ISSUE SEVEN 123
contents 7
10
5
22
16 20
editor’s note Welcome to Week 8! I always say that this is the most hectic time of semester... and this semester is no exception to that rule. I don’t think I have ever been so busy! But Insight still manages to come together, thanks to your enthusiasm! We have such an amazing range of articles in this issue: Rob Millard takes a different look at the leather industry (page 6), Natalie Lane asks whether online trading will mean the demise of retail stores (page 14), Ellen Scobie looks at mental health in Looking Beyond Bond (page 8) and Jonathan Holtby replies to Connor McBain’s article from last edition, taking an alternative view on the US Presidential Election (page 16). There’s a whole lot more to be sure to read on. Until next time, Kristie xx P.S. Here is a cute monkey. Happy studying!
INSIGHT IS MADE POSSIBLE BY YOUR ENTHUSIASM AND YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS! SEND YOUR WORK OR ANY QUESTIONS TO KRISTIE.MEGG@STUDENT. BOND.EDU.AU.
Editor | Kristie Megg Designer | Kristie Megg Cover Image | Ash Peplow Ball
have you joined?
bdu BOND DEBATING UNION
buglee
BOND UNI GAYS, LESBIANS,AND EVERYONE ELSE
Words | Kyle Manning Pictures | Kyle Manning
Words | Rob Leonard Pictures | Rob Leonard
Bond Uni Gays, Lesbians & Everyone Else is committed to providing a supportive and fun-filled society for people of all sexual orientations and gender identities. Only one type of person is unwelcome at BUGLEE – those who have intimate relationships with discriminatory attitudes.
BDU is an organised debating society for students who are passionate about improving their debating skills. We host debating competitions for Bond students, provide skills development seminars, and offer academic and financial support to Bond students competing in external debating competitions.
Terrible comedy aside, 123 has been BUGLEE’s busiest semester so far. We hosted InfraRED Trivia Night in Week 3. We had eight teams turn up, all of which won something, including prizes sponsored by Grill’d, Lake Café & Varsity Printing. Following this was our Slack Party at Escape Bar & Club in Surfers Paradise, a laid-back event where some of our members got to chat and drink. Coming up we have two more events – a fondue evening and a movie night, where we’re going to be discussing whether or not Christianity and homosexuality can ever peacefully co-exist. Should be interesting! We’re hoping to expand and increase our wonderfulness in 2013. BUGLEE is a club for you if… - You or someone you care about is gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender or intersex. - You feel passionately about same-sex rights. - OR you hate homophobia and think it has no place on our campus or in our community.
This semester, BDU tried something different by co-hosting the State of the Union Debating competition with the Bond Animal Welfare League. The grand final of this competition was judged by former justice of the High Court Mr Michael Kirby AC CMG, and students in the grand final debated alongside former senator Andrew Bartlett and QC Michael Byrnes. Ultimately, students gained the opportunity to debate alongside the experts, and be judged by one of the best. Don’t stress if you’re new to debating and still want to get involved. Every semester we hold introductory seminars designed to polish your knowledge of debating. Like us on Facebook to find out more: www.facebook.com/bonddebatingunion. If you’re more experienced, and have debated at high school, Easters, or Worlds, we’d love you to get involved with the organisation of the union! Email our Head of Adjudication, Chris Dolling, at chris.dolling@student.bond. edu.au for more info.
