Over the mid-semester break, we were asked to read The Tall Man in preparation for discussion on the treatment of Aborigines in the Australian judicial system. This book chronicles the investigation into the death of Cameron Doomadgee in the Palm Island police station and the subsequent trial of Senior Seargent Chris Hurley for physical violence… Continue reading The Tall Man and Dragon Bones
Category: Countries
A Bhutanese Diary
I’ve recently discovered the PaSsu, the blog diary of a young Bhutanese man. In some ways he seems typical of the people I shared so much with while I lived there, but in others I see differences. Like all Bhutanese, he’s passionate about his king. The respect the king enjoys is well-earned from everything I… Continue reading A Bhutanese Diary
Controversy over Dragon Bones
The book isn’t due out for months, but the controversy has already begun. I’ve heard that members of the Bhutanese community are unhappy about the book as described on Amazon. As the first book to portray Bhutan as more than a simple Shangri-La, I expect some backlash from officials, but I don’t wish to upset… Continue reading Controversy over Dragon Bones
Female Genital Cosmetic Surgery
I wanted an example of a good thesis as I prepare to undertake my first in anthropology and was advised to read ‘Melting Snowflakes – Are Labia the Great Equaliser’ by Lindy McDougall. While it has nothing to do with my focus and I find it suffers from the repetitive tendency of all anthropological work,… Continue reading Female Genital Cosmetic Surgery
Democratic Failings
Australia is preparing for the federal election this weekend, but I feel as lost as ever. It’s always seemed to me that democracy is just a step in the path to something better. It’s never been the answer to all problems in the developing world as the US, UN and most Western leaders would have… Continue reading Democratic Failings
Knowledge is Wealth
In every anthropology subject I’ve done, the students take turns presenting a topic for each week. I volunteered to start this semester because I’m not sure what demands the book will put on me later on. This week, the topic was around what the term ‘hunters and gatherers’ really means. Can we say that Aborigines… Continue reading Knowledge is Wealth
Indigenous Interests
I’ve just started my final coursework subject for my Masters in Applied Anthropology. It’s on Indigenous Interests and Identity and I think I’m in for a fascinating semester. The lecturer has focused his studies on Aboriginal music and media so we’ll be spending a lot of time looking at the traditional owners of this land.… Continue reading Indigenous Interests
Free Health Care in NZ
I’d already decided this would be my last week of snowboarding before the accident. I probably didn’t enjoy it as much as I had in the past because of the lack of snow cover and the flat light that removed all definition from the snow and blended it perfectly with the mist. There was also… Continue reading Free Health Care in NZ
Chalets in Queenstown
I didn’t get much of an impression of Queenstown until I took a day off from snowboarding. The town is full of tourist shops (lots of jetboating, bungy, trekking and snow stores as well as restaurants etc) and even more full of tourists, so I set off along the hill above town and saw that… Continue reading Chalets in Queenstown
Seeking Bhutan Photos
Calling all amateur photographers. Do you have high quality photos of Bhutan? My publisher is an independent and, while the production quality of the book is great, he doesn’t have the funds to pay a professional photographer for the cover. I’ve got some great shots in my collection, but most of them were taken by… Continue reading Seeking Bhutan Photos