Struggle, Solidarity, Socialism!
Saturday May 22, 11am -5pm Redfern Community Centre, 29-53 Hugo Street, Redfern.
Socialist Alliance members and supporters from Wollongong, Newcastle, Blue Mountains, Dubbo, Northern Rivers, Armidale, Sydney and Sydney West will gather to launch the Alliance's Federal Election campaign, and plan the Alliance's work in NSW. All-in sessions plus workshops on topics including Aboriginal and refugee rights; climate change action; union struggles; queer & womens rights + much more. All welcome.
Donation entry for the day $10/5.
Ph Paul 9690 1977, 0410 629 088.
Draft agenda:
11::00-11:15am Aboriginal community welcome
11:15am-12:15pm Opening panel: A socialist vision for the Federal Elections
Featuring Socialist Alliance NSW based election candidates Rachel Evans & Soubi Iskander (NSW Senate), Jess Moore (Cunningham), Zane Alcorn (Newcastle), Duncan Roden (Parramatta) & Pip Hinman (Grayndler) outlining a grassroots vision that puts people and the planet ahead of profit.
12:15-1:45 Educational & Campaign workshops
* Climate Action campaigning - the issue of our age
* Sexism & queerphobia under capitalism – our fightback
* Origins of racism & our campaigns for Aboriginal & refugee rights
* International Solidarity: Supporting red shirts: from Thailand to Venezuela
1:45-2:30 Lunch
2:30-3:45 Activist skills and Campaigns workshops
* Skills for using 21st century technology for social change
* How socialists get our ideas across
* Creative socialism - visuals and design to inspire change
* Lessons for community campaigning
3:45-4 – Afternoon tea
4-440 – Workshop report backs and adoption of proposals
440-5 – Organising and building Socialist Alliance
Conference After-Party! Food, drinks, & post-conference festivities!
From 6:30pm @ 17 Holmesdale St, Marrickville
Showing posts with label Sydney. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sydney. Show all posts
Thursday, 20 May 2010
The CFMEU car-bomb hypocrisy
A former CFMEU insider writes:
So my old workplace was attacked with a car bomb last week. There are not many people in this country who can make that statement! The attack occurred in suburban Western Sydney, missing by less than an hour a community group meeting in the building.
A group of people stole a car, loaded it with canisters of petrol, smashed it through a three-metre high wrought iron gate and crashed it into the front doors of a three-storey office block. I had a look at the damage myself less than 12 hours after the attack. The picture to my eyes looked very Baghdad indeed.
Amazingly, since the attack, not one state or national political figure has come out and condemned the violence. The reason? The target was the NSW headquarters of the construction division of the CFMEU.
Imagine for a moment, if such an attack had been perpetrated on any other part of civil society. A church. An RSL. A scout hall even. Our political leaders would have been racing each other to the scene of the crime. Jostling to inspect the damage, crunch over the broken glass, comfort the staff, condemn the violence.
It would have been (mis)named as a terrorist attack. Bi-partisan condemnation would have come from all levels of government. The papers would be full of it for days.
Instead we get this ... silence.
The attack got good electronic media coverage Friday but major papers such as the so-called "paper of record" in my home town, the Sydney Morning Herald, literally ignored the attack. For the readers of the SMH and The Australian, the attack just simply never happened. Not worthy of being reported on it seems. Middle-class indolence at its most revealing.
But I am mostly angry at Kevin Rudd and our political leaders. Rudd and IR minister Julia Gillard have shown their true colours here. They are fakes. Shallow fakes. A serious attempt to terrorise and intimidate a key plank of our civil society and they are mute. Too busy seeking reflected glory from Jessica Watson, in Rudd's case. For these people, including Kristina Keneally, the puppet in NSW, condemning outrages must clearly never be about principle. This incident has demonstrated how there must always be a cynical political calculation behind every expression of sympathy or outrage. Some hollowman down in Canberra must have just done the calcs on Rudd or Gillard coming out on this and decided it didn't fit the government's "narrative." Or something. Best ignored.
Clearly our political leaders are happy to associate themselves with a disaster when politically expedient, but run a mile when its not. That's not what leadership is in my book. What a bunch of frauds.
The hypocrisy revealed in this incident is sickening. A bit of blue language on a building site and there are screaming headlines, a politicised Royal Commission (which could not find any of the corruption and organised crime in the building industry because it was only looking for it among the unions) and an industrial police with powers and an agenda that would make the Gestapo proud. But drive an improvised explosive device into a union office? Somewhere a cricket is audible in the silence.
