Questions for discussion
Asylum Plan
1. What has the Government and the Opposition finally agreed on?
2. Why have most asylum seekers left their home countries?
3. Complete the following sentence: Asylum seekers are granted refugee status if…
4. How do most asylum seekers arrive in Australia?
5. Why is arriving by boat dangerous?
6. What did the report say about the number of refugees that Australia takes each year?
7. What did it say should happen to people who arrive by boat?
8. Why is it called the Pacific Solution?
9. Why are the Greens against the plan?
10. Do you think the new asylum seeker solution is a good idea? Explain your answer.
`Is the new asylum seeker solution a good idea? Vote in the BtN online poll http://www.abc.net.au/btn/
Philippines Flood
1. Discuss the Philippines Flood story with another student.
2. What happened in the Philippines recently?
3. What percentage of Manila was affected?
4. In your own words, describe the damage caused.
5. What did people in Manila do to stay safe during the floods?
6. Where did tens-of-thousands of people end up during the floods?
7. Describe the weather conditions in the Philippines.
8. What did the Government of Korea donate to the Philippines?
9. Think of three questions you would like to ask Pablo about the floods or living in the Philippines.
10. Post a message of support to Pablo on the Behind the News Guestbook.
What do you now know about the Philippines since watching the BtN story?
Outback Clean-Up
1. Mikaela and Luke are collecting rubbish along which outback track?
2. They are part of a team of ______.
3. What does it mean to `spruce up’ the outback tracks?
4. Why did the Paxton’s decide to organise the outback clean-up?
5. The bush garbos are a group of locals. True or false?
6. Name three facts about the Birdsville Track.
7. What happened last year at the outback clean-up?
8. What did Luke and Mikaela like most about being involved in the clean-up?
9. What are some of the more unusual things they found when collecting rubbish?
10. How did this story make you feel?
Post a message on the Behind the News Guestbook http://www.abc.net.au/btn/
Donor Dogs
1. What breed of dog is Alice?
2. How long has she been donating blood?
3. Why do some dogs and cats need a blood transfusion?
4. Which vein is blood taken from
a. Femoral
b. Jugular
c. Pulmonary
5. Why is the blood swished around while it’s being collected?
6. Where is the blood stored and for how long?
7. `Dog blood can be used to help a cat and cat blood can help a dog.’ True or false?
8. What determines blood type?
9. How many blood types do dogs have?
10. Why did Mitzy need a blood transfusion?
Test your knowledge in the Donor Dogs quiz. Go to the BtN website and follow the links.
Radio Plays
1. What role did radio dramas play in the 1930’s and 40’s?
2. What sorts of things can radio plays be about?
3. Describe the panic the radio play War of the Worlds caused.
4. What happened to radio plays when TV came along?
5. What are the advantages of radio plays?
6. Why are sound effects important in radio plays?
7. What is Also a Mirror about?
8. Why do some people say radio plays might be making a comeback?
9. Illustrate an aspect of this story.
10. What was surprising about this story?
Interview 2 older adults who listened to radio plays. Share what they said with other students.
Asylum Report
Focus Questions
1. What has the Government and the Opposition finally agreed on?
2. Why have most asylum seekers left their home countries?
3. Complete the following sentence: Asylum seekers are granted refugee status if…
4. How do most asylum seekers arrive in Australia?
5. Why is arriving by boat dangerous?
6. What did the report say about the number of refugees that Australia takes each year?
7. What did it say should happen to people who arrive by boat?
8. Why is it called the Pacific Solution?
9. Why are the Greens against the plan?
10. Do you think the new asylum seeker solution is a good idea? Explain your answer.
Asylum Report
Ask students to define the following:
An asylum seeker
A refugee
A migrant
An illegal immigrant
Working in small groups, students share and compare their responses to each question.
Students then research each question and compare their original response with their researched answer. How did were they different?
Students choose one or more of the following activities to complete:
The UN Refugee Agency website has a game that gives some insight into what it’s like to be a refugee http://www.playagainstallodds.ca What did the game teach you about refugees that you didn’t already know?
