Refugee Week Activities
MELBOURNE CBD to come alive on WORLD REFUGEE DAY
with CREATIVE POP UP ACTIONS
“The traditional WORLD REFUGEE DAY on Sunday 21/06/2015 will be remembered in a different way this year by the people of Melbourne, “ says Sister Brigid Arthur of the Brigidine Asylum Seeker Project. “The message of the day is STOP the CRUELTY- We can do better – it will be carried through song, theatre and artistic expression by community groups and individuals through Melbourne streets.”
Hundreds of Grandmothers singing on trams trains and buses will make their way into the city. Yarn-bombing and knitting enthusiasts will decorate the streets with messages of hope. Hearts will be planted in boxes all over the city. Peter Drewe, street artist will be at work. Flowers and memorials will pop-up in gentle spaces. Students, choirs and street theatre, spoken word artists and installations and even a funeral procession carrying a coffin for our precious human rights will pop-up throughout the CBD this Sunday 21st June, from 12noon.
The day will kick off with a screening off the new film Stormy Waters on the Big Screen at Federation Square at 10am.
At 2pm the artists, activists and the public will gather in the City Square, Corner Collins and Swanston Streets, for the Grand Finale with special guest stars.
· Mark Seymour with songs from his new album
· Rod Quantock armed with his shiny new Order of Australia will amuse and stir
· Mohammad Ali Baqiri – formerly a child detainee on Nauru
· Pamela Curr – Asylum Seeker Resource Centre
· Corinne Grant will keep us all in order
South of the River, the West Papuan Black Orchid String Orchestra, Les Thomas, L-FRESH and other performers will join for a rousing finale to the day.
Many Australians are heartbroken by our cruelty to people in need and the politics of hate souring the nation. The Refugee Advocacy Network believes that we can welcome refugees and that we can treat asylum seekers with dignity. We want a return to our fast held belief in a Fair Go for all. This Refugee Day is a time to affirm our hope for a kinder and fairer Australia.
CONTACTS Marie Hapke 0409252673 and Pamela Curr 0417517075
Australian Churches Refugee Taskforce Activities
Only got a few minutes?
Watch: We encourage you to watch this video and share it with friends and families. This production was undertaken by the Churches of Christ.
http://www.acrt.com.au/the-
Pray: please have a look at this resource produced by the Catholic Social Justice Office in QLD:
www.acrt.com.au/wp-content/
Fast: find out more about the national day of prayer and fasting on Sunday 21st June
http://ncca.org.au
If you feel moved to get out and about, here are some options, helpfully collated by the Catholic Alliance for People Seeking Asylum
Melbourne: Festival of Hope: https://www.facebook.com/