The shocking explanation is that what happened at Lidcombe simply does not fit with the anti-CFMEU agenda of the political and media elites in this country.
The CFMEU has all sorts of problems, I should know I used to work there. But the reason a terrorist-style attack on its NSW headquarters can be ignored in this manner is because the union represents a danger to the political and media elites. Along with just a handful of other effective unions, it remains an example, an imperfect and flawed example, of ordinary people having a little bit of power in their working lives.
That's why the CFMEU is fair game.
So my old workplace was attacked with a car bomb last week. There are not many people in this country who can make that statement! The attack occurred in suburban Western Sydney, missing by less than an hour a community group meeting in the building.
A group of people stole a car, loaded it with canisters of petrol, smashed it through a three-metre high wrought iron gate and crashed it into the front doors of a three-storey office block. I had a look at the damage myself less than 12 hours after the attack. The picture to my eyes looked very Baghdad indeed.
Amazingly, since the attack, not one state or national political figure has come out and condemned the violence. The reason? The target was the NSW headquarters of the construction division of the CFMEU.
Imagine for a moment, if such an attack had been perpetrated on any other part of civil society. A church. An RSL. A scout hall even. Our political leaders would have been racing each other to the scene of the crime. Jostling to inspect the damage, crunch over the broken glass, comfort the staff, condemn the violence.
It would have been (mis)named as a terrorist attack. Bi-partisan condemnation would have come from all levels of government. The papers would be full of it for days.
Instead we get this ... silence.
The attack got good electronic media coverage Friday but major papers such as the so-called "paper of record" in my home town, the Sydney Morning Herald, literally ignored the attack. For the readers of the SMH and The Australian, the attack just simply never happened. Not worthy of being reported on it seems. Middle-class indolence at its most revealing.
But I am mostly angry at Kevin Rudd and our political leaders. Rudd and IR minister Julia Gillard have shown their true colours here. They are fakes. Shallow fakes. A serious attempt to terrorise and intimidate a key plank of our civil society and they are mute. Too busy seeking reflected glory from Jessica Watson, in Rudd's case. For these people, including Kristina Keneally, the puppet in NSW, condemning outrages must clearly never be about principle. This incident has demonstrated how there must always be a cynical political calculation behind every expression of sympathy or outrage. Some hollowman down in Canberra must have just done the calcs on Rudd or Gillard coming out on this and decided it didn't fit the government's "narrative." Or something. Best ignored.
Clearly our political leaders are happy to associate themselves with a disaster when politically expedient, but run a mile when its not. That's not what leadership is in my book. What a bunch of frauds.
The hypocrisy revealed in this incident is sickening. A bit of blue language on a building site and there are screaming headlines, a politicised Royal Commission (which could not find any of the corruption and organised crime in the building industry because it was only looking for it among the unions) and an industrial police with powers and an agenda that would make the Gestapo proud. But drive an improvised explosive device into a union office? Somewhere a cricket is audible in the silence.
The shocking explanation is that what happened at Lidcombe simply does not fit with the anti-CFMEU agenda of the political and media elites in this country.
The CFMEU has all sorts of problems, I should know I used to work there. But the reason a terrorist-style attack on its NSW headquarters can be ignored in this manner is because the union represents a danger to the political and media elites. Along with just a handful of other effective unions, it remains an example, an imperfect and flawed example, of ordinary people having a little bit of power in their working lives.
That's why the CFMEU is fair game.
Tuesday, 13 April 2010
A Vision for a Real Education Revolution
6.30pm Tuesday April 20 (6pm for cheap dinner)
@ the Resistance Centre
23 Abercrombie St
Chippendale
Did you know that 2/3 of Federal education funding goes to educating the 1/3 of students who attend private schools? Today public education is being attacked on a number of fronts from under funding, league tables in high schools, to attacks on staff and student rights at University and TAFE. Come to this Socialist Alliance forum to hear from education activist fighting back for better quality education for all.
Speakers* include:
John Gauci, Teachers Federation activist
Susan Price, UNSW NTEU Branch President
*Speakers will be appearing in a personal capacity.
Ph 9690 1977 or Paul 0410 629 088 for more information.
