• Well put, and I hope to see your documentary. I hate the idea of vaccinations and believe they can be harmful individually but we are part of a community and as such, we have responsibilities to each other, so my son'a vaccinations are up to date. The reality is that no one knows what will happen to us or our children, whether we are talking about injury by vaccine, or injury by preventable disease, or running in a marathon where a terrorist is in wait, or getting in a car and being wiped out by a drunk driver. We all do what we can for our kids and we can try and protect them as much as we can - but none of us escape misfortune. I have a friend whose son has shocking tumours and a limited life span. My own son has a platelet disorder which means we have to be constantly vigilant that he doesn't injure himself lest he bleed internally. Let's do what we can for our own - but let's not harm others in the process. - Alice Smith
  • What a fabulously challenging topic. Jackdan, very well delivered argument. I'd love to see your research. Publish it! Sonya, I look forward to tomorrow night's documentary. Thanks for taking (what sounds like) a rational approach. - Misty
  • Thanks jack... a very interesting response and, from my communications with Sonya I think this is exactly the conversation she's hoping for. Be very interested to hear your response after viewing the doco. - Wendy Harmer
  • As someone who doesn't follow the Australian Vaccination schedule, I already feel like I am risking ridicule and worse posting here. We have been hassled and hounded by doctors, nurses (one of us is a nurse) and other parents. Blamed for the resurgence Whooping cough and related deaths, etc. Our stance is that we immunise based on our own needs and intelligence. As a for instance, we are not convinced that our children needed to be vaccinated against Hepatitis B at birth, especially given that the vaccine contained Thiomersal when it was recommended to us. I'm not sure how aware you are of the Japanese experience with the DTP vaccinations in the mid 1970's, but as a result of many adverse reactions and over 30 deaths as a direct result of the vaccine, the schedule was altered and children were vaccinated later. I am aware that the vaccine is no longer a whole cell vaccine, however it is worth considering the delicate balance of the immune system in infants below 6 months of age. So we immunise roughly to the Japanese schedule. There is no Hep B or vericella. And MMR is given as MR and Mumps separately. We will make the call on Japanese when we visit next month. I note that the tone in the promotion of the doco appears to depict the non vaccination school as driven by emotion with the pro vaccination argument being driven by Science (which is a pretty broad concept). Our decision to vaccinate alternatively has been based on a lot of careful research and is based on risk mitigation considering that vaccinations do carry a percentage of risk, however small. We have the advantage of also being Japanese citizens, (myself a spouse resident) and can access the differently combined vaccines and scheduling. When recently discussing this on a facebook post I was branded an anti Vaccinator. Abused and blamed. My response is that I think there is a better way. A much better way. And the heavy handed pressure to Immunise to schedule, which then elicits a strong anti response from those who question, but are discouraged strongly and frowned upon for questioning, has created a climate of 'for or against', emotion or science, us against them. All pretty narrow reductive way to explore a whole collection of different diseases, risks, and vaccines (including their varieties of compositions, combinations and timing). So we have attempted to immunise the best way that we can ascertain. It's a tricky time consuming task to get all the info on each different vaccine from the manufacturers, to research each and every disease to ascertain the risks of actually contracting it and then what the risks associated with the disease are, but it has been worthwhile. I think that the community could benefit from a less doctrinal approach to the current immunisation schedule and regular review of disease risks and the vaccination schedule response. - Jackdan
  • I'm an E cup. When I was younger and skinnier I was only a C cup and could handle underwires. Then I got pregnant and discovered the bliss of maternity bras. Post babies and breastfeeding I went back to the wires only to find they poked me and now I've got 'birdseyes' in my cleavage. I cannot fathom the underwire. Obviously the person who designed it has never had to wear one. Having big boobs we're all encouraged to wear them, but now I'm old and fat they're far too uncomfortable to contemplate. I'm happy with my 'wirefree' bras. I figured that if manufacturers could make a maternity bra without wires that fitted perfectly and provided excellent support to lactating breasts, they could do the same for large, non-lactating breasts too. I found the perfect fit for me at a large chain store and bought the same type for years. Not terribly sexy, but comfortable and serviceable. Now I've discovered same large chain has a moulded cotton bra in large sizes. Better still, you can order them online when the sales are on and collect them from the store. Bliss! - BeansGran
  • Well put Sonya. I am so glad that you have created this documentary. Also, you have put forward a voice of reason backed up by compelling evidence & your own credibility. I am pro-vaccination, but I understand why it is an delicate decision for many parents. I haven't come across the anti-vax theories (I'd never even heard of the AVN until Mamamia kept writing & tweeting about them). I'd always just followed the immunisation schedule. But I have come across a lot of pushy pro-vaxxers and I have to say, it is a turn off. I understand that it's a passionate issue. But is it an effective way of increasing immunisation rates? Of course not. Some pro-vaxxers make it their full time job to name, shame & harass people opposed to vaccination. Is harassment going to change their position, heck no! Is it going to galvanise their anti-vac position, quite probably! I just think we need to be smarter about this. I know it is not a "debate" in the sense that the science is in on the benefits & general safety of vaccines. But it completely normal to feel uneasy about purposely injecting your child with something most of us know very little about. And then watching their every breath that evening as they process that vaccine. Sonya, I hope that your documentary is the beginning of the change in the way we talk about immunisation. Well done. - Kasey
  • I am very impressed by what you've set out to achieve and how you've come about it. Much of my work these days is in vaccination and I work hard to break down the myths and false beliefs people have about vaccines. I find listening to concerns, empathy and responding with good evidence based information has been the most successful manner I've had so far. I also reassure parents that it is always their choice, but I also share that I am a mum too and that I choose to vaccinate my child fully. And funnily enough that's usually the clincher. Respect, good information and empathy can go a long way. I really hope that many people watch your documentary and help absolve the many concerns and myths surrounding vaccination that are out there. You must be proud of your work :) - The Huntress
  • Not everyone has access too or any interest in the internet, you cannot drive a tractor and watch the internet but you can listen to radio, you cannot drive a car and watch the internet but you can listen to radio, you cannot wash the dishes, the clothes, yourself and watch the internet but you can listen to the radio, you can also lie in bed with Phillip Adams, half my University of the Third Age students go to bed with Phillip. Australia's best journalists were trained by the ABC. What I don't understand Gee is your palpable hatred, how can you be so angry all the time, just relax and learn that we are all different and some of us prefer the quiet nature of the ABC compared with the ranting and rage of radio shock jocks and commercial TV. Your phrase 'slash and burn' is shocking to me, no one I know hates anything, no one I know wants to destroy things or institutions, not even the IPA, why such violence of language? - sue Bell
  • [...] Science says vaccinate! [...] - LET'S TALK (NOT SHOUT) VACCINATION
  • Thankyou Emma for your good work and humanistic attitude towards others. I could not do your job and be nice to others at the same time, i'v e realized. The other ABC journo's et al should be taking notes.......all the best in your career! - louise
 
