by Kendall O’Connor
Osama bin Laden is dead.
But the news of bin Laden’s death did not stop there, each day details his of life are being unveiled to the public.
And to everyone’s surprise, it wasn’t exactly what you would expect from the leader of a militant Islamist group.
Living in a mansion in an affluent Pakistani suburb with a collection of pornography is not what you would expect from a man who prides himself on his strict devotion to Islam.
Since bin Laden’s death it seems the groups he affiliated himself with have further distanced themselves from their oppressive beliefs.
The Taliban, which has strong ties with Al Qaeda, has also utilised Twitter, in order to spread propaganda and attract followers.
So far they have been tweeting not only in Pashto (used in Afghanistan and Pakistan) but also in English, which could suggest they are looking beyond the Middle East for support.
But this is highly hypocritical, as it comes from a group that once shunned technology due to their fundamentalist beliefs.
How can they gather more followers if they keeps ignoring their own core beliefs?
There is also the question of how relevant bin Laden was on the international scene before his death.
The occasional video decrying the actions of the West has lost its punch due to repetition and the fact that so few attacks have happened on Western soil.
Also, as seen in Tunisia and Egypt, people living under oppressive regimes need not turn to violent terrorist groups to initiate change, they have utilised the power of non-violent protests.
Bin Laden and his violent followers have no place in a world that is turning to social media to affect change- Peaceful Revolution? ‘Like.’
Showing posts with label Blogs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Blogs. Show all posts
Thursday, 19 May 2011
Money and Votes
by Kendall O’Connor
It has long been known that money equals votes and there is no other country that shows this quite like America.
Arnold Schwarzenegger, Michael Bloomberg and Barack Obama are classic examples of the fact that money can wield power and influence when it comes to polling time.
With President Obama planning to spend approximately one billion dollars on his 2012 campaign, this indicates that electoral spending shows no sign of decreasing.
But is all this extreme spending really worth it in the end?
It is highly likely that Arnie, Bloomberg and Obama would have succeeded in their campaigns if they spent a fraction amount of the money they had.
It is just as plausible that the personality traits we saw in speeches, interviews, public meetings and debates gave them the advantage over their opponents.
A study conducted by acclaimed economist Stephen Levitt shows two interesting facts.
First, that no matter how much money a highly unpopular candidate raises, they will inevitably still lose.
Secondly, front-runners can still win by spending less, and even if they have accumulated a significant amount of wealth for the campaign, they only use it when threatened by another candidate.
Looking back at the 2010 mid term elections, businesswoman Meg Whitman spent a record amount of her own personal wealth ($163 million) to gain a republican seat in the state of California.
However, she lost to Democrat Jerry Brown, who spent less than half of what Whitman spent. Approximately $25 million was utilised to support his campaign, while over $31 million was contributed by independent groups.
Furthermore, there is now the gift of social media and other networking platforms. This allows politicians to have their views presented at a minimal cost to a large audience, particularly among the younger voters.
At the end of the day, it is the personality of a candidate that wins the election, and this is something that money cannot buy.
It has long been known that money equals votes and there is no other country that shows this quite like America.
Arnold Schwarzenegger, Michael Bloomberg and Barack Obama are classic examples of the fact that money can wield power and influence when it comes to polling time.
With President Obama planning to spend approximately one billion dollars on his 2012 campaign, this indicates that electoral spending shows no sign of decreasing.
But is all this extreme spending really worth it in the end?
It is highly likely that Arnie, Bloomberg and Obama would have succeeded in their campaigns if they spent a fraction amount of the money they had.
It is just as plausible that the personality traits we saw in speeches, interviews, public meetings and debates gave them the advantage over their opponents.
A study conducted by acclaimed economist Stephen Levitt shows two interesting facts.
First, that no matter how much money a highly unpopular candidate raises, they will inevitably still lose.
Secondly, front-runners can still win by spending less, and even if they have accumulated a significant amount of wealth for the campaign, they only use it when threatened by another candidate.
Looking back at the 2010 mid term elections, businesswoman Meg Whitman spent a record amount of her own personal wealth ($163 million) to gain a republican seat in the state of California.
