Social Justice

Toward the end of last year, 150 asylum seekers drowned in a boat accident off the coast of Indonesia. It served as a stark reminder of the extreme risks vulnerable people often take in seeking a safer life and the often fatal consequences.

Pakistani activists pray for Malala. Pic: AFP

Twelve months later, the Australian Government has outsourced its obligation to protect such vulnerable people - re-establishing the Pacific Solution in the name of ending these dangerous boat journeys and saving lives. Under this policy, some of the world’s most vulnerable people are now languishing, on Nauru, in leaking tents, in repressive heat - with no end in sight.

What we are left with is a severe lack of accountability and a the clear threat that the human rights abuses which occurred on Nauru and Manus Island, only a matter of years ago, are set to repeat themselves.

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  • the cynic says:

    06:12pm | 10/12/12

    Mick S says:03:33pm ” if that was the objective you would simply run a ferry service from indonesia to Australia ” We do it is called the RANi. Read more »

  • stephen says:

    06:01pm | 10/12/12

    Well perhaps the Arab Spring has run out of puff because all unhappy people from those country have decided to run, and come here, rather than stay and fight and chamge things. At any rate, why is it our resonsibility and why are we made to feel guilty when those… Read more »

 

Father Chris Riley, founder of Youth Off The Streets, is under fire for attacking the proposed pokie reforms and siding with Clubs Australia; all while his charities pocket money from clubs. Here’s another perspective from a respected church leader.

About 2 million people will receive a pamphlet with Fr Chris Riley's message on it. Pic: Daily Telegraph

In the race for headlines and hysteria, the poker machine reform debate has fallen through the cracks of serious social progress. In their eagerness to beat back the Government’s agenda on poker machines, pushing their polished and focus tested ‘license to punt’ line, Big Clubs have churned out an astounding $20 million hoping to hit the jackpot.

Through my work with disadvantaged and discriminated Australians, I saw the implementation of poker machine reform as an opportunity to discuss the facts and impacts of problem gambling in Australia. Disappointingly, the lobbyists and ad agencies have had their way once again, turning an issue that destroys lives and families into yet another expensive political sideshow.

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  • Ianc says:

    01:28pm | 16/12/11

    Wonderful Subotic, in 3 or 4 posts you have evolved from an apologetic sociopath into a selfish fool. Read more »

  • shellshocked says:

    11:47am | 13/12/11

    As a person who’s who’s been affected by a pokie addict, there’s no point in telling an addict to get help from all the free agencies that subotic refers to because in their warped minds they dont think they have a problem! They have ‘reasons’ and ‘excuses’ for gambling, in… Read more »

 

With today being International Women’s Day, there will be millions of men around the world thinking – “This is so sexist! Where is my International Man’s Day?”

Heck, I used to be one of those people. I used to think that all the affirmative discrimination was sexist, backward and downright wrong. For my male friends nodding your head in agreement, I challenge you to read on, and to watch the above clip.

It has only been in recent years that my stubborn mindset has changed. I happily admit that I am no expert on this issue, but you don’t need to be an expert to realise that things need to change.

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  • Nixon says:

    07:32pm | 08/03/12

    I think you’re the one oversimplifying - no-one is agruging that men are not in any way vulnerable to discrimination, just that women are more vulnerable than men. We are used as baby-making machines, cum-dumpsters, sliced and diced by advertisers, ridiculed for even attempting things that are “for men”, in… Read more »

  • Nixon says:

    07:23pm | 08/03/12

    Oh my gosh, you poor thing! I think we should let all those male rapists ouf jail, just so there’s more equality… “I’ll worry about women in the third world, just as soon as men have equal rights in my own country.” TRANSLATION: “Dear women of the developing world: your… Read more »

 

First it was the Police Bible; now it’s the Poverty and Justice Bible. The market segmentation of the Bible reading audience knows no bounds. It’s easy to be cynical about ‘trendy’ versions of the Good Book – are they not merely publishing manoeuvres designed to flog a dead religious horse?

A much earlier and more expensive edition of the Good Book.

Well, yes and no. Of course, repackaging and relabelling an old product is a time-honoured way of making more sales and expanding markets.

Some Bibles, like the various Teen Study Versions, just seem to add to the Scriptures dubious cultural commentary about wearing make-up, handling break-ups and pursuing middle-class-ness. But there is a more useful, corrective side to the specialist Bible industry.

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  • Gibbot says:

    06:16pm | 15/09/09

    I suggest we just agree to disagree on this, Nicholas. I have substantiated my original statement. I’ll leave it at that. Regards to you & yours. Read more »

  • Nicholas James says:

    04:58pm | 15/09/09

    @Gibbot To tell you the truth, this is far from a fair debate but the truth is you really left yourself open for this one. But first, just to clarify; Australia is my home and thus I am in fact also Australian and was simply giving my opinion, not judging.… Read more »

 

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