Media Release: 'Regimes of Terror'

The Department of Critical and Cultural Studies at Macquarie University is holding a one-day colloquium on December 13, 2005 called 'Regimes of Terror'. The colloquium addresses the way in which the on-going 'war on terror' has resulted in the exercise of different forms of power by the Australian, American and British governments. These new forms of power -which the recent counter-terrorism laws and the resultant raids fall under - are promoted by these governments as being necessary to protect the freedom of their citizens. However, the new dynamics of power also curtail the rights of a range of groups such as peace activists, political dissenters, racialised and religious groups, asylum seekers, Indigenous communities, and human rights activists who are concerned with issues of social justice.

This colloquium brings together speakers from different walks of life (academic, professional and community organisations) to debate these issues and contribute to emergent knowledge about the effects of the 'war on terror', and the most recent counter-terrorism laws, on a range of communities within national and international contexts.

Speakers include Simeon Beckett, the President of Australian Lawyers for Human Rights and Agnes Chong of the Australian Muslim Civil Rights Action Network, amongst many others.

For more information, please contact either of the following people:

Goldie Osuri at Goldie.Osuri@scmp.mq.edu.au or 9850 8606

OR

Elaine Kelly at Elaine.Kelly@scmp.mq.edu.au or 9850 8606