TED Conversations

Poonam N

Highschool Student,

This conversation is closed. Start a new conversation
or join one »

Should asylum seekers be granted rights in Australia?

At present in Australia, those asylum seekers processed on Christmas Island do not have access to the same legal rights as those on the mainland.

An asylum seeker is a person who has fled their own country and applied for protection as a refugee.

Questions whether or not these asylum seekers should receive the same legal protection as those arriving by plane.

Topics: Rights Social justice refugees
0
Share:

Showing single comment thread. View the full conversation.

  • thumb

    David Hamilton 50+

    • 0
    Aug 30 2012: I think so... In fact, if this only applies to a few thousand people, this may even be the type of problem a group of high school students could solve.
    • thumb

      Poonam N

      • 0
      Aug 30 2012: How so, can you elaborate on that?
      • thumb

        David Hamilton 50+

        • 0
        Aug 30 2012: I know it's a bit hippie daisy optimistic... but this is exactly the type of problem young people tend to be very adept at solving. If only a few thousand people are processed on Christmas island, and they have different rights than peolpe processed on the mainlaind... I think one angry, involved local politician, could make enough noise to change things.

        I'm an American, so I don't know how your system works, but here, if a few thousand high school students with teacher support sign some petitions, and stage a protest in the office of the politicians who can actually make a difference... you can shame them into doing the right thing.

        It's really only when you want to help a million people that you need big business, and institutions to help you out. With an issue like this, I bet a few thousand pissed off teenagers, could actually get results. Again though, I know very little about this issue.
        • thumb

          Poonam N

          • 0
          Sep 1 2012: I dont know... I think regardless of the hypothetical media outrage sparked by a handful of protesting school students, the chances of the government being convinced otherwise would be rather minute. Shame? Maybe...but politicians nowadays seem to stay rigid in their actions, and only result in a change in mentality, through self made realisations.

          A few thousand pissed teenagers? It seems that only issues which endanger todays generation, cause the most involvement and participation. That being said, refugees and asylum seekers although a fairly big issue in many countries does not seem to gain enough attention to school aged students.

          Students are also fairly ignorant about the history of these issues, and may only be able to start and uprising, but be incompetent at providing solutions. I think the whole package must be finalised, before any persuasion can be devised.

Showing single comment thread. View the full conversation.