LL:ART: Women set to benefit as Europe broadens definition of refugee
The Sydney Morning Herald Women set to benefit as Europe broadens definition of refugee Date: 14/09/2001 By Ambrose Evans-Pritchard in Brussels Women fleeing "gender discrimination" will be able to claim political asylum in European Union member states under rules set out by Brussels. The move is part of a plan by the European Commission to broaden refugee status to cover victims of cultural persecution, going beyond the 1951 Geneva Convention, which largely restricts asylum to those escaping repressive states. The text issued on Wednesday cites the example of female circumcision - widely practised in Africa and the Middle East - as the sort of persecution that ought to be covered. Britain already allows some asylum claims from people fleeing "non-state" persecution, such as victims of Islamic extremists in Algeria or people escaping the anarchy in Somalia. The new legally binding Brussels directive defines a refugee as someone who has a "well-founded fear" of being persecuted on grounds of "race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group and political opinion". France and Germany have a closed-door policy towards the victims of "non-state" persecution, so the proposal would amount to a significant loosening of their asylum policies when there is already a populist backlash against refugees. Either state could veto the measure, which requires unanimous support from EU ministers. Britain's Home Secretary, Mr David Blunkett, and his French counterpart were due to meet to try to resolve tensions between Britain and France over illegal immigration. The two countries have become increasingly at odds on the issue since 1999, when a Red Cross refugee centre was opened at Sangatte, only a couple of kilometres from the Channel Tunnel entrance. Since then numbers of immigrants trying to cross illegally into Britain through the nearby Eurotunnel terminal has risen to 6,500 a month, and both sides have blamed each other for the problem. Britain has complained that France is not doing enough to protect the Eurotunnel terminal and that the Sangatte centre encourages people-smuggling gangs to establish themselves in the area. Meanwhile, France has pointed an accusing finger at what it labels Britain's lax asylum laws, saying that they prove an irresistible magnet to refugees. At Wednesday's meeting Mr Blunkett was expected to make it clear that the opening of other refugee centres in France would be highly unpalatable to Britain if Sangatte remained open. The French Government says that Sangatte is not the cause but the result of Britain's attractiveness to immigrants. France was expected to point to Britain's refusal to introduce identity cards as well as the presence of established communities of illegal immigrants as the real root of the refugee problem. The Telegraph, London This material is subject to copyright and any unauthorised use, copying or mirroring is prohibited. http://www.smh.com.au/news/0109/14/text/world105.html * 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." -- Leftlink - Australia's Broad Left Mailing List mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Archived at http://www.cat.org.au/lists/leftlink/ Sponsored by Melbourne's New International Bookshop Subscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=subscribe%20leftlink Unsubscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=unsubscribe%20leftlink
LL:DDV: Rescheduled: Anti-semitism: where does it come from?
Freedom Socialist Party special meeting Anti-semitism: where does it come from and how to eradicate it Now rescheduled to Monday 24 September 7 pm @ Solidarity Salon, 580 Sydney Road, Brunswick. Dinner is served at 6.30 pm for a $6 donation. For more info: 9388-0062. Our September meeting will explore why Jewish people are oppressed, how Jew can be liberated and why Zionism is not the solution. Everyone is welcome. * The meeting has been rescheduled to allow participation in a special Socialist Alliance Public meeting Who is to blame - Middle Eastern People or U.S. foreign policy? on Wednesday 19 September. Speakers include: Ali Kazak, Head of the General Palestinian delegation to Australia and Palestinian Ambassador to Vanuatu, Surma Hamid, Political refugee and Representative of Worker Communist Party of Iraq and Alison Thorne, Socialist Alliance Senate Candidate. New Council Chambers, Trades Hall at 7 pm. Please note: SA public meeting is NOW Wednesday 19 September, NOT Thursday 20 September as previously advertised. -- Leftlink - Australia's Broad Left Mailing List mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Archived at http://www.cat.org.au/lists/leftlink/ Sponsored by Melbourne's New International Bookshop Subscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=subscribe%20leftlink Unsubscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=unsubscribe%20leftlink
LL:INFO: Nike demo: report
