在聖誕新年間, 《同路人》搬遷了, 雖然只是搬到原辦公室對面不到100米的地方, 但卻也是勞累的事, 不過現時總算是安頓下來, 因此, 我們因此這一個假期休息了較長時間。

不過全世界卻仍在極大變動之中。委內瑞拉總統強行被擄到紐約受審, 而委內瑞拉新領袖願意跟隨美國利益而管治。歐洲與美國百多年盟友關係, 在美國要強買格陵蘭之下, 已成歷史。特朗普成立的「和平委員會」,要求各國把維持全球和平放在他個人手中, 但被邀請參加者竟然包括多次發動戰爭的專制獨裁者。第二次大戰後, 提倡世界共融及尊重人權及和平共處價值長大的世代, 陷在失落及迷惘之中。到底世界是會走回以叢林法則主導弱肉強食大國主宰小國的混亂狀態, 還是人類能從歷史錯誤中, 選擇向文明前進? 我們確實沒有把握。

不過, 特朗普的冒升及全球極右政治勢力抬頭, 卻是與互聯網及社交平台取代了媒體, 成為不少人主要資訊來源分不清關係。這令我們見到一個資訊泛濫及不容易分辨真假資訊的社會, 與資訊閉塞人無法獲取資訊的時代, 同樣可怕。

澳洲這一個多元文化國家, 移民確實有極大的困難, 從主流媒體中獲取生活資訊。我相信要建構澳洲成為和諧及內聚力強大的社會, 政府要投放極大及更多資源, 協助移民社區, 建立高質素及可信性高的多元文化媒體, 加速第一代移民融入社會, 才能讓移民成為推動社會發展的助力。

《同路人》在過去一年, 我們已加強了網站提供的時事訊息。在未來一年, 我們更會在廣播、雜誌發行量及內容上努力, 務求增強我們為華人社區提供的資訊服務。我盼望你們能給我們支持, 使我們能達到推動華裔移民社區發展的目標。

今年開始, 為配合歡欣機構推出給雙語自閉新移民, 協助他們在走進社會工作NDIS項目計劃時,我將撰寫一個全新專欄, 與社區一起探索這一個課題。我盼望歡欣機構的這一個創新計劃能得到你們的支持, 在社區中得到推廣及發展。還有的是, 繼過去三年我們推動長者使用社交平台擴闊社區生活的培訓後, 今年我們更進一步, 推出協助長者使用人工智能的培訓課程, 務求使在澳洲的華裔長者, 能與時並進, 享受人工智能帶來更高的生活質素。

在新的一年, 讓我們一起努力建設華人社區。

周偉文, 社長

Walk with the needy

During the Christmas and New Year period, “Sameway” relocated though only to a spot less than 100 meters across from their original office. It was a tiring task, but we have finally settled in, allowing us to take a longer break during the holiday.

However, the world still undergoes significant changes. The President of Venezuela has been forcibly taken to New York for trial, while the new leader of Venezuela is willing to govern in line with U.S. interests. The longstanding alliance between Europe and the U.S. has become history in light of the U.S. attempt to purchase Greenland. The “Board of Peace” established by Trump requests that nations place the keeping of global peace in his personal hands, but attendees at the invitation include authoritarian dictators who have initiated wars multiple times. The generation that has grown up advocating for global integration, respect for human rights, and peaceful coexistence is now at a lost and confused. Will the world revert to a chaotic state governed by the law of the jungle, where strong countries dominate weaker ones, or can humanity choose to move forward in civilization by learning mistakes from history? We truly have no sure answer.

However, it is a time where the rise of Trump and the increasing power of global far-right political forces, coupled with the internet and social media replacing traditional media as the main source of information for many people. This has led to a society overwhelmed with information and challenges in distinguishing truth from falsehood, which is equally as frightening as an era where information is blocked, preventing access to necessary knowledge.

In Australia, as a multicultural country, immigrants face significant difficulties in obtaining lifestyle information through mainstream media. I believe that to build Australia as a harmonious and cohesive society, the government must invest substantial resources to assist immigrant communities to establish high-quality and credible multicultural media, and to accelerate the integration of first-generation immigrants into society, allowing them to become a driving force in social development.

In the past year, we have strengthened the current affairs information provided on our website. In the coming year, we will focus on enhancing our information services for the Chinese community through our broadcasts and magazine publications. I hope you can support us in achieving the goal of promoting the development of the Chinese immigrant community.

Starting this year, in line with the REJOICE’s initiative for bilingual new immigrants with autism, I will be writing a brand-new column to explore this topic with the community as they navigate With the NDIS program. I hope this innovative program by the REJOICE will receive your support for promotion and development within the community. Additionally, after three years of training aimed at encouraging seniors to use social platforms to expand their community engagement, we will take a further step this year by launching training courses to assist seniors in using artificial intelligence. Our goal is to help Chinese seniors in Australia stay up-to-date and enjoy a higher quality of life brought about by AI.

In the new year, let us work together to build a stronger local Chinese community.

Mr. Raymond Chow, Publisher