Jobs and politics

Just a quick note to get some things off my chest.

There is major upheaval of the mining sector happening in my hometown region right now. My own father was put off from his job as a miner Friday just gone. It is going to have a devastating impact on the town. So many of the business in the area depend on the mines for income.

Now capitalism is taught on the basis that economic wealth must prosper and the fact of bubbles in an ever-expanding economic climate happen, and can burst, seem largely ignored or blamed on someone other than the very system itself.

To make things clear, I am not a revolutionary committing myself to the cause of communism here. I am simply trying to illustrate that the mining boom of the early 21st century is beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel, and that light is a train coming straight on, in the form of both the prevailing social climate behind the movement for a cleaner, more sustainable future for our earth.

This mine closure, or waylaying of process to proceed mining in the area, is inevitable. Whether or not it is sudden or a slow wind down, does it especially matter? People are still going to be in debt and perhaps the shock of the sudden-ness of it all may indeed push those who have grown used to not needing to pursue a life outside of the realm of what can at times seem like a closed community out into bigger and better ventures. There are some amazing people in the area. The nostalgia for the town's past may still stick but the reality of the situation is that the continual mining is both economically non-viable for the businesses and not sustainable for the environment.

Time would be better spent on focussing on the future, both long and short.

Of course our government is not helping the problem by trying to privatise every aspect of the government, which begs the question-where does my hard earned tax money go? May I have a say in where it goes? I would certainly not choose the answer 'to line politicians pockets' as it seems it does mostly. Educate Australia's people to buy Australian made, and grown. We are one of the luckiest countries in the world with a wealth of resources at our fingertips and instead of using them to build our industry, we sell it off for a short term profit which makes the current government look good. We're not all mindless. Why can the government not work together for a future for Australia instead of constantly harassing each other like a group of school children about who did what last. We all need to work towards a sustainable future. Shift the conversation from 'us' and 'them' to concentrating on the ideas and not vilifying each other. We're sick of it.

Long awaited return + snow!

We have returned to our little cottage in the forest into the tumult of mid-winter, from the warmth of mid-summer in Europe. Within the first fortnight we awoke to this, our first proper snowfall, relieving me of work for the day (despite it being but a light scattering compared to some European or American folk). The view of our front yard from the lounge room.

A reminder of why I love where we now live.

My car with a good 5-6 inches of the frozen H2O. Such brilliance. As an Australian I'm happy with 2-4 good snowfalls in the region every year, it retains its sense of novelty. Some old, grumpy types will always complains just for something to do I believe but a good snowfall is always enough to lift the spirits, only when you have the option of retreating inside in front of the fire after some frolicking.

Two of the three in the herd, those retaining their 'winter stores' shall I say and have no need for a rug. My father in laws property, quite a serene, magical spot.

Yes, I may have gone a tad snow mad with the photos. #noregrets