Tom Padula Articles: 2011

Ottica sul Sud Italia

Ottica sul Sud Italia

Tom Padula – December 2011

Da un po’ di anni visito il Sud Italia e mi sono innamorato del suo magico paesaggio. Io non vedo altro che grande ricchezza di un territorio che attrae per il suo fascino, bellezze naturali e da spiagge attraenti sia dell’Adriatico che del Tirreno. Le Regioni sono Molise, Puglia, Calabria, Basilicata, Campania. Mi chiedo come mai queste zone vengono spesso viste come le povere cugine delle altre regioni d’Italia. Come mai il Governo Italiano o dovrei dire i Governi italiani non riescono a normalizzare e cambiare vecchie pratiche burocratiche che affogano il progresso e le opportunita’ che queste regioni potrebbero offrire ai propri cittadini?

Se consideriamo il territorio del Sud Italia e guardiamo alla sua geografia, si capisce subito che ci sono delle limitazioni e delle grandi opportunita’. Il Sud ha poche citta’ oltre il milione di abitanti. Pero’ ha moltissimi paesi sparsi su tutto il suo magnifico assetto naturale. Circondato dal mare, con pianure e colline, fiumi, laghi, ruscelli, campagne ed aree montuose, si puo’, con i mezzi moderni, visitare comodamente anche tre regioni in un giorno! In questo contesto, il folklore, le tradizioni, il saper vivere ed associarsi con gli altri sono stati sviluppati e sono fioriti generi musicali, letterari e dialetti ricchi di proverbi e vedute sul saper vivere in ambienti non industriali. Qui quello che vale sono le relazioni umane, l’orgoglio civico e l’esser rispettato. La fede in Dio a volte e’ tutto quello che rimane in tempi difficili e precari. La vita e’ qui meno complessa che in citta’, pero’ anche meno soggetta alla paga settimanale o mensile.

L’economia locale e’ limitata dalla visione storica di rendere il territorio produttivo ed apprezzato. Per costruire l’economia al Sud Italia ci vuole la volonta’ politica di scegliere le attivita’ adatte al territorio fisico, ambientale e sociale. La produzione in generale deve essere aiutata da sistemi che allegano le attivita’ industriali, commerciali, agricole, energeniche, mediatiche ed altro, adatte alle esportazioni, al turismo, alla creazione di lavori che utilizzano le abilita’, la preparazione tecnica e le esperienze lavorative dei suoi cittadini. Oggi si puo’ creare lavoro ed attivita’ nei luoghi piu’ isolati del mondo.

Il Sud Italia e’ al centro del Mare Nostrum dell’Antica Roma. Oggi ci dovrebbe essere una piu’ intensa presenza di attivita’ marittime che possano dare al turista mondiale un periodo di vacanze ideali nei Paesi che circondano il Mediterraneo. Percio’ la conoscenza delle maggiori lingue mondiali aiutera’ la popolazione locale a prepararsi per ricevere ed assistere i visitatori. Le amministrazioni municipali, regionali e centrali non devono soltanto occuparsi di facilitare le informazioni, ma essere attenti a completare e mantenere i servizi locali, il trasporto, le infrastrutture fisiche e sociali. In questo modo si potra’ diversificare ed arricchire le esperienze culturali, artistiche, musicali e gastronomiche su questo territorio. Gli Italiani hanno una grande esperienza secolare per essere fra i migliori nel governare il turismo ed il contatto con i Paesi del Mediterraneo e del Mondo.

Scrivo quest’articolo perche’ ho notato che il vivere paesano non puo’ offrire alla popolazione del Sud Italia una visione mondiale. Molti degli operatori provano grandi difficolta’ nell’attuare le proprie mansioni ai livelli burocratici e dei servizi essenziali. La popolazione in generale non si sente partecipe attivamente alla politica per migliorare le strutture del territorio, i sistemi per eseguire pratiche necessarie ed imposte dalle istituzioni pubbliche… dal servizio postale, alle telefonate, all’uso generale dei servizi bancari e tanto di piu’.

Chi fa un lavoro per il turista non sembra essere confidente del suo buon operato. C’e’ sempre l’esperienza di situazioni dove qualche individuo fa il furbo e cerca di sfruttare al massimo il turista. Ma c’e’ anche chi aiuta e cerca di fare il proprio meglio per rendere il soggiorno del turista positivo. Sembra che si vive alla meglio a secondo di quel che si puo’ fare… quindi le mancanze strutturali, dei servizi e di tant’altro vengono accettate filosoficamente. Ed e’ qui che la vita di paese fa diventare pessimisti chi di fatto ha il compito di creare e mantenere le attivita’ che servono. Chi comanda ha l’obbligo di creare programmi di lavoro ed aiutare i cittadini che rappresentano.

Ci vuole piu’ azione politica per comunicare le possibilita’ quotidiane che esistono per migliorare l’immagine del territorio nel resto del mondo. Ci vuole piu’ cura nel promuovere e realizzare un’immagine coerente delle Regioni del Sud Italia. La popolazione locale dei Paesi deve essere piu’ informata delle opportunita’ che il turista puo’ offrire all’economia regionale. I piccoli paesi sono troppo piccoli per creare da soli le grandi opportunita’ che possono venire da una vera comunicazione con i paesi vicini nel Mediterraneo, al Nord Italia, in Europa e nel resto del mondo.

