The call - a newsletter within a newsletter
A chance for you to get some service going...
Kia ora friends. I often have people responding to newsletters saying ‘what can I do to help?’ ‘Can I donate somewhere?’ and ‘I want to do something, where do I start?’ So, I thought I’d start a bit of a newsletter within a newsletter.
Here it is: The Call.
The Call is simply a call to action. It will be a round-up of the current issues and causes our communities are facing. It will allow you to easily be involved in service to your community through sharing information, raising awareness, signing petitions, donating, volunteering, submitting to select committees, writing to MPs and protesting (virtually for now). You can be as involved as you wish. The Call simply outlines what people in the community are facing and what they need. You decide what you can provide.
I’ve talked before about service, activism, and community a lot in this newsletter. I’d just like to share again the question I’ve been grappling with over the last year - “Am I using every tool and liberty I have to live justly, gently, carefully in service to others?”
The Call will hopefully be a way we can - together - do this. We can combine our tools, our liberties, our privileges, our wisdom and knowledge, to work collectively for change. We can stand up and show up for our communities and each other.
So - let’s go. Here are some issues facing some of our most marginalised communities this week. Feel free to email me by replying to this email (if you’re subscribed) or at emilywritesnz (@) gmail dot com if you want to be included in the next edition of The Call.
I’ll try to keep it tight and to the point - providing follow-up resources. This isn’t the place to debate these issues. You are welcome to do that elsewhere.
“Apart Yet Closer Than Ever,” artist: Bonnie Brown.
What is happening: The Government has given less than two weeks for submissions to the Justice Select Committee to ban conversion practices, also known as conversion therapy. We must end conversion therapy for all and fight back against those who wish to harm LGBTQIA+ people.
Where can I read more?
What can I do to help? Make a submission to the Justice Select Committee saying you support a full ban on conversion therapy. There are multiple templates available for you to use and they explain how to make a submission. It takes less than five minutes to do.
What is happening? The humanitarian disaster in Afghanistan is not going away. More than half a million people, including hundreds of thousands of children, are now homeless and fleeing for their lives. On top of this, the COVID-19 pandemic has overwhelmed Afghanistan’s health system and less than four percent of the entire population is fully vaccinated.
Where Can I read more?
The case for refugees: What New Zealand can do to help Afghanistan
New Zealand stops taking visa applications from Afghans who assisted troops
Afghans who worked with NZ fear deadly reprisals as Taliban closes in
What can I do to help? Sign the petition to call on the New Zealand Government to lead with compassion and take every necessary measure to ensure the safe passage out of Afghanistan for all of those at risk. There is also an Action Station petition to bring people in Afghanistan to safety in Aotearoa. If you have the ability you can donate to Mahboba’s Promise. They’re working on the ground in Kabul protecting women and children.
“Spread Love,” artist: Skye Sturm
What is happening? Milli Hill is the keynote speaker at this year’s NZ Midwifery conference entitled “Celebrating Diversity – Growing stronger together”. She was once a popular journalist (she wrote about birthing) but is now mainly known for her transphobia. Midwives have come together to share their hurt at the decision by the New Zealand College of Midwives to include her in the conference: “There is no commitment to, or celebration of, diversity when a speaker who promotes and encourages hate speech towards marginalised communities is being given a platform to share their views at the conference” they have said.
Where Can I read more?
What can I do to help? Sign the petition to call for NZCOM to remove their keynote speaker, apologise to the LGBTTQIA+ community for harm caused, including to their LGBTTQIA+ speaker, engage a local member of the community who embraces the theme of diversity as keynote speaker, and make a commitment to working alongside the rainbow community going forward to ensure their safety at NZCOM events. You can also email NZCOM - here is the template.
What is happening? Fiji has recorded 258 new Covid-19 cases in 24 hours. Two children are among 11 people who have died from the virus.
Where can I read more?
Two children die in Fiji as virus spreads beyond main island
The Detail: What life is like in Fiji as Covid-19 runs rampant
Mothers feeding children sugar and water in Fiji's Covid crisis
What can I do to help? Save the Children has an appeal running that you can donate to. Or you can donate to the rotary club in Fiji via internet banking - 06-0192-0905286-030 (please ensure people enter -030 in the suffix field and NOT 03) using the code Covid 19.
“The Care Club,” artist: Nana Daye
What is happening? Onesie Day is Wellington Free Ambulance’s largest community fundraising event of the year. Unfortunately it’s happening in lockdown, for the second year in a row. They still need help!
Where can I read more info?
What can I do to help? You can donate! Or sign up to raise money. If you like you can donate to our whānau page. We are hoping to raise $250 this year. You can also text 3181 to donate $3.
And that’s it for now! Let me know what you think of The Call - how we can improve it and what works and what doesn’t. And let me know what we should cover in the next edition.
Aroha nui, Emily
“Good Days Not Far Away,” artist: Varshini Ramakrishnan
The artwork included in this post is from The Wellbeing Project. Artists from all over the world responded with 10,000 submissions to a call for works that promote social change. “The call asked artists to…imagine the safe and meaningful world we know is possible on the other side of the COVID-19 pandemic.” Read more here.
I maybe didn’t explain it well enough! You don’t have to subscribe to anything! It will just be one of the posts I send out from here (probably every two weeks or so) and it will replace one of the other three posts I do each week. If you want to support my mahi you can get a paid subscription (and I would so appreciate it) but The Call will always be free for you and free to share ❤️
This is such a brilliant idea! Thank you Emily - I will enjoy working through the list and helping where I can. xx