However, she lost to Democrat Jerry Brown, who spent less than half of what Whitman spent. Approximately $25 million was utilised to support his campaign, while over $31 million was contributed by independent groups.
Furthermore, there is now the gift of social media and other networking platforms. This allows politicians to have their views presented at a minimal cost to a large audience, particularly among the younger voters.
At the end of the day, it is the personality of a candidate that wins the election, and this is something that money cannot buy.
Wednesday, 11 May 2011
Drinking, but not Drowning
by Melanie Dunn
Picture this: you have had a very rough week at work, it’s the weekend and your best friend has decided to hit the town for her birthday. How does your night pan out?
Situations like this can often result in binge drinking and this has become a big problem for today’s youth and the people who have to deal with it.
Although everyone is capable of binge drinking, it is mostly the 16-25 age group that we should be concerned about.
The serious health issues associated with this practice are not enough to put people off bingeing, and these days we are hearing too many stories of people of all ages binge drinking, so we have to question why this is.
People may feel the need to binge because they don’t drink during the week, so they think that they are making up for lost time.
Special occasions like birthdays or New Year can also bring out the worst in peoples’ drinking habits - they think that because it’s a special occasion they have to drink and peer pressure may be involved too.
Another reason people may binge is because of funds – these days, it is more or less expected that you have pre-drinks first so that you a) aren’t sober when you get to the club, or b) don’t have to spend your money on overpriced drinks when you’re out.
A sad, but common reason for excessive drinking is because you need to drown your sorrows, which I think is the worst reason for bingeing because it only makes you forget your situation for the night but the problems are still there the next morning.
I really don’t see the appeal in getting so hammered that you can’t remember what happened the previous night, let alone feeling so terrible the next morning.
It doesn’t say much about your self-control or how much you respect your body if you are tripping over your feet or having to rush to the toilet to bring up your last cocktail.
I think that this is the thing we should be teaching youths – how to control their intake, not stop it all together because otherwise we would be fighting a losing battle.
All In the Name of the Game
by Melanie Dunn
For sports-lovers, the most devastating thing that could happen is that their favourite athlete gets injured and is out of action for weeks.
As upsetting as this may be for both the viewer and the player, it is a risk that comes with the territory and the athletes have chosen to accept this risk and play anyway.
With high contact sports like AFL, the inevitable injuries that take place and the athletes’ acceptance of serious injuries this is something I do not understand.
When Fremantle Docker Michael Barlow broke his leg in two places last year, it really made me question why the players willingly put themselves in such a situation.
Similarly, a friend of mine recently got concussed during his footy match and did not fully recover for two days. Bbut he took it all in his stride, claiming it is part and parcel of the game.
Yes, in most sports injuries are to be expected, and though there are preventative measures put in place (such as mouthguards and cups), there are circumstances where you can not anticipate what is going to happen, such as the Michael Barlow case.
I do not think that I would play a sport like AFL if I knew how high the injury rate was. That said, I play netball and although I haven’t had many serious injuries, I accept that there is a chance I might end up with a broken bone.
Sports-related injuries are definitely a risk to our health but there is a risk in everything we do, from walking across the street to eating a foreign food.
I don’t think we should stop playing because we are fearful of being hurt because it is part of the game, but we should definitely take more preventative measures and try to anticipate situations where an odd injury could occur.
For sports-lovers, the most devastating thing that could happen is that their favourite athlete gets injured and is out of action for weeks.
As upsetting as this may be for both the viewer and the player, it is a risk that comes with the territory and the athletes have chosen to accept this risk and play anyway.
With high contact sports like AFL, the inevitable injuries that take place and the athletes’ acceptance of serious injuries this is something I do not understand.
When Fremantle Docker Michael Barlow broke his leg in two places last year, it really made me question why the players willingly put themselves in such a situation.
Similarly, a friend of mine recently got concussed during his footy match and did not fully recover for two days. Bbut he took it all in his stride, claiming it is part and parcel of the game.
Yes, in most sports injuries are to be expected, and though there are preventative measures put in place (such as mouthguards and cups), there are circumstances where you can not anticipate what is going to happen, such as the Michael Barlow case.
