LL:DDV: Jim Cairns send-off - 2pm Sun 2/11 - Trades Hall
Jim Cairns send-off - 2pm Sun 2/11 - Trades Hall, Cnr Victoria Lygon Sts Carlton Comrades and citizens, We've had the state funeral, now for the comradely send-off. The New International Bookshop, the Fabian Society and your very own Australian Society for the Study of Labour History have organised a wake to give Jim Cairns a rank-and-file farewell. It will begin at 2.00 p.m. on Sunday 2 November in Paddy's Bar at Melbourne Trades Hall. Paul Strangio, Jim's most recent biographer and Labour History treasurer, will speak. Tributes 'from the floor' will be heard too. We hope to see you there. Cheers, Peter Love. . -- -- 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 Sub: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsub: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
LL:ART: Editorial. Our one-sided commemorations
The following Editorial was published in The Guardian, newspaper of the Communist Party of Australia in its issue of Wednesday, October 22nd, 2003. 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. *** Editorial: Our one-sided commemorations The Howard Government and Howard personally are conducting a relentless campaign to militarise the thinking of the Australian people in pursuit of the phoney war against terrorism. Howard has gone to the APEC heads of government meeting in Bangkok pushing this Western-promoted war without end high up the agenda. His aim is to involve the other nations in the US's imperialist campaign for global domination. The commemoration conducted in Bali was also used towards the same ends. Sheriff Howard once again pushed himself into the front row, this time to promote his cynical sympathy for the Australians killed in the Kuta blast. The cynicism of this display of compassion was rather unexpectedly but none-the-less dramatically revealed by the photo of Howard holding hands with two children whose Indonesian mother had died in the blast. The bereaved children had been specifically denied a visa to visit their father who is locked up in a camp in Australia. He is a refugee from Iran and is on the list to be deported. Their father is the children's only living parent. But does this engender any sympathy from the Australian immigration authorities? Absolutely not! Even after the publication of the photograph and the publicity given to the children's plight, Minister Amanda Vanstone calmly offers the response, I have asked my department to pursue with vigour the man's reunion with his children in Iran. A reunion but not in Australia! The father must first accept deportation back to where he fled from. However, this is only one facet of the Bali commemoration. The tragedy is being squeezed relentlessly by the media and the government. We are regaled with stories of heroism that are undoubtedly true but presented in such a way as to suggest that it is only Australians who display such heroism and compassion for others. But the people of many other countries are experiencing Bali tragedies every day. What of the people of Palestine whose homes are being flattened by Israeli bulldozers and tanks and many men, women and children killed. Do those who die not deserve to be remembered? Do the Palestinian people not also show compassion to those rendered homeless with family members killed? What of the victims of the war in Iraq? What of the people of Bolivia where government police and military have killed about 70 people demonstrating against the grinding poverty inflicted by the policies imposed by the World Bank and the IMF? Do they not also suffer and cry and help one another? What about the people of Vietnam who are still suffering the consequences of Agent Orange sprayed on them by the US military invaders so ably helped by Australian forces? What of the mothers who bear deformed children? How often is a commemoration held for the many more victims of Australia's invasion of their land. The Vietnamese were not invading Australia. It was Australia that was invading their homeland. We do not even have to go overseas to show that the compassion of the Government, media and, unfortunately, many Australians is very one-sided. Just recently the Indigenous newspaper Koori Mail recalled the 75th anniversary of the massacre by police of up to 100 Aboriginal men, women and children at Coniston in the Northern Territory in 1928. (See story opposite.) Where are the monuments erected by any Australian government? When have the white Australian population lit candles in memory of those killed - possibly a larger number than the 88 Australians who lost their lives in Bali? Which church commemorates this act of genocide - only one among the many massacres of the Indigenous people as the invaders stole their land and attempted to eliminate them completely? The Government cannot even say Sorry. It is suggested that the tragedy of Bali will be commemorated for ever. The Indigenous people merely request that the massacre at Coniston should be taught as part of the history of Australia. As part of the Remembrance Day commemorations (November 11) the Prime Minister is to go to London to open yet another war memorial. And so the hypocrisy goes on. The commemoration of those who lost their lives is a normal human reaction, but if we fail to act decisively to eliminate war, ever more statues, war memorials and candles will be lit to mark the inhumanity committed while some make use of this sentiment to hide their real monstrous agenda.
