No to Child Labour!

World Day against Child Labour

~Written by Simone Saunders~

In this day and age it is hard to believe that children are still serving victim to callous child labour overseas, let alone here in Australia.

The World Day against Child Labour held on June 12, each year is a day dedicated to focus global attention on the urgent need to eliminate child labour. Each year more and more organisations and groups worldwide come together to take action against child labour and educate the general public on why it needs to be stopped.

This year the day was marked with different ways of educating workplaces and the general public on: minimum age of employment, policies that address child labour by provision of properly resourced quality education and skills training, and the need to tackle child labour.

While there is exploitation of children and young people in Australian workplaces, it is not as common as it is overseas. However, more action is still needed to protect children and young people in Australia as well as overseas. There is an estimated 250 million hard working children worldwide aged between 5 and 14 years old, most of which are working long hours, often in dangerous conditions and for very little or no pay.

Children are often employed and exploited because, compared to adults, they are more vulnerable, cheaper to hire and are less likely to demand higher wages or better working conditions. Some employers will go as far as arguing that children are particularly suited to certain types of work because of their small size and nimble fingers when they are accused of endorsing child labour.

Some types of work can make useful and positive contributions to a child's development. Work can also help children to learn about responsibility and develop skills that can benefit them in their long term careers. However, more often than not, work is only a source of income that helps children and their families survive and no positive outcomes are achieved.

Most children will work because their families are poor and their labour is necessary for the survival of both themselves and their family. Gender, race and religion are also factors in why some children must work.

For many children that are victims of child labour, school is not an option. Education can be expensive and some parents feel that what their children will learn is irrelevant to the realities of their everyday lives and futures.

As well as being a result of poverty, child labour also carries on poverty, because many working children do not have the opportunity to go to school and often grow up to be unskilled adults trapped in poorly paid jobs. In turn they will look to their own children to support the family financially as their family had done to them.

Education and awareness of this worldwide issue are said to be the keys in eliminating child labour in the near future.

Bipolar Disorder

~Written by Simone Saunders~


Approximately 2% of people living in Australia will experience Bipolar Disorder at some stage of their lives. It is most common in young adults aged 8 to 24 years old. However Bipolar Disorder can affect anyone despite age, sex, religion or ethnic origin.

Bipolar Disorder, previously known as Manic Depression, is a mood disorder characterised by exaggerated mood swings. People with Bipolar Disorder experience recurrent episodes of feeling low (depressed) and high (mania), both moods can be mild to severe.

Bipolar Disorder seems to be most closely linked to family history. About 70% of people with Bipolar Disorder will have a close relative (a parent or sibling) who suffers from either Bipolar Disorder or from depression and people that have a parent with Bipolar Disorder have a 10% chance of having the illness themselves.

As well as being a genetic disorder, environmental factors (such as change in season, having problems with employment, living arrangements, family and relationships; being the victim of verbal, sexual, physical or emotional abuse or trauma; other life transitions e.g. having a child, death or loss of someone close) and physical health issues (such as pregnancy and childbirth; hormonal problems (hyper and hypothyroidism); brain problems (Parkinson’s and Huntington’s disease); autoimmune problems (Lupus, HIV); and Cancer) also are closely linked to Bipolar Disorder.

There are two main types of Bipolar Disorder – Bipolar Disorder 1 and Bipolar Disorder 2. Bipolar Disorder 1 is as common in men as it is in women, while Bipolar Disorder 2 is twice as common in women as in men.

Bipolar Disorder 1 is when you experience one or more manic episodes and often one or more major depressive episodes. Each depressive episode can last for several weeks or months, alternating with intense symptoms of mania that can last for just as long. Between these extremes, you might have periods where life continues normally. Your symptoms can also be affected by changes in season (e.g. winter months) or life situations that come up (eg exam stress).Bipolar Disorder 2 is when you experience episodes depression plus episodes of a mild form of mania called hypomania (persistent elevation of mod, energy and activity).

People with this type of bipolar disorder do not experience psychotic symptoms and generally have episodes of mania that last for a short time e.g. hours or at most, a few days.

