Shared humanity

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…

1 Comment

March 6, 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…

4 Comments

February 8, 2013

Discrimination/Racism / Human Rights / Racism / Refugees / Religion / Shared humanity / Terrorism / Xenophobia

Fatima, Australian of my year

She is a very beautiful young woman, quiet, reserved, cautious and courteous. Her parents have sent her to Australia to undertake tertiary studies, full fee paying tertiary studies. She has…

3 Comments

January 26, 2013

Accountability / Afghanistan / Corruption / Culture / Democracy / Discrimination/Racism / Human Rights / International Law / Justice / Law Enforcement / Racism / Religion / Respect / Rule of Law / Shared humanity / Terrorism / Xenophobia

El-Masri v The Former Yugolsav Republic of Macedonia

With the Inauguration of President Obama for his second term fast approaching (20 January, 2013) it is worth considering just how far the United States and indeed the West has…

1 Comment

January 7, 2013

Asia-Pacific / Australian Aborigines / Disability / Discrimination / Discrimination/Racism / First Nations/Indigenous / Human Rights / Indonesia / Pacific Neighbours / PNG / Queensland / Racial Discrimination Act / Racism / Religion / Respect / Shared humanity / Solomon Islands / United Nations / Vanuatu / West Papua / Xenophobia

Promises and passages – it’s all an illusion

Promises and passage, that what’s they were sold. A truth not realized, the loss of all that was family and home. The South Sea Islanders who came to Australia…

1 Comment

December 8, 2012

Accountability / Asia-Pacific / Australian Aborigines / Australian Federal Police / Commonwealth Government / Corporate profit / Corporate responsibility / Corruption / Discrimination / Discrimination/Racism / First Nations/Indigenous / Government / Human Rights / Law Enforcement / Racism / Respect / Shared humanity / West Papua

The Medusa – the price we all pay for political corruption

Let us venture to advance another truth, a truth useful to the Minister himself. There exists among the officers of the Marine, an intractable esprit de corps, a pretended point…

0 Comments

December 6, 2012

Asia-Pacific / Australian Federal Police / Commonwealth Government / Discrimination/Racism / First Nations/Indigenous / Genocide / Government / Human Rights / Indonesia / Law Enforcement / Racism / Shared humanity / West Papua

West Papua: Remembering 51 years of oppression

Dusk is falling across Melbourne and West Papua, but not over the dreams of the Papuan people. Today, remembering 51 years of oppression having been denied the right to self-determination,…

13 Comments

December 1, 2012

Corruption / Culture / Discrimination / Discrimination/Racism / Former Commissioner / Fred Martens / Human Rights / Julian Moti / Justice / Racism / Religion / Rule of Law / Sexism / Shared humanity

Right versus religion

Last week one comment on twitter to some of the Blak and Black crew resulted in considerable discussion about the underlying intent of this wee blog. The commenter, apparently thinking…

7 Comments

November 21, 2012

Accountability / ACT Government / Australian Federal Police / Commonwealth Government / Corruption / Discrimination / Discrimination/Racism / Equality / First Nations/Indigenous / Government / Human Rights / Justice / Law Enforcement / Racism / Respect / Rule of Law / Sexism / Shared humanity

Destroy the Joint, schmoozing and the hypocrites

The announcement of a Royal Commission into child abuse by clergy is as big an issue as was the Wood Royal Commission into police corruption, if not bigger. This is…

13 Comments

November 15, 2012

Australian Federal Police / Discrimination / Discrimination/Racism / Human Rights / Law Enforcement / Respect / Shared humanity

The self and the selfish – Sydney’s homeless

Puff the magic dragon lived by the sea And frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called Honah Lee Little Jackie Paper loved that rascal Puff And brought him…

0 Comments

October 19, 2012

Asia-Pacific / Corruption / Globalisation / Human Rights / Indonesia / International Law / Julian Moti / Neo-Colonialism / Pacific Neighbours / Rule of Law / Shared humanity / United Nations / West Papua

A process of truth and judgement

Judgement is our oldest belief, our most habitual holding-true or holding un-true, an assertion or denial, a certainty that something is thus not otherwise, a belief that here we really…

15 Comments

October 9, 2012

Accountability / Australian Labor Party / Corruption / Discrimination/Racism / Equality / Human Rights / Hypocrisy / International Law / Rule of Law / Shared humanity / United Nations

Sir Gawain, moral accountability and the UN Security Council

Make we mery quyl we may, and mynne upon joye, For the lur may mon lach when-so mon lykes Make we merry while we may, and think about joy, For…