Si dovrebbe invitare politici come Umberto Bossi per fargli apprezzare le possibilita’ che il Sud Italia ha per gli investimenti dal Nord e per i partnership che gli operatori al Nord Italia possono offrire a possibili dipendenti provenienti o lavorando dal Sud. Ci vogliono piu’ movimento, piu’ idée chiare a riguardo la ricchezza di queste Regioni del Sud che sono state e rimangono tuttora il tallone d’Achille per lo Stato Italiano. Parlare continuamente del divario fra Nord e Sud, pregiando sempre il Nord a discapito del Sud e’ contro producente. Sarebbe meglio parlare di diversita’, di opportunita’, di varieta’ di uso del territorio italiano che e’ fonte di grande attrazione per chi lo visita da altri paesi.

La ricchezza culturale, linguistica, artigianale, musicale, industriale e tanto tanto di piu’ esiste nei paesi piu’ isolati della nostra Terra. E’ soltanto quando lasciamo la nostra parrocchia, il nostro sobborgo, il nostro piccolo paese che cominciamo a poterli apprezzare e definire il carattere e le possibilita’ economiche che esistono o che potrebbero esistere a secondo i programmi politici della cosa pubblica e privata. Oggi e’ possible visualizzare la ricchezza naturale di un territorio attraverso il continuo uso dell’informazione virtuale e del social networking tramite siti come Facebook. Si sa che sull’internet, si puo’ riformare una visione storica piena di negativita’, grazie anche a libri che hanno avuto un enorme successo letterario. Parlo di “Cristo si e’ fermato ad Eboli”. Un libro che e’ una perla letteraria, ma che ha dato alla Basilicata decenni di promozione negativa a riguardo la ricchezza di un territorio che e’ stato povero per ragioni politiche, per la mancanza di quella cura nazionale che i Governi del passato hanno gestito a favore di interessi industriali e commerciali al Nord del Paese.

L’industria del turismo potrebbe sollevare le difficolta’ di lavoro che i cittadini del Sud Italia hanno sofferto da sempre. Ci sono anche altre industrie che potrebbero essere utili per creare lavoro e coinvolgere piu’ attivamente i giovani. Ci sono il cinema e le produzioni mediatiche, i centri di ricerche e studi per tante attivita’ commerciali e per la preparazione di personale per le industrie del Nord, potrebbero fiorire centri di informazioni tecnologiche, mediche, legali ed internazionali. Il Sud dovrebbe essere il centro per le universita’ e per gli studi classici e scientifici. Il terrritorio offre opportunita’ per studi sulla biologia marittima, la vulcanologia e la protezione degli ambienti forestali e fluviali. Non c’e’ ragione perche’ le strutture di trasporto dovrebbero essere di meno al Sud Italia. Il ponte di Messina dovrebbe essere costruito al piu’ presto; lo Stato Italiano dovrebbe intervenire per farlo realizzare. Le grandi regioni isole del Sud… ma smetto qui perche’ sto guardando alle mie foto e video dei bei luoghi che ho visitato ed alle mie note ottimistiche per chi vive nel Sud Italia.

Tom Padula – December 2011

The Italian Community of Melbourne

Tom Padula – November 2011

When we speak of multicultural Australia, we often refer to the numerous groups of people from all over the world who now call Australia home. In the case of the Italian Community, several questions come to mind: what does it really mean when we say the Italian Community of Melbourne. Do we mean that this community is located in one place? That it speaks its own language, that it follows its own cultural and religious traditions, that it is a closed shop so that no outsider can penetrate its cultural walls and political make up? That it educates its young to follow strictly to a code of behaviour and lifestyle? That it is a patriarchal or matriarchal family unit and continues to exist and live in the same manner as in previous decades and generations?

A reflection of what is really meant by Italian Community in our Australian context is worthy of some reflection: for no other reason perhaps than to understand clearly where our reality lies at this time in our social development. Let’s look at the questions and try to find whether perception and reality match.

The Italian Community is located throughout the City of Melbourne. You will find Italian background Australian Citizens in most suburbs. Little Italy or the suburb of Carlton represents the symbolic home of the early Italian settlers, together with other suburbs such as Brunswick, Coburg, Reservoir, Carlton and also Kew, Elsternwick and Toorak! I should also mention the great number of other Italian immigrant groups in most regional centres of Victoria: places such as Mildura, Swan Hill, Shepparton, Morwell and others. The Italians have built in many new suburbs as Melbourne has continued to grow and expand. The presence of Italians in many aspects of Melbourne life cannot be ignored. Its presence in small, medium and large enterprises and community life is a fact that continues to play its part to the present days.

Wherever Italians have moved they have also established Associations and clubs, reception centres and halls. The social and religious needs of our Italian Community were met immediately on arrival in the many Churches and schools established by the Irish Catholics from the very first colonial beats of the early years of settlement. We owe the Irish a debt of gratitude… however there were also some prominent early Italian immigrants who contributed to the early development of Melbourne… I want to mention the plans of the laying of St. Kilda Road, the Exibition Building and many of the Italianate buildings of the 19^th century! Thanks to Italian born architect Carlo Catani….

The great plethora of Italian Clubs and Associations, including sporting, cultural, religious and pensioner groups, is the real glue that keeps our Italian Community together. But without the ability to communicate and inform in the Italian Language, our rich bilingual and cultural heritage would quickly be lost to Australia. We would stop digging for our cultural gold!

Australians of Italian heritage need to continue to access educational, cultural and social opportunities. These are of paramount importance for their ability to retain membership of the very real Italian Community that is so easily identifiable today, even after many generations who have been buried in the cemeteries of Australia.

Our Italian Media networks play a significant role in the daily needs of people who want to retain a connection with Italian and Italy. We are proud also of the fact that politicians of all political persuasions recognize, encourge and support the retention of all Community Languages, the support of school programs and Community television along with the very real local intellectual contributions by our Libraries. The public in general lives daily the rich fibre of diversity that exists in its midst. English plays a major role in the lives of newcomers who have to learn and use it daily. Therefore support for English learning to adults and children in schools are essential. I would also support that our print media in other languages expressed their editorial leanings in English, so that their reach of political wisdom can play an even greater role than it does now.

