame."

Editor's comment: I try to imagine how these war planners look on the people whom they are about to order to be bombed, strafed, maimed or killed; their houses destroyed and their livelihood taken away from them, thus reducing them to starvation level. What about the 'holier than thou' attitudes of such people as those who imposed the ten years of sanctions on the people knowing there would be such horrendous effects.
Do the war planners see these people as their fellow human beings - or do they see them as merely 'cattle' -- their lives of no consequence whatsoever.
John Howard has not uttered one single public word of regret at what his government has been a party to in Iraq. What on earth makes that man 'tick'? I can understand a people fighting for their homeland if it was threatened by invasion and occupation, even coming to the help of another friendly nation under threat. I cannot understand the double standard displayed by the sanctimonious leaders of the western world who continue to claim 'the high moral ground' in this war of aggression, and the horrendous 'legacy' of contaminated environment and soil they have left the people of that sad land - for how many years to come?

The full article is far too long for the pages of this weekly journal, so, for those who would like to read it in full, it will be placed at a later date on the League's website in the British On Target's files, under the heading of "Recipe for Eternal Vengeance: Legacy of the American-led Coalition in Iraq", May 2004.

FORTY TWO SURRENDER FLAGS

by Jeremy Lee
We have mentioned before the bounden duty of elected representatives to consult their electorates and use their individual consciences in Parliament when voting. On the issue of free trade agreements, forty two federal Labor members recently absented themselves from Parliament sooner than vote on conscience. The Coalition has made much of its so-called Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the United States - the latest in the ongoing saga of free trade and the global market place.
Those who have examined the details - Senator Len Harris is one - have warned that Australia will lose much more than it gains, including national control of key industries and many jobs. But Prime Minister Howard is ecstatic about the latest "in bed together" agreement with the US.

The FTA Bill has passed the first stage in the House of Representatives. Kim Beazley and Simon Crean led 12 Labor members across the floor to vote with the Government. Forty two Labor members, who know that the electorate is generally opposed to many parts of the effects of the FTA, stayed outside rather than vote against the Bill. This is a pathetic misuse of Parliament. They are relying on their Senate colleagues, together with the minor parties, to do the job for them.

The most recent HASCO poll for June asked almost 3,000 people - "If it is cheaper, should we import sugar, bananas, citrus and vegetables?" The question was asked in rural and urban centres. An astounding 90 per cent of those asked voted "No"
This confirms other questions asked over an eighteen-month period on such issues as globalism, economic rationalism, the protection of domestic industries and jobs, selling Australian assets etc. The answers confirm there is a wide rift between the feelings of ordinary Australians and government policy. Until we have a strong body of courageous men and women in Parliament prepared to represent the wishes of the people we will continue to slide.

WHAT FUTURE FOR A WAGGING TAIL?

DAIRY RE-REGULATION

DROUGHT CONDITIONS
Whilst southern parts of South Australia and West Australia have had good winter rains, not so the north, and a Queensland supporter 'on a farm west of Toowoomba' wrote: "The whole land is in the grip of a drought. I don't know how the people on the land can keep on their properties."
Even the larger-town newspapers are waking up to the fact that a quarter of the nation's remaining dairy farmers could be forced off the land because of the long-term impact of the drought upon their already depleted back-up resources. (Ballarat Courier 23/6/04).
A survey of Australians dairy farmers found that 15 per cent said they were not likely to be on the land within three years, while another 10 per cent said they were not too likely to hold on to their properties. Eighty per cent of dairy farmers were adversely affected by the 2002 drought, the survey found, with milk production down 11 per cent nationally. And 55 per cent of the nation's remaining 11,000 dairy farmers are yet to return to pre-drought production.

