Stranded commuters at Berowra station _MG_1013
Today, yet again, City Rail has failed its customers. The peak hour train to Central Coast has developed a problem and one of the carriages has started to fill in with heavy, chemical smoke. The train stopped at Berowra and commuters left the carriage by themselves. There was no warning over the PA. Worse yet, once the City Rail stuff have found the smoke they still allowed the commuters to return on the train without finding the underlying cause.
Fireman leaving Berowra station _MG_1023
I watched in disbelief the same was repeated upon arrival of the Fire brigade. No communication was issued to hundreds of people sitting on the train. It took another 15 minutes before finally someone decided the further trip was not possible for this train and everyone was asked to leave and wait for the following service.
Stranded commuters at Berowra station _MG_1020
To me this situation demonstrated City Rail is poorly prepared for emergency situations. In case like this where a carriage is filled with choking smoke, everyone should have been asked to leave until the train was declared safe. This time the smoke proved to be the result of a blocked break but next time it may be something more serious.
July 21st, 2008
Intolerable tolerance
This group of protesters tried hard to make themselves noticeable amongst the pilgrims in the Hyde Park. Their message? “We have nothing against Catholics… There is no God… it is not a sin to be gay… it is not against religion to use condom”.
Media reported later on there were heated exchanges between the protesters and World Youth Day attendees. Yes, some people took offence and exchanged words with the protesters. However, what was not reported or shown on TV was the fact the young pilgrims turned their backs on the protesters and simply walked away, ignoring them completely. After brief moment even media moved on.
July 19th, 2008
River of pilgrims
River of pilgrims from all over the world is flowing along almost every Sydney street towards Barangaroo for Cardinal Pell’s opening Mass. Media is reporting the expected number of pilgrims at 140,000 accompanied by clergy:26 cardinals, 400 bishops and up to 4000 priests. With numbers like that the Mass will be the biggest Catholic Mass ever held in Australia.
Sydney has turned on a beautiful, summer like day for the attendees, so there should be no surprise most of the young people really enjoy their stay here. Lots of laughs, singing and flag waving no matter where you look.
The crowd behaviour is so far exemplary and there are no protesters in sight. Security was limited to a small numbers of police walking along with pilgrims. This however many change, as Federal Court has today removed the highly controversial “annoyance” clause form the World Youth Day Act. It “affects freedom of speech in a way that, in our opinion, is not supported by the statutory powers” in accordance to Federal Court judges.
July 15th, 2008
Three Wise Men
Here I am back at the chess in the park scene. The place attracts so many interesting people I can hardly stay away from them. Here are some of the regular spectator / advisers, I have called them the three wise man as they knew what every one should do next.
The place attracts quite a lot of photographers who seem to like the atmosphere and the people there. The game is so absorbing no one pays attention to the photographers, which is great.
May 23rd, 2008
Stand up for Tibet
Australian Tibet Council has organised a peaceful protest today in Martin Place against alleged brutal military crackdown against Tibet by Chinese government. The council is clear: Australian Olympic Committee should boycott carrying of the torch up Mount Everest. Interestingly the message did not call for the total boycott of the Olympics in Beijing.
The photograph shows news cameraman filming gathered protesters, their posters and gruesome photographs of torture victims.
March 31st, 2008
Save Tibet
In last few days I have read an increasing number of reports on unrest in Tibet. Here, in Sydney a number of protest marches took place through China town as well as in front of Chinese embassy.
Newspapers quote opposite views of deaths and arrests in Lhasa. Depending if the news is from Tibetans or official Chinese news agency the blame is placed on the opposite groups: either Han Chinese or Tibetan independence activists.
One has to ask - why did China expelled all journalists from the troubled region if it has nothing to hide? And why is it that the government has no opinion to voice on these events?
March 21st, 2008
David Koch ambushed by protesters
David Koch ambushed by protesters
Television rating war is intensifying between rival networks Channel 7 and Channel 9. A popular host of the Channel 7 program Sunrise, David “Kochie” Koch has been surrounded by a small but vocal group of protesters during his regular meeting with the public just around 9am outside the Channel 7 studios. Reportedly, David has commented later on TV that this looked like a stunt organised by the rival TV network. I have to say the protest looked very well organised and not very spontaneous. Just look at these professionally made boards.
David Koch has handled the protesters with utmost professionalism. He has listened to them, and asked one of the security guards to take notes of their names and issues promising to follow it up. One of the protesters have said to a TV crew that he was satisfied Koche will do the right thing.
Channel 9’s A Current Affair has advertised later on the day to bring a report on the issue.
March 18th, 2008
