INSULA.number #5

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Insula is a new state-wide publication of the Tasmania University Union (TUU), produced

by the Student Representative Council. The opinions within are not necessarily those of

Insula or the publisher. The copyright in this magazine remains with the publishers.

www.facebook.com/insulatuuInsula is printed by UniPrint and is released fortnightly.

Insula welcomes contributions from across the university.

Please email your work or ideas to student.observer@tuu.utas.edu.au

The deadline for the sixth edition is Tuesday, 21 May.

Sub-editorGeorgia Allen

Design

Mahalee Smart

ContributorsAlex McKenzie, Robyne Ferri, Matthew Bowerman,

Stephen McCallum, Jess Smart, Laura Wilkinson

Editor Liam Carswell

liamc0@utas.edu.au

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FROM THE EDITOR.

As we fast approach exams and the end of semester, it’s great to have some much needed distraction from study in the form of INSULA #5.

In this edition of the magazine, Alex McKenzie argues that our country’s treatment of asylum seekers is not only shameful, but fails to meet our international legal obligations. As part of the ongoing debate about women’s reproductive rights, Robyne Ferri argues that instead of easier access to terminations, there should be stronger support networks and alternatives in place for women. Matthew Bowerman gives us an account of his internship in Beijing and Stephen McCallum documents his time as a dumpster diver. Packed with thought-provoking and challenging pieces, I hope you enjoy this edition.

Australia’s refugee policy is a disgrace. It fails to meet our international legal obligations as well as our moral obligations to treat others with decency, respect and humanity. As Australians, we should feel shame and disgust at our country’s treatment of asylum seekers who arrive by boat.

Australia is a nation built on immigration. Most of us descend from ‘boat people’. From the first arrival of convicts and marines in 1788, our shores have seen people land by boat from foreign countries in pursuit of a new life. They continued to arrive through gold rushes, after world wars, and a number of other challenges. From the post war waves of £10 Poms to the multitude of ethnicities that choose Australia, people come because they view Australia in the way we do: a vast country of open space and safe cities; of wealth and of chance; the land of the ‘fair go’.

Our treatment of asylum seekers denies this aspect of our history. People seeking asylum in Australia are often from war torn places, have had unimaginably traumatic existences. Instead of showing them the compassion they deserve, the Federal Government takes the opposite approach. Hiding behind a façade of wanting to protect them from drowning at sea, we send asylum seekers to detention centres on far off islands where they are to remain for an indeterminate amount of time.

This approach is a flagrant breach of our international obligations. Australia, as a signatory to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights

(ICCPR) and the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), has vowed to treat human beings in accordance with their human rights. These rights include the right not to be arbitrarily detained, to be free from inhuman and degrading treatment, and to respect the right of families to stay together. As a signatory to the Refugee Convention, Australia has an obligation to provide genuine refugees with asylum. This Convention also provides that states may not punish those seeking asylum for entering a country ‘illegally’. This is what we are doing: those that arrive by boat are effectively punished for their method of arrival.

AUSTRALIA’S R E F U G E E F A I L U R E .

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-Alex McKenzie

We leave asylum seekers to rot on far off islands without even beginning to process their claims. All asylum seekers who arrive by boat face an indefinite period of mandatory detention under the Government’s policy of “no advantage”. If people are found to be genuine refugees but are deemed to be a risk by ASIO, Australia puts them in detention and in legal limbo, unable to be sent back and are unable to be released. These people are held without charge and without trial, and unable to access court review.

The Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has found that the mandatory detention immigration system, with unlimited incarceration and a failure to allow judicial review, is one of the harshest in the world. The AHRC along with Amnesty International and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has expressed concern at the effect of this incarceration on individuals. As of 23 June 2011, there had been six deaths in detention, five of which were the result of suicide. There have been countless other examples of torment-induced behaviour, including rioting, lip-sewing, hunger strikes and suicide attempts. Locking people up has a devastating affect on their mental health.

‘RIOTING, lip-sewing, hunger strikes and suicide attempts.’

