WANEWS
ISSUE 3 - SEPTEMBER 2017
| WA EDITION
NAGM UPDATES
COMMUNITY IS EVERYTHING
INTRODUCING OUR DIGITAL INTERNS
WA NEWS editors sophie hartley | richa malaviya 1. A Message from the Branch President 3. NAGM Report 4. Women's Resolution 6. Community Organising Update 7. Liz White Award Winners 8. Activism Update 12. Activist Corner - article by Kate Arnautovic 14. Volunteer Profile - Justin Falcke 16. Upcoming Dates 17. Action Group Directory
on the cover Amnesty staff, activists and supporters celebrate the launch of Amnesty International Australia's 2017-2020 Stretch RAP at the Perth Action Centre. Photograph by Melissa Huston.
YOUR WA BRANCH COMMITTEE
A message from the Branch President BY LEONIE
ALEXANDER
Dear Members and Supporters, The past few months have seen our regional activist leaders engaging in governance at the state and national level, including discussing major reform of our governance structures and activities. Consultation with the wider membership is a crucial part of this process, and those who took part in discussion on governance reform at our AGMS have been invited to provide reflections on this work. Our WA Women’s Rights Group has worked tirelessly over this period, engaging with regional and national governance bodies, leading to not only renewed focus on Women’s Rights as a major human rights issue, but also in the establishment of a Women’s Rights National Network. September brings our Community is Everything Blitz, and we are calling on you all to support our
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Photo subjects: Aidan Yuen, Kombe Musonda, Leonie Alexander, Richa Malaviya, Greg Stitt, India Lynne, Mark Brisbane: BAGM 2017
campaign for a national plan of action to end the over-representation of Indigenous kids in detention. You can do this by helping out at stalls, collecting petition signatures and calling on the Prime Minister to support Indigenous led solutions, end the abuse of children in detention centres and focus on providing rehabilitation and better conditions. The Marriage Equality Campaign is now at a crucial stage, with the High Court ruling in favour of the postal survey. Now is the time to support members of the LGBTQI community, insist on respectful debate, and argue for the end of discrimination and for all Australians to be treated equally under the law. In the next few months we will be launching a substantial new regional campaign to argue for a Human Rights Act for WA. 2017 is the 10th anniversary of the Chaney Report into a Human Rights Act, a fitting time for activists to re-ignite this debate. A Human Rights Act for WA would provide important protections of civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights for all citizens, play an important role in fostering a human rights culture, and ensure that all proposed legislation is in line with the human rights principles. Stay tuned for details of some exciting opportunities to engage with this new campaign. We are looking forward to our next Convenor’s meeting in October, listening to your feedback and sharing some of the exciting ways in which your groups can contribute in our campaigns. As always, thank you all for your tireless efforts in defending and protecting individuals at risk, campaigning for the rights of refugees and asylum seekers, supporting crisis actions, working towards transforming the lives of Indigenous kids, and for inspiring others to take action. Thank you Leonie Alexander Amnesty International WA Branch President
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NAGM Report BY AIDAN
YUEN
Amnesty International Australia’s National Annual General
began with an inspiring speech from Usman Hamid, the Head of
Meeting (NAGM) is one of our most important decision
Amnesty International’s Office in Indonesia. We got the chance
making events. All of the branches come together to elect
meet the board candidates throughout the rest of the night.
members of the board and put forward resolutions which set the strategic direction for the movement in Australia. This
On the following day, all attendees participated in three Human
year, NAGM was held in July in Sydney. WA was represented
Rights Workshops:
by Leonie Alexander (Branch President), Marsha Reid
· Stream 1: Community is Everything (CIE) Campaign
(Delegate), Richa Malaviya (Delegate), Aidan Yuen (Observer),
· Stream 2: Refugees Campaign
and Greg Stitt (Director on the National Board).
