2010 was the year of living with disappointment for most right-thinking folk on the Left

Contributors to ABC online's The Drum Unleashed shared their hopes on January 1, 2010

Contributors to ABC online's The Drum Unleashed shared their hopes on January 1, 2010

Sophie Cunningham, Meanjin editor and author:

I WANT less government-sanctioned homophobia. I don't want to hear the phrase "Australian families" one more time. Ever. I want the people I love to be well and the people I don't love to be well also. Except for Tony Abbott.

Robert Manne, public intellectual and author:

MY dream is that over the Christmas break Kevin Rudd decides to make Australia a moral leader among the nations on climate change; that as a result of his epiphany Australia opts for a heroic carbon reduction target by 2020; and that as a consequence of this decision Labor wins the election in November 2010 handsomely. More modestly and realistically, that Geelong wins their third grand final in four years.

Catherine Deveny, comedian, columnist, author:

MY dreams for 2010? The reintroduction of stoning for Channel 9 executives, religious fundamentalists, people who ask you to bring your own meat to their barbecues, parents with gifted children and climate change sceptics. (Climate change sceptics -- also known as morons -- are people who don't believe in science purely because they, (a) can't bear to admit they couldn't see it coming or may have contributed to it, (b) don't care because they assume by the time the real catastrophe happens they'll be old, dead or rich enough to buy their way out, and/or (c) refuse to accept the evidence, because if they do they will have to admit that God doesn't exist. Because if God existed, wouldn't we be special enough for him to spare us?) If I could hope for something that could feasibly happen by this time next year, it would be the legalisation of voluntary euthanasia. Or, in the case of my racist, bigoted, homophobic, judgmental, passive aggressive, narcissistic, wealthy grandmother, involuntary euthanasia.

Julian Burnside, lawyer, human rights campaigner:

THE war on terror will save, perhaps, a few thousand lives. The war on climate change could save the human race.

My wish for 2010 is that governments and people the world over will recognise this simple fact, and act accordingly.

Gerard Oosterman, artist, teacher, breeder of alpacas:

WHAT would I like to see in 2010? A cessation of all coal-burning power stations spewing [CO2] at a rate that will prevent my grandchildren from breathing without oxygen masks. The mandatory installation of solar panels.

Also, all electric hot water kettles to be phased out, replaced with whistling kettles on the gas stove. A prominent environment expert once said that electric hot water storage tanks and kettles, whether heated by solar or not, are like cutting butter with a chainsaw. Out with them, and pronto.

Also, all houses with heat absorbing black tiled roofs to be given subsidy to change to light colour. Maximum 1.5 bathrooms only, offset by obligatory bookshelves in all rooms.

To help combat obesity, closure of all food courts at shopping malls, with the exception of coffee lounges with Portuguese cakes, sushi bars and fruit juice bars.

All McDonald's to be phased out, replaced by Finnish, Estonian or Balkan black bread with cottage cheese outlets.

Those "car stop" eating venues will be indicated by modest signage portraying a thin but healthy couple with smiling kids munching on black bread with rising sun and sheafs of golden brown rye in the background.

Meat pies still OK, but one per family; no sauce.

But one was not disappointed. Jonathan Green, editor, ABC Online's The Drum, January 1, 2010:

ME? 2010? I want Brendan Fevola to drink a lot.

The Sunday Telegraph, yesterday:

AUSSIE rules bad boy Brendan Fevola was arrested during New Year's Eve celebrations and charged with public nuisance and obstructing police.

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