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The recent return of a group of Tamils to Sri Lanka without formal review can only be considered neglectful. These people arrived on our shores fleeing the Sri Lankan Government, seeking asylum. Australia relies on intelligence from the Sri Lankan Government to determine that they do not face any risks in Sri Lanka. How can they rely upon intelligence from the very Government which they are fleeing, particularly when the Sri Lankan Government has a reputation for oppressing the Tamil population? Our government is putting lives at risk for the sake of political expediency. It is becoming increasingly obvious that our appalling system fails at what it was meant to do: deter people from jumping on boats to come to Australia. The “no advantage” policy is in place, and yet the boats continue to arrive. Desperate people do desperate things. They’re just getting out any way that they can.

If I were faced with the option of my daughter facing a life without education or my son being recruited by the Taliban, or some time in an Australian detention centre, I would take the detention centre. If I were in a war torn country, my family at risk of being torn apart, surrounded by death and destruction or in a refugee camp where fundamentalism and criminal gangs pillage the minds of the young and naïve, I too would do anything to get them out. And yes, that might mean hopping on a leaky boat for a few weeks of nightmarish seas in the hope, that maybe, just maybe, I would reach a place where people will take my family in and protect them and give them the gift of a new life.

Wouldn’t you?

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Michelle O’Byrne claims her Reproductive Health (Access to Terminations) Bill is an attempt to help bring about “equality” for women and that it is about a woman’s right to choose. To freely choose however, one needs to be fully informed and when it comes to abortion, the vast majority of women do not realise what a termination entails. For some reason this information is rare in the media compared to the copious amount of articles arguing in favour of abortion.

Some effects of a termination are: Bleeding and haemorrhaging, infection is common and in rarer cases, fatal. Other short term effects include fever, nausea, diarrhoea and vomiting. However more long term effects include damage to the cervix, which can result in infertility, risk of premature labour and second trimester miscarriage in subsequent pregnancies, which increases with each termination. Psychologically, 10% of women who have abortions suffer from severe mental and emotional damage including: severe anxiety, depression, suicidal tendencies, not being able to stay in a job, drug abuse, inability to retain relationships (including with friends and family) and continued pregnancies with subsequent abortions. For some women this can last for the rest of their lives. Ten percent of women may sound like a relatively small amount, but when one considers that 80,000 abortions occur in Australia each year that is 8,000 severely affected women each year.

At the other end of the situation, one in six women in Australia cannot conceive naturally and millions of taxpayers’ dollars are spent each year to pay for IVF through Medicare. Recently a pregnant acquaintance of mine in Queensland called a government pregnancy support line to ask for help in regards to putting her child up for adoption once it was born and it took half an hour of speaking with the counsellor who repeatedly suggested termination before she was given the information she requested. Why? There are many people in Australia who would desperately like to adopt a child, but the waiting period for adopting an Australian child can be anywhere between several to seventeen years.

Furthermore, the bill seeks to violate the rights of freedom of speech and conscience by its attempt to penalise Doctors in Tasmania with a $65,000 fine or one year imprisonment if they do not refer their patient on to a Doctor known to

REPRODUCTIVEH E A LT H B I L L . -Robyne Ferri

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be in favour of performing abortions and in attempting to make peaceful protest criminal. The bill also seeks to impose a 150 metre exclusion zone around abortion clinics, which for the sake of privacy, are never clearly marked, so one could accidentally find themselves in a restricted zone and accused of criminal behaviour. Since submitting this article to the editor the penalty fine has been reduced to $32,500 and now targets counsellors rather than Doctors. However, Doctors will be penalised with professional sanctions.

Women and Abortion: An Evidence-Based Review in 2005 revealed that the majority of women and girls who have abortions do so because of a lack of support from partners, parents and friends. 70% of women say they felt they had no alternative to abortion. In my mid-twenties I took the early abortive “morning after” pill on 3 separate occasions because I was terrified of how falling pregnant would affect my career prospects, travel plans and ability to party. The question women need to be focusing on is why? Why are women frightened? We apparently live in a modern society with great achievements made in escalating women’s status within society and yet women are terrified of their own beautiful, uniquely feminine and natural ability to grow and nurture a life within them. Why is this?