Friday, 9 April 2010
"Unite against racism" rally to challenge far-right
April 9, 2010 - for immediate release
An emergency "Unite against racism" rally has been called for 2pm this Sunday, April 11, outside Villawood Detention Centre. The rally has been organized by a coalition of anti-racism groups, in response to the far-right Australian Protectionist Party who are rallying at the same place to attack refugee rights.
"The Protectionist Party are anti-refugee, anti-immigrant and racist," rally organiser Paul Benedek said. "They letterbox leaflets that scapegoat Africans, Muslims and immigrants for crime, unemployment and other social problems. They are big fans of Pauline Hanson and the British National Party, and target 'non-white' immigration, trying to whip up racial hatred."
"Yet the major parties are also to blame. They have given a green light to racism, by also demonizing refugees & using migrants as scapegoats."
"Racism kills. While the APP cowardly taunt refugees who are locked behind razor wire, with tacit support from Liberal and Labor, refugees face deportation to their deaths. Racist attacks on international students and immigrants are increasing."
"This rally will be a peaceful show of support for refugee rights, for equality and justice. We stand with those desperate asylum seekers who have fled war and persecution – not cowardly blaming them for the problems in this country. We will let all racists know their message of hate is not welcome."
Endorsements for the anti-racism rally include: Refugee Action Coalition, Latin American Social Forum, Sudanese Australian Human Rights Association, Social Justice Group, Socialist Alliance, Solidarity, Socialist Alternative, and Resistance.
Full details for the rally are:
"Unite against racism – refugees are welcome, racism is not!"
Rally 2pm, Sunday April 11,
Outside Villawood Detention Centre, 15 Birmingham Ave, Villawood.
More details can be found on facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/event.php?eid=109582062406674
The APP's anti-refugee rally is scheduled for the same place at 3pm. To get a sense of the APP’s racist views, just take a look at their website.
For more information or interviews about the anti-racism rally, contact Paul Benedek 0410 629 088 or James Supple 0438 718 348.
Call for Sydney counter-mobilisation to far-right this Sunday
Please forward this rally to ALL people who would be concerned about the far-right taunting asylum seekers, many of whom have fled war and persecution, while they are locked behind the razor wire
UNITE AGAINST RACISM
Refugees are welcome - racism is not!
The Australian Protectionist Party have called a rally attacking refugee rights for this Sunday, April 11, at 3pm outside Villawood Detention Centre.
The APP are anti-refugee, anti-immigrant & racist. They letterbox leaflets that scapegoat Africans, Muslims & immigrants for crime, unemployment & other social problems. However, the major parties are also to blame - they have given a green light to racism, by also demonising refugees & using migrants as scapegoats.
Racism kills. Refugees are still being deported to their deaths. Attacks on international students and immigrants are increasing.
We need a peaceful show of support for refugee rights, for equality and justice - and to let all racists know that their hatred is not welcome.
Rally Sun April 11, 2pm
At Villawood Detention Centre
15 Birmingham Ave, Villawood (nr Leightonfield Stn)
Please forward this message, organise your friends, bring placards and banners in support of refugees and against racism.
Supported by: Refugee Action Coalition, Latin American Social Forum, Sudanese Human Rights Assoc, Social Justice Group, Socialist Alliance, Solidarity, Socialist Alternative, Resistance.
For information, to add your support, or if you have ideas for the rally, please phone Paul 0410 629 088 or James 0438 718 348 or email paul.benedek2@ gmail.com
UNITE AGAINST RACISM
Refugees are welcome - racism is not!
The Australian Protectionist Party have called a rally attacking refugee rights for this Sunday, April 11, at 3pm outside Villawood Detention Centre.
The APP are anti-refugee, anti-immigrant & racist. They letterbox leaflets that scapegoat Africans, Muslims & immigrants for crime, unemployment & other social problems. However, the major parties are also to blame - they have given a green light to racism, by also demonising refugees & using migrants as scapegoats.
Racism kills. Refugees are still being deported to their deaths. Attacks on international students and immigrants are increasing.
We need a peaceful show of support for refugee rights, for equality and justice - and to let all racists know that their hatred is not welcome.
Rally Sun April 11, 2pm
At Villawood Detention Centre
15 Birmingham Ave, Villawood (nr Leightonfield Stn)
Please forward this message, organise your friends, bring placards and banners in support of refugees and against racism.
Supported by: Refugee Action Coalition, Latin American Social Forum, Sudanese Human Rights Assoc, Social Justice Group, Socialist Alliance, Solidarity, Socialist Alternative, Resistance.
