Friday, June 25, 2004
Oceanic Songline:
Somewhere in The Pacific
You know when you have been at the helm for too long because the globe of the compass becomes a crystal ball revealing your innermost secrets and desires, dreams and wonders. Telling you strange things; a story of two small vessels, deposed presidents, gifts not given, no teddy bears picnics (thanks to Linda), dolphins tame wild birds and all mannner of awe inspiring things.
We have rum through a whole gamut of feelings since being escorted out of Nauru, so near yet so far. Although our skipper Lance - an inspiration - put it so well in his message; "We lost but we won". Echoing the Eureka Stockade.
I felt for Keith the most as he has long standing friends in detention with whom he has corresponded. A call from a prominent QC has suggested that some of us may yet be able to return bearing gifts.
We are like a stone dropped into a still pond creating ripples long after we have disappeared from view; who knows ultimately what will result from this action, like the proverbial butterfly of chaos theory; the gentle breeze from its wings over China create a storm on the other side of the world.
We all feel it has been worthwhile and a success and quite amazing in what has manifested. Indeed some of us at times have felt the brush of other things, higher powers maybe, who knows?
Maybe others will see ordinary people taking action at injustice and will be moved to act as well. If we all picked one issue that burned at our hearts and acted in some way it would be a very powerful force indeed.
I believe that this action has gone beyond the old political paradigm of left and right and has embraced a broad coalition of interests, and has been a mirror to them. Something like the nascent stirrings of a new politics as has been suggested by Ken Wilber and others; integral politics.
Merging political activism with a diverse inner spirituality as predicted by the 8th century Buddhist Kalachakra Tantra; Shambhala Warriors - rainbow warriors of love and compassion. The world needs all of us latent Shambhala Warriors to recognise ourselves, to hear the call, the pain of Gaia, an ecology in distress, to raise our voices and be heard above the din of rampant unsustainable globalisation before it is too late. There is so much to do and so little time.
Rant over!
Basta!
love
joty
Somewhere in The Pacific
You know when you have been at the helm for too long because the globe of the compass becomes a crystal ball revealing your innermost secrets and desires, dreams and wonders. Telling you strange things; a story of two small vessels, deposed presidents, gifts not given, no teddy bears picnics (thanks to Linda), dolphins tame wild birds and all mannner of awe inspiring things.
We have rum through a whole gamut of feelings since being escorted out of Nauru, so near yet so far. Although our skipper Lance - an inspiration - put it so well in his message; "We lost but we won". Echoing the Eureka Stockade.
I felt for Keith the most as he has long standing friends in detention with whom he has corresponded. A call from a prominent QC has suggested that some of us may yet be able to return bearing gifts.
We are like a stone dropped into a still pond creating ripples long after we have disappeared from view; who knows ultimately what will result from this action, like the proverbial butterfly of chaos theory; the gentle breeze from its wings over China create a storm on the other side of the world.
We all feel it has been worthwhile and a success and quite amazing in what has manifested. Indeed some of us at times have felt the brush of other things, higher powers maybe, who knows?
Maybe others will see ordinary people taking action at injustice and will be moved to act as well. If we all picked one issue that burned at our hearts and acted in some way it would be a very powerful force indeed.
I believe that this action has gone beyond the old political paradigm of left and right and has embraced a broad coalition of interests, and has been a mirror to them. Something like the nascent stirrings of a new politics as has been suggested by Ken Wilber and others; integral politics.
Merging political activism with a diverse inner spirituality as predicted by the 8th century Buddhist Kalachakra Tantra; Shambhala Warriors - rainbow warriors of love and compassion. The world needs all of us latent Shambhala Warriors to recognise ourselves, to hear the call, the pain of Gaia, an ecology in distress, to raise our voices and be heard above the din of rampant unsustainable globalisation before it is too late. There is so much to do and so little time.
Rant over!
Basta!
love
joty
Saturday, June 12, 2004
Paradise with Malaria
Log 12 June 2004 - Santa Cruz - Solomon Islands
The triangular mass of a volcanic island heralds Santa Cruz - sacred cross - of the Solomon Islands. Behind us a black cloud stretches across the horizon that will eventually catch up with us as we enter the narrow strait.
The locals greet us from dug-out canoes (they can take up to two months to chop out) trading fruit, papaya, pineapple, ginger as well as fresh free range eggs. One wants batteries for his torch so that he can go fishing for coconut crabs.
In the shallows small shoals of fish all leap into the air to escape marauding bigger fish. We hoist our yellow quarantine flag and await customs as we are more off a C of E training school filled with lovely students that we have made deep and meaningful heart and soul connections with, it’s so beautiful here.
