I have received the following update from Susan Ryan, AO, Chair HRAAC inc:
"Dear Human Rights Act Supporter,
I have been greatly encouraged by the community response to the Brennan Panel.
Over 10000 submissions have already been received by the Panel and I am sure they are in no doubt that most Australians, from all backgrounds, care greatly about human rights and want significantly better protection.
We are presently reviewing our Model Bill and plan to make this the core of the HRAAC submission to the Brennan Panel, illustrating how Australia can enjoy the protection of effective laws while still leaving parliamentary lawmaking powers intact.
The HRAAC continues its advocacy work, started back in 2005, by addressing forums, collecting and publishing relevant material and making the parliament aware of our shared views. I have remained actively engaged in this public debate, in person and over the the media.
We have joined with over 70 other organisations to form a national network, the Australian Human Rights Group, (AHRG) thus greatly multiplying the numbers of supporting individuals and bodies, and growing our information base.
The HRAAC’s web-site facilitates access and links to a broad range of human rights information from Australia and overseas. It highlights important developments and lists key human rights events being organized around Australia. There are also links to our youth portal, humanrightsact-TV and to the AHRG page.
I do urge all of you who may have not yet done so, to make your submissions to the Brennan panel and to encourage your friends and acquaintances to do the same. Please check the Get Involved section of the our web-site if you need help on how to do this.
I also encourage you to write letters to the newspapers and to call talk back radio. Our opponents, few as they are, are becoming increasingly vocal and have unlimited access to the media to repeat their wrong headed and misleading claims.
Progress has been good but we cannot slow down at this crucial time. Thank you for your support thus far and please let me know what more we can do to achieve our objective, a Human Rights Act for Australia."
If you are interested in human rights please get involved with this campaign.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
The Forum - 'Desperate Measures' by Susan Metcalfe
On Line Opinion has published this article on asylum seekers.
I have posted the following comment:
"The Howard govt turned itself inside out to excise huge slices of the migration zone as part of its manic determination to repel 'boat people'. The Pacific Solution fiasco underpinned the 'illegal boat people' wedge Howard launched in 2001. I was part of the PM's task force that worked on these issues.
Sadly, the 'dog whistle' has been sounded loud and clear by Turnbull et al, and the 'xenophobe' crowd have responded with alacrity. Within their simple-minded construct it's all the Rudd government's fault! Labor instigated a more humane approach to refugees, although it could be improved by taking the Christmas Island stopover out of the equation. Rudd abolished the egregious TPV regime, which was a violation of refugee rights and a nasty scar on our human rights landscape.
Some of the comments here explain why the Coalition politicizes refugees. The posture is so effective - and is'nt it great to hear back from that bastion of 'multilateralism', erstwhile FM Downer on how his mates would have handled this situation? How can anyone forget the Libs' response to Tampa and kids overboard?
Yes, blame the victims for their own plight, extract as much sensationalism out of the role of people smugglers, put words in the mouth of ADF personnel who cannot answer for themselves, and then whip up public sentiment against refugees. Throw in dollops of confected outrage over your political opponents complete lack of preparedness to face down the 'threat' and you have your stock in trade 'dog whistle' response to the terrible plight of some of the most vulnerable people on the planet.
Oh, I forgot - then you can set about making weak neighbouring countries complicit in policies that violate human rights!
The cruel stupidity of the Howard Govt saw asylum seekers ending up in an excised area, unable to access the same legal rights as those who reach our migration zone. The recent case of 29 asylum seekers deposited on an offshore rig brought the small-mindedness of the previous regime back into sharp focus. Labor must align our Migration Act with international law and refugee conventions."
The more things change, the more they remain the same!
I have posted the following comment:
"The Howard govt turned itself inside out to excise huge slices of the migration zone as part of its manic determination to repel 'boat people'. The Pacific Solution fiasco underpinned the 'illegal boat people' wedge Howard launched in 2001. I was part of the PM's task force that worked on these issues.