I do not think that I would play a sport like AFL if I knew how high the injury rate was. That said, I play netball and although I haven’t had many serious injuries, I accept that there is a chance I might end up with a broken bone.
Sports-related injuries are definitely a risk to our health but there is a risk in everything we do, from walking across the street to eating a foreign food.
I don’t think we should stop playing because we are fearful of being hurt because it is part of the game, but we should definitely take more preventative measures and try to anticipate situations where an odd injury could occur.
Body Image: Being Proud of Reality
by Melanie Dunn
One of the highest concerns for young people today is body image and how we are expected to conform to a particular shape.
From around the mid 1990s it was fashionable to be super-skinny. However the negative impact of these expectations on youth in particular has initiated a body image war.
Young people were, and still are, developing illnesses such as anorexia and bulimia in an effort to conform to societal expectations and to look like the models in magazines.
As recently as last century, it was considered a good thing to be curvaceous; celebrities such as Marilyn Munroe and Elizabeth Taylor were considered sex symbols and an inspiration for curvier women everywhere.
So what happened to society to make them believe that being excessively skinny is healthy, and that developing an eating disorder is the only way to achieve it?
Supermodels like Naomi Campbell and Kate Moss were large influences in the wafer-thin look and since the introduction of airbrush technology, photographs have been edited to get rid of their ‘wobbly bits’ and to make models appear skeletal.
For example, a recent image for Calvin Klein has sparked outrage. It depicts Megan Fox, who was once envied for her natural curves, in the branded underwear looking skeletal and painfully thin.
The introduction of the 2010 Voluntary Industry Code of Conduct on Body Image has had a positive impact on society’s idea of ‘beautiful’, beginning with disclosing when images have been digitally manipulated.
Ex-Victoria’s Secret Angel Miranda Kerr bucked the trend of being super-skinny by appearing on the catwalk while pregnant, and while the Australia’s Next Top Model 2009 winner, Tahnee Atkinson, was slammed for her size ten frame, I believe her to be a great role model for young women as she has embraced her body and has not conformed to the expectations of the modelling industry to become a size 6.
I realise that it is not healthy to be overweight or obese, but neither is it healthy to look like a skeleton, so I encourage women (and men) everywhere to be proud of their body as everyone is unique and it is one of the things that make you who you are.
One of the highest concerns for young people today is body image and how we are expected to conform to a particular shape.
From around the mid 1990s it was fashionable to be super-skinny. However the negative impact of these expectations on youth in particular has initiated a body image war.
Young people were, and still are, developing illnesses such as anorexia and bulimia in an effort to conform to societal expectations and to look like the models in magazines.
As recently as last century, it was considered a good thing to be curvaceous; celebrities such as Marilyn Munroe and Elizabeth Taylor were considered sex symbols and an inspiration for curvier women everywhere.
So what happened to society to make them believe that being excessively skinny is healthy, and that developing an eating disorder is the only way to achieve it?
Supermodels like Naomi Campbell and Kate Moss were large influences in the wafer-thin look and since the introduction of airbrush technology, photographs have been edited to get rid of their ‘wobbly bits’ and to make models appear skeletal.
For example, a recent image for Calvin Klein has sparked outrage. It depicts Megan Fox, who was once envied for her natural curves, in the branded underwear looking skeletal and painfully thin.
The introduction of the 2010 Voluntary Industry Code of Conduct on Body Image has had a positive impact on society’s idea of ‘beautiful’, beginning with disclosing when images have been digitally manipulated.
Ex-Victoria’s Secret Angel Miranda Kerr bucked the trend of being super-skinny by appearing on the catwalk while pregnant, and while the Australia’s Next Top Model 2009 winner, Tahnee Atkinson, was slammed for her size ten frame, I believe her to be a great role model for young women as she has embraced her body and has not conformed to the expectations of the modelling industry to become a size 6.
I realise that it is not healthy to be overweight or obese, but neither is it healthy to look like a skeleton, so I encourage women (and men) everywhere to be proud of their body as everyone is unique and it is one of the things that make you who you are.
Do Pills Really Solve our Problems?
By Melanie Dunn
The summer flu season is definitely here and I was unfortunate enough to get a particularly bad case of it, resulting in a horrible throat infection which has only just subsided.
