Defense Set to Give US More Military Access

What are the US and Australian military forces agreeing to currently? What the specific implications of this agreement?The agreement will give American forces greater access to Australian military bases.
What is the name of the summit where Australia's Defense Minister and the US's Secretary of Defense will meet?San Francisco
Which country is the US specifically reacting to?China
What are the US planners looking to achieve with this agreement regarding troop movement?

US planners are looking for ways to move forces around the world more effectively broke the globe down into regions, Australian officials worked closely with them on the Asia-Pacific.
What are other key areas of discussion at the summit?They will also be discussing cyber security, progress in Afghanistan and the state of the Joint Strike Fighter project.
What does this agreement mean for Australia's future in the Regional and Global context?
This agreement will mean that Australia int he future will have a greater defense relationship with America, therefore a greater global defense.

Go back to where you came from reflection

What is your initial reaction to this show?
My reaction of viewing this show shocked m\e in many different ways. Firstly, when this show was shown in the class, i was really annoyed how that Raquel was racist to black people 'I just don't like Africans' and how during the trip she was whining and i found it quite annoying. Secondly, my view towards the migrants changed. At first, i thought they should be sent back to where they came from via boat, plane. However, i myself is an international student and i feel the same way where i used to get discriminated and treated unfairly.
What percentage of immigrants are refugees?
1.5 percent of immigrants are refugees.
Why does such a small number of people make for such a big deal both politically and in the media? (give your opinion)
A small number of people makes such a big deal because of their treatment in other countries and also scrutiny on the treatment of people in Australia.
Why does Australia rank among countries accepting refugees?
Australia ranks 18th among countries accepting refugees.
How much extra support do refugees receive in comparison o the other Australian citizens
Refugees receive the exact same amount of support in comparison to other Australian's
How many Asian nations have signed the UN refugees conventions?
11 Asian Nations have signed the UN Refugees Conventions.
Why is it important to note that Malaysia has not signed the UN Refugee Convention? What does this mean for refugees in Malaysia?
It is important to note that Malaysia has not signed the UN Refugee Convention because of Australia's controversial refugee swap with Malaysia, which has now been cancelled. This means that refugees are subject to very bad treatment and conditions in Malaysia while under refugee status.

What is the goal of this ASEAN meeting?
The purpose of this ASEAN meeting is to discuss/debate to improve, harmonize trade and investment policies as the bloc pursues an integrated regional economy by 2015.
What is ERIA? What do they intend to do?
ERIA (Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia), they drew up plans to review the pattern for the 2015.
What is AEC? What do they intend to do?
AEC (ASEAN Economic Community) ], they help countries identify commitments that will deliver the best results towards integration.
What are the three key areas of focus?The three key areas of focus are trade and transport, services, investment facilitation.
How often does this group plan to meet?
They have this group plan meeting every once a year
What do they intend to keep in their "knowledge bank"?
They intend to keep a possible tools members can use to pursue effective reforms and also a data bank of all regulatory reforms ASEAN members have made.
Who was the chairman of the meeting? What is his title? What is the population and GDP of his country? How does it compare to Australia?
The chairman of the meeting was 'Dato Lim Jock Hoi', population of Brunei is 400,000, GDP is $49,711 US, Australia has more population compared to Brunei, GDP is $36,642
What do you think that economic integration means?
Economic integration refers to trade unification between different states by the partial or full abolishing of customs tariffs on trade taking polace within the borders of each state
Do you think that this is good or bad for Australia?

What is the deal between Australia and Malaysia? (What are the numbers of people being 'swapped'?)

Australia and Malaysia had asylum trade system which Australia will send 800 asylum seekers in return for 4000 genuine refuges whose cause have been verified by the UN Refugee Agency.

What rights will they have in Malaysia which will allow them to support themselves?

Allowed to work, education and medical expenses for all ages
How does Malaysia normally treat illegal immigrants?

They round them up and throw them into detention centers. Some

Are children being sent to Malaysia?

Yes, but they will get all the support of education and medical assistance

What is going to happen to the processing of the 500+ people currently in Australia who have arrived from the 7th of May?

They will have their claims processed in Australia

What do refugee advocates worry about for the 800 asylum seekers?

They worry that the government can't guarantee the human rights safeguards for the asylum seekers and that the asylum seekers may come to harm. For example the asylum seekers may be caned. They also bought up the occasion when an Australian citizen with their passport was taken to a detention centre saying that if the government can;t protect one of their own citizens, how can they protect the asylum seekers?