LL:DDV: Coming soon at Trades Hall
GET IT LIVE - GET IT AT TRADES HALL ARTS, bringing class back into the class struggle . . . -- THE MOMENT presented by Defector-Art Theatre -- The first production of this exciting new theatre company will be The Moment. This play is a thought provoking and challenging mind trip. Why do we make changes to our lives and what is the thought process that allows it to happen. Step inside someone else's head to find out. Performed by Frank Otis, Isabel Nalato, Phoebe-Madelaine Waltham and Lee McClenaghan. Written by Frank Otis. Directed by Paul Otis. The Old Council Chambers 8pm Weds - Sat, until Oct 25th Tickets $18 Full/ $12 Conc - Bookings Ph: 9318 5271 --- THERE'S BLOOD IN YOUR COFFEE Film screening --- The workers of Cabuyao, located in the bustling industrial belt in Southern Tagalog, Philippines have been on strike since January 14, 2001. The primary issue in the labor conflict is the Nestle management's refusal to include the retirement benefits in the collective bargaining agreement (CBA). This film is about the courage, spirit and resistance of the Filipino workers at Nestle . . . The New Ballroom 7pm Thursday, October 23rd FREE Event - Donations welcome - WITH THESE ARMS - CD LAUNCH CONCERT Celebrating the Centenary of the MUA - It's hard to think of another union in the world that has had so many songs written about it. Is to do with the constant global traveling of sailors? or the multicultural mix of waterside workers? or the union's long history of active interest in Australian theatre, film, art and music? The MUA Centenary CD, With These Arms, is a compilation of songs and poems from many sources, from emails from old LPs and tapes, from CDs, pamphlets, magazines, and books. Performers at the concert include: Peter Hicks, Tim O'Brien, Wendy Lowenstein, Clem Parkinson, Mark Gregory The Trade Union Choir The New Ballroom 7:30pm Thursday, Oct 30th Entry by donation --- JABILUKA - A NATIONAL DAY OF CELEBRATION --- The campaign to stop Jabiluka mine has shown all Australians that, by working and walking together with courage, creativity and commitment, we can create a better future for the people and coutry of Kakadu, and the world. If you ever did anything to stop Jabiluka from whackin'a sticker on your car to blockading the company headquarters now is the time to celebrate! Share both your memories of the campaign and your joy at this monumental win with others. Great music including Andy Alberts, Roadhouse and much more. Great speakers will be appearing on the night and fantastic food will be available. The New Ballroom 6:30pm Friday, October 31st Tickets: $10 Full/ $5 Conc - available at the door on the night - BAGHDAD NIGHTS with ROD QUANTOCK - He has stood beside Gough Whitlam and Malcolm Fraser, Bob Brown and Barry Jones, archbishops and angels, social and community leaders, activists and anarchists on stages and the backs of semi-trailers arguing and fighting for the voiceless and the victims of an increasingly mad world. His informed analysis and stinging comments are leavened by dollops of absurd humour and outright hilarity The New Council Chambers 8pm Tues - Sat, until Nov 8th Tues to Thurs $25 Full/ $15 Conc, Fri Sat $30 Full/ $20 Conc + bf Ticketek Bookings Ph: 132 849 or visit http://www.ticketek.com.au GET IT LIVE - GET IT AT TRADES HALL 54 Victoria St (Cnr Lygon St) Carlton Ph: 9662 3555 Trades Hall Bar - open nightly from 5pm 'til late Friday Happy Hours 4-7pm more info visit http://www.tradeshallarts.com.au - While there is a lower class, I am in it; While there is a criminal element, I am of it; And while there is a soul in jail, I am not free. - Eugene V Debbs -- -- 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 Sub: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsub: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
LL:ART: Australian unions back striking East Timorese workers
