Humanity Platform

A Deakin video clip shocked and horrified me with the following statistics. If we continue to use the same amount of energy we would need fourteen extra planets to cope with the strain on the planet. Leonardo Di Caprio pointed out in his Oscar speech, for The Revenant, that it is our responsibility to take care of the environment on behalf of all humanity but in particular  on behalf of disadvantaged and native peoples. I have shared thoughts on environmental issues for the past ten years and one thing I keep coming back to is the fact that we all should follow the examples of indigenous cultures in our countries because they know how to live in harmony with nature and that is something we all need to do. Pope Francis said in his 2015 encyclical that climate change is the greatest moral issue facing humans. It is time for us all to do our bit. I am not your stereotypical hippy, I am just an artist and businessman and to me creating environmental sustainability is just good busi...

Over the past weeks the topic of feminism has been going around in my house. My two lovely ladies even suggested that I am a feminist, a suggestion which made me extremely skeptical but I have since listened to Emma Watson's UN HeForShe speech and by her definition I am a man who is indeed a feminist. Emma Watson suggested in her speech that a feminist is someone who believes in equality between the sexes. I have spent my adult life promoting equality, equality between the able bodied and those with disabilities, the equality between men and women, the equality between races, rich and poor and even equality between humanity and our environment. I have known ever since my work with the Global Poverty Project that equality is the fast forward button that makes our world better. I know sometimes it is easy to get caught up in stereotypes in fact Emma talks about this in her speech. I myself am guilty of falling into the stereotype trap. Even though I now have a new definition of f...

Over the past couple of years I have started to notice that the drive for money creates a greed which morphs into a strange kind of insanity. Up until last year I used to proudly proclaim that I would one day own a mansion but I now urge us all to demolish the quest for mansions. I recently watched the movie "The Big Short" a movie that finally confirms to me the absolute greed and insanity that was behind the 2008 financial crisis. The scary thing is that it is already starting to happen again. The movie plus my observation of climate change issues has caused a monumental shift in my thinking. Financial gain is no longer my primary gauge of success. From now on all I need is enough money to take care of my family and one day give my wife her dream house with her verandah. I now only see myself as an artist. An artist of words with my public speaking, poetry, and screenwriting, a performing artist with my busking and acting and finally an artist of pictures with my filmm...

While driving in a taxi in Melbourne I was sparked into action by all the negative comments and ignorance I heard on the radio. I instantly rang the John Faine 774 program to remind people that yes the attacks in Paris are terrible however responding to hatred with hatred only gives the terrorists the victory they want. I also reminded listeners that due to my disability I have been lucky enough to experience the kindness of Christian, Muslim, and atheist alike. People that know me will tell you that I am a combat orientated person that has studied all the great military thinkers and I personally have come up with plans, techniques, and strategies should anyone try to hurt those I love. I completely believe that any terrorist no matter what their beliefs should be fought and stopped but you cannot attack an entire faith organisation based on the ignorant actions of a minority. If we make sure that we treat each other with love and respect no matter our backgrounds then evil will ne...

With daily reminders that the Geelong economy is in a slow down And big businesses like Ford, Alcoa, and Shell leaving You'd be forgiven for thinking there is nothing but doom and gloom. Add to this the daily headlines about the growing ice epidemic It's easy to see how people might think there is nothing to keep smiling and stay positive about. But I'm here to tell you that you are wrong. People often look at me in my wheelchair with scars all over my body And say "how can you keep smiling and stay positive?" The answer is I choose to.. Every day I wake up and my body reminds me that, yes, I still have Cerebral Palsy But then I remind my body that I have everything I want. A beautiful wife, artistic oppurtunities, and the ability to speak up about the things I believe in. It is very easy to focus on the negatives.  I have learned in my life, however, if you approach the day with a positive mindset And something goes wrong it's never as bad as wo...

Two days ago, Friday the second of October, I was honoured to be part of the Anxious Bird Book Launch and Sculpture Exhibition to highlight the power of recovery through art.  I chose to read the following poem at this mental health awareness night.  Bound by my Brain My experience with Depression 4/5/2015 My brain has turned black and started to escape my skull I think that's why I don't feel well All its matter uncurling, wrapping around my body and twice around the bed Making it so I don't want to lift my head The brain pumps a downer into my bloodstream  Turning me against every goal or dream The brain binds me with invisible shackles Until I'm like a dog trying to break free from its chain Once I'm secure and will not resist The brain gives the knife its next little twist With expert timing it sucks out all positive energy Leaving nothing but a void A place where my inner demons like to visit It's time to meet Anxious an...

Growing up with a severe physical disability I have always known how lucky I am to have the power of speech. It is the gift of speech that has enabled me to live a life of independence and freedom. As a professional writer, blogger and social activist the stories I have been reading lately about freedom of speech being taken away from people horrifies me. The article I read a couple of weeks ago in The Age about the Sri Lankan bloggers being executed because they posted opinions against the government in particular, caused me concern and made me realise how lucky I am to live in a country where freedom of speech is respected. I have written many pieces sharing my political views criticising both sides of politics, I was able to do this without fear of retribution. Just this week yet another example of freedom of speech being taken away can be seen in the news when we look at the case of the journalists sentenced in Egypt for simply doing their job. I am neith...