tagged w/ UNHCR
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Around there are still 2,500 billion lire, hidden somewhere in our houses. From 1st March 2012 they could not be converted in euro. So, what to do? Change it as soon as possible in the branches of the Bank of Italy or contribute to one of the many solidarity project.
http://www.inaltreparole.net/en/money/liracambioeurocampagnalultimalira261011.htmlAround there are still 2,500 billion lire, hidden somewhere in our houses. From 1st... more
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The Sydney Morning Herald...
PHOTO: Australian cows in Gondrong slaugterhouse in Indonesia . . . beyond Australia's control. Photo: Irwin Fedriansyah
Human and animal rights travel in the same boat
June 5, 2011
Australian cows in Gondrong slaugterhouse in Indonesia . . . beyond Australia's control. Photo: Irwin Fedriansyah
IT SEEMS bizarre and even rather offensive to talk about asylum seekers and Australian cattle in the same sentence. But by a strange twist of events, Australia faces a similar problem with Asian neighbours in dealing with each of these issues
The difficulty boils down to this: at the end of the day, it is extremely hard and probably impossible to control what happens on the ground in certain countries, whatever rules might be put in place.
The government is still negotiating its ''people swap'' with Malaysia. But documents last week show that a core question - protection of the human rights of those Australia sends there - is proving difficult to tie down.
On the cattle, the government has imposed a suspension on some Indonesian abattoirs after the horrific images shown on ABC's Four Corners. But critics say this halfway measure won't protect Australian animals.
The government has been prevaricating about when the Malaysia deal will be finalised. The leaked documents show why. Obviously the negotiations have been tough; the Malaysians want to call the shots and, it appears, have been reluctant to give adequate human rights guarantees.
At least that was the case late last month. The government and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, involved in the negotiating process, say things have moved on from the leaked draft, and that it is the final agreement (when it comes) by which the deal must be judged.
While that's true, the May 23 draft adds to the worries about the deal, because it gives an insight into the attitude of Malaysia, which has a known bad record on human rights. Also, even if the agreement contains protections and the UN authorities are involved, how can Australia be confident about what will happen to these people it sends to the back of the Malaysian queue, where they will stay for an unknown time? As Julia Gillard points out, it is a long queue - will we (and the UNHCR) still be following their fate in five years? If so, how?
Switching attention from human rights to animal rights, it is obvious the latter count for nothing in Indonesia's slaughter houses. To think there will be a quick change is fanciful.
The government has suspended exports to a dozen facilities and is requiring exporters to make declarations that animals won't be taken to them. Does anyone think this is some sort of foolproof system to prevent appalling cruelty to Australian cattle? Only if they are naive - or don't want to face reality. Clearly the partial suspension is inadequate. While these are the abattoirs that have come to attention, probably most of the more than 100 in that country will be bad. Further, Australian cattle go to Indonesian feedlots, and may stay there for a long time, before being sold around the country. How can their ultimate destinations be monitored?
The caucus, which engaged in its most passionate debate in years last week over the cattle cruelty, will discuss it again next week, with a motion on the table for a full ban of sales to Indonesia until it meets Australian standards. The RSPCA, Animals Australia and GetUp! are keeping the pressure on with an ad that started airing yesterday.
Unless the government does something extra, this issue will continue to be ugly for it in the party and in the community. As it should.
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/human-and-animal-rights-travel-in-the-same-boat-20110604-1fm0r.html#ixzz1OSqD9m5FThe Sydney Morning Herald...