However, some people with Bipolar Disorder have what are called ‘mixed episodes’ where they feel some of the signs and symptoms of both depression and mania. Moods can change very quickly for some people – feeling high, then low and high again, within a matter of days or even hours.

Bipolar Disorder has two distinct conditions to treat, mania and depression. As everyone is different the treatment and management can vary widely. Professional help is needed to maximise the likelihood of long-term success and often treatment includes a combination of medications to manage the symptoms plus psychological therapies to help in dealing with the illness. The management of Bipolar Disorder generally consists of three parts - treating the current episode of mania and depression; preventing the recurrence of mania and depression and managing the recovery.

Treatments for bipolar disorder are evolving rapidly and now tend to be very successful allowing people living with Bipolar Disorder can lead full and productive lives.

Mental Health Professionals have recently developed a questionnaire to help assess if an individual has Bipolar Disorder. The questionnaire is available on Bipolar.com at www.bipolar.com.au/questionnaire.cfm. Please note that the questionnaire is a guide only.

If you think that you or someone that you know might have Bipolar Disorder, then you should seek advice from your Medical Health Care Professional.

You can also contact Lifeline who can supply you with immediate counselling and further information on 13 11 14. Lifeline’s 13 11 14 service is staffed by trained volunteer telephone counsellors who are ready to take calls 24-hour a day, any day of the week from anywhere in Australia.


Sources:
Department of Health and Ageing www.health.gov.au/mentalhealth/illness/bipolar.htm
Reach Out http://www.reachout.com.au/
Bipolar.com http://www.bipolar.com.au/

~Featured in Carve Monthly, August 2007

Interview with Keith from Daemon Foetal Harvest

Favourite Beer?
Tooheys New

What is the motto that you live by?
I don’t really have one, I just try to sleep through everyday when that fails I just try to make it to the end of that day sane and in one piece. I guess you could make some sort of motto out of that.

When you were a child, what did you want to grow up to be?
I never planned on growing up. Being in a Death Metal band with such over the top themes helps me to achieve that.

Apart from metal, what other style's of music do you enjoy?
None. I don’t listen to much music I tend to just play guitar whenever I get the urge, if I do listen to music its anything that is as full on as I can find.

How did you come up with the name Daemon Foetal Harvest for your band?
The name actually came from an X-Files episode. The first couple of gigs we did, we used a sample to start off where Agent Mulder says “Scully this looks like another classic case of daemon foetal harvest”.

How would you describe DFH’s sound?
Classic Death Metal with a touch more melody and perverse lyrics.

What song on your recently released E.P. is your favourite and why?
I would have to say “Anniversary Rape”. It gives me a good chance to do some shredding on the guitar and with a name like that how can you not love it.

DFH is touring locally this year, whereabouts are you intending on performing?
We are currently planning some shows in Sydney, we have done some shows on the South Coast and hope to head up to the North Coast before the end of the year. We are contemplating whether to head to Canberra for a show or two before Extreme Fest.

You are currently looking for a new drummer as Daniel had to leave late last year due to interstate commitments, are there many people in the running so far?
We have tried a couple of drummers but no one has managed to keep up so far. The decision was made to invest in a drum machine for the meantime but we are very keen to find a replacement soon as we have signed to a label and want to start working on a full-length release.

What do you hope achieve for DFH from performing at Extreme Fest next year?
Extreme Fest will be an awesome event as there aren’t nearly enough extreme metal gigs going on. We are going to produce the most brutal show we possibly can so the crowd will welcome us back anytime.


DFH are one of the bands confirmed for Extreme Fest 2008 http://www.myspace.com/extremefestact.

Log on to the DFH myspace site at www.myspace.com/daemonfoetalharvest listen to their music and add them to your friends list!

~By Simone Saunders with thanks to Keith from DFH~

~Featured in Carve Monthly August 2007

In the Stillness of the Night

It is dark. The sky is clear. The stars are bright and the moon is full. It’s a beautiful night. I wait for you, you said that you’d be here. The trees are still. The grass is damp. The lake looks gorgeous from here.

