Solidarity Philippines Australia Network (SPAN)

Walking Together for Peace and Reconciliation

Women, Faith & A Culture of Peace - Asia-Pacific Interfaith Symposium
23-25 February 2008, Multi-Faith Centre, Griffith University, Brisbane

HELEN MORAN the Indigenous Co-Chair of the National Sorry Day Committee organised the planting of a SEA OF FEET at the Women, Faith and a Culture of Peace symposium to symbolise walking with members of the stolen generations back to their original homes. The symposium was attended by more than 150 participants.

Networking Religious Congregations to Eliminate Human Trafficking

Women, Faith & A Culture of Peace - Asia-Pacific Interfaith Symposium
23-25 February 2008, Multi-Faith Centre, Griffith University, Brisbane

Before the symposium’s program commenced Kasama’s editor DEE HUNT took the opportunity to chat with Sr. PAULINE COLL (Australia) and Sr. FLOLYN CATUNGAL (Philippines) about the efforts of the Catholic religious congregations in their respective countries to combat human trafficking.

WHAT NOW — SORRY HAS BEEN SAID

Women, Faith & A Culture of Peace - Asia-Pacific Interfaith Symposium
23-25 February 2008, Multi-Faith Centre, Griffith University, Brisbane

The Negros Nine Organic Farm

Why is he doing this?

About a year ago Columban Fr Brian Gore established the Negros Nine Organic Farm on a 12‑hectare site on Negros Island in the Philippines. It’s an experimental farm with the objective of teaching local farmers sustainable, organic agriculture. It aims at developing appropriate farming methods for the area.

DIDIPIO UPDATE

Filipino Bishop Calls for Suspension of Aussie Miner

Bishop Ramon Villena has called on Philippines President Macapagal-Arroyo to suspend the operations of Australian miner, OceanaGold, as local officials near the Didipio mine site express fears of rice shortages in the wake of the company’s land clearing operations.

DIDIPIO: Exploitation or Business?

by Andrew Hewett

Juanita Cut-ing is just one woman but her story, reported in The Age recently, says much about the way mining companies in search of enormous profits have exploited people in the developing world. Cut-ing and her family live in a stilt home in the remote village of Didipio in the north of the Philippines, but their land is destined to make way for a dam to store waste from an open–pit gold and copper mine operated by Melbourne-based OceanaGold. The company says it will provide jobs and improved infrastructure, but its plans will destroy Cut-ing’s dream of passing her house and land to her children.

Big Sorry Day by Deborah Ruiz Wall

In Canberra, a cross section of people were asked how they felt the day the Rudd Government apologised to the Aboriginal People

An Aboriginal man from the Northern Territory, an Aboriginal woman from Sydney, a Spanish couple visiting from Barcelona, a Bangladeshi Australian man from Canberra, and me, a Filipino Australian woman from Sydney speak about our feelings on this historic day.

BURRAAY - Dreaming Them Home

Uncle Bob Randall and his song Brown Skin Baby were the inspiration for this album.

Although the taking of aboriginal Children has interrupted their sense of identity, family relations, cultural rights and responsibilities, it has not dislocated them from their spiritual connection to the land, spirit and ancestors. The inquiry into the assimilation of those Aboriginal children of mixed descent presented a truth that could no longer be ignored. It was so disturbing that many gathered to pay their respects, demonstrate their disgust and empathise with the Aboriginal people. Sorry Day came out of the inquiry’s Bringing Them Home Report. From this came the Journey of Healing. Burraay expresses the pain caused, the recognition of the truth, and the need for healing.

Let The Healing Begin

Response to government to the national apology to the Stolen Generations

by TOM CALMA, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner, Australian Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission

Urgent reform to Indigenous policy and service delivery needed

20 February 2008 — Brisbane

Australia has reached a ‘crossroads’ in Indigenous policy and service delivery, according to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Tom Calma, who said today that modifying the existing system must be an urgent priority for reform.

Resistances and Actions Summarise Women’s Month

Women around the world celebrated International Women’s Day, March 8, by organising resistances and actions because they were not content with celebrating past achievements or accepting the token gestures of their governments.

