Around the age of 15, a copy of the late Dr Herbert Benson MD’s book, The Relaxation Response, found its way onto my bookshelf. The pioneering work of Dr Benson and his colleagues committed to exploring mind-body approaches to counter the stress response in collaboration with Tibetan refugees, paved the way to building an evidence […]
UN Working Group of Experts on Persons of African Descent (WGEPAD) visiting Australia 12-20 December 2022
SYDNEY (10 December 2022): The UN Working Group of Experts on Persons of African Descent (WGEPAD) is visiting Australia from 12-20 December. The main purpose of their visit is to receive as much information as possible regarding human rights issues facing persons of African descent in Australia, across a range of issues including: Administration of and access […]
Team Kyinzom: Historic Campaign Launch in Bennelong
It was an honour to be invited to deliver a speech at the Campaign Launch of Kyinzom Dhongdue, the House of Representatives candidate for Bennelong. Kyinzom is the first Tibetan-Australian woman to run for public office. Saturday 26 March, 2022Epping Community Centre I begin by acknowledging the traditional owners of the Dharug Nation and pay […]
Tibet’s Gift to the World
On the evening of March 17 1959, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama (23 years of age at the time) embarked on a perilous journey escaping Tibet’s capital, Lhasa into exile, disguised as a Chinese soldier. Along with his retinue of cabinet members, family members and bodyguards, Tibet’s political and spiritual leader was followed by […]
Profile of Courage: ‘Ama’ Adhe Tapontsang (1932-2020)
The International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims (IRCT) recently observed the passing of torture survivor Adhe Tapontsang, one of the longest-serving Tibetan political prisoners in exile. In common with the late Nelson Mandela, she endured 27 years in prison for her resistance against China’s military occupation of Tibet in the late 1950s. Reflecting on the […]
“Cruelty or Humanity” priority issue for post Covid societies
IMMEDIATE RELEASE: This dramatic new book identifies the world wide, massive crises facing humanity. The planet is burning, civil wars continue, authoritarianism and religious fundamentalism are on the rise, refugees’ rights are trashed, yet in democracies, dictatorships and theocracies, leaders are promoting violence and cruelty as a policy priority. The humanitarian lifebuoy for people, animals and […]
Profile: Somatic Therapy – Manuela Mischke-Reeds
Manuela Mischke-Reeds, MA, LMFT, is a Certified Hakomi Therapist and Trainer, a licensed Somatic Psychotherapist, and a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT 40823). She trains health professionals in the Hakomi Method in California, Australia and Europe. She recently developed a Hakomi based trauma and attachment training for clinicians in Germany. Manuela specializes in integrating […]
Profile: A Reason for Hope – Geoffrey Robertson KC
London-based human rights barrister GEOFFREY ROBERTSON KC delivered an international keynote address to the 2nd Australia and New Zealand Refugee Trauma in Recovery Conference in Brisbane over four days in March. At the close of the conference, the founder and joint head of Doughty Street Chambers spoke with KAREN COLLIER exclusively for Refugee Transitions on […]
Malek Jandali: “Musician of the Revolution”
A Syrian Symphony for Peace “MUSICIAN OF THE REVOLUTION” – SYRIAN-AMERICAN COMPOSER & HUMANITARIAN, MALEK JANDALI TO PARTICIPATE IN NATIONAL REFUGEE WEEK *** FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: It is an honour for Brave Media to announce the first Australian visit of award winning Syrian-American composer, pianist and humanitarian activist, Malek Jandali, who will participate in a […]
A Syrian Symphony for Peace
Malek Jandali’s original music integrates ancient melodies from Aleppo and the Silk Road into works that are preserving and presenting the musical heritage of Syria.