october 20, 2004
operation clark county
Through their Operation Clark County project, The Guardian newspaper made available the contact details of registered voters in one of the most marginal areas of the USA.
Here's the letter that I sent.
Dear Megan,
I’m writing to you as part of The Guardian newspaper’s Operation Clark County project. Your address (made available through the electoral roll) has been given to me so that I can emphasise the importance of your vote (in this year’s Presidential election) on the international community.
The United States is the most powerful nation in the world and as such great responsibility lies with those who vote. I, and many other Australians are fearful of the far-reaching consequences if George W. Bush wins this election.
Over the past three years I’ve watched as the international community has been divided, international laws ignored, seen lies told by your leader and intentional acts of violence enacted out on many innocent people. I can understand that the threat of terrorism will be important to you in your decision of who to vote for – but understand that there as been a significant increase in acts of terror since the current war on Iraq was started. Bush and the Republicans, whatever their rhetoric – have not made this world safer.
The gap between rich and poor has increased under Bush, unemployment has risen, the environment has been ignored, and defence has been promoted as an issue far more important than health and education. And every other nation watches America and follows in your nation’s footsteps.
I am so afraid of the future of the world if Bush takes power again. I want to have children more than anything else I can think of, but I don’t know what I will say to them when they ask “Why is the world so bad Mum?”. The future generations shouldn’t have to suffer because of our choices.
But this letter shouldn’t be about convincing you to vote one way or another. Your vote is your choice, but I urge you to consider the international community when you go to the polls.
Decisions made in America affect the world so much more than you may imagine, but we don’t have a choice about who leads your nation. You have that responsibility. Even if you’ve voted Republican all your life, the best thing about democracy is that you have the freedom to make a considered decision.
I write this to you as an act of friendship – I respect you greatly for registering to vote, as I value my right and responsibility as a voter most highly.
But let me tell you something about myself, my name is Pippa and I’ve just turned 25. I work in the IT industry, but ultimately I’d like to write professionally (either fiction or journalism – I haven’t decided yet). I live in a beautiful city called Adelaide, we have a population of just under a million and are bounded by the coast to the west and beautiful hills to the east. The CBD is surrounded by parklands, so the air is always fresh and it’s a quick walk to sit under a tree and listen to birds. I grew up in the hills and went to a tiny school with a beautiful garden – we’d build the most amazing cubby houses out of sticks and pine needles.
I love to listen to music; at least once a week I go out to see live music played. And I love country music! I can’t wait to travel to the states where such amazing people as Gram Parsons came from. I’m afraid of your country’s influence – but I love the culture that has evolved there.
Food, music and books – I love these things. And my friends? They’re the loveliest people you’re ever likely to meet.
Food! If I could send you food I would, but I’ll share a recipe with you.
(it’s a cake my mother taught me to make)
Flour Free Orange and Almond Cake
- 2 oranges
- 6 eggs
- 250g ground almonds
- 8 oz sugar
- 1 teaspoon of baking powder
Boil 2 oranges for two hours
Cool the oranges – remove the pips
Blend the oranges
Beat the eggs
Add in sugar, baking powder and almonds
Beat all together
Pour into a greased and battered spring-form cake tin
Bake for about 60 minutes in a moderate-hot oven.
180°c / ?F?
Enjoy! It’s good with cream… (now I’m hungry)
Megan, I want to live without fear. I want everyone to share in the blessings that I’ve received. I want the world to become a peaceful, happier, greener place to live. I want everyone to have the gift of freedom and democracy – and for those already blessed with these gifts to use them wisely. We should always think about others – not just ourselves. So please, take a moment to consider how your vote will effect everyone in this world. You and I both need a good world and I personally feel that a vote for the Democrats will be a vote for true democracy.
Please feel free to write back to me. I will however understand if you chose to not respond, this letter is probably very surprising!
So, on behalf of the international community… please remember us on November 2.
Peace be with you…
Pippa Buchanan
pipstar @ 07:19 PM | link | Comments: *****
october 17, 2004
forward thinking
I only just realised that there's less than two weeks befor NaNoWriMo kicks off, and even though I have a rough idea of what I want to write, I have no idea how I'm going to get it done.
Let's face it kids, I've been saying that I'm going to start regular yoga practice for the last 2 years and I'm still waiting for the week when I actually practice daily... But then again, I did actually get a month's worth of 100 words done, even though I'd write three or four days worth at a time.
I am pretty proud that I wrote a 1500 character description piece the other day. It was so much fun having an idea evolve in my head. Presuming that I can make myself sit down to write, I think that I'm going to really enjoy the NaNoWriMo process.
But I'm going to have to get a couple of things done in the next fortnight:
- Tax Return
- Finish reading Jonathon Strange and Mr Norrell
and...
- Ticket to Vietnam paid for (Surprise! I'm going travelling again - for two weeks over Christmas)
pipstar @ 02:45 PM | link | Comments: **
october 12, 2004
other people's words
Margo Kingston - The minority of us who believe in egalitarianism, care for our environment, a strong democracy celebrating dissent and an independent Australia on the world stage must take stock.
