“All men should strive to learn before they die, what they are running from, and to, and why.” – James Thurber
The Latest
Doctors for Refugees: Letter to MPs
Doctors For Refugees have written a very well-considered letter to Federal MPs, concerning the crisis on Manus. It captures the problem very well: Dear MP, Immediate action required to prevent humanitarian catastrophe on Manus Island As you know, a major humanitarian... read moreSpeech: Australian Friends of Palestine Association
Australian Friends of Palestine Association (AFOPA) is a not for profit incorporated association based in South Australia. It is run professionally by a voluntary Executive Committee and volunteers. It was established in 2004, by Paul Heywood-Smith QC and others.... read moreA Cry For Help
This touching, truthful message is from a refugee suffering on Manus. How can we be so miserable to a tiny group of people? Our politicians have persuaded us to forget the most basic thing: These people are human beings – they need our... read moreA Message From Adam Bandt
I don’t normally pass on messages from politicians, but this one from Adam Bandt is an exception: As we bear witness to the horror that is unfolding on Manus, we cannot be bystanders. If we are silent, we are complicit. If we turn away, we are complicit. We... read moreThe Latest from Manus
Here is a Facebook message from Behrouz Boochani, posted about 4 hours ago: The situation is getting worse in Manus prison camp. The bodies are getting weak and people are developing physical problems. The refugees collected some more water in rubbish bins from a big... read moreLatest News from Manus
The situation on Manus is a humanitarian disaster, entirely Australia’s fault. Here is a message from one of the refugees on Manus, received this afternoon: “EXTERMINATION OF REFUGEES IN MRPC IS UNDER WAY ACCORDING TO THE PLAN. People are starving and... read moreThe Day of the Crazy Bigot
There is a person who emails me quite lot. He represents the very worst of the Australian community. He started with these suggestions: banning all Muslims from Australia supporting Pauline Hanson and Donald Trump putting all Australian Muslims in Concentration... read moreThe Latest News from Manus
I have received the following report from Manus, just a couple of days ago. As you read it, remember this is YOUR government, spending YOUR taxes, doing things to innocent human beings that would horrify most Australians. The Australian Government is trying coerce... read moreD-Day on Manus
Here is a message I received this morning from a lady who is deeply concerned for the refugees held on Manus. I have modified it slightly. Please read it and ask yourself: is this really what Australia does to people fleeing persecution? People who have committed... read moreA Letter from Manus
Recently I received a letter from refugees held on Manus Island, Papua New Guinea. It is signed by nearly 200 refugees, who have been held in hellish conditions on Manus for the past four years. For obvious reasons, I have not reproduced the signatures. The letter... read moreQuestions for the Nation
On Sunday 15 October 2017, the Wheeler Centre put on a day of ideas at Melbourne Town Hall. The first session was called Questions for the Nation. Here’s my contribution: “Is democracy still working?” Donald Trump is President of the USA. Malcolm Turnbull is... read moreAnti-Islamic rants, continued
Earlier I wrote about a person who emails me with very odd views about Islam. Here are some of this person’s toxic ideas. He advocates: banning all Muslims from Australia supporting Pauline Hanson and Donald Trump putting all Australian Muslims in... read moreUNHCR: “Australia must end harmful practice of offshore processing”
Here is a statement made on 24 July in Geneva by Filipo Grandi. How many times do we have to be told we are behaving badly? Blame: Howard, Ruddock, Rudd, Gillard, Marles, Abbott, Morrison, Turnbull, Dutton… All of them dishonest. All of them have committed... read moreRefugees left homeless as Manus Camp demolished
Here is a press release from the Refugee Action Collective concerning the demolition of Charlie compound in the Manus Island detention centre. You will see from this that the Australian government, and its contractors, seem to regard the well-being of the refugees as... read moreParliament and Dual Citizenship
Two Greens Senators, Scott Ludlam and Larissa Waters, recently quit the Senate after discovering that they held dual citizenship: Ludlam is, apparently, a citizen of New Zealand, and Waters is, apparently, a citizen of Canada. You wouldn’t have guessed: both... read moreHuman Rights & Social Justice
- The National Pro Bono Resource Centre is an independent organisation that supports and promotes pro bono legal services in Australia.
- JusticeConnect: working to provide effective means for people and organisations in need to access justice
The Arts
Jewellery
- Kate Durham’s jewellery: a small sample
- Kate Durham exhibition of jewellery at fortyfive downstairs: Show ran from 17 Sept to 11 Oct
- A VIDEO showing some of Kate’s work and a few photos: here and here
Art, music and theatre
- what’s on at fortyfive downstairs (45 Flinders Lane Melbourne)
- Wolfgang Sievers photographs for sale
- Fine chamber music: Musica Viva Australia
- Look at this remarkable example of art in cut paper: truly amazing
Asylum Seekers
- Australian Human Rights Commission: Facts about asylum seekers and refugees
- Andrew and Renata Kaldor Centre at UNSW: debunking myths about refugees
- New website: Compassion Without Borders
- And find various refugee support groups across Australia here
- Doctors for Refugees
Videos
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