--------------------
I have been going through my fear barriers sailing, and I have pushed out of my comfort zones - transformational. There is also the emotional pressure cooker of living on top of each other and we all cleared the air this morning.
Yesterday I had a birthday I will never forget - Elliot brought the beautiful monks over - they dress in blue with a rosary of cowrie shells - to sing us songs from the shore, Lance got the sparklers out which we waved rock concert style as sang, it was so beautiful i nearly cried, but I am shedding tears now as I write home and write this... purification at a deep level.
This is an amazing voyage on an inner and an outer level, and I am currently overwhelmed with the love, beauty and wide smiles of the local people.
I will leave to others, Stav, Nerida, to describe other aspects of the voyage as they write so well. I am amazed at the other crew members of both vessels they are all too beautiful.
We leave tomorrow on the final leg to Nauru hopeful of 24 hour visas and we all know that whatever happens it will be amazing.
--------------------
For news about flotillas of Hope please visit:
www.flotilla2004.com
http://hopecaravan.com/discuss/viewforum.php?f=6 (Flotillas of Hope – News)
Log 12 June 2004 - Santa Cruz - Solomon Islands
The triangular mass of a volcanic island heralds Santa Cruz - sacred cross - of the Solomon Islands. Behind us a black cloud stretches across the horizon that will eventually catch up with us as we enter the narrow strait.
The locals greet us from dug-out canoes (they can take up to two months to chop out) trading fruit, papaya, pineapple, ginger as well as fresh free range eggs. One wants batteries for his torch so that he can go fishing for coconut crabs.
In the shallows small shoals of fish all leap into the air to escape marauding bigger fish. We hoist our yellow quarantine flag and await customs as we are more off a C of E training school filled with lovely students that we have made deep and meaningful heart and soul connections with, it’s so beautiful here.
--------------------
I have been going through my fear barriers sailing, and I have pushed out of my comfort zones - transformational. There is also the emotional pressure cooker of living on top of each other and we all cleared the air this morning.
Yesterday I had a birthday I will never forget - Elliot brought the beautiful monks over - they dress in blue with a rosary of cowrie shells - to sing us songs from the shore, Lance got the sparklers out which we waved rock concert style as sang, it was so beautiful i nearly cried, but I am shedding tears now as I write home and write this... purification at a deep level.
This is an amazing voyage on an inner and an outer level, and I am currently overwhelmed with the love, beauty and wide smiles of the local people.
I will leave to others, Stav, Nerida, to describe other aspects of the voyage as they write so well. I am amazed at the other crew members of both vessels they are all too beautiful.
We leave tomorrow on the final leg to Nauru hopeful of 24 hour visas and we all know that whatever happens it will be amazing.
--------------------
For news about flotillas of Hope please visit:
www.flotilla2004.com
http://hopecaravan.com/discuss/viewforum.php?f=6 (Flotillas of Hope – News)
Saturday, May 29, 2004
A ROLLING CHUNDER
South Bellona Reefs - 500 nautical miles in 5 days Sand Cay - lat 1 47 20 long 159 33 20
Saturday 29 May
Red. Red. Red. The red glow of the compass burns into my retinas.
No stars, all the constellations are new to me the Southern Cross replace the Pole Star, or clouds to set my bearings by. All the muscles of my arms and shoulders burn and ache.
Standing at the helm at a 15 degree angle in lumpy seas, high winds of 20 knots plus, My right foot bearing all the pressure. We plunge headlong into the night under sail hitting 10 knots at its peak.
I look up from the compass, my world, and we are heading straight towards a menacing big black cloud, which is rearing ahead of us. Shit I think we are heading straight into a storm. Then I scan the horizon for other vessels and the storm cloud is everywhere I look, retinal afterimage. Relief.
Eureka is asleep except for me and the ocean. The ocean is empty. Emptiness. The deep blue. We are mere specks on the ocean. I understand why the ancients; the Greeks and the Romans posited sea gods.
Triton. Neptune. Vast uncontrollable energies.
The Australian 'Eureka Rebellion' Southern Cross Flag - a white cross with 5 white stars has now shredded and only 4 stars are left at the back of the boat.
Dawn. Stavros is flung from the wheel, panic, disaster, the steering cable has broken. We wallow in the choppy seas. Ruth and Lance are the heroes of the day diving into the bowels of the boat to fix it. Stav holding the rudder in place chunders, I replace him, I chunder, my first, sweat is dripping off all of us it is so hot. I wonder if we would have survived in those 10 meter waves Lance spoke about. Ruth and Lance fix it and we are on our way again, relieved. I chunder in the head, the toilet, I retch nothing comes up, I have barely eaten.