The following article was published in The Guardian, newspaper of the Communist Party of Australia in its issue of Wednesday, October 22nd, 2003. 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. ** Australian unions back striking East Timorese workers Unions West Australia have called on affiliates for financial support to assist striking employees of Timor Aviation Services (TAS) in East Timor. The strike began on Friday October 3 in support of two workers who were dismissed by the company at Dili International Airport. The two workers, who are elected delegates of the Maritime and Transport Union of Timor Lorosae (UMTTL), were negotiating a collective agreement to improve wages and conditions of TAS employees when they were fired. The union and TAS management had been in protracted negotiations for a collective agreement for almost six months. The company is co-owned by Tony Penna of Darwin and the Directors of Harvey World Travel in Darwin. TAS has contracts to provide customs clearance and handling services to the UN, Harvey World Travel, the Australian Defence Force and charter companies serving numerous Australian oil, gas and mining companies. It is not registered in either East Timor or Australia. In the midst of bargaining, in August 2003, it won a new contract from the UN for ground handling. Penna then demanded that employees being work at 5.30am without compensation. The workers tried to negotiate some extra payment for these hours but the company refused. As a result, they did not unload an unscheduled plane and Penna, as the Managing Director, fired the two workers. During negotiations between the directors of TAS and Harvey World Travel from Darwin, the Union and the Government, the Department of Labour and Solidarity instructed Penna to comply with East Timor's Constitution and immediately reinstate the two sacked workers after the company failed to provide any evidence to support their case for summary dismissal. The Union, with the support of the Trade Union Confederation of East Timor (TLTUC), has vowed to continue its strike until the company abides by the laws of East Timor and the conventions of the ILO. According to Sabino Adornia, one of the sacked employees, East Timorese workers can not believe that Australian companies think they can come to East Timor and ignore principles of fairness and justice. Timor Aviation Services is even disregarding a legal directive from our own government. The company refusal to reinstate the workers left them with no other choice but to exercise their right to strike. On the third day of the peaceful strike, a UN Police officer using excessive force arrested and handcuffed the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) co-ordinator for East Timor, Mick Killick, who was observing the peaceful strike. He was released after 56 hours in detention following orders when prosecutors at a preliminary hearing failed to provide sufficient evidence to justify his detention. The United Nations has so far declined to drop all charges against Mr Killick the hearing is set down for Tuesday October 21 in Dili. Information used in this article was provided by the Trade Union Confederation of East Timor. -- -- 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 Sub: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsub: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
LL:QUERY: for people in Melbourne...
Activate anarchist 'zine is Australia's most popular lefty magazine for teenagers. Which is a bit like being the most popular sweet manufacturer in the history of dentistry, but whatever...it's popular OK? Activate is looking for someone to give some informed advice on how it can make better use of its popularit...how does it go from magazine that a lot of people like to inspiration for a lot of people to get active? You should have a qualification or experience in psychology, teaching, social work, or political organisation. You are not going to be talking directly to kids, so being 'good with kids' or understanding pop culture is irrelevant. We want someone who knows how teenagers form identities and social networks and can relate that to political outreach. You will be paid convincingly anti-capitalist rates - ie way below the wage for a proper job - $15 an hour. This is coming out of my pocket and is mainly a way of showing that your advice is valued and taken seriously. The time and amount of hours is negotiable but would tend more towards a few hours a week in the evenings. Email James at [EMAIL PROTECTED] or leave a message on 0401 304 252. Activate's website is www.activate.8m.com -- -- 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 Sub: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsub: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
LL:INFO: Hi There, ACTIV8 ezine 23/10/2003
