 |
 |
 |
|
Just Peace / QLD
Peace Network Feb 2009 e-Bulletin
|
|
 |
|
Dear Friends,
Welcome to the February 2009 issue of the Just Peace e-Bulletin ... and to what is shaping up to be another very busy year of peace-building.
2009: Protecting our Rights and Exercising our Responsibilities
It is welcome news that the Federal-Government has initiated a National Human Rights Consultation process, which represents the hope that our nation may be heading in a new direction on this issue.
Draconian anti-terror laws implemented by the Howard Government in the aftermath of 911 are still in place, even though there were/are adequate laws existing to deal with this variant of criminal activity. Other laws have been enacted in recent years which compromise our human rights - such as the quarantining of welfare payments under the Northern Territory Intervention and union laws that can jail building workers for refusing to answer questions under the ABCC.
Also, there are few measures in place to protect the rights of people who are likely to be negatively affected by the economic recession – through housing foreclosures, rental insecurity and job losses – or to protect the rights of people in relation to global warming/climate change.
The calls for a legal structure to protect human rights, to be enshrined in our Parliament, have been increasing in volume and number, with groups such as the state Councils for Civil Liberties, Just Rights, Amnesty International and others campaigning on the issue.
Just Peace has consistently supported these efforts.
To assist us in understanding the choices presented by the Federal-Government’s National Human Rights Consultation process, Jeff Brunne, Convener of Just Rights Queensland will address the February Just Peace meeting. More details are given below.
Gaza – when will it end?
Over Christmas-New Year, the world community watched helplessly as the tragedy in Gaza unfolded on their TV screens. Even more ‘tragic’ was the revelation that our political leaders were unwilling, or unable, to challenge the official state justification for the inevitable mass carnage that ensued.
More and more people are now realising that it is up to us to convince our leaders that the historical approach to the Palestinian problem has been a spectacular failure. A totally new approach must be taken – one that includes all sides to the conflict, and in particular, world opinion.
This edition of the Just Peace e-Bulletin includes details of a number of local and international events and activities related to the Gaza issue that you may wish to participate in. Details are given below.
Apology anniversary
… And, believe it not, it’s been one year since the historic Apology by the Prime Minister to the Aboriginal Community for the Stolen Generations! We include below a list of events planned for the anniversary on 13 February.
Yours in peace,
Annette Brownlie and Stephanie Campion
e-Bulletin enquiries:
Stephanie Campion, e-Bulletin
Editor, Just Peace Queensland stephanie@ansteadhouse.com
All other enquiries:
Annette Brownlie, Convenor, Just Peace
Queensland
annettebrownlie@optusnet.com.au
Note: Although
we do our best to ensure that all dates and times
provided for the events listed in the Just
Peace e-Bulletin are accurate, it is always advisable
to contact the event’s organisers to confirm
details before attending.
|
| Just
Peace - February meeting |
Speaker:
Jeff Brunne,
Convenor, Just Rights Queensland
Synopsis: The
2020 Summit held last year called for Australia
to have a Bill of Rights. This was a welcome
and timely call given that we are the only
democracy that does not have a bill or act
to promote and protect our human rights.
The Federal Government responded by initiating
a national consultation process on 10 December
2008, which is running until the end of July
2009, to ask us whether we should have an
act and what rights should be included.
This represents an historic opportunity to
get things right and to ensure all Australians
and Queenslanders have a fair go.
Source: Cartoon by Nicholson from "The Australian" newspaper: www.nicholsoncartoons.com.au
| Date: |
Tuesday,
10 February |
|
Time: |
7-9pm |
| Where: |
Level 2, TLC Building,
16 Peel Street, South Brisane |
For more
information, contact: Annette
Brownlie 3324-8459
annettebrownlie@optusnet.com.au
The Fair Go campaign supports the
national human rights campaign of the Australian
Human Rights Group.
|
|
Back to Top - visit
Just Peace Website - Subscribe - Tell-a-Friend
|
Jeff
Halper tour goes ahead |
We
now have confirmation that the previously
postponed speaking tour of Australia by Professor
Jeff Halper is to proceed as planned.