Just as importantly, if a woman feels she is not ready to have a baby, where are the support networks that should be provided by government to help nurture and take care of women, protecting them from making “choices” under duress, and instead offer them the option to adopt their babies to the thousands of eager couples who can’t conceive naturally waiting to adopt in Australia?

What we need is not a greater availability to terminations, but stronger support networks in place to offer women alternatives such as adoption. To offer support and options for women in a very vulnerable situation protects them from making a decision which they may lead them to live a lifetime of pain and regret.

‘THE BILL seeks to violate the rights of freedom of speech.’

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It was after midnight when I emerged from Beijing Capital Airport on January 2. The weather immediately hit me – it was around -15϶c. For someone who spends eight months of the year complaining about Hobart’s cold, this came as quite a shock. I was worried that I had inadvertently skipped customs, and wasn’t officially “in” China. It was dark, there was no discernable cab queue, and the limited English of the drivers mixed with my non-existent Mandarin made communication near impossible. I was so eager to escape the chaos that I willingly paid a driver ten times market price for the short ride to my hotel. Happily I can now look back and say that this was the most traumatic experience of my month in China’s capital.

I had arrived in Beijing for an internship with the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA). While many of my classmates had found internships here in Australia, I decided to look further afield in finding a way to fill my summer holiday and boost my resume. I came across CRCC Asia, a company which arranges internships for students in Beijing and Shanghai as well as practicalities such as accommodation and visas, and decided to apply.

My rationale was two-fold. Firstly, I was coming into my final semester of study and looking to differentiate myself in a crowded market for graduate jobs. The

Australian government had just released a white paper entitled Australia in the Asian Century. The paper recognises the unprecedented economic growth currently occurring in Asia, and the opportunities that this affords Australia. Asia is already the most populous region in the world and in this century will become home to the majority of the world’s middle class, as well as becoming the world’s largest producer and consumer of goods and services. China is in many ways the engine room of growth in this Asian Century, with the world’s biggest population and one of the fastest growing economies. In this context I reasoned that having had work experience in the region would be looked

BEIJING INTERNSHIP. -Matthew Bowerman

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upon favourably by prospective employers, particularly when the future of business in Australia will be increasingly characterised by engagement with countries such as China.

Secondly, this was my final uni break before graduation and I wanted to make the most of it. I thought that in doing an internship overseas I would satisfy my desire to travel whilst also doing something to hopefully further my future career.

The internship experience delivered on both counts. My time working with ACCA was tough but rewarding. My tasks included preparing and presenting research for colleagues, updating marketing materials and attending meetings with business partners. I also had the privilege of representing ACCA at The Economist Magazine’s annual China Summit, a seminar that brings together some of China’s leading business, political and academic figures for discussion on important issues facing the country. My colleagues were warm and welcoming, and they took me to lunch each day which was a great opportunity both to learn about them as well as try some authentic Chinese cuisine.

‘SOMETHING to hopefully further my future career.’

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However work was only part of what made the experience so memorable for me. In a city the size of Beijing there is always something to do, and the month flew by as I was constantly busy. After work I ate dumplings at a small restaurant near my apartment, then played badminton, attended Mandarin classes or met with other interns for drinks. On the weekends I experienced Beijing’s fascinating mix of old and new, visiting historic sites like the Great Wall and Forbidden City, as well as signs of its promising future such as the 798 Art Zone and the Western style malls of Wangfujing. Friday and Saturday nights were spent drinking shots and dancing Gangnam style at clubs in the famous Sanlitun nightlife district. RSA was not high on the list of priorities in these establishments, making for a wild time and a few subsequent hangovers.

