· February, 2009

Stories about Australia from February, 2009

Thailand: Australian gets royal pardon

  23 February 2009

Australian Harry Nicolaides has been granted a royal pardon after spending almost six months in a Thai prison on lese majeste charges. New Mandala posted a statement from Harry's brother. Bangkok Pundit examines the lese majeste law.

Victorian Bushfires stir compassion and conflict

  19 February 2009

The grim toll of the Victorian bushfires now has 201 confirmed deaths, including a volunteer firefighter, and 1834 homes destroyed. There have been moving, controversial, bizarre and even innovative responses in the blogosphere to the tragedy.

East Timor: Suai Media Space Challenges the Digital Divide

  15 February 2009

In this second post of a series to celebrate the 9th anniversary of the arrival of the Internet in East Timor, Sara Moreira interviews Australian documentary-maker Jen Hughes - founder of Suai Media Space, whose main objective is to make the voices of Suai youth heard all over the world - and discusses the fight to minimize the digital divide even without broadband connection in Suai.

Australian wildfires and web tools

  9 February 2009

With devastation so widespread, and the threat of Australian bushfire continuing, citizen journalists have had a hard time getting near the scenes. Yet, the internet is full of pertinent information for those living in affected areas about the continuing spread of fires and those outside who want to stay tuned.

Australia: Bushfires devastate Victoria

  9 February 2009

It is being called Australia’s worst natural disaster. Bushfires have devastated the South East. The worst impact is in Victoria with more than 100 confirmed deaths and more than 750 houses incinerated. Whole towns such as Marysville have been wiped out, destroying their communities.