20,000 flowers of hope on election day
Download and print the instructions: FlowerInstructions.doc
Download and print the labels: FlowerLabels.doc
This election day campaign came about because of a little girl in Villawood who asked the question, "Are there any flowers in Australia?"
Yes there are flowers in Australia and we here at ChilOut are doing everything in our power to ensure that children in detention around the country get to see these flowers, smell their scents, and appreciate a full and carefree life, beyond the razor wire.
We are asking everyone who receives this call to action, especially those in marginal seats, to consider doing this simple thing on election day: hand out flowers with a message.
It is easy for people to throw out pieces of paper, but much harder to throw out a flower, especially with the name of a child on it. The child is real, but we have changed his name to protect his identity. He has been held in immigration detention since he was 6 YEARS OLD. HE IS NOW 10. That is four-and-half years in detention.
As of 29 September 2004 there are 87 children just like him in detention. Please do not allow them to wilt like these flowers will. If every Chilout supporter sends this message on to 10 other people we could reach more than 20,000 people by election day. We may only need to influence a fraction of these for the government to change hands.
ChilOut has had numerous discussions with the Howard government, pleaded through diplomatic channels and peacefully protested against immigration detention, all to no avail. That is why we believe that the only way to bring about a change to immigration laws is to get rid of the Howard government. The Democrats and the Greens have consistently provided a more humane policy towards asylum seekers. Visit our Election 2004 page for more information on party policies.
Here are the instructions:
1. Please become familiar with the electoral rules contained in the Electoral Act 1918, summarised on the AEC website: www.aec.gov.au
In particular:
(a) do not stand, obstruct or set up a table within six metres of the entrance to the polling booth;
(b) if you are going to set up a table you MUST have permission from the school prior to your setting up of the table (give them plenty of notice);
(c) if you are going to hand out any type of material to voters you must place your name and street address on the printout (see www.aec.gov.au for details). The ChilOut labels used in this campaign have been authorised by ChilOut;
(d) as angry as you may be please don’t express anything defamatory, and conduct yourself in a peaceful manner. Remember if you’re wearing your ChilOut t-shirt you are representing an organisation that defends the rights of children.
2. Go to the flower market early in the morning this Friday or Saturday and look for anything cheap. If you make an offer for a bucket or two of flowers from a seller they might well do a deal. Everything is cash so if it’s marked at $3 per bunch you may well be able to purchase the lot for $2. Carnations are good, as they don’t wilt too quickly.
3. Go to your local newsagency or Officeworks and buy A4 pages of stickers size 8. That means 8 labels per sheet (label size 99.1 mm x 67.7 mm). (If you can't manage the stickers, you can print onto plain paper and use sticky tape - stickers are faster and attach more securely though).
4. Print out the document FlowerLabels.doc onto the A4 page of labels. The labels say:
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This flower represents Adam* who is 10 years old. He has been in immigration detention (under the Howard government) since he was 6. That is 4.5 years. Please don't let him wilt and die like this flower will. Vote for change. See our website for more details. www.chilout.org
AUTHORISED BY D. HILES, 344 DARLING ST, BALMAIN 2041.
(*Not his real name)
5. Place each label around the stem of the flower.
6. Go to wherever there may be people and hand them out. Try to go as early as possible so as to give them to people before they vote. Otherwise stick them in people’s letterboxes with the flower sticking out (avoid no junk mail letterboxes).
If you do intend to hand out flowers on election day make sure you tell your local media now so that they may cover the event, and then let us know of your success. This is topical and it is tangible. Please help if you can!