Supporting The Team In Green

When you write about issues, such as gambling, drugs or racism, it's sometimes interesting to look back after a while and question whether your work led to any change in perceptions or behaviour. Even if a very small number of people took in the message of your story, I think it can be considered a worthwhile achievement.

Of course, even if things have moved along, it's hard to know to what extent your work specifically played a role. I guess that's one of the hard things about being a journalist. A million people might read your story but rarely is there any feedback. And, if people do feel moved to comment on your story, it's usually to criticise it. Given that's the case, the general rule is that 'no feedback is good feedback'!

Last week I looked through a file on my work computer of some of my favourite stories from the past few years and found this one.

http://www.smh.com.au/sport/it-aint-easy-being-green-20110611-1fy16.html

When I pitched the story, the editors loved it. It was new, had widespread appeal, social value and could be presented well in the paper.

The thesis of the piece was that many sections of society were concerned with finding ways to environmentally clean up their practices. The movement was not confined to community levels, but included governments and the private sector. Environmentalism had become enshrined in the notion of executive and corporate responsibility. This, I believed, must include sporting organisations.

Picture: www.afl.com.au

In an era of billion-dollar television deals and the ever-growing reach of sport, governing bodies such as Cricket Australia, the AFL and NRL find themselves in a privileged and highly responsible position of playing a key role in setting standards for society. The average person these days probably listens more to the messages of sporting organisations than they do elected representatives.

There are some areas in which the conduct of sporting organisations have been exemplary. The AFL's work to abolish racism from its sport, for instance, is a beacon. But I wonder if the same can be applied to the way these bodies have handled their responsibility to educate and set a good example on protecting the environment.

Many times I've sat at a match, be it AFL, rugby union, cricket, rugby league or soccer, and looked up at the gigantic light towers glaring down from above, turning night into day, shining onto massive electronic screens at each end of the ground. Sport at night rates better on TV. Executives don't really care at what cost. Many times I've looked at the passageways between rows of seats at the end of a match and seen stacks of empty plastic and paper containers, waiting to be scooped up and discarded into huge bins by teams of cleaners. The car parks outside the grounds are full - who wants to get a bus or a train to and from the ground? They sit in traffic jams at the end, motors chugging away.

Picture: www.sla.net.au

 What about the teams themselves? Players and staff fill aircraft every week, traveling the country to play in nationwide competitions. In 2005 and 2006 I traveled with the Sydney Swans. It was staggering how much time these guys spend on planes, criss-crossing the country. No longer are competitions local, like the NSW rugby league or the VFL. Every major sport in the country has a national competition. Add up the kilometres traveled in just one of these seasons and the number is alarming.

Picture: www.smh.com.au

The original idea of that story I wrote was to quantify just what's going on here and ask the question 'Is anything being done about this?' There are a couple of companies in Australia who advise organisations and businesses on how to 'green' their ways, but when I rang some and tried to get them to help me add up the environmental cost of sporting events and competitions, none were forthcoming. I got some good information out of the AFL, in particular - they seem quite progressive on this front compared to the others - but it was a surprisingly difficult story to do. In the end, the story simply highlighted that this is a growing problem, one that we should demand sporting organisations take seriously as part of their corporate responsibility and one that we all should consider next time we go to a match.

Rollins Review

Rollicking Rollins: The Punk Icon Who Became A Tree-Hugger 

 

                                      Photograph: www.streetteaminterviews.com

Sitting captive in a theatre chair while a tattooed, militaristic, 51-year-old former punk rocker delivers a 150-minute monologue hardly sounds like a fun way to end the week. But, at Sydney's Seymour Centre last night, Henry Rollins proved in a captivating spoken word show there was a whole lot more in his armoury than boring old rock icon status.

It was remarkable to hear Rollins' reflective embarrassment at his almost maniacal, yet undeniably popular, efforts as front man of Black Flag and, later, the Rollins Band. But throughout his unyielding marathon show - not once did he break or wet his palate - he personified how time can transform chaotic fury into an exemplary and brilliantly articulated form of masculinity.

For 30 years Rollins’ performances had a transcendental quality, as he would thrash his athletic torso around the stage, one leg outstretched as if warming up for a match, swinging his head around with force matching the cacophonous music behind him. Whatever the audience, Rollins always unloaded 100 per cent. His legend was built on power and energy. He showed similar qualities last night, thankfully without the head thrashing madness.

Previously, Rollins was driven by a deep spring of anger (he never made a secret of his hatred for his homophobic and racist father – nor did he last night). However, he showed that, like the tattoos, the overt fury might have faded, but the raw and rare quality remains, encased by an engrossing brand of compassion, consideration and social justice. This, presented by an unlikely protagonist, with chiselled jaw, Marine-like buzz cut, and all black attire. The get-up might have been misleading to the uninitiated, but the words oozed manly assuredness and preached love for each other, the earth and for ourselves.

