Welcome to the AIIA NSW

The AIIA NSW is an independent, non-profit organisation, committed to the promotion of informed discussion among the Australian public on international issues and their impact on Australia. Members and visitors hear well informed speakers discuss international issues in an informal environment at the historic Glover Cottages, at 124 Kent St, Millers Point, Sydney.  

Humanitarian Negotiations Unveiled

In the front line with Médecins Sans Frontières

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Hosted by: AIIA in Sydney

The event will start on: Tuesday, 27 March 2012 6:00 PM

And will end on: Tuesday, 27 March 2012 7:30 PM

At The Glover Cottages, Sydney

124 Kent Street , Sydney NSW

    nsw.branch@aiia.asn.au

Posted by: nsw   

Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors without Borders), is at the front line of international conflict and humanitarian crises politics. While focused on helping and healing those whose very survival is threatened by violence, neglect, or catastrophe. it is also occasionally in positions to observe breaches of International Humanitarian Law committed by parties to conflict or failings of the aid system and therefore speaks out

Thus, recently in Syria, MSF has taken testimony from doctors who have treated wounded civilians in clandestine makeshift clinics and witnessed injured opponents of the Al Assad regime being taken from their beds and killed or abducted

The Australian Institute of International Affairs in Sydney presents a rare opportunity to meet one of the leading figures in MSF, Fabrice Weissman, who is the director of studies at the Médecins Sans Frontières Centre for Reflection and Action on Humanitarian Knowledge, sometimes known as CRASH. Weissman is also the editor of a new book 'Humanitarian Negotiations Revealed: The MSF Experience'.

According to The Guardian, this controversial new book “lifts the lid on the often deeply uncomfortable compromises aid organisations are forced to make while working in conflicts.”

 

From international NGOs to UN agencies, donors and observers of humanitarianism, opinion is unanimous: in the context of the alleged ‘clash of civilisations,’ our ‘humanitarian space’ is shrinking. In other words, the freedom of action and of speech humanitarians can access is being eroded due to the radicalisation of conflicts and the reaffirmation of state sovereignty over aid actors and policies.

 

The purpose of this book – which will be available at our meeting - is to challenge this assumption through an analysis of the events that have marked Médecins Sans Frontières’ recent history, as well as the political transactions and balances of power and interests that have become integral to humanitarian action. It focuses on one key question: what is an acceptable compromise for Médecins Sans Frontières?"

 

The review in The Guardian concludes:” Launched to mark the 40th anniversary of the founding of the medical aid agency, the book offers a rare and unflinching portrait of some of MSF's most difficult recent operations, including in Sri Lanka, Somalia, Burma, Pakistan and Gaza.”

 

Book now to ensure a place at this event.

Abbey Books will be at The Glover Cottages from 5.45 with copies of  'Humanitarian Negotiations Revealed: The MSF Experience' by Fabrice Weissman

 

Entrance:  Members: $15.00, Senior members/Students $10

                   Visitors:  $20.00, Senior Visitors $15.00, Student visitors: $10.00

 


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AIIANSW starts new blog, posts videos

The AIIA in NSW has started a new blog to provide its members with more news and pictures about its activities, including videos of most of its meetings, as well as comments about about major foreign policy issues. 

Called the Glover Cottages Portal - after the name of its historic Sydney headquarters - it will provide comment and analysis as well as liove links to specific web pages of media that cover intern ational issues well, such as ABC's Lateline, the Financial Times and the New York Times. 

Edited by AIIANSW council member Shannon Barnes, the Glover Cottages Portal is open to anyone with a positive interest in international affairs. 

AIIA NSW hosts senior Chinese delegation

 

A delegation from China's State Council Information Office in Beijing, headed by Dong Yunhu, the deputy director, visited the AIIA at the Glover Cottages on December 16 for an exchange of views on journalism and media developments in Asia.
Mr Dong and his team of six had come to Sydney from Indonesia, where he delivered a speech at the 4th Bali Democracy Forum. He is an author and former secretary-general of the China Society for Human Rights Studies.

Colin Chapman, AIIA NSW president, opened the meeting with an overview of the Australian media, noting that only one national newspaper and three metropolitan dailies took international affairs seriously, while only one broadcaster, the ABC, supported a correspondent in Beijing, though there were a number of internet entities that provided analysis and comment.
Louisa Graham, general manager of the Walkleys Foundation, and a former AIIA NSW vice-president, told the visitors that one good reason why the Australian press had not been dragged into scandals like the one in Britain, which is currently the subject to a major investigation, was because Australian journalists were bound by a code of ethics. Mr Dong asked for - and was given a copy of the code. 

In his remarks he made it clear he favoured an open press, while also adding the caveat that in China journalists were obliged to consider also their responsibilities to society. Mr Dong said China is struggling with the rapidity at which communications are developing through the use of internet and electronic means. This was highlighted in a question by William Hobart who asked how the SCIO felt about the micro blogging surge in China. He stressed that media freedom is very important, but defined freedom as the ability to “act within the law,” and emphasised that as the media grows in importance and reach so too does its responsibilities, such as not to undermine public order or security.

The two sides agreed to continue their dialogue, possibly by holding a conference on journalistic principles and standards. The China State Council also agreed to investigate an AIIA request to provide more information on the problems and challenges China faces in addressing climate change. 


 


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