· Stream 3: Connecting our Action Groups Board elections were conducted after lunch, and results were
The two-day affair kicked off with a seminar on the challenges released shortly after. It was a sad farewell to Giles, who had to effective governance in the nonprofit sector, presented by
served on the board for the past 7 years, and a very warm
Peter Worland, Executive Director of Uniting. This was
welcome to the new board members.
followed by a workshop around challenging conversations in governance evolution; topics discussed included challenges
We then observed a smoking ceremony with Uncle Max Eulo; and
faced by a large board, and strategies to becoming more
noted down personal commitments to AIA’s Reconciliation
“nimble”.
Action Plan 2017 – 2020.
The Board Report proceeded shortly after, which provided a
The weekend finished with a report from the International
review of 2016, and a status update on the 2020 Vision. Branch
Executive Committee and insights into the International Council
Presidents from each region then presented their individual
Meeting in Rome in August. With that, it was goodbye to Sydney
Branch Reports; our very own Leonie did a stellar job at
and many goodbyes to all our new interstate friends. On the
highlighting the many successes of the best branch.
whole, NAGM proved to be a very informative and worthwhile experience that I would strongly recommend to all up-and-
6:00 p.m. marked the end of the formal business day, which was soon followed by an evening cocktail event. The night
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Photo subjects: Marsha Reid, Aidan Yuen, Richa Malaviya: NAGM 2017
Women's Resolution BY MARSHA
REID
AIA has done incredible work over the years championing
However, heeding the idiom ‘strength in numbers’,
women’s rights, and I was honoured to have the opportunity
we decided early in the year to reach out to
to strengthen the organisation’s work and commitment to
Amnesty women’s rights groups and activists from
women’s rights and consequently shape its strategic
other regions—such as Victoria, the ACT, and
direction at this year’s National Annual General Meeting
Tasmania—to see if they a) had similar
(NAGM) in Sydney in July.
experiences, challenges, and opinions and b) wanted to work with us as a unified group and
NAGM is one of AIA’s most important decision-making
collectively ask AIA to strengthen its continued
meetings and for good reason. It is a chance to meet other
support and commitment to women’s rights. We
supporters and members who make up the grassroots
quickly discovered both consensus and excitement
movement, learn more about AIA’s work and vision, acquire
at the opportunity to go to NAGM and have our
knowledge and new skills in governance, and have a say in
voices heard collectively as women’s rights
the organisation’s future direction, for example, electing
activists. Subsequent conversations, networking,
board members or asking AIA to consider taking a position
and burgeoning friendships led us to establish the
or action on a local, national, or global issue.
AIA National Women’s Rights Network in April 2017.
As Convenor of the WA Women’s Rights Group, I could not bypass the opportunity to participate at NAGM and ask AIA
The Network is a forum for Amnesty women’s
to increase support for its women’s rights groups and
rights activists across Australia to communicate,
activists so as to strengthen the organisation’s work
collaborate, share ideas, and support one another
advancing women’s rights. My desire to ask was driven by
as we promote and defend women’s rights locally,
the challenges I faced building the WA Women’s Rights
nationally, and globally. And one of the first
Group’s skills and capacity for robust grassroots activism and
things we did as a network was develop a strategy
advocacy, as well as current socio-political events (which
to go to NAGM and ask AIA to strengthen it’s
have exacerbated gender discrimination and threaten those
support and commitment to women’s rights. In
hard-fought rights that women and girls currently enjoy).
the end, we drafted and submitted for consideration two resolutions asking AIA to
An awareness of AIA’s last national women’s rights campaign
support the Network and Amnesty women’s rights
also influenced my ask. The 2014 launch of the Stop Violence
groups in our work defending women’s rights,
Against Women campaign was a huge success for AIA and
effectively implement a clear gender
galvanized women’s rights groups and activists to take action
mainstreaming policy to be applied to relevant AIA
to raise awareness, expose abuses, protect lives, and effect
activities, and consult with the Network and other
policy change locally and globally. The WA Women’s Rights
relevant stakeholders to create a national priority
Group felt that in 2017, it was important that AIA once again
campaign for women’s rights following the 2020
develop a dedicated women’s rights campaign in addition to
Vision.
supporting our current activism and advocacy.
