(1) EVERYONE HAS THE RIGHT TO EDUCATION. EDUCATION SHALL BE FREE, AT LEAST IN THE ELEMENTARY AND FUNDAMENTAL STAGES. ELEMENTARY EDUCATION SHALL BE COMPULSORY. TECHNICAL AND PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION SHALL BE MADE GENERALLY AVAILABLE AND HIGHER EDUCATION SHALL BE EQUALLY ACCESSIBLE TO ALL ON THE BASIS OF MERIT.
Education is not provided free in Australia. It is very much a user-pays service. Preschools are where education begins in this country yet, as everyone knows, they charge fees that put them out of range of many struggling parents or, at the very least, demand that both parents are gainfully employed. Primary schools provide parents with a list of fees to be paid at the beginning of Year One and each subsequent year. Supposedly to cover the costs of books, technology and the like, these fees are charged, but rarely is it
divulged that their payment is purely voluntary. A bill is given to parents at the beginning of the school year but then, during the rest of the year, there are further costs and further bills associated with school excursions, extra- curricular activity, etc. Then there is the often exorbitant cost associated with the acquisition of the school uniform which ensures that each child is steered early on to a life of dull sameness. The NSW Government provides a $50 cheque to each family at the beginning of the year, designed to reduce the financial burden imposed by school fees. This sweetener merely seeks to hide the fact that parents are being fleeced by bureaucracy. The federal government takes our tax monies and is meant to allocate it according to the priorities of need. But education, like health, never quite seems to get the funding it needs and bureaucracy at the state level then seems to inject its own inefficiencies when it further distributes the funding it has received. So parents are required to top up the education funding bucket out of their back pockets. But even that is rarely enough and lamington drives, fetes and assorted fundraising activities continue to be held through the year. Education is not free in this country and the true potential of our children is surely compromised as a result.
(2) EDUCATION SHALL BE DIRECTED TO THE FULL DEVELOPMENT OF THE HUMAN PERSONALITY AND TO THE STRENGTHENING OF RESPECT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AND FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOMS. IT SHALL PROMOTE UNDERSTANDING, TOLERANCE AND FRIENDSHIP AMONG ALL NATIONS, RACIAL OR RELIGIOUS GROUPS, AND SHALL FURTHER THE ACTIVITIES OF THE UNITED NATIONS FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF PEACE.
education in Australia is based mostly on competition rather than co-operation. this is reflective of the current culture which treats people as individuals and consumers rather than citizens of a society. A war of "all against all" mentality based upon getting ahead and beating other people up the career path is instilled from an early age. The raising of the Australian flag at every school encourages narrow patriotism and a sick nationalism rather than encouraging a democratic internationalism. With the example set to school children by politicians and business leaders that it is not only OK, but in fact a virtue, to lie, bully and cheat it is no wonder that children will follow this example. Not only have our 'leaders' snubbed their noses at THE ACTIVITIES OF THE UNITED NATIONS FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF PEACE, they have invaded other countries against popular and international opinion, threatened the fragile order of international law and opened a pandoras box of violence which has yet to reach its full consequence. In this context it is no wonder that children exhibit anti-social behaviour, bullying and a high rate of mental illness.
(3) PARENTS HAVE A PRIOR RIGHT TO CHOOSE THE KIND OF EDUCATION THAT SHALL BE GIVEN TO THEIR CHILDREN.
a 'right' which has been granted to parents to send their children to elite schools at the expense of the taxpayer. It is doubtfull whether this article endorses middle-class welfare and the robbing of the public purse by private interests. It is also doubtful whether this would extend into religious education or the public funding of 'chaplancies' in public shools in direct contravention of the Australian constitution.
# ARTICLE 27. [passed]
(1) EVERYONE HAS THE RIGHT FREELY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CULTURAL LIFE OF THE COMMUNITY, TO ENJOY THE ARTS AND TO SHARE IN SCIENTIFIC ADVANCEMENT AND ITS BENEFITS.
public benefit [e,g, de-funding of CSIRO]
(2) EVERYONE HAS THE RIGHT TO THE PROTECTION OF THE MORAL AND MATERIAL INTERESTS RESULTING FROM ANY SCIENTIFIC, LITERARY OR ARTISTIC PRODUCTION OF WHICH HE IS THE AUTHOR.
private patents
# ARTICLE 28. [fail]
EVERYONE IS ENTITLED TO A SOCIAL AND INTERNATIONAL ORDER IN WHICH THE RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS SET FORTH IN THIS DECLARATION CAN BE FULLY REALIZED.
