As we struggle to understand our nations obsession with detention, it is helpful to examine who else in our short history we have chosen to lock away “in the national interest”.… Go to Article
Category: Refugees
World Cafe for the UN International Day of Peace
World Cafe
Friday, 21 September 2012
19:30 until 21:30
Ala-din’s Restaurant, 1307 Beenleigh Rd Kuraby Brisbane
Al Tariq is yet again hosting a World Cafe for the UN International Day of Peace.… Go to Article
Murdoch supports ‘children of the revolution’
The AUSTRALIAN newspaper made libelous statements against Boycott Divestments and Sanctions campaign today.
The paper labels the BDS walking tour in Brisbane on the weekend (28 Aug 2012) as ‘extremist’?… Go to Article
Living in the Colonies — What’s Left?
PShift 4zzz fm 102.1 fridays at noon
Living in the Colonies, What’s Left?
Paradigm Shift Part I 12 Sept 2012
"Whose land is this land is it for you and me who knows, who knows this land better than you and me.… Go to Article
TAMPA DAY RALLY TO SUPPORT NAURU-BOUND HUNGER STRIKERS
BRISBANE REFUGEE RALLY SUPPORTS NAURU-BOUND ASYLUM SEEKERS
MEDIA RELEASE
TAMPA DAY RALLY TO SUPPORT NAURU-BOUND HUNGER STRIKERS
A Brisbane rally called by the Refugee Action Collective for 1pm,
Sunday 26th August, Brisbane Square to mark Tampa Day will also
declare its support for the protesting asylum seekers on Christmas
Island.… Go to Article
Ridha — 100 days and still not free?
Israeli soldiers came for Ridha at 2 am on 21 May 2012.
They were 25 men and women, all armed to the hilt.… Go to Article
Tampa — 11 years on
Everyone has the right to seek and to enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution
— Article 14, UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS
They put lives at risk.… Go to Article
Refugees — from Tampa (2001) to Nauru (2012)
RALLY FOR REFUGEE RIGHTS!
11 years since Tampa – we need to welcome refugees
No to Malaysia. No to Nauru. No to offshore processing!
… Go to ArticleBring back Gough and Malcolm – save us from this lot!
War on the horizon: Syrian refugees in Lebanon
[Editor’s Note: Thousands of refugees have fled from Syria to the towns over the border in Lebanon – villages like Qaa and Ras Baalbek.… Go to Article
Rough Justice Continues
by Pamela Curr
In May I wrote about three young men who were subject to arbitrary detention as a result of new legislation brought in May 2011 by Minister Bowen.… Go to Article
Hey Gen. Cosgrove! When they say ‘Repent’, Repent!
“Give me back the Berlin wall
Give me Stalin and St Paul
Give me Christ
or give me Hiroshima
Destroy another fetus now
We don’t like children anyhow
I’ve seen the future, baby:
it is murder
Things are going to slide … When they said REPENT REPENT …”
— Leonard Cohen, “The Future”
BRISBANE – Catholic Workers Confront Gen.… Go to Article
Refugee Forum — protecting people and human rights
PUBLIC FORUM
Wednesday 25 July 2012
6:30 – 8pm
Multicultural Hub,
506 Elizabeth St, Melbourne
Protecting people and human rights
An Australian solution for refugees that will really save lives
We invite you to join us with Julian Burnside, Pamela Curr, Adam Bandt and other refugee experts and advocates at a community forum
on the current crisis in refugee policy.… Go to Article
61 men cast adrift by Immigration Dept (DIAC)
Last Friday a young man came to the ASRC asking for a job, any job. He had spent 16 months locked up on Christmas Island before being released in Melbourne on a Bridging Visa.… Go to Article
The Rebellion in Cherán, Mexico
By Laura Woldenberg and Juan José Estrada Serafín
Deportee – a song by Woody Guthrie & Cisco Houston*
Cherán, Mexico is a town of 16,000 indigenous Purepechan Mexicans set up in the western state of Michoacán about 200 miles from Mexico City.… Go to Article
People Smugglers they are not, lawful and heroes instead
by Gerry Georgatos
The misappropriation of language and abuse of semantics in reference to ‘perceived people smugglers’ has to begin to change so we do not further erode compassion, and continue to skew the moral compass, bend and circumvent the rule of law- domestic and international.… Go to Article
That investigation into suicide and self-harm
On 29 July 2011, the Commonwealth Ombudsman announced that his office would initiate an investigation into suicide and self-harm in Australian immigration detention facilities in response to growing concerns about the impact of long-term detention on the ongoing mental health of detainees.… Go to Article
Refugee Rally at Pinkenba
Dear refugee supporters,
Please take note of the protest at Brisbane’s detention centre (the BITA)
next Saturday. The last one, in March, was a very special event.… Go to Article
Protest at Brisbane’s detention centre
Protest at Brisbane’s detention centre
Support refugee rights! End mandatory detention!
