Phone Call to Prime Minister's Office - A great and immediate initiative from Georgette following the appeal in today’s newsletter”.

_{A great and immediate initiative from Georgette following the appeal in today’s newsletter”.}

_{I just phoned the PM’s parliamentary office, and received a very positive response from his PA.  I focussed on the parochial nature of the general populations of PNG, and how they will probably have very little understanding of world affairs and politics.  I mentioned that I have lived in PNG, and understand their fear of ‘strangers’ – that’s why they had 700 different languages on that moderately sized island!} 

_{I pointed out that there is no humane and viable solution other than bringing the refugees here to safety to Australia, the most multi-cultural society on Earth – where we have learned to absorb and benefit from cultural ‘differences’.}

_{I mentioned the cost to Australia taxpayers, over the years of detention offshore.  I said we could spend our resources far more effectively by bringing those refugees here.  The woman listened, responded, and undertook to definitely pass on my message to the PM, and thanked me for taking the trouble to call. I think a phone call can register more effectively than an email, for those who have the time (and unlimited STD calls on their plan!)} 

_Cheers, 

_Georgette

Newsletter for 15 August 2017 Rural Australians for Refugees Bellingen and Nambucca Districts

Next Roadside Demo - Toormina Thursday August 24th 2:30pm

Next Market Stall - Coffs Harbourside Sun 27th August

Donations to Asylum Seekers Centre

Another death on Manus Island

Roadside Demonstration report

Our roadside demonstration in Bellingen last week went very well, with a good turnout of supporters and terrific support from passing motorists.  A young primary school student on his way home wanted to know why all the cars going by were sounding their horns!

Our next roadside demonstration will be on Thursday 24th August, when we will return to our pitch in Toormina for the first time this year. You will find us on Hogbin Drive, not far from the Sawtell Road roundabout, opposite what used to be the Sawtell nursery, on the corner of Barcoo Court. We’ll be there from 2.30 until 4.00 pm, so please come and join us if you can.

Our next market stall: Coffs Harbourside market: Sunday 27th August

We will be at Coffs Harbourside market on 27th August and would very much appreciate some support between 9.00 am and 1.30 pm. If you can help out for a while, then please let Mike know by emailing him at: mandm.griffin2@bigpond.com.  As usual, we’ll be handing out leaflets, encouraging people to sign our petition and selling our merchandise. A great opportunity to interact with the public and to highlight our government’s cruel policies.

The market will take place near the surf club car park, adjacent to the mouth of Coffs Creek.

Donations to the Asylum Seekers Centre

This time last year we entered into a commitment with the ASC to raise $1,000 in a year through our market stalls. This week we have sent them $150, making a total of $1,100 for the year. In addition, we were able to send them $1,000 from our recent fundraising lunch and auction, which is a great outcome. We will continue to support ASC, given that they do such wonderful work supporting asylum seekers in Sydney. Their brochure, copies of which are available on our market stall, states: “Never in the 23 year history of the Asylum Seekers Centre have we been so pushed for resources. We are struggling to meet the needs of people seeking asylum in their quest for a life of dignity and safety......Seeking asylum is a human right. The ASC exists to protect these rights, and provide the essential services required to help these often very vulnerable people who are living in the Australian community.”

Another tragic, avoidable death on Manus Island

Earlier this month, Hamid Shamshiripoor, a 31 year old Iranian asylum seeker, was found dead near to the Lorengau “transit” centre. He had been on Manus Island for almost four years. It is not clear whether he was murdered or committed suicide.

We do know that he had serious mental health problems.

We do know that his fellow detainees pleaded in writing to the authorities  in the detention centre for Hamid to receive appropriate treatment for his illness.

We do know that, instead of receiving  treatment, Hamid was often imprisoned, bashed, moved around, and was finally homeless.

We do know that his case was referred to the Australian Border Force’s chief medical officer some 12 months ago.

We do know that he did not receive the care that he needed, and that he was entitled to.

We do know that nobody in authority cares.

But you care!

Please write to some of those in authority who, once again, have blood on their hands. Tell them that it is time to end this cruelty and to bring the refugees and asylum seekers here.

Malcolm.Turnbull.MP@aph.gov.au

Peter.Dutton.MP@aph.gov.au

Bill.Shorten.MP@aph.gov.au

Shayne.Neumann.MP@aph.gov.au

Luke.Hartsuyker.MP@aph.gov.au

Check out the index of subjects on our blog  http://bellorar.blogspot.com.au 

It includes articles from many sources and letters to politicians and newspapers.

