good dope is actually worth more there than here, but I don't want to get in to any arguments...20 years is a bit harsh though. Still I'm sure she wont serve even half of it.

I hope not. I really dont' think that she did it. Damn them for bungling up the fingerprinting on the weed bag.

I hope at least they can do some sort of exchange so she can serve out a sentence in australia rather than in indonesia :shudder:

What ever happened to the other guys who got caught with the drugs strapped around their legs etc? There's no way they could be innocent.

Those people (the "Bali 9") are applying for financial aid from Australia. I don't see why we should provide any.

Unless, of course, they make it through and can pay Australia back with money they make from the inevitable exclusive interviews, books and telemovie deals.

"I think the Indonesian judicial system need to get their priorities right - 2 year sentence for the Bali bombers, who killed hundreds of people and a 20 year sentence for 4kg of dope that they haven't even proven she did."

Just to clear that up - the guy who is on 2 years hasn't actually been convicted which is the big difference. The 2 or 3 others who have are on death row.
For S/E Asia its quite a moderate sentence. In Singapore, if you're caught with 500 grams of marijuana the death sentence is mandatory. She'd receive it 8 times over.

"As for Schapelle, I believe she is innocent. Why would you smuggle dope over there? I could understand bringing it back here...it makes no sense."

As redveg pointed out, Australian marijuana is far more potent than that grown in Bali. Also, if it is worth so little over there, why has someone gone to the effort of planting it in her bag to get to Bali? [unless it was intended for Sydney.]

I think there is a good chance she is innocent, but I don't know why we care so much more about her than say, Douglas Wood or David Hicks. We know Wood hasn't done anything criminal and Hicks as far as I know hasn't even received a trial. Is it because they aren't young, attractive and female? Would we care so much about Schapelle if she were Asian?

I see Australia's racist underbelly really emerging...
Don't donate to the salvation army if the money is going to Indonesians? Withdraw our tsunami pledge? I find that pretty sickening.

Yeah, if we're going to boycott Indonesia, for consistency we should also be boycotting the US (but then our televisions would mostly broadcast static and people would have to find something else to waste their time doing). And there are better reasons to not donate to the Salvation Army.

Oh, we should also boycott our own country..... we have lots of innocent people locked up. I really gotta get myself to NZ.

I don't know why we care so much more about her than say, Douglas Wood or David Hicks. We know Wood hasn't done anything criminal and Hicks as far as I know hasn't even received a trial. Is it because they aren't young, attractive and female? Would we care so much about Schapelle if she were Asian?

Indeed! And kudos to her eyebrow stylist :rolleyes:

It isn't clear why Hicks is STILL in gitmo and why he STILL hasn't been charged wtih anything... what on earth???

yeah, so many aussie tourists in Bali with their wife-beater sunburn lines, beer bellies and braided hair are harping on about how those corrupt indos could dare to something like this to an AUSTRALIAN CITIZEN, conveniently ignoring the fact that we have locked up many innocent people, including children, who unfortunately don't have a millionaire funding their case.

We seem to believe the Balinese people have convicted her and are the ones who should be punished.

yeah I was talking to a mate at work yesterday about why we don't care about Hicks and she is like "but the government are doing stuff for him."
"Like what?"

Long pause.

Yeah, it is kind of messed up how the media here always focus on certain individuals who have a certain look that would appeal to the general public, but ignore others in similar situations. The same goes for popular tv shows. When was the last time you saw someone from a different racial background (Asian, Indian, Polynesian, Middle Eastern etc) on a show like Neighbours, Big Brother, Home and Away, All Saints, Dancing With The Stars, or any of the lifestyle shows? Yet these people are a significant part of the population here now.
I don't watch any of those shows by the way.

I don't know the full story about Schapelle, but seriously, if I was travelling to any country with strict laws like Indonesia I'd make sure my luggage was locked securely. If she is innocent, then I can imagine there'd probably be hundreds of native Indonesians in a similar situation, but you'd never hear if there were.

And there you go...

http://au.news.yahoo.com/050601/2/ujt8.html

Schapelle Corby is writing a book in prison about her ordeal which she hopes might one day be a best seller and an inspiration to others who find themselves in trouble, her Indonesian doctor said.

An envelope with a biological agent was sent to the Indonesian embassy in Australia. There had been other problems indicating hostility (like things thrown at it). I'm more ashamed of being Aussie right now than I ever have been.

:( that's sad about the envelope, kurm. people are SO stupid. GRR.

:mad:

Turns out the envolope had talcum powder in it (some thought anthrax), and the letter was written in Indonesian. The government is, predictably, not saying much.

That's funny! You seriously have to look out for that biological Indonesian talcum powder. Dangerous stuff.

You wonder about all these anti terrorist precautions. Like on airliners now going to the US. You're not allowed to take any knives or other sharp objects onto the plane. Fair enough, but because of this when they serve your meal (Remember to always let them know before the flight you're vego), the blunt dinner knife is plastic, although the fork and spoon are still metal. Now is that really going to deter terrorists? I can imagine Bin Ladin and his followers would be contemplating retirement after hearing about that. Funny thing is, business class still get the blunt metal knives. Maybe the anti terrorist authorities don't believe that terrorists can afford to travel business class?

Hi all. I'm baaaaack. :)

Did you all hear about how the RSPCA are on to that moron from BB who boasted about bashing a kangaroo to death? I hope he gets charged.

And they are apparently investigating incidents from Outback house about lambs being left to die and a chook with a broken leg. I was watching the other night whilst eating my yummy stir-fry and they were about to kill a poor geese and I turned it off and lost my appetite then mum got all worried and tried to console me when she saw tears in my eyes.
It's nowhere near as bad as what happens in abattoirs, but I hate seeing things struggle for their life :(

Hi all. I'm baaaaack. :)

:nana:

you were missed!!

:beatnik:

Hi all,

A friend of mine found a little black kitten which she needs to find a home for
(sadly we are both allergic to cats).

"Bella" is adorable, so tiny, black except for little white socks and a white stripe on her face. Probably only 2 - 3 months ish old I think.

We are going to take her to the cat protection society in Enmore NSW if we can't find a home.... BUT! we would much rather know she has found a home...If anyone would like her please let me know.

I'll try find a photo to add to this post..she's too cute and very snuggly...(bleeping allergies)

Post her to Victoria for me! :-\

gah. Rene I am considering it but... I don't know. I live in Newtown. When are you taking her in?

Amy, you HAVE to take it! Black kitties are the bestest kitties!!!! *meow*

(says me who ended up with FIVE cats due to various rescues etc.)

*sigh*

In 1996, I adopted a black kitty. He died in 1999 from some blockage, while we were gone on holiday. :(

In 1998, while we had the kitty above, we adopted a tuxedo cat, Napoleon. In 2001, he died from massive heart failure due to a genetic condition we didn't know about. He had a heart attack right in front of me. :cry:

One week before we moved to Australia, our all-black 11-month-old Fiona was hit by a car right in front of our house.

I am afraid this one would die on me too.

It is AWFULLY tempting though. I would hate to see a kitty go to a shelter just because I was afraid to adopt it. hm.

Rene, does she like human men? DH would love a kitty.

See? now look, you're making me think it would be ok .. hmmm.