For information, to add your support, or if you have ideas for the rally, please phone Paul 0410 629 088 or James 0438 718 348 or email paul.benedek2@ gmail.com
Friday, 22 January 2010
Protest Feb 13 - Stop the NT Intervention
Stop the NT Intervention - Sorry means you won't do it again.
Protest: Saturday, February 13, 2010
9 am LaPerouse point, Bunnerong Rd for the walk against racism to join the Redfern rally.
1pm rally at The Block, Redfern
Speakers include:
Irene Fisher, Sunrise Health (NT)
Pastor Ray Minniecon
Mal Tulloch, CFMEU
Angeline Penrith
Jeff McMullen
Performers:
The Black Turtles
Nadeena Dixon
Michael Donovan
More tba
Supporters include:
NSW Aboriginal Land Council, NSW Reconciliation Council, ANTaR NSW, CFMEU, Jumbunna Indigenous House of Learning Research, Mudgin-Gal, Babana, Reconciliation for Western Sydney, Guriwal Aboriginal Corp., FBEU, MUA, Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Councils, Illawarra LALC, Bahtabah LALC, Narromine LALC, La Perouse LALC
Stop the NT Intervention
End the income quarantine - stop the national expansion
Land rights, not leases
Self-determination, not assimilation
Aboriginal controlled housing, jobs and services for all communities
On February 13, 2010 there will be a national day of action against the NT Intervention and for Aboriginal rights.
This will mark the 2nd anniversary of the Apology to the Stolen Generations, when Prime Minister Rudd committed the government to, "a future where this Parliament resolves that the injustices of the past must never, never happen again".
But ongoing NT Intervention policies reek of the same paternalism and commitment to assimilation that created the Stolen Generations.
The Intervention has been a $1.5 billion disaster. The government has taken control of Aboriginal lives and land - but has not yet built a single house. Shamefully, communities will not receive housing until they sign 40-year leases over their land. This policy is expanding nationally.
The income quarantine is leading to greater poverty and social dislocation. Government statistics show reports of domestic violence are up 61%, substance abuse up 77% and 13% more infants have been hospitalised for malnutrition.
Minister Macklin has said the suspension of the Racial Discrimination Act has "denied dignity" to Aboriginal people. But her changes to Intervention legislation will see the RDA suspended until December 31, 2010.
Rather than do away with failing policy, new legislation will allow the compulsory welfare quarantining to be extended to "areas of disadvantage" around the country. This will start across the NT from July 2010. Draconian measures such as compulsory acquisition of Aboriginal land and extreme police powers have been rebadged "special measures" under the RDA.
Racism is not a special measure.
The demonisation of Aboriginal people at the core of the Intervention is leading to increased racism across Australia. Indigenous incarceration rates have risen 10% in the past year. Juvenile detention now stands at 30 times the national average. Aboriginal organisations everywhere face aggressive mainstreaming.
Aboriginal people have consistently demanded an end to the NT Intervention measures and resistance is growing.
Turning around the unacceptable disadvantage facing Aboriginal people requires massive increases in resourcing of community controlled organisations - not more racist laws.
No more broken promises - its time to break the intervention
Organised by Stop the Intervention Collective Sydney
Contact: Jean 0449646593 or Mon 0415410558
For the poster of the protest: please click here
For the leaflet of the protest for downloading, printing, distribution: please click here
For STICS' Fact Sheet about the new Legislation: please click here
For STICS' Fact Sheet about the Government's "Consultation" Process: please click here
National Actions in other cities on 13 Feb 2010
Adelaide: 1 pm, at the steps of Parliament House, Speakers: Donna Jackson of Larrakia/Wulna descent, local Kaurna and Ngarrendjeri people. Launch of book "This is what we said". Contact Alitja 0431112898, organized by STICSA
Alice Springs: 10 am Gathering on Church Lawns in the Mall, Speakers on Key Issues. Launch of book: "This Is What They Said", Followed by a March through the CBD, Contact Barbara 0401 291 166 or Marlene (08) 8952 5032, for further info: http://rollbacktheintervention.wordpress.com/
Melbourne: 2pm Maysar,184-186 Gertrude St Fitzroy, March to Parliament House, for further infohttp://www.maicollective.blogspot.com/, for the poster: please click here
Perth: 12 noon, Wesley Church (cnr. William & Hay Sts), contact Natasha 0434 303 248 or Sanna 0417 852 628
Wednesday, 11 November 2009
The war on refugees: Is Rudd becoming Howard?