Jeff Halper is an American-raised
Israeli Professor of Anthropology and Coordinator
of the Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions
(ICAHD), a non-violent Israeli peace and human
rights organisation that resists the Israeli
Occupation on the ground. He is also a Nobel
Peace Prize nominee (2006).
|
Source: Hopes and Fears
|
Professor Halper was due to visit Australia in September last year, but the tour was postponed due to his participation in the ‘Break the Siege’ campaign in Gaza at that time.
The estimated dates for the Brisbane leg of the tour are Sunday-Wednesday,15-18 March. Full details will be confirmed in future Just Peace Breaking News bulletins. However, at this stage, we can confirm that the following speaking engagement has been finalised:
Topic:
'A Rights-Based Approach to the Israel-Palestine
Conflict: The Best Prospect for Peace'
Hosted by: Evan Moorehead
MP, State Member for Waterford.
| Date: |
Monday 16 March |
|
Time: |
6pm – 8pm |
| Where: |
Undumbi Room, Level 5,
Queensland Parliament House
(entry via Parliamentary Annexe) |
RSVP: Waterford@parliament.qld.gov.au or 3200 3477. Click
here for flyer.
Organised
by Just Peace Queensland and Labor 4A Just
Palestine. For further information,
contact: Annette
0431 597 256 or David 0413 874 008
Click here
to find out more about ‘Break the Siege’
campaign.
Click here
to read Professor Halper’s blog
at Tikkun, a Jewish-based Interfaith
on-line magazine.
|
Back to Top - visit
Just Peace Website - Subscribe - Tell-a-Friend |
| Gaza
events, appeals, campaigns |
1.
Art Exhibition – ‘Horror in Palestine’
This open art exhibition,
on the suffering of the people of Gaza, has been
showing in Brisbane over recent weeks. However,
it has now been extended by one week to Sunday,
8 February.
The organisers
are still accepting the work of artists who want
to contribute. The work can be in any medium –
painting, drawing, caricature, poetry, sculpture,
installation or multimedia. |
Source: Emperor's Clothes Gallery |
| Date: |
Saturday-Sunday, 7-8 February |
|
Time: |
11am – 3pm |
| Where: |
Emperor’s Clothes,
EC Studio Gallery, 2 Brereton Street, South
Brisbane |
To inquire,
or to enter your work, phone: Hermann
33427527.
2. Brisbane Inter-faith Memorial Service for
Peace in Gaza
People of all faiths and
humanist traditions will come together on Sunday
15 February to offer prayers, reflections and
meditations for the people of Gaza. The event
is being organized by the Inter-faith Community
for Peace and Justice in Gaza.
‘Please join
us in our expression of grief at this human
tragedy. We will be coming together to pray
for the dead, the bereaved, the sick, and the
injured. We will be reflecting on the missed
opportunities for Peace and Justice for all
the peoples of Palestine.
We will be focused on the need for fundamental
human rights - the right to life, self-determination,
human dignity and freedom from fear... Become
an Ambassador for Peace by discussing with your
friends, family and colleagues in your clubs,
organizations and neighbourhood, how we can
all avoid future atrocities and how the principle
of peaceful solutions to conflict can be implemented
to avoid future tragedies.’ - Inter-faith Community
for Peace and Justice in Gaza
| Date: |
Sunday 15 February |
|
Time: |
6.00 – 7.00pm (Final
Dedication: 7pm) |
| Where: |
Reddacliffe Place, top of
Queen St Mall, Brisbane (next to Treasury
Casino) |
For further information,
contact any of the following:
Don Wilson:
0400 114 434; donald.wilson2@bigpond.com
Sean O'Reilly:
sean.oreilly@optusnet.com.au
Jeff Brunne: 0410
551 354, campaign@justrightsqld.org.au
Note
also:
Pax
Christi International has also called for an
end to the violence and has an extensive list
of statements, letters of solidarity and action
by Pax Christi around the world. These may help
you to find ways to take action to advocate
for peace in Gaza. Click here
The World Council of Churches also has a list
of actions taken by Christian Churches around
the world. Click here
3. A Valentine
for Gaza
In response to
the refusal by the BBC and other British TV
networks to broadcast an appeal to help the
people of Gaza, British MP George Galloway and
the organisation Viva Palestine have called
for a worldwide aid convoy to travel to Gaza,
beginning Valentine’s Day, 14 February.
As of 1 February, 32 vehicles have been signed
on, including one fire engine, six ambulances
and one Boat, with more expected to sign on
in the coming weeks. According to a Viva Palestine
spokesperson:
‘The response has been overwhelming.
