31 May update

by | Jun 4, 2016 | Latest news, Monthly Update | 0 comments

Dear Friends,

From now until the Federal election is a critical time to voice our opposition to the major parties’ asylum seeker policies.  We need to let candidates know this issue will be central to deciding our votes, and put forward clear and humane alternatives. We can also let those around us know why this is an important issue, what the real story is, and what the alternatives are.

Too many people believe their actions won’t make a difference, so people end up doing nothing. But as Howard Zinn, historian,  said “You can’t be neutral on a moving train” . Thank you all for doing something – visiting and writing to people in detention, coming to the vigil, talking to friends and colleagues, helping on our stall, talking to politicians and media,  standing up for what we all believe is right. Let’s keep working together – with the many people here in Darwin, and all over Australia – who believe that the debate and policies around asylum seekers in the media,  and from the major parties,  are unacceptable and unAustralian.

Read below for more information and how to take action – together we can create change and please keep expressing your opposition to the major parties’ asylum seeker policies.

TAKING ACTION 

How to have a conversation – Tools and Tips for talking about asylum seekers issues – training session June 6th, 7pm
Following next week’s DASSAN meeting we will be running a training session on talking to others about these issues – helpful perspectives, approaches, finding points of convergence to work from, and  having clear facts, not opinions, to refer to. Wondering about how to talk to your friends and colleagues? Not sure about the best ways to answer questions? Come along following the meeting – please rsvp to dassan2011@gmail.com

What else can you do?

Join us at our vigil – 
MONDAY 12pm Department of Immigration
FRIDAY 12pm Department of Immigration
SUNDAY 4pm Wickham Point Detention Centre
more information dassan2011@gmail.com

Help at our weekly stall
A place where people can get information and offer support – especially important in the next 5 weeks. It’s a fun way to spend a couple of hours on a Sunday morning – warm welcome guaranteed! contact Carmel at dassan2011@gmail.com

Email or phone your local Federal politicians and candidates and tell them what you think of their party’s policies, and tell them the alternatives.
Natasha Griggs (Member for Solomon) natasha.griggs.mp@aph.gov.au
Ph: 8981 3434
Warren Snowdon (Member for Lingiari ) warren.snowdon.mp@aph.gov.au   Ph: 8952 9696
Nigel Scullion (Senator – CLP) senator.scullion@aph.gov.au Ph 89483555
Malarndirri McCarthy (ALP Candidate for Senate)
Luke Gosling (ALP Candidate for Solomon) luke.gosling@australianlabor.com.au
0488 484 689
Todd WIlliams ( Greens Candidate for Soloman) solomon@nt.greens.org.au
0402-795-007
Contact local media 
Write a letter to the Editor  or text the NT News – 0428 686 397 , and call in to local radio.
Correct people when they get the facts wrong
•   When you see or hear incorrect statements like ‘they get free houses, TVs, more money than pensioners’ etc – correct them. Many people don’t know the truth. There is no need to call the writer racist or question their intelligence.
•   If you meet a politician (doorknocking or in public) tell them what you think about the major parties policies that demonise asylum seekers who come by boat.
•   Talk to your family, friends and workmates and share these facts widely. Share your own experiences of interacting with refugees and asylum seekers. Keep yourself well informed to put the case more clearly and effectively.
•   Get involved with DASSAN, or donate.


Fight back with facts

Some quick points you can use to respond to common statements. You can find more here.
Myth: “They are illegal.”
Fact: It is not illegal to enter a country and request asylum Australia has signed the United Nations’ (UN) Refugee Convention and must provide protection to people fleeing persecution, regardless of whether they arrive by air or sea.
Myth: “They are queue jumpers.”
Fact: There is no queue or processing system accessible to asylum seekers coming from a number of countries, including Iraq and Afghanistan.
Myth: “They aren’t real refugees or they’d stay in the first country they get to.”
Fact: Few countries in our region have signed the refugee convention. Malaysia and Indonesia are not signatories. This means asylum seekers’ rights are not protected in these countries.
Myth: “Other countries should take them”
Fact: Many other countries accept many more asylum seekers than Australia.
In 2009, 20 industrialised countries took more asylum seekers per capita than Australia, including the US, UK, Belgium and Turkey.
Myth: “They get more than Australians.”
Fact: They get less. Asylum Seekers living in the community receive a benefit equal to 89% of Newstart Allowance.  People on Bridging Visas are not allowed to work, even though many are highly skilled, able and willing to contribute (rather than receiving Centrelink benefits). Most of the very high asylum seekers ‘bill’ is the cost of running expensive detention centres. For around 10% of this cost, asylum seekers could be processed while living in the community.
It is not illegal to seek asylum.
#CloseTheCamps#BringThemHere.
DASSAN welcomes all people who support asylum seekers to join with us – there are many ways you can take action and get involved.  See below and our website for more, as well as links to latest news. You can also visit our Facebook page,  follow us on twitter @dassan12, or contact us at dassan2011@gmail.com