I admit that in the early 1990s I would invest in Rollins’ message of self-loathing, distrust and frustration. It was a decade of despair and, like Kurt Cobain, millions of twenty-somethings, myself included, just couldn't make sense of it all. Rollins spoke directly to me, sharing my confusion and disdain.

These days, however, - much like myself, I prefer to think - Rollins' introspection has been replaced by an outward-looking analysis of our complex world. His tales of being ushered to Kim Il-Sung’s tomb in Pyong Yang, eating rats’ livers in India and wrestling alligators in the Florida Everglades were light. But it was his argument about the usefulness of the charity he supports, Drop in the Bucket - which builds water wells in Africa – that revealed the basis of Rollins’ philosophy of liberalism and humanism.

After explaining the disputes, corruption and power plays that can be prompted by the seemingly innocuous practise of installing wells, Rollins pointed out how access to water works for the betterment of women. He argued that, once girls start menstruating, they need access to clean water to “attend to themselves”. However, in many schools in Africa, there is no water available for young girls to do so. Many, he claimed, leave school to avoid the embarrassment caused by lack of appropriate hygiene. It’s was simple hypothesis. Yet, in keeping with Rollins’ style, it was typically forthright and worthwhile.

Photograph: www.afistfulofculture.com

Rollins’ care for women may stem from a hatred of misogynism as much as an innate sense of decency. At times last night he admitted to “manly urges” (including a long and unpleasant story about trying to masturbate while recouperating in a hospital). However, he backed up such stories with examples of a steely determination to promote basic rights equally to the sexes.

His tale about an email he once received from a young virgin girl could have taken a nasty turn, but again showed Rollins’ impressive humanity. The girl had sent five naked photos of herself and asked if he thought any boy would ever find her attractive. Rather than succumb to base instincts, Rollins chose to analyse why the girl sent the message. He concluded that the internet, while providing an unprecedented level of interconnectedness, had also left a generation feeling lonely and disconnected. There was no answer to this girl’s question on the internet, he explained. She needed caring interaction with a family member, someone who could give her candid and confidential advice.

The girl's loneliness, Rollins said, was proved by her wild misjudgement in sending naked pictures to a 51-year-old man. Rollins’ first piece of advice to the girl was never to send naked pictures of herself over the internet again. His second offering was that she would have so many people asking her out, hitting on her, "trying to get to her vag" over the next several years that she will become bored with it all. It was fair, pointed, humorous, a little shocking but eminently thoughtful. It was Rollins all in one.

None of the passion or energetic masculinity has gone missing. It's just that it is no longer shrouded by raging lyrics, frantic delivery and blaring music. Instead, the embellishments have been completely stripped back. Only a microphone and a spotlight remain. The speaker is a man closer to peace with himself and the world than many might have ever thought possible. And, last night, he was a man at peace with a thankful audience.

It's A Stitch-Up

Stitch time! I love this function on my camera. It allows me to take a series of pictures and put them together on the computer. It's not always smooth and the amount of light can greatly impact the visibility of the lines between the individual photographs. However, sometimes definition enhances the mood of the picture, especially to highlight distances.

This stitch was taken while cruising off Santa Barbara, California. The seven photos start at the front of the boat and pan across the entire view to the back of the boat.

The lines are less obvious in this stitched picture of a match between the LA Dodgers and Arizona Diamondbacks at Dodgers Stadium. There are still lines because of the disparity of light. But they are smooth and give a feel of a tapestry. A stadium is a great place to pan, as it gives a dramatic impression of the photographer's view.

This stitch was taken on New Year's Eve 2010 at Watson's Bay, Sydney, some hours before the fireworks. It had been a balmy day, the harbour looked inviting and people enjoying drinks and the brilliant view looked forward to the show.

Fabrics, Liquor And An Island Blown Apart

Missing your connection to Athens and spending an unexpected night in Bahrain is not such a bad thing. It's an authentic taste of the modern Middle East. The Persian Gulf island state's barren and sandy landscape is broken by a thriving city, the capital Manama, which juxtaposes skyscrapers with mosques. The population is split, too, with many in the constitutional monarchy now agitating and calling for fresh elections. 

The picture above was taken in quieter times at a bazaar awash with colourful fabrics and spices.

Like Bahrain, Greece is dealing with upheaval. There is certain to be years of deep social and economic issues as the country starts again after decades of mismanagement and corruption. 

