Lev Lafayette's journal

Have just returned from a few days Sydney where I spent the past few days attending the 4D Multiculturalism conference at the University of Western Sydney. Presented a paper on Universal Secularism and Religious Particulars where I argued for the primacy of the former as transcending the latter, which will be elaborated for a published academic paper. I foresee future debates between myself and those who advocate legal pluralism (i.e., introduction of Shari'a law in Australia for Muslims). Spent a bit of time with Andrew Theophanous who kindly gave me a copy of his 1995 book, Understanding multiculturalism and Australian identity which combines political theory with governmental policy. On topic, the Prime Minister has just announced that all asylum seekers who arrive by unauthorised means will be settled (if they are found to be refugees) in Papua New Guinea, rather than Australia. Interesting to read what the Australian government actually thinks about visiting PNG.

Whilst in Sydney caseopaya found us accommodation at the imaginatively named Australian Hotel in the historic of The Rocks. This Hotel, built in 1913 (apparently the date of the last paint job as well) was a delightfully dilapidated Edwardian abode from a period where right angles were unfashionable. Due to a famous murder it was also visited as part of The Rocks Ghost Tour that we attended on the first night. Whilst lacking in gore, it was a good night for a walk and a visit of some of the many historical buildings and events. On the second night organised a dinner in Enmore, with several attendees including Maqsood Al-Kabir (organiser of the Conference), Ian Ellis-Jones, anthanum and Clare, John August of the Sydney Shove, laptop006, and James McParlane and Jiri Baum. Absolutely fantastic night that of animated conversation that went well into the night. This morning managed to spend significant time (but not enough!) wandering through the Australian Museum, especially to see the Charles Addams exhibition but also saw the Wildlife Photography Exhibition.