Monthly Access June 2010 (Issue 9)

A monthly newsletter by ACCESS, the AIIA's Network for Students and Young Professionals. All the views expressed in this newsletter are solely those of the individual writers and that the AIIA, while providing a forum for discussion and debate on international issues, does not formulate its own institutional views, and eschews political bias.

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Message from the Editor

By Olivia Cable

Welcome to Monthly ACCESS. This edition marks the opening up of our readership, from ACCESS members only, to the wider audience of the AIIA membership and students of the Australian National University.

Your feedback

From ACCESS members and our readers

Q&A with Hugh White

With Olivia Cable

In 2008, Rudd proposed a new institution, the Asia Pacific Community (APC), which can be seen as a response to major global economic and geo-strategic changes. Appointing Richard Woolcott as Special Envoy, he visited 22 countries, consulting leaders of the highest level; ministers, senior officials, academics and those involved in think tanks in the region. As Rudd said, he wanted “to begin a conversation” and strengthen cooperation in the Asia Pacific region. What has been the general consensus to date?

Career Spotlight with Lucy Bradlow

With Olivia Cable

In 2008, Lucy Bradlow undertook an internship at the United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda in Arusha, Tanzania. During her time in Arusha, Lucy endeavoured to do some non UN related volunteering to engage with Tanzanians. Through volunteering at an orphanage in Arusha, Lucy met Carley Andrews, an Australian who started Ujamaa volunteer hostel in Arusha.

Global snapshot

What’s been going on around the world?

Banning the burqa; does it address women’s rights?

By Antonio Cruz

South Australian Liberal Senator Cory Bernardi is the most recent high-profile political figure in Australia to have called for a national ban of the burqa. His call was made following a report that a man wearing a burqa and sunglasses was involved in an armed robbery in a Sydney car park.

The Senator wrote on his blog that “the burqa is no longer simply the symbol of female repression and Islamic culture, it is now emerging as the preferred disguise of bandits and ne'er do wells.”

Contemporary debate: controversy on the high seas

The issues that are shaping our world

Britain, America, Australia: a tripartite concert of leaders

By Ronald Li

Britain, America, Australia. These three countries shares common histories and identities. They are common law democracies and traditionally friendly to migrants and multiculturalism. They are also associated with the Anglo-Saxon culture and civilisation.

Would it be any more surprising to say that they could have been sharing in the past decade, a common electoral cycle and characteristics of their governments?