THE DREAM OF A LUSH GREEN OUTBACK - NOT ANY MORE
It would seem the dream of a lush green outback is fading from view. Not only are many parts of Australia in the grip of an extended drought but many farming families may be forced off the land. Although there are those who put forward some grand schemes for 'greening our parched outback lands', at present, NSW and Queensland are at loggerheads over water flowing across the state boundaries down the Balonne River, with arguments over who actually owns the water. (Ballarat Courier 3/6/04).
The Victorian, NSW and federal governments are spending millions of dollars of our taxes in an effort to put water back into the Snowy River after being left dry by that great engineering achievement, the hydro-electric scheme. The Courier quotes scientist John Williams as warning that the plans ignore Australia's topography and environment. "No-one knows what would happen to the environment of northern Queensland, the Great Barrier Reef and the farm lands which receive the water," he said.
"Two centuries of development in Australia seem to have taught us little about the hazards of salinity, soil and water degradation, loss of habitat and species."

On one point most would agree, "we have covered up much of Australia's most fertile lands beneath tonnes of concrete, bitumen and suburban homes. Instead of growing food, we have chosen to use these lands for urban sprawl, tourism and hobby farms - and so squandered our most precious resource in an arid, infertile continent."
I once read that "Nature never forgives, never forgives," and one wonders what the future holds for such a short-sighted, materialistic people as are we.

Peter Lock in "The Great Harlot" writes:
There is a mysterious flow of information throughout the whole (life-system of Nature) which not only binds it all together in wonderful harmony, but which 'makes judgments' and 'executes sentence' on those individuals or species which defy Nature's own rules and dare to militate against her plans with their own cancerous positive feedback (systems).

Nature does not employ defensive mechanisms
Any offence against her stimulates her to attack and turn the situation to her advantage. Not merely do the most adaptable survive, but the danger makes them more numerous and far more dangerous. One of the examples is the pesticide industry, which is occasioning the appearance of harmful super-pests. The fertiliser industry is likewise fertilising new deadly diseases and super-problems.
A new word iatrogenic now refers to those diseases which result from medical intervention itself. Bacteria are not only becoming immune to antibiotics, but are passing on such immunity to other bacteria and old diseases like tuberculosis and malaria are now appearing in forms far more virulent than before.

We were advised to "Consider the lilies of the filed, how they grow, … they neither reap nor sow…" The word consider contains the meaning of "give careful consideration to," "think about carefully". That is a most practical piece of advice for us all.

Note: For further expansion on 'the lilies of the field' we recommend Numbers 4 & 5 of "Introducing Social Credit". Available from all League Book Services.

EXOTIC DISEASE IN QUEENSLAND CITRUS CROP

As reported last week, there is an outbreak of citrus canker in the Emerald region of central Queensland. The Australian 14/7/04, revealed to its readers "Evergreen Farm " in that region is under quarantine and cannot sell its produce. The farm has 250,000 trees and at this stage 8,000 are to be destroyed with the understanding that if further infections were found the numbers would increase accordingly. A spokesman for the Queensland Department of Primary Industries said it could take up to 18 months to exhaust its investigations into how the disease -- not endemic to Australia - arrived in Emerald.
The investigation involved following a paper trail of the transfer of cuttings to the infected farm, a 1200ha property run by a Mr. Phillip Cea who has connections with the Philippines. At this stage of the investigation, Evergreen Farm is the only property confirmed to have the "foot and mouth" disease of citrus growing. In 2001 a whistleblower on the farm alleged that bud wood had been illegally brought on to the farm but the Quarantine authorities couldn't substantiate the claim.
Sample testing of citrus fruit in the region is also being carried out.

International protocol called for the destruction of not just the infested trees, but all within a 600 metre area around them. Based on average land density, 600 metres equates to somewhere around 45,000 to 60,000 trees to be destroyed.

NEW ZEALAND JAILS ISRAELI SPIES

BBC report, 15/7/04: The Israelis pleaded guilty but denied they were Mossad agents. New Zealand has imposed diplomatic sanctions on Israel over the activities of two alleged members of the Israeli intelligence agency, Mossad. The Israelis were sentenced to six months in prison for trying to obtain New Zealand passports illegally. Prime Minister Helen Clark said that such acts, by what she called Israeli government agencies, were a violation of New Zealand sovereignty.
The Israelis, Uriel Zosha Kelman and Eli Cara, deny working for Mossad.