empowerment through education BASA PRESIDENT SAPPHIRE PARSONS LOOKS BACK ON THE AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT THINK TANK
THERE ARE THOSE WHO LOOK AT THINGS THE WAY THEY ARE AND ASK ‘WHY’ I DREAM OF THINGS THAT NEVER WERE, AND ASK ‘WHY NOT?’ - ROBERT KENNEDY
Words | Sapphire Parsons Pictures | Ash Peplow Ball
In 2008 I volunteered as a teacher at Roosevelt Girls High School, Harare, Zimbabwe. As a consequence of the prevailing political climate and extremely low wages, teachers at Zimbabwean public schools had refused to teach their students. The lessons I gave were one of the only semblances of formal education the class had received that year. It deeply troubled me that these young girls, with aspirations of pursuing careers in medicine, law, accounting and nursing, without a formal education, would be hindered from doing so. My mother always told me that if I wasn’t happy with a particular situation, I should change it. Naturally, this particular situation had confronted me with a complex challenge I did not have the sole capacity to address. Issues of political instability, corruption and economic mismanagement were all central to the situation the school girls were experiencing. As always, I knew it would be easier for me to muster the will to change the situation than it would be to achieve a desirable outcome. In spite of all this, my African grandparents consistently reminded me of the importance and absolute necessity of education. Indeed, in all matters of development, education is consistently cited as being integral to the progress. Nelson Mandela referred to education as being the “best tool one could use to change the world”. As a student at university it became apparent to me that there was no better way to bring about change than through education. On Wednesday the 24th of October 2012, the Bond African Students Association partnered with the Australian Institute of International Affairs to host the inaugural African Development Think Tank. At its peak, the event saw the engagement of 80 students with a panel of African ambassadors, non-governmental organisations, business leaders and academics on matters of African development. One of the topics, ‘The Role of Women in African Development’, presented by the South African High Commissioner to Australia, was of particular significance to me. In her speech, the High Commissioner highlighted the quintessential role South African women played in Parliament, the health and education sectors and in the mining industry. Through this, she reiterated the importance of educating women in order to achieve gender equality, ensure equal distribution and ownership of assets, and reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS.
Almost a week prior to the event, on October 11th 2012, the United Nations celebrated the first international day of the girl child, calling for an end to child marriage and promoting education as the best way to prevent this. The concept of education being used to shape African development is best observed in Sub-Saharan Africa, home to over 2/3 of the world’s 33.3 million people infected by HIV/AIDS. Here, lack of education is cited as one of the primary perpetuators of HIV/AIDS and poverty, often arising from decisions affecting schooling, child-bearing, finances and unemployment. Ironically, it has also been a key factor in reducing the spread of the disease, particularly in Zimbabwe, where infection rates have dropped from over 20% to below 13% in 10 years. Education is central, not only to overcoming Africa’s developmental challenges, but also to encouraging the international community to participate and partake in Africa’s progress. At the African Development Think Tank, Ade Kukoyi, President of the Australia-Nigeria Business Council, highlighted the role of the international community in addressing core issues like transparency in international transactions and non-payment of bribes to African businessmen and government officials to ensure business deals with African countries achieve the best possible outcomes. Her Excellency, Jacqueline Zwambila – the Zimbabwean Ambassador to Australia - emphasised the importance of Australian aid in Zimbabwean development, particularly in providing under-resourced schools with textbooks. Michael Hayworth, the Crisis Coordinator from Amnesty International Australia noted the role of advocacy in ensuring human rights are respected and protected throughout the continent. As the businessmen, policy makers and leaders of tomorrow, students have an undeniable stake in the success or failure of the African continent; our views and actions shape Africa’s future. It is important now, more than ever, for students to be alerted to the role they will play in African Development. October 2012’s African Development Think Tank was the start of a movement towards building a better Africa; a movement grounded in awareness through education of the challenges facing the continent and concluded with the realisation and engagement of individuals in opportunities for African progress.
tomorrow
ALAN WHITE REFLECTS ON AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE
WE CANNOT ALWAYS BUILD THE FUTURE FOR OUR YOUTH, BUT WE CAN BUILD OUR YOUTH FOR THE FUTURE.