27 Comments

September 27, 2012

Corruption / Democracy / Discrimination / Discrimination/Racism / Equality / Human Rights / Hypocrisy / Justice / Law / Propaganda / Refugees / Respect / Rule of Law / Shared humanity

Anna Elisabeth Schmieg and the narrative structures of society

How much can we ever know about the love and pain in another heart? How much can we hope to understand those who have suffered deeper anguish, greater deprivation, and…

27 Comments

September 20, 2012

Accountability / Arc of instability / Asia-Pacific / ASIO / Australian Federal Police / Bill of Rights / Commonwealth Government / Corruption / Democracy / Government / Human Rights / Law Enforcement / RAMSI / Rule of Law / Shared humanity / Solomon Islands / Terrorism / West Papua

The War on Terror and democracy’s Faustian bargain

Since the events of 9/11 the Australian Government, has passed 54 pieces of ‘anti-terrorism’ legislation.

25 Comments

September 18, 2012

Asia-Pacific / Discrimination / Discrimination/Racism / Equality / Genocide / Human Rights / Justice / Law / Rule of Law / Sexism / Shared humanity / West Papua

Kristallnacht: Why human rights is everyone’s business

Tell me who you are, what you stand for what you mean Tell me what the lines and whirls upon your hand do mean Show me plain the markings of…

22 Comments

September 9, 2012

Accountability / Commonwealth Government / Corruption / Discrimination / Discrimination/Racism / Equality of opportunity / Government / Human Rights / Hypocrisy / Propaganda / Racism / Respect / Shared humanity / White Australia

Too little, too late

… What folk is this, which seems by pain so vanquished?" And he to me: "This miserable mode Maintain the melancholy souls of those Who lived withouten infamy or praise.…

26 Comments

August 28, 2012

Australian Federal Police / Australian Labor Party / Commonwealth Government / Corruption / Fred Martens / Government / Human Rights / Justice / Law / Law Enforcement / Respect / Rule of Law / Shared humanity

My house shall be called the house of prayer; but you have made it a den of thieves

What if you slept? And what if, in your sleep, you dreamed? And what if, in your dream, you went to heaven and there plucked a strange and beautiful flower?…

20 Comments

August 16, 2012

ACT Government / Asia-Pacific / Discrimination / Discrimination/Racism / Ernst & Young / Former Commissioner / Government / Human Rights / Refugee Policy / Refugees / Respect / Shared humanity / Solomon Islands / Stolen Generation

Charity begins at home

Charity begins at home. Some agree, some do not. But the simple fact is that our treatment of those close to us sets the foundations for our behaviours toward others.…

22 Comments

August 12, 2012

Accountability / ACT Government / Corruption / Government / Human Rights / Respect / Shared humanity

Peer Gynt, a lesson in humanity

Lies, I know, can be so furbished And disguised in gorgeous wrappings That their skinny carcasses Not a soul would recognize. That's what you've been doing now, With your wonderful…

24 Comments

July 20, 2012

Asia-Pacific / Corporate profit / Corporate responsibility / Corruption / Genocide / Human Rights / Indonesia / International Law / Rule of Law / Shared humanity / West Papua

The limits of Shiva’s dance: West Papua, Australia’s role in genocide

Nataraja dances, his right foot supported by a crouching figure, his left foot elegantly raised. Of his four arms, one swings downwards, pointing to the raised foot; another with palm…

28 Comments

July 5, 2012

Shared humanity

West Papua – time we were #idlenomore

#Indigenous self determination and alcohol

Fatima, Australian of my year

El-Masri v The Former Yugolsav Republic of Macedonia

Promises and passages – it’s all an illusion

The Medusa – the price we all pay for political corruption

West Papua: Remembering 51 years of oppression

Right versus religion

Destroy the Joint, schmoozing and the hypocrites

The self and the selfish – Sydney’s homeless

A process of truth and judgement

Sir Gawain, moral accountability and the UN Security Council

Anna Elisabeth Schmieg and the narrative structures of society

The War on Terror and democracy’s Faustian bargain

Kristallnacht: Why human rights is everyone’s business

Too little, too late

My house shall be called the house of prayer; but you have made it a den of thieves

Charity begins at home

Peer Gynt, a lesson in humanity

The limits of Shiva’s dance: West Papua, Australia’s role in genocide

RAMSI - the scion of the juggernaut of greed

AFP accused of fabricating evidence, yet again!

Moti affair

Moti affair

Moti appeal exposes mixed loyalties and judicial corruption

Moti end game

Letters to the editor: Article by Bakchos

Co-operate or else! AFP thuggery for a white Australia

The strange case of Bill Johnson, a study in neo-colonial hypocrisy

Neo-colonialism in the Torres Strait

Moti and other affairs

Comment: Excellent Read