Newsgroups: workspace.cross_the_border


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Subject: illegal borders
From: dia <diana@dial.isys.hu>
Date: Sun, 29 Jun 1997 04:26:35 METDST

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Greetings,
I don't know if the following text is interesting or not, but I will take a chance and
post it anyway. I did a little search on borders and found a text from Australia-
a kind of advertisement for a surveillance company. Why does it seem interesting to me?
Maybe because the [cross the border] campaign is also about mentality, and it is somehow
surprising to me that an Island country as remote as Australia would put so much effort into
protecting its borders.

I exchanged some mails with David Avalos, a Chicano artist in California who addresses border
issues. There in California, so far from me now, these were heavy issues - Proposition 187 was
voted in by a majority in liberal Califas (and later struck down as unconstitutional by the
California Supreme Court). Anyway, I invited him to participate in [crossing the border] he
responded with Double crossing the border! Somehow I'm heading to the Californian Ideologies
and the economic borders that aart spoke of - Is it too idealistic? To think of a country without
borders? One that allows anybody to enter, work, live. Isle of Man comes to mind. Not Germany,
not the USA, not Serbia.

Now it is getting late and I am distracted, but still interested to see what comes of the next
days in workspace. And be happy I travel with an American passport (valid till 2005).

xiao,


Since 1 August 1988, Australian Customs Service's Coastwatch has been
responsible for providing surveillance of Australia's coastal areas. A
private contractor provides the aircraft and crews to maintain the
surveillance service operated by Coastwatch. Coastwatch also uses
Customs vessels and on occasion the services of the Australian Navy to
assist in this surveillance task. A 24- hour operations room is located
in Canberra to coordinate activities for Coastwatch. Coastwatch's role
Aerial surveillance is important in helping prevent the importation of
illegal drugs, other prohibited goods and the unlawful movement of
people and cargo across our borders. Coastwatch carries out civil
surveillance of the 37,000 kilometres of Australian coastline. It
patrols our borders not only on behalf of Customs, but
also for Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service, Australian
Fisheries Service, National Parks and Wildlife Service, Great Barrier
Reef Marine Park Authority and other Government agencies. It patrols the
200 nautical mile limit of the Australian Fishing Zone including
offshore areas such as Christmas Island, the Cocos Keeling Islands and
Lord Howe Island. It also patrols the 20nautical mile limit for movement
of people and cargo into Australian territory.

Aircraft

Coastwatch has a number of aircraft, including jets, propeller driven
craft and a helicopter. Most of these are fitted with radar and
electronic search aids. Coastwatch's main aircraft bases are located in
the north of the country at Broome, Darwin, Cairns and Horn Island.

dia(na)