Words | Alan White Pictures | Jenaya Keats
After having been returned home safely for a week now, it seems as though Kununurra and the experiences that unfolded during this time frame are but only a touch away. Having not written my entry until I arrived home, I have been afforded the opportunity to review within my own mind the Kununurra Project, what it stood for, the work undertaken and the incredible people we met. But after taking the earnest time to read through each blog previous to my own, I realise that the undertaking of writing a reflection of one’s experiences could never been done as eloquently as done so by my counterparts on this project. I personally feel content and at peace with the experience that was had, but then again, this is not about me, this experience is about the people of Kununurra. Of course, the experience of each individual on a project like this will evidently always be different from everyone else’s. In hindsight, this is perhaps why I feel the way I do now, not only about this project, but about philanthropy at Bond and most importantly - about tomorrow. In 2011, the Student Philanthropy Council (SPC) developed a new area of interest linked to the core mission of the SPC which is “to build a culture of philanthropy and giving within Bond University.” This interest, the idea of ‘social change and development’ quickly grew into a tangible project; ably led by Kim Brown and Adam Roberts and a relationship was born with Save the Children in Kununurra, Western Australia. This was where 14 Bond students spent the week volunteering within the Indigenous community.
I had hoped that our group would teach these children right from wrong and set them on the path to strong personal development. After returning, I was left wondering how we went, attempting to meet what I now realise was such an unattainable goal. After thinking about the notion of this for nearly a week since my return, I have come to the understanding that we never needed to reach an ultimate ‘goal’. We had simply gone about our work differently within the community than had been done before. At the end of the day, it was never about us, our aims or our ambitions. It was about the lives of those we interacted with. The happy smiling faces that we played sports with, the piggy backs through parks and wildlife reserves, the isecrets whispered between new friends in the ‘chill out’ space, the nights skateboarding, playing soccer or basketball, small and large hands held together during the reptile show, bonds formed between older girls and female Bondies in front of the mirror preparing for the disco and many hungry mouths fed day in, day out, through the lunches we made – that is what’s important, that’s everlasting and to me, that’s philanthropy. Our group were there to supplement Save the Children’s school holiday program. We were there to leave a positive touch on a fledgling community that in paradox, possessed children who hold an unbridled, wholesome passionate existence.
Six months on, a discussion was raised as to whether the SPC would once again undertake this project in 2012 and the questions were asked – why should this be a project the SPC undertakes and what would and should we aim to achieve?
The SPC sells merchandise and disburse funds upwards of $100,000 a year, we run volunteering programs for over 250 Bondies, will soon launch the ‘Graduation Gift’ and proudly, we give Bond students the opportunity to see where they can contribute to programs like the Kununurra Project.
To ensure the SPC is moving forward with purpose, it is my role as Chair of the SPC to ensure we link every project that our organisation undertakes back to these questions. But to be honest, I myself was unable to give a complete answer to such questions until I returned from Kununurra last week. I had hoped to make an incredible change.
Philanthropy is the notion of giving back in its purest form. It’s altruistic; it’s done with goodwill, good measure and the best of intentions. Ultimately, it’s also never a perfect relationship with those you are engaging with. In the end, that’s irrelevant because acting in a philanthropic way is the right thing to do. To tomorrow.
looking beyond bond mental health
mental health
leading organisations
Approximately 45.5% of Australians will experience a mental health disorder at some point in their lives, youth between 18 and 24 encounter the highest prevalence of mental health problems, however, only 1 in 3 people with a mental health problem seek help.
Beyond Blue
Earlier in October, Australia raised awareness and encouraged discussion about mental health issues through mental health week and world mental health day. The Mental Health Council of Australia’s theme was ‘Wherever you are or wherever you live, you are not alone’. However, minorities continue to be disproportionately affected by mental illness. Nearly 85% of homeless people have a mental illness and rural areas are estimated to experience an equivalent level of mental health disorders as cities but face greater challenges due to limited services and a heightened community stigma. Obviously there is a lot to be done and you can take action by keeping informed and encouraging a supportive community. If this is something you are passionate about, consider pursuing a career in mental health. A role in the mental health sector is not limited to psychology and counselling graduates. Like any social justice issue, a variety of skills are required to reach goals. While researching the organisations below, I came across a range of job vacancies, employees and board members with backgrounds in management, communications, public relations, medicine and teaching.
