On the 1st day of Christmas 'We give you the gift of peace'.On the 2nd day of Christmas 'We give you the gift of Joy'.
On the 3rd day of Christmas 'We give you the gift of love'.
On the 4th day of Christmas 'We give you the gift of hope'.
On the 5th day of Christmas 'We give you the gift of faith'.
On the 6th day of Christmas 'We give you the gift of good health'.
On the 7th day of Christmas 'We give you the gift of understanding'.
On the 8th day of Christmas 'We give you the gift of creativity'.
On the 9th day of Christmas 'We give you the gift of abundance'.
On the 10th day of Christmas 'We give you the gift of belief'.
On the 11th day of Christmas 'We give you the gift of laughter'.
On the 12th day of Christmas 'We give you the gift of music'.
On the 13th day of Christmas 'We give you the gift of the blue sky'.
On the 14th day of Christmas 'We give you the gift of the evening sky'.
On the 15th day of Christmas 'We give you the gift of the midday sun'.
ON the 16th day of Christmas 'We give you the gift of friendship'.
On the 17th day of Christmas 'We give you the gift of happiness'.
On the 18th day of Christmas 'We give you the gift of the gentle breeze'.
On the 19th day of Christmas 'We give you the gift of gladness'.
On the 20th day of Christmas 'We give you the gift of white clouds'.
On the 21st day of Christmas 'We give you the gift of song'.
On the 22nd day of Christmas 'We give you the gift of charity'.
On the 23rd day of Christmas 'We give you the gift of the moon at night'.
On the 24th day of Christmas 'We give you the gift of the stars at night'.
On the 25th day of Christmas 'We gather all these gifts and place them in your heart'.
"Lorraine Dunn-Byrnes".
By my calculation all these things add up to LIBERTY!
Refugee advocacy group Rural Australians for Refugees will deliver gifts to every detainee at South Australia's Baxter detention centre this Christmas.
Sister Claudette Cusack from the Port Augusta group says members from across Australia have prepared about 230 gifts for the detainees, regardless of their faith or age.
She says the gifts are mainly practical items like stationery, towels and art and craft materials.
Sister Claudette says careful consideration has also been given to ensure the gifts will be allowed into the detention centre.
"We're going to wrap them in clear cellophane so that the ACM [Australasian Correctional Management] people can see exactly what's in them so that they don't need to be opened hopefully, so that they can come as gifts," she said.
By HO HO HO 22 December 03
SAINT NICK: I have received many letters from asylum seekers this Christmas. Most have said they have been good, taking into account the situation they now find themselves in, 'detained'.
So to all the asylum seekers, fathers, mothers, and children being detained, may all your dreams come true in 2004.
So for all you scapegoats and patsies imprisoned for the Coalition of the Killing's resource war's in the Middle East, may all your dreams come true in 2004.
Vigil: Season's Greetings for David and Mamdouh
On behalf of the Canterbury-Bankstown Peace Group I invite you to participate in a Vigil with the Theme: Season's Greetings for David and Mamdouh.
And may anyone who really cares about these people Vote 1 the Greens 'without fear 'in the next Federal election in 2004 - so these people don't have to remain detained or sacrificed - for an alleged war on terror - (the Coalition of the Killing's resource war's in the Middle East) - that is without doubt also, THE WAR ON LIBERTY!
WE WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR.
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Kirby's insight is decent, last week Justice Kirby threw at the Federal Government's barrister, the Solicitor-General David Bennett QC, in a ground-breaking case heard in the High Court, testing for the first time Australia's Mandatory Immigration Detention Scheme.
Howard Govt: Absolute vacuum on Compassion, Reality and Justice
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New A-G Ruddock has no regard for the independence of courts
As immigration Minister Ruddock's respect fell short of human rights when he tried to stop appeals introducing the Pacific Solution which means if an illegal immigrant is picked up in Australian waters by our navey they are sent elsewhere for processing. If their application for asylum is rejected they can be deported without legal appeal in Australia.
Judge renews child detainee release call
A Family Court judge, for a second time, has appealed to Immigration Minister, Philip Ruddock to address the issue of children in detention.
Ruddock to challenge Family Court ruling
Ruddock said it is unfortunate the Full Court of the Family Court made the decision. He said a successful High Court challenge could see the children returned to detention.
Children in Baxter Detention Centre: Tell me a fable...
Opponents vow to fight yesterday's Family Court ruling against the release of five children from South Australia's Baxter detention centre has strengthened the resolve of groups fighting the Federal Government's policy of detaining child asylum seekers.
Where did you say you reside Mr Carr?
New South Wales Premier Bob Carr says a protest outside Immigration Minister Philip Ruddock's Sydney home should have been called off for moral reasons. Mr Carr says people who want to protest against the Federal Government's immigration policies should do it in Sydney's CBD, not outside Mr Ruddock's home.
Three protesters tricked outside Ruddock's house
Protest organisers have been critical of police actions at a pro-refugee rally near Immigration Minister Philip Ruddock's Sydney home.
Australia: Child detention, tell me a fable...
Democrat's leader Andrew Bartlett wants all children in immigration detention centres released, in the wake of the Family Court refusal to put a stay on one of its landmark rulings.
Amnesty calls for release of children from detention centres
Human rights group Amnesty International is pressuring the Federal Government to immediately release children from detention centres in the wake of the latest report on detainee children.
Child detainees 'living in a nightmare', report finds
A report being released today documents disturbing evidence about mental health for children in detention centres. The report is a joint work by the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, NSW University and NSW psychiatrists.
Demonstrators prepared for Baxter protest
Thousands of demonstrators will converged at Port Augusta in preparation for this weekend's expected protest at the Baxter detention centre.