Categories:  Attard's Arena, Wellbeing

THE REAL COST OF A GOLD MEDAL

Is hosting the Olympics a waste of money?

Well, UK Prime Minister David Cameron apparently thinks not.

He’s hoping London’s Olympic spectacular will deliver Britain a 13 billion pound boost over four years.

 

He better be right, given the angst no doubt felt by Britons who’ve watched publically subsidised Olympic expenditure blow out (as they always do) whilst they endure a double dip recession and all the cuts that have come with it. The upside blip in employment is of course only fleeting.

But what about the long-term economic benefits? Did Sydney, for example, experience a significant and enduring upside after it hosted the 2000 Olympic games?

As it turns out, after the Olympics audits are few and far between. So even as cities are bidding themselves crazy to get the Games, they are doing so with little hard data on what the long-term financial benefits might be. In any event, positive economic impact for Atlanta might be very different to positive economic impact for Sydney.

Different cities. Different offerings. Vastly different geographic locations.

And it’s probably important to know that cities tend to outbid themselves in their quest to win the Games. They keep upping the offering until they get to the expected return. Politicians are usually so intent on winning, they don’t tell us those returns could be negligible.

The cost of building all those stadiums, swimming centres and other infrastructure needed for Sydney to host the 2000 Olympics was approximately $2.2 billion.

Balance that out against the gains from Olympic television rights, and the 700,000 visitors (including athletes and Olympic officials) who flocked to Sydney, along with the extra 340,000 visitors who headed here in the immediate aftermath as a result of all the hoopla and the small increase in the export of Australian manufactured goods as well. It was good news. For NSW. But only in the short term.

In the long term, the picture was less rosy.

The UK’s Institute for Public Policy, which put together a paper as London was bidding for the games, found that for there to be a long-lasting upside from all the necessary expenditure of hosting such a huge event, “The Olympics must be embedded within existing mainstream programs and policy agendas that start well before 2012 and continue well after.”

