Sign Amnesty petition before parliament resumes on Tuesday/ rally reminder 15 October 12 noon

RAC is actively supporting the drive by Amnesty International (Australia) to get a maximum number of petition signatures, which they will personally hand to Chris Bowen when parliament resumes next Tuesday. The text of Amnesty's online petition is pasted below, and this is the link: http://www.amnesty.org.au/action/action/26848/. In addition, they are encouraging people who want to collect hard copy signatures in their local communities over the next couple of days. http://www.amnesty.org.au/refugees/comments/26838/

While Gillard and Bowen's changes to the Migration Act to get around the High Court's landmark decision is likely to be defeated due to opposition from both The Greens (principled) and the Coalition (opportunist), the more signatures Amnesty can present, the stronger message it can send to both the parliament and to the wider community.

A reminder about the Refugee Rights rally that will take place next Saturday 15th October, commencing at Sydney Town Hall at 12 noon. We have a very impressive list of speakers on the day. While RAC will have placards, we encourage you to bring your own, creative hand-made ones for the march. Angeline Loh, from the Malaysian Human Rights organisation Aliran, is in Sydney until the 15th October rally. Yesterday afternoon she addressed delegates at Unions NSW, and it is hoped that many unions possible will send a contingent to the rally, together with flags and banners.

Angeline is also speaking at a RAC forum on the topic of the 'Malaysia Solution' next Monday evening 10 October, 6pm at the Teachers' Federation. She is addressing forums at UNSW on Wednesday, Sydney University on Thursday, and CFMEU delegates on Friday. Visit http://refugeeaction.org.au/ or call Mark 0422078376 for more information.

Lastly, ChilOut! has initiated a fantastic information evening on 'Realistic Alternatives to Mandatory Detention'. It is at Sydney Town Hall next Thursday 13th, starting at 6.30pm sharp. 
http://www.chilout.org/?news&nid=30 It features John Menadue, former head of the Department of Immigration under Malcolm Fraser, when mandatory detention did not yet exist (John is another speaker at the rally on Saturday 15th. 

In 2012, the policy of Mandatory Detention is set to 'celebrate' its 21st birthday. Both ChilOut's forum next Thursday and the rally next Saturday can be part of us doing everything in our power to make sure such cruelty certainly doesn't make the age of 22.

Mark Goudkamp for Refugee Action Coalition

Parliament to vote on Migration Act changes   Our High Court has declared offshore processing illegal, and most Australians want asylum seekers processed on the mainland. Tell our politicians it's time for them to listen. Dear Mark, Next Tuesday is a pivotal moment in the refugee debate in Australia - when Parliament debates legislation that could open the way for offshore processing of asylum seekers. Polls show that the majority of Australians support onshore processing - yet politicians continue to posture over costly and inhumane offshore 'solutions' like Malaysia and Nauru. The highest court in the land has already upheld the rights of refugees in a landmark decision [1] - now it's time for our politicians to do the same. Tell the government that you don't want offshore processing, and the head of Amnesty International will hand-deliver your petition to Immigration Minister Chris Bowen next Tuesday. Eventually, our leaders will have no choice but to realise the tide is turning. The latest Nielsen poll reveals the majority of Australians - regardless of whether they vote Labor, Coalition or Greens - now support onshore processing [2]. Our politicians may be confused, but Amnesty International supporters know exactly where we stand. We want to ensure these amendments to allow offshore processing are voted down, and we want to see refugees processed humanely, cheaply and efficiently on the Australian mainland. Salil Shetty, Secretary General of Amnesty International, is meeting with the Immigration Minister Chris Bowen, where he will hand deliver this petition. Be there with him in the room: every last name counts. In hope for more humane treatment of refugees, Alex Pagliaro Refugee campaign co-ordinator Amnesty International Australia [1] High Court scuttles Malaysia swap deal, ABC News, 6 September 2011 [2] Voters say no to offshore process, The Age, 12 September 2011 Let's sink offshore processing You were sent this email because you subscribed to one of our campaign newsletters with the email address,markgoudkamp@gmail.com. If you would prefer not to receive this newsletter use this link to unsubscribe. For more information about all our campaigns please visit our website. If you find this newsletter useful please add us to your address book so that our emails go straight into your inbox. Please also forward this email on to your friends. If you have a query or comment, you can get in touch through ouronline contact form. © 2010 Amnesty International | Locked Bag 23, Broadway, NSW, 2007, Australia | 1300 300 920