PHOTO: Australian cows in Gondrong slaugterhouse in... more
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World Refugee Day is a great time to reflect upon the plight of refugees who seek safety and shelter in neighboring countries, such as Burmese refugees in Malaysia, yet instead they are denied the right to seek livelihood and safe, appropriate shelter, access health care, or receive education. Children, women, men and the elderly, including those who may be disabled, pregnant or ill, have been arrested, detained, sentenced, abused and trafficked inside Malaysia by government officials.World Refugee Day is a great time to reflect upon the plight of refugees who seek... more
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There are wars on the newspapers every day and wars completely forgotten as the one in Somalia. Even the UN World Food Program decided to go away from the country. And there are people who accuse it of managing food aid not in a clearly way.
http://www.inaltreparole.net/en/world/somaliaguerra140310.htmlThere are wars on the newspapers every day and wars completely forgotten as the one in... more
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(trailer for documentary, Please Don't Say My Name, www.pleasedontsaymyname.org)
"One day I was on a bus with a Burmese friend, a former monk, who had just learned that a small protest was breaking out in Bago. Bago was on the way to our destination, and soon a convoy of about 30 military trucks snaked by our bus. Two child soldiers sat on top of one, maybe 10-12 years old, manning rifles as big as themselves. They were so close I could have touched their uniforms. My companion grabbed my camera and shoved it in my hands: "Take it, take the picture of the soldier boys!" he whispered frantically.
As I took the camera from him I looked up and caught the eyes of the bus driver, who was watching us in the rearview mirror. If any soldiers saw me snap that photo, it would not have been my head but that of the bus driver."
Security vs Story--journalist Karen Zusman talks about the ethical concerns related to reporting on stories in Burma and Malaysia.
Watch video clips and read more: http://hub.witness.org/pleaseDontSayMyName
Learn about the plight of Burmese refugees who are sold to human traffickers by the Malaysian government: http://www.pleasedontsaymyname.org(trailer for documentary, Please Don't Say My Name, www.pleasedontsaymyname.org)... more
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Last week, authorities in Malaysia announced that they arrested five immigration officers for rounding up illegal immigrants from Myanmar and selling them to human traffickers.
Karen Zusman, an independent journalist, recently returned from Malaysia, where she reported on the plight of Burmese refugees.
In this conversation she speaks to “Jack” — a Burmese refugee in Malaysia whose girlfriend, brother and friend had been rounded up by immigration officials and put in detention camps.
Listen in as she catches up with Jack about recent developments in Malaysia. His girlfriend has been deported to Myanmar to marry a soldier, his brother remains in a detention camp and his friend “John” has been released, but faces an uncertain future.
Jack yearns for a brighter future, but has himself lost his job. Though he has a UNHCR refugee card, he still fears the police and has nowhere to turn.
Listen here:
http://worldfocus.org/blog/2009/07/29/burmese-refugee-in-malaysia-loses-job-girlfriend-and-hope/6528/
For more in depth information and to hear more audio or a documentary about the plight of Burmese refugees, visit:
www.pleasedontsaymyname.orgLast week, authorities in Malaysia announced that they arrested five immigration... more
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The link should work. If it doesn't, go to Yubanet.com and look at latest news articles in the world section. Or I've copied and pasted the article in full below after my comment.
This is a great success story in my opinion. It is grand to see Iceland help out in this way, especially concerning women and children. My hope would be to see more refugees relocated to areas where they can feel safe and stable until they can move back home, if and when that happens. Iceland is going a great services, no matter how few they can help, they are setting a precedence for us all.
If anyone can find pictures or related articles send them my way. Here's the article exactly from Yubanet.com :
Published on Sep 5, 2008 - 8:52:55 AM
By: UNHCR
Sept. 5, 2008 - A total of 29 vulnerable Palestinian refugees stranded for the last two years in a makeshift camp in the desert on the Iraq-Syria border are set to leave Monday to begin a new life in Iceland. The group includes some of the most vulnerable refugee women, several of whom lost their husbands during the conflict in Iraq - and their children. Given their vulnerability, UNHCR considers resettlement their only option and we appreciate Iceland's decision to accept them.
Iceland takes 25 to 30 refugees for resettlement annually and in recent years has focused in particular on resettling single women and single mothers with their children. In previous years, the country resettled Colombians and refugees from the Balkans, including Kosovars. Iceland has actively supported UNHCR in our efforts to broaden the base of new resettlement countries. It has also offered to act as a 'mentor' for new resettlement countries, particularly on how to help refugees integrate in their new home.
An estimated 2,300 Palestinians are still living in desperate conditions in two refugee camps along the Iraq-Syria border - Al Waleed inside Iraq, and Al Tanf in the no-man's land between the Iraqi and Syrian borders.