This picture was taken from the doorway of the tiny Brettos bar in Plaka, the ancient Athens suburb in the foothills of the Acropolis. Michael Brettos began producing ouzo, brandy and few liqueur flavours in 1909, making it the oldest distillery in Athens and the second oldest in Europe.

Only from a position like this can you appreciate the magnitude of the volcano that blew apart classical Thera, known today as Santorini. The broken up island, situated in the Aegean Sea, about 200 kilometres from Athens, exploded 3600 years ago at the height of the Minoan civilisation. The centre filled to form a lagoon which some claim holds the secret city of Atlantis, first discussed by Plato about 360 BC. The lagoon is 12 x 7 kilometres and is surrounded by enormous sheer cliffs.

The other side of Santorini is more open, less steep and definitely less picturesque. However, along these roads family run eateries serve up fresh seafood and locally made wine, which has built up a resistance to conditions on the rocky volcanic outcrop.

Latin Landscapes

A man has a painful look on his face (above), waiting for customers to buy his green, blue and red bottles, at a market in Buenos Aires. 

Just outside the market, a child accordion player (below) takes a break from busking. His hands droop with exhaustion.

On the surface, the huge city of Buenos Aires seems prosperous. Its distinctive cosmopolitanism is reflected in many European restaurants, hotels and high-end retail shops. Classy bars line back streets, attended by people wearing haute-couture fashion, including the country's famous leather products. However, all is not as it seems in Argentina.

In 1999, after years of dodging debts and hyper-inflation, the economy imploded. With debt over 50 per cent of GDP, the IMF demanded the government introduce austerity measures, leading to soaring unemployment and nationwide strikes. 

When the IMF held back support and ordered even greater budget cuts, citizens panicked and rushed the banks in November 2001 to withdraw their money. The government ordered a freeze on accounts, infuriating the people, who staged a series of riots. 

In January 2002, the government abandoned the fixed peso-US dollar parity that had been in place for 10 years. Almost immediately the peso lost nearly half its value, sending many companies broke. By 2003, unemployment was at 25 per cent and huge sections of the population of more than 40 million had been plunged into poverty. The lower peso, however, sparked a boom in exports, prompting the economic recovery. Lasting remnants of the crisis are still evident, including a large disparity between Argentina's 'haves' and 'have nots'.

A peak hour train streaks away from a suburban Santiago station (above) surrounded by huge art murals. Food vendors (below) congregate at a produce market in Santiago. These fishmongers are sharing a joke with their colleagues next door.

Chile is a second world country that relies heavily on copper production. Chile produces 24 per cent of the world's copper and has an estimated 28 per cent of its reserves. Like Australia, world demand for raw materials, especially from China, strongly effects the domestic economy.

From 1955, Chile began a process of nationalisation of copper mines and reserves. In 1971 all copper production was handed to the state-run Codelco company, which today accounts for 11 per cent of the world's supply.

Realising that the resource was non-renewable - and supply would last less than a century - the Chilean government established a sovereign fund in 1985, relaunched in 2006, to pay for pensions and to transfer wealth through generations. The fund has invested in low risk assets. Australia could learn from Chile's example.

In 2003 the Chilean Congress named the port city of Valparaiso 'Chile's Cultural Capital'. Home to about 300,000 people, situated about 120 kilometres north-west of Santiago, Valparaiso's heyday was before the Panama Canal opened in 1914, as crews sailing between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans would stop in before or after crossing the Strait of Magellan at the southern tip of South America. The city's demise was replaced by a resurgent art movement, the evidence of which can be hiding in lane ways like this.

Valparaiso, though a port city, rises steeply from the water's edge in nearly all directions. As such, the city is built around a series of Cerros, or hills. The most well known is Cerro Concepcion (pictured below), where there are many restaurants, cafes and places to stay.

Though enchanted by Valparaiso's artistry, many visitors are repelled by its poverty.  In the above picture, two women discuss the morning's fish catch, as a calculating cat surveys the scene.

In the picture below, a dishevelled man and his friend size up a worker on his way to the office. 

Crypt-ic Colours

The colours of Chile and Argentina are bright and vibrant, like the cultures they illustrate. Life is painted in deep reds, aqua blues and emerald greens. However, I managed to find two places where colour was consumed by metallic greys and blacks. 

The above picture is of an abandoned train station near the centre of Santiago. It was taken on a cloudy winter's day, complementing perfectly the harsh coldness of the space. 

The below picture is looking into a crypt at the Recoleta Cemetery in Buenos Aires. Many Argentinian presidents, military leaders, scientists and artists are buried there. The most famous resident is Evita Duarte de Peron, the wife of ousted Argentine leader Juan Peron. She was finally buried at Recoleta in 1976, 24 years after her death.