Australia is multicultural society and its major sporting codes are one of the great melting pots of cultures, opinions, and experiences.
Many Australians have a passionate connection with their favourite sports and clubs, and many expect their values to be respected, if not reflected by them.
The star players are held up as idols in the community and held to high standards. The day-to-day actions of the players on and off the field lead to many discussions among the public about racism, treatment of women, drug and alcohol abuse and education among other issues.
Although some will argue that sport and politics don’t mix, for the most part, I believe the interaction is positive and can raise awareness to millions of Australians on important issues.
Most sporting codes have public campaigns with games and premiership rounds dedicated to raising funds and awareness for the important issues.
The Sydney New Year’s Test Match dedicates a day of the match to the McGrath Foundation in support of breast cancer. The NRL and AFL host events supporting Indigenous culture and challenging racism, promoting women and gender equality.
Now the NRL has a multiculturalism round.
Sport can be at the forefront of pivotal movements. The Australian rugby and cricket opposed apartheid by cancelling major tours of the South African teams in 70s. Many professional athletes around the world are supporting the Black Lives Matter movement by taking a knee.
Yet, despite the significant reach and recent support of other movements, I have not seen a sporting code take any significant stance on the biggest issue facing the modern world – Climate Change.
As an NRL and an AFL fan, I think this is a topic that both codes could put away their grievances and unite to help make the world a better place.
These two codes reach millions of Australians and, with the politicians continually failing on this matter, could provide a strong platform for action.
The idea would be for both the NRL and AFL to host the ‘Play for Our Future Round’ to raise awareness and funds to tackling climate change in Australia.
Naming rights and other sponsorship for the round could be organised to help raise funds and help promote the round.
With the right promotion these rounds could be one of the most popular and boost game attendance and viewership.
There would be various interviews with industry leaders, players, and coaches throughout the week which would highlight both the effects of climate change and the some of the great work being already being done.
The voice of the public should be harnessed, and public events organised around the games. Local schools would be involved as well.
This is where the concept could get interesting and could generate a lot of interest from viewers who would not normally follow the NRL or AFL, while also making a meaningful impact on the world.
The Act for Our Future competition will run during this week where companies, scientists and entrepreneurs would submit business proposals for projects and initiatives which can help reduce emissions and the effects of climate change in Australia. A panel of judges would adjudicate and select several winners.
A certain portion of the proceeds generated from the round including gate takings, broadcast revenue, sponsorship and donations will be provided to fund the best projects and initiatives each year for them to be implemented. Who knows, the government might wake and up choose to back the initiative and match the investments raised?
A significant enough investment could even result in some heavyweight companies becoming involved. With any luck, this could be become one of the biggest funding sources for new projects in Australia and as such attract significant interest.
Although the majority of proceeds from the Play for Our Future round would be provided to the winners of the Act for Our Future competition, It would be a win-win for the NRL and AFL as the exposure to a wider Australian and even global audience would be exceptional for growth and awareness.
So, given the politicians aren’t willing to make the necessary effort to tackle our greatest ever issue, let’s hope Peter V’landys and Gillon McLachlan can show them how effective politics can be through sport.
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
For $1.5 billion being donated to the NRL we should be renaming the trophy "the Bunny Cup" and Souths should have there name engraved on it every year following a 20-man roster that would make the chooks green with envy and a flood of crooked calls all year like the Panthers enjoyed to win the 2021 premiership. :laughing:
Hairy
Roar Rookie
Well right there is a good source of funding needed , with direct interested in the game too. I'm sure he could carve of a slice of that $1.5b promised. Atlassian would be the perfect naming rights partner to get this up and running. He is a passionate bunnies fan too so that might even make you happy, GB.
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
There you go Hairy! The Bunnies are already doing more to help fight climate change than the NRL and the remaining 16 NRL clubs combined! . Tech multi-billionaire buys into NRL team owned by Russell Crowe . The 41-year-old, who is worth $20 billion, has already pledged $1.5 billion to climate initiatives. . ‘I [Mike Cannon-Brookes] have heavy investments in controlled environment agriculture because it turns electricity into farming,’ he tweeted. . ’99 per cent less emissions from transport, 95 per cent less water and 95 per cent less land use. . ‘Renewables make it continually better.’ . He has also warned the world needs to change its eating habits by adding insects to its daily diet if the planet is to feed a global population of eight billion. . ‘Insects are a huge part of a sustainable future,’ he said. ‘I’m a big fan of cricket flour and insect eating in general. The logic totally stacks up – Low planet footprint, high protein, sustainable etc. Atlassian boss Mike Cannon-Brookes believes they are the solution to feeding the world’s 8 billion people. . https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/tech-multi-billionaire-buys-into-nrl-team-owned-by-russell-crowe/ar-AAQHw12?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=U531 . I draw the line at eating insects though. Let’s see Greta Thunberg eating crickets instead of listening to crickets after her speeches for a change.
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
Anything I can do to help, Hairy. Just let me know if you need to find a good Electrolysist. :laughing:
Hairy
Roar Rookie
You may have been the main contributor to those comments. Hopefully the intent of the article didn't get lost along the way.
andrew
Roar Rookie
Old Joe really made an impression on Camilla. He won't be on her Xmas card list.
