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We invite you to ask Stuart questions regarding the experiences and observations he has documented in the Delegate's Diaries.
Nadine .S. & Stacey .B. <broadfordsc@peg.apc.org>
Broadford, Victoria Australia - Tue, Sep 03, 96 at 12:46:15Asks :
Is it hard not to take sides when there is so much needless
killing going on?
Renee, Kylie, Lisa & Jessie <broadfordsc@peg.apc.org>
Broadford, Victoria Australia - Tue, Sep 03, 96 at 12:36:13Asks :
Stuart,
Why did you join the Red Cross Organization
and when you did, did you know that there would be
so much risk involved?
Duane Allam <broadfordsc@peg.apc.org>
Broadford, VICTORIA Australia - Tue, Sep 03, 96 at 12:33:15Asks :
I have been told that the Red Cross never takes sides but did you ever have
to risk your life and the Red Cross' reputation to stop an innocent person
being killed?
Sean Muller <brodfordsc@peg.apc.org>
Kilmore, Victoria Australia - Tue, Sep 03, 96 at 12:30:37Asks :
Is it difficult to hide your emotions when you see violence?
ALLISON AND LAURA (the best) <broadfordsc@peg.apc.org>
BROADFORD, VICTORIA Australia - Tue, Sep 03, 96 at 12:28:45Asks :
Does the Red Cross need to go back to Croatia?
If so, would you go with them?
Luke Townsend <broadfordsc@peg.apc.org>
Broadford, Victoria Australia - Tue, Sep 03, 96 at 12:28:22Asks :
Hi Stuart,
I have three questions.
1. How hard was it to concentrate on all the things you were learning in Geneva, were you thinking about your adventure ahead?
2.What was the first thing you did when the person yelled out "STOP!!!....LANDMINES!!"?
3. What was it that convinced you that you had to join the Red Cross?
Sally Tolkin <Yargen@netspace.net.au>
Tylden, Victoria Australia - Fri, Aug 30, 96 at 16:10:51Asks :
Hello Stuart,
There are so many people who are caught up in wars
like the one that you were involved in,
so does Red Cross help everyone?
How does the Red Cross decide who it will help?
Is there anyone who you don't help?
Danielle <nwashin@ozonline.com.au>
Melbourne, Victoria Australia - Fri, Aug 23, 96 at 11:03:55Asks :
1. The reasons why the refugees left their home.
2. How these people left their country(transport,whether
they left with permission of the
Goverment, their ability to take their possessions with them.
From Dannielle at Shelford.A.G.S
Danielle <nwashin@ozonline.com.au>
Melbourne, Victoria Australia - Fri, Aug 23, 96 at 11:03:11Asks :
1. The reasons why the refugees left their home.
2. How these people left their country(transport,whether
they left with permission of the
Goverment, their ability to take their possessions with them.
From Dannielle at Shelford.A.G.S
Danielle <nwashin@ozonline.com.au>
Melbourne, Victoria Australia - Fri, Aug 23, 96 at 11:00:29Asks :
1. The reasons why the refugees left their home.
2. How these people left their country(transport,whether
they left with permission of the
Goverment, their ability to take their possessions with them.
Narelle <nwashin@ozonline.com.au>
Melbourne, Victoria Australia - Thu, Aug 08, 96 at 09:26:35Asks :
Hi, its Narelle again,this time I'm here with my two friends
Sashika and Claire.
Thanks for your reply. We are from Shelford Anglican Girls
School in Caulfield. We don't have anymore questions apart
from the ones we asked you before. Thankyou for helping us.
We look forward to your answers, they need not be very long.
Talk to you soon from,
Narelle and friends.
Sarah <3 hood cresent Caulfield 3162>
Melboune, Victoria Australia - Wed, Aug 07, 96 at 16:41:57Asks :
how many refuges have come to Australia from Bosnia?
What was there desion to come to Australia?
How did the refuges get to Australia?
What was it like to work with thoose People in Bosnia?
Did you meet any one who knew someone who had moved from
Bosnia to Australaia?
Why did they leave Bosmia and come to Australia?
Is the climite in Bosnia diffrent from the climite in
Australia?
What Made you go to Bosnia?
where the People in Bosnia nice the ones you meet?
what religion did they have over there?
What was the goverment like over there?
From Sarah of Shelford Girls School
Narelle <nwashin@ozonline.com.au>
Melbourne, Victoria Australia - Tue, Aug 06, 96 at 13:11:07Asks :
Hi, we are asking these questions because we
are doing a project on refugees
from Bosnia coming to Australia.
The answers just have to be brief.
1. Why did they leave Bosnia?
2. How did they leave Bosnia? (transportation)
3. When they left did they have the permission
of the government?
4. When they left did they take their
possessions with them?
5. Would you be able to give us any information
about
their journey to Australia? (Stages, And difficulties)
6. Reasons for their decisions for
coming to Australia.?
7. Did the Australian's welcome the refugee
group kindly?
8. What facilities were available to them in Australia.
9. Has this refugee group found it easy to settle in
Australia? Any reasons
Stuart answers :
Hi Narelle,
Thanks for your questions. I will give you a few simple answers here but I am looking for some other people who can give more detail if you need it.
