AI - Refugee Actions

Australia’s plans to offload refugees

On 17 April 2007 the Australian Government announced plans for a ’swap’ of refugees between the United States and Australia.

As part of the plan refugees detained by Australia on Nauru would be sent to America and, in return, Cuban or Haitian refugees detained by the American Government at Guantánamo Bay in Cuba would be resettled in Australia.

Immigration and Citizenship Minister, Kevin Andrews announced that the exchange could involve up to 200 refugees per year.

There are still many details of the proposal that are not yet known to Amnesty International Australia, however the plan appears to be unnecessarily harsh and is a further move to keep families separated.

Speak out about plans to ’swap’ refugees

Speak out about plans to ’swap’ refugees as though they are a commodity, not individual humans. A simple way to do this is to make a call to a talkback radio station or to write a letter to the editor or opinion section of your local paper.

Here’s some tips about what you can say:

[Read more]

Refugee Camp - resource/simulation

Hi guys check out this really well thought out and developed resource / simulation for thinking about refugees and other displaced people. here

“39 million people worldwide live as refugees or as internally displaced people (IDPs). For most people living in the United States it can be difficult to understand what the lives of displaced people are like, how the very things most of take for granted—clean drinking water, shelter, an adequate food supply—can disappear in the blink of an eye. It can also be difficult to understand the scale of the world’s refugee/IDP problem. This curriculum has been developed by Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) to accompany an educational outdoor exhibit “A Refugee Camp in the Heart of the City,” appearing in New York, New Jersey, and Los Angeles in the fall of 2000. An accompanying virtual visit at www.refugeecamp.org is also designed to supplement the activities presented in the curriculum. The entire curriculum is available here as a number of web pages for individual download/printing.”

Create to Advocate 07

Art Competition & ExhibitionOnly one month to go! Entries close 18th May.

Micah Challenge and Make Poverty History present Create to Advocate 07 Art Competiton & Exhibition, with selected artworks exhibited at Parliament House, Canberra, in June & July. Artists of all kinds (painting, photography, drawing, multimedia and 3D!) are invited to express a vision for a world where poverty is history and interpret and speak out on the Millennium Development Goals. Say something to our leaders- use your art to make a difference! Micah Challenge
Artist Awards and prizes, including student prizes.

For more information and entry form go to
http://www.makepovertyhistory.com.au/events or micahcahllenge.org.au

Julie-No Idea About Much At All!

Rights at Work - Labor Campaign

This year’s federal election is the most important election in our lifetime. If the Labor Party loses, John Howard will take his extreme workplace laws even further.

In two weeks’ time, the Australian Labor Party will meet for their National Conference, where they will thrash out their policies for the 2007 federal election.

We have seven days to make sure the ALP know how much we are counting on them to make fair and democratic IR policy their top priority. Use our website to email Labor Leader Kevin Rudd, Deputy Julia Gillard, and the Labor team now!

www.rightsatwork.com.au/campaigns/labor
[Read more]

Tsunami - Solomon Islands

The earthquake and subsequent tsunami that hit the western region of the Solomon Islands on 2nd of April has had a far more devastating effect than first thought.

Our partner church, the United Church in the Solomon Islands (UCSI), reports significant damage to coastal communities including the tragic loss of lives.

Uniting Church Overseas Aid has established the Solomon Islands Emergency Appeal.
We encourage members of the Uniting Church in Australia to give generously to assist our partners in this time of great need.

Tax deductible donations can be made by phone toll free 1800 998 122

Please make cheques payable to
Uniting Church Overseas Aid – Solomon Islands Appeal
They can be sent to PO Box A2266 Sydney South NSW 1235

Regular updates from the Solomon Islands can be found on our website
http://uim.uca.org.au/uim/

Pacific Genes and Life Patents

Experiences & Analysis of the Commodification & Ownership of Life

Call of the Earth Llamado de la Tierra (COE) in conjunction with the United Nations University - Institute of Advanced Studies (UNU-IAS) is pleased to announce the release of its book “Pacific Genes and Life Patents - Experiences & Analysis of the Commodification & Ownership of Life”.

The publication edited by Aroha Mead (COE) and Dr Steven Ratuva (University of the South Pacific, Fiji), comprises the work of 16 Pacific Indigenous authors who document the experiences and responses of Pacific Indigenous communities to genetic research and products and patents on life forms.

For further info, and to download a copy, visit http://www.earthcall.org/en/publications/index.html

Easter Sunday Action (RAC) 11am-1pm

Unauthorised arrival - not a crime Indefinite mandatory detention - criminal!

The Refugee Action Collective has organised a stall and action to promote the campaign against the construction of the new Christmas Island Detention Centre this Sunday and against mandatory detention. Meet outside St Paul’s Cathedral on Swanston St at the corner of Swanston and Flinders Streets to help hand out petitions and easter eggs.

On Easter Sunday an unauthorised arrival will be incarcerated in mock detention outside St Paul’s cathedral. The Easter bunny has fallen foul of Australia’s harsh and extreme laws that would see all unauthorised arrivals , men, women and children ( yes the new plans are for children too) locked up without question for arriving without papers. Come along and help out, we are hoping for some good media attention, last year’s action generated much interest and coverage.

Easter Thinking - ideas links

I thought it would be fun for us to go for a journey… maybe add your own Easter themed links. Sort of a random ‘choose your own adventure’ Easter thing.
Here are a few links to people doing some Easter thinking to start the adventure
http://craigmitchell.typepad.com/mountain_masala/

http://alternative.victas.uca.org.au/

http://moot.uk.net/blog/mootblog.htm (photo from here)

UpperRoom 07 - Topics & Dates

Hi guys here are the topics and dates for this year - (this is still a draft until we all confirm if all our friends can come out and play ).

• Feb 5 - About Face
• Mar 5 - Protest
• Apr 2 - EArSTohEaR - Meaning in Media & Easter Discussion

• May 7 - Stem Cell and Human Research - Dr Dave
• June 4 - Power (Green vs Greed) - Ryan, Celia + (Earth Team? and Steve?)
• July 2 - Fair Trade - People for Fair Trade + (Fair Wear?)
• Aug 6 - Landmines - Kerryn
• Sept 3 - God’s Politics - Election info from groups and reflections from Jim Wallis Voting discussion guide. + (Antony?)
• Oct 1 - Asylum Seekers - People for Fair Trade + (UCA workers)
• Nov 5 - World Aids Day
• Dec 5 - Ethical consumers - Ryan’s friend (Ad Busters, NI, Buy nothing Christmas….)

As we don’t know when the election will be called I have arranged with Kerryn to swap the landmines night with the God’s Politics night. I don’t think John H will call it this week so it should be OK. UCA policy papers concerning human rights issues from all the parties should be printed by end of July.

This look ok?

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