What Can You DO?
Are you feeling powerless about the ways in which
Australia is dealing with refugees and asylum seekers, but not sure what you can do about
it?
Here are 10 things you can do to make a difference.....
1 Donate money, food, phone cards or travel cards to the Brigidine Asylum Seekers Project for the support of asylum
seekers. Or, make a donation to either The Asylum Seekers Resource Centre in Footscray, or The Asylum Seekers Project at the Hotham Mission in North
Melbourne.
2. Read our newsletter !
You can receive our newsletter via email or normal mail. Ask to be
on our mailing list (by clicking here or calling 03-9696-2107) for information
and some updates about the situation for asylum seekers in Australia.
Or read the newsletter online here (in PDF format - it saves us sending it out
!)
3. Write letters to detainees telling them you welcome them
to this country and that we are working to change our Government's
policies.
Send an email to help@spareroomsforrefugees.com to get advice on how to go about this, plus addresses of
detainees who'd be delighted to receive messages of support from beyond the
razor wire.
4. Join an organisation, if you want to get more directly involved. There is no shortage of options, and some potential organisations are shown below:
The Asylum Seekers' Resource Centre
The Refugee Council
Australians for Just Refugee Programs
Catholic Commission for Justice, Development and Peace
The Victorian Immigrant and Refugee Women's Coalition
Community Aid Abroad/Oxfam Ecumenical Migration Centre
Victorian Foundation for the Survivors of Trauma and Torture, Parkville
5. Take a few minutes to 'sign' the one of the various
online petitions and surveys
'Call for a Royal Commission into the Australian Government's Treatment of Asylum Seekers'
'Do you support using detention centres as they now exist to deter asylum seekers?'
6. Write short letters to newspapers that publish
negative, prejudicial comments or letters about 'illegals'
or 'potential terrorists'.
Write immediately and concisely: 2-3 paragraphs is plenty! Don't
worry if they're not published. Even 'hard-line' newspapers like the Herald-Sun
can change editorial policy in the face of overwhelming public opposition to
their 'line'.
7. Find out what's being done about posting bonds and
finding accommodation for refugees. The best source for this information is www.SpareRoomsForRefugees.com
8. Attend the 'Justice for Refugees' Rallies whenever
they are held. We will try to have dates for these events posted on our
homepage.
9. If you'd like to be on the mailing list to receive regular up-dates on what's
happening on this issue around the country, send a blank email to the Refugee
Action Collective by clicking here.
10. Photocopy or obtain copies of "Some Facts on Australia's
Refugees" from the Refugee Action Collective. Send an email to them by clicking here.
And finally, if you still want to do something, write to
your local MP. Don't be abusive: write with respect, but write from the
heart! Your local member and his/her details can be found here.
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