As refugee migrant workers  flee political upheavals in North Africa and beyond, 27-year-old Londoner Sam Bayes asks whether a global body needs to take charge to safeguard their employment and welfare. Of increasing concern for decision makers around the world is the dramatic increase of refugees fleeing North African and West Asia as a result of …

Correspondence: Caring for refugees is labour intensive Read More »

As refugee migrant workers  flee political upheavals in North Africa and beyond, 27-year-old Londoner Sam Bayes asks whether a global body needs to take charge to safeguard their employment and welfare. Of increasing concern for decision makers around the world is the dramatic increase of refugees fleeing North African and West Asia as a result of …

"Caring for refugees is labour intensive" Read More »

Australians supposedly pride themselves on a society built on the egalitarian notion of a “fair go” and are supportive of the “underdog”. Yet social attitudes toward gay marriage are still worryingly conservative, writes Neil Thomas, a 20-year-old from Perth, Western Australia. March 5 saw Australia’s annual Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, a massive and …

Correspondence: Camp festivities with a serious message Read More »

Australians supposedly pride themselves on a society built on the egalitarian notion of a “fair go” and are supportive of the “underdog”. Yet social attitudes toward gay marriage are still worryingly conservative, writes Neil Thomas, a 20-year-old from Perth, Western Australia. March 5 saw Australia’s annual Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, a massive and …

"Camp festivities with a serious message" Read More »

The award-winning film Black Swan featuring Natalie Portman fell foul of censors in Barbados earlier this year. Though a ban on the film which features a lesbian relationship was eventually lifted, the incident highlights the issue of social acceptability, reports Shako Gibson, a 25-year-old Barbadian. Lately there has been quite a lot of talk surrounding …

Correspondence: Barbados is too conservative for my tastes Read More »

Society is wrong to say we must acquire material goods and letters to our name in order to be valued, suggests Althea Charles, a 28-year-old from Bridgetown, Barbados. In life we strive hard to accomplish and add things to us in order for us to gain value. Or, dare I say, become ‘somebody’ of worth. …

Correspondence: How do you measure your value in society? Read More »

The Commonwealth must prove its purpose in an ever evolving international system, writes Joshua Hamlet, a 23-year-old from San Fernando, Trinidad & Tobago. It is a major understatement to say that 2011 has been eventful, but in case you were either in a coma or under a rock here is a briefing so far: Revolution …

Correspondence: 2011 so far – where does the Commonwealth fit? Read More »

Last week saw the launch of a report by Pakistan’s March for Education campaign group. The publication follows the setting up of an Education Task Force by the government. Nosheen Abbas from Islamabad reports. They’re all types of emergencies in practically every part of Pakistan. No, really, we’ve got it all – ranging from floods, political strife, international image problems, internal …

Correspondence: Pakistan’s worst emergency is access to education Read More »

Last week saw the launch of a report by Pakistan’s March for Education campaign group. The publication follows the setting up of an Education Task Force by the government. Nosheen Abbas from Islamabad reports. They’re all types of emergencies in practically every part of Pakistan. No, really, we’ve got it all – ranging from floods, political strife, international image problems, internal …

Correspondence: Pakistan's worst emergency is access to education Read More »

Two months ago, Brisbane, in north-eastern Australia, was struck by horrific flash floods. Despite the carnage it wrought, the natural disaster has strengthened the city’s community spirit, writes 20-year-old local resident Steph Carter. On the 11 January 2011, my city of Brisbane experienced its most severe flood in 35 years. Following months of unusual rain patterns that …

Correspondence: Brisbane floods – community in the face of adversity Read More »