In my desperation not to become sick I had ingested all sorts of medicines, prescribed, over-the-counter and natural, and it begs the question: Why do people feel the need to pump themselves with drugs at the first sign of illness?
Should we not let nature takes its course and build up a natural immunity?
I admit that at the first sign of illness I will do anything to prevent it, but I know that it was all a bit excessive this time.
A good friend of mine swears by gargling hot salty water to kill the germs so I tried her method but it only seemed to make me feel better for about an hour and then I returned to my grumpy, self-pitying state.
The issue about whether or not to let nature do its work is even more questionable when it comes to common, short-lived ailments such as a cold.
Are we fearful of what we will miss out on if we’re ill, whether it be work, university or social events, or are we scared we will pass it on to our loved ones?
Either way, nobody enjoys being sick so perhaps we feel that the easiest way to attack it head on - with medicines.
It is also a convenience issue: The drugs are there waiting to be bought, so why shouldn’t I buy them?
The fact of the matter is, if you want to get well quickly, it is likely that buying medicine will help you, but you must wonder whether it is good for you to attack your body at such a concentrated rate and whether it will have any negative effects on your body in the long run.
It’s clear that I am not opposed to using medicines to get over an illness.
This is because it is convenient and they usually work wonderfully for me, but I admittedly went overboard this time around, so I will definitely think twice about pumping myself with drugs next time I am ill and consider more natural methods.
The summer flu season is definitely here and I was unfortunate enough to get a particularly bad case of it, resulting in a horrible throat infection which has only just subsided.
In my desperation not to become sick I had ingested all sorts of medicines, prescribed, over-the-counter and natural, and it begs the question: Why do people feel the need to pump themselves with drugs at the first sign of illness?
Should we not let nature takes its course and build up a natural immunity?
I admit that at the first sign of illness I will do anything to prevent it, but I know that it was all a bit excessive this time.
A good friend of mine swears by gargling hot salty water to kill the germs so I tried her method but it only seemed to make me feel better for about an hour and then I returned to my grumpy, self-pitying state.
The issue about whether or not to let nature do its work is even more questionable when it comes to common, short-lived ailments such as a cold.
Are we fearful of what we will miss out on if we’re ill, whether it be work, university or social events, or are we scared we will pass it on to our loved ones?
Either way, nobody enjoys being sick so perhaps we feel that the easiest way to attack it head on - with medicines.
It is also a convenience issue: The drugs are there waiting to be bought, so why shouldn’t I buy them?
The fact of the matter is, if you want to get well quickly, it is likely that buying medicine will help you, but you must wonder whether it is good for you to attack your body at such a concentrated rate and whether it will have any negative effects on your body in the long run.
It’s clear that I am not opposed to using medicines to get over an illness.
This is because it is convenient and they usually work wonderfully for me, but I admittedly went overboard this time around, so I will definitely think twice about pumping myself with drugs next time I am ill and consider more natural methods.
Wednesday, 16 March 2011
Can a Westerner understand the Burqa?
by Danielle Alosi
Initially I viewed the burqa as a symbol of oppression for women but thinking critically about the subject showed me that I really knew nothing of its true religious meaning.
Initially I viewed the burqa as a symbol of oppression for women but thinking critically about the subject showed me that I really knew nothing of its true religious meaning.
Is this something that I as a western woman will ever be able to understand?
I went in search of the reasons behind this religious attire.
Are You Sorry?
by Hayley Goddard
An apology is supposed to mean something. However in today’s society - it no longer does.
Politicians, sportsmen and the media have all apologised for one thing or another.
But are they really sorry?
An apology is supposed to mean something. However in today’s society - it no longer does.
Politicians, sportsmen and the media have all apologised for one thing or another.
But are they really sorry?
Friday, 7 January 2011
Women’s pay gap widening
By Katherine Dumont
Imagine checking your bank account balance and realising that you hadn't been paid for months.
You ask around the office at work and discover all your male colleagues have been paid on time and in full.
How might you feel if – after putting in all those hours, reaching your targets and hitting all those key performance indicators (KPI’s) – you hadn’t received a cent, while every man at your company had no such trouble?
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