RALLY, Brisbane Sunday 16th October. - 'Defend Our Water' from Coal Mining and Coal Seam Gas - National Day of Action.
+ CD Launch DEEP WATER - Songwriters for the Environment.
Also relevant to this:
Carcinogenic chemicals in 5 water bores around the Qld town of Dalby
14 anti-fracking songs called "Whole Lotta Frackin' Going On"
Songwriter John Gordon will perform his controversial climate change protest song AUSTRALIA (Whore of the World) in Brisbane on Sunday, as part of the 'Defend Our Water' National Day of Action Rally (Lock the Gate Alliance). AUSTRALIA (Whore of the World) is featured on the new CD 'Deep Water' (Songwriters in support of the Environment) which will be launched on the day.
Gordon reckons Australia's climate change hypocrisy knows no bounds. The Queensland songwriter/producer who has penned such gems as Inexorably Yours (Wendy Matthews' multiplatinum album Lily) and who recently produced the internationally acclaimed Indigenous album TURLKU 4 (from the Ngaanyatjarra Lands in the remote Great Western Desert), says he can't actually believe what is transpiring in his country in 2011, and especially in his home state of Queensland.
"On the one hand, Australia is espousing a domestic carbon tax and having everyone believe it is an upstanding world citizen. On the other hand there's a coal and gas mining boom and exporting frenzy on here, on a scale that truly boggles the mind. That no-one could imagine until they actually witness it in real life. And this mindset is being encouraged and legitimized by all levels of society. The Government. The media. A kind of denial on an mass scale. Like we're all happily stuck in a time warp. Like the 50's - when mining was the be all. The mentality, in the face of climate change is hard to believe, let alone rationalise."
Gordon says the reasons for the state of denial are varied.
"There's a fair bit of ignorance in the mix, but basically our denial stems form the fact that coal is Australia's sacred cash cow. We've got too much skin in the game. To many vested interests. We're addicted to the royalties and the export dollars. We're scared because we don't want to contemplate a plan B that might involve some planning and brain function..... And, of course, we have oligarchs like Clive Palmer and Nathan Tinkler prancing around and mining with impunity. Then there's the Martin Fergusons of this world.....again, it's hard to rationalise it all."
"So no, we dare not mention it..... it's all hushed up......When you stop and think about it, we have history or 'form' as a society when it comes to being in denial. Just ask Aboriginal Australia....."
Gordon believes the tide is turning. "People are awakening to the fragile state of our democracy. Which is basically run by corporates and highly suspect politicians."
"It's up to us. We the People. The 99%."
Truth
Australia is the world’s biggest coal exporter, yet we take no responsibility for the coal that is shipped off our shores and ultimately burned overseas in places like China, India, Japan, Korea and Taiwan. Hundreds of millions of tonnes per year. With the spectre of climate change already upon us, this is surely perverse? Not to mention hypocritical.....? And yet we’re actually ramping up our coal and gas exports in a shameless frenzy. (What’s happening in Queensland in the Surat, Bowen and Galilee Basins is nothing short of a manic coal and gas rush). It’s time for Australia to stop being 2 faced and to stand up for what’s right. To act with dignity, not keep digging holes in the ground and pretending it’s all ok.. business as usual.....weak governments harvesting royalties and fat entrepreneurs getting fatter. And forget the anecdotes put out by the government and the miners; eg that if we don't sell the coal, someone else will; the plentiful jobs, and sovereign risk. All lazy excuses. Make that lies. Australian coal is the lifeblood of world coal. The vital artery. Our coal enables climate change. No ifs. No buts. It’s time to be a world leader with principles - foregoing short term commodity riches for the sake of the future and health of the Earth. Cos we only got one world.... We should lead by example. If we lead others will follow. AUSTRALIA (Whore of the world) by songwriter John Gordon is a climate change protest song that tells it how it is. Help spread the word.
Consensus Building
Sydney Morning Herald
http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/regional-radio-rejects-antimin...
The AGE 'Land of loose virtue'
http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/land-of-loose-virtue-20101018-...
The Courier Mail 'THE SOUND OF ANGER'
http://www.couriermail.com.au/entertainment/music/the-sound-of-anger/sto...
The Australian - Singer Wants You To Know Nation is a Whore
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/breaking-news/singer-wants-you-to-k...
Down to Earth Magazine, Delhi India 'Dont Buy Our Coal'
http://www.downtoearth.org.in/node/32933?quicktabs_1=0
ABC Radio 'Protest Song Outrage'
http://www.abc.net.au/local/audio/2011/04/11/3188274.htm
The Chronicle - 'Songwriter Digs Deep to Protest ABC Airplay Ban'
http://www.thechronicle.com.au/story/2011/03/26/songwriter-digs-deep-to-...
MusicNT http://musicnt.ning.com/video/australia-whore-of-the-world
(for more info please search on the title)
Youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAJFS5X9O18
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/johngordonsongs
Website www.johngordon.com.au
New Youtube Channel: www.youtube.com/johngordonsongs - Please be advised that the youtube link for Australia (Whore of the world) has changed. Please update your embedded link to ensure the clip opens on your website.
New Facebook Australia (Whore of the World) page. A new facebook page has now been opened specifically for the song.
Media
Media Enquiries - Use this email address
Contact: Sue @ Human Music Australia +61 (0)400 499546
Lyrics
AUSTRALIA (Whore of the World) Words and Music by John Gordon
Australia, like a great big whore
With an open door
For the miners to tramp on in
And dig a great big hole
Cart away your soul
Ship it out to sea
I can see those ships lined up for you girl……..
Australia, whore of the world
Like some sad street girl
Who cant say no to the money
You let ‘em blast a hole
Open cut your soul
Rail it off to sea
You're not sure which way it’s gone to honey….
You know I find it so perverse
Maybe a little too well rehearsed
How you wave goodbye and then you go wash your hands…
I want you to come with me
We’ll sail across the sea
And we’ll watch all that high grade black coal get burned…..
Australia, like a Chinese moll
They’re mockin’ you girl
Mockin’ you as they steal away your soul
Your politicians, aint got no spine
They train ‘em not to have any vision,
Just toein’ some ancient party line
You know I find it so perverse
I’m calling this our national curse
How you wave goodbye and then you go wash your hands…
I can feel the climate changin’
I can feel the Earth’s in Danger
So how you keep doin’ this I don’t understand?
Lead break Eeeeeeeiiieee
Australia, let us rejoice, for we are young and free
Our land abounds, in natures gifts, of beauty rich and rare…….