Beyond Blue deals with issues related to anxiety, depression and similar disorders. Its 5 priorities are to increase community awareness, provide information and treatment options, promote prevention and intervention, improve training and support for health care professionals and research. If you have personal experience with depression or anxiety or are a relative, friend or carer of someone who has experienced depression and anxiety, consider sharing your story through BlueVoices. Headspace Headspace is the National Youth Mental Health Foundation funded by the federal government. It provides a service for youth between 12 – 25 seeking support and information about general health, mental health and counselling, education, employment, alcohol and drug services. Contact the Brisbane centre to learn more about becoming a member of the youth advisory group. Mental Health Council of Australia The MHCA is a national non – government organisation dedicated to promoting healthy communities, informing the public about mental health issues, conducting research and reforming Australia’s mental health system. It consists of members from a range of mental health organisations, services, researchers and groups.
Words | Ellen Scobie
tips for a healthy headspace GET INFORMED SET GOALS BUILD SELF-ESTEEM SEEK HELP BUILD STRATEGIES PRACTICE POSITIVE SELF TALK RELAX EXERCISE
from paddock to platform pumps
ROB MILLARD TAKES A CLOSER LOOK AT THE INTERNATIONAL LEATHER INDUSTRY
Words | Robert Millard
Dinesh Gambhir, a farmer in Eastern India, trudged beside a heaving herd of cattle for the umpteenth time. Tethered together, the starving creatures groaned as they along the path, forced to walk step after step. The stench of acrid faeces and coppery blood filled Dinesh’s nostrils as the herd powered on. Dirt stained his fingers, his brow, his mind. One cow collapsed to the ground, spent, but this would not do. Dinesh came over and gripped the beast’s limp tail. With an almighty pull, the tissue, muscle, and vertebrae tear and crack. The cow released a pained moan, but clambered up. She heaved a breath and shuffled beyond his yelling. Another cow wavered; he rubbed some chilli, pepper, and tobacco between his fingers and mercilessly ground the mixture into the beast’s eye. Tears cascaded, but she carried on her given path with blood gurgling in her throat and dripping from her nose. Finally, Dinesh arrived at the slaughterhouse with his quarry mostly intact, his job secure, his income assured, and his cows lost to the leather industry.
This is the unfortunate fate of many cattle in India. Such treatment is illegal, but corruption, bribery, and Western demand enable the practice to continue. Article 51A of the Constitution of India establishes one of the fundamental duties of Indian citizens: ‘…to have compassion for living creatures.’ In addition, The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1960 indicates what acts are tantamount to cruelty to animals, including ‘causing unnecessary pain or suffering to any animals.’
ILLEGAL LINES The production of leather in India is in clear contravention of this legislation. The cattle, held as sacred by the nation’s Hindu majority, must endure the arduous journey to slaughterhouses. Only two Indian states do not have a ban on cattle slaughter: Meghalaya and Nagaland (both of which are predominately Christian). There is, however, a distinct lack of enforcement as evidenced by India’s increasing leather industry and illegal slaughterhouses. Moreover, government policy continues to upgrade the industry as it continues positive economic growth. According to the 2011 figures of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, India is the fourth largest producer of bovine hides and skins behind powerhouses like China, Brazil, and the United States. Chairman of India’s Council for Leather Exports, Rafeeque Ahmed, said leather exports from India could touch $8.25 billion by 2013-14, more than double the $3.40 billion exported in 2009-10.
ON THEIR SIDE Nonetheless, there is substantial opposition to the practices of the leather trade in India. Stella McCartney, an English fashion designer, is a supporter of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), and recently appeared in an anti-leather campaign released days before New York Fashion Week in February this year.
“Leather isn’t a by-product. It is the most important coproduct of the meat industry, which means that buying leather directly contributes to the horrors of intensive factory farming. Millions of animals die for the sake of fashion every year,” she says. “In India, which is where most of the world’s leather comes from cows are often marched hundreds of miles to slaughter through dust and extreme heat without a drop of water or a single bite of food. “As a designer I like to work with fabrics that don’t bleed. That’s why I avoid all animal skins. Please join me in exploring the huge variety of fashionable shoes, belts, purses and wallets that aren’t the product of a cow’s violent death. You can buy cruelty free fashion all over the place now since the demand is always increasing as people learn the dark truth about the fur and leather and exotic skins trade.”
