Editors: Margaret Hinchey Marie Butcher
margaret@lifequestoz.net mbutcher@mercy.org.au
CONTENT:
· Global Week of action for Trade Justice
· Children out of detention (CHILOUT)
· Human Rights re Indigenous Issues
· Watermark
GLOBAL WEEK OF ACTION FOR TRADE JUSTICE
Information about this can also be found on http://www.clrinsw.org/Files%20pointed%20to/2005/Program%20for%20Global%20Week%20of%20Action.doc (CONFERENCE OF LEADERS OF RELIGIOUS INSTITUTES IN NSW)
Events planned for the week:
1. Book launch of the publication Trade Justice, written by Sister Suzette Clark of the Australian Catholic Social Justice Council (a member of CLRI (NSW’s Social Justice Committee) and Dr Patricia Ranald of the Public Interest Advocacy Centre and convenor of AFTINET.
Where Pitt Street Uniting
Church, 264 Pitt Street, Sydney CBD
When 12pm – 1pm, Tuesday 12 April 2005
Speakers
• Bishop Patrick Power, Auxiliary Bishop of Canberra and Goulburn
Archdiocese and Deputy Chair of Australian Catholic Social Justice Council
• Sharan Burrow, National President of Australian Council
2. Public rally ‘Don’t trade away Sydney Water!’
Over 1.1 billion people in developing countries lack access to safe drinking water and many areas of Australia remain drought-stricken. Global water corporations see access to water as a source of profits and are lobbying governments to include water services in the WTO’s trade in services agreement (GATS). To include water in the GATS would treat water as a traded good. It would be a step towards privatisation of Sydney Water and would reduce the ability of governments around the world to regulate to ensure water services are affordable and environmentally sustainable
In May 2005, the Government will list the services it wants to include in the ‘second round’ of the GATS negotiations and negotiations will continue over the next 18 months.
Where: Sydney Water Head Office, 115 – 123 Bathurst St, Sydney CBD
When: 1:00pm – 2:00pm, Tuesday 12 April 2005
Speakers:
· Sharan Burrow, National President of Australian Council of Trade Unions and
President of International Confederation of Trade Unions
· Sally McManus, Branch Executive President of Australian Services Union
· Dr Patricia Ranald, Senior Policy Officer of Public Interest Advocacy Centre and
Convenor of AFTINET
· Robert McLean, President of Water Committee of Management, Australian Services
Union
3. Postcard campaign on the right to water and WTO trade in services (GATS) Congregations and schools were asked to contribute to CLRI's participation in the postcard campaign for the Global Week of Action for Trade Justice. Many contributions were received: CLRI contributed $1150.00 to the campaign and our name appears on the back of the postcard. The postcard can be filled in on line at http://www.aftinet.org.au/campaigns/online_postcard%20_2005.html
NEWS FROM CHILOUT www.chilout.org
1. April 14 – ChilOut Meeting: “So What are the Alternatives?”
Join us for an information night at the NSW Nurses Association, 43 Australia St, Camperdown on Thursday 14 April at 7.30 p.m. when we are hosting Sasha Baglay, a visiting PhD student from Canada, who will give a short presentation on the comparative forms of treatment of asylum seekers, and Margaret Piper, Executive Director of the Refugee Council of Australia. The format of the evening will be very much discussion-based so bring along all your questions and ideas.
We are sorry it is short notice but please make the effort to come and get better armed to deal with all those “But what do we do with them?” responses when you are discussing this issue..
Contact Dianne@chilout.org for more information.
2. April 8-9, “Through the Wire" Stage Performance / Fundraiser
Through the Wire is back, touring all over the country. For those who missed out last time, it is is a play about three ordinary Australians, four refugees and the extraordinary life-changing relationships that have developed between them.
Written by Ros Horin, former Artistic Director of Griffin Theatre Company, from interviews with the people who are characterised in the play, Through the Wire recounts gripping true tales of repression and exile, dangerous escapes, powerful friendships, resilience and survival inside Australian detention centres.
One of the refugee characters, Shahin Shafaei (seen recently on Denton’s Enough Rope) performs his own story, while the performance will be enhanced by live music played by the talented musician Jamal Rekabi (who played for ChilOut at Pitt St Mall on Human Rights Day), who is himself a Kurdish refugee. Outstanding production.
