LL:URL: Global Trade Negotiations
-- Forwarded message -- Date: Mon, 23 Aug 1999 16:59:57 -0400 (EDT) From: Al <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Global Trade Negotiations Home Page * Hello, I am writing to announce the launch of the Global Trade Negotiations Home Page. The site, which can be found on the Harvard Center for International Development server at http://www.cid.harvard.edu/cidtrade contains a number of research materials that will be useful to policymakers, academic researchers and interested citizens. *Researchers will find a large number of relevant academic papers on every aspect of world trade negotiations and a comprehensive list of research links *Policymakers will find a centralized source for government positions on trade policy, as well as position papers from non-governmental organizations across the globe *Activists and citizens will find issue summaries, links to other trade resources, and a wealth of information on trade negotiations in general I would like to thank all of you for your submissions and input on this web page; many of you have been instrumental in its creation. You may circulate this message to any interested party; you may also create a link to the Global Trade Negotiations Home Page from your own site. I hope you find the Global Trade Negotiations Home Page a useful resource. Please feel free to contact me with any questions, comments or suggestions. Thank you very much, Albert Cho -- Leftlink - Australia's Broad Left Mailing List mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.alexia.net.au/~www/mhutton/index.html Sponsored by Melbourne's New International Bookshop Subscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=subscribe%20leftlink Unsubscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=unsubscribe%20leftlink
LL:INFO: MAI discussion group
Original Message Subject: MAI discussion group Date: Wed, 23 Aug 1995 00:05:20 +1000 From: "Alan Griffiths" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> The old stop-mai discussion list at UTS is open for use. You can subscribe yourself by going to the web address: http://lists.uts.edu.au/mailman/listinfo/stop-mai Here's some details on a Sydney-based meeting WHO'S WHO IN THE 'GLOBALISED WORLD': CORPORATE AGENDAS AND POPULAR RESPONSES SPEAKERS Patricia Ranald, James Goodman Both speakers will focus on the World Trade Organisation, which is due to meet in November 1999, in Seattle. The meeting is part of an Australia-wide series of meetings launching a national campaign against the new round of negotiations in the WTO. This is the first meeting in the Aid/Watch globalisation series: next meetings to be held on 29 September, 27 October, 24 November (same place, same time: 6:30-8pm, Tap Gallery, 278 Palmer St., Darlinghurst (just off Oxford Street) Details from Aid/Watch. CONTACT Lina Cabaero, email: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> tel: 9387 5210 James Goodman, email: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> tel: 9514 2714 Organised by: Aid/Watch, Stop-MAI, the Australian Fair Trade and Investment Network MORE INFO Sign-on statement against a WTO Millennium Round: http://www.citizen.org/pctrade/mai/Sign-ons/WTOStatement.htm There is a very good list of relevent websites on Brian Jenkins (stop-MAI WA) site, at: http://www.nettrek.com.au/~brian/andreas.htm -- Leftlink - Australia's Broad Left Mailing List mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.alexia.net.au/~www/mhutton/index.html Sponsored by Melbourne's New International Bookshop Subscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=subscribe%20leftlink Unsubscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=unsubscribe%20leftlink
Precedent set in Alison Thorne case
Decision in Unionist's case sets important precedent: definition of industrial activity significantly broadened. A decision in the Equal Opportunity case of Alison Thorne was handed down yesterday. In that decision Ms Francis Millane, a member of the Equal Opportunity Panel of the Victorian Civil and Administrative Appeals Tribunal (VCAT) held that industrial activity "includes the activity of compliance with the Award". She also held that industrial activity includes past industrial activity and anticipated future activity. This means that employees cannot be treated in a discriminatory manner by their employer for because they took industrial action in the past or propose to do so in the future. An employer can no longer argue that discrimination against active unionists is lawful because they do not happen to be engaging in industrial activity at the precise moment they are treated unfairly. Ms Millane found this even though she was unable to find that Ms Thorne's treatment was unlawful discrimination, and therefore dismissed her complaint. Alison, the local Australian Education Union (AEU) branch President and a teacher of twenty years standing, was dismissed from her full time position at Northern Melbourne Institute of TAFE (NMIT) on April 11 1997. She alleged that when it retrenched her, NMIT management discriminated unlawfully because of her industrial and political activities. She and two other active unionists were sacked on the grounds of alleged excess, while management employed poorly-paid casual teachers to front classes formerly provided by the stood-down permanent staff. Other active unionists in her department were demoted or offered part time jobs. NMIT Management "acted to discriminate". Significantly, the