"Poetic Justice" shortlisted for Human Rights NonFiction Award

Hi, Friends, wonderful news! Our book, "Poetic Justice" published by Right Now is shortlisted for the AHRC's Human Rights Non-Fiction Literature Award (* AHRC = Australian Human Rights Commission). Yes, my section is dedicated for a homeless issue. My writings and drawings are in the book. 

The media release announcing the Literature Award shortlist can be read here: 

https://www.humanrights.gov.au/news/media-releases/commission-announces-business-literature-shortlist

The 2014 Australian Human Rights Awards will be presented on 10 December at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Sydney. More information about the awards can be found here.

I hope more people will read the book and think of human rights. 
RightNow, thank you for giving me the wonderful opportunity to have joined the project and thank you for our team's hard work. And special thank you for you, Friends, your great support!  

"Poetic Justice" shortlisted for Human Rights NonFiction Award

Homeless People, What Belong To?

When I help food service for homeless people, I always feel all of us seeking a place to belong to. In our society there are many groups that shape who we are.

All of us, Australians have immigrated from other countries except Aboriginal people. But some people boast their birth certificates and their language competence. Sadly, non English speakers and Aboriginal people are often excluded from Australian society. As far as I know, none of NES people is happy to hear the question, "Where do you come from?" So, I do not ask that question and respect privacy. If a person trusts me, they happily tell me their long stories. The most tragic group is Aboriginal people, nearly "invisible"in our daily conversations and society --- once, my sociology lecturer told us so and I agree with it.

It's all up to an individual option which social group to belong to. Membership is not simple. Very varied such as from religion, ideology, educational level, occupation, hobby etc, etc. They form an identity. In my view, Australian society allows a person to have more social mobility than Japanese society. Here, we have a second chance to make our living than a rigid and so competitive Japanese society.
If Australian society is kind to accept people, what about homeless people? Any Australian is found among homeless people : native English speakers, non English speakers, rich, elite etc, etc, whoever and whatever. Why they prefer to floating and a dangerous life rather than joining a community that guarantees identity, security and safety? Why they turn their backs to a sweet second chance?

I found one reason, because homeless people lack the sense of being loved by anyone. A feeling "Being loved by someone" motivates an individual to join a group. Homeless people do not have the sense of belongingness. So, any social membership is "vanity of vanity" and homeless people won't join any community.
The food were beef soup, rice, bread, sandwiches, quiche and some sweet, the donation from local shops and people. I tried the soup a little bit. Wow, very nice!! and got why always people dashed to soup.

During the food service, a singer kept singing with a guitar. We sang together. Beautiful music opened homeless people's hearts. I had long and emotional conversations with several homeless people. I'd like to listen to homeless people more and want them to have a feeling of being loved by someone on the earth.

My favorite song... John Lennon, "Imagine."

Homeless People, What Belong To?

Homeless people floating between harsh reality and sweet fantasy

Each homeless people has a long story.

Last time, I served rice and soup for homeless people. Sausages with beans smelled very nice. All the people really loved soup. In a few minutes, all was gone!



A bit strange contrast... a few blocks up, there are nice cafes and gorgeous restaurants. Happy people and expensive meals. But here, people dash to cheap soup.

When we nearly finished serving soup, I had a chat with a lady. Still young. Smelled alcohol strongly.

The lady told me about her life history. Often her story did not have continuity and full of contradictions. All what I could do was believing her say and affirmed it with a genuine conscience. She once had a good certification of a handsome job, but homeless now.

“Is it handy ( to stay anywhere )?” I asked, as I could not figure out a good say. “Yeah," the lady smiled and said, “I found a good building for sleep.” The lady smoked and chuckled, “I like marijuana.” “Is it expensive?” She showed me her purse and money. “It makes time go quicker.” Oh….her say made me so sad. All day long, some homeless people have nothing to do, but they kill time with cigarettes. She kept talking and said, “Ah, I will keep talking to you for a whole day!” with a big smile.

Suddenly, our conversation was interrupted. A man got aggressive and tried to give others a punch. The lady said, “He wants to get help in an unusual way,” and bravely tried

(*NOTE: These sketches are from different places and identities do not match any our client.) to calm down others. Other two men held themselves and would never respond the man’s attack. Luckily, soon, it became quiet and the man kept away from us. I went down to the men and appreciated their heroic patience.

The lady told me again, “He wanted to get help in an unusual way.” I got so impressed with her wisdom and empathy. If I look at only the surface of an incident, I will miss out the point; why the man got upset without any reason. Indeed, yes, the man had a certain reason that no one wanted to hear. His behaviour was an out-cry for help and he wanted to get out from ignorance and discare.

Through the chat with the lady, I learned that homeless people want to have something to work on and get help to heal their loneliness. But they do not know how to do it in a proper manner or they might not want to get involved with a busy life. As if homeless people were floating on the river of time or a very narrow space between reality and fantasy. I have a feeling homeless people will never do any harm on others unless they are heard and well respected by us. I’ll keep good ears and have patience to listen to them…

I was too busy to look at sunset. Already it was dark.

I thought and think “time” is one of my most precious assets. My key ring is a tiny sand timer that lasts only for twenty seconds. But I know eternity consists of moments.

