No Business in Abuse Campaign brings City of Sydney on side - the Council will refuse to do business with companies, institutions, and organisations which profit from abusive practices towards people seeking asylum

Cross-posted with Advocacy and Beside The Creek

Campaign for Councils to refrain from doing business 

with companies that abuse human rights

Companies Involved In Offshore Detention

 Frozen Out By City Of Sydney

(IMAGE: Jason James, Flickr)

By Max Chalmers on December 15, 2015 Featured

A growing campaign to stop institutions from doing business with companies that abuse human rights has claimed a major scalp. Max Chalmers reports.

Companies profiting from the offshore detention of asylum seekers could be prevented from doing business with the City of Sydney after the Council resolved to review its investment and procurement policy and bring them into line with the No Business in Abuse campaign.

In a meeting last night, the Council voted to adopt a pledge not to support companies, institutions, or organisations that profit from abusive practices towards people seeking asylum.

Moved by Greens Councillor Irene Doutney (pictured), the successful motion will not impact current contracts, but could cause headaches for companies working in the offshore detention industry when new tenders are released.

Of particular interest will be the implications for Wilson Security, subcontracted by detention centre operator Broadspectrum (formerly known as Transfield) to provide security services in offshore centres. Wilson also provides substantial carparking and security services in Australia and the company has had a number of contracts with the City of Sydney, including an estimated $2.4 million deal to manage the Kings Cross Car Parking Station which is due to be reviewed in 2017.

Doutney told New Matilda that most members of the Council – dominated by Clover Moore’s progressive independents – were appalled by the abuses occurring in detention, and that she expected the motion would make it difficult for the Council to renew contracts with companies like Wilson in the future.

“I just think it’s really important for institutions, particularly councils, to take a stand on these sorts of things,” Doutney said. “People will say ‘it’s not Council business’, but I think anything to do with human rights is Council business. It’s really important to take a stand and, being City of Sydney, maybe other councils will now look favourably on the pledge.”

Doutney said the motion would not have an immediate impact but would put pressure on the Council not to sign contracts with or invest in companies linked to detention in the future. She said the Council already avoids investments in fossil fuels, tobacco, and nuclear.

The City of Sydney’s move comes at the end of a year that has seen Broadspectrum in particular come under pressure for its role in offshore detention, with the No Business in Abuse campaign occurring in tangent to a divestment movement. In August, super fund HESTA announced it was divesting, withdrawing $18 million from the company formerly known as Transfield.

The No Business in Abuse campaign said Leichhardt Council and Yarra City Council had also signed on.

“The City of Sydney is one of Australia’s largest councils, and their decision last night provides unstoppable momentum to the NBIA campaign which has expanded to target the clients of Broadspectrum and Wilson, including councils, schools, hospitals and big resources companies,” Shen Narayanasamy, Executive Director of No Business in Abuse and Human Rights Campaign Director at Getup, said in a press release.

Narayanasamy said the Wilson Group currently had over $3 million worth of contracts with the City of Sydney. If the Council holds its resolve, that number is likely to head towards zero in the coming years.

The Wilson Group could not be reached for comment.

     Source from New Matilda: 

https://newmatilda.com/2015/12/15/companies-involved-in-offshore-detention-frozen-out-by-city-of-sydney/

Advocacy's letter writing campaign #1 - South Sudan

One of the historic precinct of the Eureka story in Ballarat is Bakery Hill.  In this precinct is an old Anglican Church - Saint Paul's.  The Christian community at Saint Paul's has recently established a social and environmental justice group, Advocacy @ St Paul's. 

One of the things that Advocacy has done is to produce a letter writing pack to raise awareness of the plight of people in the recently formed state of South Sudan in northern Africa.  Not only is the letter writing pack available at the Advocacy notice-board at Saint Paul's.  Advocacy has place the documents in the pack on-line so that anyone can download the pack and circulate it.  The pack is in a format which can be easily altered for other letter-writing campaigns.