History and an appreciation of the contribution of each group of people who have settled in this Country can be acknowledged and recognized. In this way we can truly be proud of all citizens and people who have lived the Australian experience. The Italian Australian historical connection goes back to the early years of pre settlement with the significant contribution of James Mario Matra and his three submissions to the colonial office in the ten years before the voyages of Captain Arthur Phillips and the first European settlers in New South Wales.

It is the passage through time and the respect of people for their forebears that holds the key to a future in peace with our neighbours and makes us aware of the rights of all people to respect and hold dear their own identities. However only looking back produces a very sad and impoverished community. So it’s important to identify the gains made in the new homeland. Australia has been extremely generous to people who have embraced its opportunities. Being part of the general Community is even more important for the well being of individuals, families and neighbours.

The Italians have shared their knowledge and skills with others. The Italian Community of Melbourne has an everyday presence within the general fabric of Australian society. This is perhaps its greatest achievement and place of pride in the passage of time. The retention of a very unique contribution has promoted peace and harmony at all stages of its migrant experience, from generation to generation.

Tom Padula - November 2011

National Boundaries in One World

Tom Padula – 2 October 2011

Given that there are over 200 Countries in the World and close to 50 million people looking for a “new country”, it’s time to think big regarding the realities of the refugees. We also have numerous wars, battles and natural disasters amidst a generally fairly peaceful global asset of our ever-increasing populated humanity. We share this world as best as we can by dividing up our global property and providing laws that govern each nation, its communities and environments. We created a United Nations Assembly to face up to the challenges of this great diversity. Therefore the more diverse the communities of representation of these nations, the more compromises are needed.

So what do we do with our local problems that are imported from our artificially created boundaries in our One World Community?

John Howard and Julia Gillard have obviously come to the same conclusion. They want to resolve the out of boundaries problems with out of boundaries solutions. A perfectly logical political strategy which did stop the boats under Howard’s National stewardship, but is failing to do so a few years later when our new Prime Minister is trying to do the same. In politics the same solution does not necessarily work at different times.

The processing of refugees and illegal immigrants should occur in the country chosen by the refugees and for which they payed good money and at a great cost to themselves. I suspect that sometimes these are the people who may have failed to enter the country of their choice through legal means! Sometimes these refugees pay with their own lives because they want to escape wars, civil unrest, persecution, economic hardship and lack of freedom. The attempt is worth the risk in their evaluation of their situation. Some of the refugees are sometimes the victims of circumstances and decisions made on their behalf by others. Nothing can stop people who are desperate and looking for opportunities and a better future for themselves!

It’s time that our Prime Ministers were given some credit for their attempts to find solutions to a problem of human suffering grown outside of legal boundaries and national laws. Here is where the United Nation comes in. This is the governing place where global infrastructure of human suffering needs to be built and regulated. All countries are respomsible for the ills of the world. Solving a problem in one place often creates one in another place. Countries need to understand this and try to solve politically such human inedequacies. The refugee problem in Australia, in Italy, in the USA, in Pakistan and many other Countries need to be approached at the Regional, Continental and World levels.

This is the work for diplomats and law-makers. It’s also where our wars should be fought: not with bombs, guns, military solutions, but with the human arms of compassion, helpfulness, appropriate aid, education, skills and the application of sanctions to regulate resourcing areas where natural and human disasters occur. To be fair, this is being done already in many areas of the world: this is also the area where extra governments budgetary provisions ought to go.

The achievement of Peace is the greatest war that humanity and all countries of the world, and indeed small and big communities, face on a daily basis. Let’s not despair since we are seeing these messages reach the ears of Parliaments and Governing Bodies worldwide. The Internet is the window from which we can observe the world. We are witnessing how this communication tool is beginning to manage the massive detailed knowledge of everyday life worldwide. It is therefore easier today to call on the goodwill of governments of all nations to establish clear mandated solutions to problems that occur in particular regional areas of the world. Australia’s refugee and illegal immigration problem is also the problem of other Nations in this part of the world. Ensuring that desperate people do not risk their lives in their pursuit of new opportunities and a brighter future is the moral obligation of all countries in the area, but especially of those countries in which the initial problem of displacement occurred.

Wars are cancers of our humanity. Places in which wars develop are areas of special need and understanding. Often wars could be avoided by ensuring that the hawks of self-interest of the military or the ideologues or dictators are guaranteed their place in the sun at the United Nations Assembly. Here is the place where intervention for the solution of problems should occur. The movement of people from one country to another is an on-going reality that needs to be faced. This should not be regarded as a political football within the national boundaries of a nation. The real politics should be played with our regional political colleagues in all of our neighbouring nation states.

Tom Padula – October 2011

The pain of the Mineral Boom

Tom Padula – 16 September 2011

The more money comes into Australia from sales of minerals to hungry Asian Countries for our unlimited sub ground resources, the more this profit is used to capitalize this ultra profitable industry. Profits are spent and utilized to acquire more mines and provide infrastructure in other countries with similar resource opportunities or in more remote areas of Australia. The latter scenario is to ensure that more resources are found for the next generation minerals boom. It’s like well-fed cattle preoccupied for the next patch of green grass.

Our overall economy has been invaded by one very successful sector. The mistake is made when we count this success alongside our everyday economy made up of various strands of production, manufacturing and services that impact on our everyday life and commercial relationships. We harbour the mistaken notion that the success in the export of minerals will reassure us that we are directly benefiting from this success. Reality is far from the truth. The retail sector depends on people having enough disposable income to be able to maintain the current availability of products and services in our shopping centres, malls and street fronted shops.