Internationally:
the Oz govt [with the USA] has undermined the United Nations.
in recent times Australian UN representatives have:
� Voted against a resolution to strengthen the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. Fifty-two nations voted in favour. Australia was in a minority of two (with the US).
� Opposed a resolution to put more work into framing a right to food. Australia was the only dissenter.
� Abstained from a resolution to formulate a right to development. Only two other nations took the Australian position.
� Abstained from a vote to support the realisation of economic rights in all countries, and which proposed a detailed study of problems developing countries face in their efforts to achieve decent standards of living. Forty-nine countries voted in favour.
� Voted against consideration of a resolution expressing concern about the impact of economic globalisation on the full enjoyment of international human rights. Australia was the only country to do so.
� Voted against the Kyoto protocal
Domestically, 'social order' has been undermined. There is no society, only consumers. The reliance on the 'growth economy' has resulted in a complete separation of politics from society, economy and nature. The Howard govt. through forcing its neo-liberal neo-colonial agenda down the throats of not only Australian citizens, but the Asia-Pacific region and, as part of the 'coalition of the willing' the rest of the world, it is a wonder that Australia has any friends left. It has undermined democratic institutions both at home and abroad, given fuel to reactionary elements within religious groups, and fueled racism and bigotry. It has pitted person against person and group against group, tearing apart the social fabric of Australia and International co-operation.
We should remember the context in which the UDHR was written; certain countries coupled with elite interests had undermined the SOCIAL AND INTERNATIONAL ORDER. The leaders of these countries were tried and found guilty at Nuremberg.
- the iraq invasion has now cost around 650 million lives, with millions of refugees fleeing to Syria.
- if there is anyone here from the Oz govt or AWB, you should know that the price for protecting 'australian interests' in iraq is now $1mill for a 3mill contract from corrupt Iraqi officials [BBC]
- foreign [western] workers are getting paid 500 times more than native iraqis
- unions are banned
- the KKP - Kurdish Workers Party [which tries to fight for workers] is now classed by the OZ govt as a 'terrorist' organisation.
- contracts are [naturally] given to western [US] companies because they have a monopoly on capital, knowledge and information
- we are now seeing the 'talibanisation' of iraq; iraqi barbers are routinely murdered by fundamentalist Islamists because they cut hair.
- reconstruction money from the US has now stopped due to the massive level of graft and corruption - in the words of one US official; 'throwing good money after bad'.
- a billion dollar black hole in iraq has disappeared into the hands of american corporations [such as halliburton] or elite iraqi 'nationals' which have skipped the country.
- it is not surprising that the Bush regime has asked for help from what was previously the 'axis of evi' [Iran and Syria]. The real driving force for Iran is, as in America, not religion but 'power and money'. Religion always takes second place to Profit. [source ABC RadioNational 'big ideas']
NUREMBERG - PRINCIPLE VI [fail]
The crimes hereinafter set out are punishable as crimes under international law:
(a) Crimes against peace:
(i) Planning, preparation, initiation or waging of a war of aggression or a war in violation of international treaties, agreements or assurances;
(ii) Participation in a common plan or conspiracy for the accomplishment of any of the acts mentioned under (i).
(b) War Crimes:
Violations of the laws or customs of war which include, but are not limited to, murder, ill-treatment or deportation of slave labor or for any other purpose of the civilian population of or in occupied territory; murder or ill-treatment of prisoners of war or persons on the Seas, killing of hostages, plunder of public or private property, wanton destruction of cities, towns, or villages, or devastation not justified by military necessity.
(c) Crimes against humanity:
Murder, extermination, enslavement, deportation and other inhumane acts done against any civilian population, or persecutions on political, racial, or religious grounds, when such acts are done or such persecutions are carried on in execution of or in connection with any crime against peace or any war crime.
Principle VII [fail]
Complicity in the commission of a crime against peace, a war crime, or a crime against humanity as set forth in Principle VI is a crime under international law.
there have been American soldiers charged, and even sentenced to death, for committing 'war crimes' in Iraq. According to HRW it became clear in 2005 that U.S. mistreatment of detainees could not be reduced to a failure of training, discipline or oversight, or reduced to �a few bad apples,� but reflected a deliberate policy choice embraced by the top leadership. It will be interesting to see whether in the future the 'top leadership' who "prepared initiation or waging of a war of aggression or a war in violation of international treaties", who set into motion the deaths of up to 650,000 people, will also face such trials.
