Bring Vivian Home

We hoped to be able to give you the news this month that Vivian Alvarez–Solon had at last been reunited with her children in Australia. But, sadly she is still in Manila awaiting an acceptable resettlement offer from the Australian Government solicitors.

It has been more than four years since Vivian was deported from Australia to the Philippines on 20th July 2001; more than two years since Immigration officials knew that an Australian citizen had been wrongfully detained and deported but failed to take remedial action; and over 20 weeks since Vivian’s discovery in an Olongapo charity–run hospice was reported in the media and she could no longer be ignored by the government.

August 27, 2005: Tampa Day Commemoration

The Refugee Action Collective and Amnesty International joined forces with other asylum seeker and refugee advocates to bring their issues of concern to public attention with two major activities: the Tampa Day Commemoration and a national Day of Action for Vivian Solon

(see article: september 7, 2005: National Day of Action for Vivian Solon).

September 7, 2005: National Day of Action for Vivian Solon

Edited extracts from Frederika Steen’s speech at the rally outside the DIMIA Brisbane office and edited extracts from Melba Marginson's speech at the rally outside the DIMIA Melbourne office.

Cultivating Widom - Harvesting Peace

One increasingly significant strategy to educate for a Culture of Peace lies in interfaith dialogue.

All faiths, cultures and civilizations have, at their core, key values, virtues and ethical principles that inspire and sustain human conduct reflective of a Culture of Peace. Forty-six peace educators presented their views at an international symposium brilliantly organised by the Multi-Faith Centre in Brisbane. They talked about their projects and practice, and shared the wealth of their experience. The symposium attracted nearly 200 participants from around the world, including the Philippines. Kasama's editor, Dee Hunt, was there too.

A Lesson on Clan Conflict Resolution in the Philippines

The symposium workshop “Traditional Ways of Resolving Conflict among Indigenous Peoples”, referred to by Archbishop Capalla in his interview, was based on a study “Management of Clan Conflict and Rido among the Tausug, Maguindanao, Maranao, Sama and Yakan tribes” conducted by the Research Centers of Ateneo de Zamboanga University and Notre Dame University. Its aim was to gain better knowledge and appreciation of clan conflict and devise more effective methods of resolution and prevention. Dr. Ofelia Durante (known as Bing by her friends and colleagues) conducted the workshop as a participative exercise. Bing’s workshop notes are reproduced here.

Education For Life, From Life: Lessons to be learnt from a strong indigenous tribe in the Philippines

The Aytas, the first native settlers in the Philippines were thought to have arrived some 30,000 to 70,000 years ago. They are from 25 ethnolinguistic groups scattered from Luzon to Mindanao. The over 80,000 Aytas who live in Mount Pinatubo have attracted interest because of their preserved cultural identity. Sydney resident, DEBORAH RUIZ WALL who has an interest in indigenous peoples, came to visit the Aytas recently in Zambales.

The Life of Street Children in the Philippines and Initiatives to Help Them

The following are extracts from the testimony to the U.S. House Committee on International Relations by Fr. Shay Cullen, mssc, founder and president, People's Recovery Empowerment Development Assistance (PREDA) Foundation, Inc., Philippines.

Telling the truth and getting away with it

By Sheila Coronel

HAYDEE YORAC will be given a hero’s burial tomorrow at the Libingan ng mga Bayani. A resolution unanimously approved by the Senate yesterday paved the way for Yorac’s interment at the cemetery otherwise reserved for military personnel and government dignitaries. For years, the family of the disgraced former president Ferdinand Marcos has asked the government to allow his burial there. Up to now, 15 years after Marcos’ death, permission has not been given and the former president continues to lie in state in a mausoleum in Ilocos Norte.

Woman in Danger or Dangerous Woman?

Contesting Images of Filipina Victims of Domestic Homicide in Australia

In conjunction with Central Queensland University's Faculty of Arts, Health and Science's Distinguished Visitor's Program, the Qld Centre for Domestic and Family Violence Research is delighted to host a presentation by Dr. Nicki Saroca

"Racisms in the New World Order: Realities of Culture, Colour and Identity"

The Centre for Multicultural and Community Development, University of the Sunshine Coast