Hi There, In this issue of Activ8 - Ezine ACT 23/10/2003 Anti war, TELL GEORGE BUSH: WAR IS NOT THE ANSWER National Legal, TAKING BACK THE KANGAROO AND EMU National Endangered Species, THE ALBATROSS NSW 27/11/20033 day fest , BELLADONNA DIY FEST 2003 PHILLIPINES Spread the Word, WYMYN-ANARCHO-PUNK VIC 21/10/2003 Meeting, INDYMEDIA - MELBOURNE VIC 31/10/2003 A win, JABILUKA NATIONAL DAY OF CELEBRATION VIC 15/11/2003 Wind Power, WIND POWER RALLY VIC 21/11/2003 Anti-Uranium / Claiming the Right to Protest, Bevkids Quiz Night EDITORIAL Well, George W. Bush is in Australia this week and whether you're with him or against him, the world's most controversial public servant has a track record that speaks for itself. This recap is from the Sydney Stop the War coalition: The coalition of the killing - Bush, Blair and Howard - waged al illegal and immoral war on Iraq despite unprecedented global opposition and protests. The lies behind this war are now being exposed. Despite Bush's talk of 'liberation' the invasion of Iraq has become a war of occupation, with US forces bogged down in ongoing battles with the Iraqi people. US corporations have re-entered Iraq to carve up the spoils of war. Bush is not content to stop at Afghanistan and Iraq. He is threatening further nations, such as North Korea, Iran and Syria with military action. In the wake of the war Prime Minister John Howard hopes to secure a Free Trade Agreement with the United States. This will be his trophy for supporting war on Iraq. The FTA will 'lock in' a neo-liberal agenda which gives corporations greater rights. This bilateral deal is modelled on the North American FTA where companies now have the right to sue governments for introducing environmental, labour or other regulations. The FTA threatens the pharmaceuticals benefits scheme, quarantine laws, GM labelling and public assets. Another world is possible. A world without war, where people come before profit. If you don't get the chance to say 'hello' by joining thousands of other patriotic Australian wellwishers in Canberra, take heed. The War on Terror is scheduled to last for our lifetimes and the oppressive machinery of control tightening around the globe means George's presence will always be felt, if not seen. Time to activ8! peace, Rak Razam Robin Macpherson ps. Activ8 listings are for all Australia wide groups and events to list in, so if you don't see your state represented here please send us your info. The more people involved in a network the stronger it becomes. __ Here is your Activ8 - Ezine E-Zine. __ EVENTS State: ACT Genre: Anti war Date: 23/10/2003 Time: 9:00:00 Event: TELL GEORGE BUSH: WAR IS NOT THE ANSWER Venue: Parliament House. Website: www.vicpeace.org Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] The Gig: Tell George Bush: War is not the answer When George Bush visits Australia, tell him End the occupation of Iraq. Join people from around Australia travelling to Canberra to greet George Bush. Buses and car pooling. Ring 96593582 for bus seats. CANBERRA: 9 am Thursday 23 October, Parliament House. Speakers incude Andrew Wilkie, Former ONA analyst, John Minns, ACTNOW, Refugee Action Committee, Australians for Justice and Peace in Palestine and Union representative. Info: Harry 0414 697921 James 0405 309283. MELBOURNE: 5 pm Wednesday 22 October at State Library. Info: Stop Bush's War committee Tom 0408 619 152, Margarita 0438 869 790 VPN Forum: US MILITARY FAMILIES SPEAK OUT with Nancy Lessin and Charley Richardson (founders of Military Families Speak Out www.mfso.org) 6.30 pm Friday 31 October at Uniting Church, 124 Napier St, Fitzroy Military Families Speak Out is an organization of people who are opposed to war in Iraq and who have relatives or loved ones in the military. We were formed in November of 2002 and have contacts with military families throughout the United States, and in other countries around the world. As people with family members and loved ones in the military, we have both a special need and a unique role to play in speaking out against war in Iraq. It is our loved ones who are, or have been, or will be on the battlefront. It is our loved ones who are risking injury and death. It is our loved ones who are returning scarred from their experiences. It is our loved ones who will have to live with the injuries and deaths among innocent Iraqi civilians. Tuesday 28 October, 6.30pm: Public forum and discussion Weapons of mass deception: The media and Iraq with award winning US media analyst David Barsamian, New International Bookshop, 54 Victoria St, Carlton South. Wednesday 29 October, 6pm: Forum ASIO, Anti-Terrorism and Democratic Rights with Jenny Hocking, author of Terror Laws and director of Monash University's National Centre for Australian Studies. New International Book
