Flood the Post
All The Details
We are rapidly approaching the twelve-month anniversary of the Gaza genocide and it’s never been more important to keep the pressure on our representatives.
This October, Flood the Post and Australia Palestine Advocacy Network (APAN) are partnering to call on everyone to send postcards to our representatives demanding that the Australian Government fulfil their obligation to act to end genocide in Gaza.
WHY CREATE PHYSICAL MAIL?
Like many of you, we have been calling and emailing our reps and signing our names to letters. This is all great and important work, however it can also feel like we are easily ignored. Unlike a voicemail or an email, PHYSICAL MAIL takes up space, demands attention, and creates visual volume. Physical mail must be transported and handled by people, is not easily deleted or filed away by AI or assistants, never to be seen by the recipient. Imagine a mass of mail being dumped in your representatives offices - make that the goal.
We chose this action because it can be done relatively cheaply, safely, anywhere, and is accessible to anyone regardless of age, location, or ability. It is both communal and repeatable. It can be a safe and accessible way to participate in group action, even from the privacy of your own home.
Our hope is that by this act of inundating the offices and mail rooms with visual protest art, our representatives will have a harder time IGNORING our calls to end to the genocide in Gaza.
Join us in amplifying our collective voices.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
Gather your supplies and maybe some friends, family, and neighbours - this action is successful by the sheer volume of participants and output. Be creative, but we suggest aiming for many postcards with maximum clarity! Everyone who handles these postcards along the way will be seeing your message!
Write whatever you feel called to share.
Key message: Israel is committing genocide in Gaza. The proof is irreputable. It’s been twelve months - Australia must act.
Some other messages could be:
More about APAN
Australia Palestine Advocacy Network (APAN) harnesses the passion of Australians to advocate for Australian policy to support Palestinian human rights, justice, and equality.
For the past year, APAN have been instrumental in advocating for an end to the genocide in Gaza. This October, APAN is calling on our MPs to demand they enact six key policies to intervene and prevent Israel’s genocide:
APAN has also put together a fact sheet full of useful, evidence-based information you can give to your MP to ensure they understand the gravity of what is happening in Gaza, as well as their obligations under international law and the Genocide Convention. You can learn more at the Genocide: Language for Justice Fact Sheet.
1. Where do we do this? In your community!
2. How do I get the postcards?
Option 1: Print our free postcards
You can download some ready to print designs from our Ready to Print Postcards folder.
When printing, you should use thick card. AusPost recommends a minimum thickness of 140gsm or 0.18mm, although we recommend a minimum 200gsm. Maximum thickness is 500 gsm / 1.5mm.
You can print postcards at places like Officeworks, VistaPrint or your local printing shop.
If printing at home, everyone’s printers and pdf readers are a little different so you may need to tweak these instructions to your own equipment.
Simple version: if you don’t mind a little arts and crafts!
For printing the postcard in one, follow these steps. You will need a printer that can print on both sides, and may have to do some troubleshooting.
Option 2: Make your own postcards
3. Decide who to send your postcards to.
There is no single target recipient for the Flood The Post Australia postcards and we encourage you to send multiple postcards to different addresses. The aim is that your voice and your message reaches those who most need to hear it. You could send them to the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister, Opposition Leader, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs, your local Federal or State MP, State Premiers, local councils etc etc.
Here is a doc of some useful addresses: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1BWFFssuypfWXqAaZLpwvW2yBtVi_7bMpuH0-ph3x6DM/edit?usp=drive_link
4. Get your stamps
You need $1.50 worth of stamps to post a postcard.
There’s also a concession rate, which is 60c to post a postcard (read on to learn more).
We suggest asking workshop participants to bring their own stamps if they are able to. Multiple lower value stamps on one postcard is also fine, as long as they add up to at least $1.50.
You may be eligible for 60c concession stamps! Learn more about eligibility at the AusPost Concession Stamps page.
5. Post the postcards
On Monday 7 October 2024, head down to your nearest post box or post office by 3pm and Flood The Post!
Remember to:
Check what time your local post gets collected. You can find this info on the mailbox itself or just ask your local post office what time it gets collected. If you live in Western Australia, you may like to post your mail during the week prior.
Post a video or pic of yourself putting them in the mailbox on your socials! And please tag us on Instagram at @floodthepost_aus so we can share your amazing work.
6. Tell us how many you send
Please send us your postcard numbers! Register your postcard tally at:
https://tally.so/r/3XY6LO
Please note, the form is our only way of tracking numbers. We won’t be counting anything sent via DMs.
Note: if you participated in a group workshop, we recommend one person submitting the tally on behalf of the group. Read more at our Postcard Workshop Toolkit.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
Won’t AusPost throw out our mail?
It’s AusPost’s job to deliver mail. Your postcard will be treated like normal post, as long as it fits into AusPost’s postcard specifications, complies with their prohibited items policy (no swearing or abuse!), and has the correct value of stamp(s) on it.
Where can I get the postcards?
1. Print your own at home with these free designs: Link
2. Or make your own, see the instructions on the previous page.
I missed the deadline! Can I still mail my postcards?
Absolutely! Keep the pressure on.
What are the addresses of our politicians in Australia?
Prime minister and minister of foreign affairs
Find your electorate
Find your local Senator/Member’s address
Will you be doing another mass post date?
Yes, that’s the plan. We will keep doing them for as long as it takes. Which hopefully isn’t for much longer. However, we are a tiny team volunteering our spare time. Keep an eye on our instagram for news of our next FTP date.
I’d love to set up my own workshop in Australia, how do I do this?
Check out our Postcard Workshop Toolkit. for the basics on how to set up your own workshop.
I don’t live in Australia, can I start up Flood the Post in my own country?
Yes! Check that your country doesn’t already have their own first. If not, go for it!
Here’s a list of existing groups:
US - @floodthepost
UK - @floodthepost_uk
UK, Bristol - @floodthepost_bristol
Ireland - @floodthepostireland