On Mon, 24 Nov 2003 13:30:05 +1100, Wesley wrote:

>One thing that the Compass program last night missed was the work that is
>actually being done in the detention centres.  It looked at prominant
>lawyers and executives and what they do to help asylum seekers, but missed
>the people doing the hard, dirty work caring and looking after the people
>where they need it first and foremost.

I think one of the main aims of last night's program was to look at
the effect that the refugee issue is having on the Australian psyche.
It wasn't meant to be exhaustive. I was glad that it looked at
Temporary Protection Visas, and highlighted the strain - physical and
mental- that TPV-holders are under. 

It graphically illustrated the difference between seeing
asylum-seekers as real people vs political commodity.

Julian Burnside, featured last night, has writen the preface and
chapter introductions for a marvellous book called "From Nothing to
Zero - letters from Refugees in Australia's Detention Centres" [Lonely
Planet - 2003]. I strongly recommend it.
>
>At least one of these people is on this list, and I congratulate them and
>thank God for everyone of them.

Bev Fabb is one, and her work in Port Hedland is praised in Hanifa
Deen's 2003 edition of "Caravanserai - Journey among Australian
Muslims" [Allan & Unwin]. 
>
>One interesting thing that Compass brought up was a program called Actors
>for Refugees, led by a woman off Sea-Change (can't remember her name), who
>aim to 'put a face' on the asylum seeker issue. 

Actors for Refugees also perfomed fantastic stuff, including some
readings from the abovementioned LP book, at a huge meeting at Pennant
Hills [NW Sydney] last Thursday night, which Carmen Lawrence
addressed. It was organised by Friends of Refugees North West, who've
had many good speakers, including Julian Burnside and ...

>A couple of weeks ago there
>was a program on ABC called "Marking Time" by John Doyle....

... who may be a speaker in the new year, so I'm told.
>
>This program was true to life, at times ugly, at times beautiful, look at
>this issue from the perspective of a country town (based on the experiences
>in Young).  It is due to be released on video and DVD in the new year and I
>would recommend it to everyone.

Yes, it was great. It was quite believable [bar a slight inaccuracy re
TPVs, but I'm being pedantic] and portrayed the issues with depth and
insight.
>
Sue
>

Sue Bolton
Sydney, Australia
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