Good editorial in Coffs Coast Advocate 1 June 2016
Showing posts with label Facebook. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Facebook. Show all posts
4.6.16
letter to Coffs Coast Advocate - "stop the slogans" Facebook 1 June 2016
Another letter from Marlene in the Coffs Coast Advocate highlighting the claims that the LNP have stopped the boats.
8.5.16
Life on Nauru April 2016 from President of Mansfield RAR Facebook 5 April 2016
Hello All,
Please find an email sent to a close friend last night and forwarded to me this morning. The person who sent the email is working on Nauru and I have deleted any information that might identify them. My husband and I also know this person who is a professional from Melbourne and is NOT POLITICAL AND NEVER HAS BEEN. This makes this message all the more devastating. I think we need to take action. I await feedback from you. I know you will all treat this email with respect as the person could face a severe penalty for speaking out and is doing good work on Nauru.
Marie Sellstrom
President Mansfield RAR
Subject: Sad but true news
They say bad news travels fast. A UNHCR review panel arrived on Monday and was doing some community consultation this morning to assess the refugees situation and conditions to report back to the Australian Government about the progress towards settlement and prospects for longer term residence on Nauru. They got their feedback! Now we can all jump up and down because we have some dramatic news footage and we can see how serious the situation is. But it has been that serious for some time!!! The long term prospects are not good for a host of reasons. It is not a viable solution for the vast majority of people; individuals and families. People who have been declared genuine refugees after exhaustive investigations and reviews in some cases are being given a very raw deal in order to advance and enforce Australia's border control policies. We know we need to "stop the boats" but should these people be the sole/ primary strategy, incarcerated endlessly to justify the government's political agenda. What's Indonesia doing? What are our intelligence people doing? Their navy, our navy? Why should the refugees be held responsible for the actions of others following months /years later? And, we should keep in mind that many of them set forth before the policy, or as the policy changed. They were doing what refugees do; seeking passage to a safe haven by whatever means were available. Many of them had been in transit for some time / years.
People are understandably shocked and distressed having witnessed or heard about the terrible incident today. It is NOT an isolated incident and we know they will continue and increase.
Please do whatever you can to keep up awareness of the issues being faced by people here. It is understandable that the government instigated policies to stop the boat smuggling but the people who have been used as policy "fodder", as scapegoats deserve better....... deserve something!!! Someone's life hangs in the balance tonight. He was not a criminal. He was a refugee.
I want to throw up when Peter Dutton boasts there are no children (that we are responsible for) living in detention. There are. I've seen some of them and I've seen some of the toll that detention on Nauru has taken. Whatever the faults or unfortunate decisions their parents have taken, the children did not choose this path. "That's unfortunate but what can we do?" you might say. Well, we can lobby. We can ring up. We can write. We can talk. We can do something however big or small because so much that is happening here is wrong.
Medical and psychiatric facilities are barely/not? coping with the number of incidents and deterioration of health of many refugees and asylum seekers. Numerous people have been flown out after self harming or attempting suicide. There are insufficient facilities and medications here and many of the emergency situations are handled by the police who are insufficiently trained and ill equipped to deal with severely disturbed and distressed people. They have passed laws..... If you attempt suicide it is against the law and you could go to jail AND be fined.
Lucky they don't have the death penalty for such a heinous crime!!!
I have previously talked with some about the various employment schemes here and a large number of refugees have got work...... some in construction, mining, utility and retail services but the greatest number are working in security........ not where it's needed mind you. There's limited security for the refugees, some of whom have been set upon, assaulted and or robbed in locations or on tracks where they are forced to travel to get from A to B in a feasible time. Vehicles (motor bikes and bicycles), phones and money have been stolen and property has been damaged but much of this goes unreported because the police do little or nothing. They either don't care or don't have the resources to respond adequately. More often the refugees have given up complaining because nothing is done. There is no redress. Many refugees will tell you that they work simply to maintain some sort of routine and their sanity. Many are paid the princely sum of $2.70 per hour (the locals get a little more than that!). In some cases they get an additional living allowance but then you'd need that because apples and bananas can be $12 /$13 a kilo. A mango or an avocado will cost you $5 - $8. Everything here costs approximately 50% more than Australians would pay in Australia..... so go figure how far a weekly salary of $125 will go. Some of the guys working in construction/ mining testify that a lot of the locals clock on, possibly work for a few hours, disappear and return to clock off and collect their 8 hours wage which pays them approx $250+ per week. When the refugees complained about the unfairness of this they were told it was none of their business and they shouldn't be telling the supervisor what he should or shouldn't do. Wouldn't you be mad. I would!