A Socialist Alliance Forum on Refugees, Racism & War
Sat Nov 21, 2pm
Resistance Centre
23 Abercrombie St
Chippendale
The Sri Lankan government's genocide of the Tamil people and its detention of 300,000 people in concentration camps has provoked a mass refugee flight.
At least 3,700 Tamil refugees have fled from Sri Lanka to India this year (23,000 in last three years). Only a few hundred have braved the dangerous sea voyage to Australian territory but the Rudd Labor government is seeking to have them intercepted and taken to detention camps in Indonesia. The "Indonesian solution" is Rudd's alternative to Howard's failed "Pacific solution". And worse, Rudd Labor government has offered millions of dollars to run the concentration camps in Sri Lanka and promised to assist the Sri Lankan government hunt down Tamil freedom fighters allegedly helping the refugees flee.
But people of conscience, including John Pilger, the ACTU and several trade union leaders have spoken out and the refugee rights movement is organising mass protests (Sydney march for refugees: Sun Nov 29, 2pm, Sydney Town Hall).
Guest speakers include a representative from the Tamil community in Australia, Susan Price, UNSW president NTEU, and a live hookup with Ignatius Mahendra, an Indonesian comrade who recently visited the 255 Tamil refugees who are refusing to leave their boat in Merak, Indonesia.
Read regional left groups' statement on the refugee crisis here. Socialist Alliance initiated this statement and coordinated solidarity action is being organised with Indonesian and Malaysian comrades.
More information: Peter 9690 1977 or 0401 760 577
Friday, 6 November 2009
Socialist Alliance 7th National Conference, 2-5 January 2010
Fighting for socialism in the 21st Century: Towards Sustainability, Justice and People’s Power
Socialist Alliance 7th National Conference
Sydney, January 2-5, 2010
Women’s College, University of Sydney
INITIAL AGENDA*
SATURDAY, JANUARY 2
7.30pm Their Crises, Our Solutions. Public meeting to launch the conference
SUNDAY, JANUARY 3
9am Welcome to country
9.15am The Socialist Alliance’s perspectives for struggle in 2010 (panel of speakers and discussion)
10.30am Socialist election strategy and tactics: preparing for the next federal election (panel of speakers and discussion)
12.15pm Building the climate action movement (panel of speakers and discussion)
2.45pm The struggle for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander rights (panel of speakers and discussion)
4pm Multiple workshops to plan campaigning on: climate change, Aboriginal rights, same-sex marriage rights, anti-war and Latin America solidarity
7.30pm Green Left Weekly Fighting Fund rally. An evening of speakers, music and multi-media presentations to launch the 2010 fighting fund for Australia’s # 1 alternative newspaper.
MONDAY, JANUARY 4
9am Rebuilding the trade unions for the fights ahead (panel of speakers and discussion)
10.15am Building the socialist movement among young people (panel of speakers and discussion)
11.30am Refugee rights and internationalism (panel of speakers and discussion)
12.15pm The Latin American revolutions and solidarity (panel of speakers and discussion)
2pm Campaigning for environmental sustainability (panel of speakers and discussion)
2-4pm Challenges of building a radical alternative to Labor 1 (concurrent educational workshop)
3pm Getting Australia out of Afghanistan and Iraq (panel of speakers and discussion)
4pm Multiple workshops on building the Socialist Alliance and strengthening left unity, covering Green Left Weekly, election campaigning, internet activism, etc.
4-6pm Understanding the financial and economic crisis (concurrent educational workshop)
7.30pm International Cultural Night: Performances from many lands and peoples
TUESDAY, JANUARY 5
9am Campaigning for women’s and queer rights today (panel of speakers and discussion)
9.45am Socialist Alliance policy session 1 (discussion and voting on a range of policy proposals from members)
11.30am Taking action in 2010: discussion and voting on Socialist Alliance building resolutions
11.30am-1pm Ecology, socialism and human survival (concurrent educational workshop)
2pm Taking action in 2010: discussion and voting on Socialist Alliance resolutions on the climate movement, Latin America solidarity, anti-war, women's rights and LGBTI rights
2-3.30pm Building the Left-Indigenous alliance (concurrent educational workshop)
3pm Socialist Alliance policy session 2 (discussion and voting on a range of policy proposals from members)
3-5pm Challenges of building a radical alternative to Labor 2 (concurrent educational workshop)
4pm Socialist Alliance elections
All welcome
Whole conference: $60 solidarity / $50 waged / $30 unwaged
Two days: $40 solidarity / $30 waged / $15 unwaged
One day/session: $20 solidarity / $15 waged / $5 unwaged
Childcare will be available for a small fee if booked by November 30, 2009
* For more information, the latest agenda, or to register for the conference:
Visit: http://www.socialist-alliance.org or http://socialist-alliance.wikispaces.com/Seventh+National+Conference
Email: national_office@socialist-alliance.org
Phone: (02) 9690 2508
Or contact your local branch of the Socialist Alliance.
