Australia’s minister for immigration, Scott Morrison and his off-shore and on-shore detention policies have now caused four deaths and a considerable number of attempted suicides, fifty or so by children.
It is totally wrong for this man to remain in office.
.
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jul/09/self-harm-asylum-seekers-detention-surged-serco-report
If you are concerned and want to be part of taking action; Please voice your concerns to:
Address:
Scott Morrison MP
Minister for Immigration and Border Protection
PO Box 6022
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
Telephone: 02 6277 7860
Fax: 02 6273 4144
Email: minister@immi.gov.au
It is as wrong now to inflict terrible conditions and treatment on people that have done no wrong, as it was during the days of Buchenwald.
I’ll leave you this lovely poem inspired by Marc Chagall.
When I read this poem by Lawrence Ferlinghetti, I had to chuckle, according to the poet his work is meant to be read aloud:
Don’t Let that Horse.
Don’t let that horse
eat that violin
cried Chagall’s mother.
But he
kept right on
painting.
And became famous
And kept painting
The Horse With Violin in Mouth
And when he finally finished it
he jumped up on the horse
and rode away
waving the violin.
And then with a low bow gave it
to the first naked nude he ran across.
And there were no strings
attached.
Tags: Buchenwald, Canberra, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, Marc Chagall, Scott Morrison, self harm
September 28, 2014 at 2:30 am |
You tend of late to introduce something unrelated at the end of your posts, Gerard: why is this …? – it confuses my poor old brain.
Re the actual subject matter, I ENTIRELY AGREE. Mr Morrison, whose name should really be Mr (_¤_), should be forced to live where he so likes to consign unfortunates.
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September 28, 2014 at 2:50 am |
I do this as a contrast to avoid the tag of curmudgeon which I wear with pride. ( in contrast to Mr Morrison who always smiles broadly and oozes with happy, happy.
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September 28, 2014 at 3:14 am
And I thought I was the only curmudgeon around here !
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September 28, 2014 at 4:09 am
No, M-R. I was first and, in fact, took out a patent on ‘curmudgeon’ back well before you were born. I remember now, it was on a sunny afternoon in Oct. 1956, soon after I read ‘And the rain my drink’.
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September 28, 2014 at 6:11 am |
Australia should be hanging its head in shame regarding the numbers of refugees and asylum seekers it accepts. Tiny Switzerland the over-populated UK accept far more.
I like the poem, the painting, and ending with something different 🙂
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September 28, 2014 at 6:24 am |
Yes roughseas, I pointed this out on the ABC Drum and was castigated for being ‘un- Australian’.
My mum and dad came here with such high expectations, having left war ravaged Holland and now…such horrors…
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September 28, 2014 at 6:44 am
I don’t agree with air strikes in Iraq. Does that make me un-British?
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September 28, 2014 at 8:19 am
Without a doubt.
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September 28, 2014 at 7:09 am
Yes, bombs flying everywhere now again. We will be lucky to get out of it alive. Australian Government ramping up support for going there again. And yet will not look after the victims of the bombing.
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September 28, 2014 at 8:18 am
At least you’re avoiding orange wigs on King’s Day.
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September 28, 2014 at 9:56 am
True, I had almost forgotten. A long time ago.
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September 28, 2014 at 7:44 pm |
Could you do an outsiders view of HK soon, Gerard? Things are hotting up whilst we travel.
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September 28, 2014 at 10:38 pm |
Yes, I hope your return flight will land safely. HK is seething right now. Freedom is the aim, but old china thinks differently. Is Wales sometimes still beckoning?
I dream in Dutch, even after all those years.
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September 28, 2014 at 8:16 pm |
Love the poem… not to mention both Chagall and Ferlinghetti. Keep up your campaign, Gerard. Thanks for your efforts. –Curt
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September 28, 2014 at 10:40 pm |
Yes, glad you like the reference to Chagall. We all need to keep paddling and do our best.
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September 28, 2014 at 10:52 pm
Yes, there is the paddling bit. 🙂
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September 28, 2014 at 8:59 pm |
Love Chagall and love the poem.
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September 28, 2014 at 10:40 pm |
Thank you Kaytisweet.
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September 28, 2014 at 9:22 pm |
Scott Morrison has gotta go. Someone needs to make a complaint to the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity.
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September 28, 2014 at 10:42 pm |
I am sure that this has been seriously considered by Human Rights Lawyers already. Maurice Blackburn has started a class action against this rotten government on behalf of refugees.
http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/injured-asylum-seekers-sue-scott-morrison-government-over-christmas-island-treatment-20140826-108epm.html
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September 28, 2014 at 11:47 pm |
The poem is hilarious. Loved it. The refugee thing is a bummer for sure. We have a problem here as well and no one seems to know what to do.
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September 29, 2014 at 2:41 pm |
I agree with the sentiments and I love the poem.
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October 4, 2014 at 11:04 am |
Keep it up Gerard. Your quiet revolution is gaining traction. Chagall was a wonderful painter and Ferlinghetti a poet full of wonder.
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October 4, 2014 at 10:29 pm |
Thanks Chris, I love Chagall’s work. You’re creating a bit of a revolution at Bob Ellis’s blog as well. Lots of good people at the oars.
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October 4, 2014 at 10:52 pm
Last night I dreamed that I was visited by three ‘security’ men. Surprisingly they were all quite old, probably in their mid-fifties, suited, one in particular, who was mostly bald, seemed to be the person in charge; he carried a briefcase, and appeared, as they all did, a little ill at ease, rather fidgety.
“Don’t tell me”, I ventured, “you’re from Planet Abbott”.
The balding, slightly sweating bloke, appeared startled, unprepared for my bold assumption, held his briefcase up as a counter and said “We’ve got some terrorism issues to discuss”.
“Really”, I said, “we’ll you’d better come in and have a cup of tea then, you all look a bit stressed”.
To which they all dutifully filed into my living room as I called out to the missis to put the jug on. At which point I woke up – dammit.
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October 4, 2014 at 11:10 pm
Well, at least you’re still here, to tell the tale. Oddly enough, of late I do feel as if security people could bang on my door. Totally unfounded of course, but there is some kind of fear hanging around. Probably just the rattling of blinds by the wind.
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