Last week, the last remaining member of the big four whose tireless efforts ended the cold war in 1989 died. Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev, the last President of the Soviet Union, passed away at age 91, joining his Western colleagues who also were responsible for the end of the cold war – Ronald Reagan, Margaret Thatcher, and Pope John Paul II, all of whom predeceased him. The world sure needs leaders of that calibre now.
Closer to home (at Yarralumla no less), it was good to see the NCA call in the lease on what was to have been a new Russian embassy next to their Chinese comrades and just down from the South African, PNG, and Canadian High Commissions. The Russians were very tardy in developing the site and I was pleased to see the Ukrainian ambassador throw his country’s hat into the ring to seek to obtain and develop it. It would be a great gesture and poetic justice if that heroic embattled country currently fighting for its life against Putin’s monstrous invasion were granted the site.
While Australia is helping Ukraine a lot with arms and supplies, we could also send a clear message to Moscow by not only granting the embassy site to Ukraine to develop, but also by expelling all but say a couple of Russian third secretaries from the embassy thus making a definitive statement showing our displeasure and contempt for the Russian invasion of Ukraine. I understand that the Australian Ukrainian community will organise fundraisers to help build a Ukrainian embassy on that site, if given the g- ahead, and I would urge all successful movers and shakers throughout Australia to donate money and show their support to get such an initiative off the ground.
On a very local topic, heading over the lake, drivers heading into Civic along Canberra Avenue cannot help notice the infestation of rabbits on Capital Hill. I drove south from Civic the other day and counted about 50. Capital Hill looks like an outback paddock during a rabbit plague before the farmers applied myxomatosis or calicivirus. They are also multiplying around Reid CIT.
Canberra may be the bush capital, but this is ridiculous! Some people complain of excessive kangaroos but roos are native to Australia and our national symbol (and there are currently big questions over the latest cull as it appears to have gone too far). But what about these rabbits, an invasive species brought to Australia by early British settlers to have some sport with. Together with the cane toad and serrated tussock, rabbits have not been useful additions to our flora and fauna. What’s the plan, Chief Minister? At this rate they will be spreading out and ripping up Haig Park, the ANU and Reid ovals in no time at all. God forbid what will happen if they cross the lake!
