Please visit Asian Human Rights Commission http://www.ahrchk.net/index.php and support Human Rights.

(Iran): Stoning to death of two women in Iran - 2008-02-06 http://www.ahrchk.net/ua/mainfile.php/2008/2741/

PAKISTAN: Rape victim held against her will for months must be freed - 2008-01-23

BURMA: Monks, nuns and civilians still detained after nationwide protests in September 2007 - 2008-02-06

BURMA: Young woman illegally detained and denied bail after September protests - 2008-02-02

INDIA: A man remanded in custody without charge - 2008-02-01

SRI LANKA: A man allegedly assaulted due to a private quarrel by the police who then filed fabricated charges against him - 2008-02-01

BURMA: Child soldier kept in jail since 2005 - 2008-01-30

THAILAND: Ten activists charged for protesting against undemocratic legislation - 2008-01-30

(Malaysia): Five activists are detained for 2 years without trial under the Internal Security Act - 2008-01-30

(India): Caste based discrimination against 13 villages in Tamil Nadu must end - 2008-01-29

SRI LANKA: Police allegedly assault and fabricate charges against three men for refusing to pay bribe - 2008-01-28

THAILAND: Alleged use of torture to obtain forced confessions in southern Thailand - 2008-01-25

BANGLADESH: A man tortured by the Gournadi police in Barisal - 2008-01-25

PHILIPPINES: Yet another activist killed following threats - 2008-01-24

BANGLADESH: A man died due to alleged custodial torture - 2008-01-24

(South Korea): Independence of National Human Rights Commission of Korea is at risk - 2008-01-19

(India): Human rights organisation likely to be destroyed by malicious police action - 2008-01-18

SRI LANKA: Alleged torture and fabrication of charges against a journalist by Kalpitiya police - 2008-01-16

THAILAND: Alleged torture of two men in southern Thailand - 2008-01-14

INDIA: A college teacher arrested and tortured in Manipur - 2008-01-10

INDIA: Yet another minor killed by the Border Security Force in West Bengal - 2008-01-09

INDIA: Yet another person dies from starvation in Uttar Pradesh - 2008-01-07

Antonios Symeonakis
Adelaide

Sym... yes.. they are all tragic.

The solution? It sure as heck is not a 'charter of human rights'

The solution IS.. "Do for others as you would have them do for you"

Now.. THAT is a solution.

My thread (mis-named 'problems with human rights' by OLO moderators) "The_Enemy_of_Australia_is_Human_Rights_Groups"

basically is aimed at re focusing onto the root problem.

"Human Rights" aaaaah doesn't it sound nice?

My point in the other thread is as simple as "Don't force your religion down the throat of people when the LAW says otherwise"

Now..'me' saying that will probably result in a few coronaries and some of my friendlier critics will want to sue me to gross hypocrisy... but I defend myself "Things said" where people can simply tune out.. is one thing....surely not 'forcing' anything on anyone.
BUT
BUTTTTT...telling people in Britain you can't slaughter a cow because in Hinsuism they are holy..
or telling a blind person in Minnesota, Melbourne or Heathrow that you will deny him service in a taxi because dogs are 'haram' in Islam! now THAT..is 'forcing your religion' on someone.
I took the trouble to write to the Minnesota Airport authority about this and received a sympathetic reply.

I guess the people from the 'love is all we need/imagine' commune like sister Foxy :) and others.. Ginx.. don't see a Camels nose poking through the tent flap in this,..but I sure do.

So..ASIAN human rights ? you can only solve the problems you mentioned by hard nosed intervention! You see.. Asia is a mix of tribes/religions.. and they don't have the historic connection with the Judao Christian sense of fair play... they have a connection to

"I've got the power, SCREW YOU and if you don't like that.. I'll fix you up.. in a terminal way"

So... how to fix ? hmmm *thinks*.. ok..I've got it.. 'We put sanctions' on them.. aaah.. yep..that'll work.. specially when we are probably more dependant on them than they on us.

OUR politics doesn't lend itself to effective sanctions. "Our" Mil/Industrials need to selllll.. stuff,=Lobbyists=Plastic Politicians.

Dear Boazy,

Sitting on the toilet peeing -
we can see that's where you have your most
contemplative moments.

If we do not support them they will suffer very hard and they will not have other choice than to live a bad life and work for few dollars per week.
When David happened this you will lose your job because the products from Asian countries will be very cheap and your employer could not compete them or your employer will move his fabric in Asian of cause the extremely low wages. Many Asian people of cause their problems will come here and they could not forget how hard we was when they needed us.
Supporting Asian people mainly we support our self, but we must have a little bit brain to understand that
Antonios Symeonakis
Adelaide

Sym....

regarding the rights of Asian workers..I've put my life on the line..and been attacked for it.

I stood outside Flinders street with a sign :) "BLAME CHINA..tax slavery at customs" and this commy woman said I was 'racist'....

Ah well.. it's all good....but think about it mate.. you want to improve employement conditions for Asian workers ? Ok lets get a few signs..and rock up to the Chinese consulate... and yell and scream about it..

Chinese are pretty sensitive about that kind of thing.. Olympics coming up.... u know

Foxy.. *pinch*.... I don't SIT peeing you so and so :) talk about 'transferrance'.....

Imagine David a poor Asian father who's child is sick and needs money to buy medicines. Tourist's money is under threat, may be you are one of them. if many Asian people are in very difficult position may be they put bombs, start civil wars or become terrorists. In this case not only tourists but even you and me would pay the cost. Do you want to live permanent under terror threat? do you want your money to go for guns instead of schools, hospitals and festivals? Today our planet is a small village. Do not behave as we live 300 years before.
Supporting people overseas mainly we support ourself.
Antonios Symeonakis
Adelaide

Dear Antonios,

Australia's aid program supports human rights through a framework of six principles. I won't list them all here as this post is limited to 350 words - however, I'll give you the website where you can get all the detailed information - at the end.