The Guardian - Despite the emphasis on family values, the Christian right tends to be well to the left of the government on several of the more controversial issues which have convulsed Australian politics under Mr Howard. Family First's leader, Andrea Mason, is the only Aborigine to lead a major political party, and the party's immigration policy is to the left of both the government and opposition.
Antipopper - In the past couple of days I’ve noticed that many of you here in Australia are wondering how you can look your “fellow Australians” in the eye after they returned our pack of lying, slimy leaders to government.
Sauer Thompson - And the upshot of a Senate without a balance of power? Telstra will be sold, industrial relations reform will go through, as will cross media ownership and disability pension reform. After June 2005 a massive agenda of social change will take place during the next three years. That is the significance of this election.
I've been left at a loss for words since I found out the election results on Saturday evening. But before the aftermath, I did have a swell picnic, thankyou to all who came.
pipstar @ 06:27 PM | link | Comments: *
october 07, 2004
ants, beer, food, blankets
Sorry that I've left announcing this to the last moment, but I'll be having a birthday / election afternoon picnic this Saturday in Botanic Park from 2pm.
Look what a beautiful day it’s going to be!
Saturday
Mostly sunny
High: 24
Low: 9
Dew point: 7
Humidity: 38%
Wind at 09:00:
11kph, NE Wind at 15:00:
6kph, NW Rain probability: 5% (0.0mm)
Readers, fellow Adelaide bloggers... You’re all welcome to come along and claim a patch of lawn with your friends and family.
We’ll be situated somewhere near the Friends Gate of the Botanic Gardens. Look for my red hair.
BYO stuff to eat, drink, sit on and play with.
pipstar @ 10:33 AM | link | Comments: ***
october 06, 2004
3000 words
Some good, some bad.
But they're all here.
pipstar @ 12:11 AM | link | Comments: ****
october 05, 2004
pride goeth before a fall
As you may now be aware, I'm beginning to think of myself as a bit of a writer. And as with many budding writers I have delusions of grandeur, so I'm going to write a novel next month.
Hopefully, my first NaNoWriMo effort never sees the light of day. I haven't reread it since November 5, 2002, but I'm definite that it was atrocious. I stupidly attempted to write 50,000 words freehand, whilst travelling. I never got past the first 2000 words as most of my time was spent counting how many words I'd written.
Did I mention that it sucked?
Anyway, let's hope that this year's effort is better. It has to be, because the first one was pitiful. But this one is going to be at least pleasant to work on because I actually have an idea, possibly a basic structure, some characters who are obviously based on people I've known and a computer to write and most importantly, check my word-count with.
pipstar @ 11:35 PM | link | Comments: **
october 02, 2004
a short story♥
In year twelve and first-year uni, I was obsessed with many things, including clothes, but when it came to thinking about clothing there were only three items in my mind: the perfect black shirt, black skirt and black pants.
Now don't get carried away... I wasn't a goth, because if I was a goth I'd have to be interested in ridiculous things such as black corsets and horrible handkerchief hemmed, witch-style skirts, neck biting and speed. And the boys, well most of the gothic boys were absolute drips in mesh shirts.
Despite my penchant for owning black clothes, I thought the whole gothic thing was ridiculous. But dammit, I still wanted that perfect shirt, skirt and pants.
And apart from finding these three items I thought shopping and caring about clothes was really, really dumb.
I figured that all my problems could be solved if I found those three key items. I'd be the the perfect indie kid who didn't need to worry about clothes, instead I'd wear black all the time and could spend my money on records and magazines.
Though slowly, over time that all changed. I started shopping.
I'm still looking for perfect design, but not only have I embraced colour, I've also embraced the possibility that many clothes can be a good thing. And since I've been working full time, I've started spending much more money.
Take yesterday for example. I finally got my perfect green shoes off layby, bought a beautiful, fine, black, woolen halter neck top, then went and put a wrap dress on layby. To round the clothes purchasing off I bought a magazine (ironically it was Real Simple) and ended up buying two cds (the guild league - private transport and wagons' draw blood).
But I'm not satisfied! No way...
Today I had to meet up with my brother to buy him a present (Happy 22nd Birthday Nick!), so we had to go to a couple of skate shops to find the right t-shirt. And I managed to find a cute sandshoe (white with green trim) which I'm going to buy very very soon, and then horror of horrors...
I put a pair of shorts on layby.
Now, back in the days of the ultimate black clothing, I also had a very strong rule against shorts. Apart from being coerced into shorts for the odd sporting activity, I've thought that shorts were the pits. And when Karah started talking about buying shorts the other day, inwardly I was almost crying.
So it's quite distressing that I've not only looked at shorts, but tried them on, thought they looked good and decided to buy them.
It's these kinds of issues that I'm confronted with as I get older. I wonder what my 17 year old self would think if she saw me now...
♥ i am so sorry about the use of such a horrible pun.
pipstar @ 08:54 PM | link | Comments: **
october 01, 2004
good guys
Finally, it appears that the Kyoto Protocol will come into effect, since the Russian government has decided to ratify the treaty. [via the bbc]
© 2002 - 2007 Pippa Buchanan