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Protesting the Pope

The Catholic Church's World Youth Day celebrations in Sydney received saturation media coverage in Australia but even though heavily outnumbered, various groups protested the event including Sydney Atheists. In the thick of the activist action JOHN AUGUST shares his experiences of the week that was.

Posters appeared around Sydney, and the NoToPope (NTP) coalition pursued press releases and legal challenges. The Atheist Foundation had their "Pied Piper of Vatican" cartoon in Sydney and various other Australian newspapers. We even had a meeting between the Sydney Atheists and some World Youth Day organisers in a local pub. Quite an experience. I can hardly do it justice, but I do remember an organiser seeing that our gripes were detailed and thought through - not the result of a few bad experiences in youth, or some half remembered anecdotes.

A first legal development was that the "Annoyance" laws were thrown out because they were too vague. There was some hand wringing over the main NoToPope protest. Originally the police's demands included obeying all police directions, not having offensive placards, and not handing out material - but the police relented.

We had international interest - from AFP Global News Agenda, Al Jazeera, and the BBC world service. The Italian group "No Vat" joined our coalition. At the March 19th protest, I was interviewed by Polish TV and SBS radio about the World Truth Day Popemobile.

The Popemobile! While visiting the WCYD site at North Sydney earlier that week, The Man told the police to swoop. Ian was retained in his vehicle till the highway police arrived - who went over his vehicle "with a fine toothed comb" looking for defects. Apart from the shroud itself they couldn't find any. It was designed for speeds of 50-60k, but the police said it had to withstand 100k. Eventually, after checking on the radio, they came up with the offence "Having a rooftop ornament likely to distract drivers". What about all that vehicle borne advertising?

Police didn't use the "annoyance" laws (or regulations, or whatever) - which were in force at the time - rather using existing laws as square pegs in round holes. Perhaps they thought the controversy would just feed our cause.

With the PopeMobile off the road, we thought we'd display it in Martin Place - a Sydney CBD mall which leads to the NSW Parliament House. After 45 minutes though, 4 or 5 police moved in. The police had been to finishing school - you almost hear them thinking "don't antagonise a situation any more than necessary" - they gave us a "move on" order - no fine or ticket - so long as we didn't come back!

In contrast (assuming they weren't all playng mind games together), the City Rangers were a bit "aggro", claiming we'd deliberately put up an unlicensed structure which could obstruct the public - they could trip over it and sue council. They said they'd post me a ticket with a fine.

My brain was going into meltdown and I barely heard them. However, absorbing this attack meant my associate Tynan could continue to function effectively, cheerily engaging with the public till our trailer arrived. And certainly, the police accepted the vehicle was twenty minutes or so away and did not insist on us moving the pope to a side street in the meantime.

When Tynan wasn't talking to pilgrims, saying "Hi! I'm an atheist, welcome to Sydney, would you like a chuppa chup?", he was telling the public "The police don't want us here, and we're cooperating with their move on order". In fact, Tynan and the police together generated more interest - till the police realised it and moved back.

While leaving, the Rangers took numerous photos, and ticketed our vehicle with a "Special Event Clearway" parking infringement - without warning - while the motor was on and the hazard lights going. The Man was getting aggro. Anyway, we figured out we could park the trailer, uncover the pope, and attract passerby. Pilgrims even took photos and talked to us. It would have added to their experience.

Sydney was the site of the most activity - but, hey - the pope was here! Melbourne saw a protest organised by their own energetic atheist Jason Ball, convenor of the University of Melbourne Secular Society - apparently the police were very supportive and cooperative. An event in Perth was organised by Mother Gretta of the Black Swan Perth City House of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. A "Kiss a Queer for Christ's Sake" event in Adelaide event was organised by activist Troy-Anthony Baylis - and there were probably events in other cities too.

Saturday 19th July was the day of the pilgrimage walk over the Harbour Bridge to Randwick Racecourse.  Sydney Atheists greeted them in the early morning from Observatory Hill (nearby and within sight of the Harbour Bridge), with the pilgrims shouting "God loves you" with the response "Where's the evidence?". Atheists also sung Always look on the bright side of life.

Later that day, the NoToPope coalition gathered at Taylor Square, and heard from many speakers - including "Broken Rites", representing those affected by Catholic Church paedophilia, and also Pope Alice - still another one! Some Sydney Atheists were saddened by the Raelian's disproportionate presence. Is the issue believing in nonsense, or having coercive and intolerant approaches which derive from that nonsense? Sure, OK, include all groups against the Catholic Church - but big loud signs from the Raelians right next to the stage? Sigh.

