Australia to send asylum baby to Nauru

Australia to send asylum baby to Nauru 


The case of one-year-old Asha prompted a stand-off with doctors and a week of rallies 

outside the Lady Cilento Children's Hospital 

Australia said Monday an asylum-seeker baby brought from a Pacific detention camp for 

hospital treatment is expected to be returned to the camp as a deterrent to people- 

smugglers, despite protests from doctors and others. 

Under Canberra's tough immigration policy, asylum-seekers attempting to arrive in 

Australia by boat are sent to camps in Papua New Guinea and Nauru, where they are held 

while their refugee applications are processed. 

They are blocked from resettlement in Australia even if found to be refugees. 

The case of one-year-old Asha, the daughter of Nepalese asylum-seekers who was 

brought to Brisbane suffering burns last month, prompted a stand-off with doctors and a 

week of rallies outside the Lady Cilento Children's Hospital. 

Medical staffhad refused to release her until a suitable home environment had been 

identified. 

Immigration Minister Peter Dutton said she had now been moved to community 

detention, where asylum-seekers waiting for their refugee applications to be processed 

live within the community. They are usually allowed to move around freely. 

"She's in community detention and obviously support will be provided to the family,' 

Dutton told the Nine Network. 

But he added that the government would not back down on its policy of returning her to 

offshore detention once medical and legal issues had been settled. 

Refugee advocates claimed she was secretly moved from the hospital at 4am to an 

undisclosed location and the family's lawyer Daniel Webb, from the Human Rights Law 

Centre, said they were initially unable to speak to the family. 

"It's been an emotional few days for the family. They are relieved and thankful that they 

aren't languishing on Nauru or locked up in a detention centre, Webb said in a 

statement. 

"It's not OK that the government has prevented us from speaking with our client for the 

last three days," he said after speaking to the child 's mother by telephone late Monday. 

"It's a matter Of basic fairness and due process that vulnerable people are able to speak 

with their lawyers." 

Churches, state governments and even New Zealand have offered sanctuary to Asha and 

the 266 other asylum-seekers also in Australia for medical care. 

But Dutton said this would only encourage people-smugglers. 

"I've been very clear, the government's been very clear from day one, that we have a 

responsibility not only to this baby, but to the babies who drowned at sea before and also 

potentially to babies that will drown again if the people-smugglers got back into 

business," he said. 

"so there is a much bigger issue at play here and, as I say, as a country we should be 

proud because we bring in record numbers of refugees through the UN and through the 

Special Humanitarian Programme. "But we are not going to allow a message to get out that people can come to Nauru, come 

to Australia for medical assistance and then that will be their ticket out into Australian 

society. That is not going to happen." 

Canberra has long defended its hardline policy, which also includes turning boats back, 

saying it has prevented deaths at sea and secured its borders. 

Under the previous Labor government, at least 1,200 people died trying to reach 

Australia by boat between 2008 and 2013. 

  "Australia to Send Asylum Baby to Nauru." Yahoo News. AFP News, 22 Feb. 2016. Web. 23 Feb. 2016.

https://sg.news.yahoo.com/australia-asylum-baby-set-returned-nauru-minister-022236967.html?nhp=1

The Australian Government is put in a very difficult position at this point. They have protesting citizens, refugee advocates and at the same time have to defend why they are sending Asha away. From an individual humanitarian stand point most anyone would agree to keep Asha, however the leniency in this one case may lead to detrimental consequences in the future. As seen in the Mediterranean area allowing refugees to remain in the new area they come to inhabit has huge consequences. Millions die each year trying to cross the Mediterranean Sea and millions are smuggled and mishandled across these rough seas. As the author quotes the government is taking seemingly harsh steps to ensure the further safety of millions, in contrast to the millions suffering around the Mediterranean one can understand how one individual case can affect many to come and how the decision made for this one case is extremely important. Although the action the Australian government is taking may seem harsh to the vast population and in fact the greater world one can understand their long term perspective, as well as the pressure they will once again stand under if refugees start to journey to Australia by the millions and the human trafficking market begins to grow again. Assuming the individuals are not suffering from physical or mental ailments and hindrances that could only be treated in Australia the government has decided to limit the number of individuals seeking asylum in their country. The government is in fact out weighing the personal comfort and life of one individual to the rest of the individuals to follow and allowing the majority to rule. The author later states that at least 1,200 people have died trying to cross to Australia between 2008 and 2013 giving contextual reference for why this is already such a big issue in Australia. The history presented by the author presents a slight bias as it only mentions the failures of the individuals crossing, not to be compared with the happy success stories of countless individuals living in Australia as well. The author does not assume we know very much about this topic about an extreme end of the world and therefore adequately presents at least some evidence to suggest why this is such a big topic, furthermore, why it is worth discussing and retaliating about. In conclusion, the author does present slight bias towards the government by adequately presenting their reasons but not exploring the case of the individual (Asha) very well. We can assume he is for the government’s actions. His perspective will agree with many as this immigration problem is compared to what is going on in various countries around the world, particularly Europe.

Taiwan Earthquake

Paper lanterns celebrating the Chinese New Year dot Yongda Road, but there is no 

holiday spirit. 

