Apologies for cross postings/Please distribute widely....
DON'T FORGET - NATIONAL DAYS OF ACTION FOR REFUGEE RIGHTS THIS WEEKEND JUNE
22 -23 AROUND AUSTRALIA.
Details for June 23 Sydney Rally (details for other capital cities and
regional areas at end of the email)
****************************************
Dear friends of refugees,
Following are the details of the "Welcome refugees" rally in Sydney, aspart
of the national weekend of action and actions around the world to mark
World Refugee Day.
We hope that you can join the rally and march and that, with just a few
days to go, you will be able to forward this message or otherwise let as
many people as possible know about the event and encourage their
participation.
For more information, or to obtain copies of leaflets and posters,
please phone Ian Rintoul 0417 275 713, Lisa Macdonald 0413 031 108 or
Amanda Tattersall 0408 057 779, or email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
We look forward to huge rallies around Australia on June 22 & 23, which the
government cannot afford to ignore.
Sincerely,
Lisa Macdonald
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WELCOME REFUGEES. END MANDATORY DETENTION.
MONEY FOR COMMUNITY SETTLEMENT, NOT THE 'PACIFIC SOLUTION'.
FULL RIGHTS FOR REFUGEES, NOT TEMPORARY PROTECTION VISAS.
Sunday, June 23
Assemble 11am, First Fleet Park, Circular Quay
for March to Hyde Park
Speakers:
Thomas Keneally (author)
Neville Roach (former chair Council for Multicultural Australia)
Patrick Lee (Independent Education Union)
Sheikh el Hilali (Mufti of Australia)
Margaret Reynolds (National President United Nations Association)
Nooria Wazifadost (Afghan refugee)
CALL TO ACTION
Across Australia a movement is gathering momentum, a movement demanding
justice for asylum seekers, giving human compassion to detainees,
offering alternative ways to the government.
While our government fails its international obligations and
humanitarian responsibilities through its policies of imprisoning
children, women and men behind razor wire, the voice of the people's
movement grows louder.
Ordinary Australians have initiated projects to establish welcome cities
and towns. Tens of thousands of residents have offered their own homes for
accommodation and to provide community support.
We reject the divisive demonising of refugees, our fellow human beings. We
reject the policy of mandatory detention and the injustice of the "Pacific
solution". We reject the discrimination and uncertainty that continues for
refugees when they are released with less than full rights on temporary
protection visas.
By signing the Refugee Convention in 1951, the Australian government
promised that we would accept asylum seekers and humanely process their
claims.
Palm Sunday revealed a movement of thousands - a movement determined to
keep that promise and bring a culture of welcome, justice and equality for
those people fleeing war, suffering and persecution.
We will mobilise again, nationally, on June 22 and 23, the weekend after
World Refugee Day, to say "Refugees are Welcome! End Mandatory
Detention!". We demand a fundamental change in government policy.
Except for Indigenous Australians, we are all boat people. Let's
recognise our history, strive to overcome racist divisions, reap the
rewards of diversity and embrace the contribution of refugees.
In Sydney we will gather on Sunday, June 23 where the first fleet
arrived: boats carrying many poor and distressed people. This is a
symbol of our determination to extend a welcome to the boat people of
the 21st century and build a future free of the injustices of the past.
Endorsed by: Margaret Reynolds, national president, United Nations
Association of Australia; ChilOut (Children out of Detention); Action in
Solidarity with Asia and the Pacific (ASAP); Refugee Action
Coalition; The Greens NSW; Wayside Chapel (NSW); Edmund Rice Centre;
AMWU Activists Network; Justice for Refugees (Armidale); Progressive
Young Hazaras; Newcastle Refugee Rights Group; Refugee Action Collective
(Illawarra); Search Foundation; Labor for Refugees; Free the Refugees
Campaign; National Union of Students; Coalition for Justice for Refugees;
Wayside Chapel; Lebanese Muslim Association; Rural Australians for
Refugees; Jesuit Refugee Service; Rights Campaign for Asylum Seekers; Show
Mercy; AMWU NSW; Independent Education Union; Muslim Women's National
Network of Australia.
DETAILS FOR NATIONAL DAYS OF ACTION FOR REFUGEE RIGHTS
Please distribute widely!
**************************************
REFUGEES ARE WELCOME! CLOSE THE DETENTION CENTRES
NATIONAL DAYS OF ACTION, JUNE 22-23 -CAPITAL CITIES & REGIONAL AREAS
ADELAIDE - Sunday 23, noon, Hindmarsh Square
Refugee Action Collective, ph 82316982, 0411 524 724
ARMIDALE -Justice for Refugees, ph 6778 5038 or 6773 3572
BRISBANE- Sunday, June 23, 1pm King George Square
Refugee Action Collective, 0409 877 238
BYRON BAY -Sunday, June 23, 2pm Railway Park
Byron Shire Refugee Action Collective and Lismore Refugee Action
CollectivePh 6684 5001, 0418 119 450
CANBERRA - Sunday, June 23, noon, Garema Place. Refugee Action Collective,
0407 258, 0415 752 012
DARWIN - Sunday, June 23, 11 am Park next to Nightcliffe Markets, Oleander
St. Refugee Action Network, Ph 8981 4714, 0421 504 376
HOBART - Saturday, June 22, noon, Parliament House Lawns,
Tasmanians for Refugees ph 0413 976 638
MELBOURNE - Sunday, June 23, 1pm State Library, corner Swantson St & La
Trobe Sts. Refugee Action Network ph 9659 3505, 0408 538 916, 0402 070
667Refugee Action Collective (West) 0438 191 768
Melbourne -High School Walkout and Festival at Mariybong ? June 28 & 29
NEWCASTLE -Saturday, June 22, 11 am Refugee Rights Embassy, Enterprise Park,
opposite Newcastle station AND Sunday June 23, 11am (same location)
Newcastle Refugee Rights Group ph 4926 2924, 4968 1281
PERTH- Sunday, June 22, noon, Forest Place
Refugee Rights Action Network ph 9218 9608, 9388 6009
ROCKHAMPTON -Saturday, June 22, 10 am Stapleton Park (near PCYC)
Rural Australians for Refugees ph 0438 793 179
SYDNEY -Sunday, June 23, 11 am Circular Quay.
Free the Refugees Ph 0410 629 088, Refugee Action Coalition Ph 0417 275 713
WOLLONGONG- Sunday June 23, Meet 9.15 am at Wollongong train station to go
to Sydney rally. Illawarra Refugee Action Collective Ph 0414 898 024
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