You can help protect the civilians of Iraq
What’s happening in Iraq?
Hundreds of thousands of people belonging to religious minorities as well as other groups have been forced to leave their homes following the advance of the Islamic State (IS, formerly known as the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham – ISIS) fighters into towns and villages in northern Iraq since June.
The impact of ISIS
On 2 August the forces of the IS took over Sinjar, in the north of Iraq. Since then, thousands of civilians from Sinjar and its environs, mainly belonging to the Yezidi community, have fled the area and are seeking refuge in other areas, especially the KRG and Syria, after having been stranded for days in the mountains with no food and water. Many of those displaced since June are trying to reach the Kurdistan Region of Iraq or are currently sheltered there by friends or families.
How can we help?
The US and European governments have announced the delivery of humanitarian aid to those displaced by the conflict. Humanitarian aid started arriving after mid July, and it has reached some in need, but new attacks on civilians continue being reported, displacing more people every day. Therefore it is essential that International assistance and a concerted action from the international community, the Government of Iraq and the KRG is taken to meet the needs of displaced persons. Meanwhile, the US has initiated military action in Iraq against IS, including air strikes, and other countries have announced providing military support to the Iraqi and Kurdish governments for their operations against IS.
Supporting Amnesty International
The Wishing Well was established in 2010 to offer children in out-of-home care, such as foster care and residential care, a range of healing and treatment options usually not accessible as a free therapy in mainstream health.
The Wishing Well raises funds to enable children and young people to access developmentally-appropriate and trauma-informed treatments shown to be highly effective in dealing with severe trauma and neglect. These therapies respond to the unique needs of each child and young person.
The Wishing Well is a not-for-profit incorporated charity organisation, established and managed by people seeking to improve outcomes for children and young people in out-of-home care and their families. The Wishing Welll recognises the importance of the act of giving. We recognise the significance of the participation of community members and all donations are most appreciated.
The Wishing Well operates ethically, effectively and empathically with a view to achieving quality outcomes and a satisfying working environment, and as such we support organisations that encompass similar ideals.
The Wishing Well gratefully receives donations, funding and resources through bequests, corporate partnerships, fundraising events, grants, online donations and other fund raising activities. Money donated to The Wishing Well enables traumatised children access to healing therapies. Please see our website for more information:
How you can help
Amnesty International is sending our messages to the President of the Republic of Iraq, Fuad Masum, and the Minister of Interior in the KRG, Abdul Karim Sultan Sinjari. You too can send your message to call for the protection of civilians in Iraq:
https://campaigns.amnesty.org/actions/protect-civilians-of-iraq
You can join with Greenpeace and stop Sydney Uni from funding Whitehaven Coal
What’s happening?
The University of Sydney is funding the destruction of endangered forest, prime farmland, and indigenous heritage sites through a million dollar investment in Whitehaven Coal. Sydney Uni has announced that they will make no further investments in coal while they review their investment policy, but we need to make sure they stop funding the destructive Maules Creek mine now.
Coal mining by Whitehaven
Coal mining planned for New South Wales by Whitehaven Coal is expected to destroy approximately 5000 hectares – that’s more than half – of Leard State Forest, and produce 30 million tonnes of carbon pollution per year.
“This mine is being built on a tract of woodland so important it’s been classified as ‘tier 1 biodiversity’. It’s so rare that only 0.1% of its original extent remains in the world in an undisturbed state. It is home to over 396 native species, 26 of which are threatened. That includes the koala, squirrel glider, corben’s longeared bat, pale headed snake and barking owl.” – Greenpeace
Greenpeace tells Sydney Uni to stop funding
Around the world, individuals and communities are joining together to oppose fossil fuel projects. From openly calling for sit-ins and getting arrested (Keystone XL movement, Canada and the US), to denying fossil fuel companies access to land (Lock the Gate, Australia), and to tackling coal-mine expansion…” – Point of No Return Report by Greenpeace.
The University still owns around million of shares in Whitehaven Coal — a destructive company that represents everything that is wrong with the coal industry in Australia. Greenpeace makes its position clear that funding the Maules Creek mine is wrong.
Supporting Greenpeace
The Wishing Well was established in 2010 to offer children in out-of-home care, such as foster care and residential care, a range of healing and treatment options usually not accessible as a free therapy in mainstream health.
The Wishing Well raises funds to enable children and young people to access developmentally-appropriate and trauma-informed treatments shown to be highly effective in dealing with severe trauma and neglect. These therapies respond to the unique needs of each child and young person.
The Wishing Well is a not-for-profit incorporated charity organisation, established and managed by people seeking to improve outcomes for children and young people in out-of-home care and their families. The Wishing Welll recognises the importance of the act of giving. We recognise the significance of the participation of community members and all donations are most appreciated.
The Wishing Well operates ethically, effectively and empathically with a view to achieving quality outcomes and a satisfying working environment, and as such we support organisations that encompass similar ideals.
The Wishing Well gratefully receives donations, funding and resources through bequests, corporate partnerships, fundraising events, grants, online donations and other fund raising activities. Money donated to The Wishing Well enables traumatised children access to healing therapies. Please see our website for more information:
How you can help
Write to the University of Sydney and do your part to stop the destruction caused by Whitehaven Coal:
Help end violence against women in Papua New Guinea
What’s happening?
