Strengthin diversity

Closing doors further divides US. Let's all find ways to connect people,notseparate them. Not allowing countries or refugees intoAmerica is notright,and we must stand wich those who are affected."

BY PAWAN LUTHRA

Airports and streets around theUnited States have been filled withprotestors showing theirangeragainst President Trump's executive order banningpeople from certain countries fromtravelling toAmerica.Utileashingchaos and outrage, this executive order bas been condemned forwhat it is - xenophobic, meanspiritedand racist.

Whiletheinternational community has expressed shock, there has been deafeningsilence, strangely, from the Australian government.More on that later.

\lv'hatis hearteningconote ishow the corporate worldhas reacted co the situation.\Xfhether driven byhumanitarian concernsor theneedfor openglobal boundaries,anumberof corporates have reachedouttocountertheexecutiveorder.

Starbucks has saidthathis company will hire I0,000refugees over the next fiveyears as their way co allow for best oppormnities for newmigrants.Airbnb said soonafter dieTrump announcement thatit will provide free housing to anyone leftstranded by the ban.Its co-fom1der andchief executiveBrianChesky said, "Open doors brings all of US together.

Other technology-centric companies whichhave a large number of migrant employees alsoweighedin.AppleCEO

Tim Cookseated thatApplewouldnot e.xiscwithoutimmigration.Jeff Bezos, Amazon's chief executive said,"We're anation of immigrants whose diverse backgrounds,ideas andpointsof view havehelped us buildandinventus as a nation for over240 years."

NetAix condemned thePresident's 'unAmerican' actions.

Google cofounderSergey Brin was at theSan Francisco airportprotest, "because I'm arefugee",while CEO Sw1derPichaijoined the ocher employees in their protest.

Goldman Sachs,21stCenmry Fox and JPMorgan also voiced d1eiropposition co this travelban.

Itis at times of crisis like these that trueleadershipisshown.Corporate Americais vociferouslyfightingback and addingits might behindprotestsaround the country.

What hasbeenshockingis the Australian government's complete silenceonthe issue.Prime Minister MalcolmTlllnbnll has refused to condemn or speakout against the injustice of dus racist order. Hiding behindthe guiseof notwantingto interferein another coLmtry's domestic policies,MrTurnbull hasshown aside of himself whichis disappointing.

Otl1er world leaders such asBritish Primel\1iniscerTheresaMay,French President Francois Hollandeand German Chancellor AngelaMerkel have allspoken outagainstMrTrump's clampdown, whileCanadian PrimeMi1uster Justin Trudeau has said his country would welcome refugees.

Here was achanceto reassure Australia,a country of migrants,about the in1porcance of diversity. Wasn't it only days ago tliat ourPrimeMinster had waxedlyricalon tlus verytopic?

OnAustraliaDay,Turnbull hadsaid, "Our FirstAustralians have tl1e oldest continuoushuman culCllle on eartl1 and itenriches us all.As do theculturesof allourmigrants from every corner of the world.EachnewAustralian adds another thread to ournational tapestry, magnificent inits diversityand the most successful multiculmral society in d1e world. We come fromneady 200cotmtriesof allfaiths,cultures and bad:grounds.And yetin a world where conAictand intoleranceseem more intractable than ever, we live together in peace (Our) strong sense of justice springsfrom the solidarity, the mumal respect and mateslup thatbinds us coged1er in our diversity.Together we havebuilt aremarkable nation."

Greatspeech d1en,Mr Turnbnll, but when it came to speaking up against a xenophobic President, you let us down badly.

Manish Malhotra Launches Virtualrealityfashion Show

Ace Indian fashion designer Manish Malhotra launched his virtual reality fashion show, filmed at last year's Lakme Fashion Week.

Maqsood Godll wrote: Manish Malhotrais oneof thebest designers of India andhas designed dresses for Bollywood celebrities. The idea of a virtual reality platform for the fashion week and show is to let everyone feel like they are there at the show. My hearty wishes for success and congrats to the planners and programmers and sponsors.

DEMONETISATION:WHATS IN ITFOR US, MR MODI?

PAWAN LUTHRA was in conversation with Indian television personality and current affairs commentator Abhigyan Prakash SanjeevAgarwallast wrote: Where isAbhigyan ? We would like to see him, we need such people to save our country! Pleasedo not quit!

Vlkas Saxena wrote: The interview does not give the right balance of view in my opinion, too many questions on a particular ind vidual and not on the topic at hand.

Whatthe Iplcanlearn From The Bbl

SANAM SHARMA on what the BCCI canlearnfrom Cricket Australia about nurturing, managing and promoting cricket

Manlsh Rao wrote: Money talks. The quality of cricket is best in the IPL due to international stars, notjust some retired players like in the BBL

25 Yearsand Counting

PREETIJABBAL wrote about Telugu Association of AustraliaInc. celebrating its SilverJubilee

Surendra wrote: Rao, amazing work for the Indian community staying in Australia. Proud of you!

David wrote:TAAi,insteadof beingexclusive to the Khamma caste Telugu groups please diversify to all Telugu people. Time and time systematically suppressing other castes is no good.All your organisers and board members are Khamma.

Nri Opportunities For The Governmentof India

With all they have to offer, the diaspora should be better engagedby the Indian government, wrote PAWAN LUTHRA

Jay Shah wrote: While the government is trying to engagemuch more that previous governments, why can't we start doing our bit proactively? There is much we can do without government intervention. In fact, the discourse should be how we can come together andmake a difference when so much change is happening already.

Vce Lessons About Myself

Students fromthe community who completed Year 12 with outstanding results shared their insights into survivingthe final year of school

Varun Thakkar wrote: I wish, in myfinal year of school, I was aware of all the career options available inAustralia as well as overseasand also at what universities, theirfees, duration and how exactly would it be useful in life and also what prospects they hold!

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