This is the street in Tainan, Taiwan, where the Weiguan Jinlong high-rise building 

collapsed in a magnitude-6.4 earthquake that rocked the region on Saturday. 

The high-rise is where a majority Of the 38 earthquake deaths have been recorded. 

At least 24 people were killed in the building collapse, and efforts continue to find 

another 120 people who are missing, according to the latest government figures. 

The grounds around the collapsed building are crowded with emergency responders and 

volunteers. 

Huang Zhijie, a representative Of Lions Club International, said volunteers are handing 

out food, snacks, hot beverages, clothing and blankets. Two of the volunteers from his 

organization have relatives who are missing in the rubble, Huang said. They continue to 

cook meals even as they wait for news of their loved ones. 

A nearby izakaya a kind Of pub has been converted to a makeshift meeting hub and 

resting place for rescuers. Restaurants and hotels are opening their doors and offering 

food or shelter to victims or their families. 

The Taiwanese government has ordered an investigation into the building's collapse, as 

images emerged showing tin cans built into the walls of the toppled complex. 

Emergency workers came across the tin cans during the rescue operation, Taiwan's state- 

owned Central News Agency reported.tll They appear to have been used as construction 

fillers in beams. 

Taiwan's interior minister and Other officials said they would open an investigation into 

the building's collapse when the rescue operation ends, according to CNA. Tainan Mayor 

Lai Ching-te said he would order a probe as well. 

However, an engineer told CNA using tin cans "for such purposes in construction was not 

illegal prior to September 1999, but since then styrofoam and formwork boards have been 

used instead. " 
The building is one of 11 that collapsed after the quake, CNA reported, but is the only 

high-rise to completely crumble. 

"The building essentially collapsed onto itself," Elise Hu, an NPR correspondent who was 

in Taipei when the quake hit, told CNN. - When you see the aerial images around Tainan, 

the rest of the buildings are standing. But this particular apartment complex is as 

damaged as it is." 


A woman was pulled alive from the rubble Sunday night local time after being trapped for 

40 hours, CNN affiliate SETTV reported. 

The woman identified as Mrs. Tsao was found with her husband and son. The three 

were holding each other, though Mrs. Tsao was the sole survivor. 

Five other family members are missing, SETTV said. 

Another woman, Chien, her three-year-old daughter and her husband were in their 

bedroom in Tainan --Taiwan's oldest city when the earthquake struck. 

Blue cans appear to have been used in the construction of an apartment building that 

collapsed after a magnitude-6.4 earthquake in Tainan, Taiwan, on Saturday, February 6. 

Dozens were killed in the disaster and rescuers were still pulling people from the rubble 

days later. 

 

"I was trapped in a room in a building toppled by the quake," said the mother, who gave 

only her surname. 

"The smell of gas was thick in the air, and I was worried that I would be killed by an 

explosion if not crushed to death in the collapsed building," she told CNA. 

It was a frightening ordeal, one that she has dealt with before. 

She lived in central Taiwan before moving to Tainan and survived the 1999 quakeL21 that 

killed more than 2,000 people. 

"I moved to Tainan after I got married and now I have encountered another major 

earthquake," she told CNR 

'Ring of fire 

Before rescuers freed them, Chien and her family were trapped for three hours in their 

sixth-floor apartment in the 16-story residential building. 

In all, more than 500 people were injured, CNA reported. Ninety-two people remain 

hospitalized late Sunday, according to Tainan's disaster response office. 

Taiwan is in the so called "Ring Of Fire," an area in the Pacific Ocean where intense 

tectonic plate movement causes frequent earthquakes. 

"Taiwan is very used to earthquakes and tremors, but this is far more significant than the 

island has seen in quite a while," Hu told CNN. 



One woman told CNN affiliate EBC that rescuers had to cut a hole in order to help her 

family get out. 

"Fortunately we were stuck under a space created by a baby crib and a closet door, so that 

things won't fall on us and air was able to get in," she said from the hospital, where she 

was being treated for a leg injury. "I was so afraid. 

The quake struck as many in Taiwan prepared to celebrate the Lunar New Year. 

President Ma Ying-jeou canceled his traditional Chinese New Year address to oversee 

rescue and recovery operations at the national disaster headquarters, his spokeswoman 

said. 

It's one of the country's biggest holidays, and some people have as many as nine days off, 

Hu said. "If you can imagine something like this happening during Thanksgiving holiday weekend 
or Christmas travel, that's the equivalent of what's happening here in Taiwan right now," 
she said. 

 Earthquakes for Taiwan isn't a new experience, that doesn't make it an accustomed experience. Once again Taiwan hit by a major earthquake that rocks its foundation and yet most building remained except a high rise made with tin cans. This startling news brings sudden clarity as to why a single building seems to have been demolished while others nearby are fine. Although the writer doesn't seem to have much of a bias he does present the fact that its the poor building style that's costing lives and presents how little the government and justice system is responding. They be outraged and yet he depicts them rather calm, simply postponing and not celebrating their favorite holiday. As an outside company CNN does a good job of being objective and stating the facts of what happens however shouldn't the article demand more response than "simply another earthquake." Peoples lives are at risk and yet even the author writes with little enthusiasm. Perhaps this does contrast how our world has learned to deal with such disasters so commonly it almost doesn't come to much surprise, especially with all that's constantly going on in the world. This is however a call to all for prayer and help for those suffering with pain of losing lost ones, physical conditions, or even still being buried under the rubble.