The New Zealand government views the act carried out by the Israeli intelligence agents as not only utterly unacceptable but also a breach of New Zealand sovereignty and international law. They did plead guilty to attempting to gain New Zealand passports illegally and working with organised criminal gangs.

In a statement to the Auckland court trying the men, Ms Clark said she would suspend government visits to Israel, Israeli officials would need visas to enter New Zealand and foreign ministry contacts would be suspended. Her government is also planning to refuse any request for Israel's President, Moshe Katsav, to visit next month when he is due in Australia and delay its approval for the appointment of a new Israeli ambassador to New Zealand.

Explanation and apology demanded - received neither
Ms Clark said she had no doubt the two men were Israeli intelligence agents and that the case was "far more than simple criminal behaviour by two individuals". She said the case had "seriously strained our relationship" with Israel. New Zealand had asked Israel for an explanation and an apology, but had received neither.
An Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman said he was sure that Israel could repair the diplomatic damage and re-establish good relations with New Zealand, but did not specify how the Israeli government would go about it.

A BBC correspondent in Jerusalem, David Chazan, says Israeli officials give the impression of regarding New Zealand as a relatively unimportant country. Sources close to the government say the Israeli reaction might have been different if a larger and more influential country had been involved.
The two Israelis were arrested in March after they tried to collect a passport in the name of a New Zealand national who is a wheelchair-bound cerebral palsy victim. Trying to obtain a passport fraudulently carries a maximum penalty of five years' imprisonment in New Zealand.
News agency reports say the two Israelis received lighter sentences because they pleaded guilty and because they pledged to donate $32,700 to a local charity.

VALE JACK BONNEY

REPORT ON ABOLISH STATE GOVERNMENTS CONFERENCE

BASIC FUND

SYDNEY CONSERVATIVE SPEAKERS' CLUB

SOUTH AUSTRALIA'S STATE WEEKEND

BOOKS, BOOKS, BOOKS

A HISTORY OF MODERN PALESTINE: ONE LAND, TWO PEOPLE by Ilan Pappe: A teacher at Haifa University in Israel, Mr. Pappe is well known for his revisionist interpretation of Israel's history and as a critic of its policies towards the Palestinians. This story of Palestine takes the reader back to the Ottomans in the early 1800s, the reign of Muhammad Ali, traces the arrival of the early Zionists through the British mandate at the beginning of the 20th Century, the continues on to establishment of Israel in 1948 and the subsequent wars and conflicts. At centre stage are those who have lived through these times. It is a story of co-existence and co-operation as well as oppression, occupation and exile. Price: $45.50 includes postage.

TO PROTECT AND TO SERVE by Tim Priest and Richard Basham:
Former policeman Tim Priest came to our attention through an article he wrote for Quadrant Jan.-Feb. 2004, "The Rise of Middle Eastern Crime in Australia". His wrote of his own experience 'on the beat' which confirmed that the rise of Middle Eastern organised crime in Sydney will have an impact on our society unlike anything yet seen. But the corruption and decay is much deeper than that and along with co-author Richard Basham he exposes the truth about the New South Wales Police Service in "To Protect and to Serve". The 'spin doctors' are not just working amongst politicians, they are in all institutions and systems, as this book helps to reveal. The authors claim that with crime spiralling out of control, plummeting morale among the rank and file, the police service in NSW is on the point of collapse. Truly a 'wake up call' for us all. Price: $40.00 posted.

WAR CYCLES / PEACE CYCLES by Richard Kelly Hoskins:
Richard Kelly Hoskins joined the Wall Street firm of Francis I. DuPont in 1959 and was trained in all facets of the brokerage business, with special emphasis on portfolio work. In 1973 he started a newsletter initially sent to customers whose portfolios he managed. His book, War Cycles-Peace Cycles is comes as a result of requests for more and more information on the history of money, the Money Changers and banking. He is the 10th generation in the U.S. and his family has participated in every war cycle with its blood letting, and every peace cycle with its misery, since 1615. He brings all his experiences to bear, along with his Christian perspective, to write on this important subject. Price: $27.50 includes postage.