Venue - The Q Theatre, Penrith on 8 and 9 April (matinees and evenings). Riverside Theatre Parramatta 114-16 April.
For more information, contact Carol Dettmann of North Sydney Friends of Asylum Seekers
PO Box 603, Neutral Bay, NSW 2089 Australia
Ph/Fax (612) 9904 09623. April 10, RAC - End mandatory detention! Protest outside Villawood detention centre
Join RAC to demand that all asylum seekers be released from detention & condemn the treatment of children & families who were recently the victims of school raids by the immigration department.
10.30am meet at Villawood station for march to detention centre
11am meet at Warraweena Rd entrance for rally, kite & balloon flying
[Trains from Central Station leave at 9.25am & 9.55am, and go via Bankstown]
Speakers:
Penny Carosi (NSW Teachers Federation Multicultural Officer)
Anthea Vogl (Refugee Action Coalition)
Dr Michael Dudley (psychologist, chair of Suicide Prevention Australia)
& parents from schools where students were recently snatched by DIMIAEndorsed by RAC and the NSW Teachers Federation.
4. April 12 or 20, Refugee Week consultations
The Refugee Council of Australia invites you to attend either of two community consultations to discuss what could/should happen in Refugee Week 2005 and how we can make this happen. The consultations will be held on:
April 12, 2.30pm
Auburn Migrant Resource Centre 17 Macquarie Rd, Auburn (02) 9649 6955April 20, 10am
Anglicare Migrant Services 40 Cumberland St, Cabramatta (02) 9755 0233Please phone Lucy Greenacre at the Refugee Council on (02) 9660 5300 to RSVP or seek further details.
5 May 25, 31, Sydney Protecting Human Rights in Australia: Train the Trainer Program
The Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) launched its Protecting Human Rights in Australia community education kit in June 2004. The Kit is available online (see www.piac.asn.au). The Kit will soon be available in community languages (Arabic, Vietnamese and Chinese) to ensure a wider reach throughout Australia.
Further to the Kit, PIAC is currently delivering 'train the trainer' workshops around Australia. Successful workshops have already been conducted in South Australia, Western Australia and Victoria.
Now PIAC is offering two one-day human rights 'train the trainer' workshops in Sydney on 25 or 31 May 2005 at PSA House in the CBD. There may be one place remaining in the 25 May 2005 workshop.
The workshops are strictly limited to 20 participants, each of whom needs to demonstrate that they will train at least 20 others. A modest registration fee is payable.
Once trained by PIAC, community educators are connected to one another following the training via an electronic group where they are supported by one another and by PIAC with further resources and tips.
Contact: Jane Stratton (jstratton@piac.asn.au/ 02 9299 7833).
6. Furniture and books to give away?
The House of Welcome is a project of the NSW Ecumenical Council, helping refugees and asylum seekers settle into Australia. The House of Welcome helps people who:
• are on Temporary Protection Visas
• are are Asylum Seekers on Bridging Visa Es within a legal process
• are on Habeas Corpus Court OrdersAddress: House of Welcome, 140 Wattle Ave, Carramar. (opposite Carramar station)
Telephone: (02) 9727 9290 Email: thow@tpg.com.auPlease contact the Volunteer Coordinator by phone or email, if you can offer pro bono legal/dental/psych/medical assistance, gifts of clothes, books, furniture, etc., want to teach English, sport etc.
HUMAN RIGHTS: INDIGENOUS ISSUES
On Friday 8 April 3 emails arrived from HREOC
- Social Justice Commissioner puts government on notice
- Walking with women-addressing the needs of Indigenous women exiting prison
- New opportunity for native title to achieve sustainable goals.
These are issues presented in the Social Justice report 2004 and can be accessed through the following link.
http://www.humanrights.gov.au/social_justice/sjreport04/
WATERMARK Issue 7 April 2005
CONFERENCE OF LEADERS OF RELIGIOUS INSTITUTES IN NEW SOUTH WALES (http://www.clrinsw.org/)
This issue titled Sydney’s Water Running out. To find out more follow the link http://www.clrinsw.org/Files%20pointed%20to/2005/watermark%20final%207th%20april%202005%20.doc w to increase water supply 2
Water use
in NSW
