Before I get into this rant let me be honest, I love the power of social media to raise awareness of a cause, even the simple ability to get people talking about something in their everyday conversations is killer.
The problem is that talk is just the first step, at some point in the decades to come we’ll look back on this refugee crisis and our kids will ask if we thought it was okay that people (including children) were locked up in detention centres, where media wasn’t welcome and reported conditions were incredibly inhumane. When they ask I want to be armed with more than “I hated it so much that I linked some articles on Facebook and then talked to people about how bad it was…”
While the New York Times has digs at us and the two major political parties continue to really not move toward a humane solution I want to be one of the people that gets my hands and feet dirty in showing true love, welcome and compassion to my fellow humans – no matter where they’re from and how they arrived here.
Here’s 5 simple ways that you can affect real change, right now.
- Have a newly arrived refugee family over for dinner! I’ve heard the wait list for this thing is HUGE, which is awesome, either way get on it – how incredible would it be for your family to host a newly arrived family for dinner, to hear their stories and share about the amazing new life they have ahead here in Australia! Please teach them how to play uno – the more people who can verse me in Uno the better! Sign up (and get more info) here.
- Join the movement that is finding practical ways to welcome “those who’ve come across the seas” – from Welcome Parties to teaching your newest neighbours how to speak english. Volunteering with these guys is all about fulfilling their goal – “we’re about mobilising volunteers to engage in practical acts of welcome to encourage us all to leave our prejudices behind and replace them with a spirit of compassion.” Legends. Join them by clicking here!
- Check out this list of super simple items you can donate, and places you can donate them to! It doesn’t have to be expensive to be worth while, it can be something as simple as translink tickets or school materials! Just grab something next time you’re near a shop and make it happen… heck why not make it part of your weekly schedule to donate one of these items!
- Write a letter or email to your local MP asking them to get kids out of detention. Here’s the thing, if you can read this blog you can send the email…. “But even if I knew what to write, I wouldn’t know who to send it to!” Ohhh don’t worry, the guys at the Brisbane Refugee and Asylum Seeker Support Network have done all the hard work FOR YOU – check this page out!
Ps. These guys also have an awesome page that lays down the facts and provides you with sources with info you can trust on this issue. - Visit refugee detainees at Brisbane’s detention centre! The Refugee Action Collective Queensland regularly visit the refugee detainees in the centre to stay informed by the people they’re representing – you can find out details if you’ve like to go along on this page!
Know of any other great ideas? Let every know in the comments!