Tim Metcalf: selected articles and letters

 I am very concerned about the language of PM Howard's terrorism policies....as writer Ian McFarlane of Bermagui says 'You cannot declare war on an abstract noun'.

This letter was in the Sunday Age in mid 2005:

Dear Editor

Some say that language behaves like a virus. If this is true, then some phrases are remarkably virulent strains.

The 'war on terror'; the 'battle for hearts and minds', and 'evil ideology' are recent examples. However, an even more diabolical one has now arisen: 'it's a matter of if, not when'.

This virus can cause self-fulfilling prophecy, and is capable of making us very sick indeed.

 

A paper by me for the 6th National Rural Health Conference:

http://www.ruralhealth.org.au/nrhapublic/publicdocs/conferences/6thnrhc/metcalfpaper.htm

I promoted the shire council's social plan in the local paper: 

SOCIAL PLAN NEEDS THE COMMUNITY

                               An ambitious Social Plan has been drafted by the Bega Valley Shire Council.

             "It is an attempt to reach out into the community, based on the principles of social justice" said Mr. Max Faber, Acting Manager for Community Services and one of the authors of the draft.

             Its ultimate aim is to improve the quality of life in our communities by paying special attention to those who are disadvantaged.

             Despite tourism benefitting from nearly one million visitors to our beautiful shire in 1999, the socio-economic profile compiled by council shows that there are significant problems that need to be addressed.

             As local primary industries like fishing, logging and dairying have declined in economic importance, unemployment has risen.

             There has been little job creation, and the Bega shire is relatively poor, with 82% of the population at the 1996 census earning below the average wage.

             It is estimated that over one thousand of the shire's thirty thousand people have disabilites in need of special planning, and up to one in every six people has some kind of disability.

             The plan identifies nine target groups for special consideration.

             Many community and government groups were consulted during its preparation, but accurate statistics for the local area were generally not available.

             Information is especially limited for the target groups of Youth, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, Men's Health, and HIV positive people.

             The report comments that the Non-English Speaking Background group appears to be very well integrated into the community.

                        The four remaining groups of Women, Children's Services, the Disabled, and Older Persons, were better represented both in terms of community input and existing services, but many of their needs are not being met.

             "We are at the point now of extended community consultation" said Mr Faber. "It is not a final plan, and we are looking for feedback."

             He emphasised that what council really needs at this stage is "a way to find a true measure of actual needs, rather than to act on perceived needs."

             Recommendations made in the report include providing adequate premises for the Women's Resource centre and the Far South Coast Family Support Service; improving community transport; employing a Social Planner, a Community development Officer and a Supplementary Services Worker; and enhancing local respite care services and seeking funding for supported accomodation.

             Other initiatives are formulating a declaration for reconciliation in order to forge closer ties with the Aboriginal community; advocating SBS transmission; and continuing public education regarding the prevention of HIV (the AIDS virus).

             Fulfilling the needs of all the disadvantaged groups in the shire will prove difficult, however, especially with a lack of clearly identified funding.

             Mr. Faber is optimistic, however.

             "We are actively creating practical partnerships between council and other bodies. Things are already happening" he said.

             "Better co-ordination between existing departments will save money and resources, and deliver many of the services the community needs."

             Public comments, to be based on sound and available evidence, are invited in writing up until the tenth of March. Other target groups may be proposed.

             Council is now seeking interested people to form a focus group, whose task will be to compile the community input into a final draft due for submission in June. Applications should be in writing.

             The completed plan is intended to serve the shire until 2005, and to be a flexible and useful tool that can be continuously developed over time.

             "It is a small and humble start" said Mr. Faber, "but we are busy, committed, and  ready".

 END

Some say that language behaves like a virus. If this is true, then some phrases are remarkably virulent strains.

The 'war on terror'; the 'battle for hearts and minds', and 'evil ideology' are recent examples. However, an even more diabolical one has now arisen: 'it's a matter of if, not when'.

This virus can cause self-fulfilling prophecy, and is capable of making us very sick indeed.