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shortly, so watch this space) if you’d like to have a The process of drafting and submitting our resolutions
say and shape the direction of the Network, much
to NAGM was truly a collaborative effort, for the
like the Network did with AIA at NAGM.
Network received indispensable advice, encouragement, and support from our respective
Which brings me to a key point. It was over the
regional branches (comprised of Amnesty staff and
course of NAGM that I realised NAGM is so much
branch committees) and pre-NAGM working groups.
more than an important decision-making meeting
Numerous email chains, phone calls, face to face
about processes and structures that guide how AIA
meetings, and late evening (or early morning)
operates. NAGM is about the incredible awe-
teleconferences tell the story behind those resolutions!
inspiring people I met from all walks of life across the country, working together towards a common
But none of that prepared us for the incredible amount
cause. It is these people who make up AIA’s
of respect and support that I and Melbourne-based
amazing movement, a movement whose strength
Network member Jen Guha received when we attended
lies in its numbers and diversity, unified by its
this year’s NAGM and presented the Network’s
passion and commitment to defending human
resolution to members, supporters, and the National
rights, reflecting AIA’s EPIC values.
Board over the first week-end of July. The interest in and enthusiasm for our resolutions was humbling, and
So while I am honoured by the opportunity to
when they were passed by consensus, it was the
attend NAGM and shape its direction with regards
culmination of several month’s hard work and a huge
to women’s rights, I am even more honoured to be
win for Amnesty women’s rights activists.
part of such a mass movement of people, and it all started because of the desire to ask.
I am excited about the significant opportunities such a win will create, and the AIA National Women’s Rights Network will be holding our first national webinar on Thursday 7 September at 7:30 pm AEST/5:30 pm AWST to reflect on this and adiscuss next steps. We encourage you to join us (dial in details to follow
Photo: Leo Van Der Weele, Gemma Birch, Marsha Reid, Emiko Mori-Wiffen: Before the Siren 2017
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Community Organising Update BY SARAH
GOODERHAM
The WA branch set out into 2017 with ambitious growth targets of 20 Action groups and 60% electorate coverage of the state. Why would we set growth targets? - well because we need to be constantly expanding our audience, our membership and our activist base. The only way we can achieve human rights outcomes is to be engaging with more people and encouraging them to take action in continuous, new and meaningful ways. Growth is a core element of all of our activism and all of us should be always looking for opportunities to bring new people into the movement and making them passionate about protecting and defending human rights. If you want some advice on how you or your group can get better at this get in touch with me and I can help you devise a growth strategy. Why do we need to expand into more electorates? - It is really important
Need some help getting ORGANISED?
that we are engaging with a diverse range of audiences and that we don't just talk in an echo chamber where we already know there is support. Most importantly we need to make sure we can develop relationships with MPs and senators across the state. They are more likely to engage with us if we have activism happening in the area they represent. If we really want to win on difficult issues like refugees than we need to have a large demonstration of support across the country that is felt, seen and experienced by MPs and we do this by having action groups making their presence felt in their electorate. So are we on track? - More than on track we have already smashed these targets and are actually on course to have 21 groups and 70% electorate coverage by the end of the year. This is in large part due to the awesome
I can help you with: - Starting an Action Group in your area - Growing your Action Group - Developing your activism and campaigning skills - Planning and developing events and actions - Campaign knowledge
activism from all of our group conveners working hard to sustain and energise their action groups. The community organising volunteer team who have worked tirelessly on launching a Midland Action group and have been busy laying the groundwork for a Rockingham Action group, coming soon.
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Contact: sarah.gooderham@amnesty.org.au
LIZ WHITE AWARD WINNERS RECOGNISING ACTIVISTS
THE AND
WORK
OF
OUR
LEADERS
The Liz White Award is a regional award that recognises outstanding and innovative contributions by individuals or groups. This award is established in memory of Liz White, a longstanding passionate and fearless WA activist and member of Amnesty Melville Group. Congratulations to this year's joint recipients - Hayley Beth and Ashley Macmillan.
