Panel on Obama: No He Cant? (Sidney Writers Festival)

An interesting, civilized discourse about President Obama convened on May 21, 2010 in Sidney, Australia.

The panel includes journalist Anne Davies and writers Don Watson and Christopher Hitchens. The moderator is Geoffrey Garrett from the United States Studies Centre.

The partisan, fractured political climate and decline in debate-style discussion are two reasons why this sort of debate isn’t held inside U.S. borders.

Even though the stature of the U.S. may be in decline over the long term, people in other nations still pay much more attention to U.S. politics than we do to their politics. There is also a tendency to simply forget that other nations exist. Get a wider perspective on U.S. politics, from the U.K. or Australia!

Scientology Watch - Australian Senator Nick Xenophon calls for senate inquiry

Xenophon discusses his views on Scientology, its tax-exempt status in Australia, and letters to him from former Scientology members. He calls it a “criminal organization.”

Among the alleged crimes cited by the Senator: false imprisonment, coerced abortions, embezelment, child abuse, perjury, persecution of ex-members, forced labor, blackmail and torture.

It is alleged one former member aborted her own child with a coat-hanger for fear of punishment.

“This organization must be investigated.”

“This is not about religious freedom. In Australia, there are no limits on what you can believe; but there are limits on how you can behave. It’s called “the law” and no-one is above it”

Update on 20100209 at 13:01 by richardwalker

Aaron Saxton was featured in Sen. Xenophone’s inquiry and appeared on Australian TV

YouTube: AaronSaxtonSpeaks