You’re late, you’re always late. I don’t know why I don’t just call. What if you aren’t coming? I lie down and watch the stars a little longer and breathe in the cold air. I decide to call you, you aren’t usually this late. Your phone is off. Are you coming? Do I wait for you? I’ll wait five more minutes. The minutes feel like hours.

You’re not coming, it’s time to go home. I said some things that I can’t undo. I can’t believe I thought that you would meet me here after last night. I stand up and take one last look at the lake. A whisper in the dark, it’s a relief to hear your voice. I turn around and you take me into your arms.

Now’s my time to fix what I’ve broken but I don’t know where to start. I don’t want to fall to pieces. I’m afraid the truth might hurt me. You let go first and sit down. I’m still standing. Our eyes meet. You take my hand and urge me to sit next to you. We sit in silence and watch the lake.

Who’s going to talk about it first? It shouldn’t be this hard, we’ve been friends for years, but maybe that’s what makes it hard… You cave first and ask me why I asked you here after last night. I’m at a loss, I don’t know what to say, where do I begin? All I say is that I didn’t know it was how you felt. Silence again.

What’s wrong with me! I had a whole speech prepared that I rehearsed in my head over and over again until I thought it was perfect. I fold my arms across my knees and rest my head. I look at you, leaning back on your arms with your legs stretched in front of you. You turn your head and ask why not me?

In the stillness of the night, hearing those three words, I fall to pieces.

~ Written by Simone~

~Featured in Carve Monthly, May 2007

You

Why am I waiting on you?
Why am I always thinking about you?
I can’t escape you
I don’t know how you do what you do
You leave me so confused
I keep on falling for you
Are you afraid?
Are you waiting on me?
Do I want what I can’t have?
There’s something in your eyes that makes me so vulnerable


~Written by Simone~

Some Things are Better Kept to Yourself

Have you ever been asked ‘what’s the worst thing you’ve ever done?’, ‘What’s your biggest secret?’ or been asked to reveal something about yourself that no-one else knows? I have and every time many answers come to mind... My response really depends on who I am talking to.

I have on many occasions made the wrong decision which has resulted in a bad outcome that falls into my ‘worst thing I’ve ever done pile’. Many of these also make it on my biggest secret list and a few get locked up in my head and become the things that no-one knows about me.

Select people in my life know everything about me and I am sure that there are things I have hidden within myself that none of these select know, I have even probably hidden these things so deep that I don’t remember them anymore.

I think that sometimes there are things about a person that are better not knowing and are really not relevant to the relationship you have with them.

The worst thing you’ve ever done, your biggest secret and the one thing no-one knows about you are often the one thing... and should possibly be kept to yourself.

~Written by Simone~

Interview with Looking Glass

Rocking Psychedelic Blues

Name: Lachlan Paine, bass
Star sign: Goatsnake
Favourite meal: Dutch smoked cheese, twiggys, stuffed baby capsicums and a can of Solo.
Motto to live by: “Thrash.”
Childhood dream: Vet
Spare time is spent: hanging out with reptiles and thrashing like a maniac
Favourite song off the E.P.: Psychonaut, because it is hell fun to play and the end is brutal

Name: Marcus De Pasquale
Star sign: Scorpio
Favourite meal: Thelemic mooncake
Favourite alcoholic beverage: Ale, Tea
Childhood dream: An owl
Spare time is spent: Reading
Favourite song off the E.P.: Procession. I like the double tracked vocal line with a high and low harmony.

Name: Clinton, drums
Star sign: Aquarius/Pisces, whatever that means
Favourite meal: Baked bean jaffles with Tabasco© sauce
Favourite alcoholic beverage: Usually whatever is on special at the supermarket, but not VB, at the moment Carlton Black has a special appeal
Motto to live by: “Mind your own business.”
Spare time is spent: Play guitar, sleep
Favourite song off the E.P.: I have no favourites


Lachlan:

How did you come up with the name Looking Glass?
It’s one of those ‘temporary’ names you have when you are trying to think up a name for your band, and then all of a sudden, you get a great gig, and everyone remembers you for the name you were never supposed to have, so it sticks like a fly to a steamer. I know how Mark Hamill must feel every time someone at his local takeaway calls him Luke Skywalker.