SEEKING: ANIMAL FRIENDLY FASHION When you accept McCartney’s invitation to explore other products, one challenge remains: Where do you find cruelty-free, ethically-produced fashion? Melbourne store Vegan Wares provides an answer. The Collingwood boutique store is owned by Peter Cabena, who is committed to creating fashionable products free from ingredients derived from animals, in a consciously aware manner of being environmentally responsible and acting in a socially fair manner. “It’s not necessary to live in a manner which squanders the earth’s resources, oppresses other creatures and progressively exterminates them,” Cabena says. “What we offer, in our own small field, is a practical alternative.
“IT’S ALL ABOUT FINDING THE MIDDLE POINT WHERE BRANDS CAN SATISFY THEIR CLIENTS, AND MAKING SURE THAT ANIMALS ARE TREATED RESPECTFULLY.”
“Our products are much better in the sense that they are designed to last much longer and are repairable. Of course they are more expensive than mass produced leather and cheap synthetic items, but in the longer term the client saves money.” As awareness of animal cruelty and the failure to maintain legal standards increases, focus shifts towards these alternate options. But, as economic principles of supply and demand influence the purchase of leather, it may be some time before ethically produced leather substitutes become widely worn or even the norm.
LEATHER LOVERS Vogue UK identified black leather as a trend for Autumn/ Winter for 2012-2013. Valentino and Calvin Klein collections displayed full leather gowns, while big names like Yves Saint Laurent, Givenchy and Gucci incorporated leather separates into their collections. These Autumn trends made an appearance at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in September, as reported by DNAinfo. com. “I love my edgy, my leather accessories. I love the spikes — it’s very bold, it’s very in right now,” said Larissa Muehleder, a young designer dressed in spiked leather leggings. “It’s very daring, and that brings out the rocker chick look in females. That’s what I’m going for right now. “I definitely feel like leather is pro-women; it makes you look edgy and feminine, but also in a masculine way.” Irish blogger Molly McKeever, also wore leather and praised its versatility. “It goes with everything, so it’s perfect,” she said.
“Leather – I love it. It used to be only boots and jackets, now it’s everything. It’s not too fitted; it kind of clings in the right way and it’s good to mix with other materials.” These attitudes towards leather perpetuate the ongoing leather business, and by extension, the ongoing cruelty in India’s leather trade. The Export-Import Bank of India lists their largest export markets as the USA, Germany, the UK, and Italy.Thus, while the demand remains, exports will continue to flow out of India despite the cruel conditions that cattle are subject to. Menswear Ambassador for David Jones, Jason Dundas, vocalises an attractive ideal best: “I think it is important that brands respect animals and have a sustainable behaviour,” he says. “It’s all about finding the middle point where brands can satisfy their clients, and making sure animals are treated respectfully.” A response like Dundas’ reflects a greater social problem. Wide-sweeping gestures can be made, but they remain holistically unsatisfactory in reaching a resolution. Despite the characterisation of the Indian leather industry as illegal and corrupt, attempts to enforce laws do little to change the underlying issue: there is not much an impoverished person, like Dinesh, can do to change the situation. Limiting the sale of such goods threatens his livelihood. His meagre wage continues to be fuelled by an industry fundamentally based on cruelty. The fact remains that until some wide-reaching social reform occurs, consumption of leather will remain mostly unchanged.
will the tills continue to ring? NATALIE LANE CONSIDERS WHETHER RETAIL STORES STILL HAVE A PLACE
Words | Natalie Lane
If you want to buy new music; Apple’s your main destination. New book? Amazon is the first option that comes to mind. And who needs to browse dozens of stores and hundreds of racks to find the perfect outfit, when you can easily visit Topshop from the comfort of your own home. The recent surge of online shopping means the consumer can now purchase with ease, without the waste of petrol or time, and receive deliveries to the door - all for a fraction of the price you’d pay at a local store. However, this is an increasingly ominous outlook for the victims of the shopper’s utopia – the local retailers, the Australian retail industry and the national economy. But if online is the only way of the future, and the rumour lingers that the death of the Australian retail industry is in sight, why would the international brands mentioned; Apple, Topshop, and even Aldi, be continuing to open physical stores on our shores? For centuries the retail store has been an economic core of developed nations worldwide, and that fact is not going to change anytime soon. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Australians are still spending more money at physical stores than ever throughout history. Online retail is currently predicted to grow 10 per cent annually, but it still only represents less than 6 per cent of Australian retail sales. The only truth about online shopping is that it has simply changed the retail game. The digitalization of media has affected all parts of the globe, and the retail world is not the only industry to witness its glory and horror. With musicians struggling to make ends meet due to worldwide illegal downloading, and CDs almost becoming old-fashioned, live music and festivals have become their new channel for revenue.