Sadly, the 'dog whistle' has been sounded loud and clear by Turnbull et al, and the 'xenophobe' crowd have responded with alacrity. Within their simple-minded construct it's all the Rudd government's fault! Labor instigated a more humane approach to refugees, although it could be improved by taking the Christmas Island stopover out of the equation. Rudd abolished the egregious TPV regime, which was a violation of refugee rights and a nasty scar on our human rights landscape.
Some of the comments here explain why the Coalition politicizes refugees. The posture is so effective - and is'nt it great to hear back from that bastion of 'multilateralism', erstwhile FM Downer on how his mates would have handled this situation? How can anyone forget the Libs' response to Tampa and kids overboard?
Yes, blame the victims for their own plight, extract as much sensationalism out of the role of people smugglers, put words in the mouth of ADF personnel who cannot answer for themselves, and then whip up public sentiment against refugees. Throw in dollops of confected outrage over your political opponents complete lack of preparedness to face down the 'threat' and you have your stock in trade 'dog whistle' response to the terrible plight of some of the most vulnerable people on the planet.
Oh, I forgot - then you can set about making weak neighbouring countries complicit in policies that violate human rights!
The cruel stupidity of the Howard Govt saw asylum seekers ending up in an excised area, unable to access the same legal rights as those who reach our migration zone. The recent case of 29 asylum seekers deposited on an offshore rig brought the small-mindedness of the previous regime back into sharp focus. Labor must align our Migration Act with international law and refugee conventions."
The more things change, the more they remain the same!
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Food and human rights
SBS aired a doco on the growing anger in developing countries over the rising price of food and the increasing marginalization of small land holders.
Over the last three decades the failed strategies of the Bretton Woods agencies (IMF & World Bank) and the relentless push of globalization has seen the food security of poor countries threatened. As an Australian aid official I was alarmed by the alacrity with which developed countries pedaled a development template fashioned to benefit Western trade interests.
To get beyond the simplistic lexicon of a political economy shaped exclusively by global market forces, we need to explore more humanist solutions to the provision of basic human needs and acknowledge that failure to do so will condemn all of us to an insecure future. The onus on developed world leaders to end charity and imposed, culturally skewed economic prescriptions is urgent. New partnerships with the developing world to share resources equitably and strengthen human capability in areas of most need should be viewed as essential investments in global security.
During my career, amongst a litany of inappropriate technology transfers, culturally biased structural adjustment dogmas, misplaced charity and other myriad distortions, the occasional gem emerged. Such successes sustained me over the years. I felt we got the development cooperation process right every so often. Genuine cross-cultural bridges and mutually beneficial arrangements were reinforced in the process. I rationalized misgivings and convinced myself that it was vital that people with an eye for the paradox of manipulative aid strategies mitigate the worst excesses of this form of imperialism.
Food security and the provision of other basic human needs is at the core of the Millennial Development Goals. However, the economic prescriptions of the last three decades have not focused on third world self-sufficiency and local empowerment. Economic elites have benefited from opening trade channels, import-export of food commodities has expanded, multinational food corporations have acquired a greater share of the trade in food (including capturing patents on staple varieties and dominating the trade in certain commodities), small land holders have been squeezed and impoverished, aid-dependent developing countries have been manipulated by donor powers into accepting economic prescriptions that have increased rural poverty.
The GFC has sparked a review of the resource distribution template governing North-South relations. The IMF coffers have been replenished to assist the financial security of revenue-challenged developing countries. The concern is whether there has been a shift in the globalization construct, whereby unequal playing fields underpin the food trade and poor countries are dependent on cheap imports. The distortion of local food markets that has flowed from WB/IMF economic prescriptions and international food aid programs has to stop.