Tribunal also found that "In Brian McDonald's case...whilst he asserted that the staff were all entitled to participate in lawful industrial activity and to work in accordance with their award conditions, he nevertheless acted in ways which appeared to be detrimental to their interests." McDonald, she found, "is overtly hostile to the union and staff who insist on their award conditions and, in the past, he has acted to discriminate against those staff." McDonald's attitude, "indicates the existence of an industrial environment in which the staff might properly question the bona fides of any action impacting on active unionists." Speaking from the United States, where she is attending a conference of the Freedom Socialist Party. Ms Thorne, the Melbourne organiser for the Party, said: "Naturally I'm disappointed that the limitations of the law and difficulty of finding hard evidence, meant we could not prove the discrimination in this instance was unlawful. However, I am delighted that by taking this case we exposed the climate of discrimination and the hostility towards unionists by the management at NMIT. It's a vindication of every active union member at the Institute who lives in fear of being terminated because of their involvement." Thorne continued: "nothing in the Tribunal's ruling contradicts the basic assertion that I was unfairly dismissed. However, as the Tribunal puts it: 'What might be unfair in an industrial setting and jurisdiction is not necessarily helpful in determining discrimination under the Act.'" Turning to the Equal Opportunity Act itself, Alison called for it to be amended to reverse the burden of proof "so that those in positions of power cannot hide behind a wall of silence in the knowledge that the victim of their unlawful discrimination is highly unlikely to obtain enough evidence to substantiate the complaint." Contempt action looms. In 1986, the Supreme Court ruled that Ms Thorne be employed at a TAFE College and treated no less favourably than any other teacher. Despite that order, in 1993 College Director, Brian McDonald, took steps to have her removed from the College on the spurious ground that "she does not have any legal basis for being at the College." However, during the recent hearing NMIT management, through its legal counsel, conceded that the order is still in force. Ms Thorne, now working in a telephone call centre, said: "apart from the loss of my retirement pension and other superannuation entitlements, NMIT management conceded that I suffer an ongoing loss of $10,800 per year in wages alone. If the Supreme Court Order is still in force how was I not entitled to be at the Institute in 1993, and why was management able to sack me in 1997?" She concluded: "there is also an important principle of civil liberties at stake. The State Government and its statutory authorities are not above the law. In 1986 the State government agreed to be bound by an order of the State's highest Court. Subsequently its officials colluded to subvert the Court's authority by first transferring me to TAFE employment and then treating me in a less favourable manner than teachers who remain in
LL:PR: This Week on BB
THIS WEEK On ABC Radio National's Background Briefing Program: - Sunday, August 29, 9.10am Repeated August 31, 7.10pm - BIOLOGICAL TERRORISM Produced by Chris Bullock - ON-AIR PROMO: How many scientists does it take to scare everyone? Three. One to say it's possible to kill more people with better bugs. Another to make the bugs that do it, and a third to tell a terrorist exactly how to release them. Nervous? Well, it's a fact of life and better to get real about biological weapons than be .a dead ostrich? Background Briefing, this Sunday morning after the news at 9. --- PRODUCER's SUPPLEMENT: The threat posed by the destructive combination of deadly germs and terrorism is by no means new. In many respects, it predates nuclear warfare. But the science of germs has become much more sophisticated and sinister and, in combination with terrorism, has more lethal potential. Hundreds of the world's leading microbiologists and virologists recently gathered in Sydney to talk about what they call the 'dark science'. LAST WEEK: Transcripts now available on-line: http://www.abc.net.au/rn/talks/bbing BUGS & DRUGS: Australia's Biotech Future Produced by Ashley Crossland BB 22/08/99 .. Background Briefing on ABC Radio National GPO Box 9994 Sydney NSW 2001 Australia Fax: +61-2-9333-1400 Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] .. Subscribe or signoff weekly program announcements by: Sending an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] SUBSCRIBE BBANNOUNCE SIGNOFF BBANNOUNCE(in body not 'subject' of message) or visit: http://www.abc.net.au/rn/talks/bbing/bbmail.htm .. Transcripts: http://www.abc.net.au/rn/talks/bbing Tuning: http://www.abc.net.au/rn/freq/map.htm -- Leftlink - Australia's Broad Left Mailing List mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.alexia.net.au/~www/mhutton/index.html Sponsored by Melbourne's New International Bookshop Subscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=subscribe%20leftlink Unsubscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=unsubscribe%20leftlink
LL:PR: what's on earth matters this week 27/8