The sand timer tells my limited time on earth. I bought it at Marine Museum and decided not to be lost in an ocean of time. I’ll sail across life as an artist and make lots of art work.

Friends, happy painting and let us live our lives fully.

Homeless people floating between harsh reality and sweet fantasy

Homeless people

I helped the food service for homeless people. We had a new female volunteer. People came to our bus and began to make a queue before 5:30 pm. I chose serving bread.

All the food was donated by local shops. A happy surprise! Sydney uni's cafe had offered muffins and other sweet for dessert. Oh, next time, when I go to uni, I'll check which cafe does such a nice job. Other church staff had already put peanut butter, ham, Devon and cheese into roll bread and packed each roll into a bad.

The service began.
First, the people wanted to pick up small pies and roles. Then, they moved on to our table, bread. Ham rolls were the most popular and gone in several minutes. I was told to give one bag(=one bread) per person. If want more, a person must join a queue again. Some Non English Native Speakers could not tell me what they wanted. So, people tried to get it by themselves and I had to stop it. Most people tried to get bread twice or three times. I realized some people kept bread in their own bags. Does it last? I wondered, but I had not got much time to think. Busy.

In my eyes, the people looked not so poor. I wondered some people might be richer than me, a poor artist. Indeed, some of them had good amount of money in passbooks and once they had education, handsome occupations and outstanding skills in society. Why will they not work and prefer to staying on streets? Are they really homeless people? I know some homeless people in the area. They keep silent and sit on a bench all day long in very dirty cloths. I hope I could see them for this service, but they do not come to the bus.

Could be...there are people and people in homeless people...
Unfortunately, I could not see the man who had asked me to come. One guy was so cheerful who happily teased at me, as I had a bit strong American accent. Saying, "It's hard to pick up," he spoke in the mixture of Australian General and Broad. Another man spoke in a beautiful Australian General. Every time when he picked up bread, he courteously addressed me gratefulness. Lastly, he said, "I really appreciate your kindness. Thank you on behalf of others, " to each of us at the end of our service! His sophisticated accent and lexical option mismatching this context impressed me so much. And he kept his own dog. Other staff whispered me, "He was educated." Certainly was. But again, I wondered why he stayed on streets?

Nearly at the end of service, I found a man wanted for a cigarette with "papers" in his hand. Got it! I swiftly found good butts scattered on TownHall. "You're so kind, so kind," he kept telling me. Like a child got a toy, he happily made two butts into one cigarette and enjoyed it. Oh, clever and...you make Australia clean! I thought.

After the service, we had a discussion. Most service users were male. A few females. Several Non English Speakers had a talk with the staff over Christianity. Our bus has a mark of "Salvation Army," so, people mistook us for Salvation Army. But indeed, the small local church runs this service. One of us, a counselor had to listen to a man's loooooong talk during the service. Another staff talked of a man, Eastern Europe origin, who chested off about his broken up marriage and miserable life. Regarding the strategy to people's dash to food, we agreed to make it clear to service users that once at time in a queue. We want to provide the service for people "equally" and as many as possible.

I made two cartoons. One is, in fact, based on me. I often make a "dramatic farewell" to small coins and win a good laugh at supermarkets. (*I believe we need laughter! in a busy society.) Another is from the man's episode above.
(**Friends, if you have a difficulty to read words, please click the cartoons. You can enlarge them.)

I know money circulates in society....
Only the problem is it always avoids me?!

Homeless people

Homeless people

I helped food service for homeless people for the first time as a volunteer. There are many homeless people. Our service is run by a local church. A bus comes fortnight Saturday evening at Town Hall. I was a bit late for helping the service. Most food was gone just in twenty minutes. The staff told me, "Quick. In a few minutes, gone!" Ooops, I did not know it. With given gloves on, I handed out dessert and waited for late comers.

The bus has computers and telephones for homeless people. So, they can access internet and ring up someone they want to talk.

Female staff appeared to be popular among homeless guys?! (*always short staff and a few female volunteers.)
One homeless man talked to me. Very much mumbling. Another staff whispered me, "Sadami, I can't get what he says and he comes to you too close." From another staff's eyes, I might take a risk with this drunkerd or might be a drug user. But I was convinced that man really, really wanted to be heard by someone. No harm.

The man kept telling me his story. A long story. I listened to him very well. He began to tell me how other family members treated him "kindly." He talked to our team leader, too. Then, he came back to me and asked,
"Do you come next time?"
" Yes."
The homeless guy with dirty beard took my hand (in a glove) and kissed it like a noble gentleman.

After the service, the staff had a discussion on today's work. They invited me. It was really good to have a frank talk about each one's job. The staff and I talked over the man and how to help him. We learned a lot, encouraged each other and prayed. This small church's great work moved me and touched me...

In my eyes, homeless people seemed to be very lonely and exhausted with life. First of all, the people want to grab food. Then, they want to be heard. Not many homeless people were cheerful. They want someone to listen to them. When the bus was gone, I saw stars in the sky. The homeless people went back to silence and loneliness again. I hope our tiny help makes a bit difference for our society.

Homeless people