The general feeling of unease is spreading amongst the general population and there doesn’t seem to be a fair appropriation of velocity in our two-speed economy. It’s as if the more successful the minerals based sector, the slower and more demanding the rest of the economy becomes. It’s the difference between the very rich and our proverbial battlers. It’s as if they live on two different planets. Only people in our nation involved in the faster lane of mineral exploration, production and exportation have that buoyant feeling of success. The others who don’t do ‘minerals’ can expect to be told that we are successful, that our interest rates need to go higher and higher, or remain at its current high levels. Great thinking! The less inflation there is… since noone can afford to spend… the more stable will our two-speed economy remain!

Ex Prime Minister Kevin Rudd had good intentions on two fronts. The first one was to take out some of the profits from the mineral boom and then ensure that every family, including all single people and all sectors of the Australian community, could only borrow no more than they could afford. So, in the second instance, new rules regulating banking and loans came in. The new rules of serviceability were brought in at the expense of equity holdings and more generous equity to borrowing ratios.

A few years later we have very little income from the minerals boom that go towards financing our social obligations projects and maintenance: pensions, schools, hospitals, transport routes that don’t go to the mines and so much more. These projects and maintenance have all been carried forward thanks to the years of saving under the traditionally financially tight belt attitudes of conservative governments. The income needed for all the new plethora of social obligations and high maintenance institutional organizations are extracted from ordinary Australians in the form of old and new taxes, higher interest rates, a raft of new charges from energy suppliers, the use of roads and services tolls, parking spaces (even in hospitals and airports!). Not one day goes by without someone in Government or in our Institutions thinking up some other scheme to extract more disposable income from the general Australian public!

Well, at least we are not alone in doing this to our country. It’s not much better in similar developed countries. That’s why our politicians need to visit the rest of the world! New ideas are always needed to keep abreast of how to keep on taxing our very accommodating citizens! We understand that this is the price to pay for a better world! So the well-travelled good intentions of our ex Prime Minister have given over time the exact opposite of the original well thought out sentiments. All that generosity of spirit, good feelings of a government that came to power on such high hopes for social betterment and infrastructure improvements have been realized… but not thanks to the money generated from the mineral boom. The ordinary people of Australia in the last few years have been asked to finance these extraordinary projects: from the savings of the previous belt tightening years and the current raft of ever increasing tax and charges burden. We have had a brief period of fast food type financial feed bonanza of a very short duration, but we have now been left with a "malaise" that will need extraordinary will power to overcome and to eventually eradicate these new set of economic circumstances and global condition effects.

Will we be so lucky to have the vision to realize that ‘progress for all’ is a dream that can only come true and be maintained if everyone involved realizes that in our economy as in Life, one must give to Caesar and to God what is duly, rightfully theirs! Can our Politicians in Parliament, our Big Business Brothers, our Not For Profit and Charitable Organization realize that we are all in this together. So, Be fair. Act not in your own self-interest and preservation, but behave as if you really care! Listen to the needy, don’t be fooled by the greedy! Proceed with caution… our true Capital lies within our best interest as a humanitarian community under our Brilliant Sun and Southern Cross!

Tom Padula – September 2011

In search of Multiculturalism

What is ‘Multiculturalism’: the way in which we practise it here in Melbourne? As against the term ‘Cosmopolitan’… meaning that nations allow people to come into their country, but who can remain on the edge of that society because not a part of the original inhabitants… snobbery born out of the right side of the bed, so to speak. In both cases there is a mix of people who live together, but whose behaviour will calm the waters or incense them when conflict arises. In peaceful times there is no problem which model is adopted… tourists come and go in short to medium blocks of time. As long as they enjoy themselves, the definition of this mix of people is not that important. However the way in which a particular society approaches its governance is very important indeed!

Multiculturalism is not always practised in modern society… where there is non-acceptance, intolerance, inverse snobbery by groups that want to impose their particular views at all cost or by rejecting general cultural ideas of inclusion … so I can wear what I want as long as you don’t think that what I wear is wrong, I can eat what I want provided that you don’t say that eating particular foods is wrong, or is eaten at the wrong time! Multiculturalism ought to be part of all Governments regardless of their particular leaning: it has to be accepted by Labour, Liberal, Green, Democrat and also by marginal Parties.

Multiculturalism is when Governments of all persuasions are able to implement policies that allow all groups to participate in the day-to-day politics of the Municipality, the State and the Nation. The Multicultural dollar goes a long way when it is spent in such inclusive policies as the availability of translators and interpreters, the well stocked libraries with books and materials that inform and enlighten the individual, the presence of the right carers who understand all backgrounds. If these carers don’t, they ought to be able to call on the right professionals who can then administer caring policies for particular individuals or small groups from the same background i.e. whether it’s food, faith, language, fashion and cultural make-up.

European societies are cosmopolitan, they are not multicultural societies… there people are well defined in their categories for generations… a Turk in Germany remains a Turk, he cannot and does not become German, an Italian or Pakistani or Indian in England is still Italian, Pakistani or Indian even after many generations. A Chinese, Vietnamese, Greek remains identified with that identity over many generations. Here in Australia as in Europe we are all proud of our family’s ethnic identity and our backgrounds. So when does a Nation become multicultural? A nation becomes multicultural when all its governments and institutions make real provision to include everyone in its policies and laws… within the national geographic boundaries, in the wider community, in schools, churches, hospitals and everywhere else, even prisons.