The second night out from Cape Morton is a different story. Continuous sailing, steering at the helm, sleeping, feeling queasy is how I fill my time. But this time Eureka is flying along, finely tuned like a thoroughbred horse. The wind and tides appear to be with us, I enter the 'zone' as I helm, I reach a deep place of meditation. It is beautiful, so different from the night before.
The waxing moon is half open close to the horizon; golden red like a crock of gold. It suddenly disappears behind a cloud. Cloud hidden, I am reminded of the Zen poetry of Ryokan.
The next day dawns fair. So far the sea and weather has been more like the English Channel but now the promise of the Tropics which Lance waxes lyrically about appears to have reached us.
On the journey glad news has reached us of Aladdin’s release and granting of an Australian visa, we cheer!
We also hear that the opposition on Nauru has gained control so hopes rise that we will be able to land after all.
We are nearing the end of the first leg of the journey; we will wait at the reef for One Off - providing they are not too long - before heading off for Santa Cruz.
joty
South Bellona Reefs - 500 nautical miles in 5 days Sand Cay - lat 1 47 20 long 159 33 20
Saturday 29 May
Red. Red. Red. The red glow of the compass burns into my retinas.
No stars, all the constellations are new to me the Southern Cross replace the Pole Star, or clouds to set my bearings by. All the muscles of my arms and shoulders burn and ache.
Standing at the helm at a 15 degree angle in lumpy seas, high winds of 20 knots plus, My right foot bearing all the pressure. We plunge headlong into the night under sail hitting 10 knots at its peak.
I look up from the compass, my world, and we are heading straight towards a menacing big black cloud, which is rearing ahead of us. Shit I think we are heading straight into a storm. Then I scan the horizon for other vessels and the storm cloud is everywhere I look, retinal afterimage. Relief.
Eureka is asleep except for me and the ocean. The ocean is empty. Emptiness. The deep blue. We are mere specks on the ocean. I understand why the ancients; the Greeks and the Romans posited sea gods.
Triton. Neptune. Vast uncontrollable energies.
The Australian 'Eureka Rebellion' Southern Cross Flag - a white cross with 5 white stars has now shredded and only 4 stars are left at the back of the boat.
Dawn. Stavros is flung from the wheel, panic, disaster, the steering cable has broken. We wallow in the choppy seas. Ruth and Lance are the heroes of the day diving into the bowels of the boat to fix it. Stav holding the rudder in place chunders, I replace him, I chunder, my first, sweat is dripping off all of us it is so hot. I wonder if we would have survived in those 10 meter waves Lance spoke about. Ruth and Lance fix it and we are on our way again, relieved. I chunder in the head, the toilet, I retch nothing comes up, I have barely eaten.
The second night out from Cape Morton is a different story. Continuous sailing, steering at the helm, sleeping, feeling queasy is how I fill my time. But this time Eureka is flying along, finely tuned like a thoroughbred horse. The wind and tides appear to be with us, I enter the 'zone' as I helm, I reach a deep place of meditation. It is beautiful, so different from the night before.
The waxing moon is half open close to the horizon; golden red like a crock of gold. It suddenly disappears behind a cloud. Cloud hidden, I am reminded of the Zen poetry of Ryokan.
The next day dawns fair. So far the sea and weather has been more like the English Channel but now the promise of the Tropics which Lance waxes lyrically about appears to have reached us.
On the journey glad news has reached us of Aladdin’s release and granting of an Australian visa, we cheer!
We also hear that the opposition on Nauru has gained control so hopes rise that we will be able to land after all.
We are nearing the end of the first leg of the journey; we will wait at the reef for One Off - providing they are not too long - before heading off for Santa Cruz.
joty
Monday, May 24, 2004
24 May 2004 s
153.27 south/27.02 east Global Positioning Satellite Co-ordinates
We are on Moreton Cape anchored just off of Moreton Island, in the lee of a fishing trawler, so
3.06 pm message from Holly in America just in on the satellite phone 131 refugees released in 1 days!!!!!!
so when Ruth and Lance went for a swim in their birthday suits there was some concerns that the fish waste from the trawler would attract sharks.
Last night our anchor dragged and we were dangerously close to a warning pole.
Today dawned calm but a we bit cloudy, after today we head off into deep water and won't be anchoring again for a while.
Food wise we are well stocked at present, last night I made a broccoli salad, for breakfast Stav made grilled cheese tomato and onion on toast, and for lunch skipper Lance made a delicious stir-fry.
I was feeling a bit off and , real queasy and under the weather this morning, emotions running high, thinking of family and friends back home, reality biting, a come down from the adrenalin charged emotional bubble we have all been in. I also see this as a rite of passage and a big purification in this time of my life.