Globalization can only deliver just outcomes if accompanied by trade and development cooperation policies that empower and foster human dignity and freedom. Think of a world where the constructs of ‘developed’ and ‘developing’ no longer apply. A fourth world would celebrate cultural difference; the dignity and worth of all labour and the universality of human rights. We all have a stake in peace and security. The moribund ‘polarities’ and parallel development paths of the last century, blind us to the potential of shared horizons.
Over the last three decades the failed strategies of the Bretton Woods agencies (IMF & World Bank) and the relentless push of globalization has seen the food security of poor countries threatened. As an Australian aid official I was alarmed by the alacrity with which developed countries pedaled a development template fashioned to benefit Western trade interests.
To get beyond the simplistic lexicon of a political economy shaped exclusively by global market forces, we need to explore more humanist solutions to the provision of basic human needs and acknowledge that failure to do so will condemn all of us to an insecure future. The onus on developed world leaders to end charity and imposed, culturally skewed economic prescriptions is urgent. New partnerships with the developing world to share resources equitably and strengthen human capability in areas of most need should be viewed as essential investments in global security.
During my career, amongst a litany of inappropriate technology transfers, culturally biased structural adjustment dogmas, misplaced charity and other myriad distortions, the occasional gem emerged. Such successes sustained me over the years. I felt we got the development cooperation process right every so often. Genuine cross-cultural bridges and mutually beneficial arrangements were reinforced in the process. I rationalized misgivings and convinced myself that it was vital that people with an eye for the paradox of manipulative aid strategies mitigate the worst excesses of this form of imperialism.
Food security and the provision of other basic human needs is at the core of the Millennial Development Goals. However, the economic prescriptions of the last three decades have not focused on third world self-sufficiency and local empowerment. Economic elites have benefited from opening trade channels, import-export of food commodities has expanded, multinational food corporations have acquired a greater share of the trade in food (including capturing patents on staple varieties and dominating the trade in certain commodities), small land holders have been squeezed and impoverished, aid-dependent developing countries have been manipulated by donor powers into accepting economic prescriptions that have increased rural poverty.
The GFC has sparked a review of the resource distribution template governing North-South relations. The IMF coffers have been replenished to assist the financial security of revenue-challenged developing countries. The concern is whether there has been a shift in the globalization construct, whereby unequal playing fields underpin the food trade and poor countries are dependent on cheap imports. The distortion of local food markets that has flowed from WB/IMF economic prescriptions and international food aid programs has to stop.
Globalization can only deliver just outcomes if accompanied by trade and development cooperation policies that empower and foster human dignity and freedom. Think of a world where the constructs of ‘developed’ and ‘developing’ no longer apply. A fourth world would celebrate cultural difference; the dignity and worth of all labour and the universality of human rights. We all have a stake in peace and security. The moribund ‘polarities’ and parallel development paths of the last century, blind us to the potential of shared horizons.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
ABC 'Insiders' - You have heard of the 'shining'; now we have the 'dumbing'!
I keep persevering with this show as occasionally it produces some gems, but today was woeful. I've penned the following comment:
"The pro-Iraq war chorus has morphed into the 'we hate deficits' chorus. The Murdoch press has stormed the barricades and Barry must be thinking about a change of career to something with substance - may be a sports journalist! Listening to Andrew Robb was like the drone of a commune apparatchik in a Brecht play. The man is a walking self-parody!
Today's effort took me back to some of the confused musings on the run up to the 2007 poll. I'm afraid this bunch of 'Insiders', with the possible exception of LT, operate in a parallel reality. Perhaps they spend too much time talking to themselves, and crafting think pieces that are accessible to people with a relatively low reading age!
Poor Lenore must be wondering what it would be like to exchange views with people of talent and integrity. At least she made an effort to humanize refugees and dispense with the 'demonizing' propaganda of the likes of Bolt. This confused latter chappie thinks he is a 'conservative' font of knowledge. No, he is just a reactionary (sorry, 'naughty') boy, and not a misunderstood messiah!