Melbourne Indymedia has the following story by Ignatius Quigley:- Melbourne's 27th anti-Nike protest rally by Ignatius Quigley junior 10:30pm Fri Sep 14 '01 http://www.melbourne.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=16246&group=webcast Melbourne's 27th anti-Nike protest tonight, Friday 14 September, was deliberately made a quiet affair -- in light of the terrible events in the USA. Tonight's protest was largely a symbolic one, to keep up our record. Protesters wanted it to be a quiet night with no confrontations. Protesters didn't bring their loud-speaker, and didn't line up in the usual way across the front of the store. However, they did turn up so as to maintain their unbeaten run of 26 weeks. We had two anti-Nike demos this week (Tuesday 11 September and Friday 14 September) -- so tonight was Demo No. 27 in Week 26). Tonight most of the protesters gathered to the side of the footpaths, near their literature tables. Protesters were also very active handing out leaflets to the crowds in Swanston Street and Bourke Street. Surprisingly, police numbers were up and it was quite a sight seeing about 20 police standing alone in front of the Nike entrance, effectively barring entrance to any prospective customers. The police are extremely well trained blockaders and will not budge -- not even for a genuine customer (unless their sergeant tells them to). At about 6.15pm, about 8 of the police were allowed to leave their posts and go home. They weren't replaced. A young student who was handing out leaflets near the police lines was asked to move away from the store. This seemed rather bizarre, since she clearly wasn't blockading -- she wasn't near the store entrance and was merely standing on the footpath next to the police. For a full report of our full-day Nike protest last Tuesday, 11 September, go to:- http://www.melbourne.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=16054&group=webcast The protest will be on next week -- Friday 21 September. Same time, same place, same Nike channel (at the corner of Swanston and Bourke Streets). --o -- Leftlink - Australia's Broad Left Mailing List mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Archived at http://www.cat.org.au/lists/leftlink/ Sponsored by Melbourne's New International Bookshop Subscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=subscribe%20leftlink Unsubscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=unsubscribe%20leftlink
LL:DDV: public forum with Ali Kazak - CORRECTION TO DATE
Because of difficulties with flights, the Socialist Alliance public forum on `Who's To Blame' has had to be moved a day forward. The correct details are now 7pm Wednesday September 19, New Council Chambers Trades Hall Council, cnr Lygon & Victoria Sts, Carlton. Entry by donation. Also, because the new date clashed with a pre-organised forum sponsored by the ISO, two additional speakers, David Glanz, Socialist Alliance candidate for Wills and Ezzedine Rafhi, Moreland Ethnic Communities Council, Vice President have been added. -- Leftlink - Australia's Broad Left Mailing List mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Archived at http://www.cat.org.au/lists/leftlink/ Sponsored by Melbourne's New International Bookshop Subscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=subscribe%20leftlink Unsubscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=unsubscribe%20leftlink
LL:DDV: meet women from the Zimbabwe Opposition Party & Union Movmnt
Dear All, Read on and also circulate throught your networks please - from EMILY's List, the ACTU and Glenyys Romanes MLC... * COME AND MEET THE Women of Zimbabwe's Opposition Party and Union Movement in Melbourne EMILY's List, the ACTU and Glenyys Romanes, MLC, invite you to attend a meeting with two leaders of Zimbabwe's Opposition party, the Movement for Democratic Change Sekai Holland MDC Secretary for International Relations Lucia Matibenga MDC Chairperson for Women, First Vice President of the Zimbabwe Trade Union Congress and President of the Commercial Workers' Union Zimbabwe's broad, trade union-based democratic opposition movement is united in the Movement for Democratic Change. The MDC won 57 out of 120 seats at the June 2000 parliamentary elections, despite a truly massive and brutal campaign to suppress it. The current ZANU - PF regime of President Robert Mugabe is mounting and escalating a campaign of violence and intimidation against the democratic opposition - black and white - in a bid to hold onto power at the April 2002 presidential elections. Come and hear of their experiences. The MDC is calling for international support to ensure free and fair elections...Show your support by attending this meeting Sunday 23 September, 7.00pm to 9.00pm, Parliament House, Spring St, Melbourne For further information call Clare Gallagher on 0409 973 315 or Hutch Hussein on 0438 507 103 * cheers, *** hatice "hutch" hussein :) (0438 507 103) __ 'To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist and that is all.' Oscar Wilde __ -- Leftlink - Australia's Broad Left Mailing List mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Archived at http://www.cat.org.au/lists/leftlink/ Sponsored by Melbourne's New International Bookshop Subscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=subscribe%20leftlink Unsubscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=unsubscribe%20leftlink
LL:PR: CPA Statement on World Trade Centre and the Pentagon
Statement by the Central Committee Secretariat of the Communist Party of Australia The Communist Party of Australia expresses its shock and horror at the coordinated and devastating attack on major civilian targets in the US. We share the grief of the thousands of relatives and friends who have lost their loved ones. We convey our sincerest condolences. Those responsible for this terrible act have yet to be identified and should, if identified, be brought to justice. However there are some politicians who are using this incident to whip up racist and religious intolerance and to attack the very democratic rights that they pretend to be upholding. The talk of war and that "America is under attack" is being used by US leaders, NATO and the Australian Prime Minister to justify restrictive measures that can only be regarded as preparations for war against any country that dares to challenge the policies of the Bush - Blair - Howard Governments. "War", "revenge" and "retaliation" and the killing of more