I feel very privileged to be on the Flotilla of Hope.
The send off was beautiful, lots of gifts and love as always. A cool teddy bear, signed and some cheeky comments that we will put behind us, from the lovely Brisbane uni media students Rebecca, Lily and Tess from Tas, they have really added something to our project joining us in Sydney at the beginning and being at the final send off in Brissie.
I got a lovely cake from Linda and the Byron crew, plus they sent crystals for all of the children in Nauru and for us.
Thank you everybody that has contributed to this project.
There is so much I could write but we have to conserve energy, although we have a generator to recharge them, on ONE OFF they have a 'rainbow' energy invertor to run their laptop off, on which they have navigation charts running off the GPS.
449 nautical miles to our first stopping point...
basta
153.27 south/27.02 east Global Positioning Satellite Co-ordinates
We are on Moreton Cape anchored just off of Moreton Island, in the lee of a fishing trawler, so
3.06 pm message from Holly in America just in on the satellite phone 131 refugees released in 1 days!!!!!!
so when Ruth and Lance went for a swim in their birthday suits there was some concerns that the fish waste from the trawler would attract sharks.
Last night our anchor dragged and we were dangerously close to a warning pole.
Today dawned calm but a we bit cloudy, after today we head off into deep water and won't be anchoring again for a while.
Food wise we are well stocked at present, last night I made a broccoli salad, for breakfast Stav made grilled cheese tomato and onion on toast, and for lunch skipper Lance made a delicious stir-fry.
I was feeling a bit off and , real queasy and under the weather this morning, emotions running high, thinking of family and friends back home, reality biting, a come down from the adrenalin charged emotional bubble we have all been in. I also see this as a rite of passage and a big purification in this time of my life.
I feel very privileged to be on the Flotilla of Hope.
The send off was beautiful, lots of gifts and love as always. A cool teddy bear, signed and some cheeky comments that we will put behind us, from the lovely Brisbane uni media students Rebecca, Lily and Tess from Tas, they have really added something to our project joining us in Sydney at the beginning and being at the final send off in Brissie.
I got a lovely cake from Linda and the Byron crew, plus they sent crystals for all of the children in Nauru and for us.
Thank you everybody that has contributed to this project.
There is so much I could write but we have to conserve energy, although we have a generator to recharge them, on ONE OFF they have a 'rainbow' energy invertor to run their laptop off, on which they have navigation charts running off the GPS.
449 nautical miles to our first stopping point...
basta
Saturday, May 22, 2004
16 May 2004
‘Hope. We bring you hope.
In the dark of your despair
We still care for you.
And we’re here to let you know we’re here
And we won’t let the world forget about you.’
Joanna Leigh
Arrived in Newcastle around 4 am. Tired and a bit queasy.
Once again the sendoff was an emotional affair, again all the crew spoke. I spoke of the Eureka being this focus of so much love. I also ‘joined the dots’ and brought in the international aspect of fighting the common enemy of Bush, Blair and Howard.
We were blessed by a priest, a Pureland Buddhist chaplain, a Quaker and a young Islamic Iman and a young Islamic woman, those last two actually touched my heart the most; their Muslim community were standing around hands cupped around their hearts, as he recited the Koran and stumbled slightly in his pronunciation, recitation – it was very moving. Then they create da tunnel of love and we walked down saying goodbye, very emotional.
We had been given various talisman and protective amulets. More inner flotilla.
A beautiful sunset, good sailing, a swell of two meters and light wind.
18 May 2004 Coffs Harbour – Dolphins….
‘…include the postage stamp…’
2.30am
Just arrived.
Before dusk we put in 3 reefs in the sail as the forecast was for increased wind. Next day 17 May dawned bright, calm and peaceful.
Lance put the opera singer Andrea Boticelli on the stereo and we all got soppy and emotional. Later in the morning we saw two light coloured dolphins streak past, a pod was swimming around the bow waves. They proceeded to give us a magnificent display. Two jumped towards each other, then over to the port side 2 jumped then 3 the 4 then 5, I was blown away and saw it as confirmation and a good omen. Suddenly I was connected to those crazy FLIPPER programmes I used to watch as a kid.
Word came through – mobile phones were still working – that 70 refugees have been released to New Zealand!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It really lifted our spirits and we could imagine the joy in the refugees’ hearts.
In Australian parliament the head of the Ozzie Greens said it was the first victory for the flotilla.
6.30 pm
God Speed!
We charge headlong into the night, a gale warning of winds 25 – 30 knots waves 2 – 3 meters high, ringing in our ears.
