Friday, February 01, 2002

Are you politically active?

This just appeared in my inbox care of some work friends - it may interest some of you:


>From: "Refugee Action Committee"
>Subject: Rally Parliament 12 Feb
>Date: Wed, 30 Jan 2002 15:45:16 +1100
>
>
>Hi everyone
>
>For those who couldn't make it, last night's public meeting on "What is happening to refugees in detention" was extraordinary: 400 plus people packed in to the Labor Club (including at least 200 sitting on the floor and standing around the sides and back of the room); an incredibly moving and informative speech by psychiatric researcher Zachary Steel which made us all upset and angry at what is going on. We raised nearly $2000 for the campaign, which is magnificent. There is an extraordinary response in the community to the government's brutality and the opposition's silence. Thousands of people are offering to take asylum seekers into their homes.

Last night there was also a determination to create a huge protest when Parliament resumes on Tuesday February 12th. People are coming from all over Australia to tell the politicians to FREE THE REFUGEES; buses are being booked etc, so it has the potential to really challenge the government if it is big enough. Are we up to the challenge?

There will be a Freedom Embassy all day from 8am; and a mass rally 12.30 to 1.30. Speakers at the rally include ACTU President Sharan Burrow; Carmen Lawrence; Sen Bob Brown; Margaret Reynolds (President, United Nations Association); Andrew Bartlett (Democrats); Tanya Plibersek (MP and Labor4refugees); Rural Australians for Refugees; plus refugees, activists, church and community leaders. Greg Barns, the sacked Liberal candidate has also been invited. It is going to be sensational.

We all need to work hard to build that rally. We need workers to organise long lunch-hours and get their colleagues and workmates along as well.

Most of all we need to get the word out. We need you to email your networks. We need people to put up posters, to help leaflet the major shopping centres and the ten senior colleges in the next fortnight. We also need people to volunteer to help organise these things; to set the publicity/petitioning stalls up, etc.

We will also need a lot of volunteers on the day, from before 8am.

And we need people to help billet people coming from outside Canberra. If you can help, please email Virginia Perkins at perkins_virginia@hotmail.com or ring her at home on 6248 0366.

If you can help with any of this, please contact us urgently.

All the best

Phil Griffiths
Refugee Action Committee (Canberra)
tel 0415 752 012
LPO Box A287 ANU ACT 2601
www.refugeeaction.org

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Posted by Dean @ 2/01/2002 05:12:00 pm

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