It seems I'm not the only one who thinks Bolt is a bit of a dill.
"The pro-Iraq war chorus has morphed into the 'we hate deficits' chorus. The Murdoch press has stormed the barricades and Barry must be thinking about a change of career to something with substance - may be a sports journalist! Listening to Andrew Robb was like the drone of a commune apparatchik in a Brecht play. The man is a walking self-parody!
Today's effort took me back to some of the confused musings on the run up to the 2007 poll. I'm afraid this bunch of 'Insiders', with the possible exception of LT, operate in a parallel reality. Perhaps they spend too much time talking to themselves, and crafting think pieces that are accessible to people with a relatively low reading age!
Poor Lenore must be wondering what it would be like to exchange views with people of talent and integrity. At least she made an effort to humanize refugees and dispense with the 'demonizing' propaganda of the likes of Bolt. This confused latter chappie thinks he is a 'conservative' font of knowledge. No, he is just a reactionary (sorry, 'naughty') boy, and not a misunderstood messiah!
It seems I'm not the only one who thinks Bolt is a bit of a dill.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Australia continues to model bad practice on treatment of asylum seekers
The Howard govt turned itself inside out to excise huge slices of the Australian migration zone as part of its manic determination to repel 'boat people'. I was part of the high-level task force for a period that worked on these issues for government.
Back in June 2006 the Howard govt went truly feral on the issue of the migration zone. Readers might recall the issue of West Papuan asylum seekers and our migration zone. I wrote at the time:
"Australia has 'persuaded' PNG to take back three West Papuans who landed in the Torres Strait last month.
Immigration authorities say the trio is not entitled to have their claims heard in Australia because the Torres Strait islands have been excised from the country's migration zone.
This shifting of our problem to a poorer country is typical of the Howard Government. The Memorandum of Understanding under which this action was taken is just one of many examples of the misuse of economic power to put aid dependent countries such as PNG under duress. The whole Pacific Solution fiasco was set up to underpin the 'get tough on boat people' wedge Howard launched in 2001. He has to keep shifting the mirrors to manage the smoke shapes and to deflect the occasional spotlight shone from Jakarta, Port Moresby and by refugee advocates.
Now we have the 'pythonesque' excising of the whole country from the migration zone on the cards. Soft shoe shuffle meets Ministry for silly walks, and don't mention the war.
Eventually the mirror will jam and catch Howard looking straight into the mirror and back at himself. I just hope everyone else catches that 'rabbit in the spotlight' reflective moment in living colour. Fade to black."
Of course, the bill excising the whole of Australia from the migration zone was ultimately defeated in the Senate, but large slices of offshore Australia remain excised from the zone.
As a consequence of this cruel stupidity, asylum seekers ending up in an excised area are not entitled to the same legal rights as those who reach our migration zone. The case of 29 asylum seekers who have been deposited on an offshore rig now brings the small-mindedness of the Howard regime back into sharp focus.
The Labor Government must amend the Migration Act as it applies to the migration zone, in accordance with the requirements of international law and refugee conventions.
Back in June 2006 the Howard govt went truly feral on the issue of the migration zone. Readers might recall the issue of West Papuan asylum seekers and our migration zone. I wrote at the time:
"Australia has 'persuaded' PNG to take back three West Papuans who landed in the Torres Strait last month.
Immigration authorities say the trio is not entitled to have their claims heard in Australia because the Torres Strait islands have been excised from the country's migration zone.
This shifting of our problem to a poorer country is typical of the Howard Government. The Memorandum of Understanding under which this action was taken is just one of many examples of the misuse of economic power to put aid dependent countries such as PNG under duress. The whole Pacific Solution fiasco was set up to underpin the 'get tough on boat people' wedge Howard launched in 2001. He has to keep shifting the mirrors to manage the smoke shapes and to deflect the occasional spotlight shone from Jakarta, Port Moresby and by refugee advocates.