Ruth has been telling me her amazing sailing adventures, solo sailing, she went sailing at 17 with Colin. At one stage they were on an amazing island FERANDO DE NORONHA where there are 100’s of dolphins which they swam with.
Brilliant!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(It is quite hard writing below deck, everything zooming up an down)
I had again this feeling about my role in the world, it’s kind of hard to explain,
I feel its kind of like being a bee who goes around the world pollinating. Weird shit. We’ll have to see how that pans out! Ha-ha! I must listen to my heart and see what calls me. It may be a load of bollocks.
19 May 2004
Despite the dire warnings of gales we managed to keep ahead of it and reached the everglades around 4 pm, we saw wallabies on the shore. Beautiful.
We eventually found a sheltered spot to anchor up and celebrated with a glass of champagne. The send off at Coffs was sweet and more media interviews, this thing is building. We stopped briefly at Byron Bay, O too briefly because of the following weather. The coastguard canoed out with an umbrella saying FREE THE REFUGEES, we were sorry we couldn’t stop.
Byron Bay is the most easterly headland in Australia, discovered (which was a surprise to the local indigenous people I guess) on the 15 May 1770 by Captain Cook who named it after the poet Lord Byron’s grandfather. Don’t ask me why please. Answers on a postcard.
We carried on past SURFERS PARADISE, the wind dropped and the sea grew calmer. WE dropped anchor and Stav cooked up a storm. Stav told us the amazing story of how he met Cat Stevens, he’s a real raconteur! like the rest of us, Stav, has now started going barefoot on the boat and the cheesy smell in the cabin is greatly reduced! Phew!
20 May 2004 Pelican Slipway Redland Bay
A short cruise today, through a beautiful landscape, brought us to Pelican Slipway, home of Keith and Anne and the other Flotilla boat the ONE OFF.
Keith is a lovely guy and has a long prophet like beard, actually with his hat on he looks like Fidel Castro… but that’s where the likeness ends. He has a ready smile and a lovely manner about him.
Keith took us into Brisbane Customs Office to get clearance for the trip.
We met the rest of the One Off crew there Elliot the 18 year old film maker and Nerida a 24 year old research scientist. Cool people.
However as soon as we told the customs guy we were from The flotilla boat Eureka, he went EUREKA! And disappeared into the bowels of his office and half an hour later he said a crisis has arisen and he would send officers out to clear us on Sunday. hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
May not be able to post for a while now as we head off into the adventue of the high seas and high politics...
‘Hope. We bring you hope.
In the dark of your despair
We still care for you.
And we’re here to let you know we’re here
And we won’t let the world forget about you.’
Joanna Leigh
Arrived in Newcastle around 4 am. Tired and a bit queasy.
Once again the sendoff was an emotional affair, again all the crew spoke. I spoke of the Eureka being this focus of so much love. I also ‘joined the dots’ and brought in the international aspect of fighting the common enemy of Bush, Blair and Howard.
We were blessed by a priest, a Pureland Buddhist chaplain, a Quaker and a young Islamic Iman and a young Islamic woman, those last two actually touched my heart the most; their Muslim community were standing around hands cupped around their hearts, as he recited the Koran and stumbled slightly in his pronunciation, recitation – it was very moving. Then they create da tunnel of love and we walked down saying goodbye, very emotional.
We had been given various talisman and protective amulets. More inner flotilla.
A beautiful sunset, good sailing, a swell of two meters and light wind.
18 May 2004 Coffs Harbour – Dolphins….
‘…include the postage stamp…’
2.30am
Just arrived.
Before dusk we put in 3 reefs in the sail as the forecast was for increased wind. Next day 17 May dawned bright, calm and peaceful.
Lance put the opera singer Andrea Boticelli on the stereo and we all got soppy and emotional. Later in the morning we saw two light coloured dolphins streak past, a pod was swimming around the bow waves. They proceeded to give us a magnificent display. Two jumped towards each other, then over to the port side 2 jumped then 3 the 4 then 5, I was blown away and saw it as confirmation and a good omen. Suddenly I was connected to those crazy FLIPPER programmes I used to watch as a kid.
Word came through – mobile phones were still working – that 70 refugees have been released to New Zealand!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It really lifted our spirits and we could imagine the joy in the refugees’ hearts.
In Australian parliament the head of the Ozzie Greens said it was the first victory for the flotilla.
6.30 pm
God Speed!
We charge headlong into the night, a gale warning of winds 25 – 30 knots waves 2 – 3 meters high, ringing in our ears.
Ruth has been telling me her amazing sailing adventures, solo sailing, she went sailing at 17 with Colin. At one stage they were on an amazing island FERANDO DE NORONHA where there are 100’s of dolphins which they swam with.
