Venue: Damien on Fisher
Guest Speakers: James Baker
Guest: Bob Craig
Attendance: 29 members 2 guests
Valerie Bonython called the meeting to order and President Ken welcomed the guests. Lucy Davies is away sick.
Guest Speaker: James Baker - A Perspective on International Law
Valerie Bonython introduced James who describes himself as a 'messy Jesus follower, passionate disciple maker and mentor of young people.' He graduated with first class honours in a Bachelor of Laws and Legal Practice in 2012 and Bachelor of International Studies at Flinders Uni in 2014, followed by Masters of Divinity at Tabor College in 2014. He has been admitted to the Supreme Court bar, is an interim Minister for Today's Church, a senior first aid worker, and is a trainer for responding to abuse and neglect. He has won numerous awards including the Prime Minister's Australia Asia Scholarship in 2013.
James decided to tell us 3 stories about international law from the macro to the micro.
Story 1. International Law changes come from specialist UN assemblies which then flow down to individual countries depending on their appetite/acceptance. In 2011 he attended a UN assembly with the AusAID team. At that time there had been major earthquake disasters in Pakistan and Haiti (220,000 died). How do you apply humanitarian law to 'natural disasters? These disasters impact heavily on the poor because they are often housed in slums on the fault lines and, with respect to floods, in the most prone areas. Australia's approach is to put effort into disaster risk reduction. Building refuges where all the contingencies are taken into account makes sense for post disaster recovery and is cost effective......the problems of the past keep recurring without corrective action. There was an anxious time at the assembly when the UN's women's budget was nearly derailed.
Story 2 In 2013 James was part of a team that went to Indonesia to undertake research into disability rights. His advocacy group examined accessibility of polling booths for people with disability. In Indonesia 90% of those suffering from disability receive no formal education, only 1% hold jobs and many of those suffering with mental impairment remain shackled. In discussion with electoral officials the group managed to have the electoral material improved, the polling booths made more accessible, and the government even introduced a braille template to help blind people to vote....a significant breakthrough.
Story 3 Slavery exist across the globe....there are an estimated 40 million slaves in the world, mostly in SE Asia with women in the sex trade. Prior to international law changes it was estimated that 50% of tuna produced by John West came from slave labour sources but this has now diminished to below 20%.
James is involved with Ping-Pong-a-thon, a local table tennis fundraising entity, which donates to organisations at the forefront of combatting slavery. There have been breakthroughs with women released and traffickers jailed. It is estimated that 50% of Australian men who get off the plane in Thailand and Cambodia are there for sex with young girls.
James was warmly applauded for his address.
Bottom Line. International Law continues to improve and impacts positively on the lives of many......but just maybe there should be an audit by the UN of its member countries, which have approved the changes, as to their degree of compliance.....now that would be really something!
SPOTS
President Ken advised that Virginia is sick. The Bunnings BBQ grossed over $2500 last Sunday and the zoo barbeque is scheduled for 27 September.
Valerie Bonython has information available on the Peace Poles being erected by RC Adelaide.
Heather Kilsby reminded that the coffee chat for September will be 10.30am at Impressa this coming Friday...all welcome!
Finale
The winners of the McGuirk raffle were Greg, Christine, Dennis and Ken
Judy Barton was delighted when her house guest of long standing presented her on his departure with an Ipod containing 407 tunes plus a number of other goodies. Maybe Judy can share the Ipod around at each meeting....with a speaker we can have a rock and roll night!
Paul has discovered another copy of David Middleton's book.....price has increased from 50c to $3 ....more and more cost of living pressures.
Stephen reflected that South Australia was in mourning at Sturt's loss last Sunday.
Valerie told a quality handyman true story to end proceedings.
Meeting closed at 7.51 pm
Rotary International News
Coffee Chat at Impressa, Unley Shopping Centre
10.30 am on the first Friday of the month is good for a chat with Rotary friends and a caffeine fix! Next one is this Friday 2 September 2022
Upcoming Meetings
Tuesday 6 September 2022 6 for 6.30pm Damien on Fisher
Guest Speaker: Jo Baxter Rotary Action Addiction Program
Attendance and welcome: Brendan Kenny & Leonie Kewen
Tuesday 13 September 2022 6 for 6.30pm Damien on Fisher
Event: Committees Night
Attendance and welcome: David Middleton & Bob Mills
Apologies and Meeting Enquiries to: Secretary Greg McLeod on 0417 811 838 or email to secretary@unleyrotary.org.au
Venue Set-up Enquiries to: Bulletin Editor Stephen Baker on 0403 687 015
Saturday Thrift Shop Roster
Early Shift: 10.00am to 1.00pm Late Shift: 1.00pm to 4.00pm
Week 1: 3 September 2022
Early: John Peacham (Jerry Casburn) & Haydn Baillie | Late: Robyn Carnachan & Leonie Kewen
Week 2: 10 September 2022
Early: Greg Mcleod & Virginia Cossid | Late: Wendy Andrews & Heather Kilsby
Week 3: 17 September 2022
Early: David Middleton & Nathan White | Late: Vera Ann Stacy & Vera Holt
Week 4: 24 September 2022
Early: Stephen Baker & Judi Corcoran | Late: Jason Booth & Rhonda Hoare
Week 5: N/A
Early: Bob Mullins & Wendy Andrews | Late: Virginia Cossid & Paul Duke
Rotarians, who are unable to attend as rostered, please arrange a swap or as a very last resort contact: Vivienne Wood 0408 819 630; e-mail: vwood#ozemail.com.au
Mitre 10 and Bunnings Barbeques
The Mitre 10 BBQs are the first and third Saturdays of each month. Morning shift 9.00am - 12 noon; afternoon shift 12.00 - 3.30pm, then clean-up.....next one is Saturday 3 September 2022
ALL the Bunnings Mile End Barbeque shifts are from 8am to 5pm
Morning shift: 8.00am – 12.30pm | Afternoon shift: 12.30 – 5pm
We have been allocated the last Monday of each month.....next one was to be Monday 26 September 2022
The Tale End.....
Robyn has has made a philosophical contribution to enhance your happiness:
In a more down-to-earth vein