innocent people in other countries, will not solve the problems of the millions of unemployed people, the homeless, those suffering ill-health, or those who have no clean water or educational opportunities. These are the causes of frustration and despair which lead to desperate terrorist acts. What has happened to the people of New York and Washington is little different to the suffering of the people of Iraq, Yugoslavia, Panama, Libya, Sudan, Somalia, Vietnam, Korea - all countries that have been the victims of US bombing. The US has a long history of violence against many countries. It is the foreign policy of the US, its military occupation of a number of countries, its worldwide network of military bases, the behaviour of its troops, the arrogance of the US leadership and its pretentions to be a superior race that have contributed to hostility and anger directed against the US in many countries. While the media and western politicians have been quick to lay blame without any evidence it should be recalled, when considering who might be responsible, that it was Americans who assassinated President Kennedy and then his brother, Robert Kennedy. It was an American army veteran - Timothy McVeigh -- who bombed the US Government building in Oklahoma in 1995 - a fact that was revealed only after many blamed Islamic terrorists. It is US agencies that have made numerous attempts to assassinate Fidel Castro. The list of US initiated outrages is a long one. The Bush administration is using the current crisis to justify the expansion of the Pentagon's war budget, to attack the democratic rights of the American people and to whip up a racist, anti-Islamic war fervour. In total disregard of the United Nations, the situation is being used to justify the possible military occupation of Afghanistan and perhaps other countries as steps towards the objective of world domination by the US. But the lesson is that violence begets violence. In this dangerous situation we call on the labour and peace movements and all left and progressive organisations to resist the racist and war hysteria, the attacks on democratic rights and the attempt to justify military attacks on other countries. An urgent meeting of the UN Security Council should be called to bring under control a rapidly developing war situation. (SEPTEMBER 15TH, 2001) -- Leftlink - Australia's Broad Left Mailing List mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Archived at http://www.cat.org.au/lists/leftlink/ Sponsored by Melbourne's New International Bookshop Subscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=subscribe%20leftlink Unsubscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=unsubscribe%20leftlink
LL:DDN: No to USA retaliation -open organising meeting (Sydney)
please distribute widely... U.S. attack and its aftermath - No to war - no to racism. Open invitation to attend a meeting to discuss how we can respond to the threat of war. All are invited to help form a coalition to oppose US retaliation. 7pm, Thursday 20 September Gaelic Club - 64 Devonshire St, Surry Hills, SYDNEY Tel: Nick or Lisa 9690 1977 or Tom 0408 619 152 IF BOMBING STARTS OR WAR IS DECLARED PROTEST 5PM THAT DAY OUTSIDE THE USA CONSULATE, SYDNEY CITY. -- Leftlink - Australia's Broad Left Mailing List mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Archived at http://www.cat.org.au/lists/leftlink/ Sponsored by Melbourne's New International Bookshop Subscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=subscribe%20leftlink Unsubscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=unsubscribe%20leftlink
LL:DDV: Stop the war on refugees--rally 22 September
Stop the war on refugees End racist scapegoating rally and international day of action on 22 September 1pm State Library (cnr Latrobe and Swanston stst) Speakers include: Barney Cooney, ALP Senator for Victoria Andrew Rowe, Councillor, City of Moreland Australian Arabic Council Kate Davison, National Education Officer, NUS Victorian Trades Hall Council Greens Victoria Socialist Alliance Refugee Action Collective This rally coincides with the "Free the Refugees--Solidarity Bus Tour" to Woomera Detention Centre. There will be rallies around Australia and in some European countries. For more info: Refugee Action Collective 0418 347 374 [EMAIL PROTECTED] -- Leftlink - Australia's Broad Left Mailing List mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Archived at http://www.cat.org.au/lists/leftlink/ Sponsored by Melbourne's New International Bookshop Subscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=subscribe%20leftlink Unsubscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=unsubscribe%20leftlink
LL:DDV: Refugee Forum in Brunswick
This forum is presented by Amnesty International (inner north group) 6.30pm, Thursday 27 September, Brunswick Town Hall (cnr Sydney Rd and Dawson St) "A discussion to help us understand the real issues confronting asylum seekers first hand: Speakers: Zahra, refugee David Manne, Refugee and Immigration Legal Centre Rev Andrew Hamilton, Jesuit Refugee Services Laureen Gillam, Amnesty International Phone 9489 5259 Music by Brahmin Benhin There will also be a brief reportback on the Woomera Bus Trip Endorsed by Moreland City Council, Moreland Ethnic Communities Council, Refugee Action Collective Light refreshments provided -- Leftlink - Australia's Broad Left Mailing List mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Archived at http://www.cat.org.au/lists/leftlink/ Sponsored by Melbourne's New International Bookshop Subscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=subscribe%20leftlink Unsubscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=unsubscribe%20leftlink
