Cross, G. (2004). Wondrous Innocence:
Print Advertising and the Origins of Permissive Child Rearing in the US. Journal
of Consumer Culture. 4(2) p.183-201. DOI: 10.1177/1469540504043681.
Gary Cross’s 2004 article for the
Journal of Consumer Culture reviews print advertising from the early 20th
century to the modern day. He also compares and contrasts techniques used and
comments on how advertising has affected the popular ideas behind child rearing
within the US. It was found by Cross that advertising has popularised many
ideas behind ‘correct’ child rearing that are associated with consumer products.
Multiple techniques are used to promote idealistic child rearing, including
making parents feel guilty or inadequate for not providing the correct healthcare,
nutrition or educational products for their children. Sadly, many of these
meagre child rearing standards have been openly accepted into the mainstream
and still circulate among parents today. Cross references many experts in the
field of early childhood development and contrasts their arguments for what
important aspects of a child’s life need to be cared for and cultivated, with
that of the common idealism put forward by prominent print advertising giants.
Sadly there appears to be quite a disparity across the board in what is accepted
as good child rearing standards. However, there is at least a positive economic
growth from the consumption within the world of child rearing in the US.
Dorling, P. (2012, October 18). Revealed:
Canberra shared intel on Assange with Washington. The Sydney Morning Herald.
Retrieved from: www.smh.com.au
Philip Dorling, for The Sydney
Morning Herald Oct 18, 2012 reports that Wikileaks and Julian Assange has been
the subject of intelligence exchanges between Australia and the US for more
than two years. Dorling’s article revisits key information in the Julian
Assange and Wikileaks case and attempts to raise light to the fact of how
closely connected the Australian and US intelligence agencies are by stating
that all of Australia’s intelligence agencies are represented in Washington,
however details of the information exchange have been withheld on the grounds
of protecting international relations. This gives little hope for Assange in receiving
any sort of diplomatic support from the Australian government and is only
reinforced by unsupportive comments from former and current foreign ministers,
Kevin Rudd and Bob Carr. The fate of
Assange is still vague at best; however his indefinite stay in London’s Ecuadorian
Embassy is undoubtedly more comfortable than that of colleague Bradley Manning
who still awaits trial on possible espionage charges that carry with them a
life sentence. Dorling’s article skilfully
pieces together new and old pieces of information in the Wikileaks story and leaves
the reader well positioned to make an informed stance on the issue.
Press Association. (2012, September 27). Julian Assange: Hague says Britain is obliged to extradite WikiLeaks founder. The Guardian. Retrieved From: www.guardian.co.uk
In the September 27, 2012 issue of The
Guardian newspaper, the unnamed author writes of the UK foreign minister,
William Hague’s statements toward the Julian Assange case after meetings with
Ecuador’s foreign minister Ricardo Patino. The meeting between foreign
ministers was in regard to the UK’s “…obligation to extradite Mr Assange to
Sweden” in order to face alleged sexual assault charges states Hague. The
problem arises in the fact that UK law does not acknowledge the concept of
diplomatic asylum which is well established and exercised in Latin America.
Assange has now spent an excess of one hundred days in the Ecuadorian embassy
with an unsure future, however, Amnesty International has suggested that both
Sweden and the UK offer assurances to Assange that we won’t face extradition to
the US if he returns to Sweden to face possible sexual assault charges. Nickola
Duckworth of Amnesty International argues that it is important for Assange to
be able to safely face charges in Sweden as the current situation makes it
impossible for either Assange or the women involved to receive justice.
Staff Writer. (2012, September 27). Julian Assange, WikiLeaks now ‘enemies of US' as Ecuador, UK to discuss Assange at UN meeting. Herald Sun. Retrieved from: www.heraldsun.com.au
On a recent video link from the
Ecuadorian Embassy in London, Julian Assange has publicly spoken out in regard
to Wikileaks and prosecution by the American government. Assange specifically condemned
the US in relation to the treatment of Bradley Manning for detaining him
without charge and for mistreatment. According to the US military, Assange and
Wikileaks members are now in the same category as the Al-Qaeda terrorist
network and the Taliban. Any member of the US military found communicating with
Wikileaks will now be faced with charges of “communicating with the enemy”
which faces the maximum penalty of death. The article goes on to outline the future
meeting between UK foreign minister William Hague and the Ecuadorian foreign
minister Ricardo Patino over the fate of Assange in regard to the values of
human rights and the integrity of sovereign nations. Hague also plans to meet
Ecuadorian vice president Moreno in regard to the fate of Julian Assange. The
article outlines current state of affairs regarding Wikileaks and founder
Julian Assange, however, could provide more in-depth information and
perspectives on the case.
