LL:AA: 1 sided A4 paper for FOE to reuse
Friends of the Earth is urgently seeking 1 sided paper to use for our photocopier and printers. We need: A4 - reasonable quality - preferably not stabled and all the same way up. We do not need any other sizes. Please contact FoE on 9419 8700 if you are able to help or email [EMAIL PROTECTED] Alternatively drop it into 312 Smith St Fitzroy. Thanks in Advance -- 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: AUSTRALIAN TROOPS IN SYDNEY'S STREETS?From Damien Lawson clewsls@vicnet.net.au
EMERGENCY ACTION ALERT TROOPS IN THE STREETS? AUSTRALIAN MILITARY TO GET SWEEPING NEW POWERS With no media attention or public discussion the Howard Government is using the Olympics to justify sweeping new powers allowing the military to suppress domestic unrest in Australia. The Defence Legislation Amendment (Aid to the Civilian Authorities) Bill seeks to establish the legal and political basis for using troops to suppress political disturbances, seriously undermining the centuries-old principle that the armed forces should not be mobilised against the civilian population. The Bill was passed through the House of Representatives in one day (June 28) virtually unnoticed with the country in the grip of GST mania, and is due to be voted on in the Senate by the end of August in time for the Olympic Games. Under the pretext of ensuring public safety during the Olympics, the government and the Labor Opposition have combined to rush through the legislation which will permanently and fundamentally change the military's role. The Bill authorises the Prime Minister, the Defence Minister and the Attorney-General to advise the Governor-General (the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces under the Constitution) to call out military personnel to deal with "domestic violence" that is considered a threat to the nation or one of Australia's states or territories. The words "domestic violence" do not refer to violence against family members or in the home. It is a vague and undefined expression derived rom s.119 of the Constitution, which was intended to cover civilian disorder that the state police forces prove incapable of putting down. Today, the term "domestic violence" is widely interpreted to mean more than just "terrorism" and can include strikes, political demonstrations or riots. Already the term "terrorism" has been used by police and security forces to encompass protests such as those planned for the World Economic Forum in Melbourne in September. It is possible that "domestic violence" will be interpreted to include protests at the Olympics or the WEF. Section 119 of the Consititution provides that the federal government shall protect each state against domestic violence, but only on the application of the state's government. Section 51A of the Bill goes well beyond the existing s. 51 of the Defence Act 1903 (Cth), which is based on s. 119 of the Constitution. The new section will allow a military callout where the three ministers are satisfied that domestic violence is occurring "or is likely to occur" that will affect "Commonwealth interests" (also undefined), regardless of whether there is a request by any state or territory government. Section 51B retains an existing proviso in s. 51 that a state government cannot request reserve forces for use in an intervention to deal with an industrial dispute, but no such restriction applies to the use of the armed forces to protect Commonwealth interests. Nor is there a restriction on the use of the permanent military when requested by a State. Section 51G will prevent military personnel being utilised to "stop or restrict any lawful protest or dissent" but that limitation is for all practical purposes meaningless. Almost any political demonstration can be rendered "unlawful" by refusal of official permission (such as NSW's new Olympic security legislation). Once deployed, the military forces will have wide-ranging powers under Sections 51I to 51Y to seize premises, places and means of transport; detain people; search premises; and seize things. If the three ministers declare a "general security area" these powers will be expanded to provide for wider searches, including personal searches; the erection of barriers; and the stopping of means of transport. If a "designated area" is declared, the powers will increase further to stop and control movement; and issue directions to people. The most disturbing measures, however, are those contained in Section 51T on the use of "reasonable and necessary force". In essence, the section will allow military personnel to shoot to kill. They will be permitted to cause death or grievous bodily harm where they believe "on reasonable grounds" that such action is necessary to protect the life of, or prevent serious injury to, another person, including the military personnel. Both the government and the Labor Party have claimed that the Bill merely codifies the law that already exists. But the purpose of this section is to shield military personnel from actions or prosecution for assault, false imprisonment and homicide. As legal commentators have warned, without such legal protection, soldiers could, for example, face murder charges if they killed someone in the course of quelling a civil disturbance, even if they were acting under superior orders. In recent years, police killings of civilians have become commonplace in a number of states, with the police