But focusing on the positive... The procession left for Moore Park at 1.30, led by the World Truth Day PopeMobile, the pope now in the back of a ute. On the way back, Cardinal Titi Chartay Immaculata Deceptionata of The Order of Perpetual Indulgence in Sydney was a passenger. Sorta appropriate, really.

We walked in a sea of signs - some from the Metropolitan Community Church read "Would Jesus Discriminate?".  Others proclaimed the Catholic Church was suppressing women's reproductive freedoms. And there were T-shirts saying "I was touched by the pope down under".

At Moore Park, we lined the perimeter as the Pilgrims went by on Anzac Parade. There were more police at Moore park. They were standing in lines or behind bicycles, with a buffer zone between us and the pilgrims maintained by police and mounted police in the background.

Nevertheless, we didn't cause any incidents.  One pilgrim got a punch in on one of the protesters - he was restrained by police and taken away - though it seems the charges were dropped. (To be fair on overseas pilgrims, it seems he was from Newcastle, north of Sydney).  We were waving at the passing crowd, with some waving back. Sometimes the chant "The pope is wrong - put a condom on!" rose up.  Some pilgrims were throwing what was presumably holy water at us.

Earlier in the week, though, a group of Pilgrims threw "holy water" - unprovoked - on a train passenger in Queensland, and a woman handing out condoms in Sydney was surrounded by American pilgrims pointing at her and chanting "go - a - way".  Jason Ball in Melbourne received harassing email, and the forum attached to the NTP website was shut down from too many disruptive posts.

So there was some hostility. Trev (a fellow Sydney Atheist) said a few pilgrims gave him the finger and said "fuck atheists" at the march. Nevertheless, it was an amazing sight to see all the pilgrims go past.  We certainly made our point. And, overall, considering the whole week or so, it was certainly impressive to have so many people together who were for the most part well behaved.

On the following day, Sydney Atheists met at Centennial Park for a "Heretics BBQ" - a celebration and wind down. It was now time to turn off the radar. To listen to the fans whir down, and watch the warm red glow from the vacuum tubes fade away.

Till we need to turn it on again...

Photos: Jason Brown

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So the very unknown Belgian PM Herman van Rompuy, has been elected as EU President- taking up a position that could be instrumental in the future of the region and global international relations in general.

Only a day later, on the opposite and non-EU side of Europe, Russian and Ukrainian officials met, with Putin announcing that he would be easing gas supply terms to a neighbour that is crucial for Russia's European pipelines. 

Is it too cynical to think this isn't it a coincidence? 

Is it unreasonable to think that as Putin spins a tighter trade web with Former Soviet Republics that this could be his attempt to stand tall and unthreatened by a stronger EU?

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7 jul

The HomepageDAILY community likes to co-create both content and process. What are you thinking right now about what we do and how we do it? Tell us about the news, videos and stories and anything else you see on HPD. What you like, what you don't like, what you'd like to see in future. Recommend a website, video or article; send us pix, new stories - share it with us and by so doing you are giving us permission to share it with the world.

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 Re: Commoditisation of aboriginal art

dear jack do you know anything about the history of Aboriginal 'art'??? Your speculation seems based on complete ignorance of the fact that Aboriginal art was invented for white buyers - the Aborigines themselves having survived 40,000 years without needing to give their lore and laws, myths and legends and rules for survival in a hostile climate any permanent form. It was only our attempts to assimilate them into our 'society' that drove the link to canvas - though the money we paid for their art was a nice bonus, and shouldn't be ignored as a continuing motive for painting. cheers - jeremy

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 Re: Farmers and ETS

Thank you for your commentary about farmers in a world of changing climate. Here in the Pacific NW we are not as aware of it as some other places. Our Transition Town group hosted author William Catton last night, who wrote a prophetic book called "Overshoot" back in 1980. During the discussion, a local fish biologist pointed out that of all industries, farmers are the only ones constantly limited by nature. The rest of the world ( with a few exceptions like fishermen or foresters) really do not seem to make their living in a world of limited by forces beyond their control--- or so they imagine. There is a fundamental sanity in these other ways of life that our culture is unwilling to hear. It runs away from the voice of limitation. I think farmers have a lot to teach the world. We always thought there was something wholesome about farming and I think this is exactly it; a lack of hubris. How many slaps in the face will it take before people come to their senses? - Anna Willis

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 Re: Turning Chinese

Obama is just a puppet of the Corporate elites.He has not recinded the Patriot Act,Bushes' presidential orders nor habius corpus.Presently ,we have corporate facism. - Ross