However, it’s the Internet, and retailers will need to get used to it in order to survive. Just as Charles Darwin wrote, “It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is the most adaptable to change.” Christine Christian, CEO of Dun & Bradstreet, Australia’s largest sales and marketing data company, said, “The situation is likely to deteriorate for those retailers unwilling or unable to adapt to changing consumer behaviour.” With the new digital age, retailers must consider an alternative business model that embraces e-commer ce opportunities while salvaging the unique qualities of the bricks-and-mortar store. Online shopping has two strengths that have won the hearts of consumers. If consumers have a particular product in mind, they now have access to the cheapest price globally, with 10 billion options for their destination and counting. With a high Australian dollar we also have a competitive stance against foreign markets. Australians will continue to direct their money overseas until Australian brands tap into their consumers’ calls. However the online temptation of affordability will always have to compete with the personal touch of the physical store. Bernie Brookes, CEO of Myer said they have found success with the popularity amongst consumers of mixing products with services, such as in-store cafes, make-up studios and clothing alterations, and believe this unique retail aspect is a win for the local store over the website. “There is a significant shopping centre culture within Australian society, and we expect this to continue,” he said.
“THE ONLINE TEMPTATION OF AFFORDABILITY WILL ALWAYS HAVE TO COMPETE WITH THE PERSONAL TOUCH OF THE PHYSICAL STORE.” With the advantage of instantaneous possession of purchases at local stores, online-only retailers have had to change their game by promoting overnight to two-day shipping. Also, without a strong store presence, most retailers admit they would struggle to sell anything online regardless. Louis Vuitton profits continue to grow over 20 per cent annually, purely from their physical stores. Foreign examples prove Australia isn’t the only nation in the online versus store war. As an American example, Walmart’s taken a new approach by turning their stores into ‘extensions of their own online operations’ and allowing online purchases to be picked up in store. Their CEO, Joel Anderson, stated, “we are living in the age of the customer, and you can either fight these trends that are happening – show-rooming is one – or you can embrace them.” However, an article published this year by The Economist critiques that companies like Walmart ‘still have a puny online presence relative to their size’. In 2006 America launched Cyber Monday, an annually 24-hour sale including 700 retailers, attracting 10 million shoppers and generating over $1 billion in revenue. Organiser Grant Arnott likens it to ‘Boxing Day sales on digital steroids’.Similarly, Click Frenzy will be introduced to Australia on November 20, which hopes to reach tens of millions of dollars in sales, if retailers tap into the opportunity. Too many Australian retailers have overlooked the enormous potential of e-commerce, and although the bricksand-mortar store will always be vital to the local shopper, they must be integrated with an efficient online counterpart. The Economist article (mentioned above) argues that for the survival of the physical store, the retailer needs to lose focus from goods that can be replaced with digital versions.
Attention must be left with products that require customers to ‘try-before-you-buy’, and prices that can be persuaded by competent sales assistants. As it has been for decades, repore and relationships with customers are still vital to maintaining a solid customer base. Despite their huge online presence, Apple thrives from the interactivity of their physical stores – drawing spectators as well as customers that regularly return. Many consumers believe Australian retailers have been systematically ‘ripping them off’ in recent decades, evading price integrity and maybe this is the wake-up call the industry has needed. Online shopping is purely the result of consumers becoming more market savvy. It’s time more Australian retailers follow the changes of their American counterparts, revamp their brick-and-mortar store approach and embrace the opportunities of digitalized retail. The Federal Government hasn’t left the online splurge unnoticed. They will be keeping a close eye on how much Australians spend through online retailers, funding the ABS with $2.1 million to track sales over the next year. An information paper will be released early in next year, but full details of their findings will be published in November 2013. In the retail race of sales, there will inevitably be winners and losers. Losers will include stores like Borders that will close purely from the digitalization of some products. It is the cause of an inescapable, unstoppable train called progression. The winners of course are the consumers, but not purely because of the convenience and competitive pricing now available through online shopping, but because retailers will continue to compete for the satisfaction of their customer’s local shopping.
