Light the dark: vigils held for asylum seekers
Australians across the country hold candlelight vigils to mourn dead asylum seekers and show solidarity for refugees. Courtesy ABC News 24.
PT1M45S 620 349Melbourne's Treasury Gardens lit up with candles as more than 1000 people gathered to mourn asylum seekers who have died while fleeing their war-torn homes.
The 'Light the Dark' demonstration in Melbourne, which coincided with vigils in every Australian capital city, was sparked by the haunting images of a Syrian toddler's dead body on a beach in Turkey that led to a global outpouring of grief.
Hunched against the biting wind and drizzling rain, Melburnians swamped the Spring Street park shortly before 6pm.
Melburnians at the Light the Dark: Melbourne says Welcome candlelight vigil for refugees at Treasury Gardens on Monday night. Photo: Luis Ascui
As the daylight disappeared behind the city's office towers, hundreds of attendees lit candles inside cardboard coffee cups in memory of those who have been killed on deadly sea journeys in search of safety.
Speakers at the vigil said the intensifying refugee crisis facing Europe had focused international attention on Australia's hard-line border policy, which has slashed the number of boat arrivals through controversial measures such as turning back boats.
The Australian government this week agreed to take more refugees from Syria in response to the growing international crisis, but will not increase the total number of asylum seekers it accepts.
Save the Children humanitarian manager Sarah Ireland told the Melbourne vigil that Prime Minister Tony Abbott's offer to take in more Syrian refugees at the expense of those from other countries was "not good enough" and Australia needed to do more.
Melburnians at the Light the Dark: Melbourne says Welcome candlelight vigil for refugees at Treasury Gardens on Monday night. Photo: Luis Ascui
"The world is facing the largest displacement crisis since the second world war with 15 million people displaced in the last year alone," she said.
"No single country can solve this crisis but we can contribute to at truly global solution and Australia can do this by providing safe haven for refugees ... so they are not forced to make the perilous journey in search of refuge."
Afghan refugee Mohammad Ali Baqiri urged the government to show compassion and follow the lead of nations that were opening their doors to those in need.
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Light the Dark: Australia welcomes refugees
Light the Dark: Australia welcomes refugees Photo: Luis Ascui
"Tony Abbott needs to take Germany as an example. They have shown compassion and kindness by accepting 800,000 refugees ... and here we are, Australia is having difficulty settling a few thousand."
