Sexual assault
Like us and many of our friends, we imagine that you have been disturbed by the spate of sexual assault allegations against prominent AFL and NRL footballers. The responses from football administrations, clubs and players have largely been defensive and grossly inadequate.
For the most part, they have attempted to contain the allegations. Football clubs have relied on group silence, group denial, cover-up, spin doctoring, expensive legal advice, confidentiality agreements and the blind faith of many fans. Their tactics have increased the intrinsic obstacles facing any woman who makes the difficult decision to lay charges of group sexual assault.
The results are that no charges have been laid, no footballers have been disciplined or admitted wrong-doing and few lessons appear to have been learned. Some women's lives may already have been permanently scarred. Women who are past or future victims of sexual assault may now feel even more reluctant to lay charges against elite footballers.
The issue has cast a shadow over many fans' enjoyment of the game. It is important for us to show that decent footy fans are disturbed and angry about arrogant attitudes and inexcusable behaviour against women that appear to have become entrenched in privileged areas of football culture.
We believe that rank-and-file fans who are disgusted with the current situation will welcome the opportunity to voice their concerns and do something constructive about a basic issue of safety and respect for women.
To this end, we have organised a web site where footy fans and sympathisers can register their dissatisfaction with how football clubs and players are dealing with the issue. We want to offer solutions that recognise and attack the problem of sexual assault in football instead of trying to sweep it under the carpet. Check it out at
Please read the web site, sign the petition and send comments and suggestions. Then send this email or a link onto fellow footy fans and friends who you think will agree. And if you're a member of a relevant organisation (a P&C, trade union, women's group, junior footy club, political party, church etc.) inform your fellow members.
To email us about Football Fans Against Sexual Assault, contact <ffasa@tpg.com.au>.
Dave Sampson & Katherine Haines
Sydney
WMD
I found 'em. They're everywhere. Just look around. You'll see them too. They bump into each other like bumbling idiots. In the process they kill thousands of people (nearly 43,000 in the US alone in 2002) and maim millions more every year. The carcasses of small animals they leave in their wake is heartbreaking. How many trees have been axed, how much arable land has been rendered useless except for their fleeting rights of passage?
They leak toxic substances onto roads and parking lots which accounts for 70% of our water pollution from runoff. They poison our air so badly that by the afternoon whole skylines magically disappear.
Four tons of carbon and 700 pounds of air pollution were generated to make each one. They create wars for oil. But we love them, so we're told anyway (in car and oil company ads, to be sure).
They throw daggers of fear into our hearts if our children get anywhere near one that's moving. They pile up in junkyards by the billions — what to do with all that waste? When they get stuck, the operators get so angry they shoot other operators.
I hope that one day we Americans will learn from the more advanced (certainly more forward-thinking) people like the Europeans that non-polluting, efficient, and safe means of mass public transportation is what we need to work toward for a sustainable future for our children and their children.
I for one will continue to walk, rollerblade, bike and bus it around. I hope you'll think about it too.
Frank Gubasta
Fort Myers, Florida
Iraq
I can't begin to express how sickened I am by John Howard's backslapping visit to America and his continued claims that killing more than 15,000 innocent Iraqis was the right thing to do. Clearly it was wrong and it can never be justified or excused. To my mind, there was no doubt that in the end, Howard would not support the troops and there could be no glory from the illegal attack on Iraq. It is only too convenient to pose for photo opportunities and political points.
Now that Coalition has exposed itself as even more brutal than Saddam's regime, Howard has been quick to distance himself. Many Australians will remember him saying that we should not blame the troops and that he alone should be blamed for the decision to go to war. So it should be no surprise that efforts are being made to put him on trial for war crimes.
What I find truly amazing is that Howard seems to be in a state of denial and is contemplating another term in office.
I am very disappointed that so many other Australians still remain confused and misled about the reality of Iraq and I applaud 91×ÔÅÄÂÛ̳ and others for continuing their efforts to expose the lies and bring justice to those responsible.
Peter Smernos
Adelaide
Energy statement
Why, when we live in a sunny country, predominantly by the windy shores of Australia and with a huge biomass, are we not leading the world in renewable energy sources? Howard's refusal to join with California, Germany and the UK in setting a renewable energy target of 20% by 2020 shows that the government lacks vision for the future of the world's energy needs and Australia's potential in research and development which would earn billions for Australia and create thousands of jobs.
Instead, Howard throws $1.2 billion at polluting diesel subsidies for industry and the even worse globally warming coal industry.
Dr Colin Hughes From 91×ÔÅÄÂÛ̳ Weekly, June 23, 2004.
Glen Forrest, WA
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