The main aim of multiculturalism is the ability of people of different cultural and linguistic backgrounds, different faiths, mode of processing life, respect for equality of both sexes coming together and accepting their differences, to then work with each other to make their community or society work in harmony by remaining ‘open’ and welcoming to others within their own communities… ie there cannot be a suburb or special place where people are excluded because they are different …

The test of a multicultural nation is when members of each group with different or very different cultural practices protect others and themselves by denouncing ‘extreme behaviour’ within their own group. In such cases members of this particular group want to exclude or endanger others because they think of them as inferior. These people can sometimes be treated as lesser beings because they are different. Preachers, teachers, politicians, and whoever is involved in the projection of ideas, like poets, songwriters, writers, journalists have a responsibility to develop as mediums of peace, harmony and tolerance, with touches of healthy philosophies and appreciation of diversities. Members of faiths that preach exclusion or have special laws by which they would rather be judged have real problems… they need to tone down their own belief systems to embrace a more open and democratic system in which the ideals of egalite’, liberte’, fraternite’ are embraced and practised.

Therefore if you feel special and believe that you are better than others, if you want to be treated better than your neighbour, if you have innate arrogance, or are on the right of might, if you believe that you deserve special advantages and privileges, if you want to deal only with your own kind, then multiculturalism for you is only an ideal that yet remains to be embraced or from which you want to be excluded. On the other hand, if you happen to live, work, entertain yourself and socialize with all types in peace and harmony, then you have embraced multiculturalism and all that it offers… you can still remain a part of your group of friends of the same culture, language and identity… but you must also defend your right to feel equal, free and fraternal towards all others who belong to different groups or ethnic background in your wider community or society! Let’s have a Multicultural Day of National Celebration, maybe combining it with the Australia Day Celebration Week, each year!

Tom Padula - 1st September 2011

Till Debt Do Us Part

by Tom Padula – 28 August 2011

The current problems with western world countries and their economic policies have existed for a very long time. In fact since Debt was invented. You can do more with less if you have debt. Debt, you see, enables you to get today what you should have tomorrow, if you only will have had the capital to realize what you want. Without debt, there is progress only when you are actually able to build or make or agree to work together with others… to then split the profits in appropriate parts. A little capital in the hands of the right people can go a long way.

We have the story of the three brothers (and/or sisters in today’s world), who were given an equal number of gold coins. The first one went out to spend them without a return and he quickly became poor again; the second one kept his coins under the bed and used what he had very sparingly, but could not change his life around; the third one used what he had and borrowed some more in order to do things with what he had and what he had borrowed. In this latter case, both capital and initiative enabled this brother to become wealthy.

If you borrow for the purpose of building your wealth or provide services for the benefit of everyone or make products that will give you a profit, then the Debt is a good debt. But if you borrow in order to give yourself advantages that you cannot afford, and from which there is no profit, then debt becomes a burden because you live life with resources that don’t belong to you and which has to be payed back eventually (and with interest!). Managing what you have and what you borrow as an individual, as a company, as a club or association, as a municipality, as a State or as a Nation is directly related to income and expenditure. There is no escaping the debt!

We know about people who steal out of necessity, or cheat to gain and advantage or do all sort of bad things in order to enable themselves to do what they cannot afford to do! Gamblers, punters, risk capital investors and also people who lend money to these types of people usually get into a lot of trouble. This happens when the borrower runs out of the money resource that did not belong to them and that they cannot pay back! To avoid personalized conflict, the institution of Bank was created. A Bank holds capital that belongs to investors who want a particular return for their investment, and traditionally without necessarily wanting to know how their capital was spent!

Those people who are confident that if they borrow what they need for a particular project and can actually repay their debt are the winners, the wealth builders. They enjoy in time the fruits of their labour, so to speak! Those people who do not rely on borrowings but are able to live well and do with their own capital will enjoy peace of mind and lack of pressure, because they don’t owe anyone anything. In the majority, these latter people don’t also have the hunger to achieve or produce since they are under no pressure… they can enjoy their ‘caffellatte’ without worries!

Governments or Institutions that don’t have debt don’t generally have the capacity to build infrastructures that propel their society into a vibrant, hardworking and modern communities. When there is acceptable debt ambition is fuelled because people have to work a little harder to achieve individual or common goals. They also need to work together in order to meet all their funded commitments, with loans attached to their tails! Unfortunately, sometimes these loans go towards maintaining the lifestyle of people who want to be on a permanent holiday, and have expectations and needs based on what the Government can do for them. If Governments cannot raise enough taxes to meet these costs, then the economy suffers… unless they have revenue coming from what is extracted from their territories. In other words the management of a national economy has to be based on the country’s ability to make more than it spends! Or to borrow in the short term but then have the ability to repay back debt!

In order for things to happen or be possible, the availability of Capital, the use of management of this resource and, in the medium to long term, the possibility of meeting all debt obligations have to be present. In the short term or for as long as is required, interest on borrowed capital has to be paid. There has to be a timeline, and there usually is, when all lenders and borrowers are able to say safely to each other ‘until debt do us part’. In economic terms, this is the best marriage!

P.S. A divorce occurs when one of the partners or both believe that there is an ‘irrevocable reason to split’, but that’s another article!!!

Sport and Culture / Sport e Cultura

Sport and Culture

by Tom Padula – 2 June 2011

I have been invited by Ugo Cendron to participate in the Circolo Ferraristi Melbourne as promoter of Italo-Australian Culture. I liked the idea also because I recognize in the practice of sport its importance for health and physical and mental well being. I have always been attracted by sport, but I am passionate about culture. Therefore to have the opportunity to reflect on the relationship between Culture and Sport is a great privilege. And then in the middle of all, this is one of the sporting symbols of Italianity at the world level, with the House of Ferrari. And here in Melbourne we are in the middle of celebrating Italy’s Unification 150 Anniversary and its 65th year as a Republic.

