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tcpipI have just completed a 1200-word essay, "The Road to Damascus", which covers the extraordinary events earlier this month when the Assad regime collapsed in a matter of days. This conflict, which had run for fourteen years and with over half a million civilian deaths (mostly by the regime and its foreign backers). Standing against the criticism of those who engaged in "campism" or denied the legitimate claims for civil rights and democracy by condemning all rebels as religious terrorists, I am pleased to have been associated with those who did not deny the right of Syrians to live with peace and justice. Over the years, I have had the opportunity to meet, interview, and correspond with a number of Syrian refugees and hear their stories directly, as well as spend a period teaching (remotely, of course) at Rojava University. There are, of course, a number of uncertainties with where the country will head now, but they've certainly turned a corner.
In the safety of our own liberal democracy, one of my small roles is that of the Returning Officer for the Albert Park branch of the Labor Party. Most of the time, this is relatively straightforward, as the number of candidates usually corresponds with the number of positions. But this year, due to no other reason than sheer enthusiasm among members, we had an election! Donning my UN Election Observer t-shirt from East Timor 2002 (which I keep under wraps for such special occasions), I conducted the election by the book, especially the requirement that photo identification had to be provided. This led to some amusement as I made the demand not only to the local MP, Nina Taylor, who I have known for several years but also to the former Deputy Premier, John Thwaites, who I have known for more than twenty years. But this is the point; one must follow such rules for purposes of transparency and equality, even if there is a strong personal connection. No matter whether it is as small as a local Party election or a geopolitical issue like the government of an entire country.
Finally, I wish to draw a little bit of attention to my Darwin friend, Lara D., who has been interviewed again on the plight of renters in the Northern Territory, specifically the lack of prevention of no-fault evictions. Lara's (second) story on these matters is both on the ABC website and with a video interview as well. The comments at the end of the latter by the NT government on the need to prevent anti-social behaviour rather than address renter's rights is quite telling; have they, with their small and poisoned minds, considered the possibility that anti-social behaviour might be the result of insecure tenancy? And is the evidence for this relationship somewhat overwhelming? I admit that I can seem a little obsessive about housing matters, but having a secure roof over one's head changes lives, which is one example of Lara's situation.
In the safety of our own liberal democracy, one of my small roles is that of the Returning Officer for the Albert Park branch of the Labor Party. Most of the time, this is relatively straightforward, as the number of candidates usually corresponds with the number of positions. But this year, due to no other reason than sheer enthusiasm among members, we had an election! Donning my UN Election Observer t-shirt from East Timor 2002 (which I keep under wraps for such special occasions), I conducted the election by the book, especially the requirement that photo identification had to be provided. This led to some amusement as I made the demand not only to the local MP, Nina Taylor, who I have known for several years but also to the former Deputy Premier, John Thwaites, who I have known for more than twenty years. But this is the point; one must follow such rules for purposes of transparency and equality, even if there is a strong personal connection. No matter whether it is as small as a local Party election or a geopolitical issue like the government of an entire country.
Finally, I wish to draw a little bit of attention to my Darwin friend, Lara D., who has been interviewed again on the plight of renters in the Northern Territory, specifically the lack of prevention of no-fault evictions. Lara's (second) story on these matters is both on the ABC website and with a video interview as well. The comments at the end of the latter by the NT government on the need to prevent anti-social behaviour rather than address renter's rights is quite telling; have they, with their small and poisoned minds, considered the possibility that anti-social behaviour might be the result of insecure tenancy? And is the evidence for this relationship somewhat overwhelming? I admit that I can seem a little obsessive about housing matters, but having a secure roof over one's head changes lives, which is one example of Lara's situation.
