Australians - WAKE UP - SPEAK UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Where are all the light-hearted articles on cafes, wireless broadband cards, geekiness, gadgets, quotations, retail reviews and stuff about Melbourrne???

Well, I can tell you that I do not have my attention on any of that at the moment. My attention has been completley consumed by the horrible drama that is being played out before us all in Bali... the detention, trial and plight of Schapelle Corby. What is going on is shameful.

We as Australians have seen 88 of our innocent fellow country-men be blown to bits in a nightclub whilst on holiday in Bali and then watched as the perpetrators of this vile deed are sentenced to two years jail.
We as Australians (at both a Government and general population level) respond immediately and very generously to Indonesia and the humanitarian crisis caused by the Boxing Day tsunami.
Our Government responds again to the humanitarian needs of Indonesia caused by the Easter Monday Earthquake.
My question in all of this is what are the leaders of our country and Government THINKING?? and what, more importantly, are you planning to do to ensure that Schapelle Corby is not going to be another young Australian lost to Indonesian injustice - whilst we are so busy extending a neighbourly hand to them.
John Howard, Kim Beasely, Peter Costello, Alexander Downer et al, you are all strong intelligent leaders with (I imagine) the best interest of Australia and Australians at the fore-fronts of your hearts and minds.
So what is going on with each of you - A tsunami and earthquake can devastate a country and admirably, as a good neighbour we come to the aid of Indonesia in spades . Fair enough. BUT how can you sleep at night knowing that at the very same time, an Indonesian court is putting one of our citizens through what can only be described as a living hell!!!
Maybe we, the people of Australia have not explained clearly and loudly enough how we feel - after all - you are our elected representatives - if we don't show how outraged we are, then why should you "do the hard stuff"
So, I say, it is up to each and every one of us to let our leaders know how we feel.

Here are the email adresses of some of our leaders...

Email the Prime Minister - John Howard

Email Kim Beasley              Kim.Beazley.MP@aph.gov.au

Email Alexander Downer      minister.downer@dfat.gov.au

Email Kevin Rudd               Kevin.Rudd.MP@aph.gov.au

Email Michael Danby           michael@michaeldanby.com   (Member for Melbourne Ports)

Email Peter Beattie             ThePremier@premiers.qld.gov.au    (Premier of Queensland)

Here is a copy of the letter that I have sent to each of the above leaders

Gentlemen,

As leaders of our country, I am appealing to your consciences to collectively do whatever it takes to bring Schapelle Corby home to Australia. Who am I? Michael Danby knows me reasonably well…. we were contemporaries in Melbourne at college in the 70’s – I pursued a business career – Michael a political career and Michael will tell you that I am as politically oriented and active as “the man next door” – my political activism to date has been limited to voting at Federal and State elections. HOWEVER, seeing what is happening to Schapelle Corby has touched a very raw nerve with me. I have two daughters not much younger than Schapelle and every time I see Schapelle on TV or in the paper, I imagine that it just as easily could be one of my daughters (or yours for that matter) in her place. Just beacause it is NOT my daughter in Schapelle’s place this time does not make any difference – how would you feel if it were your daughter in Schapelle’splace??  To see what Schapelle is being subjected to in Bali is, for me, more horrific than the pictures of the Iraqi prisoner abuse. You will all have your opinion on the “sovereignty of other countries” and their right to govern according to their laws … fair enough. But you were also not born yesterday and you would know that a Denpasar court and jail is no more just or humane than a Nazi concentration camp. Please do not continue to ignore the facts and REALITY of Schapelle Corby’s treatment and her so called “trial” by hiding behind the theory of “soveriegn country-right to govern” argument. Remember the outrage at the treatment of Iraqi prisoners of war – American service people were tried and convicted and we still hear on the news today about whether Australian diplmats “knew about” Iraqi prisoner abuse – he point is, the issue of Iraqi prisoner abuse is bigger than the abuse of one of our own citizens who MAY NOT be guilty. (At least the prisoners of war were imprisoned for good reason!!) The point is, Schapelle Corby is being subjected to conditions and mental torture that is literally unspeakable. Can we not negotiate something with the Indonesians that, in return for DFAT maintaining Bali as a “favoured” tourist destination (and not a destination with a constant “no go” travel advisory) , the Indonesians, in return  agree to allow the immediate deportation of any Australians arrested for drug offences? Please consider this issue very carefully – there will be a “tsunami” of public opinion here in Australia if events deteriorate any further  - it has not happened yet but it will I am certain. This issue has every ingredient for an astounding diplomatic triumph or leadership disater… it is now over to you.

Alan Singer
MELBOURNE Victoria