EARTH MATTERS can be heard on 3CR in Melbourne Sunday 11am, 2XX Canberra Tuesday 10am, 8CCC Alice Springs Sundays between 8-9pm, 2NCR Lismore Friday 10am, 5UV Adelaide Sunday 1pm, 7LTN Launceston Monday 7:30pm, 2VOX Wollongong between 9-10am & much more!! Earth Matters Program 81b Juliet Fox 3CR Community Radio 03 9419 8377 ComRadSat Program 27/8/1999 CUE SHEET INTRO : "Hello and welcome to ..." OUTRO : "... see you then." DURATION : 25'35" (frogs til around 26'35) Wongungarra Protected in the Victorian Alpine National Park There's no doubt that the Regional Forest Agreement process has been the focus of much ongoing concern with regard to the outcomes in actual forest conservation. While the whole process continues to be criticised, there was a recent win in Victoria's north-east. Wongungarra is a region deemed the "last remaining wilderness area in Victoria", and with the recent signing of the Regional Forest Agreement for Victoria's north-east it has been encorporated into the state's Alpine National Park. Today on Earth Matters, 3CR's Melanie Iona speaks to the Wilderness Society's Gavan McFadzean about the recent decision. Crop and Seed Patenting Patenting is the system by which people or companies make sure that they gain the maximum profits for their idea or so-called "discovered" plant or organism. Taking out a patent or copyright is an increasing practice as the knowledge economy grows and corporations seek to own knowledge. Recently Kate Raworth, an economist and co-author of this year's United Nations Human Development Report, spoke to UN Radio in New York about her particular concerns regarding the expanding business of patenting. Australia's Seed Savers' Network Annual Conference The Seed Savers' Network is an Australian gorup that seeks to positively challenge the notions of seed ownership by companies or corporations. Today we hear from Jude Fanton, Director of the Network, about the aims and origins of Seed Savers, and about their up and coming annual conference to be held in Byron Bay in late October. -- Leftlink - Australia's Broad Left Mailing List mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.alexia.net.au/~www/mhutton/index.html Sponsored by Melbourne's New International Bookshop Subscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=subscribe%20leftlink Unsubscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=unsubscribe%20leftlink
LL:AA: CALL FOR SUPPORT FOR THE CHILDREN AND THE ELDERLY
CALL FOR SUPPORT FOR THE CHILDREN AND THE ELDERLY WHO HAVE LOST THEIR FAMILIES IN THE EARTHQUAKE IN TURKEY FROM: Women for Women's Human Rights - Istanbul [EMAIL PROTECTED] The earthquake that hit Northwestern Turkey on August 17th 1999 has resulted in thousands of deaths and injuries. As of August 25 - a week since the earthquake - the number of accounted deaths stands at 18,000 people with over 35,000 people still missing, and another 42,500 people injured. Among those who are in need of most urgent care are the children and the elderly whose families have died or have been injured in the earthquake. The Directorate for Social Services and Child Protection, a governmental agency, is currently identifying the children and the elderly in need of care. As of yet, there is no accurate number of children and elderly people who have lost their families in the earthquake. Given the high number of accounted deaths and missing persons, however, we anticipate this figure to be substantial. To this end, we as Women for Women's Human Rights (Kadinin Insan Haklari Projesi in Turkish), an autonomous NGO established in 1993 in Turkey, have geared our efforts towards the support and rehabilitation of the children and the elderly who have suffered losses in the earthquake. One of the longer-term solutions offered by WWHR to the Directorate for Child Protection is the launch of a campaign for "foster families" willing to undertake short- or long-term care of the children. Upon confirmation by the Directorate for the urgent need for such "foster families", we have started disseminating the information through e-mail networks. Two of our emergency aid campaign participants from Southern Turkey already began an initiative for orphaned children to be placed with some foster families in their town. The donations to the campaign will be used for schooling, housing, rehabilitation, or any urgent individual material or financial needs of the survivors which are not met by other public or private funds. The exact scope of the needs will become clearer as the identification process is completed. >Our principle is to ensure a high degree of transparency. Donors will receive periodic reports on the allocation of donations, the means for their utilization and their outcomes; also the accounting will be done in a detailed manner and will be made available for donor requests. Therefore, we would like to ask those who donate money to inform us about their e-mail address or fax number. If you would like to support this campaign, please note the bank account information below: TURKEY: (Wire transfers only: (For donations inTurkish Lira TL): BANK: AKBANK BRANCH: Saskinbakkal Branch, Istanbul, Turkey Account No: A00/0016470/01-7 ACCOUNT HOLDER: Pinar Ilkkaracan - Karin Brigitte Ronge/ Kadinin Insan Haklari Projesi (For donations in U.S Dollars): BANK: AKBANK BRANCH: Suadiye Branch, Istanbul, Turkey Account No: BU6/0030060/01-8 ACCOUNT HOLDER: Ipek Ilkkaracan - E. Gulsah Seral/Women for Women's Human Rights Our network members are also setting up a bank account in New York for donations from the USA and Canada. If you are interested in the bank account information in New York, please let us know. In order to enable proper follow-up on the campaign donations, anyone who