Photo subjects left to right: Ashley Macmillan; Hayley Beth & Leonie Alexander
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Activism Update BY
SOPHIE
It’s been a colossal few months in the Amnesty WA calendar with film screenings, rallies and panel
HARTLEY
REFUGEE
RIGHTS
Our Scarborough and Joondalup Groups have been
discussions keeping our activists busy.
busy making plans to turn their local councils into
At times this year I know our activists have felt that they are fighting an ever steepening uphill battle. From the scourge of indifference and despair, to rising populism around the world - it can be hard to feel that our actions can make a difference. But while we
Refugee Welcome Zones. The Scarborough Action Group launched the campaign with their incredibly successful panel discussion “What if it was you?”. Our Refugee Rights Group marked Refugee Week by teaming up with The Art of Humanity and Amnesty’s
continue working to change unjust policies and empower rights holders - it’s vital that we remember the equally important achievements we have made in building communities and sharing a vision of the world we can be proud of. From the Fremantle and Scarborough Action Groups sharing refugee stories to sold out audiences, to the Indigenous Rights Group
LGBTQI Rights Group to hold a “mime-in” at key MP offices around Perth, highlighting the often silenced plight of LGBTQI asylum seekers currently in detention. They also joined with hundreds of Perth locals for the #EvacuateNow rallies - marking the 4th consecutive anniversary of offshore detention.
being present at endless markets around Perth, activists at Amnesty WA have helped to build a more
MP
ENGAGEMENT
positive community. Keep reading for just a few
Our Mt Lawley Group hosted an illuminating meeting
examples!
with their local MP Simon Millman - helping to strengthen ties in the community and put human rights on the government's agenda.
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Photo: Ashley Macmillan, Claire Birch, Mark Brisbane: #EvacuateNow Rally 2017
Melissa and Ashley gather signatures for our Community is Everything blitz
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"?uoy saw ti fi tahW" stsoh puorG noitcA hguorobracS eht ,ngiapmac snoitatnalp
lio mlap no ruobal dlihc ruo troppus MGAB ta seednetta ,yllaR hajilE rof ecitsuJ :pot morF
COMMUNITY
10 | WA
IS
EVERYTHING
The Indigenous Rights Group were proud to participate in a number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander events including NAIDOC Week events, Sorry Day activities and rallies calling for Justice for Elijah Doughty. The Indigenous Rights team is currently undergoing a massive activism blitz in the electorate of Curtin. We’re aiming to gather 1000 signatures before the release of the Royal Commission into the Protection and Detention of Children in the Northern Territory. We’ve already held stalls around the electorate -there’s an exciting new creative petition and massive plans ahead - if you want to get involved contact Ashley on wa.co.assistant@amnesty.org.au.
#NOTINMYTROLLEY
NEWS • ISSUE 3
Groups around Perth have been supporting our child labour on palm oil plantations campaign. The Murdoch Group held a palm oil free bake sale earlier this year to raise awareness.
