Monthly Archives: June 2010

World Refugee Week 2010

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World Refugee Week 2010 k theme was  Freedom from Fear.  The Refugee Council of Australia produced a series of resources for the Week including a poster, facts and figures about refugees, an event planning guide and teacher materials.
Fr Pan Jordan op and Sr Wendy Flannery rsm at World Refugee Rally , Brisbane June 20 2010

Fr Pan Jordan op and Sr Wendy Flannery rsm at World Refugee Rally , Brisbane June 20 2010

Among the more than 200 people who gathered in Reddacliff Square, Brisbane  on World Refugee Day, June 20, were representatives from parishes, religious communities and  the Brisbane Catholic  Justice and Peace Commission.

Fr Pan Jordan OP was one of the speakers and spoke of  the plight of Tamil refugees.Fr Jordan quoted the report from the International Crisis Group which has gathered evidence of the ongoing human rights abuses among Tamils. He also called on the Federal Government to lift the suspension of processing of refugee claims by people from Afghanistan and Sri Lanka.

In a recent statement the Brisbane Catholic Justice and Peace Commission noted that many significant international organisations and some major Sri Lankan bodies such as the Superiors of Major Religious Congregations have expressed serious concerns about the Sri Lankan Government’s lack of commitment to the rule of law, democracy, proper governance, human rights and freedom of the media.They also have doubts about the Sri Lankan Government’s commitment to political reconciliation which will see minorities such as the Tamils freed from discrimination and oppression.

Refugee Week 2010

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Refugee Week
ImageWorld 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