aplaceof.info

... a sign of the times on the Eyre Peninsula, South Australia — take care ...

My name is Dennis Argall
and this has been my web
address since 2002.

Important family life has been recorded, here and here, since from 2000 to 2007

I recorded some views against the Iraq war in 2003 and 2004, here. I think (as a former ambassador to China and with other past defence and foreign affairs roles) that we still have major foreign policy problems in Australia, but these are now for another generation to solve. We seem never to learn from history. Strategic policy remains lacking in understanding of our own region, preoccupied by force, unaware of the declining efficacy of state force. There is a persistence of an imperial mindset in favour of 'intervention' to solve matters domestically and internationally. Which is an instrument more likely to cause disorder than stability, where it is not closely associated with empowerment of local community. And yes, I am also referring to and concerned about interventionist perspectives on indigenous issues. See what I wrote after the Prime Minister's Sorry statement. A link from that page also to writing about the prospects (as seen in February) of an Obama vistory.

The hosting space has also been used for several community projects.

 In 2009 I have, with good support, been building ozbraintumour.info, having maintained a management responsibility for the Australian internet brain tumour support group OzBrainTumour since I set it up in 2000. See also our blog set up in March 2009.

I have sought also to use the internet for community empowerment projects in Africa, including currently www.easterncongo.net

and locally in the Shoalhaven (southeastern Australia)
www.tomerong.org and
www.newbushtelegraph.net

Four months of 2008 were entirely preoccupied by a campaign to change the local government in the Shoalhaven, in the course of which I built this web site.

The outcome of the elections was with a change of regime, as sought, and with myself not being elected to any office, which in many ways suits. I am free to be free... watch this space...

I am concerned still that we have, at no level of government in Australia a real sense of the difficulties ahead. Government is pervasively distrusted and many issues will not be solved at federal or state level, or by the machinery of local government.

To get any resilient capacity to cope with future issues, especially climate change and fuel and energy costs, will require fundamental new attitudes in the community, shifting away from sitting and waiting for services to working collaboratively. No, I don't imagine we are going to find that easy for Australians, but we have to do it... And hopefully some will notice what President Obama has said on this matter:

On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord. On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn-out dogmas that for far too long have strangled our politics. We remain a young nation...

In reaffirming the greatness of our nation we understand that greatness is never a given. It must be earned. Our journey has never been one of short-cuts or settling for less. It has not been the path for the faint-hearted, for those that prefer leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame. Rather, it has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things -- some celebrated, but more often men and women obscure in their labor -- who have carried us up the long rugged path towards prosperity and freedom.

Of course Liz set out this perspective in 1999 with depth, when she was 19, in a text which has been a great guide to me. How good to be guided by a daughter's wisdom, nicely in advance of this new world leadership perspective:

Courage [Liz wrote in 1999] is not a thing of the body, nor strength. Courage and strength are of the mind, the soul and spirit - sometimes the body follows suit, but this is of no matter except where heavy boxes are concerned. Courage, strength: it is with these that we hold onto our dreams, our innocence, our hope, it is with these that we dare to push forwards in our journey in life. Courage to take the first step and the ones after, strength as the force to drive us on when the centre seems to crumble and all begins to fall.

There are many people who are brave, courageous and strong but do not realise it. This is because true courage and strength is not about noise, it is not something to boast and brag about - although it is something to be proud of. Often the greatest acts of strength and courage come from those who are never noticed, sometimes not even by themselves, those who doggedly strive against odds that may not seem that large on the outside, but are nightmare labyrinths on the inside.

Courage and strength with integrity, insight and openness to new forms of understanding, this is what is required to truly exist, truly be in the world. The courage to take on a full role in the world, to care about what happens, care about your actions and play an active part in the the world, in the events that unfold. And not just taking any part, taking a part that you choose, a part that you love and can feel passion for, not a part that has been decided for you. Cutting away your strings from the puppet master. Expressing the self, discovering the self, evolving the self, these are three of the greatest tasks a soul can face, it takes a lot of guts ‘cause that is one hell of a can of worms to open.

You can write to me at the email address on the right. Which you need to copy. I have not made a link to it as it then gets stolen and the spam mail increases.

I use skype but only as arranged by email.