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♦ The Australian Embassy, partner institution of Photoquai 2009, the Biennial exhibition of world images
Dedicated to non western photography, Photoquai is a Biennial exhibition of world images created in 2007 by the musée du quai Branly. It aims at developing relationship with artists unknown in Europe, encouraging cultural exchanges and cross glances on the world.
Photoquai takes place from 22/09/09 to 22/11/2009 on the quai Branly, opposite the museum and in partnership with several cultural institutions.
As part of Photoquai 2009, the Australian Embassy in Paris is proud to present the exhibition Phantasia. This unique exhibition of photographs by five Australian contemporary artists - Magdalena Bors, Mark Kimber, Andrew Mamo, Alexia Sinclair and Simon Strong - will make a strong contribution to the deepening awareness of Australia’s vibrant contemporary culture in France. Following the success of ‘Portrait of a distant land’ by photographer Ricky Maynard in the inaugural Photoquai in 2007, Phantasia provides a totally different vision of Australia.
To learn more about Phantasia...
To learn more about Photoquai and the other partners institutions...
♦ Australia-France Defence Cooperation Agreement Enters Into Force
Defence Media Release
Tuesday, 11 August 2009
Defence is pleased to announce that the Agreement between Australia and France regarding Defence Cooperation and Status of Forces (DCA) entered into force on 7 July 2009. This development is in keeping with the Australian Government's wish to deepen and broaden its close and productive ties with France.
The DCA will enhance bilateral defence engagement by facilitating cooperation in a range of mutually agreed fields including, the conduct of military exchanges, exercises and training, defence materiel, logistics support and capability planning, activities to enhance and broaden the interaction of our respective military cultures, science and technology and the exchange of space-based information, including military geospatial information.
Australia and France have an active defence relationship. In Afghanistan, Australia works alongside a French Operational Mentoring and Liaison Team in Oruzgan Province. Australia and France actively contribute to maritime surveillance, humanitarian disaster relief assistance, and support to regional defence and police forces in the Pacific and Southern Oceans. Australia and France also share concerns over global threats to security and both contribute to international security efforts.
Media Contacts:
Defence Media Liaison:
02 6265 3343 or 0408 498 664
Issued by Ministerial Support and Public Affairs, Department of Defence, Canberra, ACT
Phone: 02 6265 3343, Fax: 02 62656946
♦ The Australian Embassy celebrated NAIDOC week from 5 to 12 July 2009
NAIDOC celebrations are held around Australia in July to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
NAIDOC originally stood for ‘National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee’. This committee was once responsible for organising national activities during NAIDOC Week, and its acronym has become the name of the week itself.
The week is celebrated not just in the Indigenous community, but also in increasing numbers of government agencies, schools, local councils and workplaces.
The national theme for this year's NAIDOC Week celebrations was Honouring Our Elders, Nurturing Our Youth. The theme encourages our communities to acknowledge the status of our Elders as leaders and role models for our youth.
Wherever you live, taking part in NAIDOC Week is a great way to celebrate Indigenous culture and build bridges between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.
For more information on NAIDOC:
History of NAIDOC
www.naidoc.org.au
♦ The Australian Embassy in Paris congratulates the Hon Peter Garrett AM MP, Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts, awarded the French Order of Arts and Letters
Peter Garrett was made an officer in the Order of Arts and Letters by Frederic Mitterrand, the French Miinister for Culture and Communication on Friday 26 June 2009.
To read Minister Garrett’s acceptance speech see:
http://www.environment.gov.au/minister/garrett/2009/sp20090626.html
The Odre des Arts et des Lettres is a French honour which recognises artists and cultural personalities for their exceptional contribution to culture through their distinctive contribution to the arts or literature in France and around the world.
♦ The Australian Embassy for France warmly congratulates Warwick Thornton for winning the prestigious Caméra d’Or prize for his film 'Samson and Delilah' at the Cannes Film Festival 2009.
“Viva Cannes, viva le cinema”.
Aboriginal director Warwick Thornton's 'Samson and Delilah', a tale of young love in a troubled indigenous community, has been awarded the Camera d'Or first film prize at the Cannes festival.
More about Warwick Thornton’s award:
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25533145-2702,00.html
Read the article of the Sydney Morning Herald in Le Courrier International (in French): http://www.courrierinternational.com/article/2009/05/14/un-certain-regard-aborigene
http://www.courrierinternational.com/article/2009/05/14/un-certain-regard-aborigene
♦ AUSTRALIA TO JOIN INTERNATIONAL RENEWABLE ENERGY AGENCY
Australia will become a member of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), strengthening our role as a global leader in tackling climate change by taking a global leadership role in reducing carbon pollution and supporting innovation.
IRENA’s aim is to speed up the implementation of renewable energy worldwide.
The Rudd Government is investing $4.5 billion in becoming a world leader in solar power and other clean energy initiatives. These investments will increase Australia’s clean energy generation, reduce carbon pollution, and support thousands of new low pollution jobs by stimulating economic activity.
The Rudd Government is committed to reducing carbon pollution, delivering significant savings through energy efficiency, while making the investments that will create the cleaner technologies, industries and jobs of tomorrow.
The Government will work with the private sector to position the Australian economy for a low pollution, high-skilled future.
More about IRENA:
http://www.irena.org/
More about the Clean Energy Initiative:
http://www.environment.gov.au/minister/garrett/2009/budmr20090512i.html
♦ THE AUSTRALIAN EMBASSY IN PARIS ACKNOWLEDGES THE FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF THE APOLOGY TO AUSTRALIA’S INDIGENOUS PEOPLES
The 13 February 2009 marks the first anniversary of the Apology to Australia's Indigenous Peoples by the Australian Prime Minister Mr Kevin Rudd.
The National Apology was a powerful act of reconciliation and national healing. Twelve months later, the Australian Government remains committed to building a genuine, sustained and constructive engagement and partnership with Indigenous people. The Apology has helped to start to build that trust and good faith.
Over that twelve month period, the Government has held consultations with Indigenous people across the country on the establishment of a National Indigenous Representative Body to give Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people a voice in national affairs.
Commonwealth, State and Territory Governments have recently acted in concert to commit $4.6 billion in targeted initiatives for Indigenous Australians to drive reform across early childhood development, health, housing, economic development and remote service delivery. The federal and state governments are developing implementation plans in consultation with Indigenous people.
Internet links
Speech by the Prime Minister Mr Kevin Rudd for the first anniversary of the Apology to Australia's Indigenous Peoples: http://www.pm.gov.au/media/Speech/2009/speech_0840.cfm
Reconciliation Australia http://www.reconciliation.org.au/i-cms.isp?page=830 provides information about the Stolen Generations and the apology, and a collection of quotes about the impact of the apology from members of the Stolen Generations and other Australians.
Reconciliation Australia also provides information aimed at dispelling popular misconceptions about the Apology and the Stolen Generations, accessible at: http://www.reconcile.org.au/getsmart/pages/sorry/sorry--faq.php
The Australian Human Rights Commission provides further information about the Stolen Generations at: http://www.humanrights.gov.au/social_justice/bth_report/about/faqs.html
Apology Speeches by the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition: http://www.pm.gov.au/media/Speech/2008/speech_0073.cfm
Media releases by the Prime Minister and Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs in relation to the Apology are available at:
http://www.pm.gov.au/media/release/2008/media_release_0065.cfm