Deaths in offshore detention: the faces of the people who have died in Australia's care

Twelve refugees and asylum seekers have died while in Australian immigration detention on Manus Island and Nauru. On World Refugee Day, Guardian Australia acknowledges those who have died and begins a project to record lives lost in offshore detention

https://hope1032.com.au/stories/life/social-justice/2018/12-empty-chairs-a-haunting-reminder-of-deaths-on-manus-nauru-in-vigils-across-australia/

Not in my name Mr Turnbull, Mr Dutton, Mr Shorten.
You shame all Australians.

Girl on Wire. Lucy Estela and Elise Hurst

https://www.amazon.com.au/Girl-Wire-Lucy-Estela/dp/0143787160/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1530412293&sr=8-1&keywords=girl+on+wire

This is a book about fear, about adversity, about courage and about love.

It is an allegory, a metaphor, a parable.

Like good metaphors it is a trigger for discussion – book group or classroom.

It is deceptive.

It seems, at first, to be a young girls’ picture book and in some ways it is. But the language and the ideas are capable of more mature discussion.

In that respect it defies categorisation.

It’s a picture book: words and images give us integrated narrative and emotion.

Lucy Estela’s words are sparse and stark – a voice that reflects the setting and the message.

Elise Hurst’s paintings are a sort of neo-Aussie-impressionist style. They have energy and bleakness and are wonderfully beautiful. Typically, her work has hope and this collection does too. Here, the original paintings complement and develop the sparse text.

This is a beautiful book that never preaches or concludes. Rather, it treats its reader with intelligence and respect.