REFUGEE WEEK EVENTS

Queensland

Friday 18 June - South Bank
World Refugee Day Candlelight Walk and Lantern Parade
Join the Multicultural Development Association in a candle and lantern parade along the river to celebrate the achievements and positive contributions of refugees and remember the many millions in refugee camps and stateless people throughout the world.
Details: 5:00pm; Meet at The Cultural Forecourt near The Wheel of Brisbane at the Parklands, South Bank. Walk finishes with a concert at Suncorp Piazza. For more information contact Behice Bagdas on 07 3337 5476 or behiceb@mgabne.org.au.

Saturday 19 June - ABC Radio National
The five fingers of Sri Lanka, Documentary Series
In May 2009 when the war in Sri Lanka ended the Tamil and Singhalese communities in Australia tried to make sense of the years of fighting. There was violence and protest on the streets of Sydney as Tamils maintained the rage for relatives and friends in Sri Lanka who were dead or missing. From the war zone of Northern Sri Lanka stories of violence and treachery on both sides of the conflict emerge; a woman whose leg was amputated out of revenge, a hospital filled with traumatised children, the daily threat of suicide bombers. For this program producer Johan Gabrielsson travelled to parts of Sri Lanka where no other media had access.
Details: 2:00pm; ABC Radio National.

Sunday 20 June - Brisbane Square
Rally and march for refugees in Brisbane
A broad coalition of individuals and groups have joined together to organise a major rally in Brisbane on World Refugee Day. It is vital that as many people as possible attend this event, just months before the federal election. We need to push for a de-politicised debate about refugees and asylum seekers. Earlier in the decade a huge grassroots movement managed to push back support for Howard’s harsh policies. We need to build such a movement again.
Details: 1:00pm; Brisbane Square (top of Queen St Mall). For more information contact Frederika Steen on 07 3720 1885 or refugeeday2010@gmail.com.

Sunday 20 June - Kangaroo Point, Brisbane
Refugee Week Film Festival
Romero Centre is holding a short film festival to celebrate World Refugee Day.On show this year will be a series of short films selected by the Australian Film Festival. All are welcome! Come to enjoy a fun night of films and good company while supporting Brisbane’s refugee community.
Details: 5:30pm; Yungaba, 120 Main St., Kangaroo Point, Brisbane. Adults $25, Concession $15, ticket includes complimentary glass of wine. For more information call 3846 3250 or email admin@romerocentre.

Sunday 20 June - SBS TV
Movie - Kandahar
Mohsen Makhmalbaf's award-winning film about an Afghani-born Canadian
resident who goes to Afghanistan in the midst of war in search of her
sister. Joining a caravan of refugees returning to war-torn country for a
variety of reasons, Nafas soon gets a clear and disturbing portrait of the
toll the Taliban regime has taken upon its people.
Details:11.30pm, SBS 2. See www.sbs.com.au/refugees for more information.

Monday 21 June - SBS TV
Movie - Baran
A racist, naive Iranian labourer falls in love when he realises that the
Afghan boy who stole his job and whom he was angry with, is actually a girl. Directed one of Iran's most celebrated directors, Majid Majidi and stars
Hossein Abedidi and Mohammad Reza Naji. (From Iran, in Farsi, English
subtitles) (Drama) 2001 (Rpt) PG WS
Details: 11.30pm, SBS 2. See www.sbs.com.au/refugees for more information.

Tuesday 22 June - Townsville
Human Rights Workshops: Freedom from Fear and the Declaration of Human Rights
Eight people will facilitate discussions on Articles from the Declaration of Human Rights. Please come, contribute and be informed. Each discussion will be for twenty minutes. Participate in one or all four.
Details: 7:00am meet and breakfast and 7.45am workshop OR Tuesday 22nd June 5:00pm meet and hot soup and 5.45pm workshop; Townsville Multicultural Support Group offices at 63 Ross River Road, Mundingburra. RSVP to Meg Davis or Carmel Cannon on (07) 4775 1588 or megdavis@beyond.net.au, tmsgtutor@beyond.net.au

Friday 25 June - Townsville
Women's Group
Townsville Multicultural Support Group invites you to attend a Women's Group meeting as part of Refugee Week celebrations. A guest speaker will deliver a presentation on Multi-Faith Women, followed by a "share a plate" lunch at 12:00pm. The event will also provide an opportunity to view a static display of contributions on Freedom from Fear.
Details: entry by gold coin donation; Townsville Multicultural Support Group, 63 Ross River Road, Mundingburra; for more information please contact Meg Davis or Carmel Cannon on (07) 4775 1588 or megdavis@beyond.net.au, tmsgtutor@beyond.net.au

Saturday 26 June - Caboolture
Literary Lunch: 'Walking to Freedom'
Walking to Freedom chronicles the lives of a group of young men and women from Southern Sudan’s Awulian clan, Christian, animist, agricultural people driven from their homes by northern Islamic government forces. Their stories recall the terrifying, arduous thousand-mile treks forced on them as children, orphaned or separated from their families by civil war and dubbed the Lost Boys of Sudan by aid agencies. Their journeys crisscrossed harsh and hostile landscapes, into neighbouring Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda, in search of refuge, alone and in groups, fending for themselves. From displaced persons camps, ration cards and school classes under trees, they eventually make their way as humanitarian refugees to Australia. Powerful, eloquent, heartbreaking yet uplifting, Walking to Freedom brings alive the sounds of cattle camps, children’s games, village meetings and the wisdom received from beloved family elders. At this literary lunch there will be an opportunity to meet the authors, hear them talk about their book and read extracts from their book. There will be a lunch and a chance to mingle and talk. Come and celebrate the contribution and achievement of Australian humanitarian refugees.
Details: 11:00am; Caboolture Memorial Hall Supper Room (behind the new Caboolture Library). For bookings, please phone 5433 2000.

Sunday 27 June - Annerley
World Refugee Day Community Festival 2010
World Refugee Day, Community Festival showcases the diversity and talent of refugee communities in Brisbane with a full day of traditional and contemporary music and dance, visual arts and crafts, delicious food, traditional handicrafts, soccer and volleyball matches, amusement rides, kids activities and a variety of workshops. The day will feature a taste of world cup soccer excitement when community teams battle it out for the World Refugee Day Soccer Cup, cheered by crowds of enthusiastic fans. Gather your friends and family to celebrate the courage, resilience and strength of refugees in our community.
Details: 10:00am - 5:00pm; Annerley Soccer Club Fields, Ridge and Juliette Streets, Annerley. For more information contact Behice Bagdas on 07 3337 5476 or behiceb@mdabne.org.au.

Monday 28 June - Brisbane
Australia, we are here!
The Romero Centre invites you to attend a free performance of refugee stories of resilience and resettlement. The event will include story-telling, music by Roz Pappalardo and Cievash Arian and poetry reading by Sabah Al Ansari, Saad Hamsa Al Fatlawi and Hassan Ghulam.
Details: 4:00pm-6:00pm; Jagera Arts Centre, 121 Cordelia Street, South Brisbane QLD; for more information please contact Hassan Ghulam, Sabah Al Ansari, Jason MacLeod or Jeniece Olsen on (07) 3846 3250.