Describe Looking Glass’s sound/musical style?
Our sound is definitely loud! We are all fans of rock music, but each appreciate different aspects of the music. I think it probably shows a bit in our recordings and shows. Clinton is quite a technical drummer, in that his playing always makes sense musically. Here’s our big secret - he actually keeps the whole band together! Haha. Me and Marcus are into similar stuff – loud guitars and Black Sabbath. Having similar instrumentation as Black Sabbath (Vox, guitar, bass, drums) contributes a bit so us having similar song sounds and structures. You might be able to hear a bit of Zeppelin here and there. It helps that we can all get our way around our instruments pretty well. We are wanting to explore acoustic instruments a bit more in our recordings and maybe eventually incorporate it into a live set.

How did your song Procession’ get on the Devils Kitchen 2007 Compilation CD?
The Devils Kitchen gig came about by chance. For anyone that doesn’t know what the Devils Kitchen is, it is a traveling stoner-blues-grunge-rock music festival that cruises around to many cities in Oz. We ended up getting on the Wollongong gig last year with about 10 other bands from all around. We only got on the bill because somebody else pulled out. The crew who organize the whole thing wanted to put out a free compilation cd for everyone who attended the 2007 gigs, made up of bands who were playing one or more of the shows.
I guess they liked the track or something, or somebody got confused maybe, but we ended up being the second track out of about twenty five.

What are the ambitions behind the upcoming recording you are doing in September this year?
Well, the last cd we did was an EP. We recorded five songs and the cd ended up being about twenty five minutes. It was an easy amount of songs to prepare to go into the studio without too much getting out of hand. So I guess it was through the last recordings success that we decided to stick to a similar blueprint for this next one. Same studio, same engineer.
Five or six songs – about 25 minutes again. We find that because quite a number of our songs are longish, it’s hard to pick a flowing, cross-section of our set to record without leaving out anything killer.
We come up with most of the concepts for the artwork too, so there is heaps to keep us busy for the next few months.

Where do you hope Looking Glass will be in five years time?
Until Clinton joined the band about two or three years ago, we were struggling to get any attention from anyone. Now with a way better live show, things have finally taken off and snowballed into its own beast – better gigs are coming our way without having to look for them. Opportunities seem to be growing all the time.
Because of the early difficulties, the band has adopted a kind of do-it-yourself attitude towards the business side of things. We do what we like at our own pace. It’s great. I book the gigs and look after the money at the moment, and do our internerd stuff. I like the different the sides of the band – the playing gigs, as well as hooking up gigs, networking and travelling. We’ve never really had trouble coming up with songs that are great live. I personally think our show is our strongest attribute. If you are entertaining in a live sense, people start coming to your shows. I’ve seen too many awesome musicians pass by unheard.
If we were still recording cd’s in five years time, the way we wanted to, the music we wanted to, and still playing shows in five years – even if there was only one person at these shows, I think we would be exactly where I had hoped.

Their self titled E.P. is available in Australia through Green Media and they will be recording a new one in September which is set to be released this year.

Log on to their official myspace site at www.myspace.com/lookingglassoz listen to their music and add them to your friends list.

~By Simone Saunders with thanks to the members of Looking Glass~

~Featured in Carve Monthly, August 2007

Interview with Julian McClung

Julian McClung who was born in Newcastle and country raised, is a 22 year old Australian contemporary solo artist with a session band that brings acoustic soul and blues together. Julian has kindly agreed to give some of his time for to Carve for an interview.

What star sign are you?
I’m a Taurean. I really don’t follow astrology but I think that makes me persistent and determined, right?

When you were a child, what did you want to grow up to be?
As a kid I think we all wanted to be more than one thing growing up. I went through many stages of learning and absorbing the world around me, being inspired by many things growing up but I never ventured far from art in all its forms.

Who was your greatest inspiration as a child?
James Marshal Hendrix, anyone who held a Stratocaster in their hands and had a mind for speaking.

What do you like to do in your spare time?
If I’m not working on new sounds and ways to express myself through music I spend time reading novels and watching old films and documentaries. I’m really enjoying documentaries about 1930’s-1950’s musicians at the moment.