Write a response the following statement: `Asylum seekers should be processed in Australia.’
Create a myth-busting quiz about refugees and asylum seekers. Some of the web links at the end of this activity may help students with their research.
Which countries around the world resettle refugees and people in humanitarian need each year? What proportion does Australia accept? Display the information in an interesting way.
People don’t plan to become refugees. Usually circumstances beyond their control force them to flee. Students think about the experiences of refugees by imagining they had to flee their home in a hurry leaving their family and belongings to move to another country.
Where will you go?
How will you travel?
What resources will you need?
Write a story or create an artwork that describes the experience.
Reflection
What do you understand more clearly about refugees and asylum seekers since completing this activity?
8 Related Research Links
Behind the News – Asylum Deal
http://www.abc.net.au/btn/story/s3220085.htm
ABC News – Government to re-introduce offshore processing
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-08-13/government-to-re-introduce-offshore-processing/4195900
ABC News – Refugee says boats will still come despite changes
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-08-14/former-asylum-seeker-says-boats-will-still-come/4197558
Racism. No way: Fact Sheet - Asylum Seekers, Refugees and Migrants
http://www.racismnoway.com.au/teaching-resources/factsheets/44.html
Racism. No way: Fact sheet – Asylum Seekers Q & A
http://www.racismnoway.com.au/teaching-resources/factsheets/24.html
Philippines Flood
Focus Questions
1. Discuss the Philippines Flood story with another student.
2. What happened in the Philippines recently?
3. What percentage of Manila was affected?
4. In your own words, describe the damage caused.
5. What did people in Manila do to stay safe during the floods?
6. Where did tens-of-thousands of people end up during the floods?
7. Describe the weather conditions in the Philippines.
8. What did the Government of Korea donate to the Philippines?
9. Think of three questions you would like to ask Pablo about the floods or living in the Philippines.
10. Post a message of support to Pablo on the Behind the News Guestbook.
Snapshot of the Philippines
Students will compare aspects of Australia and the Philippines to complete the table below. There are web links at the end of this activity to support students with their research. They can add to the following list:
Population
Government
Poverty rate
Exports
Imports
Religion
Ask students to summarise in a paragraph some of the similarities and differences between Philippines and Australia. Encourage students to share their summaries.
Tourism in the Philippines is a major contributor to the Philippine economy. Discuss with students how tourism has been affected by the recent floods. Record their responses and discuss how tourists can be encouraged to visit. Students will need to design a webpage or travel brochure and decide what information is important to include. The following can be used as a guide to students’ research:
· History
· Geography (labelled map)
http://www.asiaeducation.edu.au/verve/_resources/snapshots_teachers_philippines_map.pdf
· Religion
· Culture
· Currency and conversion rates
· Attractions
Discuss with students the importance of using images in their travel brochures/ web pages. Encourage students to share their final products with the class.
Reflection
What aspects of your webpage or travel brochure worked well? What would you do differently next time?
8 Related Research Links
ABC News – More than 1 million battle Philippine floods
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-08-08/more-than-1-million-battle-philippine-floods/4186366
ABC News – Manila battles deadly floods after typhoons sweep through Philippines
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-08-08/more-than-1-million-battle-philippine-floods/4186366
BBC News – Philippines profile
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-15521300
National Geographic – Philippines facts
http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/countries/philippines-facts/
Yahoo Kids - Philippines
http://kids.yahoo.com/reference/world-factbook/country/rp--Philippines
Asia Education – Map of the Philippines
http://www.asiaeducation.edu.au/verve/_resources/snapshots_teachers_philippines_map.pdf
BtN: Episode 23 Transcript 21/8/12
On this week's Behind the News
· Floods in the Philippines. A local kid turns BtN reporter to show us what's happening there.
· We meet some kids who are doing their bit to clean up the Aussie outback.
· And we're with the doggy donors giving blood to save lives.
Hi I'm Nathan Bazley, welcome to Behind the News.