1. People leave a war zone for obvious reasons. In addition to the risk to their own safety, there is the difficulty of living with shortages of all sorts of basic necessities. You only live there if you have to. In the case of Bosnia which had a great mixture of ethnic groups living with each other, when the war started many people were in a minority situation within their community and thus had to move within the country to seek safety. Once people move like this, internally, it is likely that they will not settle satisfactorily and will look to leaving the country entirely.
2. Most people left Bosnia by road to Zagreb or Belgrade, or to another major city in the region and then by air to other European cities. At some times people left the Dalmatian coastal towns like Dubrovnic and Split by boat to Italy.
3. Sometimes they did and sometimes they didn’t have permission to leave. Men find it especially difficult to leave a country at war because they are liable to conscription into the army or to perform “work obligation” which means being sent somewhere to do war related work eg digging trenches or fixing roads. It is very difficult to even move around your own country in your own territory during a war. Every major road has several checkpoints at which you must show your ID papers and a clearance by the military and civilian authorities allowing you to make your journey.
4. Most were unable to take anything larger than a suitcase or carry bag.
5. Most went to an intermediary country such as Austria, Germany or Italy before seeking permission or finding a way to get to Australia.
6. Many look to going to a place where they know someone. Australia, Britain, Canada and the USA are seen as open and affluent countries that are favourable destinations.
Your other questions I will take on notice. I have contacted several people who work directly with Bosnian refugees who I hope will be available to help you further.
I will contact you in the next day or so.
Cheers,
Stuart
Leong Kar Yen <knleong@pop.jaring.my>
Georgetown, Penang Malaysia - Tue, Jun 11, 96 at 01:15:45Asks :
Stuart how did you first get involved with the Red Cross?
I am asking as I would like to in volve myself in work with
the Red Cross upon completion of my undergraduate studies.
Thank You!
Stuart answers :
Thanks for your question Leong,
I first joined Red Cross as a staff member 3 years ago. I had worked as a secondary school teacher and joined the Youth and Education Department as Manager.
Red Cross has over one hundred and twenty million volunteers working in almost every country in the world.
In Malaysia, Red Cross is known as the Red Crescent Society. Still part of the same Movement but with the use of the Red Crescent as its emblem . This is the case in many other Islamic countries.
Its great to hear you are interested in being a part of the action! Your National Society will have a wide range of voluntary activities to choose from - First Aid being one that a lot of young people here are into in a big way. The Malaysian Red Crescent National Society will be able to tell you about opportunities that may suit your education and career background.
I hope that you enjoy the rest of my diaries. Please contact me again and let me know how you get on in Red Crescent.
Cheers Stuart.
Gosnell H.S. Students <gosnellhs@peg.apc.org>
Perth, WA Australia - Fri, May 31, 96 at 12:55:06Asks :
What made you decide to go?
Did it hurt you to see people in that much pain and did you think how
lucky you were to be able to go home to a family unlike some of the people
who died in the war.
Stuart answers :
Adventure had a bit to do with it for sure, but mostly because I had been working and training with people from different backgrounds (including members of the Australian Defence Forces) in this area and was faced one day with a compelling request - could I go and help. Perhaps if you were in my place you would do the same.
For years I have wanted to do something like this, but the chance never came.
In the past I have always tried to do what I can to help others. When I was asked to go to Former Yugoslavia, I had strong feelings this was 'right for me' - can't explain it more.
I also believe that people make themselves ready to do these kinds of things by being positive and interested and then one day an opportunity comes...(sometimes it might take a long time!)
It didn't hurt me to see people in pain as much as you might think. We build a wall around our emotions in traumatic situations like war - that is how you survive. Later on when you get out of it you think about it a lot more.
I think I am very lucky...incredibly lucky to have been able to work in a war zone and come home to my family. It puts everything into a different perspective.
Bill Coppinger <bcoppinger@peg.apc.org>
Broadford, Victoria Australia - Thu, May 30, 96 at 20:19:05Asks :
Stuart, will Red Cross always stay impartial on ALL issues?
I have heard people say that this is Red X's greatest strength
AND greatest weakness. I am keen to hear what you think.
Bill
Stuart answers :
Good question, Bill.
These are the reasons why Red Cross has to be impartial, neutral and avoids involvement in political controversies of any kind.
Firstly, this is a huge organisation with 125 million members!!! They come from almost every nation, ethnic group and cultural tradition in the world. To be able to be as strong as we are, we have to ensure each individual’s views do not get confused with those of the organisation. It would fall apart otherwise.
Most importantly, our access to so many vulnerable people only exists because we are seen as neutral. Making statements to the media or imposing our views might make Red Cross well known, but would probably mean that the victims would receive less help.
But ... Red Cross is NOT impartial in one sense. We are on the side of the victims... always.
In Bosnia the Red Cross people I worked with were always being challenged when providing help to all victims. “If you are not for us then you must be against us” was the accusation put to them.
We encouraged them to say what Red Cross always says in such circumstances : “We are on the side of the victims, irrespective of their race, creed or politics. This is sufficient.”
I would like to hear what others think of this.
Stuart
6th June, 1996
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