Brilliant!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(It is quite hard writing below deck, everything zooming up an down)
I had again this feeling about my role in the world, it’s kind of hard to explain,
I feel its kind of like being a bee who goes around the world pollinating. Weird shit. We’ll have to see how that pans out! Ha-ha! I must listen to my heart and see what calls me. It may be a load of bollocks.
19 May 2004
Despite the dire warnings of gales we managed to keep ahead of it and reached the everglades around 4 pm, we saw wallabies on the shore. Beautiful.
We eventually found a sheltered spot to anchor up and celebrated with a glass of champagne. The send off at Coffs was sweet and more media interviews, this thing is building. We stopped briefly at Byron Bay, O too briefly because of the following weather. The coastguard canoed out with an umbrella saying FREE THE REFUGEES, we were sorry we couldn’t stop.
Byron Bay is the most easterly headland in Australia, discovered (which was a surprise to the local indigenous people I guess) on the 15 May 1770 by Captain Cook who named it after the poet Lord Byron’s grandfather. Don’t ask me why please. Answers on a postcard.
We carried on past SURFERS PARADISE, the wind dropped and the sea grew calmer. WE dropped anchor and Stav cooked up a storm. Stav told us the amazing story of how he met Cat Stevens, he’s a real raconteur! like the rest of us, Stav, has now started going barefoot on the boat and the cheesy smell in the cabin is greatly reduced! Phew!
20 May 2004 Pelican Slipway Redland Bay
A short cruise today, through a beautiful landscape, brought us to Pelican Slipway, home of Keith and Anne and the other Flotilla boat the ONE OFF.
Keith is a lovely guy and has a long prophet like beard, actually with his hat on he looks like Fidel Castro… but that’s where the likeness ends. He has a ready smile and a lovely manner about him.
Keith took us into Brisbane Customs Office to get clearance for the trip.
We met the rest of the One Off crew there Elliot the 18 year old film maker and Nerida a 24 year old research scientist. Cool people.
However as soon as we told the customs guy we were from The flotilla boat Eureka, he went EUREKA! And disappeared into the bowels of his office and half an hour later he said a crisis has arisen and he would send officers out to clear us on Sunday. hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
May not be able to post for a while now as we head off into the adventue of the high seas and high politics...
Friday, May 21, 2004
I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life, and not when I came to die discover that I had not lived.
Thoreau
F L O T I L L A S of H O P E 2 0 0 4
Sydney * Newcastle * Coffs Harbour * Pelican Slipway, Redland Bay * Brisbane
joke---
How do know when a plane load of poms has landed
when the engine stops you can still hear whining...
MAY 14 2004
Vocatus atque non
Vocatus dues aderit
Arrived in Sydney, missed my lift, so made my way to Milsons’ Point railway and Lance took me down to Eureka moored in Lavender Bay, he is quite a guy, a 78er and a living legend a founding member of the Sydney Mardi Gras…
By the afternoon Stavros and Ruth arrived, on my first meeting with them I was impressed by their openness and warmhearted hospitality.
We cruised around to Sydney Fish Market and had a glass of red wine. Stav had driven the hire car back and Ruth got a call onboard to say that the Parliament on Nauru had voted to not accept the armed police that the Howard Government wanted to send to Nauru. He also told her some interesting news about some secret protection we had… However the Government of Nauru have enacted a law to stop any vessel entering their territorial waters and impounding the vessel, fining or imprisoning thee crew. Apparently this is of dubious legality and is against SOLAS.
Nauru secretary of Justice Denzil Serieviate said our entry into Nauru would be considered prohibited immigration and we could be fined upto $3000 and imprisoned for one year.
Lance said that the rule on the ocean was that you don’t need visas before you leave Australia. He said yachts are entitled to enter ports – you don’t turn people away at sea especially in small boats in the middle of the ocean.
The detention camp on Nauru was set up by the Australian government in September 2001 as part of the sop-called - Pacific Solution – Nauru got $31 million over 2 years to house refugees from the Mt Tampa. The camp holds 277 people, inc 83 children mostly from Afghanistan and Iraq.
Over coffee and a hearty breakfast in the Sydney Fish Market Stavros told me about the origins of the flotilla project.
He was rediscovering his Greek roots in Greece, naturally, and he found himself in the sacred mountain – Mount Athos – and his amazing meeting with Gerontos ‘wise old one’ and what the heart of Gerontos was moved to do, but this is part of Stav’s story so I cannot relate more at present, but it was pretty amazing.
Stav said it was about “reactivating his activists’ heart” he was at home in his room learning astrology, “generating energy for the next stage” On the 18 may 2003 he sent out the seminal email which led to the Flotilla of Hope.
