EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION EXTENDED
Due to popular demand, the Early Bird Registration has now been extended!
It will now close on the 16th April.
Visit the website for information regarding registration.
LATEST NEWS & EVENTS
CHINA
Steven Spielberg's widely publicised withdrawal as artistic director of the Beijing Olympics has drawn a wide range of commentary on the Internet. People are divided on Spielberg's decision to withdraw in protest against China's inaction on the escalating violence in Darfur. Many applaud Spielberg for drawing attention to the Chinese government's indifference to human suffering in Darfur while some argue that it is more important to alert the reading public to human rights abuses within China. There are also numerous commentators who wonder whether Spielberg's decision will make any difference at all. Within China, there is popular support for the Chinese government's insistence on separating sports from politics and many people are volubly critical of Spielberg for attempting to use the Beijing Olympics to discredit China. More recently, a New York Times article of 23 February 2008
indicates that there has been a positive shift in China’s position on Darfur. The Chinese Prime Minister, Wen Jiabao, has also been at pains to emphasize that China was the first nation outside Africa to send a peacekeeping mission to Darfur. In the coming months, we will undoubtedly see many new and unexpected developments.
INDIA
Baba Amte, well known for rehabilitating over 5,000 lepers after curing their leprosy, passed away two weeks ago at the age of 93. He also opened residential schools for disabled persons at Anandwan and Hemalkasa near Nagpur. His two sons, their wives and his grandsons, their wives and the granddaughter are all doctors and have devoted themselves to healing the sick and disabled, including people from disadvantaged indigenous communities. It is important to remember that a single person can make a great difference to the lives of others.
MALAYSIA
Malaysia’s twelfth general elections will be held on March 8. Although the multiethnic National Front coalition government is expected to do well, large-scale protests in late 2007 and early 2008 against corruption as well as the pro-Bumiputera affirmative action policy have exposed a long-simmering unhappiness among ethnic minorities as well as the Malay middle class.
SPECIALISED PANELS
The ASAA convenor has been asked to put out a call for papers for the following specialised panels (more than one panel will be organised on each of the following themes):
- Memory and Violence in Southeast Asia:
Contact: K.McGregor@unimelb.edu.au
Contact: Marika.Vicziany@adm.monash.edu.au
- New diseases in Asia - SARS, HIV/AIDS, Bird Flu:
Contact: Tikky.w@adm.monash.edu.au
POST GRADUATE WORKSHOPS
If you are a postgraduate student or an early career researcher attending the 17th Biennial ASAA Conference in Melbourne, please join us at the Postgraduate Workshop that will take place the day before the conference, Monday 30 June 2008.
For more information, please visit the post graduate workshops now!
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