Forwarding post for Diet Simon in [EMAIL PROTECTED] Let�s clobber �em in Iran! The pro-Aboriginal cause has a golden opportunity to put its case to Asian governments at an anti-racism conference soon in Iran. Aboriginal campaigner Michael Anderson has it from authoritative sources in Geneva, where he has just been making submissions to human rights and other UN bodies, that Iran, the host, has written to the Australian government that it is not being invited to participate in Asia's Regional Inter-Governmental Preparative Conference for the World Conference on Racism. Michael has been told that two influencing factors for Iran�s decision were Australia�s treatment of Aboriginal peoples and Australia's criticisms of the UN's Human Rights Expert Committee's conclusions on Australia's violations of international laws and other international human rights instruments. This is how I analyse this chance, and Michael would welcome comment: If Iran sticks to its refusal to have Australia attend, and if we can get Michael to the event, the stage is his alone to influence neighbouring Asian governments with lots of axes to grind against Canberra, e.g. Mahathir in Malaysia. Remember his remarks on SBS television that Australia should put its own house in order in regard to the Aborigines before it hectors him or anyone else about democracy? Australia needs these countries desperately as markets for its goods and regional political allies (e.g. military operations) and any whiff of trade sanctions or the like would have them in frenzy in Canberra and among the pastoral and mining industries� pullers of the Canberra puppets� strings. �Gravy train� journalists sucking up to their respective governments attend such conferences. By being present, Michael could pick up their names and contact details for us to feed afterwards to keep the fires stoked in the mainly government-controlled Asian media. The leaders of those countries would love it, because they�ve had a bellyful of Australian arrogance and know-all finger-pointing. Three big �ifs� in this equation, two involving possible political tradeoffs beyond our control: Iran is not your paragon of human rights. So why is it taking this stance? Is it signalling to Canberra that if Canberra concedes something Tehran wants, Tehran will reconsider and let Australia attend the conference after all? Would both the big Iranian camps, the Islamic fundamentalists clawing on to power and the reformist movement behind the president, perhaps welcome the spotlight being taken off their own power struggle try to win themselves a human rights mantle? Will Canberra feel this snub to be enough of a slap in the face to try to lean on neighbouring countries, which might owe Australia something or want something from it, to massage Iran to let Australia come? Michael�s sources inform him that Canberra is already busy twisting Asian arms on this. And the biggest if: how do we get Michael to the conference? The problem, as ever, is money. Does anyone have any ideas whom to tap to defray some or all of the expenses (airfare, sustenance, communications)? It�s being increasingly recognised that Michael�s big �selling point� is that he represents the FREE VOICE, unrestrained by government funding. He�s being listened to. In Geneva he was just given 12 minutes live airtime on international Italian satellite television, for example, something unheard of in the media, where you�re lucky to air with a 15 second clip. In Germany a leading nationally airing Berlin TV channel has just interviewed him. He is an invaluable high profile resource we should capitalise on whenever we can. And this would be a really big one. So, get the ideas flowing to him directly: [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], phones #49-0173-5166801 (mobile), #49-30-51067354 (terrestrial). Diet Simon, Cologne ------------------------------------------------------ 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/