The Moroccan community in West London are taking
6 vehicles, Birmingham is bringing 8 trucks.
An individual from Maidenhead has used his savings
to buy a minibus for disabled children to give
to the people of Gaza. Your response has been
truly humbling.’
Closer to home ... the organisations, Australians
for Palestine and Women for Palestine, are sponsoring
Kamahl Mashni who has volunteered to help. They
have been advised that he will be driving the
British fire truck leading the convoy.
If you would like to donate to the aid
convoy, click here
for details and flyer.
4. Avaaz campaign
– Help Obama help Gaza
Avaaz.org, an
independent, not-for-profit global campaigning
organisation, is raising funds to assist a small
number of experts and former journalists to
engage top US media decision-makers on this
issue - providing facts, information and opportunities
to hear sensible voices for peace from both
Palestinians and Israelis.
‘Barack Obama brings new hope for
peace in the Middle East. But no US president
can become a fair mediator while the US media
remains strongly biased on this conflict …
Only 4% of related US media stories even mention
that Palestinians are under military occupation,
and less than 25% of Americans say they can
sympathize with both sides. Given domestic pressure,
even Obama will find it difficult to be fair.’
– Avaaz.org
A donation campaign is being run at the
Avaaz.org website. If you would like to donate
and/or sign the petition on Gaza, click here.
Click here
to view an award-winning video made by Avaaz,
which is being used to encourage a more balanced
understanding of the Middle East.
5. QUT students
to organise Palestinian Solidarity Week
Students involved with
Justice for Palestine and the Queensland University
of Technology Student Guild are organising a
Palestinian Solidarity Week at QUT Kelvin Grove
(and possibly other Universities and campuses)
for the week starting Monday 30 March, the date
of Palestinian
Land Day
Some activities proposed are: daily stalls,
a speak-out on campus and other activities to
be suggested/confirmed. The culmination of the
week will a co-ordinated off-campus action in
combination with Justice For Palestine.
An organising meeting will be held on Friday
6 February, 10am
at QUT Gardens Point inside
the student centre, level 2 (near the gym and
bar, building next to the refectory).
All those interested in attending or with
any ideas for activities, contact: Jessica
on 0430375326 or jessicapayne86@hotmail.com
|
Back to Top - visit
Just Peace Website - Subscribe - Tell-a-Friend
|
| Sorry
Day Anniversary |
Friday 13 February
will be the first anniversary of the Federal Parliament’s
historic apology to members of the Stolen Generations.
A number of anniversary events have been planned.
1. Apology Day Breakfast
Reconciliation Australia has
suggested that individuals and organisations hold
an Apology Day Breakfast on the day and have produced
the following resources to |
Source: The Caralom Files |
be used for the event,
to remember the Apology and to reflect on what still
needs to be done:
- Ideas
on what you can do as an organisation or individual
to build on the apology and help close the gap between
Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians
- A 30-minute documentary film about the apology
- A poster featuring the wording of the national
apology by the Prime Minister
- A fact sheet answering common questions about
the Stolen Generations and the apology
- A collection of quotes about the impact of the
apology from members of the Stolen Generations and
other Australians
- An online database for you to register your breakfast.
To register your Apology Anniversary Breakfast
and request resources, click here.
Further resources are also available from the
National Sorry
Day Committee
2. Musgrave Park
Celebration
The Musgrave Park
Cultural Centre and the Queensland Parliament will
hold a celebration at Jagera Arts Hall, Musgrave
Park, 121 Cordelia Street, South Brisbane, from
10am.
There will be guest speakers, entertainment and
food. Please RSVP to the Musgrave Park Cultural
Centre, 3846 5700, mpcc@iinet.net.au
3. Twilight Walk
Reconciliation Queensland
Inc will hold a twilight walk, Boundary to Boundary
for the Stolen Generations, from Boundary Street,
Spring Hill to Boundary Street, West End, from 5.00
p.m. to 6.30 p.m.
For details, click here.
4. National Sorry
Day Consultative Tour
The National Sorry
Day Committee will hold the Queensland launch of
its National Sorry Day Consultative Tour at Kuril
Dhagun and the Maiwar Green, State Library of Queensland,
South Brisbane, from 7.00 p.m.
Jimmy Little
and others will perform and there will be a sausage
sizzle.
For more details, click here.
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
