Why should people in the Casuarina electorate vote for me?

A vote for NAP, is a message that positive change is needed in our communities. That Prohibition is a failed experiment, and that drug misuse needs to be put in context with a persons environmental conditions.

For drug misuse to be minimised, the environmental conditions of individuals, and communities, needs to improve. And that this is the only way to minimise drug misuse and the associated behaviour that poverty supports.

My political education is self taught, lacking any associated ideology, organisations adhere to. My commitment to serving the Casuarina electorate, will be approached with sensible decision making, based on the principles of sustainability, and equality.

I am first and foremost a parent. I have a twelve year old daughter, and four month old son. My family is aiming to be as self sufficient as possible, as soon as we can. Capitalism. in my view, is an ethos that has reached its peak, and is unsustainable. Its struggle for survival, can be seen everywhere. My family has made the decision, to attempt to consume less, and to sustainably source what we need, and want, locally.

Were it not for Cyclone Tracy, I would of been born in Darwin. I was born in Brisbane, on the Eleventh of March, 1975. My parents, were visiting their parents, for Christmas in 1974, when Tracy struck. Like most peoples, our house and car, was destroyed. My parents were working for the Government at the time, and we moved back as soon as it was possible.

Up until my mid twenties, I had been involved with some type of sporting activity. My most successful were; track running, road running and Triathlons. In 1991, I traveled to the USA, as part of an Australian track and field team.

After school, the bulk of my sporting, and social culture, changed. I joined the Army, as a means to support a University education. I spent a couple years doing full time Infantry service, and then transferred to part time service. Some of this time has been with the top end unit; Norforce.

I completed two years of a Bachelor of Journalism at the USQ, whilst fulfilling my obligations to the Army. After this, I lived in Britain for a year. Some of my most memorable experiences occurred in that time.

My earliest memories, were that of searching for experiences, and asking questions. Most children outgrow this, but for better or worse, I have not. It was a source of frustration for my parents, and something the educational system could not suppress.

It was only relatively recently, that I came to the conclusion, that there are two political groups in Australian society. There are the people that are aware that Capitalism and its associated systems of governance and trade are flawed, and those that are yet to learn it.

I have been aware, for quite a while, that human society is biased and flawed. What I was not aware of, is that change can only happen, by directly challenging the institutions supporting Prohibition, and similar destructive policies.

Capitalism is based on the premises of, production, income and distribution. Production requires the usage of a resource. None of the authors of Capitalism, let alone the institutions that oversee it, established effective mechanisms to protect basic and fundamental rights.

The systems of Capitalism, Corporation and Governance, are self supporting, it is their effects on life that are not. Some of the problems with Capitalism are; the rise of plutocracy, peak oil, the need for perpetual growth, environmental collapse, the cyclical boom and bust of economies, and the extreme suffering humans, and other life, must endure for this system to survive.

Prohibition is a direct response to the flaws in the unsustainable institutions of Capitalism, Corporation and Government. Human interaction with Prohibition laws, are almost always devastating, and are a denial of inherent natural rights. Prohibition laws do more damage, to individuals, families, and communities, than drugs ever could.

NAP is a grass roots organisation, using reformist politics, to stimulate debate and change in our communities. NAP is not challenging the authorities that be. NAP's aim is to engage with people affected by Prohibition. NAP uses a range of tactics, focusing on non violent direct action, to highlight issues that are of public concern and, therefore, interest.

My involvement with NAP has been focused on street based activism; using nonviolent direct action, to stimulate debate, and hopefully action, in the communities that are adversely affected by Prohibition. This also involves, focusing attention, on the systems, and institutions, Prohibition supports in Australia, and beyond.

The Everest for NAP, personally, is Australia's rescinding of the 'Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs - 1961', and the discussion that must be had about society, and drugs place in crime. This, American inspired, UN treaty, makes global Prohibition possible.

The NT Labor Governments Orwellian 'Law and Order' platform, is based on rhetoric rather than logic. One of the manifestations of this platform, is Labors insidious 'Drug House Laws', and its persecution of many people on a multitude of levels. This, and similar laws, are a representation of Prohibition, and its place in the Capitalist, Corporatist and Government nexus. It is only a small minority of humanity that derive benefit from Prohibition.

When, where, why, who, and how, these laws and systems limitations, are affecting our lifestyle, is not discussed widely. Either within orthodox academia, or the citizens in general. The lack of awareness, and therefor reaction to, is related to the hierarchal power structure of humanity.

Natural human responses to physical, economical, social, cultural and mental health issues are a cause of substance misuse. If current society could meet the needs of its citizens, then drug misuse would decrease accordingly. Only when it does, will drug misuse decrease.

As well as the NAP platform, my personal platform is:

- Adoption of sustainable trade and industry

- Adoption of non hierarchical, equality based governance

- Adoption of an ethos that is based on environmental sustainability

- Adoption of a policy that every person be online by 2025

- No Uranium usage

I am not going to do a Little Johnny and say that I can fulfill my election policies. What your vote for NAP will do, is to put the message out, that people are aware that change is necessary. And that 'dependent'political parties, particularly the Laberals, are unable to provide what is necessary, for the growth people require, from their institutions, at an individual, community, or social level.

Non violent, direct action, is one approach, used to promote change. It is proven, to be a catalyst for lasting and positive social reform. Non violent, direct action, toppled the British Empire in India, and the American backed Shah of Iran in 1980. It is the method NAP uses, to highlight bigotry and prejudice in NT Politics.

The belief that change can occur for the better is affirmed when it is seen at work. There are many models of real democracy working, NAP is just one.