Green Left Weekly Activist Calendar - Emergency edition - 2014-08-06 (Hiroshima Day - a day celebrated as a Peace Day)

	Green Left Weekly Activist Calendar Emergency edition, August 6, 2014

Rally: Stop Israeli aggression! Free Palestine!

Saturday, August 9, 1pm. Israel's brutal assault on Gaza has killed more than 1450 people so far, 85% of whom are civilians, including more than 350 children. Thousands more are maimed and injured. Gaza's infrastructure is wrecked. Even if the latest ceasefire holds, the longstanding Israeli siege and blockade will continue. The Palestinian people need our solidarity. State Library, 328 Swanston St, City. Organised by Coalition Against Israeli Apartheid

Public meeting: The campaign for a free Palestine

Wednesday, August 13, 2pm. Guest speakers: Samah Sabawi (a Palestinian-Australian writer, playwright, producer, political analyst and commentator on human rights) & Farrah Agha (student eyewitness just returned from West Bank). RUSU meeting room, Building 8, Level 3, Room 18, RMIT (entrance from Swanston St). Organised by  Resistance: Young Socialist Alliance & Green Left Weekly. For more info ph 0431 311 520.

Green Left Weekly Comedy Debate 2014

Can we survive the Abbottoir? Friday, August 15, doors open 6:30pm (for 8pm start) Brunswick Town Hall, cnr Sydney Rd & Dawson St MC: ROD QUANTOCK with the comedic talents of Carlo Sands, Corey White, Morven Smith, Rose Callaghan, Sean Bedlam (other TBA) Meal served from 6:30pm. Bar available. Tickets (does not include meal): $40 solidarity, $25 waged, $12 concession. Bookings essential. Book now at www.trybooking.com/FHBP or ph 9639 8622. A fundraiser for the progressive newspaper Green Left Weekly.

This is a special edition of the Green Left Weekly Activist Calendar, made necessary by Israel's assault on and siege of Gaza. Our next regular edition will be dated August 13..

From Maria Riedl to Julie Bishop: on forcing Colin Russell and Greenpeace to pay for consular efforts.

My friend Maria Riedl has written to Australia's Foreign Minister

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

3 January 2014

Dear Miss Bishop,

I heard on the tv and saw on the internet that you intend to force the Tasmanian Mr Colin Russell and Greenpeace to pay for his so called rescue. Disgusting on your part. What a small minded person you are continuing to be.

I ask that you resign immediately, because your actions so far as foreign Minister have been appalling and pathetically naive and totally inept. You have absolutely no idea do you, how and what you are required to do! You are penny pinching Ms Bishop! Unbelievable.

Mr Russell is an Australian and considering another government stood up against the illegal taking of a ship and its crew (see ICJ ruling) and YOU did nothing worthwhile at all. Pathetic Miss Bishop, pathetic and unacceptable.

I demand that you do the right thing for once and not carry on like the very stupid woman politician you are turning out to be.

Mr Russell has drawn the world's attention to a very nasty rush to destroy the Arctic environment.

Don't act in such a idiotic manner and pretend you have right and might on your side. Mr Russell is admirable and is worth many many more than you because he actually believes in something that has value and is not an idiotically fixed, narrow minded politician like yourself.

Act in the best interest of Mr Russell and if you don't you will most certainly show what kind of spineless and selfish person you are.

I am just so angry that you would even consider forcing Mr Russell and his family or even Greenpeace, to pay for a moral stance that is to the benefit of the global community and mankind. You certainly don't care about the environment nor about protecting it and neither does your party. Most evident. Shocking!