Where do I begin with sport and culture? Reflecting well on it, culture and sport are a part of the inside and the outside of our human spirit. The presence of culture amongst the activities of the Grand Prix of Formula One is necessary to balance the passion of competition with respect for the various teams that participate in it. Only because I like Ferrari, this doesn’t mean hating competitors to such an extent than to render this sport impracticable. People like to enjoy themselves, to be distracted from daily problems, socialize with others and find common interests. Then to feel being part of a team to compete with others in other teams. But the spirit of a supporter at times drives the fan to the extremes of conduct against other... fans!

Therefore culture is necessary to break the more negative aspects of the spirit of competition among many teams and champions of sport, among the various groups that support them, among the nations that are involved. Culture and social conscience tell us that sport is only a part of the sentiment of belonging to something. It’s important to respect others in the competition and hold back our hatred as fans in order to make the sporting activity more pleasant for everyone! We want that culture and sport hold hands and that they distinguish themselves, as an example of great civility. In this way sporting activity will be more pleasant for everyone.

The Circolo Ferraristi Melbourne plans to resuscitate Italo-Australian pride in its passionate sporting fans for the House of Ferrari, and for its machines and motors. We who no longer live in Italy but who are citizens, or Australians of Italian background, recognize the Made in Italy and its importance in our individuality and identity. For this reason we want to see one of our local champions accede to the opportunities to compete, driving a Ferrari, symbol of Italianity in the world circuit of automobiles of Formula One.

It would be nice to manufacture a Ferrari in Australia. In the meantime we shall content ourselves with an Australian driver behind an Italian Ferrari ... so we too will feel as genuine products of Italianity at world level. We recognize in the Australian driver our appreciation of Australia to have welcomed us in its bosom... like a second mother, as a new adopted fatherland. But never forgetting our family and historical ties with Italy. The opportunity to compete with the rest of the world, with a doubling up of talent coming from two nations, will be the necessary stimulus to give, to who lives in Australia with Italian roots, the rightful recognition of his contemporary reality. With Mark Webber, or young ...... Ricciuto, at the wheel of a Ferrari in 2012, we say...“Viva Italia! Viva Australia!”

Lo Sport e La Cultura

di Tom Padula – 2 June 2011

Sono stato invitato da Ugo Cendron a partecipare al Circolo Ferraristi di Melbourne come promotore della Cultura Italo-Australiana. L’idea mi e’ piaciuta anche perche’ riconosco nella pratica dello sport la sua importanza per la salute ed il benessere fisico e mentale. Lo sport mi ha sempre attirato, pero’ sono un appassionato della cultura. Quindi avere l’opportunita’ di riflettere sulla relazione fra Cultura e Sport e’ un grande privilegio. E poi c’e’ in mezzo a tutto questo uno dei simboli sportivi dell’Italianita’ a livello mondiale con la casa Ferrari. E qui a Melbourne siamo nel bel mezzo delle celebrazioni dei 150 anni di Unificazione d’Italia e del 65esimo Compleanno della Repubblica Italiana.

Dove comincio con lo sport e la cultura? Riflettendoci bene, la cultura e lo sport fanno parte del dentro e del fuori dello spirito umano. La presenza della cultura fra le attivita’ del Grand Prix di Formula Uno e’ necessaria per bilanciare la passione per la competizione con il rispetto per le diverse squadre che vi partecipano. Soltanto perche’ a me piace la Ferrari, questo non significa odiare i competitori a tal punto da rendere questo sport impraticabile. Alla gente piace divertirsi, distrarsi dai problemi quotidiani, socializzare con gli altri e trovare comuni interessi. Poi sentirsi parte di una squadra per competere con gli altri in altre squadre. Pero’ lo spirito della squadra a volte spinge il tifoso agli estremi del suo comportamento contro gli altri… tifosi!

Quindi la cultura e’ necessaria per frenare gli aspetti piu’ negativi dello spirito di competizione fra molte squadre e campioni dello sport, fra i vari gruppi che li sostengono, fra le nazioni che ne sono coinvolte. La cultura e la coscienza sociale ci dicono che lo sport e’ soltanto una parte del sentimento di appartenenza a qualcosa. E’ importante rispettare gli altri nella competizione e frenare il nostro odio di tifosi per rendere l’attivita’ sportiva piu’ piacevole per tutti! Noi vogliamo che la cultura e lo sport si diano la mano e che si distinguino insieme, come esempio di grande civilta’. In questo modo l’attivita’ sportiva sara’ piu’ piacevole per tutti.

Il Circolo Ferraristi di Melbourne si propone di suscitare l’orgoglio italo-australiano nei suoi appassionati sportivi per la casa Ferrari e per le sue macchine e motori. Noi che non viviamo piu’ in Italia ma che siamo cittadini Italiani ed Australiani, o Australiani di origine italiana, riconosciamo il Made in Italy e la sua importanza nella nostra individualita’ ed identita’. Per questo vogliamo vedere un nostro campione australiano alla guida di una Ferrari della Formula Uno. Affermiamo che anche noi abbiamo il diritto di vedere uno dei nostri campioni locali accedere alle opportunita’ di competere, guidando una Ferrari, simbolo di Italianita’ nel circuito mondiale di automobili di Formula Uno.

