Stories from Quick Reads and Oceania
VIDEO: “Myths and Murals” of East Timor
East Timorese and Australian artists have come together to reflect and create around Myths and Murals, “promoting a common sense of national identity through art and story and collaborative strategies for engagement”. The cross-cultural public art and literacy project, between artists from Melbourne and the East Timorese free art school Arte Moris, takes...
Sydney Bushfires Spark Climate Change Brawl
Takver Takvera examines the devastating spring bushfires in the Australian state of New South Wales that have destroyed nearly 200 homes so far on his Climate Citizen blog: Raging Bushfires surround Sydney with early start to Fire season: Is there a link and is it appropriate to air the debate...
New Australian Government: Where are the Women?
On her YaThink? blog, Noely Neate asks why there is likely to be only one woman minister in Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott's new government. Where are the “Women of Merit”?: Married, unmarried, Gay, children, no children, minorities… The previous Cabinet, particularly under Ms Gillard, including both women AND men,...
Australia Elects New Abbott Conservative Government
Australia has a change of government. Labor Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's brief return ended on 7 September 2013 with the election of Tony Abbott's conservative Liberal/National coalition. Michael Taylor, a staunch online advocate of Labor, reflects on life under the new government in his post Should I really care who...
Police Backup for McDonald's in Local Burger War?
McDonald's may soon be turning up the heat against angry online and offline protests against the opening of a new restaurant in the Tecoma suburb of Melbourne, Australia. Independent media website Crikey reveals leaked handwritten notes from conversations with police, allegedly by a McDonald's executive.
Australian DJ Asks PM if Partner is Gay
Mia Freedman of popular website Mamamia attacks the “disgraceful” behaviour of shock jock Howard Sattler when he asked Australia's Prime Minister Julia Gillard whether her partner Tim was gay. [Wikipedia: ‘A shock jock is a type of radio broadcaster or disc jockey who entertains listeners or attracts attention using humor...
Oz Cyber Security Czar Ignorant of Tor
IT website Delimiter reports what would seem inconceivable to most people with an interest in Internet security: a senior Australian public servant responsible for cyber security policy has confessed to not being familiar with the Tor encryption service.
Australia Excuses Itself from Refugee Law
On 17 May 2013 Australian blogger and self-styled ‘global nomad’ More Atlitude posted a lengthy and detailed post in response to “Australia’s decision yesterday to excise its mainland from the migration zone” this week. He argues that it essentially reinforces a horrible, horrible policy of enforced detention for legal (I...
‘Tribewanted’ Creates, Connects Eco-Villages
Renewable energy, permaculture and green building, along with local traditions and eco-tourism: welcome to Tribewanted – an online community launched in 2006 based on the idea of “global citizenship” and harnessing the energy of social media to meaningfully connect and practice positive behavior change. Thanks to crowdfunding strategies, the project plans...
The State of Torture in the World in 2013
On January 23, 2013, an excerpt from the annual report of l'ACAT-France, A World of Torture 2013, makes a fresh assessment of the state of torture in the world [fr]: “A report called A World of Torture in 2013, assesses torture practices that continue to be alarming, from Pakistan to...
Australian Senator Nick Xenophon Detained in Malaysia
From Hussein abdul Hamid's blog Steadyaku47: ‘Federal independent Senator Nick Xenophon has been detained by Malaysian authorities. He was taken into custody on his arrival at Kuala Lumpur airport and told he was considered a security risk.’ He was to meet with the electoral commission and a senior government minister.
Mainland China's Demand on Infant Formula Milk Becomes a Global Issue
The news about anti-Chinese sentiment in Australia, Germany and the Netherlands as a result of the shortage of infant forumla milk is widely discussed in Hong Kong. Dictionary of Politically Incorrect Hong Kong Cantonese has collected the reports and the online discussion on this anti-Chinese sentiment.
Free Online Course on Media and Information Literacy by UNESCO
UNESCO has launched a free online course on Media and Information Literacy and Intercultural Dialogue. The course is designed for teachers, policy makers and professionals, and will be offered from February 25 to May 31, 2013 by the Queensland University of Technology in Australia.
Communications and Social Change Awards Open for Nominations
The Centre for Communication and Social Change at the University of Queensland in Australia is accepting nominations for individuals and organisations working in the theory and/or practice of communications for social change for the Communications and Social Change Awards. Deadline in January 18, 2013.
Japan's Indigenous Ainu Head to New Zealand
Ainu, the indigenous people of Northern Japan seek cultural exchange with Māori, the indigenous people of New Zealand.
New Caledonia: Political Tension Grows Over Rights to Nickel Mines
Claudine WERY writes [fr] that political tension grows between independentist and non-indenpendentist political parties in New Caledonia over the exploitation of Nickel mines. Non-independentists accuse the other party to strike deals with China and South Korea that they are not authorized to pursue. A referendum on gaining independence from France is scheduled...
Australia: Violence at Sydney Protest Against Anti-Islam Film
Jim Brown, on his blog Grace Filled World, reflects on the nature of Anger and Mercy, in light of the violent protest in Sydney on Sunday 16 September 2012 over the anti-Islam film Innocence of Muslims.
Funny Image of How Australian Newspaper Distinguishes Two Koreas
The 101 Great Goals site shared a scanned image showing how an Australian newspaper distinguishes two Koreas in its Olympics medal table. One was referred as ‘nice’ Korea, while other was named the ‘naughty’ one.
Tunisia: The Plight of Palestinians in Iraq
Tunisian blogger Nawel Abdullah posts an interview [ar] she conducted with the founder of The Australian Society for the Palestinian-Iraqi Refugee Emergency Yousef Alreemawi, who speaks to her about the plight of Palestinian refugees living in Iraq and efforts to resettle some of them in Australia.
Hong Kong: Netizens’ Reaction on New Zealand Infant Milk Powder Shortage
The resentment towards mainland consumers in Hong Kong keeps alleviating. The Hong Kong netizens’ reaction on infant milk powder shortage problem in New Zealand is probably more intense that the New Zealanders.
