Peter Greste: Act to #FreeAJStaff

My post for Global Voices: Australian Shock and Outrage at Egyptian Sentencing of Al Jazeera Journalists

Update from @no_filter_Yamba:

@Kevin_Rennie Trying to spread info where write, phone, fax, email Egyptian Embassy in Australia re Peter Greste pic.twitter.com/es0Aid4iyU
— no_filter_Yamba (@no_filter_Yamba) June 25, 2014

So let's do something! Silence is consent.

Socceroos Proud in Defeat at #WorldCup2014

From my latest post for Global Voices:

Australians have a long tradition of finding national pride in our defeats. The ANZAC experience at Gallipoli in the First World War is the best known instance. The 1-3 loss to Chile in the #WorldCup2014 is the latest example. 

Socceroos Proud in Defeat at #WorldCup2014

Reactions to Australia's Deal to Dump Refugees in Cambodia

Some initial reactions on twitter to Australia's deal to resettle successful asylum seekers in Cambodia:

Australia/Cambodia Deal


Please add your voice to this crime against humanity.

Military Pulls Rank in Thailand

From Brad Adams, Director, Asia Division, Human Rights Watch:

While there has been sporadic violence in recent months, nationwide martial law was not necessary to prevent further violence. The military has pulled a 100 year old law off the shelf that makes the civilian administration subordinate to the military, effectively rendering the executive, legislative and judicial branches powerless. The broad powers conferred on the military mean that there are no legal safeguards against rights violations and no remedies for any damage caused by the army. Censorship and shutting down of both anti-government and pro-government satellite TV channels and radio networks raises serious concerns that freedom of expression will be the first victim of de facto coup. Thailand's friends in the world's capitals should make it clear that they expect this de facto coup to be reversed immediately.

Thailand is using a century old law with draconian provisions that permit the military to exercise essentially unlimited authority to violate human rights if they are so inclined. There are basically no brakes in this law - the authorities can prohibit any activity, censor the media, outlaw meetings and assemblies, search and seize any item, hold people without trial for up to 7 days, and even compel forced labor. Opportunities for justice are minimal since the law provides for the use of military courts to try cases. It's a law that pre-dates the creation of all international human rights standards, and it shows.

Linda Jaivin: Sex, Sinology and the Translator

Linda Jaivin – Photo: Jade Muratore

From my post for Global Voices 'The Bridge':

Linda Jaivin is a renaissance woman who describes herself as a secular humanist. Born in Old London, Connecticut, USA, she has been an Australian citizen for over twenty years, after many years studying and working in Taiwan and mainland China.

Linda's activity is prodigious. The list of hats she wears includes translator, interpreter, anthology editor, poet, novelist and playwright. Her written works include short stories; essays; novels such as the comic, erotic “Eat Me”; historical fiction such as “A Most Immoral Woman”; and non-fiction such as the outrageous “Confessions of an S & M Virgin”.

Words that apply to Linda: stimulating, challenging, quirky, provocative, original, salacious, graphomaniac. Her writings and her conversations take us many unexpected or unfamiliar places. She may once have shocked much of her audience, but Linda has helped expand the openness of public discourse. As the Wheeler Centre video interview shows, she can be in your face, but in the friendliest way.

There is a lot more than sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll in Linda’s box of tricks.

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Trial of two journalists 'a dark stain on Thailand's record'

Brad Adams, Director, Asia Division, Human Rights Watch on case of trial of two Phuketwan journalists in Phuket TODAY:

"The trial of these two journalists is unjustified and constitutes a dark stain on Thailand's record for respecting media freedom. The Thai Navy should have debated these journalists publicly if they had concerns with the story rather than insisting on their prosecution under the draconian Computer Crimes Act and criminal libel statutes. It's now time for Thailand's leaders to step in and order prosecutors to drop this case, and end this blatant violation of media freedoms once and for all."

From Reporters Without Borders:

Reporters Without Borders reiterates its call for the withdrawal of all proceedings against two journalists who are to be tried tomorrow in the southwestern province of Phuket on charges of contravening the Computer Crimes Act and defaming the Royal Thai Navy for quoting from a Reuters special report on the smuggling of Rohingya refugees from neighbouring Burma.

The two journalists are Alan Morison, the Australian editor of the Phuket-based news website Phuketwan, and Chutima Sidasathian, a Thai reporter who works for the site.

It is an increasingly dangerous world for journalists as Peter Greste and his Al Jazeera colleagues know only too well.

Global Voices: Australians High Five International Court Decision Against Japanese Whaling

Image: Greenpeace Australia Pacific

My post for Global Voices:

There has been online elation on Australian social media following the news that on 31 March 2014 the International Court of Justice has found against Japan’s so-called ‘scientific research’ whaling in the Southern Ocean.

...There are bound to be people in Australia who are pro-whaling but if so they have been well and truly submerged on social media. It will be interesting to see the reactions in Japan.

Australians High Five International Court Decision Against Japanese Whaling

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