This newsletter is sent to >500 recipients

Our Face book is at https://www.facebook.com/Rural-Australians-for-Refugees-Bellingen-and-Nambucca-Districts-269696303205083/timeline/

(482 likes)

Twitter Account @RARBellingenNam

Email address bellingen.rar@gmail.com

The National RAR web site is at  www.ruralaustraliansforrefugees.org.au 

The National RAR facebook site is at  RAR Facebook

Newsletter for 11 April 2017 Rural Australians for Refugees Bellingen and Nambucca Districts

Next Roadside Demo - Thurs 20th April Bellingen 3pm

Next Market - Coffs Harbourside Sunday April 23rd

No business in abuse

Health care on Manus Island in disarray

Roadside demonstration : Thursday 20th April in Bellingen from 3.00 pm to 4.30 pm.

Sadly, owing to the forecast of rain for the whole of the day last Thursday, we cancelled the planned roadside demonstration outside the Big Banana in Coffs Harbour. But worry not, we have another planned for Thursday 20th April in Bellingen! You will find us in the usual spot on Waterfall Way, adjacent to the library, between 3.00 pm and 4.30 pm. Please consider coming to join us if you can. As always, we have lots of banners and placards to share, we just need some willing hands to hold them aloft. Please put the date in your diary.

Market Stall: Coffs Harbourside market, Sunday 23rd April from 9.00 am until 1.30 pm 

Our next market stall will be in Coffs Harbour on Sunday 23rd April. We have had a run of bad luck with the weather for our stalls in recent months, so let’s cross our fingers and hope that the sun will shine. The Harbourside market is located near the jetty and we are looking for helpers from 9.00 am until 1.30 pm. As always, we will be selling our asylum seeker merchandise, handing out information leaflets, collecting signatures for our petition and seeking donations for the Asylum Seekers Centre in Newtown. It’s a great opportunity to interact with the public and to get to know other RAR supporters. If you can join us for an hour or two, then please let Mike know by emailing him at: mandm.griffin2@bigpond.com.

Amnesty warns companies about getting involved in abuse on Nauru and Manus island

Bowing to public pressure, the Spanish infrastructure giant Ferrovial, which owns the camp management company Broadspectrum, announced some time ago that it will not work in the offshore detention camps beyond its current contract, which expires in October. A new Amnesty briefing document argues that any companies taking over from Broadspectrum will be participating in a deliberately abusive regime. The briefing document states: “Any company or organisation taking up this toxic baton will be complicit in an intentionally abusive system, in direct contravention of its human rights responsibilities, and will be exposing itself to potential liability and damages claims.” The document goes on to say: “The Australian government has created an island of despair for refugees and people seeking asylum on Nauru, but an island of profit for companies making millions of dollars from a system so deliberately and inherently cruel and abusive that it amounts to torture.”

We can but hope that no company will want to take the risk of accepting a contract for the continuation of the cruelty and punishment of the asylum seekers and refugees on Nauru and Manus Island, who remain the responsibility of the Australian government. These people, who have committed no crime, should be brought to Australia for processing and resettlement. It’s time to end the shame!

Health care on Manus Island in disarray

In recent days, the Manus Island detention centre’s for-profit organisation – International Health and Medical Services – has been forced to abandon the island because, according to the PNG government, it was found to be practising medicine unlicensed. The company has temporarily been replaced by a skeleton staff from a PNG company, which is providing only basic and emergency medical care. The effect, inevitably, is that some detainees requiring medication for chronic conditions – as many of them do – have been left without medication. If a situation like this were to arise in any of our towns and cities, there would rightly be a huge outcry, but the issue has hardly registered on the radar of the Australian media. It seems that as long as the government can keep these ongoing crises hidden from view, with little scrutiny or accountability, then our politicians – both government and opposition - are happy to look the other way. We need to keep up the pressure to end this cruelty.

Check out the index of subjects on our blog  http://bellorar.blogspot.com.au 

It includes articles from many sources and letters to politicians and newspapers.

This newsletter is sent to >480 recipients

Our Face book is at https://www.facebook.com/Rural-Australians-for-Refugees-Bellingen-and-Nambucca-Districts-269696303205083/timeline/

(482 likes)

Twitter Account @RARBellingenNam

Email address bellingen.rar@gmail.com

The National RAR web site is at  www.ruralaustraliansforrefugees.org.au 

The National RAR facebook site is at  RAR Facebook

Newsletter for 21 March 2017 Rural Australians Bellingen and Nambucca Districts

Sri Lankan Curry Lunch Sun 26th March

Auction items?

