[Commpsych] FW: AJA's Human Rights Day 2009 Newsletter

Mon Dec 14 10:19:28 WST 2009

This is a great letter to add your signature to. 

Regards

Heather

From: A Just Australia [mailto:mail at ajustaustralia.com] 
Sent: Thursday, 10 December 2009 4:39 PM
Subject: AJA's Human Rights Day 2009 Newsletter 

If you experience difficulty viewing this message, you can view it
online here <http://www.enewslettersonline.com/14352/31666.html> . 

10/12/2009

A Just Australia
mail at ajustaustralia.com <mailto:mail at ajustaustralia.com> 

In This Issue

We need you! Sign AJA's Open Christmas Letter to PM Kevin Rudd
<https://mail.psychology.org.au/exchange/H.Gridley/Drafts/FW:%20AJA%27s%
20Human%20Rights%20Day%202009%20Newsletter.EML/1_text.htm#A1> 

AJA's 2009 Annual and Special General Meeting, Monday 14 December
(Sydney)
<https://mail.psychology.org.au/exchange/H.Gridley/Drafts/FW:%20AJA%27s%
20Human%20Rights%20Day%202009%20Newsletter.EML/1_text.htm#A2> 

Opposition calls for reintroduction of temporary protection visas
<https://mail.psychology.org.au/exchange/H.Gridley/Drafts/FW:%20AJA%27s%
20Human%20Rights%20Day%202009%20Newsletter.EML/1_text.htm#A3> 

New Opposition Leader and Shadow Immigration Minister
<https://mail.psychology.org.au/exchange/H.Gridley/Drafts/FW:%20AJA%27s%
20Human%20Rights%20Day%202009%20Newsletter.EML/1_text.htm#A4> 

Update on Christmas Island
<https://mail.psychology.org.au/exchange/H.Gridley/Drafts/FW:%20AJA%27s%
20Human%20Rights%20Day%202009%20Newsletter.EML/1_text.htm#A5> 

Other News and Reports
<https://mail.psychology.org.au/exchange/H.Gridley/Drafts/FW:%20AJA%27s%
20Human%20Rights%20Day%202009%20Newsletter.EML/1_text.htm#A6> 

We need you! Sign AJA's Open Christmas Letter to PM Kevin Rudd

On December 22, AJA will deliver a Christmas message to Prime Minister
Kevin Rudd, outlining some of our key concerns with Australia's asylum
policies and asking him to adopt an approach which fully reflects our
international human rights obligations and our values of fairness,
humanity and compassion.

This is an important time to speak up, given the tenor of public and
political debate on asylum seekers in recent months.  We want as many
people as possible to show their support for fair refugee policies by
'signing' the letter online before we send it to Mr Rudd.  

Click here to read the letter and, if you choose, to become a signatory
<http://www.ajustaustralia.com/openletter-2009-christmas.php> .

Please also forward this to your friends and family - what better time
to ask for their support than on Human Rights Day?  Signatories will be
collected until December 21.  A final copy of the letter, complete will
all signatories, will be available on our website and we'll forward any
response from Mr Rudd to all signatories.

Tell Ethicaljobs.com.au how much they should donate to AJA

Every two months, Ethicaljobs.com.au donates a total sum of $2000 to
four selected charities.  The proportion of the $2000 that goes to each
charity depends on how many people 'vote' for each charity.  A Just
Australia was chosen as one of the November/December charities - now
it's up to you!  Please help us by voting for AJA.  To do this, go to
www.ethicaljobs.com.au <http://www.ethicaljobs.com.au/>   (Note: They
require you to sign up for their weekly e-bulletin before you can vote)

AJA's 2009 Annual and Special General Meeting, Monday 14 December
(Sydney)

AJA will hold its 2009 Annual General Meeting, plus a Special General
Meeting, on Monday 14 December 2009 in Sydney. The Special General
Meeting has been convened to vote on a proposed Special Resolution that
will see the Refugee Council of Australia assume management of the A
Just Australia campaign and association.  To read the rationale behind
this proposal and for further details, click here
<http://www.ajustaustralia.com/informationandresources_newsandanalysis.p
hp?act=student_kits&id=31> .

AJA's voting members should already have received information about the
AGM and SGM, by post or email.  We thank all of our members who have so
promptly returned proxy forms for voting on the Special Resolution.  All
members, supporters and interested public are most welcome to attend the
AGM and SGM.  Please RSVP to mail at ajustaustralia.com
<mailto:mail at ajustaustralia.com>  or (02) 8090 8864.
Venue: Level 1, Trades Hall, 4-10 Goulbourn St, Sydney.  Time: 5.30 pm
onwards

Update on Christmas Island

Updated statistics on asylum seekers on Christmas Island

As at 9 December 2009, there were 1299 irregular maritime arrivals in
immigration detention on Christmas Island:
   - 1089 in the Christmas Island IDC
   - 155 in the Construction Camp
   - 47 in Phosphate Hill Compound B
   - 8 in community detention arrangements

Australian Human Rights Commission report criticizes government on use
of Christmas Island and offshore processing

In July this year, the Australian Human Rights Commission visited
Christmas Island in order to assess the extent to which the immigration
detention operations on Christmas Island comply with internationally
accepted human rights standards.  On 23 October, the Commission released
its findings in a report entitled Immigration detention and offshore
processing on Christmas Island.   The report details the 'fundamental
problems' inherent in the government's use of Christmas Island and
offshore processing, and provides recommendations on measures needed in
order to meet international human rights standards.  Click here to read
their report
<http://www.hreoc.gov.au/human_rights/immigration/idc2009_xmas_island.ht
ml%20> .

Other News and Reports

Report on Conditions of Detention of Asylum Seekers in Indonesia

A new empirical report released today describes poor conditions across
many Indonesian immigration detention facilities. The report, produced
by lawyer and refugee advocate Jessie Taylor, highlights cramped
conditions, grossly inadequate hygiene and sanitation, rodent
infestations, inadequate and inappropriate food, polluted water, and a
lack of medical care available to asylum seekers.  Click here to read
the report
<http://www.law.monash.edu.au/castancentre/news/behind-australian-doors-
report.pdf> .

'Australia's Expanding Borders'

Our border cooperation with regional neighbours has entered questionable
territory, writes Dr Savitri Taylor.
2 December 2009, Inside Story.  Click here to read this article
<http://inside.org.au/australias-expanding-borders/> .

Upcoming events nation-wide: please see AJA's Events page
<http://www.ajustaustralia.com/whatshappening_events.php> 

This newsletter is bought to you by A Just Australia Inc..
To contact us, email: mail at ajustaustralia.com.

This email, including any attachment, is intended solely for the use of the intended recipient. It is confidential and may contain personal information or be subject to legal professional privilege. If you are not the intended recipient any use, disclosure, reproduction or storage of it is unauthorised. If you have received this email in error, please advise the sender via return email and delete it from your system immediately. Victoria University does not warrant that this email is free from viruses or defects and accepts no liability for any damage caused by such viruses or defects.
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