Writer's Block: I Can Relate

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Roxas from Kingdom Hearts. I chose Roxas because he's quiet, intense and says sorry waaay too much. XD

Tonino Montana from Diana Wynne Jones' Magicians of Caprona. Both of us are massive bookworms. We may be slow, steady plodding workers, but we're hardworking and get there in the end. And we're capable of building on other people's ideas to our advantage. :D

Also Belle from Beauty and the Beast, because I love books and seeing beauty within others. I'm not interested in pretty boys with nothing to offer on the inside either.

facts busting the myths on refugees

Hi everyone,

See this:

http://www.safecom.org.au/refugees1.htm

Get the real lowdown (facts) on refugees.

As outlined in Fact Sheet No 2, refugees are people who have been forced to leave their countries because they have been persecuted.

Rarely do refugees have the chance to make plans for their departure: to pack their belongings, to say farewell to their friends and families ... Some refugees have to flee with no notice, taking with them only the clothes on their backs.

Others, like the family that pretends to be going on a weekend break, have to keep their plans a secret from all around them in case they are discovered.

A significant proportion of refugees have experienced severe trauma. Many have been tortured. Arrivals to Australia have included survivors of the Balkan internment centres and "rape camps" and prisoners of war from the Gulf War.

Migrants
Migrants make a conscious choice to come to Australia. They are able to read about the country and learn about it from friends and families. They have time to study the language and explore employment opportunities before they make a final decision about whether to come.

One of the most significant differences is that migrants are able to pack their precious belongings and say good-bye to the important people in their lives.

Another very important distinction is that migrants can go home at any time if things do not work out as they had hoped or if they get homesick. They can also pick up a phone and talk to friends and relatives. Most refugees cannot.

People use words throw words like refugee and migrant interchangeably, and yet there is a world of difference between these two words. Words have power, and you can either misuse that power by misunderstanding them. Or you can use them well, by learning what they truly mean.