Such a shame to read that, another 10 years later, Australia is still outsourcing its crimes against humanity to this little island in the Pacific, Nauru. Imagine the beauty of this place, had the millions of tax money been spent on a sustainable society, instead of funding neo-colonial, fascist hobbies, like pretending to be able to deter people on the run for war and natural disaster.
Early 2017, I read Madeline Gleeson’s book “Offshore: Behind the Wire on Manus and Nauru” and wrote a protest song about it. What else can I do? This is the book introduction from the online store:
What has happened on Nauru and Manus since Australia began its most recent offshore processing regime in 2012?
This essential book provides a comprehensive and uncompromising overview of the first three years of offshore processing since it recommenced in 2012. It explains why offshore processing was re-established, what life is like for asylum seekers and refugees on Nauru and Manus, what asylum seekers, refugees and staff in the offshore detention centres have to say about what goes on there, and why the truth has been so hard to find. In doing so, it goes behind the rumours and allegations to reveal what is known – and what still is not known – about Australia’s offshore detention centres.
More books have appeared since, and now I read the latest news from Guardian reporter Sarah Basford Canales: “Australia spent more than $9m for each asylum seeker held on Nauru last year – so why can’t they afford to buy food?” Ah, all that money! Maybe her financial approach will be more effective in making politicians see the insanity of Australia’s inhumane policy. I guess, Australian voters don’t care, unless it’s about their wallets.
Whatever, I hope her approach helps and for the same reason, here’s my nearly 10 year old song again. Australia, we see what you’re doing. And if you don’t stop your fascists, we, on this side of the globe, have a harder job trying to stop ours!
Video cover photo by YouTube’s AI.
Lyrics
When I was young and innocent and full of great ideals
I wanted to save the elephants, the rhinos and the seals
But I grew up and read about the fate of refugees
Who leave their land because of war, poverty and disease
My wealthy land Australia is a peaceful place to be
So welcoming once to immigrants, and many a refugee
But madness and hypocrisy is ruling here today
We have a new Van Diemen’s Land for people to turn away
Chorus:
Nauru for evermore?
How do you do offshore?
Welcome to Australia?
Australia!
A graduate in social work, I happily applied
To my surprise they hired me and I left overnight
A blue drop in the ocean, a paradise, I thought
But it’s a penal colony, so humid and so hot
Once landed on this little isle, I couldn’t believe my eyes
A camp of desperate families, I’ll never forget their cries
Cramped in tents behind a fence they live with crabs and flies
Bereft of hope, of dignity, and not understanding why
Chorus
What happened to our society, our caring Aussie hearts?
Women, men and children at the mercy of some guards
Abusive, cruel and corrupt, away from critical eyes
Deaf and blind we hide behind some reassuring lies
In the stifling fog the feral dogs are free to roam the streets
The crabs can build their burrows and scour the coral reefs
But a man who runs from bombs and guns alas he has to face
The risk to strand and being banned to this godforsaken place
Chorus
The cantilevers show their grief and rest their rusty beams
This horrific Pacific Solution is far beyond extremes
To saddle up a society that struggles to exist
Is a cynical neocolonial crime that needs a radical twist
Nauruans, now quite ruined, won’t easily change their lives
The young ones leave the pinnacles, they old ones lonely die
And if there is a God above, one day I can tell
These heartless politicians, they will burn in hell!
Chorus (x2)
Header photo by Hadi Zaher from Melbourne, Australia – Living on a Blue Planet | Nauru, CC BY 2.0.
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