LL:DDV: Women Workers' Victory Over Nike: Melbourne Radical Women
An invitation from Melbourne Radical Women: Wednesday, 16 August, 7.00 pm (dinner at 6.15 pm for a $6.00 donation) WOMEN TAKING ON A GLOBAL GOLIATH -- GARMENT WORKERS WIN A VICTORY OVER NIKE Women unionists are at the forefront of resistance against the sweatshop barons. When the Textile, Clothing and Footwear Union and the FairWear Campaign stood up to Nike -- for the first time anywhere in the world -- this corporate giant had to front a court and answer for its super-exploitation of its overwhelmingly female labour force. The $15,000 penalty was pitiful. But the significance of this victory is immense. Next step: September 11 at Melbourne's Crown Casino. There, the World Economic Forum, the organisation of the world's richest companies, will meet to plan how they'll extract more profit at our expense. Again, working people will be there! Come along to hear special guest speaker, Pam Curr, from the FairWear Campaign. Join the discussion of how we can defeat the Nikes of the world and take a lesson from Cuba, where wealth is measured by the well-being of its people, not the profits of cartels. Everyone is welcome. Place: Solidarity Salon, 1 Appleby Crescent, West Brunswick. For more information, phone Radical Women on (03) 9386 3230 or email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] 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:URL: Little Johnny
By Simon Hunt: Dear friends - Just to let you know: Little Johnny releases his new single "I'm Sorry" tomorrow (Monday). I'm on the Channel 9 "Today" show at 7:50am; Radio National around 8:15am; and 2DAY FM at 8:15pm. There should be a story in the Sydney Morning Herald today. I'm filming lots of other interviews that should pop up over the next week or so, and we should be on Rage on Friday. The website goes up around 10am or so at http://www.littlejohnny.org I've attached a story that went out on the AAP wire service last night, so the other Little Johnny will get to read it by morning. I'll see you all in hell! love SIMON SYDNEY, Aug 5 AAP - The artist-formerly-known-as Pauline Pantsdown has returned to centre stage as Little Johnny - the latest in Australian political satire, complete with comb-over hairstyle. Pantsdown sent up controversial One Nation leader Pauline Hanson by joining various recordings of her voice in the top-ten single, I Don't Like It, which sold 30,000 copies and managed two nominations at last year's ARIA Awards. Now Simon Hunt, who digitally invented the Little Johnny (LJ) character has no less than Prime Minister John Howard in his sights with the debut song, I'm Sorry. The song has been digitally compiled by Mr Hunt, using fragments of Mr Howard's voice, in an effort to find "the apology within". Mr Hunt, who lectures on sound at the New South Wales College of Fine Arts and has a background in theatre and film, collected 65 minutes of "Howard- speak" from television and radio interviews. He said after about 450 hours manipulating the sound using computer software, he was left with 7,500 words, parts of words and phrases. "Even then, I still couldn't get the little guy to say his 'r's properly," Mr Hunt explains. "It's no wonder he's so unwilling to say the word 'sorry'." He said he had turned his attention to the Prime Minister because he was beginning to take on all of Mrs Hanson's ideas. He's become her and she's become him," he said. "I have never seen them in the same room at the same time - so they must be the same person." Mr Hunt said it was too early to predict how Mr Howard would react to his newly created alter-ego. "I'd expect him to take it on the chin," he said. "But he doesn't have much of one." But if the Hanson experience is anything to go by, Mr Howard may now have every reason to fear for his electoral fortunes. Pantsdown ran as New South Wales Senate candidate in the 1998 federal election, confronting Mrs Hanson and her adviser David Oldfield at every turn, with the brightly-dressed drag character's campaign featured in domestic and international media coverage. Liberal MP Cameron Thompson, who successfully defeated Mrs Hanson for the Queensland