Stav works with the Gurdijieffian concept of the Ennegram, the octaves and the laws of 3 and 7. All stuff I was into as a young man. By his reckoning we hit stage five – which relates to ‘cooking the food’ around May 30 – June 4.
This is when destiny, the final stage of the project, the trip is set. His teacher told him that the Ennegram was a doorway for Gentiles to enter the Kabblah.
Lance is a materialistic Marxist – on the surface – but even he was talking about this being a ‘mission of god’. We all laughed about being like when John Belushi sees the light in the cult film THE BLUES BROTHERS. Stav talked about calling on the gods. I said I had been praying to higher forces, calling on the goddess, Green Tara, Vajra Yogini to protect us and help us. Also I am hoping to make contact with the group, the ‘hive mind’ of the dolphins we meet on route.
We are a load of crazy f*cks!.
We call it the INNER GAME OF THE FLOTILLA. Stav and I connect on that inner level, we stumbled upon each other on the ‘Spirit and Politics’ bulletin board.
We discussed the amazing miracle of this project coming together and I said to Stav that it was like the concept in Chaos theory called the STRANGE ATTRACTOR. Stav sees himself as a channel for these energies, it wasn’t something he could have put together by himself.
Later we did the shopping $1000 bucks five trolleys being filmed by Brisbane media students Lily and Rebecca, it was a gas. We had a meal and showers at a very neighbour of Lances, Margaret. ON the news it said that 30 refugees from Nauru had been released and we hadn’t even left Sydney yet.
15 May 2004
We left Sydney Fish Market and we are now at the Police Wharf – the wrong place. WE put the banners and flags up, REFUGEES ARE US… a UN flag, an aboriginal flag, a red flag and a rainbow flag, a potted biography of lances political activist history. We also have a Tibetan prayer flag, with the Kalachakra symbol on it, blessed by Ngakpa Karma Lhundrup Rinpoche.
We had an amazing send off, speakers, musicians, including Joanna Leigh’s Flotilla of Hope Theme tune http://www.joannaleigh.live.com.au.
When the Lord Mayor of Sydney poured champagne over the bow of the Eureka we were all in tears, the priests’ blessings were also very powerful; I have never experienced that before. We felt that the Eureka was the focus of an incredible outpouring of love. Emotions were running high.
Weather wind S/SE 15/20 knots swell 1.5 to 2 meters.
Thoreau
F L O T I L L A S of H O P E 2 0 0 4
Sydney * Newcastle * Coffs Harbour * Pelican Slipway, Redland Bay * Brisbane
joke---
How do know when a plane load of poms has landed
when the engine stops you can still hear whining...
MAY 14 2004
Vocatus atque non
Vocatus dues aderit
Arrived in Sydney, missed my lift, so made my way to Milsons’ Point railway and Lance took me down to Eureka moored in Lavender Bay, he is quite a guy, a 78er and a living legend a founding member of the Sydney Mardi Gras…
By the afternoon Stavros and Ruth arrived, on my first meeting with them I was impressed by their openness and warmhearted hospitality.
We cruised around to Sydney Fish Market and had a glass of red wine. Stav had driven the hire car back and Ruth got a call onboard to say that the Parliament on Nauru had voted to not accept the armed police that the Howard Government wanted to send to Nauru. He also told her some interesting news about some secret protection we had… However the Government of Nauru have enacted a law to stop any vessel entering their territorial waters and impounding the vessel, fining or imprisoning thee crew. Apparently this is of dubious legality and is against SOLAS.
Nauru secretary of Justice Denzil Serieviate said our entry into Nauru would be considered prohibited immigration and we could be fined upto $3000 and imprisoned for one year.
Lance said that the rule on the ocean was that you don’t need visas before you leave Australia. He said yachts are entitled to enter ports – you don’t turn people away at sea especially in small boats in the middle of the ocean.
The detention camp on Nauru was set up by the Australian government in September 2001 as part of the sop-called - Pacific Solution – Nauru got $31 million over 2 years to house refugees from the Mt Tampa. The camp holds 277 people, inc 83 children mostly from Afghanistan and Iraq.
Over coffee and a hearty breakfast in the Sydney Fish Market Stavros told me about the origins of the flotilla project.
He was rediscovering his Greek roots in Greece, naturally, and he found himself in the sacred mountain – Mount Athos – and his amazing meeting with Gerontos ‘wise old one’ and what the heart of Gerontos was moved to do, but this is part of Stav’s story so I cannot relate more at present, but it was pretty amazing.
Stav said it was about “reactivating his activists’ heart” he was at home in his room learning astrology, “generating energy for the next stage” On the 18 may 2003 he sent out the seminal email which led to the Flotilla of Hope.
