Australia’s piracy on the high seas
"Many of the asylum seekers facing return to Sri Lanka are likely to have valid protection claims. Historically, 90 percent of Sri Lankan boat arrivals to Australia have been found…
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July 26, 2014
Commonwealth Government / Discrimination / Discrimination/Racism / Government / Human Rights / Racism / Refugee Policy / Refugees / Shared humanity
The “Unsettled” Great Southern Land
Where to start … where to start … After a protracted hiatus, Blak and Black is back! There’s so much to write about, so much in the news and the…
July 14, 2014
A Time to Remember
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:? A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant,…
April 25, 2014
Farewell, Comrade Mandela
Who will meet you when you pass your last breath and cross to whatever lies beyond this life? Will you meet friends, foes, family or beloved pets? In death there…
December 8, 2013
Morning Star flags
Asia-Pacific / Assimilation / Commonwealth Government / Corruption / Discrimination/Racism / First Nations/Indigenous / Genocide / Government / Human Rights / Indonesia / Racism / Refugees / United Nations / West Papua
Treaties, lies and the Morning Star Flag
“The West Papuans have become the victims of Australia’s regional foreign policy arrangements that prop up the anti-refugee policies of Operation Sovereign Borders.” Ian Rintoul, Refugee Action Coalition. Fifty-two years…
December 1, 2013
Australian Aborigines / Culture / Discrimination / Discrimination/Racism / Education / First Nations/Indigenous / Human Rights / Racism / Respect / Shared humanity
A mile in his shoes – learning from Monet
Chocolate is the panacea of woe, but in more recent years, I’ve found my palette appreciating much more of the citrus tones that cleanse and refresh, even if some do…
September 28, 2013
Australian Aborigines / Commonwealth Government / Discrimination/Racism / Equality of opportunity / First Nations/Indigenous / Government / Human Rights / Racism / Respect / Shared humanity
Impossible dream and a not so imaginary foe
The day began with a comfortably low temperature of 17oC before rising to a high of 28oC. In the crushing crowd outside the Lincoln Memorial, it would seem unbearably hot…
August 27, 2013
Discrimination/Racism / Equality / Government / Human Rights / Rule of Law / Shared humanity / Xenophobia
Our mystery future
Mohamed is a friend with whom I have conversed now for several years. As a young Eqyptian, he was living in Europe when the Arab Spring uprisings commenced. In that…
August 22, 2013
Trayvon Martin: the final insult
Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy "Do we actually think that he would have been justified in shooting Mr. Zimmerman, who had followed…
July 24, 2013
ACT Government / Australian Aborigines / Commonwealth Government / Discrimination / Discrimination/Racism / First Nations/Indigenous / Government / Racism / Sexism
#Misogyny and #sexism – Australian political rhetoric
Before launching into this post, Blak and Black wishes to congratulate its good friend Mr. Julian Moti QC on his admission to the Fiji bar and imminent return to the…
June 30, 2013
Australian Aborigines / Discrimination/Racism / First Nations/Indigenous / Human Rights / Law Enforcement / Police / Racism / Respect / White Australia
Start as you mean to continue
Sunshine in Melbourne’s west has seen all manner of refugees in the past half century. The current mix includes a significant proportion of men, women and children from African nations.…
June 5, 2013
Commonwealth Government / Disability / Discrimination / Discrimination/Racism / Equality of opportunity / Government / Human Rights / Respect / Shared humanity
Life on the street – no fixed address
I trudged a well worn path from Melbourne’s La Trobe Street to Flinders Street in my youth. Sydney has its fabulous Harbour, but Melbourne had arcades that drew me in…
June 1, 2013
ACT Government / Australian Aborigines / Discrimination/Racism / Ernst & Young / First Nations/Indigenous / Former Commissioner / Government / Racism / Reconciliation / Stanhope Government
Reconciliation – now is the time
I want to tell you a story about a woman, Born in the first quarter of the twentieth century in an indigenous community, Who knew life on the land, a…
May 27, 2013
Never a number
On the ground floor of the Art Gallery of NSW I saw one of the most moving pieces of sculpture I can remember visiting. It did not surpass the sublime…
May 20, 2013
Australian Aborigines / Commonwealth Government / Democracy / Discrimination/Racism / First Nations/Indigenous / Government / Law Enforcement / Neo-Colonialism / Racial Discrimination Act / Racism / Rule of Law / White Australia / Xenophobia
#Racism: Time to cease emulating the ostrich
"He was a remarkably effective prime minister for a while. The most difficult time was in 1997 and, to give credit to the government, they tightened the supervision over the…
April 21, 2013
ACT Government / Australian Aborigines / Australian Federal Police / Bill of Rights / Commonwealth Government / Discrimination/Racism / First Nations/Indigenous / Former Commissioner / Government / Human Rights / Law Enforcement / Police / Racial Discrimination Act / Racism
A fish rots from the head
The most recent public airing of a racist attack on a Korean man and his aunt visiting from his homeland has prompted another round of self-reflection on the Australian psyche.…
April 9, 2013
Asia-Pacific / Australian Federal Police / Commonwealth Government / Culture / Discrimination/Racism / First Nations/Indigenous / Genocide / Government / Human Rights / Indonesia / International Law / Law Enforcement / Racism / Rule of Law / Shared humanity / United Nations / West Papua
West Papua – time we were #idlenomore
“We recognize international law …” Every country that is a member of the United Nations recognizes international law, Bob, at least as far as it serves their purposes. It seems…
March 6, 2013
ACT Government / Australian Aborigines / Australian Federal Police / Commonwealth Government / Discrimination / Discrimination/Racism / Domestic Law / First Nations/Indigenous / Government / Human Rights / Law Enforcement / Northern Territory Intervention / Racism / Rule of Law
“May it ring for justice and change”
I like to learn how to say people’s names properly. Not that I have a particularly good memory for pairing names with faces, but I believe it is a sign…
February 17, 2013
Australian Aborigines / Australian Federal Police / Discrimination/Racism / First Nations/Indigenous / Human Rights / Law Enforcement / Racial Discrimination Act / Racism / Respect / Stolen Generation
Cradle to grave #racism – it’s not just Sydney
If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor. If an elephant has its foot on the tail of a mouse and you…
February 9, 2013
Australian Aborigines / Commonwealth Government / Discrimination/Racism / First Nations/Indigenous / Government / Health / Human Rights / Northern Territory / Queensland / Racism / Respect / Shared humanity
#Indigenous self determination and alcohol
The news of the week in #Indigenous Affairs is the annual report card on Closing the Gap. Julia Gillard states that she is disappointed with the progress is addressing #indigenous…
February 8, 2013