federal seat of Blair attributed his success to his focus "on doing something for the local people, while she (Mrs Hanson) was doing battle with Pauline Pantsdown." But Mr Hunt says LJ does not have much work to do to bring about Mr Howard's political downfall. "I think he's on the way down anyway," he said. "I'm going to get a reputation for kicking people while they're down. It's good to hurry things along anyway." He thought long and hard about the prospect of introducing the LJ character after realising he would have to endure hundreds of hours of Mr Howard's voice in the studio. "I didn't think there was a song in him because he speaks in such a monotone," Mr Hunt said. "For all her drastic faults, Pauline had melody." Mr Hunt says there's even something in the character for the followers of the latest fashion trends and in particular, hairstyles. "The mullet is dead, the comb-over is back," he said. LJ and his debut single will be officially unveiled to the public in Sydney tomorrow but the character had a successful first trial run on the weekend at the Newtown Theatre during the inaugural Miss Reconciliation Quest, an Aboriginal drag contest. AAP as Garry C Black+White+Pink http://bwp.org.au/ __ To unsubscribe, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED] -- 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: Peace walk media release
Subject: Peace walk Media Release Hi all - the following is a media release for immediate distribution. The Peacewalk has received an amazing reception in dubbo and many people are really supporting the need for real peace, healing and reconciliation. Please distribute among your networks, and please consider coming and joining the walk, especially for the walk from Canberra and Sydney as it is going to be huge!!! cheers, Peachy (A walker for Peace!) MEDIA RELEASE 4th August 2000 Walking the Land for Our Ancient Right - Day 56 With 2000 kilometres now having been walked in less than 8 weeks, the "Walking the Land - for our Ancient Rights" peace walk has now arrived in Dubbo, and is well on schedule for arriving in Sydney in time for the Olympic Games. Over 100 Dubbo community members, including Wiradjuri Nation Elders and families, warmly welcomed the peace walkers as they arrived in Dubbo yesterday, and signals yet another testament to the growing commitment that the Australian population is showing towards reaching reconciliation. The representatives from the Wiradjuri nation led the walkers to the Talbraga Mission, where the peace fire, that has come from the shores of Lake Eyre was joined with the peace fire that has been burning at the mission for over three weeks. It joins the growing number of sacred fires for peace across Australia. "These old fires are coming together, letting the country know as well as the people. It is not only healing the hearts and minds of the people, but it is warming the old country up too , because the whole country is hurting, just like we hurt for different things, and the old country hurts, the old mother hurts and we have to look after her, that is one of the big jobs that we have got," said Kevin Buzzacott, Elder from the Arabunna nation, who is leading the peace walk. The walk has taken it's message of peace and healing through the communities of Wilcannia, Bourke, Brewarrina, Walgett and Morree. Not since the Freedom Rides led by Charlie Perkins in 1965, which travelled much the same route as the peace walk, has there been such a colourful and vocal display of support for the rights of the Indigenous peoples in Western NSW. "First off I would like to thank you for the privilege of walking with you across our land, the Kamillaroi nation, from Walgett to Morree and I am going to walk on further with you all, " an Elder from the Kamillaroi nation said after the peace walk into Morree last week. There will be a Peace Walk into Dubbo this Saturday, 5th August, meeting at 10am at the Gordon Community centre on Brennan St, West Dubbo.The group will walk to Victoria Park, where they will be welcomed by the Lord Mayor, Jerry Peacock, followed by music and information sharing. From there all community members are invited to the camp at the Talbraga mission for a Family Afternoon and BBQ and evening entertainment, starting at 3pm. The peace walk will then aim to reach Bathurst by August 11, and will arrive in Canberra at the tent embassy on 21st August. There the group will be joined by the Native Indian Sacred Runners and many other groups of people for the historic walk to Sydney. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Phone 0417838906, or 08 83404401 Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] -- 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:DDV: Women, Work and Unions
The Union of Australian Women (UAW) is hosting a luncheon on Wednesday 16 August, 12 noon - 2pm at 4th Floor, Ross House, 247 Flinders Lane, Melbourne . The speaker will be Silvana Sgro' , Industrial officer Aust. Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers' Union. Cost $10 / 8. All welcome. 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:REM: OHS meeting change
Steve Roach (WorkCover, formerly Secretary Shearers and Rural Workers Union) and Ben Matthews (CFMEU rank and file OHS rep) are speaking on about a Militant Approach to Health and Safety in the Workplace next Tuesday. The meeting has been brought back one week to Tuesday 15th August at 7pm at Trades Hall, cnr Lygon and Victoria Sts, Carlton South. Meeting organised by the Socialist Party Phone 9417 0805 for more information -- 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: Play - Man Friday
I highly recommend you go and see a play called Man Friday. It's a small production - only 2 actors (Adam McConvell and Phil Roberts who do a superb job) and a very minimal set, but it's excellent. Written by Adrian Mitchell in the 60's in Britain, it was in response to the rising tide of racism and Nationalism experienced in his country at that time. It is the classic Robinson Crusoe story told from the native "Man Friday" perspective. This production is directed by Victor Bizzotto. Proceeds have been going to the Fitzroy Stars Gym and the Victorian Aboriginal Health Service, but attendances have been down, with several shows cancelled due to lack of interest. The play is still on every night this week, including Saturday, at the Storeroom Theatre upstairs at the Park View Hotel, cnr St Georges Rd and Scotchmer St, Nth Fitzroy (enter from the rear of the pub at the drive-through bottle shop). All shows are at 8.30pm. Tickets are a mere $15 waged/$10 unwaged. Bookings can be made by calling 9481 8496. I urge you all to go and see this wonderful play about racism, religion, love and life. It's truly amazing what can be conveyed using a few props, music, lighting and 2 people. Not to be missed. *** NTEU - your union, join today *** (03) 9903 9528 Monash university, Dept. Pharmaceutics, Victorian College of Pharmacy 381 Royal Pde, Parkville, Vic 3052, Australia -- 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:DDV: Transport activism in Europe
Dinosaurs running for mayor. Breakfast in the street. Giant moles following around election candidates. After spending a year in Europe, Domenica Settle will be giving an informal talk on some of the madder things transport activists have been getting up to internationally, as well as giving an overview of where things are at for groups on the more radical end of the alternative transport movement across Eastern and Western Europe and North America. All welcome and it's free. 7pm, August 31st , Friends of the Earth, 312 Smith Street, Collingwood. Phone 9419 8700 for extra information. 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:AA: IBM MUST MAKE OLYMPICS WEB SITE ACCESSIBLE TO ALL
Dear Friend Sydney Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (SOCOG - the main body responsible for organising the Sydney Olympics) and its Olympics web site designer, IBM, are exploiting disabled people for PR purposes while denying blind people fair access to Olympic results on the site. Visually impaired people are being shut out from the Olympic party, while IBM claims to be powerless to make the site accessible. For a relatively small cost, IBM could solve the problem and make the site useable by people with visual impairment. IBM have the resources and the technology to allow everyone with internet access to share in Sydney's games. They are refusing to do so. You can send a message to IBM's senior management by visiting The Greens website http://www.nsw.greens.org.au/parl/lee/ibmpetition.html and filling in the petition. We urge you to do so today: tell IBM that no one should be left out in the cold. Please pass this message on to your friends: we need to send a strong message to IBM. thanks Lee Rhiannon MLC and Gisele Mesnage The Greens -- 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: Women With Disabilities Australia Under Threat
Please circulate this widely. If you would like it sent as a flier which you can print out, please let me know Carolyn Frohmader Executive Director Women With Disabilities Australia (WWDA) PO Box 229, Dickson ACT 2602 Ph: 02 62421310 Fax: 02 62421314 Mobile: 0407 301 746 Web: http://www.wwda.org.au __ WOMEN WITH DISABILITIES AUSTRALIA (WWDA) UNDER THREAT The Commonwealth Department of Family and Community Services (FACS) recently released a Discussion Paper on the future funding structure for peak bodies currently funded through FACS. The Paper, entitled "Funding Peak Bodies - A Discussion Paper" proposes a new model which would see a number of existing peak bodies disappear. The paper suggests disability peaks could be arranged by diagnostic group: Physical, Intellectual, Neurological, Sensory, and Psychiatric Disabilities. Once again, the disability sector has been cast in a medical 'deficit' model despite the rhetoric of "social and economic participation" in this Discussion Paper and the government's recent Welfare Reform Discussion Paper. The model is underpinned by a principle of distribution of resources across the peak bodies which would presumably remove funds from the disability peaks in 'fairness' to sectors that receive lesser funding. Clearly the disability sector should not be disadvantaged in order to meet the resource needs of other sectors. Women With Disabilities Australia (WWDA), currently funded by FACS, does not fit into the Government's proposed model. IN FACT, IT SEEMS CLEAR THAT UNDER SUCH A MODEL, WWDA WILL BE DE-FUNDED. WWDA was established in 1994 to address the particular disadvantage of women with disabilities. It is the only peak organisation for women with disabilities in Australia, and one of only a very small number internationally. WWDA has over 2,000 members, and is inclusive of all disabilities. The success of this national organisation run largely on the voluntary efforts of women with disabilities with only a small infrastructure is demonstrated by its impressive publications and its awards: Winner: The Australian Violence Prevention Award 1999 Winner: The ACT Violence Prevention Award 1999 Winner: Capital Region Enterprise Employment Development Assoc Special Recognition Award 1999 Currently nominated for the United Nations Millennium Peace Prize for Women Award 2000 Speaking on leadership and mentoring skills development, Senator Jocelyn Newman (Minister for Family Community Services, and Minister for the Status of Women) recently stated "I am delighted to be informed that WWDA's work in this area is receiving international as well as corporate recognition." THE MOST DISADVANTAGED UNDER THREAT Once again groups that have been marginalised in the past (women, indigenous people and people from culturally diverse backgrounds) have been relegated to compete in the mainstream program areas. The needs of these particularly disadvantaged groups have only begun to be addressed by specified funding grants. Women With Disabilities Australia (WWDA) is a case in point, established to respond to the particular concerns of women with disabilities. Women with disabilities are, from the government record, one of the most marginalised groups in Australia. They: : are less likely to be in paid work than other women or men with disabilities. Men with disabilities are almost twice as likely to have jobs than women with disabilities; : earn less than their male counterparts. 51% of women with a disability earn less than $200 per week, only 16% of women with a disability earn over $400 per week : are less likely than their male counterparts to receive a senior secondary and/or tertiary education. Only 16% of all women with disabilities are likely to have any secondary education compared to 28% of men with disabilities; : are less likely to own their own houses than their male counterparts; : pay the highest level of their gross income on housing; : are more likely to be institutionalised than their male counterparts; : regardless of age, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation or class are assaulted, raped and abused at a rate of at least two times greater than non-disabled women; : often to live in situations in which they are vulnerable to violence; : are more likely to experience violence at work than other women, men with disabilities or the population as a whole; : are more likely to be unlawfully sterilised than their male counterparts; : are less likely to receive vocational rehabilitation or entry to labour market programs; : report a greater need for unmet help than their male counterparts; : are less likely to receive appropriate services than men with equivalent needs or other women. (Anderson 1996; Frohmader 1998; WWDA 1998; ABS 1993). Women With Disabilities Australia (WWDA) plays a vital role in providing a voice for women with disabilities
LL:ART: two articles
Comrades Here are two articles from the latest issue of Voice, the Socialist Party newspaper. For $5 you can get an subscription for 3 months. Email us and we will invoice you. From the Fast news column... Message to PSIG or ASIO The operative you send to the S11-Alliance meetings in Melbourne stands out like a pork pie. Get your man some jeans (maybe flared?) or some clubbing gear, a decent haircut and tell him not to sit alone... Right-wing in fear of S11 As we get closer to September 11th, tensions are rising on both sides. The recent closure of the Heinz factory in Dandenong with over 200 jobs lost is directly due to globalisation and has reinforced support for our campaign. The ruling class and its media have stepped up their attack on protest organisers and organisations behind the first big Australian rally against capitalism and globalisation rather than just against the effects of globalisation. Schools where students have been threatening to strike have been visited by police. Talk back radio is hyterical in its red baiting. In the wake of a fiery interview with 3AW's Neil Mitchell, some talk back callers screamed for deportation of the SP S11 supporter. This is despite the fact that media statement after media statement from S11 Alliance has stated its commitment to non-violent protest action. All police leave has been cancelled and the Army Reserve are on full standby. In another sign of the privatisation of law and order, hundreds of private security will patrol the Crown Towers during the protests. The police may block the bridges over the Yarra to stop people attending the rallies. Those getting through could be subjected to batons and gas. The policehave put their hand on their hearts and denied they could ever think of such a thing, but we are preparing for the worst. The 'Labor' Government of Steve Bracks and the police are putting immense pressure on Trades Hall to keep its Tuesday rally north of the river. Bracks' strategy to undermine the protest is guaranteed to backfire. If the 9am gathering of thousands of school students is blocked at Flinders St Station, if other protestors earlier in the day are also blocked from crossing the Yarra, does the State Government and police really think we will just throw our hands in the air and go home? Trades Hall must resist the pressure to buckle to Bracks. A rally north of the Yarra will be a token effort. It will leave isolated the students and community protestors outside Crown Towers, as well as the many workers who will participate at the main rally no matter what Trades Hall says. Members of the Socialist Party will encourage unionists to cross the river during their Tuesday rally. The presence of thousands of workers will encourage the police to pull their head in. What this hand-wringing by the ruling class shows is just how out of touch they are with young people. They are held captive by an analysis of protest movements that is all about "infiltrators, agitators, and reds under the bed". They always underestimate working class people, especially young people. The great enthusiasm seen in the preparation for this rally and the brilliant response the Socialist Party is getting in schools signifies a reaction to 25 years of economic rationalism. Young people are repelled by the major parties and 'politics'. But this is not the same as apathy as the bosses would hope and some impressionistic commentators have claimed. This was shown last year in Seattle, and at Corroboree 2000, and it will be shown in Melbourne in September. The campaign itself is diverse and no doubt police agents will try to churn this up. But the vast majority are clear in wanting to have a non-violent mass protest and as much disruption as possible at the Crown Towers. The whole event will politicise wide layers of people. Socialists argue for democratic organisation of the rally and democratic nightly meetings to decide on tactics during the three days. Others argue for decentralised structures and affinity groups. These debates will be won and lost on the ground, through experience. For now, it is clear that full agreement will not be reached before September 11th and therefore we need a realistic understanding of what is possible, ie not marshalls but communicators between the various constituent parts of the rally and co-operation over first aid and food and legal support. The S11 Alliance will have nightly meetings, but we must accept that other layers of the campaign will not participate in this and our decisions will not be holy writ for all. The main unresolved issue is once communicators let protestors know what's going on, who decides what to do? Will it be spontaneous? Or decided by self-appointed 'leaders'? Or, as we believe, should there be some democratic control over tactics by all protestors. For example we are encouraging each school to elect a spokesperson for the Flinders St rally, and 4 or 5 marshalls each for the march down to Crown Towers.
LL:DDS: GLW presents; Greed, Nukes Jam
Green Left Weekly presents; Greed, Nukes and Jam A multi-media event against global eco-terrorism. Support the fight for justice Support Independent Media Featuring: BATERZ Susan George's film 'A fate worse than debt.' 7pm, Saturday August 19 Brecknock Hotel 104 King William St Adelaide Phone: 8231 6982 for more info. www.greenleft.org.au LL.SH -- 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