Yan, Sophia, and Mariano Castillo. "Taiwan Earthquake: Toppled High-rise Built with Tin Cans - CNN.com." CNN. Cable News Network, 8 Feb. 2016. Web. 09 Feb. 2016.

An emergency World Health Organisation committee is meeting on Monday to advise on the response to the Zika virus , as the number of infected people continues to soar .

The committee will decide whether to designate the mosquito-borne virus – which has been linked to serious birth defects – a global emergency meriting immediate coordinated international action, amid criticism that it has been too slow to act .

On Thursday, WHO’s director general, Margaret Chan, said the virus was spreading explosively . The latest figures from Colombia, released over the weekend, backed her analysis, showing 20 297 confirmed cases of the disease in the South American country, including 2 116 pregnant women, making it the second most affected country after Brazil.

According to Colombian officials, the number of pregnant women confirmed to be affected has doubled in a week.

In Brazil, Zika has been linked, although not definitively so, to 4 000 cases of microcephaly, in which babies are born with smaller than normal heads, raising global fears about a virus that was previously considered relatively benign.

Concerns have been amplified by the fact that the Olympics take place in Rio de Janeiro this summer, when about half a million tourists are expected to visit the city.

The WHO, which says there could be as many as 4m clinical cases of Zika in the Americas – although some experts think the figure could be much higher – is under pressure to come up with a speedy and effective plan of action.

The scientist who co-discovered Ebola has urged WHO to learn from its mistakes on its handling of that virus by quickly declaring a global health emergency over Zika.

Professor Peter Piot, director of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said: “By any means this [Zika] is a public health emergency – with the sheer number of people coming down with a flu-like syndrome”. The fact that some people developed neurological symptoms and the impact on the foetus were also a concern.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Piot added: “WHO clearly dropped the ball when it came to responding to the Ebola virus. It took about five months to declare the Ebola virus in west Africa as a public health emergency of international concern. Today that [WHO] committee is meeting and I have all confidence that they will declare this as a public health emergency. Several reports have been published [on the response to Ebola] and the WHO can, and must, do better.”

Piot said there was little danger of Zika spreading to the UK. “Zika and Ebola are different. The mode of transmission is different, that’s why I’m not concerned for the UK. There is no way that the aedes mosquito can spread here, it is too cold.”

Lawrence Gostin, a professor of public health law at Georgetown University in Washington, US, who has worked with WHO and written extensively about pandemics and policy, said Zika should have been declared an emergency as soon as the link between the virus and microcephaly was made. “My chief criticism is of WHO in Geneva,” he told Reuters. “After being widely condemned for acting late on Ebola, it is now sitting back with Zika.”

But officials at WHO, the United Nations health organisation, say the precise nature of any link between Zika and microcephaly remains unclear.

Although the disease does not pose the same threat to life as Ebola, and there has only been one case of possible person-to-person sexual transmission, according to the WHO, experts have warned that Zika poses a serious threat because of a number of its characteristics . These include the fact that an estimated 80% of infected people do not have any symptoms and that there is no vaccine in prospect.

The Aedes aegypti mosquitoes that transmit the virus thrive in urban conditions and are spreading as global warming takes effect.

An Indonesian research institute said on Sunday that it had found one confirmed Zika case on Sumatra island in a 27-year-old man who had never travelled overseas. The virus has previously been detected in a small number of people in south-east Asia, including one case in Indonesia, reports suggest. The Eijkman Institute for Molecular Biology in Jakarta, said it concluded that the virus had been circulating in the country “for a while”.

SIDDIQUE, HAROON. "WHO Holds Emergency Meeting on Zika Virus." Mail & Guardian. IAB.South Africa, 1 Feb. 2016. Web. 1 Feb. 2016.

http://mg.co.za/article/2016-02-01-who-holds-emergency-meeting-on-zika-virus

The Zika virus has been heavily under publicized if it is indeed as serious and dangerous as the Ebola virus has proved to be. This article is an outcry to all the world to not remake the mistake in Africa with the Ebola virus, exposing the WHO especially, as to instigate action. The author seems to have a bit of a bias against the WHO since it so often talks about its issues with Ebola, almost making that a bigger deal than the new Zika outbreak itself. As an African publishing company this bias makes sense since they are after all the victims of the Ebola disaster, it makes more sense that they understand South America's predicament, and want the world to see and help before its too late. As a reader it makes a huge difference where you are in the world as to your response. For individuals in areas that get too cold anyway, such news, as it was with Ebola, is very distanced and far and thus often makes little impact. As an individual living in a developing tropical society, it is much more likely one sympathizes and wants to help when one sees the consequences of deformity in developing societies who do not provide for these individuals. Overall this article does a good job including various perspectives and ideas from individuals globally, giving an accurate account of a rising issue in our world today.