Controlling the message in restive Malaysia – Al Jazeera

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Photo - EPA

Photo – EPA

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – The Malaysian government has shown an increased willingness to muffle the media and curb free speech, critics say, after the recent mass demonstrations over alleged corruption.

On the eve of one of the country’s biggest rallies late last month calling for free-and-fair elections, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission blocked access to four websites related to the non-government organisation Bersih (Clean).

The move was not an isolated one and comes in a year marked by website shutdowns and the arrests of journalists and civil society leaders.

Full article – http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2015/09/controlling-message-restive-malaysia-150909110512102.html

Yellow protesters unafraid calling for PM’s resignation – Al Jazeera

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Photo - Jarni Blakkarly/Al Jazeera

Photo – Jarni Blakkarly/Al Jazeera

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Ignoring orders not to demonstrate and defying a ban on yellow T-shirts, thousands of protesters slept overnight in Independence Square demanding the prime minister’s resignation.

The mass protest – organised by a coalition of non-governmental organisations known as Bersih, or “Clean” – planned the two-day rally in the wake of damaging corruption allegations involving Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

Full article – http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2015/08/yellow-protesters-defiant-calls-pm-resignation-150830094449440.html

Aboriginal Activists Marked One Year Since the Death of Ms Dhu in Custody – VICE

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Photo by Jarni Blakkarly

Photo by Jarni Blakkarly

On Melbourne’s busy Burke Street mall during the rush of the lunch hour, the low voice of the singer Kutcha Edwards rang out in prayer; “Is this what we deserve?”

On Tuesday in major cities across Australia Indigenous rights activists gathered for the one year anniversary of the death of Yamatji woman Ms Dhu, who died in police lock-up in South Hedland, Western Australia, after medical complications.

Despite being almost the exact opposite side of the country from where that death occurred, Kutcha was singing to the dozens who gathered to mark the date and protest for justice as well as reform. The song was for the white-collar workers rushing by.

Full article – http://www.vice.com/en_au/read/aboriginal-activists-marked-one-year-since-the-death-of-ms-dhu-in-custody

Australia’s green-energy recession – Al Jazeera

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A welder at Eureka's Future factory in Melbourne works on a solar-powered water heater [Jarni Blakkarly/Al Jazeera]

A welder at Eureka’s Future factory in Melbourne works on a solar-powered water heater [Jarni Blakkarly/Al Jazeera]

Melbourne, Australia – On the industrial fringe, one factory making solar energy hot-water tanks has become a meeting point for the environmental movement and the moribund manufacturing industry.  

While the Eureka’s Future factory looks identical to others lining the street, inside young environmentalists from the inner city and lifelong hardened factory workers from the suburbs are transforming this former private company into a not-for-profit, workers-owned cooperative.

Full article – http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2015/06/australia-green-energy-recession-150608074408692.html

Challenging Australia’s refugee narrative – Al Jazeera

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Sri Lankan migrants bound for Australia are detained in Indonesian waters [AP]

Melbourne, Australia –  A portrait of a thoughtful Malcolm X overlooks the chaotic office space in the heart of the city. It is home to a refugee-run organisation fighting to reframe Australia’s asylum seeker debate.

At a desk amid the stacked boxes and clutter sits Ramesh Fernandez, the founder ofRISE: Refugees Survivors and Ex-Detainees, an organisation that provides services to refugees and advocates for policy change.

Full article – http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2015/06/challenging-australia-refugee-narrative-150621100410664.html

/ jarniblakkarly

Blakkarly_PICI’m an Investigative Journalist currently based in Melbourne, Australia with CHOICE. I have worked in Australia, Malaysia and Indonesia across a range of local and international publications and networks.

I started journalism interning at Malaysian online news organisation Malaysiakini in 2013, before returning to Melbourne to study a Bachelor of Communications (Journalism) at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology.

Prior to joining CHOICE, I was with SBS News for four years in a range of roles including Investigative Journalist, Digital Journalist and South Australian Correspondent.

I’ve have contributed for news organisations such as Reuters,  Al Jazeera English, ABC 730,  Crikey, The Diplomat and VICE.  As well as other publications such as Griffith Review, ABC Religion and Ethics, Kill Your Darlings, Overland & Archer.

I have produced radio packages on a freelance basis for  ABC Radio National, BBC World Service, Free Speech Radio Network and Asia Calling. I was previously the Politics and Arts Editor of Asian Australian magazine Peril.

I tweet @jarniblakkarly and can be contacted by email at jarniblakkarly@gmail.com

Awards and Programs

– Finalist Carmel Bird Digital Literary Award – 2021

– Walkley Foundation Young Journalist of the Year – Winner Student category – 2016

– Journalism Education and & Research Association of Australia – 2015 Ossie Awards – Best Audio story (over 2 minutes)

– United Nations/Thomson Reuters Foundation, Reporting on Sustainable Development in a Changing Climate training program – 2015.

– Asia Calling correspondents training, Jakarta – Creative Radio and Multimedia Reporting – 2015.