As war tears countries and cultures apart around the world many innocent people are left homeless, starving and scared. This weekend there are two events that are taking place that look to highlight both the plight of the people devastated by the effects of war as well as the need for the world to take more profound action against the escalation of nuclear arms development.
World refugee day
Highlighting the plight of asylum seekers that have attempted to seek refuge here in Australia, Amnesty International’s Lismore action group will be holding a vigil to mark World Refugee Day this Sunday at Lennox Head.
‘We will be calling for the government to create a fair and efficient process that fairly examines each person seeking asylums case, and to adopt policy that allows the most vulnerable among us to thrive and prosper within our communities,’ said organiser Michele Woodard.
‘Tales of courage and despair’ is a vigil for refugees and asylum seekers in Australian detention centres and will be held on the beachfront at Lennox between 11am-12pm this Sunday June 18.
Ican peace action
The International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) is taking action this Saturday, 17 June, in Lismore and Byron Bay to pressure the Australian government into joining the United Nations talks on a treaty to ban nuclear weapons.
Between June 15 and July 7 120 nations will be meeting to put together a treaty that would forbid signatories from developing nuclear weapons and for those that have them to reduce and finally eliminate them from their arsenal.
No key nuclear powers are attending the UN talks including the US, Russia, China and the UK. Australia has also refused to attend.
If you would like to make your voice heard meet at the Bank Cafe in Lismore at 10am, 67 Molesworth Street, Lismore or head to the peace pole at Apex park in Byron at 2pm (the Beach Hotel if it is raining).
For more information see the ICAN website or the wear white campaign.
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