"I've branded Bush, Blair and Howard war criminals and I make no apology for branding them war criminals. The slaughter and destruction are still going on. They have unleashed war, destruction and maiming on the Iraqi people, then they are actually going to profit from the repairs." ~ John Valder
This is reminiscent of the words of Smedley Butler [one of Americas most decorated war veterans] who, later in his life, realised how he had been used; "I was a high class muscleman for Big Business, for Wall Street and for the Bankers, in short, I was a racketeer, a gangster for capitalism." [butler]
#ARTICLE 29. [fail]
(1) EVERYONE HAS DUTIES TO THE COMMUNITY IN WHICH ALONE THE FREE AND FULL DEVELOPMENT OF HIS PERSONALITY IS POSSIBLE.
(2) IN THE EXERCISE OF HIS RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS, EVERYONE SHALL BE SUBJECT ONLY TO SUCH LIMITATIONS AS ARE DETERMINED BY LAW SOLELY FOR THE PURPOSE OF SECURING DUE RECOGNITION AND RESPECT FOR THE RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS OF OTHERS AND OF MEETING THE JUST REQUIREMENTS OF MORALITY, PUBLIC ORDER AND THE GENERAL WELFARE IN A DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY.
"The protection of our liberties does not ultimately depend on parliaments or even the courts. It depends on the love of the people for liberty." ~ Justice Michael KIRBY 2003
- ultimately, human rights cannot be given by any State or Government, they can only be fought for by citizens themselves. To not do so is an abrigation of our duty as citizens.
The Oz govt/s, rather than using the law SOLELY FOR THE PURPOSE OF SECURING DUE RECOGNITION AND RESPECT FOR THE RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS OF OTHERS, have used it as a sledge-hammer to legislate away hard-won rights and liberties fought for over decades of struggle.
(3) THESE RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS MAY IN NO CASE BE EXERCISED CONTRARY TO THE PURPOSES AND PRINCIPLES OF THE UNITED NATIONS.
# ARTICLE 30. [fail]
NOTHING IN THIS DECLARATION MAY BE INTERPRETED AS IMPLYING FOR ANY STATE, GROUP OR PERSON ANY RIGHT TO ENGAGE IN ANY ACTIVITY OR TO PERFORM ANY ACT AIMED AT THE DESTRUCTION OF ANY OF THE RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS SET FORTH HEREIN.
these governments, (Federal and State) in colaboration with other powerful interests, has in fact ENGAGED IN ACTIVITIES and PERFORMED ACTS AIMED AT THE DESTRUCTION OF MANY OF THE RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS SET FORTH in the UDHR. They have abused the idea of 'liberty', intended for the individual, and used it as a licence to justify the mass-transfer of public wealth (formerly known as the 'commonwealth') into private hands. This is commonly known as 'theft', and is continuing today under the guise of sell-offs, Free Trade Agreements and Public - Private -Parternerships [PPPs].
They have passed draconian legislation in order to 'protect' democracy from 'terrorism'. But the terrorism which they can't protect us against is their own State terrorism. Only we can protect ourselves from that. Governments always want more power, it is up to us not to give it to them.
failed articles [22] 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,14,15,22,23,24,25,26,28,29,30
abused articles
17,18,21, [3] in contravention of article 30
passed articles
13,16,19,20,27 [5]
while the Australian govt pays lip-service to the UDHR, it has, in fact, passed legislation and engaged in activities which have destroyed democratic institutions, undermined international law, and treated public opinion (both domestic and international) with contempt. According to the findings of seditioncharter.org the Oz govt has FAILED 22 articles, ABUSED 3 and passed 5 - not a very good record for a 'liberal' government.
references;
- Amnesty International
- Human Rights Watch
- Liberty Victoria
- democratic audit (ANU)
- geoffrey robinson (int lawyer)
- phillipe sands (int lawyer - author of Lawless World)
- hansard [feral parliament]
- talkback radio [public opinions, various]
- HumanRightsCouncil of Australia
- Human Rights Commision of Australia
- ACOSS
- UN: UNHCR,Human Rights Committee, Race Discrimination Committee and Committee against Torture
- Civil Rights Network
- Edmund Rice Centre
- Julian Burnside
- parliamentary library
- Hansard [various]
- Financial Times
- Churches [various]
#
TRIAL PARTICIPANTS:
Joe Toscano [convenor]
John Collins
John Sabanas
Judy Pierce
Peter Riley
Ruth Martin
Tony Munslow
Bill & Ann Pickering
Mick Doran
Margaret McDonald
Rick Simpson