Regards

Maria Riedl


"Democracy is not a spectator sport"  

The Refugee Council of Australia - your support is needed

Join us in being a community voice for humane refugee policies Dear Friends and Supporters, When I was appointed CEO of the Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA) 7½ years ago, I never imagined that the situation for asylum seekers in Australia would be as dire as it is today. Last weeks decision of the Australian Government not to grant asylum to anybody for more than six months is deeply shocking. Australia has, in effect, suspended the commitments that it made when it acceded to the Refugee Convention nearly 60 years ago. It is impossible not to feel depressed when you observe the current situation. Australia is sending all asylum seekers who arrived by boat since July to Papua New Guinea and Nauru for long-term detention and a very uncertain future. No Bridging Visas have been renewed since September, leaving thousands of asylum seekers who are living in the community with no lawful status and in deep anxiety. Most asylum seekers have lost access to government-funded legal aid, meaning that many will have great difficulty articulating the reasons they need protection in a way which meets the provisions of the Migration Act. Thousands of asylum seekers remain in detention in Australia in fear and uncertainty. Well over 1000 asylum seekers, many from Sri Lanka, have been forcibly returned home with no opportunity at all to put their case for protection from persecution. It is hard to believe that conditions for asylum seekers have deteriorated to such an extent but it is also impossible to believe that current policies are sustainable – practically, economically or morally. Change must happen eventually but this will occur only if there are credible voices pushing tirelessly for change no matter how difficult the political environment is now We at the Refugee Council of Australia are committed to being a tireless, credible voice for humane policies for refugees. In the 32 years of our organisation's existence, we have never been busier. In the past four months, we have established four new working groups within our membership network to focus in detail on different aspects of asylum policy i.e. detention, offshore processing, legal aid and policies for asylum seekers in the community. We are working collectively to share what little information is available on asylum seeker policies and taking every opportunity to raise our concerns as clearly and constructively as possible, with Ministers, politicians, advisers, bureaucrats and anyone who will listen. But to remain a tireless, credible and independent voice on refugee policy, we need your help. The donations and membership fees we receive are our main source of income and are critical to us being able to continue our work. I know well that there are many worthwhile causes but I would ask to consider including the Refugee Council of Australia among the organisations you support. With your help, in 2014 we will continue to speak out against policies we oppose but also work as constructively as possible on aspects of refugee policy where there are the greatest opportunities for government-NGO cooperation. In the past fortnight, we have completed our annual national community consultations and are now working on a detailed submission to the Government which will form the basis of our advocacy in 2014 on the make-up of Australia's refugee resettlement program and options for improving post-arrival support for refugees. Our plans for 2014 include even greater engagement with members of refugee communities on education on refugee issues in schools and advocacy on national refugee policy and international refugee protection concerns. In this work, we have excellent advice and support from six Board members of refugee background Abdul Karim Hekmat, Nga Kwan, Ali Nur, Dr Melika Sheikh-Eldin, Bobby Whitfield and Muhama Yotham. We are fortunate also to enjoy the support of hundreds of organisations and thousands of individuals around Australia who share our vision for a fairer nation. Please support us to continue our work as a credible and independent voice on refugee policy by: making a one-off tax deductible donation to the Refugee Council of Australia; or helping us to sustain our work by becoming part of our monthly giving program. To do this, please donate online by visiting refugeecouncil.org.au/donate. Yours faithfully, Paul Power Chief Executive Officer The Refugee Council of Australia represents non-government organisations and individuals working with and for refugees in Australia and around the world.

The Great Barrier Reef - God's great gift to this nation - has been made open season for developers & greedy money bags. Blasphemy!

Picture from here

I grew up in Bowen, married there, had my first child there.

When I married my husband, Joe Walsh,

my mother said I married half of Bowen - and I probably did.

So I lived beside the Great Barrier Reef at the top end

of the beautiful Whitsunday Islands.

It now appears that I live in a nation where vandals and visigoths

make impacting decisions with impunity.

We need the names of those who are allowing dangerous projects

which will impact on the reef.

We need thee names never to be forgotten.

When this sort of thing befalls our beloved Great Barrief Reef, 

we need to carve this names with disgust

on memorial boards along the communities of The Reef.