Now we have the 'pythonesque' excising of the whole country from the migration zone on the cards. Soft shoe shuffle meets Ministry for silly walks, and don't mention the war.
Eventually the mirror will jam and catch Howard looking straight into the mirror and back at himself. I just hope everyone else catches that 'rabbit in the spotlight' reflective moment in living colour. Fade to black."
Of course, the bill excising the whole of Australia from the migration zone was ultimately defeated in the Senate, but large slices of offshore Australia remain excised from the zone.
As a consequence of this cruel stupidity, asylum seekers ending up in an excised area are not entitled to the same legal rights as those who reach our migration zone. The case of 29 asylum seekers who have been deposited on an offshore rig now brings the small-mindedness of the Howard regime back into sharp focus.
The Labor Government must amend the Migration Act as it applies to the migration zone, in accordance with the requirements of international law and refugee conventions.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Sky News and the art of the 'dog whistle'
Yesterday I blogged on Amnesty International's attempts to hose down the dog whistling of the media on refugees. It is being whipped up again in the most irresponsible of ways by commercial media outlets and, of course. the Liberal Party.
Sky news is running a poll today on whose border protection policies are more effective?
O Howard government (currently running at 87%)
O Rudd government (currently running at 13%)
Does anyone else agree that this is dog whistling, encouraging voters to get anxious about refugees to achieve a political outcome?
I have sent a comment to Sky News, suggesting they desist from trying to run dog whistle agendas, doing the bidding of the Coalition, and report the news with integrity and responsibility. Sky frequently utilizes these nasty little polls, that have no credibility in terms of voter opinion, to whip up anxiety and fear for political purposes. I understand the motivation behind their editorial posture on many of these issues - it inflames a political debate and feeds to the prejudices of a political demographic that are attuned to these issues. Fox News has adopted a tabloid pampleteering strategy in the US to feed and reinforce right wing prejudices/opinion and thereby guaranteeing a captive share of a cashed up demographic for marketing purposes.
It is always wise to follow the money trail I find!
I am happy to be dissuaded that Sky News are not doing this, but as President Obama famously said, 'you can put lipstick on a pig, but it is still a pig!'.
Sky news is running a poll today on whose border protection policies are more effective?
O Howard government (currently running at 87%)
O Rudd government (currently running at 13%)
Does anyone else agree that this is dog whistling, encouraging voters to get anxious about refugees to achieve a political outcome?
I have sent a comment to Sky News, suggesting they desist from trying to run dog whistle agendas, doing the bidding of the Coalition, and report the news with integrity and responsibility. Sky frequently utilizes these nasty little polls, that have no credibility in terms of voter opinion, to whip up anxiety and fear for political purposes. I understand the motivation behind their editorial posture on many of these issues - it inflames a political debate and feeds to the prejudices of a political demographic that are attuned to these issues. Fox News has adopted a tabloid pampleteering strategy in the US to feed and reinforce right wing prejudices/opinion and thereby guaranteeing a captive share of a cashed up demographic for marketing purposes.
It is always wise to follow the money trail I find!
I am happy to be dissuaded that Sky News are not doing this, but as President Obama famously said, 'you can put lipstick on a pig, but it is still a pig!'.
Monday, April 20, 2009
Amnesty deplores dog whistle media banging the old erroneous 'boat people' drum
Amnesty International released the following on 16 April in an attempt to hose down some of the worst of the media reporting on the asylum seeker boat sinking - and to slow down the bandwagon Turnbull and his pygmy warrior brigade jumped on with great alacrity:
"Amnesty International rejects the notion that the Rudd government's attempts to make immigration policy in Australia more humane - including easing the policy of mandatory detention, ending Temporary Protection Visas and moving away from the Pacific Solution - have been responsible for any increase in asylum-seekers arriving by sea.