Rally: Welcome Refugees
Welcome refugees!
No to Rudd’s Indonesian Solution!
Bring the Tamils to Australia!
No to Rudd’s Indonesian Solution!
Bring the Tamils to Australia!
12.30pm Monday 9 November
Immigration Department, Lee St (Railway Square end of Central Tunnel), City
Speakers include:
Tamil Association
Ian Rintoul (Refugee Action Coalition)
Trade Union speaker
Called by Refugee Action Coalition
Contact Ian on 0417 275 713
Immigration Department, Lee St (Railway Square end of Central Tunnel), City
Speakers include:
Tamil Association
Ian Rintoul (Refugee Action Coalition)
Trade Union speaker
Called by Refugee Action Coalition
Contact Ian on 0417 275 713
The bipartisan demonisation of asylum seekers has provoked feelings of deja vu among many people who thought we'd never again see Tampa-style dramas on the high seas. But as each day passes, it is becoming clear that Kevin Rudd's 'Indonesia Solution' is every bit as inhumane (and expensive) as John Howard's 'Pacific Solution'. Despite the refugee rights movement winning victories such as children out of detention and the end of Temporary Protection Visas, it's clear that we have a long way to go before Australia can claim it has humanitarian immigration and refugee policies.
Friday, 23 October 2009
Sydney: Stop the Sell-Off - Public meeting Oct 31
Speakers:
Sylvia Hale (NSW Greens MP)
Natalie Falvey (United Services Union)
Bob and Betty Con Walker
(Authors of Privatisation—sell off or sell out?)
3pm Saturday 31 October
Tom Mann Theatre, Chalmers St, City
(walking distance from central station)
Contact Colin Drane 0419 698 396 or colin.drane@tpg.com.au
Last year, public pressure
Recently, it
Now, the electricity
This
GLW fundraising feast with Rod Quantock
Book now! GLW fundraising feast with
Rod Quantock
6.30pm, Saturday October 31
@ the Great Hall Addison Rd Community Centre
142 Addison Rd, Marrickville
Catch 428 Bus from Central. $35/$20 ($50 solidarity)
Changing the world is never so much fun as when you do it with Rod Quantock. Supremely talented Melbourne comedian Rod Quantock will perform his hilarious new show "Bugger the Polar Bears, This is serious" at the Great Hall in the Addison Rd Community Centre Marrickville on Saturday 31st October as a fundraiser for Green Left Weekly, Australia's leading alternative newspaper that campaigns for real action to combat climate change. (Forgotten to renew or buy your subcription? You can call for free at 1800 634 206, or visit https://www. greenleft. org.au/subscribe .php)
Comic genius Rod Quantock is a performer with integrity who is not afraid to speak out. Bugger the Polar Bears takes us on a complete history of the universe.
"If climate change doesn't scare you shitless," he says, "then you just don't get the science." Explaining the science in his idiosyncratic way,Rod says everything you want to say, everything you want to scream. This show is more than just catharsis for greenies - much more!
Tickets are $35.00 or $20.00 concession, include a delicious meal and desert and can be booked by calling 02 9690 1977 or 0439 694 505 (booking is recommended) or simply come along on 31st October.
The man who is known as a Melbourne institution in comedy, will be in Sydney for one night only. He was the recipient of an Australia Council Theatre Board Fellowship in 2006 and was awarded the 2005 Adelaide Justice Coalition Romero Community Award for his contribution to Australian social justice.
We promise you will laugh! All welcome.