Until we are all free, none of us are free

The DASSAN Team

Events Coming Up

NEXT DASSAN MEETING 

Monday 6th June
Nightcliff Uniting Church, Cummins St, Rapid Creek  at 6pm 
Come along to our next meeting for an update on latest events DASSAN meets on the first Monday of every month ( unless there is a public holiday ) with guest speakers, information updates and sharing and campaign planning. This is also the place to find out latest news, share information and help plan DASSAN activities, such as our visitor and support program, and our advocacy work. All welcome!  Contact us for  more information

HOW TO HAVE A CONVERSATION
Tools and Tips for talking about asylum seekers issues
June 6th, 7pm, Nightcliff Uniting Church
Following next week’s DASSAN meeting we will be running a training session on talking to others about these issues – helpful perspectives, approaches, finding points of convergence to work from, and  having clear facts, not opinions, to refer to. Wondering about how to talk to your friends and colleagues? Not sure about the best ways to answer questions? Come along following the meeting – please rsvp to dassan2011@gmail.com

DEPARTMENT OF IMMIGRATION VIGIL
Monday 12pm
Friday 12pm
Please join us this Friday, and every Friday, to stand up for justice, and in solidarity with our friends behind the Fences, Department of Immigration, 40 Cavenagh St, Darwin, every Friday 12 – 1 pm

DANCE FOR DASSAN FUNDRAISER
Saturday 4th June, Youth Shak Centre
YOU CAN HELP raise funds to support the vital work of DASSAN. Enjoy a Dance Showcase with performances from some of Darwin’s finest dance groups. Stay on for the Dance Marathon and get sponsored for each hour you dance. Help us raise the money needed to fund the Advocacy Coordinators role, supporting people living in detention and seeking asylum, the most vunerable people in our community.
More information on the facebook event page click here!

CHASING ASYLUM
June 7th, Deckchair Cinema Darwin
Don’t miss this amazing film by Academy Award-winning Australian director Eva Orner. It is a moving and confronting documentary that explores asylum seekers in-depth. The film features never-before-seen footage of off-shore detention centres on Nauru and Manus Island, revealing the conditions asylum seekers are living in
The film will be followed by a Q and A with the Director,.
Book tickets and view the trailer here

CHASING ASYLUM Panel at Roma Bar,
June 7, 2016 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm
Before our Darwin premiere of anticipated documentary Chasing Asylum by Academy Award winning director Eva Orner, join us at Roma Bar for a discussion on the plight of asylum seekers and refugees in Australia.
. Antipasto and drinks provided

HUMAN RIGHTS FILM FESTIVAL – JUNE 6 – 8th
The HRFF is looking for volunteers. If you do two 2hr shifts at the cinema you earn a free double pass to another film!  More information :  info@hraff.org.au

WICKHAM POINT VIGIL
Sunday 4.30pm
Please join us this Sunday, and every Sunday to stand up for justice, and in solidarity with our friends behind the Fences,   Wickham Point, every Sunday between 4.30- 6pm  Please contact us for more information

Can You Help?

MARKET STALL  help needed!   The stall is the DASSAN shop front where people can come and ask questions and get the truth rather than misinformation.  It’s where lots do come to offer support and where others come with an opposing view that we can at least engage with.  It’s where public opinion can begin to change. We work in 3 shifts, between 730am and 2pm.  Support and a friendly welcome offered to all. Please contact Carmel at dassan2011@gmail.com

A PLACE TO CALL HOME – a simple way to support asylum seekers living in our community  Asylum seekers on bridging visas receive the equivalent of 89% of Centrelink entitlements. Many are not permitted to work. Most arrive in the community with very little and need to set up a household from scratch. You can help them to feel at home as they begin their new lives in Darwin.  Join the ‘A Place to Call Home – Darwin’ Facebook page

KNOW OR HEARD ABOUT SOMETHING IN DETENTION OTHERS SHOULD BE AWARE OF?  If you work or are locked up in a detention centre, or have heard about something occurring inside detention that the media or Australian public may be interested in please contact DASSAN.  DASSAN has experience working with a number of people who work inside, visit or are detained inside detention centres and your correspondence with DASSAN will remain confidential. DASSAN does not release the names of asylum seekers or its sources to the media and has good contacts with sympathetic journalists where a matter is particularly sensitive