Also on the show, we take a look at radio dramas and meet some kids who've just starred in one. But first today:
Asylum Report
Reporter: Nathan Bazley
INTRO: The way we treat asylum seekers that arrive here by boat has been hotly debated by all sides of politics for a long time. But now after the release of a new report, both the Government and the Opposition are finally agreeing on which path to take. So what is this solution that's managed to make the PM and Tony Abbott see eye to eye?
NATHAN BAZLEY, REPORTER: Over the past three years, BtN has done nine stories on the asylum seeker debate. In fact, there is no subject we've come back to as often.
But now, for number 10, things have changed. Because in this story, the Government and Opposition finally agree on a solution. But will you agree, too?
Up north around our sea borders, the patrols have never been busier. 2012 has seen more people arrive by boat than ever before. So far, the number is climbing close to 8000. It's still a small proportion of the total number of asylum seekers that arrive here. Most just come by plane and stay. But the big difference is, coming by boat is dangerous. Really dangerous.
604 asylum seekers have died on their way here in the past 3 years. Most got into trouble because the boats often used by people smugglers are in bad condition. Making it a dangerous trip. But while that's happening up north, down in Canberra they've been working out what to do about it.
Under international law they are allowed to seek asylum if they are fleeing violence in their home country. If that's proven, they are granted refugee status and are allowed to stay. But here is the problem. Because of the danger involved in getting here by boat, most politicians want to discourage people from coming this way. They'd prefer people apply before they leave their home country and wait for approval. The PM gave an expert panel the job of working out how to do that and this is what they came up with.
ANGUS HOUSTON, HEAD OF EXPERT PANEL: We recommend a policy approach that is hard-headed but not hard-hearted.
Basically the plan can be divided into two. Positive things, to encourage people to seek asylum in a safe way. And negative things, to discourage them from seeking asylum in a dangerous way on boats.
Let's look at the positive first. Each year, Australia takes in around 14,000 refugees. The report recommends lifting that to 20,000, and maybe as high as 27,000. They hope that will encourage more asylum seekers to consider applying for refugee status the official way, rather than by arriving in boats.
But to balance that positive, there's plenty of negative. The report calls for any people that do arrive by boat, to be taken to one of two different places. The island of Nauru, or Manus Island, a part of Papua New Guinea. Both are in the pacific, which is why they call this part of the plan the 'pacific solution'.
At those two places, asylum seekers that arrive by boat would be processed. But their applications would not be allowed to be processed any faster than if they had come via the official ways. So they could be stuck on those islands for a while.
At this stage, both the Government and Opposition have backed the plan, because they think it'll discourage people coming by boat. And the Greens are against it, because they say it's cruel to send people to other countries for long periods to be processed. But how do you feel about it?
Online Poll
OK let's make that our poll this week. This is the question.
Is the new asylum seeker solution a good idea?
To vote just head to our website.
Let's see what else is making the news. Here's Matt with the Wire.
The Wire
A little while ago we brought you the story of a political report which recommended changes to the way schools are funded. It was called the Gonski review. Well now the PM, Julia Gillard, has responded to it announcing plans to provide the same funding for all students, regardless of the type of school they go to.
That should mean more money for private schools because they usually receive less help from the government. But the PM has also promised no school will be worse off under her new funding plan.
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To England now where Wiki Leaks founder Julian Assange has broken his silence after spending nearly two months holed up in the Ecuadorian embassy. He's there because he's requested asylum from Ecuador to avoid being arrested sent to Sweden to face some charges.
Julian believes that if he's sent to Sweden they'll send him on to America where he's wanted for spilling government secrets on his website.
“I ask [US president Barack Obama] to do the right thing: the United States must renounce its witch-hunt against Wiki Leaks”
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And back home thousands cheered their support for the Aussie Olympic team at their official welcome home parade in Sydney.
More than 100 athletes including 12 gold medallists were showered with streamers during the parade before being given a key to the city.
Philippines
Reporter: Natasha Thiele
INTRO: Natural disasters and freak weather events happen a lot around the world. Often there are so many that they don't even make the news. So you might not have heard much about the recent floods in the Philippines, for example even though people died and thousands lost their homes. Well we asked a young BtN viewer to show us around his home city, Manila to see what life's like at the moment for kids living there. Here's Pablo's story.