Call Green Left Weekly for bookings 9690 1977 or 0439 694 505
For a review for Rod Quantock's latest show http://www.greenlef t.org.au/ 2009/803/ 41308
Can't make it? Donations small or large to help Green Left Weekly keep coming out can be made at https://www. greenleft. org.au/donate. php
Friday, 9 October 2009
Venue change: FMLN 29th Anniversary Celebration
Please Note Change of Venue
FMLN 29th Anniversary Celebration
All welcome
6pm Saturday 10th October
CFMEU Building
12 Railway St Libcombe
For information
0402 961 669 - 0430 739 597 - 0425 324 621
JUAN CAMPOS
FMLN SYDNEY
FMLN 29th Anniversary Celebration
All welcome
6pm Saturday 10th October
CFMEU Building
12 Railway St Libcombe
For information
0402 961 669 - 0430 739 597 - 0425 324 621
JUAN CAMPOS
FMLN SYDNEY
Ø Fecha: Sabado 10 de Octubre 2009
Ø Lugar: CFMEU Sindicato de la Construcción, Forestal y Minería
Ø Dirección: 12 Railway Street, Lidcombe, NSW 2141
Ø Hora: 6:00pm
La celebracion del 29 aniversario se comunicara por este mismo medio y por los medios comunitarios estamos conciguiendo un nuevo local ya que la casa latinoamericana esta madrugada se incendio.
Esperando su comprension los esperamos con la misma alegria que nos carateriza tendremos servicio de cantina.
Por mayor informacion contactanos a este correo o llama a los telefonos
For information
0402 961 669 - 0430 739 597 - 0425 324 621
JUAN CAMPOS
FMLN SYDNEY
Friday, 2 October 2009
Afghanistan: unions support ‘troops out’ rallies
Pip Hinman, Sydney
Green Left Weekly, 26 September 2009
“The country is weary of the war. What I’m trying to do at this point is to make sure that ... we have got a coherent strategy that can work”, United States President Barack Obama told David Letterman’s Late Show on September 21.
For anti-war activist Christine Keavney, Obama’s latest bid to convince an increasingly oppositional US population that a troop surge combined with a so-called counter-insurgency strategy will bring good results sounds very desperate.
“Obama was elected by a war-weary public”, she told Green Left Weekly, “though he campaigned for more war in Afghanistan. That was less than a year ago, and now the polls show the American public disagrees.
“True, many are still worried about calling for the troops to leave, but many more are reaching the conclusion that the bigger the US-NATO presence the worse the war will get.
“These polls reveal a political shift. They don’t translate automatically into a force for change, but they show there’s an opportunity to have that discussion with a lot more people now.”
Keavney is a member of the Sydney Stop the War Coalition (StWC) and the Socialist Alliance. She is helping to organise a protest on the eighth anniversary of the invasion of Afghanistan on October 8. She said she was pleased with the support for the rally so far.
“Already a couple of unions have signed on — the Fire Brigade Employees Union and the Maritime Union of Australia (NSW branch) — and we are in discussions with others.
“We set out to engage with unions and other community groups that were active in the anti-Iraq war movement. Not everyone is supportive, but at least our approaches are prompting some broader discussion, especially among unions, about Australia being at war for eight years, and why pulling the troops out will assist the people of Afghanistan.”
The Victorian branch of the Maritime Union of Australia is supporting a similar rally in Melbourne on October 10. Other endorsees include: Victorian Trades Hall Council; the Electrical Trades Union (Victorian branch); community Radio 3CR; Campaign for International Cooperation and Disarmament; the Federation of Australian Muslim Students and Youth; the Victorian Construction Forestry Mining Energy Union (mining and energy division); the National Tertiary Education Union (Victorian branch); the Socialist Alliance, Resistance and other socialist groups.
While the Victorian Greens decided not to support the rally, the NSW Greens will, and NSW Greens Senator Lee Rhiannon will speak. The NSW Greens have also signed on to a statement issued by StWC called “Ten reasons to get out of Afghanistan”.
Keavney said that an important part of organising these protests was the contribution to public discussion about the war.
“We have to try to convince people to do more than simply disagree privately. These rallies are just the beginning of a more systematic campaign to pressure the Rudd government to bring the troops home”, she said.
[For more information, visit troopsoutofafghanistan.blogspot.com and www.stopwarcoalition.org.]
Green Left Weekly, 26 September 2009
“The country is weary of the war. What I’m trying to do at this point is to make sure that ... we have got a coherent strategy that can work”, United States President Barack Obama told David Letterman’s Late Show on September 21.