Having been back in Hobart for three months, my time in Beijing is starting to fade into a distant memory. Despite this, I am glad that I decided to go outside my comfort zone and apply for the CRCC Asia internship program, and the effects of having done so are lasting. For starters, I was able to secure my “dream” graduate job, and I drew on my experience in Beijing at every stage of the application process. I also had one of the best months of my life living as a Beijinger, and made contacts both in China and with other interns from around the world. And with this being the Asian Century, I hope that my experience can serve as a spring board for a long and mutually beneficial relationship with the region.

Matthew is the UTAS Campus Ambassador for CRCC Asia. Contact him at matthew.bowerman51@gmail.com for more details on the program.

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Watercolour and stencil work by Jess Smart

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My friends are always asking me why I have so much food or how I can eat such expensive brands of food on a student budget. I could go on about looking out for specials and bulk buy bargains, but I’m going to give you credit and assume you have heard these things many times before and you probably already do basic things like this.

Free FoodThe key is to eat things that retail outlets don’t want to sell you.

Things like three day old bananas are thrown out because a new shipment arrives and customers are more likely to choose the better looking bananas. Sometimes supermarkets will put the old bananas in the discount section, but this means people who want bananas have a cheaper alternative than the normal price, so supermarkets often decide they will make more money by simply throwing them in the bin and thereby force people with a banana craving to pay the premium.

Something similar happens with bread, where the customer expects that even

discounted bread will still be good for another three or more days before there are any signs of staleness or mould. This means shops throw bread out long before it becomes unfit for consumption.

Getting great food from supermarket dumpsters is much easier than you might think. I’ve had a few experiences of what is commonly known as ‘dumpster diving’ (or ‘skipping’ in some places) and they were generally lots of fun.

At this point you’re probably imagining a loaf of bread soaked in bin juice, but I promise that’s not the standard experience. Most dumpsters are full of cardboard (despite having recycling bins next to them) and other waste is usually bagged.

WHY I CHOOSE TO S P E N D T I M E I N D U M P S T E R S .

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Often supermarket workers will put all the older bread into a bag so they can easily carry it outside. This means the bread bags won’t even have touched anything else in the bin. In the case of bananas, they are usually mixed in with cauliflower leaves in a green waste bin. There are always heaps of leaves because they protect the cauliflower during transport before being cut away to make it look nicer on the shelf.

Things like bread are great because you can store it in the freezer until you feel like eating it. By now I figure you’re wondering how to survive on a banana and bread diet, but don’t worry, you can find a whole bunch of things from across the food spectrum and other awesome non-food items.

The range of food is diverse enough that my housemate and I live healthily and almost entirely on food from dumpsters. Coming from Adelaide, where we have hectic heatwaves, I tend to spend about half of my food money on large quantities of sweet, sweet orange juice to get through the heat of the day.

Free StuffThis is by far not limited to food. Some of the greatest finds are not food and you get ongoing enjoyment from them.

Camping stores often throw out camping equipment if it doesn’t sell fast enough. While they usually cut or slash items, they often miss a few and they’re usually pretty easy to sew up or repair in some way. These are great places to find tents, swags, sleeping bags, pillows and other accessories.

Fabric and craft stores might seem an unlikely candidate, but you can often find pillows, blinds, curtains, fabric and slow selling craft supplies if you come at the right time.

Op-shops are the mainstay of non-food dumpster diving. Not the goodwill bin, that would be generally considered low and immoral. I’m talking about the giant dumpster around the back, full of things destined for landfill. You can find anything in these treasure troves. Most op-shops throw electrical items in the bin regardless of condition because it costs too much for electrically testing, which is required before resale. A friend found a whipper snipper, but more commonly you’ll find

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books, dvds, electrical equipment, including mobile phones, trinkets, children’s toys and a large variety of clothes.

Fast-food is generally a no-go zone as they are always stinky and there is very little, if any edible food. The only exceptions to this rule are some independent pizza stores who will often leave pizzas by the back door if no one comes to pick up an order (which is common on Friday and Saturday nights).Bakeries are often good, it’s worth scoping out your local for delicious ‘baked daily’ goods.