There is so much more I could mention. There are so many injustices and inconsistencies in the way the system operates or doesn't as the case may be. People have been told they would be moving out of the large, extremely hot and un air conditioned tents into better more permanent accommodation but that has taken much longer to come on line than was at first indicated.
There is a shortage of accommodation and shortage of available building sites because many of the Nauruan landholders do not want the refugees here and even if offered a lot of money (believe me heaps has been paid out) they have not agreed to any proposals. There is a whole accommodation block that was built some years ago. It's on someone's land and is sitting idle and empty. The government has apparently taken over responsibility for it but nothing happens quickly here. And...... to all those who think the refugees have got it pretty good with a roof over their heads and a fortnightly allowance..... Have they ever tried to live in a space approx 2m x 4m? with a window(s) that needs to be covered to maintain privacy. I might be wrong but check and tell me the size of a small container.
Sorry to be such a grump but I'm just telling you the facts. I am not huffing and puffing just for the heck of it. I'm glad I'm here and can see what's going on. By the way if there's any suggestion that the Manus Island people could be relocated here, please laugh loudly because it's not feasible. As mentioned by Julian Burnside there is often insufficient water, food and petrol to service the current population. The island simply cannot sustain the increase in Nauruan and refugee populations and their needs. Mind you it's good business for the government. They get $1000 per month for each refugee/asylum seeker they are "hosting". Our accommodation here costs over $200 per night. With us and permanent local residents that runs into 100s of 1000s of dollars a month. The place is falling down...... leaks, rust, mould, cracks, decay. Return fares cost around $2000. Visas for workers $1000. Nauru Airlines having lost a fortune in days of yore is now making a fortune again. It's another cash cow for the government that has spent and promised very little towards improved infrastructure, educational or health facilities for its people. The Australian Government is building a new hospital but things can't happen quickly enough to service the great increase in demand.
So that's it for now. Pass on this information to anyone who might be interested. I guess if i were not working here I might not be so involved in the machinations and goings on of a tiny little island in the middle of nowhere in the Pacific. But, I am. I have to say something to someone. Otherwise I will feel more complicit in the tragic death or injury of the next person and the others that will surely follow if we do not address the situation. Love and best wishes to all. Hope you are all well. So far I'm OK . I really am.
5.5.16
New Bishop of Parramatta to tackle radicalism, perception of aylums seekers - facebook 5 April 2016
A
former Vietnamese refugee who has been appointed the new Bishop of
Parramatta vows to use his role to tackle radicalism in western Sydney.
abc.net.au
2.5.16
Pop Up Protest at Urunga 28 April 2016 Facebook
Another
great effort from our Pop-Up Protestors at Urunga yesterday. Lots of
support from passing motorists. As our PM calls on Australian not to
"get all misty eyed" over the plight of asylum seekers we can assure him
that when his brutal government is dumped at the next election we will
not be 'misty eyed."
1.5.16
letter to Nambucca Guardian - Facebook 1 May 2016
Great Letter from Marlene to the local Nambucca Guardian. lets bombard them and our local Politicians.
Dear Editor ,
We have news this week that the Supreme Court of Papua New Guinea has declared the Manus Island Detention Centre illegal and we now understand that it is set to close. Our government now faces a dilemma. What is to be done with the 800 or so detainees on Manus who have been assessed as genuine refugees ?
Is the decision of the Supreme Court of PNG likely to change the government’ s policies on the issue of offshore detention ? As an election looms it is unlikely that the present government’s policy decisions will shift on these issues but public opinion could well shift and influence election outcomes.
