A little ray of sunshine from Australia

[tamada]

Who's conflating? Recent or generational, the cultural denigration is the same. ......

While on the subject of cultural denigration, perhaps you could reflect back on the offensive ethnic slur in your post 4 above this one.

Eat my shorts.

Or use the Report button.

Up 2 u

[jackspratt]

You can eat your own shorts - you may even find some humble pie in there.

I am more interested in UM retaining a sense of balance and decency.

[Whistler]

You can eat your own shorts - you may even find some humble pie in there.

I am more interested in UM retaining a sense of balance and decency.

To be fair, words can mean different things depending on....

If abo is used to denigrate, it is ugly. If it is used between mates it is just fine.

I am not tam fan, but I have never thought he was racist. As for eating shorts, skid marks or not, the threads would probably get stuck in my teeth.

[tamada]

Or one could stop getting unduly over excited about words and read/watch the linked story.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/in ... boriginal/

[noosard]

[Whistler]

Ha ha very good

[tamada]

Here's another way to truly experience the outback.

https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-australia-63384008

[Whistler]

Calls for Gina Rinehart to apologise for father’s racist comments after $15m Netball Australia funding withdrawal
What daddy said 40 years ago has cost these girls $15 mil
good luck to them
glad they dont need lots

Looks like they were willing to forgo $15M to preserve their principles. Netball is growing audiences for women's sport very rapidly, I would not be surprised to see another sponsor very soon. If that happens they get ethical sponsors, let's wait and see.

Well it didn't take long did it. Victoria's state owned tourist body stitched up a 4 year deal for $15M. The principled stand has not cost Netball Australia one cent. Looks like a good deal all round. $15M for 4 years, plus televised finals in Victoria Looks like a lot of bangs per buck.

The stand by the Netball stars has had a mixed reaction, but in sporting circles it was widely applauded. Shades of banning tobacco sponsors, clipping the wings of alcohol sponsors. I wouldn't mind gambling sponsors to be next on the list.

Tough luck naysayers, sports can can be successful without laying their principles at the alter of 'take the money regardless'

[noosard]

The United States is preparing to deploy up to six nuclear-capable B-52 bombers to northern Australia, a provocative move experts say is aimed squarely at China.

Washington is planning to build dedicated facilities for the giant aircraft at Tindal air base, south of Darwin.

The US has drawn up detailed plans for what it calls a "squadron operations facility" for use during the Northern Territory dry season, an adjoining maintenance centre and a parking area for "six B-52s".

[Whistler]

55

Negotiated by Defence Minister Richard Marles. The same Richard Marles that our very own Trekkertony claimed with much indignity, that Marles was in the pocket of the CCP.

[jackspratt]

Negotiated by Defence Minister Richard Marles.

I would frankly prefer that he hadn't.

Australia needs to learn how to live with China, because it isn't going away. This escalation doesn't help.

[noosard]

was wondering if should have posted under the shadow thread

[Whistler]

I am quite sure that DFAT, ADF etc all discussed this before a decision was made. The balancing act needed an outcome.

Iron fist in a velvet glove seemed to be the consensus.

China is posturing, the air base is several thousand kilometres from the China . Guam, South Korea and Japan are all.much closer. Windows dressing for domestic consumption on the part of the CCP I suspect

[tamada]

Negotiated by Defence Minister Richard Marles.

I would frankly prefer that he hadn't.

Australia needs to learn how to live with China, because it isn't going away. This escalation doesn't help.

How do you live with a neighbor who ignores the local council and builds artificial islands in the local swimming pool and says they're only there for everyone's safety and security and won't be militarized and then makes them private property and militarizes them anyway?

[jackspratt]

When the neighbour is 31% of your international 2-way trade, you try to find ways of living with them without poking them unnecessarily with a stick.

You, and others, may disagree.

[Whistler]

Yep Jack, I disagree. China is already bullying Australia, bans on wine, grains, coal etc. China is also trying to steal the South China sea, moving into Australia's nearby geographies etc.

They are a bully. Yes Australia MUST live with them, but not as vassals.

[noosard]

Last government did alot of stick poking result poor
This government seems to be following suit properly with the same results

[Whistler]

Maybe Jack and noos. China is testing and probing with a new government. I see Albanese response framed in July as being much more balanced.

We are just over 5 months into a new government, this not a short term game.

[tamada]

When the neighbour is 31% of your international 2-way trade, you try to find ways of living with them without poking them unnecessarily with a stick.

You, and others, may disagree.

In 2008, offshore Vietnam and inside their 200 mile EEZ, we had Chinese "marine surveillance" vessels cut through streamer cables on our survey vessel, causing equipment damage, financial loss and a high risk of personal injury.

In 2014, we had fleets of Chinese "fishing boats" seeding the water 150 miles offshore Phillipines around the Sampaguita oil field with floating debris so that those streamer cables on that survey vessel were fouled and damaged creating another hazardous situation.

Last January, my Philippine client called force majeure on a seismic survey offshore Palawan as two Chinese "coastguard" vessels and one navy vessel stalked and harassed the survey vessel and support boats before they even got to deploy their gear.

The same Chinese naval vessel then spent about three days sailing inside the Sulu Sea where the Philippines and US were carrying out joint military exercises.

So you're right. I disagree with you.

[jackspratt]

Australia's national interest is a bit wider than the unfortunate issues that those nations bordering the South China Sea are experiencing from the bully China.

And even more so than those companies trying to exploit the natural resources of that region.