MULTICULTURALISM NOT TO BLAME FOR TERRORISM

The West Australian newspaper columnist Paul Murray is not the only one who attacks Islam and writes about the failure of multiculturalism after the frenzied killing of the British soldier by two misguided fanatics, and while I agree with some points he makes I believe he is wrong.

Fremantle for me is a very good example of why multiculturalism is a success and that in my opinion applies to most cities in Australia. We live in relative peace and tolerance with those who are different, and most migrants who come to live here adept very well to their new country and lifestyle and adopt it as their new home.

The world is full of good people, no matter what their religious believes are, but every race, every nation and every religion has bad people, criminals, fanatics, and ignorant racists who will use violence and terrorism to get their points across. This is not exclusive to Muslims! Not that long ago Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland were bombing and shooting the hell out of each other, but those who criticise multiculturalism and blame Islam for all our worries, never would have advocated to stop the immigration of Irish people to Australia.

It is far too simplistic to blame one religion, or one group of foreigners, for what is going wrong on earth. We have had massive invasions of countries by western forces and no matter how well this was meant it has created huge resentment in many parts of the world, so it is time for the western world to rethink their policy of wanting to police the earth no matter if we receive an emergency call or not. The fact is that the USA and its allies have for far too long been gate crashing internal conflicts of foreign nations and over-stayed their welcome.

We cannot and should not stop multiculturalism and we should not fear foreigners and the unknown of religions we do not understand. What we should expect and demand though is that those who come here leave their conflicts behind and embrace the Australian way of life. It’s not perfect, but it is pretty good in my opinion. What happened in England is very sad, horrendous and inexcusable but it should not become the trigger for intolerance. We are better than that!

 

Roel Loopers

 

PIONEER PARK HOTEL PLANS PREMATURE

A report in today’s Fremantle Herald that Sirona Capital (the developers of Kings Square) are planning to build a hotel on the corner of Pakenham and Short streets is quite surprising and appears premature. I am aware that the integrated Victoria Quay development plan includes Pioneer Park and there is a suggestion by CODA architects that some development on that corner could happen, but that is still a long way away with Fremantle Ports not having published the final draft for Victoria Quay and the promised further community consultations are also still to eventuate.

Pioneer Park would have to be rezoned and since it has got heritage significance I wonder if that will happen, but should it be the case the property would have to be put out to tender to attract the highest price and the City of Fremantle could not just sell it so Sirona.

I keep reading that hotels are only viable when they are huge with many rooms, so what kind of  low-rise hotel development in the inner city would be attractive to an investment company?

Roel Loopers

 

FREO THE CITY OF BIKES, BEACHES AND BEAUTY

I reckon we live in a pretty good country. While reports from Europe still say how cold and wet it is, and they come up with such sarcastic things as saying one knows summer is approaching because the rain is getting warmer, we in Fremantle, the city of bikes, beaches and beauty, are still enjoying the outdoors and glorious sunshine. I took this photo a couple of hours ago at Bathers Beach.

With weather like this is there is no reason at all not to take part in the AMAZING PLACE RACE tomorrow (Saturday). It starts at J Shed on Bathers Beach north at 1pm. It’s a free family event that ends with nice prizes and a sausage sizzle on the beach. Be there!

Roel Loopers

STUNNING AUCTION ART SHOW AT FREO MARITIME MUSEUM

There is an amazing art show on at the Fremantle Maritime Museum. It will only be there until this Sunday 5 pm so make a move on if you want to see the works of some of Australia’s greatest artists. Works by Charles Blackman, Brett Whiteley, Rover Thomas, Ian Fairweather, Fred Wiilliams, Donald Friend, Rosalie Gascoigne, John Brack, Jeffrey Smart, Tom Roberts, Arthur Boyd, Emily Kngawarray, Mick Tjapaltjarri, Sam Fullbrook are all part of the auction show by auction house Bonhams.

The collection of TV guru Reg Grundy will be auctioned at the Sydney Overseas Passenger Terminal on June 26 at 7pm and is expected to fetch $ 21 million. Below a copy of the catalogue should you wish to acquire one or some of the works, or check out the Bonhams website.

Roel Loopers

rover thomas,

GLORIOUS SKY LIGHTS UP LEEUWIN

Fremantle North Ward Councillor Robert Fittock emailed me this absolutely stunning photo of the training sailing ship Leeuwin under an amazingly stunning sky. I believe the photo needs to be shown to as many people as possible, so here for a change not one of my own photos but one by Robert.

Roel Loopers

Training ship Leeuwin under amazing sky.
Photo by Robert Fittock

DYMOCKS DEPARTURE OPENS DOORS FOR NEW EDITION

While the departure of the Dymocks bookshop from the Fremantle High Street mall is disappointing, it opens up opportunities for others, and the New Edition bookshop, that is just a few hundred meters west from the mall, were on the ball, as these messages in the Dymocks window show.

