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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.

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.

To read Minister Garrett’s acceptance speech see:
http://www.environment.gov.au/minister/garrett/2009/sp20090626.html

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

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

SWINE INFLUENZA 

Official reports by the World Health Organization, the US Centre for Communicable Disease Control and Canadian health authorities of outbreaks of a new strain of swine influenza in the USA, Mexico, Canada and Europe are generating significant media attention. There is concern that this new strain of swine influenza may have pandemic potential. If you plan to travel to one of the mentionned zones or if you recently visited one of it, please consult the Travel bulletin published by the Australian Governement:

http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/zw-cgi/view/TravelBulletins/Health-Swine_Influenza
 

THE AUSTRALIAN EMBASSY IS HOSTING THE EXHIBITION "AU PAYS DU BLIZZARD - REGARDS CROISES SUR L'ANTARCTIQUE"

The Australian Embassy in Paris is hosting the exhibition ‘Au Pays du Blizzard’ within the framework of the International Polar Year and the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Antarctic Treaty in Washington DC.

From 1911 to 1913, Sir Douglas Mawson led the Australasian Antarctic Expedition which is considered one of the most heroic and epic tales of Arctic exploration as well as one of the greatest polar scientific expeditions of all times, laying the foundations for continued scientific research today.

Today’s research is light years away from the golden age of polar exploration, with the heroic achievements of Mawson and his men surviving some of the harshest physical conditions ever endured in the aptly named ‘Home of the Blizzard’. The valiant exploits and extreme conditions were captured by the extraordinary photographer – and artist – Frank Hurley.

Hurley made three expeditions to Antarctica and his spectacular photographs – not only of kitted-up scientists lined up for an obligatory group portrait – but of the spectacular and desolate icescapes and the extreme conditions faced by the men – have largely contributed to the renown of these expeditions.

Nearly a century later, another Australian artist shares the same fascination for that splendid and hostile land. Emmelene Landon is also an intrepid traveller, drawn to extremes; she recorded her voyage in a container vessel from Le Havre to Melbourne, following the footsteps of another great explorer, Nicolas Baudin. Whilst yet to work in the ice deserts of Antarctica, she has been drawn to Hurley’s masterful, painterly photographs for many years which have inspired the paintings hanging in the show.

In this way, both the scientific and artistic heritage of Mawson’s great expedition lives on. 

More on the exhibition "Au Pays du Blizzard"...

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

Australia and France renew strong collaborative research ties

Media release, 15 December 2008
Senator Kim Carr
Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research

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Web information on avian influenza

Visit the following Australian Government websites:

• Department of Health and Ageing
  
• Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
  
• Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
  

Further Information Links

Sites such as the World Health Organisation, the World Animal Health Organisation and the United States Centre for Disease Control (CDC) have links to many other sites around the world that provide information about avian influenza.

Important Information for International Students

Important Information for International Students who had their Australian Student Visas Automatically Cancelled Between May 2001 and 16 August 2005.

Passports Act 2005

Important changes to the Australian Passports Act 2005 that came into effect on July 1, 2005

New Working Holiday Arrangement for French and Belgian Nationals

Working holiday makers from Belgium and France are now able to apply on-line for working holiday visas in a new reciprocal arrangement between Australia and France and Belgium.

 Enhancements to Working Holiday Maker Program to help address seasonal labour shortages 

♦ Legislation changes from 1 July 2006

 
Working holiday visas in France and Belgium

For Australians who would like to know more about applying for a Working Holiday Visa to come to France...