March 05, 2004
[A front page story from my local paper. The last paragraph is illuminating. Perth is rated by The Economist as one of the world's "most liveable" cities. Marx summed up such paradoxes well in his General Law of Capitalist Accumulation:
‘ … it is capitalistic accumulation itself that constantly produces, and produces in the direct ratio of its own energy and extent, a relatively redundant population of labourers, i.e., a population of greater extent than suffices for the average needs of the self-expansion of capital, and therefore a surplus-population.’ (_Capital, Vol. 1_, Part VII ‘The Accumulation of Capital’, Chapter 25: ‘The General Law Of Capitalist Accumulation’, Section 3 ‘Progressive Production Of A Relative Surplus-Population Or Industrial Reserve Army.’ )]
World aid to help Perth's poorest
By Charlie Wilson-Clark
AN INTERNATIONAL aid organisation known for its work in poverty-stricken Third World countries will spend $80,000 in suburban Perth to battle poverty and antisocial behaviour.
In an Australian first, World Vision will work with the Armadale Aboriginal community before expanding across the metropolitan area to provide alternative activities and diversions to beat teenage delinquency.
Until now, the Christian organisation has limited its Australian projects to two Northern Territory remote Aboriginal communities, Papunya and Epenarra, where projects improving health and education have been similar to its overseas aid work.
But the organisation has determined that Perth needs help to develop opportunities for Aboriginal teenagers. World Vision made the assessment after being approached by the Armadale Aboriginal community through the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission [ATSIC].
Youth Affairs Council executive officer Midge Turnbull said the arrival of World Vision reflected poorly on the entire community and showed young people had been left out of community services.
"I think emotionally and spiritually young people are feeling pretty ripped off and when you add to that the layer of race and culture for Aboriginal people - they've got a lot to deal with," she said.
* * * *
Indigenous Affairs Minister John Kobelke welcomed World Vision's involvement and said the project's goals complemented Government policies. The Government also relied on ATSIC for policy advice.
http://www.thewest.com.au/20040305/news/general/tw-news-general-home-sto120999.html
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