World News and News International

 Today is a historic day. In the last 300 years of the English parliament, only three civilians have been summoned to appear and Mr Rupert Murdoch is the third. This man defines the multi-national magnate, he lives in many places but belongs no-where, having renounced his Australian citizenship to become an American Citizen. Yet in the US and other countries like the UK, where he so fiercely controls the flow of information, he is considered an outsider. Is the turmoil surrounding Murdoch and his phone-hacking chums just another storm in a media tea cup or is it a sign of something more important, more positive and powerful? It appears that the pendulum has swung too far in terms of press and police corruption. Our collective moral compass, sometimes at sea in a secular society, suddenly judders to life. Suddenly there is consensus  and a majority agree, from bleeding heart liberals to the staunchly conservative, that something is rotten in the state of our nation if we have allowed this to happen. And its not just at home, this is a truly international story. The lies may vary from place to place but the corporate culture is wide spread, setting a poor example. This is theatre at its most exciting and surreal, a real life drama played out with the melodramatic media as both villians and heroes. This is a wonderful opportunity to catch public interest while questions are raised about whether the end justifies the means. Process is suddenly important (artists will concur). Our collective conscience is pricked. Like all liars and cheats caught in the act, there is a relief in being caught, knowing we were wrong. We were wrong to revel in other people's misery and soak up salacious gossip while the victims were being manipulated. They went too far and we are implicated. No, it wasn't our fault - Murdoch and his cronies  led astray us astray. As we collectively search for answers and alternatives, we wish the world was different. It can be! Imagination is a powerful tool and the stories we tell need to change. 'Be the change you want to see' said Ghandi. Its time to work out how...