- Brigid Walsh aka Miss Eagle

~~~~~~~

If you were responsible for the future of one of the 7 natural wonders of the world, would you

• allow new mega ports to be built alongside it, including the largest coal port in the world?


• turn it into a shipping superhighway?


• allow millions of tonnes of dredging and then dump the spoil on its doorstep?

No, neither would I, but I was shocked to hear this is exactly what our political leaders (Federal and Queensland) are doing to the Great Barrier Reef. 
Bloody Idiots, I reckon.
If you agree with me, please share this message - for we shall surely have a long fight to stop this madness. And so we will need all the good and sensible people to join us in this fight.

I've just joined the Fight for the Reef... will you?
The rapid increase in developments planned in and around the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area means the future of the Reef is in danger.

There are a whole bunch of projects in the pipeline and if we don't do something about it now, our Reef and the lifestyle we love could be changed forever.

Will you join the fight today? Go to http://fightforthereef.org.au

Denis Wilson
"All conservation monitoring programs should contain well-defined trigger points for pre-planned action". Otherwise the "recovery plans for threatened species" are meaningless.

"The Nature of Robertson"
www.peonyden.blogspot.com.au

ACOSS on the campaign trail re child poverty in Oz. Are our politicians listening? Fix it!

ACOSS calls for reform of family payments to tackle child poverty: New campaign is launched The Australian Council of Social Service today unveiled new modelling detailing a path for making Australia's Family Tax Benefit system fairer - by better targeting payments to families that need support the most and simultaneously reducing poverty.We've heard very little in this election campaign about poverty and ideas for reforming Australia's complex tax and transfer systems. ACOSS has been arguing for reform of both using the Henry Tax Review as the blueprint," said ACOSS CEO Dr Cassandra Goldie."We know there are nearly 600,000 children currently living in poverty in Australia and the recent annual report of the longitudinal study of households (HILDA) showed that it increased by 15% in the last year. This is simply unacceptable in one of the wealthiest countries in the world. "Our family payment system performs the vital dual roles of helping prevent child poverty and treating low and middle income families with children fairly by taking account of the costs of raising children in the tax-transfer system. We do not consider assisting low and middle income families with children as ‘middle class welfare'. However, it urgently has to be reformed if it's to prevent even greater levels of poverty. "The family payment system is in urgent need of repair, having strayed from its primary goals over the past decade and increasingly been used for purposes that are not well targeted, such as the Baby Bonus, the Schoolkids Bonus, and the ‘Part B' payment for single-income couples. "These two bonuses should be replaced with the savings not to be used to restore the budget bottom line, but instead used to restore the budget bottom line of low and middle income families. "We want to see the savings from the Baby Bonus rolled into increased Family Tax Benefit A payments for preschool age children  (0 - 4), and the savings from the Schoolkids Bonus put into higher Family Tax Benefit A payments for school age children (5-18). "Under our proposals, modelled by the National Centre for Social and Economic Modelling (NATSEM), around 50% of low income families (about 600,000 thousand families) in the bottom two quintiles would be on average around $1300 a year ( $25 a week) better off. "Among the bottom 40% of families, three out of four families would receive higher payments. Sole parents, most of whom have low incomes, would particularly benefit with 71% better off. "This reform, together with our proposed $50 a week increase in Newstart Allowance for single people, would help to offset recent payment cuts for sole parents fully reliant on income support. "Our modelling using ‘cameos' of low income families with children of different ages shows that half currently fall below the poverty line. We found that three of these families currently below the poverty line (2 sole parent cameos and 1 couple families) would be lifted above the