What should the Topic of FR9 be?

I've been increasingly angry/baffled about aus+nz political outlook and basically transparently unethical and inhumane policy/statements. It might coincide with nz election? Various big issues like climate change (it snowed in egypt this week, etc etc), treatment of those in need (asylum seekers, the poor, etc etc) and sensible economics just seem to be getting a beating by the current governments of aus & nz.. It's certainly something Im regularly disgusted and dejected about. And freerange did set out to deal with big issues that are usually avoided because they're too big or 'wicked'... maybe there's a lighter (and darker) way to deal with it like the gardening and violence issue?

Or an issue on water? I watched Chasing Ice recently which was fuckin frightening, related stuff like our dying oceans, whaling, water criminals (if that can be thrashed anymore), a contradictory piece on fire/aridity...

Water? - I'm working on a water related project at the moment and meeting some great thinkers in the field around the world. That could be a good one.

Maybe we could interview the guy from Kiribati that keeps applying for asylum based on rising sea levels...

The Wet Issue?

I really like the idea of a wet issue too...there is much to feed into it, oil drilling, fishing, maori sea bed and foreshore / ownership, water rights, privatisation, bottled water te mea te mea, 'boat people'. Its very broad actually

and there is the bloke who does a lot of open ocean voyaging and has lots to say about the lack of sea life, and the effects of Japans nuclear disaster....

Jacqui could read this but not enter, her contribution is: "But can read your discussion- I like the idea of water and politics- the washing over of the truth...

Theo asked me the other day "What is water made of?" it is actually really tricky to explain that. But I like the way he talks about water. Really clean but sometimes it can taste yucky...- Much like politics. The tides of change....we vote in a referendum- the PM calls it a "stunt" suddenly it is meaningless? WTF. Media wash? perception cleanse? Whitewash?"

Personally I really like the name "The Wet Issue". Gina was always keen to eventually lead or work on a water issue. My main concern is that it becomes an issue where we talk at people about 'something that is really important that they should know.' Maybe that concern of mine is unwarrented as A. its always been there with FR. and B. The other issue that worried me was the Commons, and thats turned out great and it getting more momentum that others. While saying that I've always thought Climate Change deserves an issue (with a particular take on it) and this could be a good one.
I think Wet is great because it goes directly to our sensual experience of water... we experience wetness long before we understand water.

The Wet Issue is fantastic! Love all the themes as outlined above and concepts of sensuality versus 'washing away' etc. A very rich theme.