Global Voices

English

The world is talking, are you listening?

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 stress, again and again and again, people, LEGAL, good grief do I need to paint it neon and string it with lights?) asylum-seekers.

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 Italy, by way of South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Australia and Bolivia. From authoritarian regimes to democratic countries, none are exempt from criticism on the topic. In 2013, torture remains as endemic, omnipresent and multi-faceted as ever”.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Queensland University of Technology academic Dr Axel Bruns presents research findings into the Oz twittersphere with graphic slideshow and audio presentation in Many Maps of the Australian Twittersphere.

The winner of the first journalism award for indigenous broadcasters hosted by the World Indigenous Television Broadcasters Network (WITBN) in Norway on March 29, 2012 was National Indigenous Television from Australia. The winning video and other finalists can be viewed on the WITBN website.

Christopher Hill is a young man living with cerebral palsy, and through the video One switch. One head. The world. produced, directed and edited by himself he explains how he uses one button to connect to the world through his computer. (via engadget)

Intercontinental Cry has a list of 12 recommended films on indigenous issues, some made by indigenous people from Brazil, Australia, Panama, USA, Northern Kenya, Colombia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Crikey's NAJ Taylor gathers five of Australia's Middle East diaspora to write about the Boycott, Divestment and Sanction of Israel campaign. How effective is it at “balancing the competing harms”? How “useful is [it] for members of the Israeli and Palestinian, as well as Jewish and Muslim, diaspora”?

Jake Adelstein comments on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's 2010 documentary, “Yakuza”. The video is now available for viewing on YouTube.

On the blog of East Timorese weekly Tempo Semanal, controversy erupted over a leaked memo indicating the government's payment of US$300,000 to Australian Caroline Pemburton, former Miss World, for her services promoting East Timor as a tourist destination.

China Media Project has posted an English version of the blog of Sino-Australian novelist Yang Hengjun, who shared his thoughts and feelings on his disappearance from Guangzhou airport last month, widely imagined as part of the Chinese government crackdown on activists.

An Australian blogger and spy novelist, Yang Hengjun, is missing in China. He may have been arrested by Chinese authorities.

Veggie Discourse translated Chinese netizens’ reaction to the Chinese Asylum Seekers’ 2 days rooftop protest in Sidney.

Reacting to Australia's national elections held on Saturday 21 August, one outcome is certain: neither Julia Gillard's Labor government or Tony Abbott's conservative Liberal/National Coalition have won a majority of seats.

From Australia to Ghana is a new book by a blogger based in Ghana and Global Voices author, Gayle Pescud.

SRF from GeoCurrent Events blog writes about the economic geography of the 2010 FIFA World Cup participant countries.

Michael Turton looks at Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou's recent visit to the Pacific. He analyses how Australia and Taiwan's involvement in the Solomon Islands has been used for political purposes by both countries.

Baldeabdoulaye explains that mining companies Rio Tinto and Chinalco have come to an agreement on jointly developing an iron ore project in Guinea. The opposition criticizes the signing because they perceive the deal as a way for the military junta to take advantage of the current obscure political circumstances to make substantial profits (fr).

Madhavi at The Trajectory comments on the Government of India’s advisory for ethnic Indians in Australia and questions – who is over-reacting on the racism issue: India or Australia?

Abayachic questions the use of hijab as a marketing ploy.

More than two months since the environmental catastrophe happened in the Timor Sea still no successful solution was found in order to plug the hole and stop the huge oil spill. Skytruth has been intensively blogging and proving the extent of the spill with satellite photos and netizens have started to spread the word of mouth questioning who is to blame, urging Australian action.

Rashmi Bansal at Youth Curry discusses about the recent attacks on Indian students in Australia.

Taiwanese girl Clare wants to take the “Best Job” in the world and she is almost there. Job description: managing a beautiful island of Australia and blog about how you enjoy living and swimming there for six months with the total wage amounted to 3,380,000 NTD. Take a look at her interesting self-promotion video and vote.

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.