Thursday, August 12, 2004

'Refugees and Indigenous People in John Howard's Australia'

With guest speakers

Senator Aden Ridgeway - (Democrats Senator for NSW)
Merlin Luck - (Big Brother Evictee and Refugee Activist )
Farshid Kerohallpour - (Iranian refugee )
Phil Glendenning - (Director of the Edmund Rice Centre )


Monday August 23rd - 7pm St Marys Memorial Hall Cnr Great Western Hwy and Mamre Rd, St Marys.

The Indigenous and refugee rights movements in Australia have different histories and current realities. But the root cause of the problems is the same - expedient racist policy which ignores human consequences. Come along and get the latest information on these important issues.

About the speakers

Politician - Senator Aden Ridgeway, the only Indigenous Federal parliamentarian, visits Villawood immigration detention centre and is a vocal critic of current refugee and Indigenous policy. Senator Ridgeway will discuss the proposed abolition of ATSIC as well as current refugee and Indigenous policy changes being fought for by the Australian Democrats. Advocate

- Phil Glendenning is the director of the Edmund Rice Centre for Justice and Community Education He is also the National President of Australians for Native Title and Reconciliation (ANTaR) and has extensive experience in both Indigenous and refugee advocacy. Refugee

- Farshid Kerohallpour is an Iranian refugee who was detained in Curtin detention centre. Farshid uses his experiences to speak out against human rights abuses in current refugee policy.

Activist - Merlin Luck is travelling around the country talking at public events to raise awareness of the plight of refugees and Indigenous peoples in Australia.. Merlin used his airtime on the Big Brother TV show to make a stand about refugee detention and Indigenous policy.

Details: Office of Senator Ridgeway 02 9818 8422

By Aden Ridgeway & Friends posted 12 August 04

Related:

"MESSAGE STICK" NEWSLETTER:
"Message Stick": the newsletter of Senator Aden Ridgeway, Australian Democrats Senator for NSW.

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Here is a new project
1. Do you believe it is right to imprison innocent children?
2. Do you believe it is right to imprison innocent women?
3. Do you believe it is right to imprison innocent people?