puorG sthgiR IQTBGL eht fo hannaH ,hcnul kcul top ruo yojne sreetnulov dna stsivitcA :pot morF
.yaD elpruP ti raeW etomorp sreetnulov eciffo ruo ,srekees mulysa IQTBGL fo thgilp eht setomorp
LGBTQI
RIGHTS
This year achieving marriage equality is a priority campaign. Our LGBTQI Action Group is working hard to swing the “yes” vote and promote respectful and supportive rhetoric in the lead up to the postal plebiscite. RECONCILIATION
ACTION
PLAN
Amnesty International Australia celebrated reconciliation week this year by launching our 2017-2020 Stretch Reconciliation Action Plan. You can find out everything about our RAP at amnesty.org.au/reconciliation - but here are a few tips to get you started: Make sure you give an acknowledgement of country every time you meet (or arrange a Welcome to Country at events), Where possible, use Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander companies for your materials and services, Complete our cultural competency training here: amnesty.org.au/skill-up/culturalcompetency/ - contact sophie.hartley@amnesty.org.au for the password. ISSUE 3 •
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While some members of the community have sought to negotiate a land use agreement with Adani, others have remained opposed to the project (Robertson, 2015; West, 2015). What the outcome of the negotiations has highlighted is the absence of any legislative foothold for Indigenous groups who oppose developments on their land. With no capacity to veto under the NTA, Indigenous opponents can only withhold their consent and refuse to negotiate an agreement with the mining interest (O’Faircheallaigh, 2006, 2008; Short, 2007). In cases where consent is withheld, the government can approve the development if it is deemed within the public interest. In this scenario, Indigenous groups risk losing
Activist Corner ARTICLE
BY
KATE
ARNAUTOVIC*
the opportunity for compensation and yet will still have their land rights extinguished through compulsory acquisition (Australian Human Rights Commission, 2014; NNTT, 2008). In consideration of this possibility, there is a strong incentive for Indigenous groups to
The fate of the proposed Adani Carmichael coal mine in
accept agreements in order to gain some level of
central Queensland has become a highly contentious topic in
compensation in exchange for damage or loss of land.
politics and the public sphere. The project is set to be the
The faction of the Wangan and Jagalingou community
second largest coal development in the world with a
that have sought to negotiate a land use agreement with
proposed scale that includes six open-cut pits and a lifetime
Adani may recognise the limitations of the native title
of up to 60 years (Horn, 2016). The project area in the Galilee
system and the inevitability of mining expansion. In a
Basin is located entirely within the native title claim of the
news article, a representative of the group Patrick
Wangan and Jagalingou people. The proposed mine site has
Malone stated that, “even though some [Wangan and
placed Australia’s native title system under the lens and
Jagalingou] people didn’t like the idea of the mine, most
exposed a number of its shortcomings. It has tested the
knew it would probably go ahead and it was best to take
strength of the Native Title Act 1993 (NTA) in terms of its
the opportunities for our people, to get jobs for the next
capacity to deliver a robust system for Indigenous groups to
generations” (McKenna, 2015, para. 8). Thus, the choice
assert their rights to land (Borschmann, 2015; Palese, 2015).
to support the proposed mining development may be
In the process of examining a case where Indigenous land
more to do with an understanding of how native title
rights collide with a prospective mining development, the
rights operate and the likeliness that development will
tendency for the native title system to bend in the favour of
proceed regardless of the interests of traditional owners
resource interests becomes apparent. In the course of
in the region.
negotiations, a prolonged six- year process, the Wangan and
Indigenous land rights in Australia have continued to
Jagalingou community became deeply divided (Milman, 2015;
operate within a system that prioritises resource
Taylor, 2015).
interests (Altman, 2009; Marsh, 2013). State institutions tasked with interpreting the NTA continue to bend in the favour of resource interests over the interests of traditional owners (Ritter, 2009; Scambary, 2013). The
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National Native Title Tribunal, an independent body tasked with dispute resolution between developers and Indigenous groups, has rarely ruled against resource development proposals (Howlett, 2010; Corbett & O’Faircheallaigh, 2006). As Adrian Burragubba, a representative of the opponents to the mine, has argued, “There’s an inherent bias in the system where companies know if they get a “no” they can go to the Tribunal and are virtually guaranteed to get their mining lease” (Milman, 2015, para. 10). When matters proceed to the Tribunal for determination, mining companies can rest assured that they will receive a positive outcome in favour of their interests. This creates an impossible environment for Indigenous groups seeking to prevent the imposition of large mining developments on their land. Opinions in this article are author's own and
*
do not necessarily represent Amnesty International's position.