There are over 4500 asylum seekers currently languishing in detention in Australia, with a federal Labor government that is thoroughly committed to mandatory detention; and a federal opposition that says that Labor’s hard line is “too soft”, and they will introduce even more cruel policies.… Go to Article
Bahrain: eyewitness for freedom
Eyewitness account of first martyr in the Bahraini struggle for Freedom and Democratic Rights. The events occurred in the village of Daih where the eye witness, Hussain, resided.… Go to Article
‘Bahrain is Burning’: nurses union calls for support
“In the month of March / in the year of the uprising / earth told us her blood secrets / In the month of March five girls at the door /of the primary school /Came past the violet / came past the rifle / burst into flame / With the roses and thyme /they opened /the song of the soil / and entered the earth / the ultimate embrace / March comes to the land / out of earth’s depth /out of the girls’ dance /The violets leaned over a little / so that the girls’ voices /could cross over / the birds /pointed their beaks /at that song and at my heart.… Go to Article
Open Letter to Multi-Cultural Development Association (MDA)
Yesterday I attended World Refugee Day Community Festival at Annerley Soccer Oval. 
I approached Red Cross, Amnesty International , 4EB, Palestinian Arts, Culture and Science Incorporation asking if they would help me with a Petition to free Ridha!… Go to Article
“Bahrain is burning and the world is silent!”
Bahraini refugees call for ”understanding” as they rally against mandatory detention in Sydney today
Bahraini Australian Youth Movement joins World Refugee Day Rally in Sydney
Three audio interviews with Bahraini refugees are attached and permissible for use
Refugee rights supporters gathering in Sydney today to mark World Refugee Day will be joined by the Bahraini Australian Youth Movement who are calling for more ‘’understanding’’ from the Australian people about the plight of refugees in this country.… Go to Article
Refugee ‘Info Line’ for family and friends
Department of Immigration & Citizenship (DIAC) have set up a phone line for family and friends to seek information about survivors from the boat tragedy
The number is 1300 724 010
They collect information from callers but cannot give information
They say that if they locate a survivor, they will “encourage” survivors to contact their family or friends to let them know that they have survived.… Go to Article
Double Standard – plane down, leaders shot
Two contrasting events occurred yesterday – a plane fell from the skies over Syria and a leader of the main Bahraini opposition party was shot in the street.… Go to Article
PUBLIC FORUM: 20 years too long: why mandatory detention must end
Dear supporters of refugee rights,
You may be aware that the 20th anniversary of the introduction of mandatory detention passed about a week ago.… Go to Article
March for Refugee Rights on Labour Day
There will be a refugee rights contingent in the Labour Day march in Brisbane next Monday. All refugee supporters are welcome to join in.… Go to Article
Is it better to run or to stay?
“Can you picture what will be
So limitless and free
Desperately in need of
some strangers hand
In a desperate land”
‘This is the End’
(Jim Morrison/The Doors)
Amara Lakhous has written an interesting novella about those who flee strife and arrive in the west to face racism [mea culpa, I have seen the film but have not read the book].… Go to Article
RAC: Organising Meeting + Convergence Report
Tony Mockeridge sings Article 14
Griffith Uni Covergence Reportback
**Griffith Uni Nathan Campus
1pm, Thursday April 26th
Graham Willett Bldg (N53)
Room 0.64**
Eye Witness Accounts: Brisbane contingent reports back on the reality of the detention system in Darwin.… Go to Article
The case of Ali Jasmin -14 year old boy in adult prison
The case of Ali Jasmin – Hamish McDonald’s investigation
Dear all,
As the unbelievably shocking revelations about the case of Ali Jasmin, a child crew member who was no more than 14 years old when convicted in an Australian court, still breaks around the country, here is reporter Hamish Mcdonald’s story which was aired on Monday evening.… Go to Article