There’s no doubt that London, like Sydney before it, will look more spruced and sparkly when the athletes and spectators leave than before they arrived. But whether this effect lasts longer that a year or so, and whether the host city’s showing off leads to greater international investment which benefits communities is another question altogether.

Unlike Greece, host of the 2004 games, where most of the Olympic infrastructure now costs the austerity-crippled Greek government more to maintain than its populace is happy to support, the Homebush site still looks remarkably clean.

Even better, it’s still used. Although every time I’ve been there I am overwhelmed by the vast expanse of concrete buildings and the remarkably few humans I see walking the site’s wide avenues.

But in terms of widespread, lasting economic benefit, it seems the Sydney Olympics weren’t all they were cracked up to be.

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9 Responses to this article

  1. Wendy August 6, 2012 Reply
     
     

    I think its time to hang up the olympics hat, It is so costly to any country, I applaud the sports and the sports people, but we have other arenas that the athletes can compete and have records , medals etc. I find it very hard to accept an already crippled country can add to its debt for the sake of sport. The people and its economy should be a priority .

     
  2. pauline w August 6, 2012 Reply
     
     

    I think the idea of one or two Olympic venues is a good one. Maybe one in the northern hemisphere and one in the southern.

    Sydney made so many mistakes with the venues in my opinion. Homebush is a white elephant and the opportunity to improve Darling Harbour was lost.

    I feel sorry for the Brits (well, not much)

     
  3. ellenni August 6, 2012 Reply
     
     

    the olympics are a huge waste of money but how much pleasure does it gives those who participate and the pride their families feel. how many people who cannot attend get pleasure out of the tv coverage? what about the entertainment of the opening and closing ceremonies – all that free entertainment on tv is such a change from all the other rubbish which is shown daily. for those who love sport its a joy. so yes its a huge waste of money but its not always about the bottom line.

     
  4. Chris August 6, 2012 Reply
     
     

    Another terrific, informative and intelligent piece by Monica Attard.

    I am concerned about Rio hosting the next Olympics when so many citizens live in dire poverty. I also believe that as wonderful a couple of weeks Sydney 2000 provided us, NSW citizens are continuing to pay the cost of hosting the Olympics in terms of our appalling hospitals, declining public education and other infrastructure under funding. The money and energy were re-directed to the Olympics and more than a decade later, individual citizens continue to bear the brunt of that redirected spending. If this is what ensues in a relatively well off first world state, imagine the suffering of much poorer Bazilian citizens for the next 30 years. All to pay for a three week sporting party.

     
  5. Monica August 6, 2012 Reply
     
     

    The idea of one permanent host city isn’t one I like. But Pauline’s idea of one in the northern hemisphere and one in the southern, sounds appealing. Anyone agree?

     
  6. Cathy August 6, 2012 Reply
     
     

    I work in Health in NSW and I agree with Chris about how funding the Olympics seems to have broken our state financially. I saw first hand how dollars were redirected to the Olympics from health and 12 years later we are still paying the price (as I’m sure the large portfolios like Education & Transport are). I love the Olympics, I loved how Sydney transformed herself for two weeks, I loved the atmosphere and the general happiness however, I can’t help but wonder if we ‘sold the house to pay for the groceries’

     
  7. cornishmaid August 6, 2012 Reply
     
     

    We probably have “sold the house” but at this moment there will be few in GB who think it’s not a bad deal for the lift Team GB have provided a nation who have been subject to horrendous public cuts in spending etc etc – ironic isn’t it – Ben Ainslie’s medal made my Games absolutley fantastic!

     
  8. Nquillinan August 8, 2012 Reply
     
     

    Consider the affective impact of the Olympics. What is that worth? Would the most marginalized, under privileged, lowest socio-economic group in Australia – Aborigines – swap the experience of seeing one C. Freeman win gold on their own country for additional funding? I think not.

     

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Comments

  • Alice Smith: Well put, and I hope to see your documentary. I hate the idea of vaccinations and believe they can be harmful individual...

  • Misty: What a fabulously challenging topic. Jackdan, very well delivered argument. I'd love to see your research. Publish it! ...

  • Wendy Harmer: Thanks jack... a very interesting response and, from my communications with Sonya I think this is exactly the conversati...

  • Jackdan: As someone who doesn't follow the Australian Vaccination schedule, I already feel like I am risking ridicule and worse p...

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