What is your favourite meal?
That’s a difficult question. If I was to die tomorrow and could only have one more meal it would probably be Duck a l'orange, that would take me to another place.

Where and what would be your ultimate holiday?
Generally, I live a simple life. If I wanted to remember a time and place where I was truly happy the place would be right next to the one I share the world with and all the time in the world to spend it with her.
But, if you want a serious answer then it would be somewhere in a village on the southern coast of Italy with the sun on my face and a glass of Chianti in my hand.

What would you like to be doing five years from now?
Writing records that reach the streets and touch the souls of many who love and appreciate music.

Describe your new album 'One day...'
Daniel Johnston once said “Art will always be inspired by beauty”. The closest meaning for this debut album is that I wrote most of the songs about someone I fell in love with and was completely inspired by. I could have written so many more for this album but sometimes things can be better expressed with fewer words…
People speak of their aspirations in life and one day reaching that point of satisfaction and comfort to of achieved something. Well, for me this is my ‘One day…’

Which song on the album is your favourite and why?
To me they all had a significant part in portraying my feelings at the time.
If I was to be completely honest I would have to say that the weakest song on the album being the demo ‘Freckle on a thumb’ draws the most memories for me. It’s a very simple love song but it brought out the most smiles for me.

Describe the experience of releasing this debut album…
I promise you, it’s only just the start of my journey. I have learnt so much and am still learning as a musician.
This album was recorded back in 2005 and it took quite some time to find the right approach for the band and I to release.
I have been extremely fortunate to be surrounded by so many talented people and people who have such enthusiasm and insight into what we find ahead of us.
Ultimately, it was special.

Describe the experience of going on tour…
Well, basically the tour for the debut album hasn’t really started for the band and I yet. With our first shows in June and ending in July I imagine many different emotions will come. From previous shows here and overseas travelling is what makes an artist grow. You learn a lot on the road meeting other artists and the places you go. It’s something different. The Australian people usually get behind artists trying to find their place in this difficult industry but I am confident this visit to Australia for us will be the beginning of something special.

Is there a certain show that you have performed that is your favourite so far?
I think the festivals generally are electric. The anticipation and excitement that comes of seeing hundreds of people lining up to the fence to watch their favourite acts perform is amazing. It’s real.
My favourite moments so far though have been working with film directors for short films. I love the film industry. I want to keep putting my foot in the door for many more of those in the days to come.

Do you sit down and just start writing songs or do they come to you when you least expect it?
The latter. Naturally an artist keeps a very open mind to everything around them. I read and hear this in interviews with other artists and it’s the same point every time. Nothing in music should be forced, neither an artist nor a song.

Is your music a representation of your life, or do you use it to distance yourself from what’s actually happening around you?
Both. I’m not the kind of person to write about his trip down to the fishing hole, Taj Mahal was very good at that and people loved him for it and sure it’s good to write about your experiences, sometimes your ghosts. Personally I think one’s life is a representation of life itself. What you do in this world is either worn on your sleeve or given to an artist’s fingertips. If music could distance me from reality all the time I would write anthologies.

Are there any bands/artists that have inspired your musical stylings?
I grew up listening to a lot of old Memphis, Tennessee soul music like Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, Don Covay and it was amazing music to listen too. My father introduced me to a lot of rock and contemporary jazz. Eric Clapton, Van Morrison, and John Lennon they were all there. Pretty soon I started studying blues and soul at school and learnt a lot about 1930s musicians like my favourites J.B Lenoir and Blind Willie Johnson.
But of late I have been lucky to learn a lot from Bill Withers and more presently Eagle-eye Cherry.

If you could do a duet with a musician who would it be?
How about a trio. I’d pull Jimi out of his grave and take him and Eric for a ride.

What advice do you have for others trying to make it into the music industry?
Believe in yourself, know your roots and listen to nothing but your heart. Your soul is the one place you will find home…

Check out Julian’s website http://www.julianmcclung.com/ and myspace http://www.myspace.com/julianmcclung

~By Simone Saunders with thanks to Julian~

~Featured in Carve Monthly, June 2007