Next Market Stall -
Valla Beach Sat 2nd December
Next Roadside Demo -
Hogbin Drive Toormina Thursday November 23rd 2:30pm
RAR annual get
together Sunday 3rd December
Manus Island standoff
continues
Bellingen market
report
Our market on
Saturday in Bellingen was a huge success in every way. We were out in
force – a total of fourteen supporters helped out at various times
throughout the morning - and we interacted with hundreds of market-goers.
Normally at our markets we hope to get between 50 and 100 signatures on our
petition. On Saturday, people were literally queuing up to add their
signatures and to express their anger and dismay about the cruelty and lack of
compassion of our politicians. We collected an amazing 300+ signatures,
which is unprecedented, and we sold more than $250 worth of merchandise. Our
success was not just a result of our very active presence, handing out leaflets
to everyone who would accept them, though that was clearly very important. It
was surely also about the fact that, during the past two weeks, we have finally
had significant coverage on television and in the media about the
terrible situation on Manus island, something which the government has sought
to hide from public view. The Australian people have at last been
presented with some evidence of the cruelty of our government’s policy, and
they don’t like what they see. All the more reason for us to keep up the
pressure. The tide may be turning!
Our next market,
which will be our final one in 2017, will be at Valla Beach market on
Saturday 2nd December, from 9.00 am until 1.30 pm. If you can
help out for an hour or two, then please let Mike know by emailing him at:mandm.griffin2@bigpond.com.
Next roadside
demonstration: Thursday 23rd November , Toormina, 2.30 to 4.00
pm
A reminder that our
next roadside demo is this Thursday, in Toormina. You will find us at our
usual spot on Hogbin Drive, opposite what used to be the Sawtell nursery,
about 75 metres from the roundabout. Please come and join us if you can to help
us keep up the pressure on our politicians. We have lots of banners and
placards to share.
Our final roadside
demo for 2017 will be in Coffs Harbour, next to The Big Banana on Thursday
7th December from 2.30 to 4.00 pm.
Meeting and
lunch: Sunday 3rd December from 10.30 am
Have you booked
your spot yet?
A reminder that we
are planning a meeting and social get-together on Sunday 3rd December at 39, Rogers Drive, Valla Beach. This is an invitation to all
our 500+ supporters, and we hope that a good number of you will want to attend.
There will be the opportunity to discuss what we have done and achieved in
2017, and to explore activities for 2018. Following the meeting, we’ll have a
relaxing lunch together on the back deck. Please bring a plate to share. If you
are intending to come along, then it’s important to let Mike know by emailing
him at: mandm.griffin2@bigpond.com.
The Manus
stand-off continues
It is now three weeks
since the PNG authorities cut off the water, food, services and medical support
for the detainees in the Lombron detention centre, in an effort to coerce the
men into relocating to Lorengau. The physical and mental health of the
detainees must be deteriorating as each day goes by. The New Zealand government
has repeated its offer to take 150 refugees, but the offer has again been
turned down by the Australian government, which on the one hand acknowledges
that the two sovereign governments of PNG and NZ can negotiate an agreement to
resettle refugees in NZ , but in the next breath hints darkly about possible
repercussions. Sadly, the PNG and NZ governments seem to have backed down
in the face of the veiled threats issued by minister Dutton.
Meanwhile, hard on
the heels of the letter from Doctors for Refugees, which we reported on last
week, the Australian Medical Association’s federal council has voted
unanimously to call on the government to grant access to the Manus detention
centre so that doctors can assess the men’s health, well-being and living
conditions, stating that: “with a worsening and more dangerous situation
emerging on Manus, the federal council believes that urgent action and answers
are needed”.
If you haven’t yet
made contact with politicians to protest at the government’s cruel
intransigence (and the opposition’s support for government policy), it’s
certainly not too late, and only takes a couple of minutes. Simply tell them
that:
- the treatment of the men on Manus is cruel and
unconscionable.
- there is ample evidence that the Lorengau
township is not a safe place for the refugees, and that they are right to
be afraid.
- the New Zealand offer of resettlement should
be accepted immediately.
- the Australian people have a right to know
what is happening in relation to the possible resettlement of refugees in
the US.
- all offshore detention centres should be
closed immediately and the refugees and asylum seekers should be brought
to Australia for processing and resettlement.
Telephone numbers:
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