Perry Brown, Newcastle
Refugee rights activist Steve Georgopoulos is organising a flotilla of yachts to sail to the Pacific island state of Nauru as a gesture of solidarity with the remaining asylum seekers imprisoned there by the Howard government.
Georgopoulos was the driving force behind the Hope Caravan in 2002, which brought protesters from Newcastle to the Woomera refugee detention centre.
He hopes that the flotilla will sail from Brisbane on May 25 to arrive in Nauru on World Refugee Day, June 20. The delayed start of the voyage was decided on to avoid the cyclone season, which in the Nauru area finishes in late April.
The protesters will be taking along with them a generator for the refugees' hospital.
On November 18, Georgopoulos placed a notice on the world-wide web asking for people to donate boats and time to the venture. Within two days he had received 35 replies and now has 95 names of those committed to the project.
Two yachts are definite starters, one from Brisbane and the 15-metre yacht Eureka from Sydney.
Many people from all over the world have responded with offers of moral and practical support. Prominent US peace activist Starhawk has given her full support and has been invited to crew on one of the boats.
Georgopoulos has the backing of Newcastle Action for Refugee Rights, as well as Rural Australians for Refugees and other refugee support groups around the country. Other endorsees now include the Australian Greens and the NSW branch of the National Tertiary Education Union. Free legal advice has been offered by two prominent human rights lawyers.
Those wishing to donate funds or to offer practical support, or better still, to join the flotilla, can contact the Flotilla of Hope at <http://www.hopecaravan.com>
From Green Left Weekly, January 14, 2004.
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