The Climate, Environment and Energy Thread

[Thryleon]

So Gina does this good work purely because she feel a kindred love for these, the (generally) poorest of the poor ?
Or does she claim a nice big fat tax deduction and get her portrait painted of herself in flowing robes astride a white stallion amongst “her people” ?
Nothing wrong with tax deductions, we all all get some sort of benefit from them, personally I’ve got more time for the guy who gives $10 to the Sally at the turnstile on Saturday arvo then million/billionaires who give large amounts for the swank factor.

In the Australian sense a lot of the “wog” stuff was pure ignorance and as people on both sides have integrated it has greatly diminished but not gone… Which of course leads back to nationalism, which is truly an evil political tool.

I don't get too caught up with the WOG thing.  Only time I ever really got my back up about it was when I was told to go back to where I came from, and that I shouldn't be proud of my culture in the same way indigenous folk are.  My friend and I came up with a saying in school that we would just roll off right back, and that was to say that we were wogs and we are not shy, we would rather eat souvlaki than a bloody meat pie (I did like a pie, but thats besides the point).  I reserve that human right as they should and largely I brought that up for an example of the mentality of the Australia I grew up in and what was "acceptable" of that time, was very different to the one we live in today.

We arrived at Melbourne airport from Hawaii on monday, and as we were arriving at our gate, the pilot announced to everyone that we acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we <gather/meet> today, and pay my respects to their Elders past and present. I extend that respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples here today and to thanks us for flying with Jetstar.  This happens frequently in meetings, sporting events and like today.  There is proper social change occurring in our nation regarding this issue and that will continue as far as I can tell.

When it comes to Hancock, its not about being a faux champion or tax incentives etc (you will notice I brought that up earlier as to why they do this stuff to begin with, because there is an incentive to).  The tell is what and whom they are willing to sponsor in the name of that tax deduction.  Scholarships for indigenous people on the link I quoted and sponsoring NAIDOC week isn't just about a tax dodge.  She could have sponsored any organization on the planet and obtained the same tax dodge.  I've deliberately avoided commenting on the work in the PILBARA region as that is linked to her work, and ergo is more about good will and buying her company into mining resources in those areas because that is likely less genuine, but that doesnt diminish that she is actually willing to champion the efforts of Indigenous people and not just sponsor the Swan Districts under 18's for the same net result.

Thing is, she doesn't have to sponsor NAIDOC, and rather than pass judgement on her mentality (I personally think she is more $$ driven than anything else) but am simply pointing out that actions speak louder than words and anything she states will be perceived hollow and apologist rubbish anyway because people are cut from the same cloth as their parents or some other such nonsense.

Hancock seniors views were common place at the time of speaking.  That doesn't make them right but if people cant recognise she would be on a hiding to nothing and putting oxygen back into that discussion and will only server to dig them up and expose them to the world (AGAIN) and fuel additional outrage IMHO.