Hello from Pastor David Busch

 Strategy Planning Meeting

A strategy meeting will take place at Trinity Uniting Church, 47 Marlborough St, Wellington Point on Tuesday 15 July 2014 at 7.00pm.

We are keen to identify some pathways ahead for our:

• Hospitality days
• Community education events
• Prayer vigils and network
• Advocacy
• Practical support for refugees and asylum seekers
• Organisation: meetings, working groups, promotion, etc

Depending on how many come, we will seek to use small groups to "hot house" ideas and time frames in these various areas, and then as a whole group agree on shape and priorities which will then be put as proposals to our next general meeting. Whether or not you can come, your ideas in advance by email are welcome. I will share these by email to us all on Sunday night.

Friday 11 July 2014: Forum on refugees and asylum seekers with the shadow minister  

If you are free come along to a Refugee and Immigration Forum with Richard Marles MP, Shadow MInister for Immigration and Border Protection, hosted by Graham Perrett MP, federal member for Moreton and Terri ButlerMP, federal member for Griffith. Speakers include Rebecca Lim (Romero Centre) and Louise Ryan (Labor for Refugees). The venue is Marymac Community Centre, 616 Ipswich Road, Annerley.

Ride for Refugees

One of our people, Liana Vasic, is participating in Brisbane's Ride for Refugees on 30 August 2014 and is inviting others to join in. Details are on the website http:www.rideforrefugees.com.au/ or email Liana to join up with her: liana3@yahoo.com

 Speech from Leading Jurist 

Alastair NIcholson, former chief judge of the Family Court of Australia, has given a compelling speech on Australia's treatment of asylum seekers, called "My country, my shame." It's a metaphorical call to arms: "What then must we do? We must work together to show governments that this situation will not continue to be tolerated..... We must bring it home that the people that we are mistreating in this way are people like us....We must stand up to the Abbots, Morrisons and Shortens of this world." Click on the "My country, my shame" link to read the article which was published in The Age on 04 July 2014.

High Court Considers Tamil Asylum Seekers Case

The Australian Navy’s intercept and screening of two boatloads of Tamil asylum seekers is being challenged in the High Court. As that action was being proposed, leading barrister Ben Saul argued in Crikey.com.au that Australia had probably broken the law in its handling of the issue. His article is attached here as a PDF with a link to the source. Meanwhile, when the government did eventually confirm that the Australian Navy detained a boatload of asylum seekers before transferring them to the Sri Lankan navy for return to their country of origin, 53 international law scholars from 17 Australian universities signed a public statement expressing profound concern. That statement is here: https://theconversation.com/statement-by-legal-scholars-regarding-the-situation-concerning-sri-lankan-asylum-seekers-28891.

Hi Redlands for Refugees folk,

Here are some reminders of things ahead in the next few days:

HOSPITALITY DAY

Our next hospitality day is Saturday, June 28.

YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED …

·        R4R members Ella Tickle and Lyn Moore spoke about our group with broadcaster Phil Smith on 612ABC Radio last Saturday morning, as a lead-in to Refugee Week. Went very well. (Audio not on the ABC web site, regrettably.)

·        The Uniting Church in Victoria has produced a video reflection following the suicide of Tamil asylum seeker Leo Seemanpillai. It’s called Turn Back the Indifference.

·        The Jesuit e-magazine, Eureka Street, often has excellent analytical articles about the asylum seeker issue. The most recent is, “Why 71% of Australians want boats pushed back.” Worth a read.

·        Julian Burnside QC is one of Australia’s foremost human rights lawyers, passionate about asylum seeker and refugee rights. His web site won’t win any design awards, but the content is excellent and very current – worth visiting regularly. He is inviting Australians to write letters of encouragement and care to detainees at Nauru and Manus Island: details here.

·        It’s been around for a few months now, but the “What would you do?” video and Facebook campaign by Jewish Aid Australia is excellent, designed to put empathy into the asylum seeker ‘debate’. Your responses by text or video are invited.

·        One way to make a personal statement about your feelings on this issue is on the Sorry Asylum Seekers web site. It began in February 2014 to collect photos and notes from Australians opposed to current government policies and practices.

·        Some R4R members visit asylum seekers at the Brisbane Immigration Transit Accommodation (BITA) Centre. Let me know if you’re interested in visiting there, and I’ll send you the required forms and put you in touch with our folk who are involved so they can help you.

·        R4R member Tracey Huges has invited people who are in Wellington Point for the Hospitality Day on June 28 to stay on for a soup night with her church fellowship from 5:30 pm, at her place in, Wellington Point. For contact details email: redlands4refugees@gmail.com.

·        Some R4R members and I are meeting Lilly Matich, the Redland City Council’s new Community Development Officer, next Friday, to see how Redlands for Refugees might interact with Council and local community organisations. Will keep you posted.

·        One way to keep across this issue is to create a Google alert for “asylum seeker” and/or “refugee”. You can choose how often, and across what range of web sources, you’d like to receive a list of sites with new references to those terms. That list will be sent to your designated email address. It’s a great way to keep across breaking news, as well as mentions on blogs and sites that you wouldn’t usually come across.

Thanks very much for your interest and involvement. Hope to see you either at our Hospitality Day on Saturday, or our next social BBQ (date to be advised).

_____________________________________

Pastor David Busch

Coordinator, Redlands for Refugees

Redlands4Refugees@gmail.com

R4R members attend World Refugee Day rally

The World Refugee Day rally and march started from King George Square on Saturday, June 21. A group of Redlands for  Refugees members attended the rally.. Here are some photos of the event.

World Refugee Day Festival 

The festival was held at Annerley Soccer Grounds,. Sunday, June 22.. There’ were a whole lot of stalls, food, activities, etc. It was a very colourful and engaging day.

A Movement of the Heart: 

Ecumenical prayer service for refugees 

The service was held at St Stephen’s Cathedral on Friday, June 20. The Cathedral was packed with people and the service was incredibly well organized and was appreciated by all.