Practical action based on these principles means that the aid program continues to focus on its objective of helping developing countries reduce poverty and achieve sustainable development. These principles underpin our strong support for civil and political rights throughout our aid work. The aid program seeks to maximise the benefits for human rights in all development assistance activities.

The Government helps promote and protect human rights through supporting grass roots activities for indigenous human rights groups and building the institutional capacity of national human rights bodies.

With Australian support the Asia Pacific Forum for National Human Rights Institutions has provided advice and expertise with the establishment of national human rights commissions in Korea, Malaysia, Mongolia and Thailand.

The number of internationally accredited national human rights institutions in the Asia Pacific has grown from four to seventeen since 1996.

The Australian Government has provided $1.72 million since 1995 to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to support its global work on national human rights institution-building.
Australia's monies are directed to technical cooperation activities addressing the promotion and protection of human rights, specifically related to national institutions in the Asia-Pacific region.

Examples of activities funded include: training workshops on investigation of human rights abuses in Indonesia; support for vitims of child trafficking in Thailand; and a popular theatre program to educate poor rural communities in Bangladesh on their legal and human rights.

This website may be of interest to you:

http://www.ausaid.gov.au/keyaid/humanrights.cfm

FOxyness...

point 2 of that link you gave says this:

# The aid program will continue to undertake activities that directly address specific economic, social, cultural, civil and political rights. A particular emphasis will be on the creation of durable institutional capacity to promote and protect human rights.

"Cultural Rights" ?

That's exactly what I was saying in another thread.. but I remain confused about 'who' determines what their cultural rights are ?

You see, Bangladesh is a Muslim society..and they would have some fairly firm ideas about the limits of western concepts of 'cultural/human' rights.

This is a problem.

I'm curious about how you would handle the issue of Muslim taxi drivers who, even after being warned by the relevant authority to take passengers seeing eye dogs etc.. still refuse to do so?

Me.. quite easy.. suspend their licences on the spot. Then....they will whine about 'religious discrimination'... and the circle is complete.

RIGHTS....

Blind rights.
Drinkers rights.
Muslim religious 'rights' (in western non muslim societies)

They are in complete conflict. How do 'you' solve this ?

Dear Boazy,

You don't seem to understand what we are discussing here.

The only thing that I can suggest is that you re-read what the website is all about

We can learn to respect the human rights. When I heard for first time English music or test for first time Chinese food I did not like them. Few years later I have bought English music and I have visited Chinese restaurants. Very easy and very fast I learned to respect their culture. When I started work I was worried how to work with this kind of people, my life was a fight for human rights and democracy, they did not care very much about them. Some years later I found that they are not so bad as I thought and I am not so good as I thought. Slowly, slowly we started to learn and respect each other. I grow up in a very religious family, my grandfather was priest, my nephew is priest , I read many Christian books, for many years I could not accept anything else than the Christian truth. Later I learned to respect other religious truths and finally I become atheist!
Do you see? I learn to respect any religious although I am atheist. I do not care what you believe, this is your personal choice. I respect what you believe because I respect your right to believe what you want to believe. For me you are a human being, you have all the elements to be good, to take the right decisions, what you really need from me is my understanding, my acceptance, soon, very soon you will find your way, do not worry. If I humiliate you, if I bully you, probably I will block your improvement and sure I will make you to hate me. Acceptance and understanding is the best path to learn to respect the human rights and improve our world without problems and big risks.
Antonios Symeonakis
Adelaide

Dear Antonios,

I am happy that you understand the importance of tolerance, compassion, and understanding. That you obviously believe, as I do in justice, and an egalitarian society with a "Fair go" for all.

Human rights can often seem like a distant, abstract concept divorced from 'real life.' However, human rights and their infringement are grounded in the daily experiences of people, communities and nations.
Just look at the news stories in the papers or on the radio and TV -
stories of murder, violence, racism, hunger, unemployment, poverty, abuse, homelessness, discrimination and despair are ever present.

You are a good man. I wish you success with your future work.

"Carpe Diem."

Boaz,
I can appreciate your point of view and recognise the dangers in defining a right to be determined by a court, especially if it applies to a religious or cultural situation.

Having a "Bill of Rights" does not and has never changed a society! Witness Nations that have introduced such and their record of obedience to such laws.

The individual human heart and attitudes must be self-disciplined to express love and respect of others. Something I find is not practised by many others on this Forum who continually defamation yourself. I know you are a sincere Christian and can suffer persecution from godless minds. Matthew 5: 11 - 12.

Dear Philo,

The God I know is not selective in his love - (White, Anglo-Saxon -
Protestant - WASP) - like Boazy is!

The God I know believes in understanding, forgiveness, mercy, faith, and compassion. Everyone - is welcome is His house. (Even Muslims -
Boazy... pay attention).

I follow my conscience, demand meaning and relevance from my Church, and will not permit my God to be reduced to empty ritual and all-absorbing law. I shall continue to practice my faith until one day, perhaps sooner that I think, I shall return to ashes and to God.
He will judge me as He must, but I can say to Him as honestly as I say to you: "I have tried to be a decent human being!"

Oh, and Philo - before you describe someone as a "Good Christian,"
I'd suggest that you go into - and read some of Boazy's posts.
Then if you still think he's a "good Christian" - your understanding of the teachings of Christ would have to be very different to mine!