Of the estimated 34,000 Palestinians who lived in Iraq in 2003, an estimated 10,000 to 15,000 remain. Al Waleed camp is presently home to more than 1,400 refugees, while Al Tanf camp has doubled in size since October 2007, with some 900 refugees living there.
Another group of 155 Palestinians from Al Tanf are scheduled to resettle soon to Sweden.
The summers in the desert camp are excruciatingly hot, while in winter temperatures can drop to the freezing point. In general, living conditions are extremely harsh, with minimal services. Snakes and scorpions are common. Lacking proper medical care, the health of many refugees has become increasingly dire. Palestinian health workers in Al Waleed - who see patients every day - have identified medical conditions ranging from diabetes and birth defects to kidney problems, cancer and serious trauma. The nearest proper medical facility in Iraq is more than 400 kilometers away and patients have to be transported by taxi.
UNHCR has repeatedly called for international support for the Palestinians, but with few results. Few Palestinians in the border camps have been accepted for resettlement or offered shelter in third countries. Only some 300 Palestinians have gone to non-traditional resettlement countries such as Brazil and Chile. Some urgent medical cases were taken by a few European countries, but this is a very small proportion of the 2,300 Palestinians stranded in the desert.
UNHCR continues to advocate for alternative humane solutions in the hope that all of the Palestinians will be able to leave the harsh conditions of the camps. Their relocation would in no way jeopardize their right to return at any stage, if and when such a possibility arises.
The link should work. If it doesn't, go to Yubanet.com and look at latest news... more
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Taco47
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added this
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3 years ago
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The U.N. refugee agency says nearly 200 vulnerable Palestinian refugees stranded in the desert along the Iraq-Syria border for the last two years have been accepted for resettlement by Iceland and Sweden. The UNHCR reports the group, which had taken refuge in a kind of no-mans land, includes some of the most vulnerable women and children with urgent medical needs.
UNHCR Spokesman, Ron Redmond, says the stranded Palestinians have little chance of being resettled in a third country. He says they are unwilling to return to the homes they fled in Baghdad because they are afraid they will be killed.
"The Iraqi government has also been approached repeatedly by UNHCR to ensure that protection is provided to these Palestinian enclaves in Baghdad. But, this has been easier said than done in the past because they were specifically targeted, including by mortars and so on," said Redmond. "So, it is a very difficult thing to control."
About 34,000 Palestinians lived in Baghdad while Saddam Hussein was in power. They enjoyed many privileges denied Iraqis. After Saddam's downfall, Iraqis hostile to the Palestinians harassed, threatened, and even killed some of them.
Redmond says only about 10,000 to 15,000 Palestinians remain in Baghdad.
He cites the case of a 30-year-old widow, with three children as typical of those who are unable to find a new home.
"Her husband was killed while trying to help the victims of a bombing. Another bomb went off and killed him. Their four-year-old son was with his father when this happened and saw his father killed before his eyes and so now has severe emotional problems. So, in that particular case, we are looking for a resettlement country that can help a female-headed household with children who suffered severe trauma," continued Redmond.
Redmond says the health situation of many of the refugees is increasingly dire and proper medical care is lacking. He says medical problems range from diabetes and birth defects to kidney problems, cancer and serious trauma. In the past 14 months, he says 12 Palestinian refugees have died in the camps.
The U.N. refugee agency says nearly 200 vulnerable Palestinian refugees stranded in... more
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As many as one billion people could lose their homes by 2050 because of the devastating impact of global warming.
Hundreds of millions could be forced to go on the move because of water shortages and crop failures in most of Africa, as well as in central and southern Asia and South America. There could also be an effect on levels of starvation and on food prices as agriculture struggles to cope with growing demand in increasingly arid conditions.As many as one billion people could lose their homes by 2050 because of the... more
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Millions of Iraqis have been displaced since the beginning of the war. Mariana van Zeller speaks with Iraqi refugees who are now living in Syria, but anxious to get back home.Millions of Iraqis have been displaced since the beginning of the war. Mariana van... more
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