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Written by B.Tolputt
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Thursday, 05 November 2009 11:54 |
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As you probably have noticed, my article contributions have dropped of late. Amongst the minor "fire-fighting" efforts I took on as moderator, my work load recently increased which has reduced my "free time" somewhat. Along with the successful purchase, move, and fixing up of my new home. However, sometimes a story comes up I just have to comment on. It would appear that "bad publicity" is shutting down the Aussie branch of Mercy Ministries... and personally I'm cheering.
Now, I will acknowledge that there has been some good come from the organisation in Australia. Some young women have been helped through troubling times and have, in some cases, had their afflictions cured or at least alleviated to a large extent. That said, there have been some very troubling stories coming from the Aussie branch of this Christian charity (and yes, the Christian part is important, see after fold for why).
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Written by joni
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Tuesday, 19 January 2010 17:44 |
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It looks like a showdown is looming between teachers and Julia Gillard (of Memorial Halls fame). The Opoosition Oracle is reporting that teachers who boycott the national literacy skills test could be docked wages.
Ms Gillard is refusing to rule out taking action against teachers if they go through with their threat to boycott the tests and one option is to get Fair Work Australia to intervene on the grounds that industrial action outside the enterprise bargaining period is unlawful.
Gillard said on ABC Radio:
"The worst thing in the world is for a child to be at an underperforming school and for no one to know that, and no one to do anything about it."
I am not sure where I stand on the tests, and releasing the information to the public. On one hand - yes, parents deserve to know how their school is doing. But is it fair to denigrate schools where students are from disadvantaged backgrounds, where the scores may be low but the teachers are doing amazing things for the students.
I think it is best for parents to be more involved in their children's school, and to get more hands-on information than relying on a national test ranking. |
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Written by Charles
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Thursday, 25 February 2010 11:55 |
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There is nothing new in this UN Special Rapporteur's Report on the Northern Territory Emergency Response (“NTER”) program in Australia though it bears repeating. This advanced edition, written in preparation for possible governmental reforms this year, states that the current program is 'incompatible with Australia’s human rights obligations'. Furthermore, it noted that other UN agencies such as The Human Rights Committee and the Committee on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights 'have expressed concern that NTER measures are inconsistent with Australia’s obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, respectively, in particular with respect to the right to non-discrimination'. These intervention measures also 'undermine indigenous self-determination, limit control over property, inhibit cultural integrity and restrict individual autonomy'.
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Written by Kevin Rennie
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Friday, 19 February 2010 13:38 |
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A couple of reviews of Oscar contenders doing the rounds at present:
Kathryn Bigelow’s The Hurt Locker is a well crafted film, with a tight, engrossing script by Mark Boal. It is visually appealing if that term can be used to describe Baghdad’s urban battleground. It tells the story of a US army bomb disposal team in Iraq in 2004.
It’s hard not to have problems with subject matter that is not only very confronting but whose multiple layers will appeal to diverse audiences. The horror and inhumanity of war may well be lost on those looking for an action adventure. You have to wonder whether this is an intentional marketing tool. The official website talks about “the military’s unrecognised heroes”.
More:
The Hurt Locker: No Place for Heroes
Writer/director Scott Cooper’s Crazy Heart is the country music version of The Wrestler. A has-been loner struggles to regain career, love and self-respect. While alcohol runs his life, singing legend Bad Blake’s life consists of a downward spiral of one-night stands of both varieties. Bowling alleys, bars and baby-boomer groupies.
After four previous nominations, Jeff Bridges might pull off the Best Actor Oscar that eluded Mickey Rourke last year. He was robbed, of course. Bridges’ gravely voice and roadmap face are tailor-made for his role. He oozes authenticity from start to finish or perhaps it’s just sweat. If it’s not the Academy Award makeup, then Jeff should take the cure immediately.
More:
Crazy Heart: Not Another One-night Stand |
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Written by joni
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Sunday, 28 February 2010 15:56 |
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Barnaby Joyce continues to lead the charge on government debt, and how it is a very bad thing. But compared to a lot of countries, Australia is in a very good position.
Over in Europe, things are not so good. Greece for example is severely hampered by it's debts. But how did those debts occur? Could it be that the "free market" was behind it?
The Guardian reports that Goldman Sachs is taking a lot of heat at the moment, because they "helped Athens borrow cash without putting it on its books as a loan".
The so-called swap deal, permitted under EU law at the time, helped Greece meet eurozone limits on government borrowing. Under the arrangement between Goldman and Greece, the government in effect obtained a $1bn loan without adding to its public debt burden.
So, the same institutions that caused the GFC in the US, were also behind the massive debt levels that Greece now faces. Deals that made Goldman Sachs a lot of money in fees, and possibly more by "creating and selling securities and then betting against them"
Of course, Goldman Sachs is maintaining that they did nothing wrong.
"The Greek government has stated (and we agree) that these transactions were consistent with the European principles governing their use and application at the time".
That may well be the case, but is it as Ben Bernanke says "counterproductive"? Is there a conflict in interest between financial institutions and their government clients?
When I was reading this article I wondered, have our state and federal governments done the same thing in their rush into privatisation? |
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