makes a wire transfer or mails in a check should send in a short notice at fax: 90-216-3851262 or e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] of the name of the donor, the amount and the date of the check or the money transfer. If you have any questions, please let us know. Thank you for your attention. In solidarity, Women for Women's Human Rights (WWHR) Kadinin Insan Haklari Projesi (KIHP) Plajyolu No: 12 D:9 Suadiye, Istanbul TURKEY e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] tel: 90-216-3572142 tel/fax: 90-216-3851262 Gonca Gursoy Artunkal, London: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Leyla Gulcur, New York: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Women for Women's Human Rights - WWHR (Kadinin Insan Haklari Projesi - KIHP) is an autonomous NGO, supporting the active participation of women as free individuals and equal citizens in the establishment and maintenance of a democratic and peaceful societal order. We were founded in 1993 in Istanbul, Turkey. WWHR aims to end discrimination against women through empowerment programs and to provide women's organizations at the grass-roots level with tools and strategies to confront structures of inequality and the effects of marginalization. This is accomplished by carrying out research, disseminating the gathered information in various forms appropriate for women of different literacy levels and by utilizing research results to help enact policy, legal and social changes. In line with these goals, WWHR produces training programs, resource materials and publications. If you are interested in receiving any of our publications or informational materials, please contact us at the numbers or the addresses indicated above. -- Leftlink - Australia's Broad Left Mailing Li
LL:DDV: Seminar on resistance movement in East Timor.
Seminar on resistance movement in East Timor. Tue Aug 31, 7pm. 14 Anthony St, City. Presented by Action in Solidarity with Indonesia & East Timor (ASIET). Ph Jo 9380 8535. LL.VH -- Leftlink - Australia's Broad Left Mailing List mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.alexia.net.au/~www/mhutton/index.html Sponsored by Melbourne's New International Bookshop Subscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=subscribe%20leftlink Unsubscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=unsubscribe%20leftlink
LL:ART: Ex-BLF leader Norm Gallagher dies
http://www.smh.com.au/breaking/19990826/A30639-1999Aug25.shtml Ex-BLF leader Norm Gallagher dies Source: AAP | Published: Thursday August 26 12:14:52 PM Norm Gallagher, the former secretary of the notorious Builders' Labourers Federation, has died aged 67. The Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union confirmed that Gallagher had died in a Melbourne hospital last night. Gallagher, who had been ill for sometime, is survived by his daughter Sharon and son Wayne. In a statement, the CFMEU paid tribute to his contribution to the union movement. "The fighting spirit that Norm helped create lives on in the militant, disciplined and united organisation that the CFMEU is today," the union statement said. In 1981, the federal Victorian and Liberal governments announced a joint royal commission into the union's activities, uncovering more than $150,000 worth of gifts to Gallagher and his organisers. Gallagher was eventually brought to trial in 1986, convicted, fined $60,000 and sentenced to 18 months' jail. After a short term in Pentridge, Gallagher was still defiant, saying he had been set up. The BLF was eventually deregistered. -- Leftlink - Australia's Broad Left Mailing List mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.alexia.net.au/~www/mhutton/index.html Sponsored by Melbourne's New International Bookshop Subscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=subscribe%20leftlink Unsubscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=unsubscribe%20leftlink
LL:PR: Hacktivism e-mail list launch!
Original Message Subject: Hacktivism e-mail list launch! Date: Wed, 25 Aug 1999 12:34:48 -0400 From: Grugnog <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> -- A new e-mail list has been formed to discuss and debate what has been termed 'hacktivism'. Refacing corporate and government web-pages, organising community based web servers or micropower radio stations, using mobile comms to create communication channels for poor, remote or oppressed people: the fusion of activism and hacking has begun to create some very creative projects - not to mention some interesting practical, tactical and even ethical questions. -- The e-mail list is a space to allow activists and hackers of all persuasions to discuss what the word 'hacktivism' actually means and the issues surrounding it. It can also be used as a forward channel for any interesting hacktivism news or opinion. Please forward this announcement to interested people. -- To join this e-mail list simply send a message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] with subscribe in the (plain text) message body. Remove the subject line and your sig. -- Alternatively go to http://lists.tao.ca/ and subscribe there. -- -- Leftlink - Australia's Broad Left Mailing List mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.alexia.net.au/~www/mhutton/index.html Sponsored by Melbourne's New International Bookshop Subscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=subscribe%20leftlink Unsubscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=unsubscribe%20leftlink
