Are you feeling powerless about the ways in which Australia is dealing with refugees and asylum seekers?

Here are 10 THINGS YOU CAN DO to make a difference :

Don't try to do everything! Best to do a couple of things well. (But we guarantee that doing anything at all will make you feel a lot less powerless !)

1. Read the facts then contact your talkback station when they misstate things (as they do). This takes courage, but it gets the word out there. For those shock-jocks who are unrepentant, ring their sponsors and tell them politely that you will not buy their products as long as they let the radio stations tell lies about innocent, damaged people.

2. Donate cash, phone cards or travel cards for the Brigidine Nuns' support program. Or cheques can be made out to: 'Brigidine Asylum Seekers.' And send them to:
Brigidine Sisters, 52 Beaconsfield Pde, Albert Park, Vic, 3206
Donate money, food and (OK) clothes to: The Asylum Seekers Resource Centre, 207 and 211 Nicholson St. Footscray, 3011. Tel: 9687 2134. 9689 5075. Email: asrc@start.com
For Nauru, We are getting many letters politely asking for radios; cameras; light clothing; lengths of cloth to make Kaftans; shoes; newspapers; magazines

3. Donate money to:
The Refugee and Immigration Legal Centre Inc, 95 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy, Vic. 3065
www.rilc.org.au or
Refugee Advocacy Service S.A Inc., PO Box 6662 Halifax St Adelaide, SA, 5000
www.rassa.org.au

4. Contact the Hazara Association of Victoria: they need help getting Hazaras from Afghanistan settled in the community: you can befriend them, take them to lunch or the footy – make them welcome. Ring Hamid Saberi on 03 9547 0849 or 0438 895 728.

5. Write letters to detainees telling them you welcome them to this country and that we are working to change our Government's policies. Email help@spareroomsforrefugees.com to get advice on how to go about this plus addresses of detainees who'd be delighted to receive messages of support from beyond the razor wire.

6. If you want to get more directly involved, you can join an organisation. There is no shortage of options! The Asylum Seekers' Resource Centre (see above) is the local one. Others include: Refugee Council www.refugeecouncil.org.au Amongst other things, the page contains info and discussion about 'Alternatives to (mandatory) Detention' Australians for Just Refugee Programs www.refugeeprograms.com.au Catholic Commission for Justice, Development and Peace Director: Marc Purcell, www.melc.catholic.aust.com Asylum Seeker Project, Hotham Mission ,Contact: Grant Mitchell. 2 Elm St North Melbourne, Tel: 9326 8343 Email: asp@sub.net.au Web site: www.vic.uca.org.au/linkup The Victorian Immigrant and Refugee Women's Coalition virwc@ywca.net Tel: 9328 5611

And many others, including:

Community Aid Abroad/Oxfam www.caa.org.au

Ecumenical Migration Centre 03 9416 0044

Victorian Foundation for the Survivors of Trauma and Torture, Parkville: www.atmhn.unimelb.edu.au/organisations/national _bodies/foundation.html

7. Take a few minutes to 'sign' the various online petitions and surveys, eg: 'Call for a Royal Commission into the Australian Government's Treatment of Asylum Seekers' : www.PetitionOnline.com/ausrefug/ ' Do you support using detention centres as they now exist to deter asylum seekers?' www.probonoaustralia.com.au

8. Write short letters to newspapers that publish negative, prejudicial comments or letters about 'illegals' or 'potential terrorists'. Write immediately and concisely: 2-3 paras is plenty! Don't worry if they're not published. Even 'hard-line' newspapers like the Herald-Sun can change editorial policy in the face of overwhelming public opposition to their 'line'.

9. Read the submissions to the Human Rights Commission's National Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention: Website is at www.humanrights.gov.au/human_rights/children_detention/index.html
After you have looked at the shocking facts, ring your local talkback radio programs and tell them the facts.

10. Write to politicians until your hands drop off. Don't be abusive: write with respect, but write from the heart!

Nicola Roxon MP Federal Member for Gellibrand (Federal - ALP)204 Nicholson St, Footscray 3011. Tel: 9687 7355. Nicola.Roxon.MP@aph.gov.au	Julia Gillard MP Shadow Minister for Immigration (Federal - ALP)Shop 2/36 Synnot St, Werribee 3030. Tel: 9742 5800. Fax: 9741 6213.	Senator John Faulkner Leader of the Opposition in the Senate & Shadow Minister for Administration and Home Affairs Senator.faulkner@aph.gov.au
The Hon. Phillip Ruddock MP Minister for ImmigrationParliament House, Canberra, 2600	Simon Crean Leader of the Opposition S.Crean.MP@aph.gov.au	Senator Stephen Conroy Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate: Senator.conroy@aph.gov.au
The Hon. John Howard MP Prime Minister Parliament House, Canberra, 2600	Jenny Macklin Deputy Leader of the Opposition Jenny.Macklin.MP@aph.gov.au	The ALPs website feedback form: www.alp.org.au/action/feedback.html