References:
Altman, J. (2009). Indigenous communities, miners and the state. In: J. Altman & D. Martin (Eds.), Power, culture, economy: Indigenous Australians and mining. Canberra, Australia: ANU Press. Australian Human Rights Commission. (2014). Review of the Native Title Act 1993. Retrieved from https://www.humanrights.gov.au/sites/default/files/20140508_NativeTitleInquiryALRC.pdf Borschmann, G. (2015, March 26). Wangan and Jagalingou people reject $16 billion Carmichael mine to be built in central Queensland. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved from http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-03-26/wangan-jagalingou-people-say-no-to-16-billion-carmichaelmine-q/6349252 Corbett, T., & O’Faircheallaigh, C. (2006). Unmasking the politics of native title: The national native title tribunal’s application of the NTA’s arbitration provisions. University of Western Australia Law Review, 33(1), 153-176. Retrieved from http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/journals/UWALawRw/ Horn, A. (2016, December 6). Here's what we know about Adani and the Carmichael mine project. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved from http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-12-05/what-we-know-aboutadani-and-the-carmichael-mine-project/8094244 Howlett, C. (2010). Flogging a dead horse? Neo-marxism and indigenous mining negotiations. Australian Journal of Political Science, 45(3), 457-474. doi:10.1080/10361146.2010.499184 Marsh, J. K. (2013). Decolonising the interface between indigenous peoples and mining companies in Australia: Making space for cultural heritage sites. Asia Pacific Viewpoint, 54(2), 171-184. doi:10.1111/apv.12017 McKenna, M. (2015, August 21). Indigenous jobs fears as greens march in. The Australian. Retrieved from www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/indigenous/indigenous-job-fears-as-greens-march-in/newsstory/10780449062e08709835ee550db0d417 Milman, O. (2015, March 26). Aboriginal group fights to stop $16bn Carmichael coalmine, Australia’s largest. The Guardian. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/mar/26/aboriginalgroup-fights-to-stop-16bn-carmichael-coalmine National Native Title Tribunal. (2008). ILUA or the right to negotiate process? A comparison for mineral tenement applicants. Retrieved from http://www.nntt.gov.au/Information%20Publications/ILUA%20%20The%20Right%20to%20Negotiate.pdf O'Faircheallaigh, C. (2006). Aborigines, mining companies and the state in contemporary Australia: A new political economy or 'business as usual'? Australian Journal of Political Science, 41(1), 1-22. doi:10.1080/10361140500507252 O'Faircheallaigh, C. (2008). Negotiating cultural heritage? Aboriginal–mining company agreements in Australia. Development and Change, 39(1), 25-51. doi:10.1111/j.1467-7660.2008.00467.x Palese, B. (2015, April 3). It's not just Indigenous Australians v. Adani over a coal mine. The Guardian. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/apr/03/its-not-just-indigenousaustralians-v-adani-over-a-coal-mine-we-should-all-join-this-fight Ritter, D. L. (2009). Contesting native title: From controversy to consensus in the struggle over indigenous land rights. Crows Nest, Australia: Allen & Unwin. Robertson, J. (2015, November 23). Traditional land owner tells court Adani misled tribunal over mine’s benefits. The Guardian. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/australianews/2015/nov/23/traditional-land-owner-tells-court-adani-misled-tribunal-over-mines-benefits Scambary, B. (2013). My country, mine country: Indigenous people, mining and development contestation in remote Australia. Canberra, Australia: ANU Press. Short, D. (2008). Reconciliation and colonial power: Indigenous rights in Australia. Aldershot, England: Ashgate Publishing. Taylor, J. (2015, May 29). Indigenous protest held in Brisbane against $16 billion Adani coal mine in the Galilee Basin. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved from http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-0529/indigenous-protest-against-adani-coal-mine-in-the-galilee-basin/6507130 West, M. (2015, July 4). Adani shown the door by traditional owners. The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved from http://www.smh.com.au/business/comment-and-analysis/adani-shown-the-door-by-traditionalowners-20150702-gi3y2h.html
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Volunteer Profile Digital Interns Justin Falcke Our new digital interns Justin Falcke and Hannah Itzstein are busy creating digital content to help promote Amnesty International WA's human rights work. We had a chat to Justin about what they're up to. 1. Tell us a little bit about yourself Hey. My name is Justin Falcke. I am a 21-year-old student completing my final year at the University of Notre Dame. 2. How long have you been involved with Amnesty? What are you most excited about? I have been with Amnesty for little over a month. I am most excited about applying my skills in videography, journalism and behavioural science. I am looking forward to helping Amnesty expand their support and to shine a light on the wonderful work that occurs at Amnesty W.A. Being part of a team fighting for positive change is very exciting! 3. What are you guys planning for WA? Tell us more about your doco and podcast. Hannah Itzstein, a fellow intern, and myself are in the production phase of a short Amnesty documentary. The documentary aims to inform the public on who we are, what we do and how they can help. We are busy getting interviews from Amnesty activists and campaign events. Any interview suggestions would be much appreciated. I have recently submitted a proposal for an Amnesty W.A podcast. I believe the podcast could be a very effective way of communicating with the public as well as providing a platform for interviews and discussion that could aid in current and future campaigns. Right now, my fingers are crossed that we can get the funding for microphones and headphones so we can start.
