Welcome to the stars, intrepid traveller.

http://www.chilout.org/blog/13496366 article: Latest Victims of ASIO free reign are 6 and 8 year old boys.

ASIO made an adverse security finding against Ranjini which leaves her and her boys with no visa status and no way out of their predicament. Like 46 other refugees in Australia's immigration detention facilities, Ranjini cannot challenge the findings made against her, neither she nor her lawyers can even know what the claims against her relate to. Like other children at VIDC, this means indefinite detention for Ranjini's young sons.

"Perhaps there are issues of national security, but perhaps there are not. Agencies have been known to get things wrong, including ASIO; remember the case of Dr Haneef? Shouldn't the basic principle of innocent until proven guilty stand? Courts can manage sensitive information, lawyers can adhere to court guidance, there has to be a reasonable way for Ranjini and the 46 others in her position to have access to a fair trial and to natural justice. Surely there are degrees of 'adverse' findings? Not every adverse finding indicates someone is a terrorist. Surely arrangements around living in the community and reporting to authorities can be reached in some cases?"

- Sophie Peer, Campaign Director, ChilOut

How you can help:

- write a letter to Federal Attorney General Nicola Roxon. Address: Parliament House, Canberra 2600. Ph : (02) 6277 7300 Fax: (02) 6273 4102. Email: nicola@nicolaroxonmp.com

- write a letter of support to Ranjini at http://lettersforranjini.com/

Thank you all so much for your help. One seventeen year old with an adverse security finding against him has attempted suicide several times. Another detainee has suffered a mental breakdown from being imprisoned. These people deserve a fair trial. They should not be detained indefinitely in limbo and cut off from the outside world - *especially* not children. Children are the most vulnerable members of our society.

http://www.rousseaukiks.com/BULLY_FLYER.PDF This flyer is on martial arts, but it helps busts the myths on bullying. Learning martial arts is another great way to help bullying victims learn how to stand up to bullies. Totally agreed that there are many bullies out there that ignoring the bully usually doesn't work, as they are looking for control. Bullies have average or above average self esteem. A lot of bullies lack empathy, are aggressive and suffered poor parenting. Many victims are chosen because they are anxious, vulnerable (disabled, lacking friends, poor, from another minority group) or unable to retaliate.

http://www.safeworkers.co.uk/i-suffered-workplace-discrimination-case-study.html How people with speech impairments can get help and deal with work discrimination

From http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/parents/2011/01/speech-problems-in-children.shtml :
Speakability http://www.speakability.org.uk/About+Speakability A charity run by people with aphasia for others with aphasia.

the BSA and Talking Point are all organisations that can give advice to the parents of children with speech difficulties. Another good resource is Speech Teach UK. http://www.speechteach.co.uk/index.htm  

Children's books about bullies and conflict resolution: http://www.childrensauthorsnetwork.com/author/dl/AO_Books%20About%20Bullies.pdf

http://www.hhdev.psu.edu/news/2011/bullying.html - The bullying epidemic - how speech pathologists can help stop bullying.

Speech Language Pathologists are present in virtually every school district across the country (there are more than 140,000 registered with the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association), putting them close to the action of many forms of bullying. What’s more, many of the children SLPs commonly work with—those with communication disorders—are typical targets of bullying.

 

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