the us presidential race or a bloody cagematch?
Words | Jonathan Holtby
Friday’s headlines claimed Florida from Obama - a significant blow in the election. And while there remain other swing states still very much in the running - arguably all of them - things have soured all month for the President. His is a campaign that is now firmly of the “challenged” variety. Mitt Romney actually fares little better, really, which makes the race a strange one, with no real front runner. The former Governor of Massachusetts has had to combat a string of challenges to his moderacy recently. Rogue Republican statements on rape and abortion have made for big talking points. He also has a big list of “must-takes” on the state-by-state electoral map which are still very close. The most impactful of these is Ohio, where he has not yet led in a poll (with but a handful exceptions). If not there, then Wisconsin. What the next few days look like - and there is a hurricane moving into a swathe of battleground AmerIca - will speak lectures about the election. It is close.
OCTOBER 3, 2012
MID-OCTOBER
On Wednesday morning, October 3, the President woke up in Nevada and went to sleep in Colorado. He began the day a dominant incumbent, known for his intellect, championship of the middle class, and respect for a compelling argument. It was the 20th anniversary of his marriage.
There was then fallout and commentary to that debate, much of it funny and a little bit bewildered on behalf of the democratic camps, and the campaigns continued to tighten.
Unfortunately, his afternoon flight to Denver was also the beginning of the pivot in the 2012 Presidential election. Within the next six hours, voters would, many of them for the first time, begin to consider Mitt Romney an effective and viable alternative. They would start to imagine an America with higher employment, better economic output, lower federal debt and a smaller federal deficit. They would do so because there was a man behind a podium that evening who was very comfortably showing them how these things were easily achievable - they just needed to vote Republican. Most voters probably didn’t change their mind about abortion, tax policy for the wealthy, healthcare reform, or government regulation of Wall Street all in that evening. But it seemed like they began to consider those things secondary to fixing unemployment. And they began to imagine what having a boardroom executive run their country once again would be like. Within six days of that debate, Obama’s 4.3 point lead, shown in an average of all presidential polls and cultivated over the post-convention month, fell to nothing. And Mitt Romney would take, on October 8 2012, his first lead in the nationwide tally. He has not lost that lead yet, barring two days of 0.2 point advantages to Obama, and the margin looks like it’s spreading. If the election mirrors perfectly the average sampling of the national polls preceding it, then Mitt Romney will win.
In any US Presidential race there are massive portions of the country that remain relevant only for the purposes of fundraising. California, Washington, Oregon, Ilinois, New York and most of New England are Democratic states, and most of the south and the middle are all Republican. The true swings were supposed to be Florida, Ohio, Virginia, Wisconsin, Iowa, Colorado, and New Hampshire. Now, Ohio is closer than anyone wants it to be, and with Florida potentially won by the Republicans, it looks just as important as had often been projected. The election may be won and lost there. A big focus on other swing states is going on as well - Green Bay, Wisconsin is the heaviest-bought media market in the country, and Obama has made a beer run to far-off New Hampshire for their votes - but Ohio is the big prize, and the two candidates are being framed as though they are fighting door-to-door to secure a win there. Futurists penning apocalyptic scenarios of electoral recount necessities are already preparing. The three debates that followed Obama’s disappointing night on October 3 - the Biden/Ryan scrap, Town Hall Rumble in Hempstead, New York, and the Foreign Policy Israel love-in - were different from the first, but mostly, they served to establish that this race is tight, important, and between two candidates that can stand up for themselves. That Obama didn’t (stand up for himself) on October 3 gave Romney the window he needed to open up the race into one between two rivals, and not one between a towering incumbent and his chameleonic challenger.
