Category: Freedom of speech, movement, rights

  • Australian Census controversy over identity and religion

    Australian Census controversy over identity and religion

    UK religious beliefs
    Christians are no longer in the majority in the UK

    Controversy mounts around religion and identity in the 2016 Australian Census. Political parties, activists and religious leaders have robustly criticized the Australian Government for collecting the names and IP addresses of people who complete the Census online this year. The government insists this is simply to verify the accuracy of the data and the names and addresses will not be used for any other purpose. Other groups have expressed concern at the inclusion of a “no religion” category in the question about religion. Athiests have actively lobbied for the category to minimize the influence of right wing Christians. Hate speak groups have used the controversy to promote their misinformation campaigns.

    http://censusnoreligion.org.au/

    http://spectator.com.au/2016/07/i-dont-believe-in-no-religion/

    https://openparachute.wordpress.com/tag/religion/

  • Mandela on US watch list while President

    Mandela on US watch list while President

    With the world gathering for a well deserved round of Mandela-worship it is worth remembering that it is only five years ago that this great man was taken off the US terrorist watch list.

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  • Brisbane rally will remember refugee deaths

    A minute’s silence will be observed at a pro refugee rally to  be held in Brisbane at 11am, Saturday 22nd, in Brisbane Square (top of the Queen Street Mall). The rally is part of Refugee Week and is calling for immediate policy changes from the Labor government.

    A refugee known as Ahmad Ali Jafari died in detention yesterday evening after guards ignored inmate’s call for help and then took more than an hour to call an ambulance. He, along with 13 other refugees who have died in Australian detention centres in the last 3 years will be remembered at the rally tomorrow.

    Mohammad Baqiri, who was detained for nearly three years as a child on Nauru during the Howard years, will be speaking about his experience at the Brisbane rally. Other speakers include Benedict Coyne from Australian Lawyers for Human Rights and Father Pan Jordan from the Australian Tamil Congress. A range of groups are supporting the rally including church groups, ethnic groups, The Greens and Labor for Refugees.

  • Another Hazara beaten by the system

    Ahmad Ali Jafari, 20th February 1987 – 20th June 2013

    Report and tribute by Graeme Swincer, Blue Mountains Refugee Support Group

    Police inspecting Villawood

    Just before 4pm today, Thursday 20th June 2013, I said goodbye to my dear friend Ahmad Ali Jafari at Villawood Immigration Detention Centre. Little did I know it would be the last time. As usual he had served me a cup of tea and this time he had also given me copies of his documents so that I could help him write a submission to the Minister of Immigration and Citizenship. It seemed like his last hope of obtaining what he had always longed for and deserved. But he is now beyond hope. He died of a heart attack late in the evening. He survived the Taliban and long and dangerous journeys but he did not survive Australia’s hideous refugee system.

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  • Warriors Not Guilty

    Charges dismissed against three Aboriginal activists arrested at Musgrave Park Sacred Fire protests

    Warriors not guilty
    Warriors not guilty

    The three warriors from the Brisbane Aboriginal Sovereign Embassy, arrested last December for defending the sacred fire, were found not guilty today in the Brisbane Magistrates Court.

    Police offered no evidence against Wayne Wharton, Boe Skuthorpe-Spearim and Hamish Chitts. This was in stark contrast to the period since their arrest where police first imposed draconian bail conditions, which prevented the three from participating in cultural and religious ceremonies, and then wasted court time and tax payer money trying to keep the bail conditions in place.

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  • Langlee Wave Power And Unmaksan To Build 24-MW System

    August 27, 2009

    Langlee Wave Power And Unmaksan To Build 24-MW System


    Oslo, Norway [Hydro Review]

    Turkish energy company Unmaksan and Norwegian energy company Langlee Wave Power have signed a deal to build a 24-MW wave power system off the coast of Turkey. The exact location has not been determined.



    The first phase of the project calls for a 120 KW pilot facility, which will eventually be developed into a 24-MW system comprised of 200 wave energy converters designed by Langlee.

    “Unmaksan has analyzed more than 70 different wave power concepts, and we believe Langlee has the most robust technology and cost-effective solution,” Unmaksan Managing Director Serhat Kan said in a news release.





    The US$169 million project will be built close to the shoreline in shallow waters near existing distribution systems, the companies said. Unmaksan will build the project and Langlee owns the licensing rights to the technology. Langlee said it expects to receive US$14.7 million in licensing fees from the project.

    Earlier this year, the World Bank approved US$600 million in financing for Turkey’s Private Sector Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Project. (HydroWorld 7/10/09) Contractors, consultants, and project sponsors have been encouraged to participate in the development of renewable energy projects, including hydropower