Amnesty International also deplores the sensationalist and erroneous reporting on the broader asylum-seeker issue in certain media outlets. This detracts attention from the human dimension of the asylum-seeker issue and the severe risks that people take when they embark on boats in order to escape persecution and human rights abuses in their home countries.
The tragic deaths of a number of asylum-seekers on a boat off the coast of Western Australia this morning highlights the heavy price that asylum-seekers sometimes pay in trying to rebuild their lives in a foreign country.
While the exact details remain unclear, the incident is a reminder of the need for policy makers and commentators to always bear in mind the fact that human lives are at stake in the asylum-seeker story.
"It must be remembered that asylum-seekers are human beings who have been forced to take real risks in their search for safety and security," said Dr Graham Thom, Refugee Campaign Coordinator for Amnesty International Australia. "Asylum-seekers do not take lightly the decision to undertake perilous journeys to Australia. Today's tragic incident underscores the very real dangers they face."
Amnesty International believes that any increase in the number of people seeking asylum in Australia is part of wider global trend, and not a result of changed government policy.
"A recent report by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees shows that there has been a significant increase worldwide in asylum applications over the past year," said Graham Thom.
"Increased instability and conflict have forced more people to flee their homelands and it is those countries in serious crisis, including Iraq, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka, which account for the large part of this increase."
It is often argued that Australia's small population size means that this country is harder hit by increases in asylum seekers. However, the UNHCR report's analysis of levels of asylum applications on both a per-capita and GDP basis indicates that Australia still does not make it into the top 10 affected countries.
"Australia, as a signatory to the UN Refugee Convention, has made a commitment to protect people fleeing persecution. Seeking asylum is a fundamental right that should be available to all human beings," said Graham Thom."
Sadly, the 'hate refugees' crowd don't want to hear this. They wait for the high pitched whistle to sound from Liberal boroughs around the country and then stream on to the main stage to celebrate their fear and loathing. Their little eyes get a glow about them as they answer the call and break out the bludgeons yet again. If you doubt what I say just take a look at some of the commentary on blogs like this one.
Oh, they say, its great to be one of the mob again!
"Amnesty International rejects the notion that the Rudd government's attempts to make immigration policy in Australia more humane - including easing the policy of mandatory detention, ending Temporary Protection Visas and moving away from the Pacific Solution - have been responsible for any increase in asylum-seekers arriving by sea.
Amnesty International also deplores the sensationalist and erroneous reporting on the broader asylum-seeker issue in certain media outlets. This detracts attention from the human dimension of the asylum-seeker issue and the severe risks that people take when they embark on boats in order to escape persecution and human rights abuses in their home countries.
The tragic deaths of a number of asylum-seekers on a boat off the coast of Western Australia this morning highlights the heavy price that asylum-seekers sometimes pay in trying to rebuild their lives in a foreign country.
While the exact details remain unclear, the incident is a reminder of the need for policy makers and commentators to always bear in mind the fact that human lives are at stake in the asylum-seeker story.
"It must be remembered that asylum-seekers are human beings who have been forced to take real risks in their search for safety and security," said Dr Graham Thom, Refugee Campaign Coordinator for Amnesty International Australia. "Asylum-seekers do not take lightly the decision to undertake perilous journeys to Australia. Today's tragic incident underscores the very real dangers they face."
Amnesty International believes that any increase in the number of people seeking asylum in Australia is part of wider global trend, and not a result of changed government policy.
"A recent report by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees shows that there has been a significant increase worldwide in asylum applications over the past year," said Graham Thom.
"Increased instability and conflict have forced more people to flee their homelands and it is those countries in serious crisis, including Iraq, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka, which account for the large part of this increase."
It is often argued that Australia's small population size means that this country is harder hit by increases in asylum seekers. However, the UNHCR report's analysis of levels of asylum applications on both a per-capita and GDP basis indicates that Australia still does not make it into the top 10 affected countries.
