I’ve just been asked to give an hour speech on human rights issues and discrimination in Japan and Australia, in Japanese, to the PTA of Nishiwaki JHS. *gulp*
And I thought I was being taken into the principal’s office to be cautioned about having my bat showing today! Nope, much worse, much scarier. Especially as I officially stopped studying Japanese in May. Ummm…this will be interesting. Even once I get around the language issues, there Is still the issue that I really don’t know much about human rights in Japan, and my views on discrimination they may not want to hear. I usually try and avoid criticising a country to the people of it, certainly here, anyway.
Eegads!
I’d suggest making use of our bright and shiny CIR’s who may not realize that helping you with a speech isn’t really part of their job description. If Isaac won’t do it, the girl in Tanabe’s name is Jo, and I have her email address if you want it. Ganbatte!
Also, I was thinking, if you wanna, you can come down here on Friday night and go up to Osaka to peruse the queer quarter, my treat. If not, that’s cool, too. *kiss*
Look up Amnesty International and find their Japan site. This should show you articles for people in Japan.
Search around the international site for Japanese Human rights issues, as AI doesn’t encourage people to campaign against their own country as depending on the country it can be dangerous.
You can use the same site to look for Australian stuff, but the other place to look is the UN Human Rights Commission which will also have articles on both countries track records.
Cheers,
Nat
I have done a number of class room things on AI but an hour can be quite long. I would possibly take it from the angle of explaining the average Australian view/history on human rights as a topic, then you could look at each country’s record including as much international context as possible. Check out if both have signed the international declaration on human rights, covenant on the rights of the child, womens rights declarations, and any others of that ilk (on the UN website).
That way you are not neck deep right from the beginning and you could lay out Australia’s not so pretty past first so they may understand that you are not preaching but talking about a world wide issue.
Apologies for the bad formatting and spelling in the previous post, it was done in a bit of a hurry.
Cheers,
Nat
Yes, was thinking of asking Isaac for help.
Would love to explore queer quarters with you, thank-you! However I can only do during day as I have class sat night….or are you thinking fri night, in which case, yes please!!! *bounce*
Thank-you so much, Nat. I’m very, very scared. Will go the wuss way and write it in English then translate, I think. Man, I’ve never given a speech that long in my _own_ language.
Also, it being an issue I (shamefully) don’t know very much about makes it all the scarier. If it was something I knew a lot about, then at least it would just be the language side that I would be worried about. Eek.
Already pulled up one site on Japan human rights, but would like to go with an international site, not an american one. Will look up the ones you suggested tomorrow at school. I guess I know what I’m going to be doing for the next month at school!
Recently came across the Justice Project, fronted up by Malcolm Fraser and a supreme court QC. http://www.thejusticeproject.com.au/
They are looking at quite markedly skewing the next election on the basis of explicating each candidate’s stance on human rights. Emerged from outrage on David Hicks case. There is also the film of the President versus David Hicks, if you get a chance to see it.
Good luck!
Amendum – and also working up to drafting a Bill of Human Rights for Australia.