World Refugee Day 2006 - Melbourne Rally
At the weekend I dragged my partner along to Melbourne's march and rally to mark World Refugee Day, http://melbourne.indymedia.org/news/2006/06/115114.php.
I really liked the fact that as well as some interesting speakers and political groups' stalls, there was a multicultural festival to enjoy at the end of the route.
It would have been wonderful to see more people there, especially with the diabolical measures being proposed by the coalition goverment in their new Migration Amendment Bill. I haven't been able to get terribly riled by the howls that this bill is all about appeasing the Indonesian government. I have more of a problem with Australia shirking its UNHCR commitments to an even greater extent.
That and the fact that offshore processing of asylum seekers' claims, and mandatory detention, are immoral and have been proven to cause unnecessary suffering to people who are in need of protection and support.
I gather that the bill has been passed in the House of Representatives but could still be rejected by the Sentate. I got my act together and wrote an e-mail to Victoria's senators. I guess some of them will think that it's just a copy-pasted form letter, but it's the best I can do at this late stage. I somehow suspect that Ms Vanstone's (somewhat flustered) responses to the Senate's Committee findings will have more bearing than any letter I could write.
I really liked the fact that as well as some interesting speakers and political groups' stalls, there was a multicultural festival to enjoy at the end of the route.
It would have been wonderful to see more people there, especially with the diabolical measures being proposed by the coalition goverment in their new Migration Amendment Bill. I haven't been able to get terribly riled by the howls that this bill is all about appeasing the Indonesian government. I have more of a problem with Australia shirking its UNHCR commitments to an even greater extent.
That and the fact that offshore processing of asylum seekers' claims, and mandatory detention, are immoral and have been proven to cause unnecessary suffering to people who are in need of protection and support.
I gather that the bill has been passed in the House of Representatives but could still be rejected by the Sentate. I got my act together and wrote an e-mail to Victoria's senators. I guess some of them will think that it's just a copy-pasted form letter, but it's the best I can do at this late stage. I somehow suspect that Ms Vanstone's (somewhat flustered) responses to the Senate's Committee findings will have more bearing than any letter I could write.
posted by Seeking Illumination at 8:40 AM
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