Australian Prisoners Union & JUSTICE ACTION MEDIA RELEASE 3 AUGUST 2000 Prisoners to strike against Women's jail plans A press conference will be held at 1pm, Friday 4 August in the press gallery at NSW Parliament house. It will be hosted by Lee Rhiannon MLC. Speakers will include Tania Beeby of the Australian Prisoners Union and Brett Collins of Justice Action. A series of decisions have been made by a network of the 137 concerned groups, in response to the NSW government's dismissal of the unanimous recommendations of the Parliamentary Inquiry into Imprisonment against the new $42 million women's jail at Windsor. A paid position has been created. We will use our experience of the Tim Anderson campaign and others to ensure this campaign is properly structured and won. We are committed to ensuring the jail does not go ahead. In giving support to the campaign the Australian Prisoners Union is calling its first strike on International Prisoners Justice Day, Thursday 10 August 2000. The strike calls for the NSW government to reverse its contemptuous dismissal of community and parliamentary wishes. "$42 million dollars of taxpayers money is being blown on expanding imprisonment for NSW women. The government is showing clearly what kind of investment it is prepared to make in the future of our daughters, friends and wives" said Tania Beeby from the Australian Prisoners Union. "Prisoners have approached the Australian Prisoners Union wanting to be involved in a non-violent expression to show the government they will play a constructive part in the debate. They and their families and friends are tired of being scapegoated for the failed social justice policies of federal and state governments" said Brett Collins of Justice Action. The APU has called on all Australian prisoners to participate in the strike by either sending a poem, painting, having a meeting with other prisoners in their area about the issues, or not eating, adhering to an order, or working. The strike employs the principles of disciplined non-violence. They assert their humanity, want to talk, and participate directly in the debate about the future of the system they are forced to live under. They say they won't allow themselves to be provoked, no matter what. For further comment contact Brett Collins on 9281 5407 or 0414 705 003 justice ACTION PO Box 386, Broadway, NSW 2007 Ph: 02 9281 5100 Fx :02 9281 5303 [EMAIL PROTECTED] www.justiceaction.org.au ------------------------------------------------------ RecOzNet2 has a page @ http://www.green.net.au/recoznet2 and is archived at http://www.mail-archive.com/ To unsubscribe from this list, mail [EMAIL PROTECTED], and in the body of the message, include the words: unsubscribe announce or click here mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=unsubscribe%20announce This posting is provided to the individual members of this group without permission from the copyright owner for purposes of criticism, comment, scholarship and research under the "fair use" provisions of the Federal copyright laws and it may not be distributed further without permission of the copyright owner, except for "fair use." RecOzNet2 is archived for members @ http://www.mail-archive.com/recoznet2%40paradigm4.com.au/