Roel Loopers

FREO’S FREOPEDIA QR PROJECT FIRST IN AUSTRALIA

MEDIA RELEASE FROM THE CITY OF FREMANTLE:

Fremantle’s world famous heritage buildings are about to enter the digital age with the launch of the Freopedia QR Code Heritage Project.

Conceived by the Fremantle Society in partnership with WIKIMEDIA Australia; and sponsored by the Fremantle Business Improvement District and the City of Fremantle, Freopedia will cement Fremantle’s status as the first city in Australia to have a virtual Smartphone tour of its historic buildings and sites

The project, which involves QR coding of a number of these significant Fremantle sites, will be launched at 4.30 pm this Sunday (May 26) at the Moores Building Contemporary Art Gallery as part of the 2013 City of Fremantle Heritage Festival.

“Freopedia will provide visitors to Fremantle with virtual smart phone access to Wikipedia articles of significant buildings and subjects in Fremantle,” said Fremantle Mayor, Dr Brad Pettitt.  “It means that anyone with a Smartphone will be able to take a self-guided tour of Fremantle with information available at their fingertips.

“My thanks go out to the Fremantle Society, WIKIMEDIA Australia and the Fremantle BID for their support of this initiative,” he added.

Project coordinator, Roel Loopers said Freopedia was a work in progress, but would grow to become an invaluable resource for research into Fremantle’s heritage. “In time I think we’ll see the entire history of Fremantle available on Wiki and on Smartphone’s and available to everyone,” he said. “Fremantle has such a rich and interesting history and we want to make sure as many people as possible can enjoy finding out more about Fremantle.

“We will also be working on ensuring the information is available in the language the Smartphone is set on, which will be a great service to tourism in the port city, particularly with the many thousands of international cruise ship passengers that arrive and disembark each year.”

For more information contact Roel Loopers on 0419 850981 or email roel.loopers@iinet.net.au

WALK TOGETHER AND SHOW COMPASSION

The national WALK TOGETHER in support of refugees will be held this Saturday and will start here on the Fremantle Esplanade at 1pm.

I strongly believe Australia needs to show more humanity and compassion to those who try to come here to find a safe future for themselves and their children. It is time our politicians stopped playing political football with people in despair and show greatness instead. The unsubstantiated claims that boat people bring in terrorists is simple fear mongering that we should dismiss for the racist rubbish it is.

We live in a very wealthy nation and we can afford to be generous and allow a few thousand desperate people into our country, especially when we consider that some of Europe’s over-populated countries take tens of thousands of refugees more than Australia does.

The argument that we need to look after our own people first is misleading because looking after overseas people in need does not mean our own homeless and needy people will receive less help. We can and should help both groups who need our care and compassion.

There will be entertainment and stalls at the Esplanade after the WALK TOGETHER, so be part of an event where we show we care and are willing to share!

The event will be held in 15 cities so say WELCOME TO AUSTRALIA!

Roel Loopers

CORRECTION! THE WALK TOGETHER IS ON JUNE 22, NOT THIS SATURDAY. I received the wrong information.

FREO J SHED ART FOR MADDINGTON STATION

While the future of their tenancy at Fremantle Arthur Head still had not been resolved for the J Shed artists the industrious creatives haven’t given up and remain active and keep creating new artworks at the Bathers Beach premises.

Ceramic artist Jenny Dawson is creating a new sculpture for the Maddington Train Station, that is being upgraded to meet disability access standards. Jenny worked together with students from Sevenoaks Senior College to create the Indigenous artwork to which Nyoongar artist Sandra Hill was the consultant.

Today Devyani Shah the project manager for the Public Transport Authority and Kate Johnson from the PR department of the PTA visited J Shed to have a look at the progress of the public artwork.

Roel Loopers

FREMANTLE ERECTIONS ON THE HORIZON

There is no doubt Fremantle is on the move towards the future. Plans for the Kings Square development by Sirona Capital are at the Design Advisory Committee and should be going to council soon, while at Bannister Street on the corner of Market Street DecaBodega has taken over the former surf wear shop and it looks like this will become a tapas bar. There is also talk of a possible other hotel in central Fremantle in Pakenham Street and this might well be the present car park site on the corner of Bannister Street which the City of Fremantle has earmarked for sale. With the hotel development site on the former Fremantle Club site at Bannister Street well under way, Freo might finally get much needed tourist accommodation. Plans for the Point Street development are also expected at council later this year, plus plans for new buildings along Queen Victoria Street, so the City can expect a mini development boom.

Roel Loopers