Austcare News
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Australians tune in to support SBS-Austcare Cyclone Nargis Radiothon 5 June 2008 Read about the successful SBS-Austcare Cyclone Nargis Radiothon, which ran from 1 June to 13 June 2008 and raised over $175,000 in donations and pledges!
World Agrees to Ban on Cluster Bombs 29 May 2008 After nearly two weeks of negotiations in Dublin, the world has agreed to ban cluster munitions. In an historic breakthrough that will save thousands of innocent lives across the globe, Australia has joined the majority of other states represented at the Dublin talks and informally accepted the draft treaty. “With this treaty we have outlawed every type of cluster munition that has ever been used,” says James Turton, Co-ordinator of the Cluster Munition Coalition of Australia. Tonight’s provisional text will be formally adopted on Friday morning (Ireland time), after the various delegations have had a chance to report back to their national capitals. Read the latest update from our campaigner in Dublin.
Cluster Bombs Treaty Negotiations in Dublin 27 May 2008 While the negotiating rooms have been full of tough arguments and differences of opinions that in some cases seem as though they'll be impossible to overcome, there are already signs that the most significant disarmament treaty in more than a decade will be a reality by the end of this week.
Cluster Bombs Treaty Negotiations in Dublin 22 May 2008 If the power of positive thinking is anything to go by, come next Friday the world will be a lot closer to being a safer place for many people. After more than a year the international campaign to ban cluster bombs is reaching one of its most critical points. To mark the start of the Dublin talks, hundreds of campaigners from around the world gathered outside Croke Park Stadium to watch 16 year old cluster bomb survivor, Soraj Ghulam Habib, present a petition of 700 thousand signatures, including those from Australia and New Zealand, to Irish Foreign Minister, Micheal Martin. More than 100 Governments and 300 campaigners have gathered in Dublin for the final round of negotiations, in the battle to ban cluster bombs. Over the next two weeks teams will hammer out for the final text for the most significant disarmament treaty in a decade, and Micheal Martin has declared by the end of these talks "there will be a convention". Over the past few days both Pope Benedict XVI and UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon, have thrown their support behind the process. Cluster bombs have an horrific history of killing and maiming innocent men, women and children and rendering large sections of farm land unusable. Read Austcare's media release.
Hundreds of Thousands homeless after Myanmar Cyclone 5 May 2008 On May 3, 190km per hour winds and 3.5 metre waves ripped through the most densely populated area of Myanmar (Burma). Already, there have been 15,000 deaths, with more than 10,000 of these being from a single town, Bogalay. A further 30,000 people are missing. There are reports of at least 60 villages having been completely washed away. United Nations officials have stated that hundreds of thousands have lost their homes, and the figure could even run into millions. Those left homeless are still without electricity and have very limited access to shelter, food, and water. Austcare is providing assistance through partner organisation ActionAid, which has an existing office in Myanmar. According to Shihab Ahamed, ActionAid's Project Manager in Myanmar, "There is complete devastation here. I couldn't even recognise the areas. In what was a green city, 80% of trees have been uprooted." With his local team, Shihab is in the process of conducting an immediate needs assessment. He has also met with other organisations and UN agencies operating in the region to work out how to best coordinate efforts in the affected areas. Together, they are distributing emergency relief items such as clean water, food, temporary shelter and first aid supplies.
Should the funds raised in the Myanmar Appeal exceed the amount required to fund our response to the needs of our work in Myanmar, Austcare will dedicate any excess funds to our Emergency Response Fund to enable quick response in other emergencies.
Sydney students get their hands dirty in Cambodia 30 April 2008 In February this year, six Sydney University students from Wesley College travelled to Sisaphon, Cambodia. They spent four days in office and in the field. Wesley student Jayne Hanford shares her experiences.
Wellington and beyond in the battle to ban cluster bombs 26 February 2008 Austcare has taken a leading role in the development of a worldwide cluster munitions ban. Find out what happened at the Wellington negotiations and why it's more important than ever for all Australians to begin lobbying.
Cluster Munition Coalition Australia 16 February 2008 On 15 February the Cluster Munition Coalition Australia (CMCA) was launched in Sydney with a committment to supporting the international call to stop cluster munitions from harming civilians. CMCA is working to ensure that the Australian government takes strong leadership in the Oslo Process, which seeks to secure a legally binding international instrument by the end of 2008. Austcare is acting as CMCA's focal point. Read more
Austcare and ActionAid - Together 27 November 2007 Austcare recently joined the ActionAid global network as an Associate. We are now working towards full affiliation with the international antipoverty agency. Read more
Kenya Crisis: Austcare's partner ActionAid responds 14 January 2008 Austcare's global partner ActionAid International calls for international and Kenyan government action to respond to humanitarian needs. Read our report
Situation Report: Sudan 4 December 2007 Read about the situations in the regions of Darfur and southern Sudan, and Austcare's protection work in both areas.
Global Day of Action to Ban Cluster Bombs. 21 November 2007 On 5 November, Austcare took to the streets to speak to the Australian public about the desperate need to ban cluster munitions. Read our report
Palmera Youth's Human Race. See our story on Palmera Youth's innovative yearly event, and the organisation's support of Austcare's Sri Lanka program.
Australians Assist Indonesia Disaster Response Planning.
In Memoriam Major General Paul Cullen AC, CBE, DSO*, ED, 1909 - 2007. 20 September 2007
Michael Milton features in Austcare TV Campaign 26 January 2007 Click here to read about and view Austcare's TV campaign featuring Austcare Ambassador and ACT Australian of the Year, Michael Milton. |