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 Re: Why Won't God Heal Amputees?

it seems that your whole point and discussion is aimed at christianity. what you state is pretty thought provoking and maybe true but one thing that i have to say is that maybe the whole religion thing has just been corrupted by people and that maybe god does exist.... nomatter all the scientific bull that you and other people can come up with, there are still things that you and scientist just cant explain. ie youe exsistance and the fact that you as a human have suchbrain capacity to do what you do today, and why there is such an order in nature "ofcoures humans always fuck up the order" everything on earth is one complex puzzle that works and you and everyone found it working. not only earth but even beyond to space and shit. now you can say that all this came from a bang and what ever but even if you believe that, what created the platform for that bang and why this place and stuff. just too many things dont add up to just say there is no god. and i think most of these motherfuckers miss the point of this religious shit anyway. because god is not a religion but a spiritual bond. dont be fooled by sensationalism and think that god does not exist cos he does. at least for me. the only problem with this now is that humans have sensationalised everything to make thier shit the best and in part have missed the whole point of god. every human bieng needs something to hold on to. even you and weather it is the image of god that people have painted or not is irrelevent. there is something that you believe in.. you might not go to church and get on your knees but its just part of human nature to associate yourself with something. it could be a superstition or eating chocolate coated roaches whatever you like fact is some things are just bigger than our rational. hope to get a responce from you - esco

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Re: Safran sure to offend, but who cares?

It is an interesting question to pursue "And, is there a ratio that exists where the amount of people offended compared to those that weren't makes something objectively racist?" I suppose the most right answer to whether something is racist or not can only come about democratically. By asking people if they find it racist. Even then (in this currently impossible world where people who want to vote on everything) who gets to vote? Hopefully I do. How do I cast my vote? At the moment I abstain. - Joshua Genner

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Re: The Pointless Question of "What is Art?"

You're article serves as a blatant example of people's lack of knowledge/interest in the contemporary art scene. Some of the most profound and revealing conversations stem from dicussions of art, politics and religion so why label them taboo subject matter? why not let the idiots add in their artistic two cents, because who knows what could happen? a change of opinion... an education... a flash of interest? Perhaps you and your friends to venture down to the COFA 09 annual exhibit and see some 200 fresh sydney artists emerge onto the art scene, unless it's too boring/inane. - Kara

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Re: The Pointless Question of "What is Art?"

I dare say the question is not pointless but rather is made pointless by overcomplications of academia and peripherals of market and status, in which Sean appears to have gotten bogged down notwithstanding the word limit. One of the things we do know about art for a fact is that we humans appear to have always had it around from the caves (who can forget the fetching bison from Alta Mira!) So the issue is cutting through the baggage of history as old as humanity to get back to the fundamentals. It took me about 35 years of research but does not take 100 words. It is this: "Art is something that is designed to communicate thoughts and feelings and to influence our thoughts and feeling through one or more of our senses."(25 words) Since we have space, a rider: "The particular art form is qualified by the particular senses involved in production and reception of that communication. If Sound then Music, If body then Dance. If we use eyes to perceive colour and shape we call it Visual art." How you work the item in question is the matter of objectivity after all some of us eat fruit raw and others make jam. If you choose to make art an investment go for it, if you choose to make it a status symbol you won't be the first. However, in my book, art is really the best at being art and in the immortal words of one Oscar Wilde, for any other purpose "All art is quite useless" - Valerie (Co-incidental author of "Why Art? The Pocket Art Expert)
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Re: John Safran ready for when skit hits the fan

The only aspect of "multiculturalism" we (or any western society)have accepted, revolves around food: sweet and sour chicken or donner kebab..nothing else is relevent, interesting or in anyway beneficial to us. The Cronulla riots were seen as well overdue by most people abroad, we should be proud of standing up to and rejecting ethnic gangs from our pure shores - "Peter Piper"

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Re: Brassed off about creationism- by Andy Coghlan

This is why we need change in Texas and why I'm running for State Board of Education. - Rebecca Bell-Metereau (www.voterebecca.com)

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Re: The Rape Tunnel

It astonishes and intrigues me this 'shock art' Being a over zealous muscled ex con looking for love, where could one find Richard Whitehursts hole?

