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In Albinism
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John SinisaQueensland will host a free, fun-filled event on March 29 to bring together Pacific Islanders with albinism to share experiences, access services and identify how they can assist compatriots with the rare genetic condition.

The PolyVision event in Ipswich will provide an introduction to genetics, vision impairment, adaptive technology and services available for people with albinism in Australia. PolyVision will also have a fun atmosphere with DJ Mr John Sinisa presenting multicultural music and a catering menu featuring some Pacific Islander food favourites.

The event will also include several displays of interest such as Pacific Islander handicraft display, Vision Impairment Equipment Solutions selection from Vision Australia and artwork by photographer Mr Rick Guidotti on loan from the 'Celebrating Diversity' photographic exhibit.

Albinism is an inherited condition that can affect the colour of a person’s skin, hair and eyes and is found in many different human populations. Pacific islanders with albinism can have reddish gold hair; light brown, green or blue eye colour and white/ pink pale skin. Their vision is within the legally blind range, which means they need help with reading small print and seeing fine details, plus problems with light glare and depth perception.

While numbers vary, in North America and Europe, it is estimated that one in every 20,000 people have some form of albinism. Research by Ms Helene Johanson and the Institute for Molecular Bioscience identified that in one Polynesian population, one in 669 people is born with albinism – which is one of the highest recorded rates of Oculocutaneous Albinism Type 2 in the world. This research also found that people living in the islands have limited access to health resources and information, as a result their skin may be extensively sun damaged by early adulthood.

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In Innovation
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Anna SoldingAustralia's newest book publishing house, MidnightSun Publishing, this week launches its first novel, The Hum of Concrete, to coincide with the start of Adelaide Writers' Week.

Set in the multicultural city of Malmö, Sweden, The Hum of Concrete is an evocative novel about a city and its people. Shortlisted for the Adelaide Festival Award for Best Unpublished Manuscript in 2010, The Hum of Concrete combines sensual writing with serious and unusual themes.

The Hum of Concrete is the story of five people whose lives intersect. With photographic precision, author Anna Solding captures both light and shadow found in the fleeting beauty of everyday life. From the silences between people and the ordinariness of places, she conjures narrative jewels of intelligence and pleasure.

Esteemed author Sean Williams will launch The Hum of Concrete at Adelaide Writers' Week at 5pm this Saturday at the Pioneer Womens' Memorial Garden. The event will kick off a major national publicity campaign, with associated writers' festival appearances by Anna.

Anna Solding's first novel has already received praise from early readers:

"The characters who figure in the interwoven stories that make up The Hum of Concrete are treated with heartwarming tenderness. The narration is unobtrusively and effectively managed, the Swedish settings vividly realised." - J.M. Coetzee

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In Innovation
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Zero Carbon Home

The Zero Carbon Home designed by Energy Aspect Living has surged strongly during the past two days in the People's Choice voting for South Australia's pioneering Zero Carbon Challenge.

As a specialist in environmentally sustainable house construction, Woodside-based builder Energy Aspect Living is one of just four finalists to reach this stage of the Zero Carbon Challenge with its innovative design for an affordable, environmentally-friendly home.

Energy Aspect Living has recruited a team of creative SA businesses, including iconoclastic cartoonist and architect Ross Bateup, to set a new standard in sustainable housing design. Energy Aspect Living’s Zero Carbon Home design is on display in the State Library of SA as part of the Zero Carbon Challenge People’s Choice contest. You can vote for the design either online or at the State Library until February 26.

The Team Energy Aspect Living design is currently second in the People's Choice voting on Facebook. You can vote for Team Energy Aspect Living online via Facebook at http://vote.zch.com.au or casting your ballot at the SA State Library on the corner of North Terrace and Kintore Avenue, Adelaide.

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In Innovation
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Peter Ash and a Tanzanian child with albinismPeter Ash, the man who has raised global awareness of the crisis afflicting people with albinism in Tanzania, is visiting Sydney next week to engage Australian support for his campaign.

Peter Ash is the founder and CEO of Under the Same Sun, a Canadian charity that focuses its work on the horrific abuse experienced by persons with albinism in Tanzania. Peter’s public advocacy of this issue includes speaking at the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva about the mutilation and murders of Tanzanians who have albinism.

In Tanzania, persons with albinism face horrific challenges including epidemic rates of skin cancer, widespread social discrimination fuelled by powerful myths, the lack of low-vision aids and sunglasses and the horror of a rapidly growing industry in the sale of albino body parts.

This evil activity is driven by the belief in some areas that the body parts of persons with albinism possess magical powers that can bring riches if used in potions produced by local witchdoctors.

To date, reports suggest that 78 persons with albinism have been brutally attacked and their body parts hacked off and sold to witchdoctors. The attacks comprised 62 murders and 16 mutilations.

Peter Ash says these numbers dramatically underrepresent the true situation in the east African country. “We believe there are hundreds and hundreds of killings in Tanzania, but only a small number are being reported to the police," he says.“There is belief that if you have relations with a girl with albinism, you will cure AIDS. Because of this false belief, many girls with albinism in Tanzania are being raped."

More News...

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  2. Think different on commercialisation says Steinberg (13 February 2012)
  3. Two bright stars shine on the rise of MidnightSun (07 February 2012)
  4. Calvert offers fixed-rate support for SA businesses (16 January 2012)
  5. Alltraders claims Top Four spot on SA Fast Movers List (25 November 2011)
  6. Vision Security displays Mobotix IP video door system (21 November 2011)
  7. Kiwis claim Bledisloe Cup of wine at Australasian awards (14 November 2011)
  8. CPR Pharma reports US success for drug trial services (14 November 2011)
  9. One-in-five Willunga premises take up NBN (04 November 2011)
  10. German solar car chases the sunrise to Sydney (26 October 2011)