Our Issues and Differences

As crazy as it became today, I can honestly say i loved having our rather intense discussion over lunch today Ben Pullen, and that was because i recognised the need to be clear on my facts.

As an education to the general public and also just a little something i stumbled upon in my Assessment Research, here's what I have become more aware of today....

"People become refugees (and are entitled to international protection and assistance) from the moment they flee their country due to a well-founded fear of persecution, as stipulated in the Refugee Convention. This means that a person can simultaneously be a refugee and an asylum seeker.

While many refugees are, or have been, asylum seekers, not all asylum seekers are refugees. Some will be found to have valid claims for protection which entitle them to international protection and assistance. Others will be found not to be refugees, nor to be in need of any other form of international protection, and as such are expected to return to their country of origin."

~ http://www.refugeecouncil.org.au/f/who-def.php

And just for my own two cents.....

Regardless of how many people come by boat, plane or otherwise, as Australia is part of the 1951 Refugee Convention and 1967 Protocol, our country should welcome and give opportuntiy to refugees/asylum seekers to have their claims processed on our shores OTHERWISE Australia needs to consider taking their name off that 1951 Refugee Convention and 1967 Protocol as a supporting country.

(http://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=V-5&chapter=5&lang=en)

But anyway, good chat today Ben.  We are SO lucky we have the freedom to express our own individual opinions without fear of the other person persecuting the other.  If nothing else, I am extremely grateful, that we were able to walk away from our discussion and still call one another friend, a privilege these refugees/asylum seekers have been denied.

You have a good heart and are a great man Ben!  Thanks for lunch today, it was worth the extra 15 minutes!!!

PS:  Please promise me you'll watch 'Go Back to Where You Came From"  - It's a good series! 

You can watch it online HERE

(After i wrote this blog, I actually came across this....http://www.refugeecouncil.org.au/n/mr/121101_Excision.pdf)