poverty line by the proposed changes. "We call on the major parties to take the issue of poverty seriously and commit to restructuring the confusing Family Tax Benefits system as part of an anti-poverty plan for our nation. "In these times of significant economic challenges, and falling revenues, we need to go ‘Back to Basics', with government assistance targeted to those who need it. Our proposals do not complete reform, but they take us in the right direction. "ACOSS and our members across Australia's community welfare sector look forward to working with all parties and the next government in advancing such reforms," Dr Goldie said. Media Contact: Fernando de Freitas 0419 626 155 Download report: 'Back to basics: Simplifying Australia's family payments system to reduce poverty and support families' Have a Heart: Say No to Child Poverty: http://www.facebook.com/Australiahaveaheart.com.au/posts/424765044298653 Summary of NATSEM modelling: • Half of all low income families in the bottom two quintiles (594,662 families or 50%) would receive increased payments • Among the bottom 40% of families, three families would receive higher payments for every one that receives lower payments • Among the top 40%, approximately roughly equal proportions of families would receive higher and lower payments • The changes particularly benefit low income sole parents with older children and low income couples with younger children • Among the bottom quintile (those at high risk of poverty) 106,000 sole parents would gain an average of $1,410 a year and 66,000 couples with children would gain an average of $1,179 • Sole parents would particularly benefit - 71% would gain and 14% would receive lower payments, compared to 27% and 21% respectively for couples with children. • Modelling using ‘cameos' of low income families with children of different ages shows that of 16 cameos fully reliant on social security payments half (8) currently fall below the poverty line • Of these families, 3 (2 of the sole parent cameos and 1 of the couples) would be lifted above the poverty line by the proposed changes • Overall, incomes of 1,175,000 families (25% of all families) would rise by an average of $1,203 per year • Incomes of 606,000 families (13%) would fall by an average of $2,316 • Incomes of 2,857,636 families (62%) would be unchanged ACOSS Proposals: • Replace the Baby Bonus and the School Kids Bonus with increases in the maximum rate of Family Tax Benefit A for preschool and school age children respectively. Current expenditure on the Baby Bonus would go to increase the maximum rate of FTB A for parents of children aged between 0 - 4; and spending on the Schoolkids Bonus would go to increase the maximum rate of FTB A for school age children. • Replace FTB Part B for sole parents with a Sole Parent Supplement (at a higher rate for parents of older children than the current FTB B) to reflect the higher costs and demands of caring for children as a sole parent. • Limit FTB Part B for couples with one parent at home caring for children until the youngest child turns 13, and tighten the income test on the primary earner (usually the father) to target this payment to families in greatest need. • Index family payments to movements in average earnings as well as the CPI.

Progress 2013 - en event for the non-profit sector - hone policy, communications, digital and campaigning skills

Click on picture and open in a new tab to see a full size screen

with enlarged pictures of the people, their names, their organisations.

PROGRESS 2013

Meet leaders and decision makers from every major non-profit

 in Australia, 

and hone your policy, communications, digital and campaigning skills,

 at Progress 2013 

a must-not-miss event for anyone in the non-profit sector.

EthicalJobs.com.au is a proud partner of Progress 2013.  

Use the code ethicaljobs 

when you register for Progress 2013 

to receive $50 off the ticket price,

 but hurry - this special discount is available for one week only.

Find out more and see the full list 

of international and national speakers, side events, 

and training, and career opportunities at 

progress2013.org.au.

Don't want to see Maccas at Tecoma - get your voice heard to-morrow on 3CR at Collingwood

Have received the following from Marg of Health Achievers~~~~

http://www.3cr.org.au/anarchistworld 

Above link is audio recordings of Dr. Joe's Weekly News Program 