In Manila — On International Women’s Day, Philippine women’s groups marched from Quezon City to the historic Plaza Miranda in Manila.
In Brisbane — On March 8 the rally in Queen’s Park included speakers and entertainment followed by a march through the city to the Jagera Arts Centre for the Indigenous Women’s Festival organised by the Musgrave Park Cultural Centre Inc. This year’s theme was “Women Shaping the Future”.

Islamic New Year: Why Ahmad and Sarah matter in 2008

by Samira Gutoc
January 8, 2008

While prospective presidentiables are busily getting airtime, Muslim townsfolk in the South — farmers, deportees, refugees, domestic helpers and vendors remain voiceless as they fear for renewed clashes in 2008 which will lead to more migration in Luzon.

Milan

Film Review by Natasha Saroca

If any film can challenge the idea that popular culture is lightweight – Milan (2004) is it.

While first impressions may suggest that the film is a ‘typical’ Filipino drama complete with an epic love affair, the requisite angst, meddling family and a ‘token’ bakla (gay), Milan also offers a powerful and insightful commentary into the complexities of OFW experiences.

Bayan Ko

“Bayan Ko” (“My Country”) is one of the most recognizable patriotic songs in the Philippines that, because of its popularity, is sometimes assumed to be a folk song and the country’s unofficial national anthem. It was originally written as a poem by Jose Corazon de Jesus in 1929, and set to music by Constancio de Guzman.

Written as a protest song during the American occupation of the Philippines, it is often sung in protest rallies and demonstrations throughout Philippine history.

Refugee Week

Australia’s Refugee Week theme of “A Place to Call Home” encourages people to think about the global themes of protection and human rights by focusing on the fundamental right to a secure place to call home. It encourages Australians to think about our common obligations to people who have no secure home, as well as to acknowledge the 700,000 refugees and humanitarian migrants over the past 60 years who have made Australia their home.

Planning for Refugee Week is now well underway. It will be held to coincide with the global celebration of World Refugee Day (June 20).

Working Against Trafficking in Persons

Join a group in Brisbane dedicated to working against trafficking in persons

The initial meeting will be held on Saturday, April 26 from 2 to 4 pm at Duhig Hall, Lourdes Hill College, 86 Hawthorne Road, Hawthorne.

CPCA is a national network of Filipino individuals and organisations in Australia committed to advancing the Filipino people's interests. It was formally established in November 1991. The CPCA national office is located in Melbourne. There is also a Brisbane Branch office. There are CPCA members currently living in Victoria, Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania, Northern Territories and in the Philippines itself.

Deaths & Disappearances
Includes updated summary of the Violent Deaths and Disappearances of Filipino Women and Children in Australia as at 23rd September, 2006.

Filipino Women & Sexual Violence: Speaking Out & Providing Services
Paper presented to the Immigrant Women's Support Service Forum "Sexual Violence in a Gender, Cultural and Human Rights Framework" on 24th November, 2000, by Dee Dicen Hunt and Cora Sta. Ana-Gatbonton, Centre for Philippine Concerns Australia (Brisbane Branch). You can read the other papers presented to the forum on the IWSS website.

Filipino Community Organising on Women's Issues in Australia
Paper presented by Dee Dicen Hunt at the 'STOP THE TRAFFIC SYMPOSIUM: Addressing trafficking in women for prostitution' organised by Project Respect held on February 25th, 2002 at RMIT University, Melbourne.

Vivian Alvarez Solon
Comprehensive list of links to Kasama articles about Vivian’s case, submissions from CPCA-Brisbane and Justice Alliance for Vivian to the Senate Inquiry into the administration and operation of the 1958 Migration Act and links to other documents including the Palmer Inquiry Report and the Senate DFAT Committee Interim Report “The removal, search for and discovery of Ms Vivian Solon”

Centre for Migrant Advocacy (CMA)

CMA advocates for the rights of Filipino migrants everywhere – whether they are land based or sea-based migrants and Filipino immigrants or permanent residents and their families.

SOS SMS FOR OVERSEAS FILIPINO WORKERS IN DISTRESS

CENTRE FOR MIGRANT ADVOCACY (CMA) - PHILIPPINES

FOR IMMEDIATE RELIEF / ACTION ON REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE: