LL:DDV: STUDENT UNIONISM BEING CRUSHED IN TAFE. UNI IS NEXT!

[VTSANPre]

PROTEST ALERT!

MEDIA RELEASES AND PARTICIPATION IN SOLIDARITY URGENTLY REQUESTED!

This is just an initial email to let you know the date, time and a 
little bit about the issues we will be protesting around.

Date: 11th April 10am

Place: Minister for Education's office: 2 Treasury Place Melbourne City

Issues: The locking out of students at Chisholm, and refusal of 
managements there and at many other Institutes to provide the student 
unions with a budget and staff for 2002. The government's refusal to 
pressure these Institutes into 'restoring student unions' as promised. 
The government's broken promise of reducing the cost of Concession cards 
to $6.20 for tertiary students. The casualisation of teachers and 
decrease in course quality. The corporatisation of education, with 
Institutes catering to business over the needs of students.

Form: 2000 'votes for student unionism' signed by Chisholm students, 
will be delivered to the government. The protest will be entirely 
peaceful, with no 'surprises'. All student organisations, unions and 
other sympathetic groups and individuals are strongly encouraged to 
attend, and send out their own media release on the day. We'll work out 
a better media release you might like to base yours on closer to the 
day. For more info call Caspar at VTSAN 96397699 or 0438570115.


UNITED WE STAND!!


-- 
Yours in solidarity,

Caspar Cumming

Victorian Tafe Students and Apprentices Network
President

Ph: {W} {03} 96397699 {H} {03} 94170450
Fax: {03} 96396448
Mobile: 0438570115
send postage to: 139a Campbell St Collingwood 3066


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LL:DDV: TIMORLINK FUNDRAISER @ FAIRFIELD PARK BOAT HOUSE

[Timor Link]

ON SUNDAY 21TH APRIL WE'LL BE HAVING A PICNIC TO CATCH
UP ON THE LOWDOWN, TO INSPIRE EACH OTHER, TO EAT!
DONATIONS OF $5 TO $10 (OR UPWARDS) WILL GO DIRECTLY
TO BUYING UNIFORMS FOR X-CORTA IN DILI!  HOORAH!

*anyone struggling to get $5 together can donate anything they like, 
including a good reference for obtaining grants!

X-Corta are a group of young males who provide children with 
recreational activities, such as soccer, in order that communities be 
brought together for healing and growth, in order that the young
traumatized children of East Timor be given a chance to know what 
'belonging' and 'acceptance' and love and nurturing is, to rebuild their 
trust in adults and in life, to stop them from becoming bored and
destructive, to avoid violence as a means of expressing their trauma and 
past degradation.  X-corta needs assistance.

COME TO THE PICNIC!

Where?  Fairfield Park Boat House, Melways 30 J12.
When? Sunday, 21st April
Time? 1-3pm
Bring? One plate of food: eg salads, sandwiches, dip &
bread (Lenny will supply softdrink & cordial).
Donation? $5 to $10 (or less, or more)
Tell? At least one friend to join in

If you could reply to this email to let me know the numbers to supply 
drinks for, I'd be very thankful.




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LL:DDN: Free entry to New Scientist forum

[Iggy Kim]

Please forward around. Thank you very much (and apologies for
cross-postings).

300 free tickets for Green Left Weekly to the New Scientist forum

New Scientist magazine has offered 300 Green Left Weekly readers &
supporters free passes to their May 2 globalisation debate. If you wish
to take advantage of this offer, please email 
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> by April 15 and simply cite "Green Left
free pass" in your email. It's on a first-come-first-serve basis.


NewScientist Forum, 2nd May 2002

TIME TO RETHINK EVERYTHING


The twenty-first century has got off to a rocky start. Science and
technology let us phone anywhere, anytime and we thought it would bring
us all together.  But instead we've seen global terrorism. And while the
global economy looked like it would make us all secure, inequalities 
seem deeper than ever.

We invite you to join NewScientist in our search for new solutions to
the worlds catastrophic condition. We've been out to listen people with 
big ideas, from billionaire speculators like George Soros to Nobel-prize
winning economists and radicals who want us to think local. We've 
visited the poorest of the poor in Africa and India to hear our tales. 
We've gone to Gaza, Jerusalem and Hebron to see war and hatred first
hand.

It's time for some new thinking.  Join New Scientist in the search for
radical new ways to bring solutions from science and technology to the
world's biggest problems. We've been out and found the best ideas from
the world's finest brains and visited the parts of the planet where 
things are going right.

The evening will be hosted by Triple J's Adam Spencer. Our panel
represents an eclectic mix of backgrounds and beliefs - from journalist 
and author George Negus to Religious leaders, evolutionary psychologists 
and sociologists. This is your opportunity to hear our stories, partake 
in a lively debate and be prepared to rethink everything!

SYDNEY: THURSDAY 2 MAY AT 7PM
City Recital Hall, Angel Place
(between George and Pitt St off Martin Place)
Box Office hotline: 02 8256 
On line bookings at www.cityrecitalhall.com

Tickets $9.90 or $7.90 concession plus booking fee where applicable (GST 
incl.)



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LL:DDV: Coming soon at...Trades Hall

[Trades Hall Arts]

Get it live - Get it at Trades Hall, the home of conscience culture ...

DAS UBER SHOW - a Comedy Festival event presented by Department 39
Previews this weekend - nice, healthy $9 tix - get in quick
Fresh from a sold-out tour of Europe, Das Uber Show now fulfills a
commitment made in 1953- they're finally coming to Australia for a 
farewell tour! See the magic! The wonder! The excitement! Das Uber Show 
doesn't just have magic, live animals, freaks, clowning and death 
defying trapeze acts*, it is also the worlds only all singing, all 
dancing circus riot! (With music provided by the last surviving member 
of 'Kraftwerk'!) Das Uber Show? the greatest example of German cultural 
imperialism since the death of Walt Disney! (* acts may vary due to lack 
of actual circus skills)

The Old Council Chambers
8:30pm Wed - Sat, March 28th to April 20th
Full $12/ Conc $10 Bookings Ph: 9685 5111
$9 Previews March 28, 29, 30, 31


THE LANDLESS MOVEMENT of BRAZIL - a FOE Public Meeting
Featuring Roberto Baggio and  Amelia Franz, Leaders of the Movement of
Landless Rural Workers The Brazilian Landless Workers Movement (MST) is 
the largest social movement in Latin America and one of the most 
successful grassroots movements in the world. Hundreds of thousands of 
landless peasants have taken onto themselves the task of carrying out a 
long-overdue land reform. Less than 3% of the population owns two-thirds 
of Brazil's arable land.  Please join us for an inspirational evening: 
hear about the work of the MST, and ways to support its projects.

5pm Saturday, April 6th
The New Council Chambers
Entry by donation: $8/5 concession.
Funds raised will go towards MST projects in Brazil
Melbourne visit organised by Committee in Solidarity with Latin America 
& The Caribbean, and Friends of the Earth


RED CLYDESIDE with ALISTAIR HULETT
Singer/songer writer and interpreter of traditional song, ALISTAIR 
HULETT returns from Scotland for a very special, once only performance 
in support of his new recording "RED CLYDESIDE". Based on a workers' 
revolt in the city of Glasgow that broke out with the Declaration of War 
in 1914. It follows the tale of the workers and their leader, John 
Maclean, through a time of great unrest. Eventually the rulers of 
Britain sent troops and tanks into Glasgow, in January 1919, to prevent 
a full-blown revolution they feared would engulf the entire country.
Hulett has painstakingly researched the background to the story over two
years and the end result is a CD release of nine original songs with
extensive booklet notes, and the extraordinary full concert version of 
"RED CLYDESIDE". CD's available at the gig. This performance is the one 
and only Melbourne performance. AN ABSOLUTE MUST SEE!

"His songs stand as masterpieces of the songwriter's craft" - The 
Canberra Times
"...songs equal to anything Billy Bragg has done" - Rock 'N' Reel

8:30pm Wednesday, April 10th
The New Ballroom
Tickets $20 Full/ $15 Conc/ $15 Groups of 10+
Bookings Ph: 9662 3555


BEST VALUE SEMINAR
RMIT University and KPMG are pleased to announce an interactive seminar
looking at approaches to delivering Best Value in Victoria. The session 
will draw heavily on the key lessons learned about progress and approach 
from the first five years of Best Value in the UK. The intention is to 
help managers and policy planners avoid a number of the pitfalls 
encountered by UK local authorities in designing and evaluating their 
approaches to Best Value. Drawing heavily on case study examples, the 
session aims to identify common barriers to implementing Best Value and 
highlight a number of manageable solutions for authorities to progress 
in designing their approaches.

9am - 5pm Friday, April 5th
The New Council Chambers
For more info contact: the Best Value Co-ordinator Centre for Management
Quality Research at RMIT University,
Ph:  (03) 9925-7513, Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]


ART in The New International Bookshop Gallery
Cactus! Leafy Lady Leaving from March 15 presents the distinctive 
paintings of Linda Cottrell, who is leaving Victoria. This departure 
exhibiton and sale presents a chance to see representative work of one 
of our most immediately recognisable artists. Goughing, going...gone.


GET IT LIVE - GET IT AT TRADES HALL
54 Victoria St (Cnr Lygon St) Carlton  Ph: 9662 3555
+ much, much more
Trades Hall Bar - open nightly from 5pm 'til late
Friday Happy Hours 4-7pm
more info visit www.tradeshallarts.com.au 



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LL:DDN: Is opposing US imperialism the defining issue?

[leon parissi]

7.30 pm Tuesday 2 April
Upstairs, the Green Iguana Café
6 King Street Newtown
(near Sydney Uni)

The International Socialist Organisation has agreed to a debate with 
Martin Thomas of Workers' Liberty on the topic below. So its a change 
from the format of  discussion which was originally advertised.

There is no entry charge just maybe the cost of a coffee from the Green
Iguana.
Leon Parissi

Is opposing US imperialism the defining issue?

A discussion between Martin Thomas, editor Workers Liberty journal and 
David Gollan for the International Socialist Organisation.

7.30 pm Tuesday 2 April
Upstairs, the Green Iguana Café
6 King Street Newtown
(near Sydney Uni)




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LL:DDV: fundraiser fun

[Andrea Sharam]

Wills Greens

Band Night on Saturday April 13 from 8.00 p.m. at the Retreat Hotel, 
Sydney Rd Brunswick, next to the Mechanics Institute and near the Town 
Hall. Entry $10, conc $8. Band will be Odilla. Contact Tom:
[EMAIL PROTECTED]Ph: 93840080.

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TERROR LAWS. URGENT ACTION NEEDED

[cpa]

The following article was published in "The Guardian", newspaper
of the Communist Party of Australia in its issue of Wednesday,
March 27th, 2002. Contact address: 65 Campbell Street, Surry Hills. Sydney.
2010 Australia. Phone: (612) 9212 6855 Fax: (612) 9281 5795. CPA Central
Committee: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
"The Guardian": <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Webpage: http://www.cpa.org.au>
Subscription rates on request.

**

TERROR LAWS  Urgent action required

The Federal Government and ALP have combined to stifle public comment on
proposed anti-terrorism laws that threaten to criminalise social 
dissent. The legislation introduced into Parliament this month creates 
new offences of terrorism, gives the government the power to ban 
organisations and gives ASIO the power to detain people incommunicado 
for 48 hours. A Senate Committee will hold a public inquiry into the 
legislation, but have only given the public less then two weeks to 
comment on the new laws. It is crucial that people act now to express 
their opposition to the laws and pressure the Labor Party to block the 
passage of the legislation in the Senate.

by Damien Lawson
Federation of Community Legal Centres

Organisations banned

Like the Menzies Government's Communist Party Dissolution Act, "the 
Security Legislation (Terrorism) Amendment Bill" will give the 
government wide powers to outlaw organisations that it opposes.

The Attorney General will be able to proscribe organisations "likely to
endanger, the security or integrity of the Commonwealth or another 
country." People who are members or assist banned organisations face up 
to 25 years imprisonment.

The phrase "or another country" is important. This would allow a range 
of groups that support anti-colonial or national independence struggles 
to be proscribed. Under this law Nelson Mandela's ANC or East Timor's 
Fretilin could have been banned. Already the government has created a 
list of groups to be banned, which include Kurdish organisations, and 
Colombian guerilla groups the ELN and FARC.

Secret Police

ASIO will move from spy agency to secret police. With the assistance of 
the state or Federal police, ASIO will be able to arrest and hold people 
for questioning for 48 hours after obtaining a warrant from a Federal 
Magistrate or the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT).

Both these bodies have been appointed by the present Federal Government. 
AAT members do not have the same independence as judges, with fixed 
terms and reappointment determined by the government.

People will be able to be held incommunicado with no right to a lawyer 
and no contact with family or the outside world. People could face up to 
five years in jail for refusing to answer questions, removing people's 
right to silence.

Such powers would not be restricted to those suspected of terrorism, but
anyone who might have information regarding politically motivated 
violence. The Attorney General has said this could include lawyers and 
journalists and even children.

It is clear these laws will be used to further harass and intimidate the
Islamic and Arab communities in Australia, if the "war on terrorism"
continues this net could widen to include anyone perceived as outside 
the establishment.

Terrorism or activism

Terrorism has replaced communism or subversion as the justification for 
the secret snooping of intelligence agencies and the development of 
powerful national security infrastructures.

Often these institutions have worked to shut down political dissent and
criticism rather then pursue terrorism. Following the rise of the global
social movements challenging corporate globalisation, these institutions
have scrambled to gain new powers and greater resources.

The attacks on September 11 have given greater impetus to this process 
with police and intelligence agencies arguing that terrorism and 
activism are the same problem and need to be approached in the same manner.

Terrorist acts

The government's proposed terrorism offences have the potential to be 
used to criminalise militant unionism and direct action from social 
movements.

The Criminal Code will be amended to create a definition of "terrorist 
act", which includes actions that are made with "with the intention of 
advancing a political, religious or ideological cause".

Such actions are not restricted to harm to persons, but also include 
serious damage to property or something that places at risk the health 
and safety of a section of the public.

The scope of the definition is broadened even further to include any act
that "seriously interferes with, seriously disrupts, or destroys, an
electronic system".

An electronic system is defined broadly to include systems used in most
areas of industry, such as information systems, telecommunications,
financial systems, the delivery of essential government services, 
essential public utilities, and transport systems.

While there is an exempti

LL:ART: ALP: A crisis of policies and ideology

[cpa]

The following article was published in "The Guardian", newspaper
of the Communist Party of Australia in its issue of Wednesday,
March 27th, 2002. Contact address: 65 Campbell Street, Surry Hills. Sydney.
2010 Australia. Phone: (612) 9212 6855 Fax: (612) 9281 5795. CPA Central
Committee: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
"The Guardian": <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Webpage: http://www.cpa.org.au>
Subscription rates on request.

**

ALP: A crisis of policies and ideology

The recent announcements by some trade union officials that they have or 
are considering resigning from the Labor Party reflect a deep-seated and
widespread dissatisfaction and disillusionment with the ALP among 
working people.

by Peter Symon*

It is a crisis of political leadership of the working class. It is a 
crisis of the policies and ideology of the Labor Party which have been 
followed by many trade unions.

Disillusionment, frustration and anger have been building up for a 
number of years and will intensify as the leadership of the Labor Party 
distances itself more and more from the interests of the working class 
and the trade unions.

The intention of the ALP leadership to "modernise" the Party signals an
intention to continue in that direction come what may.

The present day disillusionment (there have been previous periods of
dissatisfaction with Labor -- the actions of Labor governments during 
the 1930s' depression, for example) commenced with the adoption of 
economic rationalist policies by the Hawke/Keating Governments of the 
1980s and '90s.

The Labor Party adopted the so-called "competition policy". Its main aim 
was to justify the breaking up and privatisation of public enterprises. 
Since then the privatisation of publicly owned enterprises and 
institutions has been pushed by the Howard Government and by both 
Liberal and Labor State Governments.

As public ownership went, so did the social charters that were 
associated with public enterprises. Profits came first -- not social 
responsibilities and commitments.

Private ownership was crowned king and the ALP doffed its cap to the
corporations. Not even those public enterprises that had been created by 
the Labor Party years before, were defended.

Many other consequences flowed from the adoption of economic rationalist
policies. Instead of technology leading to shorter working hours and 
other benefits for workers it became accepted that technology was 
sufficient reason for the number of workers employed to be substantially 
reduced. Support for a reduction in overall working hours was abandoned.

Tens of thousands were sacked and hours of work rose substantially. The
argument that employers had to cut costs, despite enormous profits, was
accepted. The centralised system of legally binding awards was scuttled 
and individual work contracts introduced along with widespread 
casualisation.

All these measures are means by which employers reduce costs, and at the
same time, reduce the living standards of workers.

The ALP failed to take a stand against contracting out, casualisation of 
the workforce, privatisation, the winding back of Medicare and the 
promotion of private health insurance, the cutbacks to public housing, 
the transfer of state school funds to private schools and cuts to 
university funding.

It is in these circumstances that the perception is growing that there 
is little difference between the Labor Party and the Liberal Party -- 
and it is true. With this disillusionment came the search for an 
alternative.

The fact that many trade union leaders failed to contest the policies 
and arguments being advanced by the leaders of the Labor Party resulted 
in widespread disillusionment among workers with trade unions as well.

This is the basic reason for the sharp slump in trade union membership.

The argument of some workers was simple: Why should we pay money to a 
trade union when the union appears to be not even trying to protect our 
living standards and working conditions?

This is not to accept this argument or to overlook the undoubted
difficulties for trade unions created by anti-trade union legislation.
However, there was an all too ready acceptance of the policies and 
arguments put forward by the Labor Party and the employers that are 
behind the present political crisis.

The accumulated bad results of these policies for the working people are 
now being expressed as disillusionment in the Labor Party and the 
welcome search for an alternative.

But the solution is not to be found in mere organisational measures but 
in the adoption of working class policies and ideology.

Disillusionment up to now has been expressed in one election after 
another as the primary votes for both the Labor Party and the Liberal 
Party have gone down and those of some of the smaller parties have risen.

In desperation some voted for the demagogy of One Nation. Others fell 
for the racism and phony nationalism of the Liberal