The Centralian advocate Tue 6 Dec 2011
Centralian Advocate; NewspaperNT
2011-12-06
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English
Community newspapers -- Northern Territory -- Alice Springs; Tennant Creek (N.T.) -- Newspapers; Alice Springs (N.T.) -- Newspapers.; Australia, Central -- Newspapers
Nationwide News Pty. Limited
Alice Springs
v. 65 no. 57
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Nationwide News Pty. Limited
https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2019C00226
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/237035
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/639954
6 Centralian Advocate, Tuesday, December 6, 2011 P U B : C A D V D A T E : 6 -D E C -2 0 1 1 P A G E : 6 C O L O R : C M Y K OPINION with Maria Raharjo5minutesArchitect Maria Raharjo is an architect with Susan Dugdale and Associates in Alice Springs. Where were you born? I was born in Yogyakarta in Indonesia. How long have you lived in Alice Springs? I have been here for more than two years. What do you think is the best thing about Alice Springs? Its just 10 minutes drive to nature and the people here are nice and great, its easy to make friends. There is also good money if you are prepared to work. And the worst? When its hot you can really feel it. The other thing is that fuel is very expensive and when your mobile phone breaks down it takes two weeks to have it repaired. What is your most marked characteristic? People say I am friendly, outgoing and responsible. What is it that you value in friends? Faithfulness and honesty. Those are the most important things. What is your definition of perfect happiness? It can only be felt when you are with someone you can rely on, someone who cannot disappoint you. In your wildest fantasies what job would you like to do? Well, I like my job but I would like to be a magician. Which country would you like to live in? I would love to be in Switzerland. Their architecture is so different and amazing. They are not afraid to try new things. What is your favourite type of music? I like classical and classic rock but mostly it is the mood that determines the music. Do you have any heroes in life? My dad. He never disappoints me. He gave me a good example of how to live in a humble and simple way. He never wants more than he needs. What is your motto? Never give up when you want something, the whole universe will help you to get it. What do you do to relax? I read books. Do you have any favourite type of food? I love my food. I like pawpaw salad. Do you have a favourite movie? Madagascar. If you were an animal or a bird, which one would you be? A dog, so that I would take care of my owner. OPINION PoetsCorner Do you have a short poem you wish to submit? Send it to: ceneditorial@aliceadvocate.com.au Untitled By Celestine Rowe Your dream my dream Is one and the same Standing proud and strong This land we walk upon This fight we fight will always be We will always be Struggling for freedom Hope justice Equality Racist taunts Cut deep Wounds that cut deep well onto the next generation Of fighters Warriors stand proud and tall Together we unite Under our stars at nite And sing this sickness that kills our very spirit Sounds echo throughout the land We share the same song And remember where were from. ALICE BY NUMBERS Its time to fix this broken-down system Letters to the Editor PO BOX 2254, 2 GAP ROAD, ALICE SPRINGS FAX: 8950 9740 ceneditorial@aliceadvocate.com.au I know the subject of crime in this town has graced the opinion columns many times over the past few years. And theres a very simple reason for that: The crime rate continues to be the number one concern for the residents of Alice Springs because the powers that be havent been able to get control of the situation. To get the crime situation under control requires the coordinated efforts of three primary groups: The Town Council, the NT Police and the Alice Springs Court Magistrates. I believe the Town Council has done an above-average job with limited resources to tackle the problem of crime in this town. But there is always room for improvement. The NT Police need proper leadership to enable police officers to do their jobs effectively. When the statistics show that the police officers have just 15 minutes to devote to each crime committed in this town (including travel time), then the system is clearly broken and needs repair. Either cut through the red tape and develop streamlined procedures or hire more police officers. And then we come to the magistrates. In my opinion the magistrates in this town are a bunch of overpaid government workers. When I read in the papers that the police arrested a motorist for drink driving who blew .179, and that he has 18 prior convictions for drink driving, then clearly the magistrates are not doing their job (Driver Shocks Test Cops Tuesday, November 22). This guy should still be in jail after just three drink driving convictions. What is it going to take for the magistrates to protect the decent law-abiding residents from repeat offenders like this guy? These criminals know that they can continue to commit crimes in this town and all they will get is a slap on the wrist. After speaking to some local law officials, I was shocked to hear that some of these criminals actually welcome a short stay in jail, because it allows them to visit other relatives in jail that they havent seen in a while. Pull your thumbs out and do your jobs. We have had enough of the courts handling these criminals with kid gloves. Mike Caparino Alice Springs $28,248 The contract awarded to Trevor and Tori Power Generation by the Department of Construction and Infrastructure to fit a pump and do the electrics at a new bore at Watarrka Ranger Station 1 The number of streets in Palmers town camp that now have official names: Untyeye Court (the Arrernte word for corkwood bark ash) 51 The number of people who worked in mining in Alice Springs in 2010 Highlight who sells liquor I am not criticising what Dr John Boffa stands for, or advocates, but it would be ethical for Dr Boffa in every campaign against liquor outlets to acknowledge publicly and remind residents that in Alice Springs there are four liquor outlets that are owned by Aboriginal companies. A fifth outlet is leased from Aboriginal interests by a multinational supermarket for the sole purpose of supplying liquor to the public. If Dr John Boffa includes these facts in his campaigns then, and only then, will the public be unbiasedly in formed of what he advocates. Name Withheld Alice Springs Danger in nuclear decision To permit uranium sales with no meaningful commitment by India to curb its weapons program is spineless, irresponsible, dangerous sycophancy. If the plan proceeds, it would mark several new lows. For the first time in many years, we would be selling uranium to a country which is outside the Nuclear N o n - P r o l i f e r a t i o n Treaty; a country which is definitely producing fissile material for weapons (China may also be doing so); a country which has neither signed nor ratified that Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty; and a country actively engaged in a nuclear arms race. India and Pakistan have increased the size of their weapons arsenals by 2535 per cent over the past year alone. In 2008, federal parliaments treaties committ e e r e c o m m e n d e d against uranium sales to Russia until some sort of safeguards system was put in place, but the government simply rejected the recommendation. Perhaps the treaties committee will recommend against uranium sales to India unless accompanied by meaningful safeguards and meaningful commitments from India to curb its weapons program and to de-escalate the South Asian nuclear arms race. Perhaps its recommendations wont be so easily ignored this time. Dr Jim Green Friends of the Earth Melbourne No India nukes in backyard Indias nukes are not peaceful. India has refused to sign the nuclear nonproliferation treaty because it wants nuclear weapons. Even if Australian uranium does not end up in Indias nuclear arsenal, selling Australian uranium frees up more of Indias locally produced uranium to fuel its nuclear weapons program. Pakistan, with which India has a long-term border conflict, has demanded the right to buy Australian uranium as well. We shouldnt sell uranium to Pakistan for the same reason we shouldnt sell it to India these countries havent signed treaties that stop them from developing nuclear weapons. Peter Nightcliff NT