What is the goal of this 'swap' program?
The purpose of this 'swap' was to stop the boats that are bringing in the illegal immigrants. To decrease the number of deaths that occur when these smuggling ships crash or ans accident happens

Do you think that it will work? Why/why not?
I think it will work because people will still get an oppurtunity at a new life in a more stable country but they won't be coming to Australia anymore because they know they'll just be sent to Malaysia.

What is an asylum seeker?

An asylum seeker is a person who has fled their own country and applies to the government of another country for protection as a refugee.

What reasons would they leave their country and come to Australia?

The reason why asylum seeker's would leave their country and come to Australia is because Australia allows any race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, political opinion because they caused them to flee from their country.

What reasons will allow them to be approved for asylum?

Persecution due to their beliefs, race and nationality, and opinions.

From what countries are most asylum seekers coming?

Iraq and Burma.

What title does Kevin Rudd have in the Australian Government? Explain what this role entails

Foreign Affairs Minister, the highest on the rank.

What is Kevin Rudd concerns?
Kevin Rudd's concerns are that he accused North Korean's nuclear weapons and missile programs are direct threat to Australia, the US, South Korea and Japan are blamed for provoking the current dangerous instability on the Korean Peninsula.

What forum was he at to express his concerns?
ASEAN Regional Forum

What actions have North Korea performed recently which have Rudd alarmed and the region lacking stability?
North Korea has been working for about a decade on its Tapodong-2 long range missile, with a reported design range of 15,000 km, torpedoes sunk Korean naval ship and civilians on the island. 

What is a 'direct threat' to Australia according to Rudd?
The 'direct threat to Australia according to Rudd is the development of the long range missiles that propose danger to the security of our nation, and Rudd would take leaderships and be participating on UN. And they can make lots of allies which is good for strong economy and technology.

What do you think that Rudd is trying to accomplish diplomatically by calling out his North Korean counterpart publicy? How does this relate to Australia's relationship and role in the region?
However a fired-up Mr Rudd said Mr Pak and his colleagues needed to re-engage with reality if their renewed discussions with the outside world were to bear any fruit. This relates to the relationship of Australia and the countries of the region because in the eyes of other nations Australia will be seen as a leader and many countries will have a positive perception of what Australia is doing, promoting the relationship with it's neighbors.
How does this relate to Australia's relationship to major allies?
This relates to Australia's relationships to major allies because in doing this Australia will demonstrates its loyalty and promotes its status with other allies.

Summarizing the article 'We're not helping really' and Opinions.

Dot Points (article)

• By 2015 we will be spending $8 billion a year on helping people overseas.
  
• Kevin Rudd announced a review of Australia's overseas aid program by an impressive panel of experts. 
  
• Helping people in need is a good thing to do, and there are always more people who need help but spending money in ways that make no difference doesn't help anyone, and there is no virtue in aid that makes donors feel good but doesn't help the needy.
• Most obviously, emergency relief after disasters such as Indonesia's tsunami can save thousands. But this accounts for only 7 per cent of today's program.
  
• First, poverty is being overcome. In 1981, 54 per cent of the world's people lived in extreme poverty. By 2005 this had fallen to 25 per cent. In 2015 it will be less than 15 per cent, according to the World Bank
  
• Many of the world's most populous nations, left behind two centuries ago by the industrial revolution, are finally catching up.
  
• In China, economic growth has lifted half a billion people out of poverty since 1990
  
• Now, as we watch some of the word's poorest countries start to grow of their own accord, we can see more clearly that aid in any form (capital, technology, roads, schools, armies of technical advisers) does not make much differences.

Opinion (my perspective)

I reckon i agree with the author of this article because we are just spending money and there is no proof that aiding some countries will come out positively. Aiding program that Kevin Rudd started since 2005 (?) may end up wasting money. "But spending money in ways that makes no difference doesn't help anyone, and there is no virtue in aid that makes donors feel good but doesn't help the needy." this explains that Kevin Rudd was just wasting 8 billion dollars on aiding and never see the outcome. However, in the other hand, some aids help for example, Indonesia's Tsunami can save thousands homeless people which was very effective. But in the end, Indonesia could have built new school's with their money but Australia is just spending money on unnecessary things.

Why do you think Australia is giving more Aid? What would be the benefits of such a policy? What would be the negatives?

Because due to that Australia got into UN security council, now Australia is grabbing attention and therefore, we can impress America and we would look good if we keep aiding. Aiding other countries would benefit us by looking towards the future. We can benefit not economically but where we can have close relationship from other countries and they will owe so much in trading, military. However, Australia could have helped poverty's instead of helping other countries first because in Australia we are experiencing poverty, homeless, unemployment a lot and we could help them first. One more thing that is negative that aiding countries is that Australia may be low on money.