February 1st, 2011
Our spot this morning at 7am.
Ok so I think there has been a big secret misinformation campaign denigrating Canberra just to keep the rest of Australia away haha.
It truly is beautiful when you get to drive around and stay beside the lake as we have.
Great food, not much traffic, big roads, nice people, low crime, on the water. What’s not to like?
LIFE LINE HELP
The first thing I asked Michael the head of Life Line when I interviewed him yesterday was HOW can people help such a great cause?
SIMPLE do a counselor course at Tafe or similar. This is well worth doing, if only to help you communicate better with friends and family. Or alternately donate.
If you want to put some perspective on your own problems. Do some shifts at Life Line! http://www.lifeline.org.au/
COMMUNIST SECRET POLICE TRY TO RUIN OUR PARTY – SERIOUSLY!!
Today some of the Lao community are putting on a spread to welcome us to Canberra. These are people who have escaped the communist regime and the Lao Embassy keeps close tabs on them.
We were told yesterday that because our presence will draw attention to their plight, the secret police have been nosing around telling people their visas will be in jeopardy if they attend.
They will also apparently be photographing the event to keep tabs on those who do turn up.
Its crazy to think that in this day and age the communists are still as paranoid as ever.
If they can exert that kind of fear on people here in the west, what on earth must they be doing to the people at home.
We spoke at length to Sid (not full name) and got an incredible picture of the oppression still going on over there.
Today when tell your family, your job, local politician, country or government suck, without fear that one of them will turn you in to serve 20 years hard labour. You might want to remember to have a little gratitude with your gripe!
THINK ABOUT IT - It seems when we don’t have a govenment to TAKE AWAY OUR FREEDOM most of us are happy to do it ourselves by living our lives in a self imposed BOX of FEAR & FRUSTRATION!!!!
2 Comments on "27-03 The Commies r Coming & Canberras Con"
Thank you Geoff and Bessie for meeting the Lao Community in Canberra. This is indeed an honour for them to be given an opportunity to tell their story.
Many fled Laos during the communist take-over in 1975. Prior to this, Laos had a rich and ancient history, culture, religion and people. A largely peaceful and tranquil Buddhist nation ruled by a revered monarchy, it was best described as a kingdom paradise blessed with abundance and long periods of peace.
Recently the Lao Government illegally detained thousands of Hmong and Laotians they forcibly removed from UNHCR Refugee camps in Thailand. This is in direct violation of International Law, and the UN Declaration of Human Rights to which Laos became a signatory to on 7 December 2001.
This nightmare of wrongful arrest, illegal detainment, torture and secret rendition continues for many Australian families who have loved ones still trapped in Laos.
Thank you again for caring about the plight these families endure everyday as a living hell.
Kay Danes
Author of Standing Ground – An imprisoned couple’s struggle for
justice against a communist regime (Laos)
Hey Life Changers,
Thankyou soooo much for saying such nice things about Canberra. I’m glad you enjoyed your time here. I truly believe that the fact it is a fantastic place to live is one of Australia’s best-kept secrets. Of course, this doesn’t stop me getting annoyed when people bag it, or the news says disdainful things about it.
The one thing – the
ne: thing! – that’s difficult for me is the cold 
I will admit that!
I can also admit now that I would have liked to meet you guys, but was a bit shy to say so, plus I am really trying to work on my thesis, so don’t have much time to spare. But that doesn’t mean I couldn’t meet you all in the future sometime
Good luck in Sydney. You have dealt so well with the challenges of everywhere else, I just can’t see you not working out how to be in Sydney peacefully
can’t wait to read what the next part of the life change experiment brings!
V. excited to read
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