Impressive crowd at book launch
by Barbara Barnard On Sunday (26 February) we were privileged to attend the book launch of “Only Rape! Human Rights and Gender... Read More
Author Talk – Safdar Ahmed
An enthusiastic crowd gathered at Lawson Convent Hall on Sunday 4 December to hear Zac Quinn interview Safdar Ahmed author of the... Read More
Justice & Freedom for Refugees Rally at Lawson
About 80 people from BMRSG, Grandmothers for Refugees, Rural Australians for Refugees (RAR) and various Blue Mountains Churches came together at Lawson... Read More
Understanding the Strengthening the Character Test Bill
Trying to understand the Strengthening the Character Test Bill 2021, passed by the House of Representatives this week? Dr Sangeetha Pillai has... Read More
Sign to reunite Rohullah with his family hiding in Kabul.
PLEASE HELP URGENTLY AND SHARE. The Guardian ( Swan Hill) has launched this e-petition to help bring landscape gardener and SES volunteer... Read More
Poster Entries in Poster and Video Competition 2021
Despite COVID and lockdown and home schooling we received some fantastic entries in our second Poster and Video Competition. View the videos... Read More
Justice and compassion for refugees – Lawson Rally
By Makayla Muscat Blue Mountains’ residents gathered in Lawson on Palm Sunday to advocate for justice and a fair go for refugees.... Read More
Strengthening the Character Test Bill – What Can You Do?
In the next sitting of Parliament, the Coalition intends to bring on a vote on the Migration Amendment (Strengthening the Character Test) Bill 2019. The Bill has passed the House of Representatives and is now before the Senate.
While framed as a simple adjustment to the Migration Act 1958 (the Act), the Bill would in fact significantly expand the character-based powers of visa cancellation and refusal, making them dangerously and unworkably broad. If passed into law, the Bill would increase the number of people in immigration detention and facing removal from the country.
Both Labor and the Greens recommended the Bill be rejected, after a Senate Inquiry was warned of its dangers. The passage of the Bill now depends on the vote of unaligned Senators.
The Bill is bad law and should not be passed. It is deliberately unclear, concentrates power in the hands of the Minister and his delegates, and will harm families and communities.
Contact your Senator.
Tibetan Flag is flying outside of the BMCC Chamber
March 10th is a day of great significance for all Tibetans around the world. It is the day on which they gather to mark the anniversary of the Tibetan Uprising in 1959 when, after 10 years of Chinese occupation of Tibet, Tibetans rose up in opposition.
10th March 2020 is the 61st Anniversary of Tibetan National Uprising Day.
The Blue Mountains City Council has for some years hosted a Flag Raising Ceremony and the flying of the Tibetan Flag outside the Council Chambers in our Peace Park.
Until when: The forgotten men of Manus Island
This joint report by the Refugee Council of Australia in partnership with Amnesty International, tells the story of the men who have been sent by Australia to Manus Island, Papua New Guinea (PNG), and what has happened to them after they were forcibly removed from the ‘regional processing centre’ on Manus Island one year ago.
Executive summary
"The system the Australian government has designed for refugees and asylum seekers, has a kind of evil and devastating effect. It can ruin the very inner strength of human spirit. To the outsider, Fariborz [Karami] took his own life [on Nauru in June 2018], but the truth is the system took his life. There is no alternative explanation, and we must hold
the Australian government accountable for this action.