Next L4R Meeting - Wednesday 25 November @ 6pm

Our November meeting will take place by Zoom next Wednesday 25 November 2020 at 6pm.

Our Zoom link is https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81216870840?pwd=T2xQWTFsZjBVUVJNWERXajZxcXlndz09

The Minutes of our last meeting can be accessed at L4RNSWmin28Oct20
A reminder email with the Zoom link will be sent to you on the day of our meeting,

#TimeForAHome Campaign Update

 
The #TheTimeForAHome campaign calling on the Morrison Government to immediately release refugees from immigration detention and to commit to a pathway for their resettlement is gaining visibility and momentum.
 
Labor for Refugees NSW has signed up to support this campaign.
 
Since the broad coalition of individuals, organisations and grassroots groups held their launch one week ago, the campaign has received significant social media attention, been promoted in the news and Parliament house, and attracted hundreds of sign-ups from people wishing to add their voice to the campaign each day.

Here are some highlights from the week:

• 100 organisations and grassroots groups have now signed up to support the campaign. 

• A powerful VICE article interviewing the incredible Betelhem Tibebu. 

• Andrew Wilkie MP speaking about #TimeForAHome in Parliament, calling on the Government to end indefinite detention and for the community to get behind the campaign. 

• Over 75 people representing partner organisations and grassroots groups joined the campaign briefing and helped to map out possible moments for the #TimeForAHome campaign. 

• Recent polling conducted by Essential showed that the majority of Austraians agree that those found to be refugees should be released immediately. 
  The Asylum Seeker Resource Centre, which is co-ordinating this campaign, has asked people to support a Week of Action:
  
  From 3-12 December:  The ASRC will collectively drive local change, inform and empower communities and call on the Government to act. The Week of Action will aim to demonstrate the community’s commitment to #TimeForAHome and show solidarity with people in indefinite detention. 
   
  Will you organise an action? Your event can be anything from a letter writing session or phone-in campaign to your local MP, to a banner drop or creative action.
   
  Please save the dates and start planning your action. You can send your ideas through to ogy.s@asrc.org.au so that the ASRC can start compiling them as part of a calendar of events. 
   
  Looking for other ways to join the campaign?

• SIGN-UP: Already 100 organisations and grassroots groups who have signed up to support the campaign. Encourage others to sign up here.

• CONNECT: The ASRC has set up a dedicated WhatsApp channel, which is being used to power the campaign. You can join the channel by following this link.

• Petition:
  The ASRC is encouraging groups to mirror the #TimeForAHome petition. Organisations and groups can set up a mirror petition on their own website using these words: "We call on the Government to immediately release people seeking asylum and refugees from immigration detention facilities, and commit to their resettlement in a safe, permanent home by World Refugee Day, 20 June 2021."
   
  At the right time in the campaign thr ASRC will combine all received petition signatures and present them to politicians in Parliament House as a sign of unity and power. 

• Western Sahara - the COVID-9 situation A virtual event on the COVID-19 situation in Western Sahara will take place this evening, Wednesday November 18 at 6pm.  Apologies for this very short notice. Speakers: Tecber Ahmed (Head of African Union Department, Ministry of Public Health in the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic - SADR) Haissam Minkara (Country Director for Oxfam in Algeria) Lyn Allison (Former Australian Senator, President of the Australia Western Sahara Association - AWSA).

   

  Register your attendance

  You will have the chance to ask questions about how the emergency response of international NGOs is being rolled-out, the health promotion activities implemented in the camps and the impact of COVID-19 on the daily lives of Saharawi refugees. And you will hear how you can take action to assist the emergency response and stand with Saharawi refugees as they confront the pandemic.

Kind regards

Nizza Siano
Secretary L4R NSW
email:  contact@labor4refugees.com