This letter was sent by AJDS to the mainstream print media on 7 July 2010.
In a world without recognition of human rights, or humanitarian concerns, or human dignity, or sense of justice, it would be logical, acceptable and valid to treat asylum seekers as badly as possible as a way of discouraging others.
Some in our community think that these sorts of attitudes should underpin the way our federal government deals with the issue of asylum seekers. Some in our parliament think that good public policy necessitates relegating humanitarian considerations to the fringe. After all, how can you discourage asylum seekers if you start by treating them as people in need?
Author: AJDS
Coteret, an Israeli news site, reports that Australian kids have been taken on a tour of Hebron and shown around by Jewish extremists. Coteret has a full report as well as a video (which has now been taken down from the source website).
This is in contradiction with ‘Birthright’ policy which forbids visits to the occupied territories other than Jerusalem.
Gilad Shalit’s treatment by Hamas since his capture on June 25 2006 as a non-declared prisoner of war without rights of visitation–a hostage–is appalling, and should be condemned and the man set free. It’s a bit like Hamas’ version of Gitmo without any visits and assurances of his well-being. Thus his treatment has been condemned internationally and even the Goldstone Report (yes, the Goldstone report which is otherwise anthematized) said so as well. His cause has become a rallying cry among Jewish communities around the world.
Gilad Shalit’s treatment by Hamas since his capture on June 25 2006 as a non-declared prisoner of war without rights of visitation–a hostage–is appalling, and should be condemned and the man set free. It’s a bit like Hamas’ version of Gitmo without any visits and assurances of his well-being. Thus his treatment has been condemned internationally and even the Goldstone Report (yes, the Goldstone report which is otherwise anthematized) said so as well. His cause has become a rallying cry among Jewish communities around the world.
Angela Budai posts:
Earlier this year a feminist conference was held in Sydney, the largest in 15 years with over 500 people in attendance from all over the country. It was sold out. The diversity in age and background of attendees put paid to reports in the media that feminism is dead. In fact feminist Anne Summers pointed out that “there are more male and female feminists today than at any other time in Australian history”.
And just as well.
Angela Budai posts:
Earlier this year a feminist conference was held in Sydney, the largest in 15 years with over 500 people in attendance from all over the country. It was sold out. The diversity in age and background of attendees put paid to reports in the media that feminism is dead. In fact feminist Anne Summers pointed out that “there are more male and female feminists today than at any other time in Australian history”.
And just as well.
The Renate Kamener Oration: Peter Singer (Professor of Bioethics, Princeton University)
“Living Ethically in a Divided World”
7.15 for 7.30pm, Sunday 11th July 2010 Leo Baeck Centre, 33 Harp Rd East Kew. $15 admission.
Proceeds will go to the establishment of a scholarship for Indigenous students at the University of Melbourne. Additional donations welcomed.
The Renate Kamener Oration: Peter Singer (Professor of Bioethics, Princeton University)
“Living Ethically in a Divided World”
7.15 for 7.30pm, Sunday 11th July 2010 Leo Baeck Centre, 33 Harp Rd East Kew. $15 admission.
Proceeds will go to the establishment of a scholarship for Indigenous students at the University of Melbourne. Additional donations welcomed.
A letter in today’s Australian from Harold Zwier , an AJDS member
AS the party boarding the ships to enforce their naval blockade of Gaza, the Israelis had a duty of care in dealing with civilians. The death of nine civilians and injury to more than 30 others is a clear indication that the Israelis failed in that duty of care.
The Gaza Flotilla fiasco doesn’t bode well for democratic reform on several fronts:
* Within Israel, it will create tensions between the military top brass who are now being blamed for a bad job, and the political elite who authorised it.
* The sense of victimhood that is pervasive in the Israel and international Jewish media will only further push many people further to the right (and fewer to the left), and the secular, progressive left will have an even harder task in convincing the population that the current political set up is a disaster.
* On the part of Hamas in Gaza and its supporters in the West, a hard-line agenda will also be given a spur and intolerant Islamic nationalism, rather than democratic secularism will appeal to more people, continuing the split with the PLO in the West Bank.