Gillian Triggs, the Australian Human Rights Commissioner , in an interview on Radio National on Thursday 28th April reiterated that offshore detention is ‘unsustainable’. It has long been pointed out by doctors, social workers, teachers and others with direct experience of working in offshore detention facilities that conditions there are indefensible in terms of morality, humanity , economics and legality.
In the last financial year the offshore detention of refugees has cost the Australian taxpayer $1.2 billion . This is many times more than it would have cost to process the refugees on shore in Australia. The asylum seekers and refugees on Nauru and Manus are our responsibility. Those found to be genuine refugees should be resettled in Australia since we have obligations to them under international law.
We need to consider the question “How does Australia look in the eyes of the International Community ? Is it defensible to continue to “shift” the refugee problem elsewhere ? Other countries in Europe are resettling thousands of refugees each month . Our government should be working in collaboration with other countries to explore solutions to this worldwide crisis.
Australian Government policy on these issues has never “stopped the boats” the boats have just been diverted elsewhere as we can all see from news reports from all around the world. The time has come to stop believing in the ‘stop the boats ‘ mantra and to start to press our politicians for legal and humane solutions to this urgent crisis and for international cooperation on these issues.
Marlene Griffin
24.4.16
Market Stall at Coffs Harbour 24 April 2016 Facebook 24 April 2016
Showery
weather kept numbers down at the Harbourside Markets but we had 4 new
volunteers from the Coffs area to help out this morning and our new
petition got off to a good start. Thanks to Kim and her crew and to all
our wonderful volunteers who continue to stand up for the rights of
asylum seekers.
Afghan Refugees make new home in Goulburn Valley Orchards - Facebook
Afghan refugees make new home in Goulburn Valley orchards
Updated
Row after row of trees in all directions are burdened with a bountiful amount of apples at an orchard in Victoria's Goulburn Valley.
A small army of workers is busy picking the fruit, placing it in bins and making sure each piece meets the correct standard of the business.
It's harvest time for Granny Smith apples in the orchard of Peter Hall and his fruit is ready to be sent across Australia and the world to waiting consumers.
The orchard is a diverse place, the manager is from New Zealand, various accents from backpackers can be heard in each row, but the largest group of workers came to Australia as refugees.
Peter Hall was asked if he would hire Afghanistan refugees for orchard work as soon as they started arriving in nearby Shepparton.
He jumped at the chance and says it has been one of the best business decisions he has made.
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"They were quite a natural source of labour for working in the orchard, picking, pruning, thinning," he said.
"After a while we got to know these guys, many of them had a rural background, some of them even had their own orchards and they even told us their tips on how to grow fruit."
From there the relationship blossomed.
"They've bought houses in town, they live in town, they've brought their families over, their kids are going to school here, their kids are going to university and they've really become part of the fabric of our community."
One of the refugees is Khuda dad Haidari who took a little time to find a home.
"There was not peace, we had to leave Afghanistan and come here," he said.
"First time I come to Australia I was in Darwin, then I go to Sydney and that was a busy city and I don't like a busy city so then I come to Shepparton because here is quiet and the rent is cheap."
Mr Haidari has been promoted in the orchard and now does some management of picking teams and acts as an interpreter for those with poor English skills.
He likes the work and said he is never going to leave.
"I come here to stay here," he said.
"I built a house and I'm happy here."
The success of these refugee workers on orchards is being hailed as a model for Australia increasing its intake of people fleeing war and conflict.
Peter Hall said Shepparton should be seen as an example for when the nation considered letting more refugees into the country.
"As long as people are vetted properly and evaluated properly, I can't see any issues for Australia welcoming people to come here, if they want to contribute and be part of our community," he said.
"I stress that, the Afghani people are part of our community."
"I think Shepparton is one of the best places on earth in being able to welcome people from all parts of the globe without any difficulties."
Topics: fruit, fruits, crop-harvesting, farm-labour, refugees, community-development, shepparton-3630,mooroopna-3629, ardmona-3629, afghanistan
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