Announcing the 3rd Darwin International Syringe Festival

5th to the 11th September 2004

The syringe festival serves a number of purposes:

· It highlights the human rights abuses faced by injecting drug users in the
Territory on a daily basis,

· It increases community awareness on issues around blood borne viruses
and needle and syringe programs,

· It increases community awareness of the impact of prohibition on the health
and wellbeing of drug users,

· It allows for the celebration of drug culture (reality) and

· It enables people to get involved in the struggle to end the “War on Drugs” on a number of different levels.

In Eastern Europe and some parts of Asia – injecting drug use is a key driving force in the high rate of HIV infection. Needle/syringe programs have still not been officially adopted in these regions.

In Australia we continue to maintain low levels of HIV infection among people who inject illicit drugs but in 2003 20% of indigenous people who were diagnosed with HIV were injecting drug users.

Now we face the threat of the Retractable Syringe.

The 2004 Syringe Fest – the Syringe as we know it!

What’s happening in this year’s Syringe?

SyringeFest Family Picnic

Sunday 5th September 2004 @ 4.00pm - Kahlin Beach, Larrakeyahh

Opening event of the 3rd Darwin International Syringe Festival... at Kahlin beach down in Larrakeyah... opposite Cullen Bay marina… please bring a picnic basket and come down for a beautiful Darwin sunset.

Contact: 8942 0570

Syringe Fest Cabaret Dinner

Tuesday 7th September 2004 @ 7pm – Groove Café Nightcliff

This will be the second time we have held this gala event at the Groove cafe in Nightcliff. Only $30 per person and that basically covers the cost of food and helps with other costs incurred during the Festival. We will be showing a presentation on the history of the syringe and will be lucky enough to be entertained by local musicians.

Contact: 8942 0570

Retract this Motherfuckers Film and Art Show

Wednesday 8th September 2004 @ a venue and time TBC

For the first time we are offering you the chance to enter 2 competitions with a twist. A SyringeFest film competition and Art competition. We have asked artists and filmmakers to choose from a selection of promotional videos from companies which produce retractable syringes. The theme of the competitions is "Retract this motherfuckers..." and we have asked participants to choose one of the company films and edit it to give it their special touch. We will show all of the films and display the artwork at a venue TBC.

NAP Public Meeting – Injecting Drug Use and the Global HIV Pandemic

Thursday 9th September 2004 7pm @ the Darwin Railway Club, Somerville Gardens Rd, Parap

NAP members will give participants an overview of the current picture of the Global HIV Pandemic with up to date information on the situation in the NT. Find out why injecting drug use is a major driving force in the high rate of HIV infection in Eastern Europe, Asia and among indigenous communities around the globe... including Australia.

SyringeFest Family BBQ – Palmerston

Friday 10th September 2004 1pm @ Goyder Hill

Just to make sure that Palmo mob don't miss out on the festivities, we will be having a SyringeFest family BBQ at Goyder Hill from 1.00pm onwards... We will provide the BBQ and refreshments so just bring yourselves, your friends and your families...

The 19th Community Smoke-In for Human Rights

Saturday 11th September 2004 12noon @ Raintree Park

Our S11 tribute... Join us for the 19th Community Smoke-In for Human Rights in Raintree Park... this month we will be focussing heavily on the role that corporations have in the continuation of the global HIV pandemic. We will be crowning the Needle Queen as part of this year’s SyringeFest and we will have our standard free lunch, speakers, live music and fun for the whole family...

SyringeFest 2004 Closing Party

Saturday 11th September 2004 7pm til late @ NAP Headquarters in Parap

Join us at NAP HQ for the event of the year - the closing party for the 2004 SyringeFest... byo chemicals and herbs, we will put on a BBQ but if you bring along some tucker that always helps....

Not a Liver Friendly Breakfast

Sunday 12th September 2004 9am @ NAP HQ

For those of you who haven't made it home yet... or if your up early enough and you want to join us for the NAP recovery breakfast... make your way to NAP HQ for a protein packed breakfast that should help you get over whatever it was you put in your body the night before.. and if you can't (or don't) do protein… we will have fruit and other stuff for you to munch on....all washed down with heaps of coffee...

For more info about any of these events call NAP on 8942 0570 or see the 2004 SyringeFest Page