NEVILLE, how we lit the dark
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8:36 PM (47 minutes ago)
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NEVILLE,
Can you believe it?
Less than a week ago, we woke to the harrowing photo of little Aylan Kurdi, drowned. We read the story of a family torn apart by a tragedy marked by global indifference. And we were horrified as we saw our government’s attempt to shut down compassion with the usual slogan, “Stop the Boats”.
But together, GetUp members and our friends across the movement took that community grief and despair that Aylan’s death sent around Australia, and transformed it into powerful public pressure to offer safety to Syrian refugees. Now the lives of 12,000 people fleeing danger will dramatically change for the better.
On Monday and Tuesday, GetUp members and our friends, family and allies came together to act – lighting the dark in the tens of thousands in cities and towns across the country. And images of those vigils didn’t only light up the front pages and nightly news; they lit a fire under leaders on both sides of the political divide. Politicians arguing for generosity pointed to our vigils as a sign of powerful public sentiment.2
On Monday morning, Tony Abbott was still refusing to move more than a token amount. But after the nationwide vigils began, on Tuesday morning this was the front page of the Victorian Herald Sun:
And today? Things are beginning to change.
For the first time in so long, the Australian government is showing humanity towards refugees, providing real, permanent safety to those in need, genuinely beginning to step up and play its part in the biggest refugee crisis since World War II. Last Thursday, I felt helpless. But today, I am filled with pride in Australia, and hope for what comes next. And it’s because of you.
This announcement is far from perfect, and it leaves much of the harsh reality of Australian refugee policy untouched. Our detention centres are still full of people suffering abuse at the hands of our government and the corporations which profit from these cruel policies. Some of those we keep caged in danger are children just like Aylan.
But today’s news is so much more than anyone imagined was possible last week – and I truly believe it could be a turning point for refugee policy in Australia.
We have broken through the wall of cruelty that has stood around Canberra for far too long. Together, we’ve moved the national conversation from fear and boats to understanding and welcome. We’ve moved from talking about whether Australia will help to talking about how much Australia will do. Our headlines have been full of politicians of all stripes calling for Australia to do more for refugees, and be the generous country we know we can be.
The tide is beginning to change, NEVILLE, and that’s thanks to everyone who took action this week.
Extraordinary moments like this can’t happen in a vacuum – they’re only possible because of the tireless work of volunteers, organisers, allies, and the incredible commitment of so many people all over the country. We’re only able to move quickly and organise events like these when we know we can rely on the commitment of GetUp members to power them with their voice, their time and their small regular donations.
We know we’ve still got a lot more work to do – like getting children out of detention, and ending the system that allows companies to profit from the abuse of people seeking asylum. If you can, click here to become a core part of our movement and help power our action in the future.
When it comes to Australia’s treatment of refugees, hope can be hard to come by. But by standing shoulder to shoulder over the past few days, we proved just how much is possible. I’m incredibly proud of what we achieved this week – and I hope you are too.
In hope,
Aurora, Sally, and Kelsey, for the GetUp team
P.S. In moments like these, we are at our most powerful when we’re together – and never has that been more true than this week. A big thank you and congratulations to all the communities and people who have raised their voices, including the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre, Amnesty International Australia, Welcome to Australia, Love Makes a Way, Refugee Action Coalition, ChilOut, Care Australia, Oxfam, and so many more for being a part of Light the Dark events and making bold statements for a better Australia. Click here to see photos of the vigils, and become a core member to power this movement into the future.
References
[1] ‘Australia to accept an extra 12,000 Syrian refugees and will join US-led airstrikes’, The Guardian, 9 September 2015
[2] ‘Tony Abbott to confirm Syrian airstrikes as pressure grows over refugees’, The Guardian, 8 September 2015._
