Refugee Week 2010

Refugee Week

World Refugee Week runs from Sunday 20 June to Saturday 26 June.  This year’s theme is Freedom from Fear.  The Refugee Council of Australia has produced a series of resources for the Week including a poster, facts and figures about refugees, an event planning guide and teacher materials.  The resources are available atRefugee Council The Brisbane CJPC has also produced a resource for reflection and action: Welcoming the Stranger A broad coalition of community groups, including the Commission, have joined together to organise a rally and march to express opposition to the actions and policies of both the Government and Opposition in relation to refugees and asylum seekers.  This is an opportunity to publicly reject the lack of compassion and respect for the dignity of those seeking asylum in Australia.  The rally will be held on World Refugee Day, Sunday 20 June, at 1 p.m. in Brisbane Square (next to Treasury Casino), George Street, Brisbane.  For more information, contact Paul on 3392 3843 or e-mailrefugeeday2010@gmail.com Other World Refugee Week activities in Brisbane include: Candlelight Walk & Lantern Parade, celebrating the contribution of refugees and remembering those in refugee camps around the world, Friday 18 June, 5.30 p.m., Southbank Cultural Forecourt near Wheel of Brisbane, safe candles provided, concert to follow at Suncorp Piazza. World Refugee Week Film Festival, Sunday 20 June, 6 p.m., Yungaba, 120 Main Street, Kangaroo Point, presented by the Romero Centre, BEMAC and the Australian World Refugee Film Festival, $25 ($15 concessions), enquiries and bookings to 3846 3250 or admin@romerocentre.org.au World Refugee Week Festival, music, dance, art, workshops, sport and food, Annerley Soccer Club grounds, Ridge & Juliette Streets, Annerley, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Amnesty International is running an on-line petition directed at local MPs calling for an end to the Government’s freeze on the processing of Sri Lankan and Afghan asylum claims and for an end to ‘an ugly game of politics with utter disregard to the cost of human suffering.’ The message of the petition is: ‘this is not how we treat vulnerable people in Australia. And as your constituents, we will not stand for it.’ Personalised emails directed to the individual’s particular electorate can be sent via the following Amnesty webpage: Amnesty