Photographer : matilde beldroega |
Hey there, My name is Hannah. I am writing to tell you about a recent action I have been involved in. My action regards ‘Refugee rights in Australia’.
So why did I choose to act on this issue?
The refugee situation in Australia is seriously scary.... I am living in a country where human rights abuses are occurring on a daily basis. Refugees are being detained INDEFINATELY in detention centres without access to basic stuff like healthcare and legal support. Many refugees who live in the community are also forced to survive with little support or legal rights.
I am opposed to detention centres and I am against so called “border protection” policies that claim to be keeping Australia safe from individuals with “un-Australian” values. Since 9/11 Australia has become more and more hostile towards refugees and asylum seekers. I believe that knowledge is power and I also believe that many Australian’s have no idea that this is happening in their backyards. The purpose of my action was not only to educate myself but also educate others. So what did I do?????????????
*I found out more about what various organisations were doing in regards to this issue – STARTTS, ALIVE, and The Refugee Council were major starting points!
*I volunteered my time to help with a Refugee Art exhibition
*contacted local groups – RAC Refugee Action Coalition
* Attended a forum - The Young People’s Forum about Refugee’s
* Talked to other’s “in the know”
* Told people about what I was doing
* Attended a night run by the RED CROSS. This was a information night, which ran in Refugee Week.
* Posted my own story about Villawood detention centre on the ActNow website to help educate Actnow peeps.
* Wrote an article about the Migration Bill that recently trIed to get passed – but failed!!! yay.
* Attended the Refugee Art Exhibition and went on a marketing rampage to get as many people as I could to attend the event. This meant heaps of emails, phone calls, more emails and more phone calls!!!!!
*Met with the lovely people from the Refugee Council and organised an organisation page for them.
Barriers to taking action????
Confidence: I didn’t always feel like I could make a difference, there were definitely times when I felt too overwhelmed to continue acting.
No- Show’s: I had a few meetings that failed to exist. This left me feeling rejected and de-motivated to the max.
Apathy: Some days I just forgot what I was fighting for because I had become so involved in the administration side of taking action.
Time: This one is a silent killer to any action.
Motivation: When no one else cared I wondered what the point was.
Disillusion: As I learnt more I became more frustrated, especially with the current Government, NOT HAPPY JOHNNY.
The barriers were the worst bit but they were also the best bit. Being a member of actnow helped keep me accountable to my action and helped me move beyond my comfort zone.
I am now committed to make more change. I want all detention centres banned and I want some serious change in Government policy. I can’t do it alone .....so if anyone feels like me ....start acting! (now)