Stav works with the Gurdijieffian concept of the Ennegram, the octaves and the laws of 3 and 7. All stuff I was into as a young man. By his reckoning we hit stage five – which relates to ‘cooking the food’ around May 30 – June 4.
This is when destiny, the final stage of the project, the trip is set. His teacher told him that the Ennegram was a doorway for Gentiles to enter the Kabblah.
Lance is a materialistic Marxist – on the surface – but even he was talking about this being a ‘mission of god’. We all laughed about being like when John Belushi sees the light in the cult film THE BLUES BROTHERS. Stav talked about calling on the gods. I said I had been praying to higher forces, calling on the goddess, Green Tara, Vajra Yogini to protect us and help us. Also I am hoping to make contact with the group, the ‘hive mind’ of the dolphins we meet on route.
We are a load of crazy f*cks!.
We call it the INNER GAME OF THE FLOTILLA. Stav and I connect on that inner level, we stumbled upon each other on the ‘Spirit and Politics’ bulletin board.
We discussed the amazing miracle of this project coming together and I said to Stav that it was like the concept in Chaos theory called the STRANGE ATTRACTOR. Stav sees himself as a channel for these energies, it wasn’t something he could have put together by himself.
Later we did the shopping $1000 bucks five trolleys being filmed by Brisbane media students Lily and Rebecca, it was a gas. We had a meal and showers at a very neighbour of Lances, Margaret. ON the news it said that 30 refugees from Nauru had been released and we hadn’t even left Sydney yet.
15 May 2004
We left Sydney Fish Market and we are now at the Police Wharf – the wrong place. WE put the banners and flags up, REFUGEES ARE US… a UN flag, an aboriginal flag, a red flag and a rainbow flag, a potted biography of lances political activist history. We also have a Tibetan prayer flag, with the Kalachakra symbol on it, blessed by Ngakpa Karma Lhundrup Rinpoche.
We had an amazing send off, speakers, musicians, including Joanna Leigh’s Flotilla of Hope Theme tune http://www.joannaleigh.live.com.au.
When the Lord Mayor of Sydney poured champagne over the bow of the Eureka we were all in tears, the priests’ blessings were also very powerful; I have never experienced that before. We felt that the Eureka was the focus of an incredible outpouring of love. Emotions were running high.
Weather wind S/SE 15/20 knots swell 1.5 to 2 meters.
Monday, April 26, 2004
8am Sunday Morning.
A beautiful morning, a beautiful day, drove over the downs towards the bluebell wood.
On this very quiet road on this Sunday morning I saw bunch of cars in this field and some hippy vans, and then three crazy people standing in the road - flagging me down in the road.
I thought, oh, could be trouble, I'll slow down they'll drag me out and whatever…
But no they need a lift into town, been had an outdoor all night party. So I said yes, dropped my plans. I drove a few hundred feet so I could turn around. They looked kind of worried and it transpired that they'd been told that Brighton was the other way by a very naughty woman… they obviously had no sense of direction or didn't think about the position of the sun or anything. Had they walked that way they would have reached Ditchling beacon and been even farther from home…
One English and two Colombians, the girls worked in a restaurant INDIAN SUMMER a cool Indian restaurant that serves Southern Indian food sounds good.
Indian Summer
www.indiansummer.org.uk
Victoria Terrace,
Kingsway, Hove,
Tel: 01273 773090
http://www.thisisbrightonandhove.co.uk/brighton__hove/leisure/eating_out/indian/indiansummer.html
www.indiansummer.org.uk
A beautiful morning, a beautiful day, drove over the downs towards the bluebell wood.
On this very quiet road on this Sunday morning I saw bunch of cars in this field and some hippy vans, and then three crazy people standing in the road - flagging me down in the road.
I thought, oh, could be trouble, I'll slow down they'll drag me out and whatever…
But no they need a lift into town, been had an outdoor all night party. So I said yes, dropped my plans. I drove a few hundred feet so I could turn around. They looked kind of worried and it transpired that they'd been told that Brighton was the other way by a very naughty woman… they obviously had no sense of direction or didn't think about the position of the sun or anything. Had they walked that way they would have reached Ditchling beacon and been even farther from home…
One English and two Colombians, the girls worked in a restaurant INDIAN SUMMER a cool Indian restaurant that serves Southern Indian food sounds good.
Indian Summer
www.indiansummer.org.uk
Victoria Terrace,
Kingsway, Hove,
Tel: 01273 773090
http://www.thisisbrightonandhove.co.uk/brighton__hove/leisure/eating_out/indian/indiansummer.html
www.indiansummer.org.uk