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Re: ETS Voted Down: Rudd Proves Himself An Evil Genius

Nice to see such an insightful article, despite the snide comments.. Did you read the Quarterly Essay by Guy Pearse in writing the first 5 paragraphs- not that that's a bad thing really. Nice of you to widen your vision beyond the road ahead and take in some history- but I would add one thing- that as it stands (in the senate, especially with Steve Fielding) we won't have a real, meaningful ETS passed. The bummer is that even with a double dissolution election and the resultant simultaneous sitting of both houses of parliament (which as you point out, the greens/minor parties and labor would benefit from) would still not change the ETS from it's current configuration- not unless the Greens tripled their vote. Silly that it all came down to labor preferences to a little known party led by a little know bloke named Steve Fielding and Family First- not that that should be the reason we're in this predicament... - Shaun Lambert

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Re: Evil Capitalists

In response to the "100 Words" on Psychotic Capitalism: The statement, "only psychotics fail to distinguish right from wrong," has a semantic problem. What makes a person psychotic is the inability to recognize that, theoretically, actions or behavior can be right and wrong. A psychologically normal person can do this by age 5. But well- intentioned people constantly disagree about which actions are right and wrong in particular situations. This evening my husband and I re- watched "Zeitgeist--- Addendum" on youtube. We had to restrain ourselves from a festival of paranoia, anger and frustration at what appears to be an evil plot to enslave us all, to bleed us like pods in The Matrix. I cannot argue against the idea that Capitalism--- looked at as a planetary movement--- seems heartlessly destructive, yet there is no single person or even group of Illuminati to blame --- we are willing participants in this plot to rule the world, exploit the human race, rape Mother Earth. All of us are not psychotic, rather we are doing what seems right, and we are following norms set by our culture and community. I personally do my best to support those lawmakers who help us define right at wrong at the transpersonal level--- where this kind of crime being committed, with vast and ultimately very personal consequences. Indeed people can be stupider and meaner in groups than singly --- but whatever the right word is for that, it is not psychotic. Our real problem is that we seem incapable of seeing consequences beyond the local and immediate, we are selfish and shortsighted. But the writer is right: stupid, mean, selfish, shortsighted --- these terms trivialize the unfathomable crimes of Capitalists and their sheep-like dupes. - Anna Willis

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Re: Ethics Implicit?

There is one place where ethics is not "implicit everywhere" and that is television and the media generally - the only ethic is win the audience. This is the toxic environment "informing" students. - Terry McGee

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Re: Australia's Swine Flu vaccination plan

The word "pandemic" has absolutely nothing to do with a deadly disease taking over the planet. The definition of "Pandemic" is simply about the SPREAD of a disease. Any disease. It could be a relatively harmless disease like the Swine Flu, to maybe a more harmful type (like normal seasonal influenza). Nothing to do with how bad or how good it is to your health ... just how WIDESPREAD it is. That is the interpretation of "Pandemic". A word that is nothing to be scared about, but just a measure of the SPREAD of any disease (harmful or relatively harmless) around the globe. The original "Spanish Flu" in 1819 killed 50 to 100 million people worldwide. Swine Flu deaths to date? 2,800 or so. Compare this to up to 500,000 deaths worldwide from our ongoing "Seasonal Flu". People need to see things in perspective. Swine Flu is a mild flu. No need for risky & possibly dangerous vaccinations. No need to be scared. In fact NO NEED TO DO ANYTHING. Just stay cool and take whatever vitamins & health supplements that are appropriate. Good luck & stay informed. - Tim
 
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Re: Kabul-shit

A nice puncture of the ADF's mad illusions. Shooting civvies in another land used to be called murder, now we pretend its nation building. It must have struck a chord. General Jim Molan, the butcher of Fallujah, who used white phosphorous & put snipers on hospital rooftops, raves in today's SMH about staying true to the mission. What is it with these guys? Untold deaths in Iraq, bombs still exploding, millions of refugees ... and this guy thinks he's a genius. - Tina G

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Re: Why we shouldn't care about he loneliness of the University Liberal

While you have managed to approach, with a complete lack of understanding and sensitivity, the complaints of the many people who feel alienated by the overtly leftist university agenda, I also think that you have failed to address the concerns of an increasingly disenfranchised leftist populace. The article was concerning the Left Handed bigots, not the personal politics of either of the 4 people mentioned. Their concern was not with, as you pointlessly attacked, their political beliefs, but rather with their freedom to express their beliefs and how they were treated on campus because of them. I write this as a disenfranchised leftist. Apparently, freedom of speech on campus somehow took a backseat to the far left's bigotry, however well intentioned they thought it was originally. I'm not right; I'm not left. But fuck anybody that tries to censure me and revoke my right to freedom of speech, merely for believing in a political party. Anyone that thinks that's OK, well simply look up the definition of fascist. - I Swing My Vote

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