Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Asylum Seekers

1. An asylum seeker is any person compelled to leave his/her country owing to external aggression, occupation, foreign domination or events seriously disturbing public order in either part or the whole of his country of origin or nationality
2. The reasons they would have left their home country are:
Fear of political persecution or the prospect of such persecution in hishome country, i.e., a person seeking a political asylum.
Poverty and no prospect of overcoming said poverty in his home country, i.e., a person seeking an economic asylum.
A natural disaster.
If they are formally granted a political or economic asylum by a country other than his home country.
3. An asylum seeker can be approved if the refugee's life or other human rights are in danger
4. Australia's refugees are predominantly coming from the Middle East or Sri Lanka. Australia is trying to have 1/3 of refugees coming from Middle East, 1/3 from Asia and 1/3 from Africa

Australia-Malaysia Refugee "Swap"

1. The deal between Australia and Malaysia says that Australia will "swap" 800 asylum seekers for 4000 genuine refugees.
2. The asylum seekers will be treated with dignity and respect protected by human rights
3. Malaysia has a record of violence and ill-treatment of illegal immigrants
4. Yes
5. They will be processed in Australia and sent to Malaysia
6. Refugee advocates worry that there is no way the Australian government can guarantee the upholding of human rights
7.  The goal of the program is to stem the constant flow of asylum seekers.
8. No, as there is no way that the Australian government cannot, as said above, ensure that the human rights are obeyed and there is no guaranteed way in which this will insure that the flow of refugees will be 'stemmed'.

Monday, July 25, 2011

North Korea's Threat to Australia

1. Kevin Rudd is the Foreign Minister for the Labor Government. A foreign minister is in charge of the foreign affairs of said nation, they must form foreign policies and are the main spokespeople on international affairs or issues.
2. Kevin Rudd's concern is that North Korea's development of a long-range nuclear weapon is a threat to Australia's national security and also the idea that North Korea has blamed the other nations in the region on the security problems in the North Korea area.
3. Kevin Rudd was able to express his views at the ASEAN regional forum.
4. North Korea's bombing of civilian South Korean homes, torpedoeing of a South Korean frigate and its defiance of 2 UN security council resolutions of proceeding with an enriched uranium weapons program.
5. North Korea's long-range nuclear missile, the Taepodong-2,  is a direct threat to Australia according to Kevin Rudd
6. By calling out the North Koreans, Kevin Rudd is hoping that more nations will take his side for the wellbeing of the nation. He can therefore make Australia a real power in the Asia-Pacific region. If the other nations of the region do take his side, his relationships with them will grow and Australia will take on a greater role.
7. As a result, major allied nations will take note of Australia's international concern and this will then add to Australia's potentiality to add to the UN Security Council and become a mojor world player.