Sometimes I wish I could personally tell the asylum seekers currently languishing in detention centres that we care about them. That we think about them. That we’re deeply ashamed of the way our government has treated them, and we want to see them safe and at peace.
Julian Burnside QC thinks we should do exactly that.
The barrister/advocate for refugees has started a letter-writing campaign asking compassionate Australians to write to people in the Nauru detention centre or on Manus Island. All you have to do is grab a pen, explain who you are, and send it to Julian – he’ll take care of passing the letter on to an asylum seeker.
It’s such a simple, beautiful idea.
I live my life every day knowing that vulnerable, terrified people have come to this country asking for help, and we’ve turned them away. Knowing that a government I did not vote for is acting on my behalf when it sends desperate people to dangerous places rather than allow them to settle here.
If you feel the same, pick up a pen. Write a letter. Diminish the loneliness of someone who deserves safety as much as you do.
Top Comments
I was just told by Australia Post that you can't buy international mail coupons anymore, and that there is no equivalent available. Can anyone contact Julian re an alternative? I have a letter ready to go.
Human response.......we are bound by international law to accept these illegal migrants, i wonder what would happen should a thousand illegal boats with Ozzie citizens arrive in a Middle Eastern , Arab, or Muslim country, would they be welcomed with open arms? Is it legal to strap bombs to your wife and children, to deny woman an education, to circumcise young girls ,to stone people to death, and to kill anyone who does not agree with your religious beliefs/
Your scenario is a fallacy. The reason why developed countries like Australia can accept with 'open arms' is because of our advanced DEMOCRACY, support of freedom and HUMAN RIGHTS. Of course undeveloped countries or any area that does not recognize humans right will not treat us 'well,' they don't even treat their own citizens well because they don't support the idea of a 'person,' that can make their 'own choices ' that anyone has a 'right' to 'anything.' Which is why those people who are suffering with no protection are fleeing to somewhere where their RIGHTS WILL BE RECOGNIZED. At least a lot better than their mother country.
There is no such thing as "illegal migrants or immigrants"
They are Asylum Seekers, these are people who are escaping prosecution because of their beliefs and/or lifestyles.
Once they have been granted Asylum, they are refugees.
These are people who are unable to walk to the shop and get milk without the fear of being shot.
Your ignorance on the matter and your prejudice is apparent in your comments. This isn't an argument of how other countries would/will deal with this "issue" but rather how badly Australia deals with it now.
"Illegal" means against the law. If someone arrives according to International law they must be legal.
There actually is such a thing as "illegal migrants" but the term does not apply to asylum seekers or refugees, it relates to visa fraud (e.g. arriving as a tourist or on a short stay visa then disappearing into the community or working etc). Asylum seekers have the legal right to seek asylum under the UN convention and under Australian law.