the flu, human rights, and a few things to read

hey guys!

Hopefully you haven’t been attacked by the ever-so-intrusive flu!

Last week was a busy one – we celebrated cultural diversity week here in Victoria. The Gala Dinner kicked off the week, followed by many other events and concluding with a viva Victoria spectacular at Federation Sqaure. Sadly, I couldn’t go the last one due to flu problems – but luckily I can still write.

Our premier launched our new mutlicultural policy ALL OF US…the brochure containing more info, illustrated with lots of fantastic photos is here: http://www.multicultural.vic.gov.au/Web24/rwpgslib.nsf/GraphicFiles/All+of+Us+policy+doc/$file/MulticulturalPolicy09+-+low+res.pdf

Other than that – here’s some pics from the Human Rights Conference.

 

Laura led the panel on the subjects…Freedom, respect, equality and dignity. I got to speak about Respect. This topic is very dear to me. ‘Respect’ is one of those weighty words where every person, each to their own, have their own definition of what is respect and who is entitled to be respected…. and if you were to jot down all their reasons, it comes down to one little word: “pre-conceptions.” We respect based on what we think of the person. The problem with this is that if we dont have a positive view of the person for whatever reason, then we start to treat them less than human…hence why we get violation of human rights situations. We think, if people arent like us, or think like us, or do what we conceive to be correct, then there’s no reason to treat them as we would…say… our mates, or someone who was like us.  I guess a simple solution would be just to Respect regardless… of who they are…

Hére’s the new VMC mag for your viewing pleasures: http://www.multicultural.vic.gov.au/Web24/rwpgslib.nsf/GraphicFiles/MV+-+Issue+27/$file/VMC020_summermag_final.pdf

Keep well, drink heaps… keep the flu away.

Premier Gala Dinner

Yesterday i had the most splendid evening at the Premiers Gala Dinner. We got invited as part of the MMYN, and I wore a dress that my sister designed. It started with a traditional cook island welcome, followed by more fanciful music. It was an excellent night – everyone let loose and danced the night away. The food was also fantastic. We got front row seats with the commissioners and governor which was awesome! Next year, i recommend you attend.

Here are some pics from the wonderful evening.

Tomorrow i will speaking at the Human Rights conference on the subject of respect. It should be interesting. I’ve noticed that after speaking with a few people how touchy of a subject it is – mainly due to how people view ‘respect.’ Most people define respect as something that must be earned. This is what I believe causes quite a lot of trouble as we start to define a person worthy of respect as someone with certain attributes, and then cultural/racial intolerance starts seeping in. When we start saying someone has to be a certain way for us to respect them, then we start acting a certain way towards them.

I believe that we should respect people regardless of whether we understand or accept them. There are so many things in the world that we can’t comprehend, but that doesnt mean we should disrespect them in the meantime.

EYC – arts expo

hey all!

next week kicks off cultural diversity week here in victoria. you can check out all the cool events you can attend here: http://www.culturaldiversity.vic.gov.au/

another event you might be interested in attending is EYC’s art expo. EYC is short for Ethnic Youth Council, formed 2007 by Spectrum Migrant resource centre. It’s on April 4th. 3-6pm.

If you’re aged between 15-25 and interested in contributing click on the application form link. Otherwise further details in the poster attached.

Application form for participants: http://tinyurl.com/artappform

poster:
http://tinyurl.com/artposter

I hope everyone is having a delightful day

Peace, love and harmony aye! its the best way to solve the world’s problems.

P.s. for those who do not get the print version of VMC’s magazine, you can actually get it online here:
http://www.multicultural.vic.gov.au/web24/vmc.nsf/headingpagesdisplay/publicationsmulticultural+victoria+magazine

Í dont condone violence. I’ve never condoned violence and in no way I am condoning the actions of the young student at Avondale College but what I’m shocked is how the media is reporting this story.

I read a few websites and they reported that it was a Korean student but they never mention that the teacher was being racist.

http://www.3news.co.nz/Student-arrested-for-stabbing-teacher/tabid/309/articleID/93662/Default.aspx

Watch this video…. then look at the comments.

I heard about this story before it even reached the media. Technology you know, facebook, forums, blogs, msn… it spreads. And every report said that the teacher was being racist. But if you read all the media bits and pieces, it’s not there and it makes it look as if the attack was unprovoked.

I don’t believe stabbing is a good way to settle problems though.

When I was in english class, my 5th form English teacher made me explain what hedonism in front of the class. She didnt think I knew what it was. I explained it rather articulately. It was in relations to the lifestyle of Cleopatra and I had use that word in my essay… what other word would you say described the habits of beautiful queen of the nile? but it became very apparent to the class that she was being racist, as I got a merit in English the previous year. She was a substitute teacher though so not much harm done there. And this is just one example. Many of my classmates have kept their peace as we do, but I suppose it is a big problem, especially in NZ.

It’s this whole atmosphere of people thinking it’s okay to be racially intolerant, because as this stabbing saga illustrates …

…even the media wont report it.

….as I was looking up media reports, I found this interesting blog. http://newzeelend.wordpress.com/
It’s seems to be a reverse on the pauline hanson-migrants out : school of thought, but more getting the racist people out of the country. It’s a critique on the behaviour of NZders against people of other countires, ironically named Apartheid NZ. Worth a read.

..addicted to blogging…but that’s a good thing :)

i’m addicted to blogging…well i suppose this is a good thing

…much better than being addicted to drugs or alcohol.

I think about blogging while I’m working, roaming around, driving, about to sleep and I always need my daily fix.

…there’s so many things I encounter in my beautiful city that I want to write about, but I forget most of it. 

 I guess this obsession or addiction, or whatever it’s called stems from my love for writing and communicating. I have this weird need to remember as many moments as possible and share it with everyone.

…so this post is my daily fix  

what happened today in my galavantings?

 

This lady in Camberwell went completely NATO at the traffic lights cursing and screaming. I guess she was in a rush. But she was so angry! I wonder what makes people that mad.

I also whacked the phone to my eye accidentally while speaking to someone. Oh woe! These things happened.

My 1 yr old nephew is currently striking my guitar. It’s very cute! 

…well hope everyone is having a merry old adventure wherever they areh

…just when I thought it was ok to roam the streets…

at the UNHCR function in foundation house, a man from the Immigration Department asked me whether I felt that NZ or Australia was more racist…we were having a conversation about why I moved to Australia…and I said: “I’ve never experienced anyone being racist to me in Australia, but lets not jinks it…” and then yesterday, as I was at ANZ bank with family&co, this lady started screaming at the kids in front of everyone. There were other kids there, so it wasnt because they were kids, but she specifically picked them out and started screaming at them…  First of all, they were 2 year olds. Secondly, I don’t think she has any rights to tell anyone off, especially at a bank – common sense would say tell the parents, but instead, she choose to tell the children off. What more, she then thought it was fine to speak to her collegue, uttering the words: “Stupid Asian kids…” very loud so the whole bank can hear her. I’m not sure whether she did it deliberately or that she did not know how loud she was speaking.

so that’s my first eye witness at someone being blantantly racist/ or prejudice…but I was bound to bump into it someday. But as for authority figures, Australia is very good! Not a single problem et al.

Speaking of Australia…Today is CLEAN UP AUSTRALIA DAY. We celebrate it every year on March 1st by cleaning up our country. Here are some pics from a day out in Frankston.