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4. What Amnesty campaign most interests you
7. Where will we see you in 10 years’ time?
and why?
In 10 years’ time, I hope to be writing and
I wouldn’t be able to single out one campaign that
directing feature films and documentaries that
interests me. Every campaign Amnesty is involved
allow people to think outside the box and question
in has important significance.
humanity.
5. What do you do when you're not filming
8. How can we get involved?
WA's best human rights activists?
Please email me at
When I am not working with Amnesty I am
wa.as.volunteer@amnesty.org.au for further
normally at University where I study
information or any suggestions you may have. If
Communications/Media and Behavioural Science.
you would like to be interviewed or even be a
However, in my free time I binge watch movies,
presenter on the podcast, please get in touch with
write film scripts and love rugby, cricket and
an expression of interest.
football. 6. Who's your hero? My hero is my grandfather, Hilton Falcke. Every day I strive to be the man that my grandfather was. Even after facing some of life’s hardest struggles he always saw the positives in life and treated everyone he met with respect and kindness. If I could compare him to one fictional character it would be Atticus Finch. Sadly, he passed away last year in South Africa but I will never forget the life lessons he taught me.
Photo subject: Sophie Hartley: Filming for Amnesty WA Documentary
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Upcoming and Important Dates TRAINING
4 Oct: Get Active (Amnesty 101) - 6pm | Action Centre 28 Oct: Amnesty WA Activist Skillshare! - 9am-4pm | Replants Fremantle (Wray Ave) EVENTS:
21 Sept: Another Country - film screening - 6:30pm | Rockingham Arts Centre 11 Oct: The Mental Health Costs to People Seeking Asylum In Australia - Panel Discussion hosted by Amnesty International Fremantle Group - 7pm | Replants (96 Wray Ave Fremantle) 5 Oct: Amnesty Karaoke Night - hosted by the Women's and LGBTQI Rights Groups - 6pm | The Court Hotel
GET
INVOLVED
14 Sept: Marriage Equality - LGBTQI meeting and phone banking for Yes Campaign - 5:00pm | Action Centre 18 Sept: Marriage Equality - Phone banking for Yes Campaign - 6pm | Action Centre Human Rights Act WA Get involved with the WA Human Rights Act Working group! Contact Daniel Elias at daniel.elias1@my.nd.edu.au Community is Everything Blitz: Join us as we gather signatures around the electorate of Curtin - contact Ashley on wa.co.assistant@amnesty.org.au Podcast: We are creating a documentary and will be starting a podcast. If you think you will be an amazing host or want to get involved in another way, contact Justin & Hannah on wa.as.volunteer@amnesty.org.au *Want to see something your group is up to featured in the next Newsletter? Contact Sophie on sophie.hartley@amnesty.org.au 16 | WA
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Photo: Richa Malaviya
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