every Wednesday 10.am to 11.am  for your convenience. 

After announcements, his presentation begins at 2.30minute. 

This Wednesday (24/7/13)  and you can now listen to previous recordings.

His other radio program is "Talk Back with Attitude" every Thursday 

between 9.30am - 10.30 -  Tel: 9419-0155.  

People can call and discuss issues of interest.

On today's Wednesday program Dr. Joe announced that:

On Thursday 1st August 2013 - 9.30am - 10.30am 

Dr. Joe will broadcast the 

" Talk Back with Attitude" program

in front of

Head Office, McDonalds

Crn 2 Smith Street and Victoria Parade, Collingwood.

If you DO NOT AGREE with McDonalds 

having an outlet in beautiful Tecoma in the Dandenongs,

and 

if you want to show support 

PLEASE ATTEND AND VOICE YOUR WILL 

THAT WE ARE IN AGREEMENT 

WITH THE PEOPLE IN TECOMA STATING "McOFF" !!

Joe informs us today that protesters are threatened 

with heavy fines and there are "8" injunctions 

placed on some protesters.  

 McDonalds is threatening to move for compensation 

from the protesters for "delays caused" 

as a result of the ongoing protest. 

This is assisted by the "Courts". 

The consequences of these "court injunctions" 

on community people is enormous.  

Another example: 

if people do not want

 a radio active waste dump, uranium mine or a coal seam gas project 

near their property they may be sued 

for loss of income by corporations?

GIVE YOUR SUPPORT TO SHOW 

THAT CORPORATIONS DO NOT RULE!

HOPEFULLY,  TECOMA PEOPLE BEGIN THE PROCESS 

OF A  "PEOPLE'S MANDATE" 

AS EVIDENCE THAT THE

MAJORITY OF THE COMMUNITY 

REJECTS MCDONALDS IN TECOMA.

Pleases notice the television host plugs McDonalds

because his child received employment experience.

Unbelievable!

What I say:

the majority ingredients in the food is not fit for healthy human consumption.

Do your own research.

"A health achiever - I regularly visit Tecoma - 

the "stench of this junk food outlet will interfere with the fresh air!!"

To the best of my ability I boycott unethical products.

That is my Motto!"

Unsettled housing = unsettled nation: join FIVE DAYS OF ACTION FOR #AFFORDABLE HOUSING

Networkers, your help is needed 
on this important issue. 
Please do everything you can to help.

‘5 days of action for housing affordability’

set to launch 22 July

Dear Brigid,

Thank you for taking part in this campaign. Australians for Affordable Housing is only as strong as it's supporters and the sign-ups that we have had in such a short time are a good sign.

Growing awareness of housing affordability not withstanding, there is a risk that our politicians will try to sweep the housing crisis under the carpet. Our only opportunity to see housing become a national priority in the lead up to the election is to apply pressure now.

That's why we've organised 5 days of action, which will start this coming Monday 22 July.

Each morning next week you will receive an email outlining a task that will help focus the national conversation onto the housing crisis.

Regards,

Joel Pringle

Campaign Manager

Australians for Affordable Housing

P.S. You can help us build this campaign. If you know anyone who might be interested in joining the '5 days of action for housing affordability', please forward this email and let them know that they can sign-up via our website

Further reading

Housing rentals out of reach of jobless

Resources

Letters about letters : Making a social event out of letter writing to pollies about refugees

This 1936 picture of a refugee writing home 
shows that refugees are always with us.
Read the story of how this photo was found here. 

Many of our asylum seekers are suffering 

in indefinite mandatory detention. 

They need our support.

Sending letters to politicians is one of the best ways 

of contacting our MPs, 

and hand written letters get the most attention.

 Please accept this invitation to join us 

next Tuesday morning and add your support.

There will be some suggestons to help you.  

Short, clear letters are best.

See you then

Kath

Dear All,

Next Tuesday, (2nd Tuesday of the month) is Writers' Group.

Venue: 

Eastwood Leisure Complex, Ballarat

Cafeteria room.

Time: 10 am - 12noon

Gold coin donation for room hire

Bring: 

pen, paper, envelopes, stamps

There is a lot of material from the Bendigo Forum

[held a week ago in Bendigo]

 to lobby our politicians about.  

Perhaps Bob Carr heads the list!

Hope to see you all there.

Cheers,

Helen