Vandals of the Commons

Roads soaked in fossil fuel leaks, toxic surface runoff and throwaway junk will now become safe from young criminals that vandalise the hot cooking bitumen and footpaths with their chalk.

Since the 17th century children who 'go and play outside' have been engaging together with equals in the game of 'scotch-hop'.

Proposed new anti-graffiti laws in New South Wales will make it an offence to intentionally mark any premises...That means it will technically outlaw things like chalk hopscotch squares or handball courts drawn on footpaths or bitumen...Unless the kids get the consent of the local council they're committing an offence" abc.

Obese and attention deficient young people have to navigate a visual cacophony of solid state spam (advertising) on walls or all the other surfaces in their ever shrinking public spaces.

Are they really the 'criminal vandals' that deprive all living beings of a habitable planet?
Their guardians would do well to provide Intergenerational Justice and Intergenerational Equity for their offspring or the writing will be on the wall...


Related:
Investing in public art and young people in Manly 2007
Power and Attention Hogs in Social Spaces, 2008

Mothers - go for gold!

Despite that the nation's fertility rate has jumped to a 10-year high, (abc) a government leader is urging to have a third child 'for the country'. Maybe a bronze Motherhood Cross for the fourth, silver for six and gold for eight?
Meanwhile child abuse and neglect are increasing in Australia, but the high price of petrol is of more concern to Australians. (abc) 'Getting away from it all'…for Easter in their suburban tractors (video) to increase the 'toll'.

Update:
Australia is in the midst of the biggest baby boom in its history 01012012