Right now, women and girls in Papua New Guinea (PNG) are experiencing horrific violence and brutality as part of their everyday lives. Murder, torture and sexual assault are commonplace. Researchers recently visited the country and found that despite new laws making sexual and domestic violence a crime, attacks against women and girls at the hands of family members and strangers are still being perpetrated. Although there is no official government data on violence against women and children in PNG, research has said it was widely reported to occur in two-thirds of PNG families and “the incidence is likely to be higher than two in three”. One study cited by the charity in its report found that half of all women would be raped in their lifetime, and another reported that 86 per cent were beaten during pregnancy.
Everyone deserves basic human rights
Human rights are rights inherent to all human beings, whatever our nationality, place of residence, sex, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, language, or any other status. We are all equally entitled to our human rights without discrimination. These rights are all interrelated, interdependent and indivisible.
Oxfam’s efforts
“Oxfam are fast becoming the major provider of services to eliminate violence against women in PNG. On average, Oxfam rescues three women a week who are facing extreme violence. But there is much more to be done. There are still thousands of women who face horrific abuse at the hands of their partners, family and their own community.” – Oxfam
Supporting Oxfam
The Wishing Well was established in 2010 to offer children in out-of-home care, such as foster care and residential care, a range of healing and treatment options usually not accessible as a free therapy in mainstream health.
The Wishing Well raises funds to enable children and young people to access developmentally-appropriate and trauma-informed treatments shown to be highly effective in dealing with severe trauma and neglect. These therapies respond to the unique needs of each child and young person.
The Wishing Well is a not-for-profit incorporated charity organisation, established and managed by people seeking to improve outcomes for children and young people in out-of-home care and their families.
The Wishing Well operates ethically, effectively and empathically with a view to achieving quality outcomes and a satisfying working environment, and as such we support organisations that encompass similar ideals.
The Wishing Well gratefully receives donations, funding and resources through bequests, corporate partnerships, fundraising events, grants, online donations and other fund raising activities. Please see our website for more information:
How you can help
You can join with Oxfam to help the women and girls of Papua New Guinea. A donation can reach out to survivors of abuse with counselling and crisis support, promote long-term behavioural change in men and boys across Papua New Guinea and help women safely return to their hometowns to begin building a safer future.
$50 can provide basic gender training for 10 men and women, helping to change attitudes and establish equal rights for women.
$110 can provide five abused women with an allowance to start up a small market vending project so that they can support themselves.
$190 can provide six meals for a woman accompanied by two children seeking shelter in a safe house.
Help end violence against women in Papua New Guinea:
https://www.oxfam.org.au/my/donate/end-violence-against-women-in-papua-new-guinea/
Choosing cruelty free – Nestle makes the right choice
Nestle chooses to go cruelty free
Animals Australia has reported that Nestle has announced plans to stop supporting many of the cruellest farming practices. Nestlé is the single biggest maker of food across the globe, with dozens of widely known brands such as Dreyer’s, Lean Cuisine and Butterfinger. The company has announced an industry-leading animal welfare program that will eliminate many controversial-yet-currently-standard practices within its worldwide food supply chain.
Nestle has brought about this change following the undercover investigation by Mercy for Animals, which revealed shocking cruelty, including cows being kicked, stabbed and dragged by machinery, at a US dairy farm that supplies Nestlé.
Once the changes take effect, cows in farms that supply Nestlé will no longer be subjected to painful procedures like de-horning, tail docking, and castration without pain relief.
Animals Australia responds to Nestle
“Animals Australia commends Nestlé for using its power to help reduce the suffering of millions of animals globally — and for demonstrating corporate leadership in an area of such importance to people — and animals. We encourage and look forward to seeing Nestlé act swiftly on its commitment as it begins the process of transforming its global supply chains.” – Animals Australia
Supporting Animals Australia
The Wishing Well was established in 2010 to offer children in out-of-home care, such as foster care and residential care, a range of healing and treatment options usually not accessible as a free therapy in mainstream health.
The Wishing Well raises funds to enable children and young people to access developmentally-appropriate and trauma-informed treatments shown to be highly effective in dealing with severe trauma and neglect. These therapies respond to the unique needs of each child and young person.
The Wishing Well is a not-for-profit incorporated charity organisation, established and managed by people seeking to improve outcomes for children and young people in out-of-home care and their families.
The Wishing Well operates ethically, effectively and empathically with a view to achieving quality outcomes and a satisfying working environment, and as such we support organisations that encompass similar ideals.
The Wishing Well gratefully receives donations, funding and resources through bequests, corporate partnerships, fundraising events, grants, online donations and other fund raising activities. Please see our website for more information:
A victory for animals
This landmark victory for animals reflects a worldwide shift in public awareness and the power of consumer advocacy. Nestle’s announcement is just the latest, and one of the biggest, in a series of actions by major food retailers, moving them away from an industrial-type production system that is callous and unforgiving toward animals.
Do your part
You too can choose to be cruelty free. We each have the power to help animals by making cruelty-free choices each and every day.
“Helping animals doesn’t have to be complicated, time-consuming, or even expensive. It’s about being informed and making simple, every-day choices that can free animals from suffering and abuse. The first step is knowing which choices to make.” – Animals Australia
Animals Australia have put together a list of ways you can choose to be cruelty free. Check out the list and choose cruelty free today:
http://www.animalsaustralia.org/take_action/compassionate_living.php
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