Wednesday 2 July 2014

It has to stop!

(Cartoon via Compassion without Borders)


I am haunted by the stories of children in asylum.... either en-route to Australia or in Australian-funded detention centres in Nauru or PNG. The Australia government did not cause this but it is DEFINITELY NOT making it better!! The government that was technically elected by me is adding continuous physical, mental and physiological stress to hundreds of thousands of people because of it's inhumane treatment of asylum seekers.

IT HAS TO STOP!

This story from Indonesia is the latest I read. As this article said

"Without the distraction of boat arrivals, this pain and suffering will begin to gain greater attention. It will trouble not only human rights activists and opposition politicians, but also the general public and some Coalition MPs – just as it did in the years after the post-Tampa crackdown."
"
And today there was news that the Australian Human Rights Commissioner confirmed the high rates of self harm by children in detention centres and the poor health and education provided.

This article and this article from March made me cry.

My Peppa and George are 4 and 2. I would not, in a thousands years want them to have to go through any of this, nor my neighbour, nor my worst enemy. No human should have to.

I understand the need to deter people. But to TORTURE people who are already in detention. Maybe not torture them with gas or electric shocks, but withholding medical needs, education and any hope to future ANYWHERE (not just in Australia) is a guilt that no Australia can shake off.

THIS HAS TO STOP! How?