"Australia, as a signatory to the UN Refugee Convention, has made a commitment to protect people fleeing persecution. Seeking asylum is a fundamental right that should be available to all human beings," said Graham Thom."
Sadly, the 'hate refugees' crowd don't want to hear this. They wait for the high pitched whistle to sound from Liberal boroughs around the country and then stream on to the main stage to celebrate their fear and loathing. Their little eyes get a glow about them as they answer the call and break out the bludgeons yet again. If you doubt what I say just take a look at some of the commentary on blogs like this one.
Oh, they say, its great to be one of the mob again!
Friday, April 17, 2009
Human rights in Australia - the fear & smear Liberals are at it again over asylum seekers!
The largest dog whistle we have seen for a while has been produced by Turnbull et al over the asylum seeker boat explosion. The whistle has been getting a work out over 'China' fears, and has found full throat over the tragedy off our shores yesterday.
Of course, it is all the Rudd government's fault! They instigated a more humane approach to refugees, although its humanity could be markedly improved by taking the Christmas Island stopover out of the equation. Rudd abolished the egregious TPV regime, which was a violation of refugee rights and a nasty scar on our human rights landscape.
Turnbull and his pygmy warriors jump at the opportunity of politicizing refugee fears. It is a permanent default emanating from the political DNA of the Libs and their partners in fear, the Nats. And is'nt it great to hear back from that bastion of 'multilateralism', erstwhile FM Downer on how his mates would have handled this situation. How can anyone forget the Libs' response to Tampa and kids overboard. This blogger has'nt fogotten.
Yes, we remember! Blame the victims for their own plight, extract as much sensationalism out of the role of people smugglers, put words in the mouth of ADF personnel who cannot answer for themselves, and then whip up public sentiment against refugees. Throw in dollops of confected outrage over your political opponents complete lack of preparedness to face down the 'threat' and you have the typical Lib's stock in trade response to the terrible plight of some of the most vulnerable people on the planet.
Oh, I forgot - then you set about making weak neighbouring countries complicit in policies that violate human rights!
Of course, it is all the Rudd government's fault! They instigated a more humane approach to refugees, although its humanity could be markedly improved by taking the Christmas Island stopover out of the equation. Rudd abolished the egregious TPV regime, which was a violation of refugee rights and a nasty scar on our human rights landscape.
Turnbull and his pygmy warriors jump at the opportunity of politicizing refugee fears. It is a permanent default emanating from the political DNA of the Libs and their partners in fear, the Nats. And is'nt it great to hear back from that bastion of 'multilateralism', erstwhile FM Downer on how his mates would have handled this situation. How can anyone forget the Libs' response to Tampa and kids overboard. This blogger has'nt fogotten.
Yes, we remember! Blame the victims for their own plight, extract as much sensationalism out of the role of people smugglers, put words in the mouth of ADF personnel who cannot answer for themselves, and then whip up public sentiment against refugees. Throw in dollops of confected outrage over your political opponents complete lack of preparedness to face down the 'threat' and you have the typical Lib's stock in trade response to the terrible plight of some of the most vulnerable people on the planet.
Oh, I forgot - then you set about making weak neighbouring countries complicit in policies that violate human rights!
Thursday, April 02, 2009
Australian media whips up China fear
Not unlike the Tampa period, the national media is positively salivating over the Opposition's take on the influence of China in Australia. Sky News is running a poll today on whether or not people are concerned about the degree of China's influence on Australia. Crikey has a piece worth reading on the Liberal Party's long history of playing the race card.
This is 'dog whistle' stuff. We have seen it all before, particularly on the part of the commercial media outlets when they sniff a populist fear campaign is getting traction.
At this time of acute economic insecurity we see media playing to the hand of the Coalition, trying desperately to whip up a storm that will benefit it politically. It is very transparent and right up there on the 'ugly meter' of political postures.