Sarebbe bello produrre una Ferrari in Australia. Nel frattempo ci acconteteremo di un autista australiano dietro ad una Ferrari italiana… cosi’ noi anche ci sentiremo dei genuini prodotti dell’Italianita’ al livello mondiale. Riconosciamo nell’autista australiano il nostro apprezzamento all’Australia per averci accolti nel suo grembo… come una seconda madre, come nuova patria adottiva. Pero’ mai dimenticando i nostri legami familiari e storici con l’Italia. L’opportunita’ di competere con il resto del mondo con un doppiaggio di talenti proveniente da due nazioni potra’ essere lo stimolo necessario per dare a chi vive in Australia con radici italiane il giusto riconoscimento della sua realta’ odierna. Con Mark Webber, o il Giovane …… Ricciuto, al volante di una Ferrari nel 2012, diciamo “ Viva Italia! Viva Australia!”

Per il Campanile: incontro con Padre Luciano

Per il Campanile: incontro con Padre Luciano

Domenica 26 Giugno 2011 nel salone della Galli Estate Winery sulla Melton Highway nel sobborgo di Plumpton si e’ svolto un interessante incontro all’insegna dell’amicizia schietta e della familiarita’. Un buon numero di famiglie associate alle attivita’ religiose, sociali e culturali di un progetto che vuole ripristinare lo spirito di fratellanza con donazioni ed aiuto alla Chiesa Italiana di Melbourne che piu’ di ogni altra rappresenta il passaggio storico di una Comunita’ Italiana all’estero. La Comunita’ Italiana si e’ integrata abilmente nel tessuto sociale australiano, rimanendo fedele alla cultura religiosa paesana in Italia ed allo stesso tempo venendo incontro alle nuove generazioni di giovani nati nel Paese dei canguri e dei koala.

E chi meglio dei tanti religiosi che emigrarono in questo continente insieme a quelli che andavano in cerca di un futuro dignitoso conoscevano le necessita’ spirituali e culturali di questi emigranti al principio di una nuova vita in un nuovo paese’. Le difficolta’ iniziali ben presto vennero superate e la costruzione di una Chiesa tutta italiana fu identificata come un mezzo comunitario per celebrare la famiglia e la sua prole. Sin dagli inizi i Padri Cappuccini di Hawthorn sono stati attivi nell’amministrare i sacramenti a tutti coloro che lo richiedevano. Battesimi, Comunioni, Confessioni, Cresime, Matrimoni, Servizi Funebri, visite ad ospedali, prigioni, anziani nelle loro case e poi in case di riposo, alle attivita’ sociali e culturali per i giovani, alle visite a scuole ed universita’: non c’e’ stato una singola attivita’ produttiva che non ha visto questi Benedetti uomini essere presenti e far fronte ai bisogni spirituali, sociali, emotivi, religiosi di una intera Comunita’, attraverso le generazioni di chi oggi si considera di casa e cittadino di questa grande nostra Australia.

I vincoli con l’Italia, la sua cultura e la sua lingua sono rimasti stretti grazie alle tante persone che hanno assistito i nostri Padri Cappuccini nello svolgere la loro importante missione religiosa. Allo stesso tempo I Padri cappuccini sono sempre stati aperti agli altri gruppi che insieme formano la popolazione multiculturale d’Australia. Un luogo religioso e’ storicamente anche un punto d’incontro per la comunita’ che lo frequenta. E nel nostro caso questa comunita’ puo’ venire anche da molto lontano perche’ si riconosce al Santuario uno speciale stato di trattamento. Vengono accolte in questa chiesa gli ultimi arrivati allo stesso modo di quelli che una volta sono stati responsabili per la sua costruzione ed il suo uso di luogo sacro.

Come gia’ si sa tramite le pagine de Il Globo, il Santuario di Sant’Antonio ad Hawthorn ha bisogno di un rinnovo della sua cupola e del Campanile che tanto e’ stato il simbolo dello spirito cristiano e cattolico degli Italiani ed i loro discendenti qui a Melbourne dal 1960. Il FundRaising al Galli Winery e’ stato un incontro che ha anche celebrato i sessanta anni di servizio al Signore ed ai suoi fedeli del riverito ed amato Padre Cappuccino Luciano Rocchi, che ha ottantacinque anni di ancora giovane eta’. Una presenza spirituale che segue i passi della Comunita’ Italiana di Melbourne da cinquant’anni. Moltissime famiglie che furono generosi nell’appoggiare la costruzione della Chiesa dell’allora schiera di giovani che arrivavano sulle navi della Flotta Lauro o Loyd Triestino hanno continuato la loro associazione ed il loro generoso intervento in momenti di bisogno. Percio’ siamo sicuri che il FundRaising organizzato tramite e con l’appoggio de Il Globo ed il suo Direttore Generale, Ubaldo Larobina, avra’ un gran successo.

Il pomeriggio nel salone di ricevimento al Galli Winery ha avuto il risultato voluto dagli organizzatori. Moltissimi i premi per la buona riuscita della riffa e della vendita all’asta. Il pranzo e l’intrattenimento sono stati apprezzati per la cura con cui si e’ voluto celebrare un incontro fra amici e sostenitori. Padre Luciano accoglie con particolare attenzione i piu’ giovani, fra i quali si e’ distinto il giovanissimo fotografo amatore Max di sette anni! Questi ha preso molte fotografie del Cantante Tony Marchi, il quale gli ha donato il suo autografo sul braccio. Sono sicuro che Max si e’ tenuto questo regalo per alcuni giorni! Padre Luciano era indubbiamente la stella del pomeriggio considerando che tutti hanno voluto delle foto ricordo con lui.

Ci si augura che il Campanile verra’ realizzato al piu’ presto con un appello speciale per chi vuole continuare la tradizione di generosita’ che distingue i fedeli del Santuario di San’Antonio! I moduli sono disponibili tramite la pubblicita’ di questo giornale. Uniamoci in Coro per questa occasione di solidarieta’ donando ad un progetto che continuera’ ad abbracciare i nuovi arrivati ed i vecchi amici, nonche’ tutta la comunita’ Italo-Australiana.

