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Sundance Channel Blog

australia

Using shipping containers to house prisoners: green or inhumane?

Article: Using shipping containers to house prisoners: green or inhumane?

Posted May 10th, 2011, 1:05 PM by

Shipping containers have become a hot form of prefabricated building material: they’re cheap, plentiful, and ready for retrofitting. Their modular nature provides lots of opportunities for creativity, and architects have used them for both homes and larger buildings.

All of these reasons have played into Adelaide, Australia’s decision to experiment with shipping containers as prison cells. But a number of state legislators and activists are crying foul, claiming that the plan is inhumane. Civil libertarian George Mancini told The Advertiser that he sees the plan as representative of short-term thinking on corrections: “I would have thought the future of prisons involves the rehabilitation of prisoners… There needs to be a focus on rehabilitation and reasonable conditions, not just cheap housing but effective housing.”

Australia goes 3D at the Venice Biennale

Article: Australia goes 3D at the Venice Biennale

Posted June 02nd, 2010, 1:06 PM by

With 93% of its citizens living in cities, Australia is among the most urbanized continents in the world, and its entry in the upcoming Venice Architecture Biennale, “NOW + WHEN” reflects the growing need for a retooling of its biggest cities. The NOW part highlights 6 of Australia’s “most interesting” urban and rural areas, but the WHEN part is clearly the focus, with 17 proposals that anticipate or fantasize (you be the judge) about the state of Australia’s cities in 2050, many of which are presented in 3D stereoscopic for extra wow factor.

Australia bans small breasts, ejaculation from adult entertainment.

Article: Australia bans small breasts, ejaculation from adult entertainment.

Posted January 29th, 2010, 4:01 PM by

Australia: a land where prostitution is (mostly) legal, cursing on TV is par for the course…and a byzantine structure of censorship renders most XXX material illegal to own, sell, or both. Newly added to the list of banned acts: small breasts and female ejaculation.

Why small breasts? Well, the ban is specifically focused on women who’s breasts give them the appearance of being underage (unlike America, Australia frowns on “barely legal” porn, as well as anything meant to make adult actresses look like they’re youthful or underage). Of course, declaring that one very common body type is unwelcome in erotic material does have more than a few unpleasant implications, as Jezebel outlines.

Vivid Sydney : a burst of creativity and light

Article: Vivid Sydney : a burst of creativity and light

Posted May 28th, 2009, 4:05 PM by

One of Eno’s brilliant lightworks projected onto Utzon’s masterpiece. Photo credit : vividsydney.com

If you find yourself in the Land Down Under in the next month or so, be sure to make a stop in Sydney for the inaugural Vivid Sydney. Developed by Events NSW in partnership with the City Of Sydney, it will be the biggest international music and light festival in the Southern Hemisphere, showcasing the city as a major creative hub in the Asia-Pacific region and celebrating the diversity of Sydney’s creative industries.