Shaggy Dog Comments...

Issue 747

You may remember we published some refugee myth rebuttals in September. It's the lies – especially the fallacy of ‘throwing the kids overboard' – that irk the most. Here are some more myths from the Christian Brother's Edmund Rice Centre (www.erc.org.au). We'll offer a couple each week up to Christmas, the season of giving.

Myth 9: Australia is second only to Canada in the number of refugees it takes.

Fact: This is incorrect. This claim is based on the fact that Australia is one of only eight countries whose immigration program actually specifies an annual quota of refugees and at 12,000 Australia's quota is the second highest on a per capita basis. However, as UNHCR reports indicate, many more than eight countries take refugees and asylum seekers – but unlike Australia they do not set a fixed number. The facts are: 71 countries accept refugees and asylum seekers in some form or other of the 71 Australia is ranked 32nd. On a per capita basis Australia is ranked 38th, slightly behind Kazakhstan, Guinea, Djibouti and Syria; Of the 29 developed countries that accept refugees and asylum seekers Australia is ranked 14th. Per capita, the US takes twice as many refugees as Australia.

Myth 10: The boat people are terrorists

Fact: This is incorrect. Just 11 of more than 13,000 people who sought asylum in Australia last year were rejected on 'character grounds'. Only one was regarded as a security risk with suspected terrorist links. He had come by air. Government intelligence briefings concerning the threat of terrorist attacks have not mentioned asylum seekers. There is no evidence that any asylum seekers currently arriving by boat have any connection to terrorism. The S11 attackers did not arrive in the US as Asylum Seekers. They flew first class with valid papers. Boat people are fleeing terrorism under the Taliban in Afghanistan and Saddam Hussein's Iraq. Linking the US atrocities with the boat people is akin to blaming the Jews for fleeing Hitler. People fleeing oppression have a right to claim asylum and have those claims assessed.

If your dog has been feeling left out of the festive season and you are looking for a way to spread the Christmas spirit then head along to the Wollongbar Dog Obedience School Christmas Appeal on December 5.

The Obedience School is holding their Christmas party for both pets and people and asking for donations of canned and dried animal food for the Animal Rescue Fund to assist them over the Christmas period in sheltering and feeding abandoned animals. Lynette Weston and Fritzy the dachshund (pictured) will be wearing their new season Christmas party outfits.The pooch party begins at 6pm at Hill Park Oval, Wollongbar and dress is fancy dress for both owners and dogs. There will be heaps of party games and activities including an egg and spoon race, musical chairs and a dog agility run off both on and off lead.For detials or to donate pet food, contact Janet on 6624 1801.

The festive season means Xmas stockings – and one of the best is Lismore RSL's $3,000 Christmas Toy raffle. Pictured are RSL staff Donna Battese and Graham Mathews testing out some of the 64 prizes include bikes, games, beach toys, a three person tent and heaps more. Tickets are 5 for $1 or you can use member Club Max vouchers or shopper dockets. The raffle will be drawn on Sunday, December 2, and you must be present to win.

Congratulations to Cape Byron Lighthouse, which turns 100 this week with a series of celebrations over the next few days. On Friday night, the cocktail set heads for the Great Northern for drinky poos with the NSW Governor, Marie Bashir. The plonk boffins might like to get along to snap up one of 100 special edition magnums of Massoni Pinot Noir to mark the occasion. Tickets are $25. Phone 6685 8565. On Saturday, there's entertainment and events from 7am until sunset, followed by a sunset concert, featuring Gyan, simulcast on Bay FM (99.9MHz), then a lantern walk and laser light show. You can catch a bus for $2 from Apex Park near Clarkes Beach, or, of course, walk up. Let's hope the weather's good. A century ago, the NSW premier, John Sec, sailed from Sydney with official guests aboard the government steamer Victoria. But bad weather delayed them and when the official celebrations kicked off, they were still 30 miles south of Byron Bay. The boat finally made it to Byron shortly after midnight on November 30, but the weather again prevented the party from landing. So a day later, they ended up in the Great Northern (see the connection!?), knocking back a burgundy to toast the lighthouse.

For the trivia buffs: the lighthouse was built of concrete in 1901, using materials from the bottom of the cliff. It was designed in the style of colonial architect James Barnett, by his successor, Charles Harding. It took two years to complete and the total cost was £10,0042 for building, £8000 for materials and £2600 for a road to get there. The lighthouse is 22 metres high on a 100 metre high cliff. The eight ton French-made lens has 760 pieces of polished prismatic glass, and was the first lighting flasher lens installed in NSW. It floats on a 7cwt bath of mercury. The original light source was a six wick kero mantle burner giving out 145,000 candlelight. In 1956 a 2.2 million cd electric light was installed. Above the lighthouse entrance is the Latin Olim Periculum Nunc Salus – ‘Once perilous, now safe'.