Tom Padula – Giugno 2011 - Visit: www.TomPadula.com

What does Labour stand for today?

Traditionally Labour’s workhorse policies have been well defined in terms of achieving fairness and a future for the workers of Australia. Labour has had on its agendas social policies that would protect and care for the young, the old and families in need. Labour’s think tanks always had the wider population’s interest at heart. To meet all commitments has sometimes been a real challenge and we have seen Labour governments actually lose elections as a result. The track record of Labour has been much improved since the Whitlam years: at the Federal level Whitlam, Hawke & Keating, Kevin Rudd, although only briefly as Prime Minister, showed fundamental values that not only embraced traditional Labour concerns but they also borrowed from Liberal and minor parties platforms to achieve great improvements in the social fabric of Australia.

Julia Gillard lamented this development when she said that Labour had lost its way. It seems to me that Julia wants her Party to return to the glory days of Labour where all have a fair go, where all share in the riches of the Nation, where all are taken care of by moving forward to an egalitarian society. Words and deeds have to be closely related. Support is also required. When these elements are missing, the job is harder to achieve. There is also the problem that in today’s world the worker is either a technical or information expert or the work given is of a lower value in the market place.

The great success of Governance in the Australian Democracy has been achieved because the people have seen beyond the ideologies and particular platforms of the philosophies of each Party. The electoral cohorts vote out, in no uncertain terms at the ballot box, Governments that become tired and need to be changed. We can say that healthy debate from opposing forces of the political spectrum leads, in the long run, to a better governed Country, with laws that protect and gives its people as much freedom as possible, in a civilized environment. So how can we find the way that has been lost?

The struggles to achieve our current living standards in Australia have been hard fought over a long period of time. It’s fair to say that a lot of progress has occurred since after the end of World War II. The lowest point in living standards in Australia occurred at the beginning of the 1930’s with the period of the Great Depression. If we go a little further back to the formation of our Australian Federation and the subsequent policies of the White Australia legislations and their economic ramifications, we can say that the Australian people had it pretty tough. Therefore if we reflect on the Labour Party traditions which date back to the 1880’s, we’ll find the base of Labour Party ideology in the requirement of mateship as a way of surviving the harsh conditions of rural Australia.

The now defunct ‘Bulletin’ magazine and newspapers built their own myths and showed the way forward with their poems, ballads, short stories, myths and legends. The search for fairness for all in a more just society led to a number of developments. A just wage was agreed to in 1907, the formation of Unions, the achievement of universal suffrage, the application of the democratic processes to elect appropriate representatives from all viewpoints were established. A timeframe for achieving political program for government was introduced. So much of the ground work was laid in the innumerable debated battles of a Parliament which not only came up with laws for all human activity in society, but which began to also rationalize and review its programs according to the views expressed by all parties. Labour and the Conservative sides of society fought it out to achieve a more egalitarian community.

It’s strange that all this democracy actually developed under the very nose of the British Monarchs… but then they were so far away. There was more room for experimentation in a vast land, with a small population and literally indebted to every individual to do his or her best. At times this best had to be shared in times of crisis, in a land that experienced extreme weather and economic conditions. These mutual needs of survival for rich and poor led to great political ideas from all angles of the electorate.

But it wasn’t until after WWII that things really started moving forward. The great wave of immigration from Europe at first and then the rest of the world has propelled this vast and beautiful country into the world arena with its vibrant embrace of a respect for all humankind within the realms of its Government bodies, regardless of which political leanings. There are some basic values that make Australians humanitarians at heart and in deeds! I know that this seems too good to be true… but look around. Here we have welcomed all people, from all places, in beliefs that are as varied as the world itself. However we expect to produce from this diversity a nation of people who are highly tolerant of the rights of individuals and groups. We hope that extreme cultural backgrounds and practices, whether social or religious, will eventually be able to understand the power of our Southern Cross.

The symbol of revolt against unjust authority, the call to cooperation for a fair outcome in our place of work, the rise of equality in the dealings between government authority and ordinary citizens who try to extract a living from effort which is then rewarded so unequally by fortune and chance. The Australian population is often reminded of these great past experiences to encourage us all to continue to build a fair, just and humane society where cooperation is extended to all in times of need. However when the need is not there we also expect a degree of participation in the work force so that all efforts come together to better our living conditions and society in general.

Labour and the Conservative Parties, together with the new innovative smaller Parties, are essential to our democratic, free loving and fair society. Their politics and political programs need to be clearly defined so that people can choose and then judge whether the promises made were delivered in the time given for governing the Nation. We are fortunate that political opposites accept the will of the people at the ballot box. We don’t want corruption of the processes with which we have built a wonderful country to live in. However we cannot take for granted these achievements.

We need to revisit our ideals and goals, our political choices and the way in which we come to implement these choices. We also must realize that from time to time our opponents have the right to govern as well to see whether they can do better in some of their areas of choice. A balance is then achieved in the long run. But we must remain faithful to our own beliefs. Therefore the Labour Party, indeed all Parties, need to review how their policy platforms rate against their own traditional custodianship of their Party.The challenge ahead is to articulate those areas of living that will continue to make our society progress and distribute its wealth in areas of common need. Infrastructure projects, education, health, security, commercial and industrial activity, commerce within the country and exports, defence, law and order, the list is endless. All of these things cannot be achieved at the same time. All of them are important to us all. It’s essential that the way forward is well articulated and clear, so that we can make our choices and then work together to achieve these and to enjoy the fruits of our Labour!

Tom Padula - 24th June 2011

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