Dove's Eye View

Multicultural Australia

My mother-in-law has written a book which will be published by McFarland in Spring/Summer 2006: Multi-Ethnic Australia.

Multiethnic Australia: Its History and Future by Celeste Lipow MacLeod

After once trying to keep its population white and predominantly British, Australia reversed course. Since 1947 it has absorbed five million immigrants from some 240 countries around the globe, with increasing numbers from Asian nations. As attitudes toward immigration changed, the country developed a multicultural outlook that encourages immigrants as well as indigenous people to retain their traditional cultures while also becoming loyal Australians.

This book examines Australia past and present to show why immigration policies changed, the conflicts the new policies caused and the benefits they brought. It describes how a late nineteenth century drive for services helped immigrants who arrived after World War II. The last chapters view Australia in relation to world events: the economic rise of China, the impact of the Bali bombing in 2002 and the arrival of boat refugees from Middle Eastern nations. The result is a thorough and thoughtful consideration of Australia as a multiethnic society, including current challenges and the nation’s potential to play a larger role in its Asia Pacific region.

About the Author
Writer Celeste Lipow MacLeod lives in Berkeley, California.

If you wanted to know about multiculturalism in Australia, this would be your book. I'm so proud of Celeste! Congratulations.

Bachelet in Chile

Some good news somewhere: Socialist Bachelet Wins Chilean Presidency - Yahoo! News.

"Who would have said, 10, 15 years ago — that a woman would be elected preident!" Bachelet told thousands of supporters.

Bachelet's father, a general, was tortured and died in prison under Pinochet; Bachelet herself was then arrested and tortured. She was released thanks to the intercession of a relative in the military, left the country and became a doctor. She was always a peacemaker, and even in her student days was known as someone who made friends with all sides. Now she is seen as reconciling the country after the horrors of Pinochet's government. She was minister of Defense, head of the military that killed her father, before she won this office.

Thank goodness Chile is moving out of its long dark night. This election looks like good news.

New Literature from Egypt

Words Without Borders features literature from Egypt this month: Words Without Borders.

I'll be browsing this site extensively, and ordering books as well.

Thanks to Moorish Girl for the tip.

Slow Food Beats Fast Food

From the New York Times: The Bread Is Famously Good, but It Killed McDonald's.

The protagonists here in Altamura as well as many others are thrilled with the belated attention, and the distinction as the city whose food was so good that it closed down a McDonald's without really trying.

"What took place was a small war between us and McDonald's," said Onofrio Pepe, a retired journalist who founded an association here devoted to local delicacies. "Our bullets were focaccia. And sausage. And bread. It was a peaceful war, without any spilling of blood."

Good Times

My life is good and I'm happy to be here. Not much to say as "the Dove" except - wherever you are, be well, and Happy New Year.

Personal Bio

If you are an old friend looking for me and want to catch up, follow this link: Personal: Personal Info.

Massacre in Egypt

This is not a "positive thinking" post. I include it because Nora Younis, a Cairo blogger, bravely covered the massacre of over 20 refugees in a Cairo suburb by Egyptian police. She hung around through water bombings and then the final action that took dozens of lives. That she kept at it, took pictures, and risked posting her report (presumably under her own name?) is a sign of indomitable courage. Nora Younis - Disgraced to be Egyptian: A Testimony.

At a holiday party yesterday, a family friend who is a human rights activist suggested I join Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and/or the American Civil Liberties Union. I said I was deeply disturbed by US support for torture, and wanted to know what I could do. That's what I can do, and I shall. Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International should be on the case of these refugees in Cairo.

Voices of the New Arab Public

Abu-Aardvark's book is out: Voices of the New Arab Public; Iraq, al-Jazeera, and Middle East Politics Today, by Marc Lynch.

Al-Jazeera and other satellite television stations have transformed Arab politics over the last decade. By shattering state control over information and giving a platform to long-stifled voices, these new Arab media have challenged the status quo by encouraging open debate about Iraq, Palestine, Islamism, Arab identity, and other vital political and social issues. These public arguments have redefined what it means to be Arab and reshaped the realm of political possibility.

As Marc Lynch shows, the days of monolithic Arab opinion are over. How Arab governments and the United States engage this newly confident and influential public sphere will profoundly shape the future of the Arab world.

Visit the Voice of the New Arab Public blog to read more about the book and post your comments.