NOVEMBER 6 Tight races are a blessing and a curse for the politically-obsessive. They mean ugly, negative advertising, exhaustive schedules, and massive expenditure - all focused in tiny, heavily researched fragments of the country. The blessing of it though, is political engagement. If there is a soul in Franklin County, Ohio that does not know about the elections then they are blind, deaf, and have no friends. Every voter there will consider very carefully who they vote for. But, the negative advertising that comes with importance pays an enormous toll on peoples’ satisfaction with the democratic process. Many in Ohio may know about what’s going on and be so disgusted with it that they will venture out to find the poor senseless loners who don’t, and recruit them for a revolutionary party in protest. In just over a week the whole procedure will be finalized, and if the process goes smoothly there will be a decision. If it doesn’t, because either the President or Governor has won the electoral college but not the popular vote, or one or more states are too close and need to be challenged, then there will be a few more arguments, likely in front of the supreme court. But regardless of whether the process continues beyond the 6th or not, this will have been a very exciting, and a very close, competition. As happens so often in this country, the election has been about American values on the broadest range of moral, social, foreign and economic issues. It has not been - and scarcely could be - in any way boring.
the philippines WHY YOU SHOULD VENTURE TO THE PHILIPPINES
Words | Ash Peplow Ball Pictures | Ash Peplow Ball
The Philippines is an incredible country with phenomenal natural and cultural diversity which we only touched the surface of on our three week journey. We began our trip with a few days in Manila, the capital of the Philippines. We had read that Manila was the kind of place you either fell in love with, or absolutely hated. I think we landed somewhere in the middle. Our aim over the two days was to do the three things Filipinos love – shopping, eating and karaoke. The malls in Manila are some of the largest in the world – floors upon floors of clothes, shoes and strange pickled vegetable stalls. We were in Manila over a weekend, and what we noticed was the mall is not somewhere you drop into quickly - Filipinos take their entire family out for a whole day in the mall. On a Sunday for example, they begin with a pop-up church service between the archery range and bowling alley, followed by breakfast at a themed café, a late morning ice-skate, then maybe a movie before they watch a professional Filipino basketball game in the sports arena. The pollution, dirt and non-existent pathways of Manila could not have been more different from our next destination, Siargao, the surfing capital of the Philippines. Siargao is a small island in the South East of the island chain, very close to Mindanao (we made sure we took out kidnapping cover literally). You may have heard of Siargao – it is home to the famous surf break ‘Cloud 9’, named by a few Australians in the late 1980s after a delicious Filipino chocolate bar. People from all over the world visited Siargao to try their hand at the surf break, dubbed ‘Crowd 9’ by locals because of how congested it has become. The good news for us was that crowded in Filipino standards meant 100-200 tourists at a time on the island, and Cloud 9 was only one of hundreds of breaks around the island. Siargao is the most incredible place we have ever travelled to. There are hardly any travellers there, so much so that locals would be absolutely shocked to see white people walking by. Very few travellers means accommodation prices are low, the food is genuine, locals aren’t trying to rip you off and the beaches are virtually untouched. We very quickly settled into the Siargao way of life, where nothing happens quickly and you never really know what you’re going to end up doing that day. Most days we would get on our motorbike and drive around the island, visiting small villages, seeking out delicious food, and finding perfect surf breaks and deserted beaches to fill the hours. We had planned to venture beyond Siargao during our time in the Philippines but the island captured our heart and we could not bear to leave it – although a 7.9 earthquake and tsunami threat almost forced us out! The Philippines is made up of 7107 islands so there is so much more to see and I can’t wait until we can return. My advice would be go and explore the Philippines as soon as possible, it’s not going to be an undiscovered paradise forever.
“GO AND EXPLORE THE PHILLIPINES AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. IT’S NOT GOING TO BE AN UNDISCOVERED PARADISE FOREVER.”
photojournal: brazil Pictures | Pat Moss