Dumpster Etiquette/ Pro Tips:1. Try not to make too much mess around the dumpster. Making a mess is a great way to piss off retail workers who have to clean it up later and will make them more likely to lock their bins.

2. Close the lid when you’re done. Keep things fresh for the next person who comes along.

3. Don’t take something if you can’t use it, someone else might come later and put it to good use.

4. You may even like to create a facebook group for your friends so you can let people know if you find heaps of something they might be able to use.

5. Be careful while fossicking around, broken glass isn’t that common, but it always ends up in the bin. Make sure you leave anything dangerous uncovered so other people are more likely to see it.

6. Share food with your mates, but make sure they know where it came from. Not because there’s something wrong with the food or because I want it to spread like some kind of food cult, it’s important to respect the decisions of other people and give them information to make an informed choice regardless of unfounded assumptions about bins (See Common Myths below).

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Common Myths:

Myth 1:

“All bins and dumpsters are dirty or unhygienic.”

Explanation 1: Bins aren’t a kitchen by any means, but most nasty things will be bagged before they are binned to avoid having stinky bins outside someone’s fine food establishment. Essentially they are a metal container with a whole bunch of social constructs about being ‘dirty‘ attached to them.

Myth 2:

“All food in a dumpster is unfit for consumption”

Explanation 2: Food has far too much packaging. Most food, apart from fresh produce, is double or triple bagged by the time they find their way into the dumpster, so as long as you wash your hands after dumpster diving and before eating (as we’re advised to anyway), there isn’t a high chance of getting sick from the bin itself. The thing to watch is how long the food has been in there for or how hot it got during the day. It’s important to be sensible and use your judgement when selecting what food you snaffle.

‘BE sensible and use your judgement.’

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Wednesday 15 MayHuman Rights BBQCome along and join us for an evening of great music and food.Location: Ref Steps Sandy Bay 5-7pmHosted by: The Amnesty Legal Network

Friday 17 MayMardi Gras Street PartyCome along and celebrate “International Day against Homophobia & Transphobia” Four of your favourite societies unite for the cause. From 3pm join TARTS, TULS, TUBS & ENGI. Dj DQ will be play-ing best party anthems to get you in the zone. Location: TUU Sandy Bay Carpark Sandy Bay 3 - 7pmHosted by: TUU

Crazy In LoveBow down to Beyonce on the 10th anniversary of her momentous collaboration with Jay-Z, CRAZY IN LOVE. The UTAS Queer Society will be celebrat-ing their 2013 (re)launch and are inviting anyone and everyone to the party of the year in the Kiss-ing Room at the Grand Poobah.Location: Grand Poobah 9pm-LateHosted by: UTAS Queer Society

Saturday 18 May Cooking CompetitionSo you think you can cook? Come and contest yourself with the experienced chefs of Praise Methodist Church! (you might even get to sample the contest entries!) Time TBALocation: 100 Invermay RoadHosted by: Praise Chinese Methodist Church (Launceston)

80th Anniversary DinnerTas Uni Rugby Union Football Club is holding an 80th Anniversary Dinner on Saturday 18 May 13 to be held at the Royal Yacht Club rooms from 6:30 pm. Entry is $75 per person and this provides you with a 3 course dinner and 2 hour open bar. Location: Royal Yacht Club of TasmaniaHosted by: Rugby Union

Tuesday 28 May Stressless Day LauncestonThe northern TUU is having a Stressless Day, enjoy FREE massages, live entertainment & a light lunch with us.Location: Cafeteria Newnham Campus 12 noon - 1.30pmHosted by: TUU

Wednesday 29 MayStressless DayCome along and relax! The TUU Cradle Coast is having a STRESSLESS DAY enjoy FREE massages and reflexology, live entertainment & a light lunch. From Location: Cafe Courtyard & Learning Hub 11.30am - 1.00pmHosted by: TUU

UPCOMING EVENTS.

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Triptych by Laura Wilkinson