Next Market - Valla Beach April 1st

Next Roadside Demo - Thurs 23rd March Coffs Base Hospital 3pm

March in March - Sat 25th March 11am

Sri Lankan Curry Lunch: Sunday 26th March at 1.00 pm: 12, River Street, Mylestom

In last week’s newsletter we set out the proposal for a curry lunch to take place this coming Sunday, in response to the urgent appeal for funds by the Refugee Advice and Casework Service, as they struggle to meet the impossible deadlines for asylum seekers in Australia to submit their claims for protection under the Refugee Convention. So far we have not had much response from supporters for the event.  The cost will be $30 per person, and all the money raised will be donated to RACS. If you plan to attend, then it is essential that you let our hosts Margie and Georgie know by Thursday evening (24th March), so that they can either organise the shopping or cancel the event. Please email Margie and Georgie at: gsmh@fastmail.fm or phone: 0414 592 519 to book seats for you and your friends. 

Auction: going, going............?

At the proposed curry lunch, we hope to hold an auction to raise further funds for the RACS appeal. If you have an item that you think will sell for at least $20, then please let Mike know by email at: mandm.griffin2@bigpond.com.  or phone him on: 6569 5419 by Thursday evening.

Markets

As we are sure you will be aware, the Bellingen market was cancelled last weekend, due to the very heavy rain.  We are not having much luck of late, having also been rained off recently in Coffs Harbour!

Our next market will be at the Valla Beach market onSaturday 1st April. If you are able to help out at any time between 9.00 am and 1.30 pm, then please let Mike know by emailing him at : mandm.griffin2@bigpond.com.  Let’s hope that the sun shines and that we can make up for the disappointments of Coffs Harbour and Bellingen.

Roadside demonstration: Thursday 23rd March from 3.00 pm to 4.30 pm in Coffs Harbour

Our next roadside demonstration will be this Thursday, 23rd March in Coffs Harbour, (weather permitting). You will find us by the side of the Pacific Highway, opposite the Base hospital. Please come and join us if you can. We have lots of banners and placards to share, and these demonstrations are an important reminder to people that we will not give up the fight for justice and humanity  for asylum seekers, whether they be on Manus Island, Nauru or  mainland Australia.

March in March: Nambucca Heads, Saturday 25th March at 11.00 am

As explained in last week’s newsletter, there will be a March in March in Nambucca Heads on Saturday 25th March, at which we are hoping for substantial presence of our RAR supporters. If you can join us and help carry our banners and placards, then please come to the Plaza shopping centre car park for an 11.00 am start.  We plan to march with our banners to Bellwood Park and to address the crowd.

Check out the index of subjects on our blog  http://bellorar.blogspot.com.au 

It includes articles from many sources and letters to politicians and newspapers.

This newsletter is sent to >480 recipients

Our Face book is at https://www.facebook.com/Rural-Australians-for-Refugees-Bellingen-and-Nambucca-Districts-269696303205083/timeline/

(482 likes)

Twitter Account @RARBellingenNam

Email address bellingen.rar@gmail.com

The National RAR web site is at  www.ruralaustraliansforrefugees.org.au 

The National RAR facebook site is at  RAR Facebook

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Local opportunities to support refugees and asylum seekers - Facebook 8 April 2016

LOCAL OPPPORTUNITIES TO SUPPORT REFUGEES AND ASYLUM SEEKERS

During April and May there will be several opportunities for our community to help refugees and asylum seekers.

Everyone is invited to support the efforts of the Mid North Coast Refugee Support Group at a fundraising event on Saturday April 16.
There will be a quirky, second-hand market at Wauchope Arts Hall from 3-5pm, featuring preloved items, afternoon tea, a short film about refugees and live music. Anyone can donate items in good condition, or come along to support the fundraiser.
Afterwards a shared meal will take place in the hall from 6pm, with guest speaker Yai Atem.
A Sudanese refugee, author, and former child soldier, Yai’s passion is raising money for development work in South Sudan.

An evening screening of the film HOME- a eulogy for those whose bones only made it as far as the arms of mother ocean, directed by Charles Williams. And Stormy Waters -the history of migration to Australia and the treatment of asylum seekers today.

“We aresupporting a Syrian refugee resettlement program in Newcastle by once again asking our community to provide some more fabulous knitting for the young children due to arrive shortly,” said spokesperson, Krissa Wilkinson.
“We’re also asking local women to raid their wardrobes and donate warm shawls or scarves as a means of helping refugee women stay warm.”

In May the group will host a forum with Father Frank Brennan.
Brennan is an Australian Jesuit priest, human rights lawyer and academic, who believes that a globe of 7.3 billion people faces huge challenges and moral dilemmas, when almost 60 million people are displaced, inequality is increasing, and climate change is accelerating.
The forum will be held at Port Macquarie High School at 6.30pm on Thursday May 19, with refreshments and a Q&A session to follow Frank’s address.
Tickets for the forum will be available at the door from 6pm; $20 or $10 student/concession.

Mid North Coast Refugee Support Group

Information about the Mid North Coast Refugee Support Group (MNCRSG) in Port Macquarie, NSW and our activities.

MNCREFUGEESUPPORT.ORG