My word to Sky News is:
"Your current focus on the influence of China in Australia is quite disgusting. You are whipping up unnecessary fear in the community. I am the first to criticize China's human rights record and its terrible repression of Tibet. I felt the same way about the Bush administration's human rights violations under the aegis of the war on terror.
However, it is not in our national interest to disengage from either China or the US. Both are key trading partners and key players in our geo-political sphere of influence and operation. Your current poll is the type of dog-whistling Howard used to great effect during his tenure. It is shameful and reflects poorly on your claim to be a serious news service.
Your 'spin' on this issue over the last week or so suggests you are glad-handling the Opposition's disgraceful default toward fear and smear as it nose-dives politically.
A word to the wise. Act responsibly, as the media has a poor track record on such issues in recent years, appearing to be 'players' rather than seeking detachment from the political cut and thrust. Your current affairs presenters appear to be salivating over this 'China influence' issue, to the detriment of our national interest! "
This is 'dog whistle' stuff. We have seen it all before, particularly on the part of the commercial media outlets when they sniff a populist fear campaign is getting traction.
At this time of acute economic insecurity we see media playing to the hand of the Coalition, trying desperately to whip up a storm that will benefit it politically. It is very transparent and right up there on the 'ugly meter' of political postures.
My word to Sky News is:
"Your current focus on the influence of China in Australia is quite disgusting. You are whipping up unnecessary fear in the community. I am the first to criticize China's human rights record and its terrible repression of Tibet. I felt the same way about the Bush administration's human rights violations under the aegis of the war on terror.
However, it is not in our national interest to disengage from either China or the US. Both are key trading partners and key players in our geo-political sphere of influence and operation. Your current poll is the type of dog-whistling Howard used to great effect during his tenure. It is shameful and reflects poorly on your claim to be a serious news service.
Your 'spin' on this issue over the last week or so suggests you are glad-handling the Opposition's disgraceful default toward fear and smear as it nose-dives politically.
A word to the wise. Act responsibly, as the media has a poor track record on such issues in recent years, appearing to be 'players' rather than seeking detachment from the political cut and thrust. Your current affairs presenters appear to be salivating over this 'China influence' issue, to the detriment of our national interest! "
Wednesday, April 01, 2009
Message from Archbishop Desmond Tutu regarding the Dalai Lama
In response to the recent campaign of protest over South Africa's decision to deny the Dalai Lama a visa to attend the Nobel Peace Laureate's Conference, Archbishop Tutu has replied:
"Keep it up. You are the people who make freedom happen."
"It warms my heart to see so many of my fellow Nobel Laureates, stars, leaders, and people from around the world put their signature on paper, so to speak, to stand behind our friend the Dalai Lama.
"We have just seen a shameful example of South African leaders becoming timid in the face of Chinese "might" and their own economic interests, and refusing this incredible, peaceful being entry to our county --for a peace conference!
"It's an embarrassment that this could happen in a country that has known how dark life can be when your human rights are being smashed. And we, of all people, know what it means when someone in another part of the world stands up for your rights and freedom.
"So it's a joyful thing, to turn around and see you -- people from all countries, from all walks of life, who are willing to step forward, put their name down, and say "wait a minute, I object to this mistreatment!"
"It lets me know, once again, that good will ultimately prevail in this world.
"Keep it up. You are the people who make freedom happen."
Archbishop Desmond Tutu
You may also be interested in this article on Huffington Post, in which the Archbishop talks further about recent events in South Africa.
Community.com have advised that in the last 24 hours many people have asked about a Facebook page for Archbishop Tutu's letter.
They have now created this -- at
http://apps.facebook.com/causes/261343
If you are a Facebook member please sign up for the cause, post it to your page, distribute it to your friends, etc.
They have also added some icons at the bottom of the sign up page that make it easier for you to post the page to your facebook page, to diggit, to delicious, stumbleupon and others. Please feel free to revisit the page and help spread the news on the letter through these channels.
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