Many of the Australians I know who are now in their forties or older participated in the convergence on the Woomera detention center for refugees just after Easter, 2002.  It was a protest that became especially legendary because it was during this protest that a successful breakout of refugees detained in the facility took place.

It would be hard to overstate what an impact this protest, and the Woomera Breakout, seems to have had on both Australian refugee policies going forth, as well as elsewhere in the world that I have witnessed.  Off-shoring refugees as well as dramatically increasing security measures at such facilities in many different countries followed.  But the Woomera Breakout inspired many, and continues to do so.  Many of those refugees who escaped detention then are still free people today, known collectively as the Skippies.

Woomera (Free the Refugees)

Jane and Mike start their day in a coffee bar in Eccles, and notice the 20 story new block of apartments opposite. Odd. It makes them think about recent developments, and Mike contributes the fact he's just finished a Trilogy in four parts that looks at the building going on in their neighbourhood and the other 'developments' that are keeping them up at night - Ukraine, Rwanda, boats crossing the English Channel and the forthcoming election in the UK (and possible change of government).
Oh, and there's a song for every occasion, of course.

Green Giraffes 20th March 2024 (Malaga Drift coffee bar)

Mike Scantlebury is a part of the band, radio show and song writing team known as 'The Jam'. No, Paul Weller he ain't. JAM stands for 'Jane and Mike' and you'll not just find them on Mixcloud but also Youtube and various websites and Blogs. It's modern songs, (in a folk idiom), radio shows in a 'Richard and Judy' idiot, and songs like 'Dit Dit Dit', (which, as we all know, stands for S.O.S. - good enough for The Titanic. Who knows, Salford might hit an iceberg, soon).

Singer/songwriter, writer, podcaster (on Spotify, Substack & Patreon), libertarian socialist, dad, lover of life.

New tracks tagged #STOP THE BOATS