RedcliffeFan
Roar Rookie
lol
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
"the Rabbitohs finishing 6th but you were crazy to let Reynolds go" I said it at the time and I say it still, Souths should have re-signed Reynolds for the same money the Broncos were offering on a 2-year deal with an option for a 3rd year if certain criteria were met. That said, the silence of Jason Demetriou during all of this and his subsequent endorsement of young half Lachlan Ilias convince me it was JD that was against a longer term contract for Reynolds. There is so much more young Ilias could have learned from Reynolds over the next 2 - 3 years but now he will be thrown in the deep end from round 1 (assuming Milford doesn't get his apportunity first). Based on the story below that looks unlikely. 'Big future at the club': Jason Demetriou endorses Lachlan Ilias to wear Adam Reynolds' No. 7 long-term https://www.sportingnews.com/au/league/news/jason-demetriou-backs-lachlan-ilias-to-wear-adam-reynolds-no-7-long-term/17r18vywjmf3n1f95fqaytqsa0
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
"Reggie Rabbit believes in climate change" Of course Reggie Rabbit fears climate change, jimmmy. If the ocean levels rise he will be the first to go! :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
If either Meghan Markle or Caitlyn Jenner ever have anything to do with the NRL I’ll call shotgun on that story! :laughing:
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
Hairy, congrats mate. Who would have thought a story on climate change on a Rugby League forum would have scooped the Top Stories category with a 206 comments thus far compared to the 59 comment average of the last 20 stories? Lucky guess? :silly: We haven't seen those numbers since Jarryd Hayne and Jack De Belin were in the headlines on The ROAR. :laughing:
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
Reggie Rabbit believes in climate change and that’s good enough for me. I have read Shellenbergers book and agree with some and disagree with other points he makes . He does NOT dispute the world is getting hotter. I am halfway through the IPCC report . It’s very thorough. Do not read the summary . It’s politically inspired bs. What should we do about it? Nothing ? Or Everything? THUNBERG or Sarah Palin.? Both are useless extremists Like most things a middle course is the right one. Like most thins the sweet spot is somewhere in between. Cautious but not extreme. Sorry I have the Rabbitohs finishing 6th but you were crazy to let Reynolds go.
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
There are always two sides to every story, jimmmy. Often the truth lies somewhere in the middle, just like with this subject. Why Apocalyptic Claims About Climate Change Are Wrong Direct quote: Few have underscored the threat more than student climate activist Greta Thunberg and Green New Deal sponsor Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. The latter said, “The world is going to end in 12 years if we don't address climate change.” Says Thunberg in her new book, “Around 2030 we will be in a position to set off an irreversible chain reaction beyond human control that will lead to the end of our civilization as we know it.” I also care about getting the facts and science right and have in recent months corrected inaccurate and apocalyptic news media coverage... which have been improperly presented as resulting primarily from climate change. Journalists and activists alike have an obligation to describe environmental problems honestly and accurately, even if they fear doing so will reduce their news value or salience with the public. There is good evidence that the catastrophist framing of climate change is self-defeating because it alienates and polarizes many people. First, no credible scientific body has ever said climate change threatens the collapse of civilization much less the extinction of the human species. “‘Our children are going to die in the next 10 to 20 years.’ What’s the scientific basis for these claims?” https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaelshellenberger/2019/11/25/why-everything-they-say-about-climate-change-is-wrong/?sh=240360cc12d6
Kent Dorfman
Roar Rookie
nah mate – just need a slight rejigging of the lyrics – “Chestnuts roasting on the open fire / jack frost nipping at your nuts / Yuletide carols being sung by a choir / and folks dressed up like Inuit’s” – Voila)) Just thought we could change “nuts” to “cruets” – rhymes better with Inuit’s. Any fan of Roy & HG would remember their reference to being hit in the cruets.
Kent Dorfman
Roar Rookie
what makes me laugh is whenever there’s an episode of something like “Law & Order” where there’s a black man on trial (sorry – African American who was born in America and should really be called American), and how the overly zealous defense lawyer (also Black) argues how his ancestors were brought to the country in chains blah blah. As the prosecutor I’d say “if he doesn’t like it here he can go back to Africa” and also remind him how it was a white man who ended slavery in the good ol’ US of A.
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
"the family jewels are awfully close to lots of batteries!" You've got me thinking of Christmas already Kent... Chestnuts roasting by an open fire, Jack Frost nipping at your nose Yuletide carols being sung by a choir And folks dressed up like Eskimos That last word (though not my lyrics) will probably have be labelled as a r-a-cist and a bigot now, Kent. :silly:
Kent Dorfman
Roar Rookie
how are u gunna cook it Blud? you'll then be adding to the carbon monoxide / ozone hole issue yeah - unless you're having "lamb tartare"?
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
Given the mud that gets thrown our way as the modern day scapegoats for societies ills it’s amazing that it doesn’t stain our white privilege. There’s not much privilege though if you ask me Kent, if we can become the targets of bigoted abuse but don’t have the freedom of expression to defend ourselves. Oh well. . Funny though isn’t it, how white leftist radical extremists have taken over the BLM movement and conflated it with the movement of many letters that make no sense but has lots of colours?
Kent Dorfman
Roar Rookie
hope there's a steel bullet proof plate under your seat in the Tesla cars eh - the family jewels are awfully close to lots of batteries!