This article is part of our February theme, which focuses on one of the great silences in the human rights conversation in Australia: Prisoners’ Rights. Read our Editorial for more on this theme. In September 2009 the Queensland Government passed amendments to the Corrective Services Act 2006 relating to the selling or exhibiting of prisoner art whilst […]
R-Coo Tran is a Melbourne based student and photographer. She kindly agreed to volunteer her time to produce a “housing” themed photographic series exclusively for Right Now. Her work examines how a small area of space within a person’s home can reveal a great deal about their character and socio-economic circumstances. Tran writes about her […]
This article is part of our December theme, which focuses on one of the least appreciated but most fundamental aspects of well-being: housing. Read our Editorial for more on this theme. The idea of “home” hosts many metaphors. Home is our “haven”, “sanctuary”, “nest”, “refuge” and “escape”. Home is our “domain”, “habitat”, “kingdom” and “abode”. […]
A panel hosted by the Castan Centre for Human Rights Law earlier this year highlighted an issue largely ignored by the mainstream Australian media. The discussion centred on the social and political implications of violence toward members of the Ahmadiyah faith in Indonesia. Dr Julian Millie chaired the panel, which included Professor Dr Dadang Kahmad, […]
[Editor’s note: For those interested in writing letters to asylum seekers in offshore processing, Julian Burnside has set up a new campaign. For instructions on how to take part, follow this link:http://www.julianburnside.com.au/letters2.htm] It was not so long ago that it was common to have a pen-pal. Remember receiving an envelope via snail mail stamped from a […]
In 2010 Melbournian artist Sarah Catherine Firth commenced a year long artist in residency program with the Face to Face Project. She went to local primary schools were she ran cartoon workshops for children between the ages of 5-12. During these workshops she would discuss basic human rights issues with the children and they would […]
Emmanuel Jal – a former child soldier and hip-hop singer of worldwide acclaim – spoke to Alicia Sometimes at You Say You Want a Revolution: Emmanuel Jal Speaks, an event presented by the Melbourne Festival and The Wheeler Centre at The Arts Centre on Wednesday 19 October. In 1991, Emmanuel Jal fled his home in […]
The 2011 Melbourne Festival closed with a collaborative musical performance on Saturday 22 October at the open-air Sidney Myer Music Bowl. Notes from the Hard Road and Beyond began at twilight, just a few hours after the Bureau of Meteorology had cancelled a severe thunderstorm warning for the city and surrounding areas. The evening featured […]
With a short run of only four days as part of the Melbourne Festival, those lucky enough to catch Aftermath at the Malthouse bore witness to an astounding piece of theatre that provided an insight into the experience of civilian Iraqis after the arrival of US troops in 2003. Playwrights Jessica Blank and Erik Jensen […]
Bloody regime If the key of paradise was in the hands of Sudan’s regime, I would reject it If the signing of peace accord save Sudan’s regime, I would dismiss it If religion was in the name of Sudan’s regime, I would be godless If prayers bring Darfuri people rights, I will practice it If […]
In Australia, we rarely hear about Bangladesh. Even when we do we are told that half the population lives on less than $1 a day and the low-lying land makes it susceptible to rising sea levels. Extreme poverty and disaster distance it from our daily lives. Desai’s photos attempt to remind his Australian viewers of […]
Written and directed by Scott Rankin, Namatjira is the story of the famous Aboriginal Australian artist Albert Namatjira (1902–1959), whose life and work is celebrated around the world. The play was created with Albert’s family and is part of the Namatjira Project, run by the award-winning arts and social change company Big hART. During the […]
