The Aussies and Canucks have Human Rights Commissions. (Us Kiwis do as well, but it is generally seen as a joke over here, after De Breis was the chair). They are trying to shut down ED as it makes harmful comments.

But online rights group Electronic Frontiers Australia said trying to stamp out the deplorable content would only create the “Streisand” effect, whereby an attempt to censor online content only brings more attention to it.

In a letter to Joseph Evers, the owner of Encyclopedia Dramatica (ED) – a more shocking version of Wikipedia that contains racist and other offensive articles dubbed as “satire” – the Commission said it had received 20 complaints from Aborigines over the “Aboriginal” page on the site.

via Aussie bid to shut offensive site | Stuff.co.nz.

Some problems.

• You cannot legislate morality.
• Being offended is part of being human. This post is offensive to the PC. Get over it.
• ED is a site that is run by trolls. The first rule of the internet, is DON”T FEED THE TROLLS.
• The internet sees censorship as damage, and moves around it. This will increase traffic to all the 4 chan sites. Of course, this could damage $cientology, which is a good thing.

Australia is, bluntly weird. They have a culture that celebrates diversity and is anti authoritarian — and then regulate everything. It feels more oppressive than Helengrad (which misses the Control Freak government we voted out last election).

But Aussie ain’t the world. There is a wee thing in the US called the 1st amendment. They do not have a hope, and (again) they will be feeding the trollies instead of starving them.

There has been a move to open up the harbour and build apartments there in Dunedin. This is going to affect the industrial base — and the potential for expansion if (and when) there is more oil.

Dr Henry said Dunedin was central to all the activity – aside from that further south in the Great South Basin – and noted both the ports of Bluff and Timaru were working on proposals to become the shore base for future exploration.During the exploration drilling phase, a shore base would require space for storing drilling equipment, an airport from which to operate helicopters, and fuelling facilities for supply vessels.Ultimately, if an oilfield was brought into production, 3000-5000 jobs would be created onshore, with a requirement for office space, storage space, catering, construction and wharf space that could operate “24/7″.Dr Henry considered such a base would not add to the noise made by existing industries in the harbourside area.One of the big issues for bases in other countries was traffic.Oil would not be brought to a shore base but would be loaded directly from rigs to ships for transport to refineries.The Otago Chamber of Commerce and industries in the harbourside area are campaigning against the council's plan change.They said Dunedin's role in offshore oil exploration could be threatened by introducing apartments, cafes and restaurants to the area.

via Oil expert delivers harbourside warning | Otago Daily Times Online News.

There are plenty of places where one can build apartments and the “smart growth” stuff. There is a lovely surf beach. There is the length of the Southern Peninsula.

And there will be very little difference in access to work from there. If the council wants smart growth, there is room to put apartments in the CBD. There is still empty land — in town and out of town.

Finally, Dunedin is and industrial city and should continue to have this aspect to it. It balances the University. It gives employment and retains craft skills. We cannot survive by being a yuppie, twee city. (That niche is taken in NZ: Nelson, Gisbourne, Raglan — all of which are more conducive to living in board shorts year round.

The harbourside should remain industrial. The twee stuff can be at Portobello.

I appears fairly clear that there is much trouble in the world. There has just been a very strong cyclone in Fiji. There are worries about the stability of currencies of reserve, such as the US dollar and the Euro. The unemployment rate is high.

Then we are told also to fear things, that may be imagninary, or may be not. The current fear is Global warming. In my life it has been global cooling, over population, Peak Oil, Nuclear war…

The Psalmist acknowledges bad times. He looks forward to the restoration of good times.

Psalm 126

1When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion,we were like those who dream.

2Then our mouth was filled with laughter,and our tongue with shouts of joy;then it was said among the nations,”The LORD has done great things for them.”

3The LORD has done great things for us,and we rejoiced.

4Restore our fortunes, O LORD,like the watercourses in the Negeb.

5May those who sow in tearsreap with shouts of joy.

6Those who go out weeping,bearing the seed for sowing,shall come home with shouts of joy,carrying their sheaves.

via PCUSA – Devotions – Daily readings for Thursday, March 18, 2010.

It is very easy to blame those in power — and when they are making a series of actively damaging laws, I find bitterness, sarcasm and contempt arising. I can no longer pray for those in power, which we are commanded to do. (And Paul was writing about the late Claudian Emperors, who are still infamous).

It may be that he not only prayed for wisdom and right judgment, but also that they repent and be saved.

In good and bad, we are to seek justice, be merciful, and walk with G_d. We are to continue to do good. And Let’s pray for our leaders.

But there is no need to fear. This also shall pass.