For anti-war activist Christine Keavney, Obama’s latest bid to convince an increasingly oppositional US population that a troop surge combined with a so-called counter-insurgency strategy will bring good results sounds very desperate.
“Obama was elected by a war-weary public”, she told Green Left Weekly, “though he campaigned for more war in Afghanistan. That was less than a year ago, and now the polls show the American public disagrees.
“True, many are still worried about calling for the troops to leave, but many more are reaching the conclusion that the bigger the US-NATO presence the worse the war will get.
“These polls reveal a political shift. They don’t translate automatically into a force for change, but they show there’s an opportunity to have that discussion with a lot more people now.”
Keavney is a member of the Sydney Stop the War Coalition (StWC) and the Socialist Alliance. She is helping to organise a protest on the eighth anniversary of the invasion of Afghanistan on October 8. She said she was pleased with the support for the rally so far.
“Already a couple of unions have signed on — the Fire Brigade Employees Union and the Maritime Union of Australia (NSW branch) — and we are in discussions with others.
“We set out to engage with unions and other community groups that were active in the anti-Iraq war movement. Not everyone is supportive, but at least our approaches are prompting some broader discussion, especially among unions, about Australia being at war for eight years, and why pulling the troops out will assist the people of Afghanistan.”
The Victorian branch of the Maritime Union of Australia is supporting a similar rally in Melbourne on October 10. Other endorsees include: Victorian Trades Hall Council; the Electrical Trades Union (Victorian branch); community Radio 3CR; Campaign for International Cooperation and Disarmament; the Federation of Australian Muslim Students and Youth; the Victorian Construction Forestry Mining Energy Union (mining and energy division); the National Tertiary Education Union (Victorian branch); the Socialist Alliance, Resistance and other socialist groups.
While the Victorian Greens decided not to support the rally, the NSW Greens will, and NSW Greens Senator Lee Rhiannon will speak. The NSW Greens have also signed on to a statement issued by StWC called “Ten reasons to get out of Afghanistan”.
Keavney said that an important part of organising these protests was the contribution to public discussion about the war.
“We have to try to convince people to do more than simply disagree privately. These rallies are just the beginning of a more systematic campaign to pressure the Rudd government to bring the troops home”, she said.
[For more information, visit troopsoutofafghanistan.blogspot.com and www.stopwarcoalition.org.]
Thursday, 24 September 2009
Save Pyrmont's Union Square Dance SAT 26 SEPT 4pm
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RALLY TO SAVE UNION SQUARE 4pm THIS SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26TH.
On Saturday, a coalition of concerned community groups and local small business owners from throughout the inner city will put on their dancing shoes in Union Square to protect a row of terraces. The local groups oppose the State government’s plans to destroy four historic terraces at numbers 9, 7, 5, & 3 Union Street. The CFMEU has placed a permanent green ban on the site. Pyrmont residents' emphatically argue:
- A FALSE FRONT IS JUST PRETEND HERITAGE FOR UNION SQUARE!
- NO RESPECT FOR THE UNION GREEN BAN
- NO RESPECT FOR OUR 19TH CENTURY HERITAGE
- SAVE SMALL FAMILY OWNED BUSINESSES AND SAVES JOBS
- THE GOVERNMENT DOES NOT RESPECT THE COMMUNITY’S WISHES
- METRO’S COMMUNITY CONSULTATION WAS JUST A SHAM
- NO PROPER DOCUMENTATION OR COSTING OF ALTERNATIVES
- WHY NOT USE THE CASINO -- THE TRANSPORT HUB OF PYRMONT?
- OR PUT THE ENTRANCE ON THE VACANT LOT ON 102 -136 HARRIS WITH FRONTAGE ONTO PYRMONT STREET?
- WILL THE PYRMONT VILLAGE BUSINESS SURVIVE?
- 5 YEARS OF TRAFFIC CHAOS – 24 TRUCK MOVEMENTS AN HOUR BOWLING THROUGH THE HEART OF PYRMONT 24/7. SLEEP DISTURBANCE LIMITS EXCEEDED BY UP TO 19 DECIBELS.
WE WILL NOT BE RAIL ROADED IN PYRMONT!
For more information on the campaign visit: http://www.saveunionsquare.com/
Media Enquiries call co-convenors Jean Stewart (9660-6702) or Lawrence Gibbons (0425-218-960)
Sydney - emergency rally for Honduras
Emergency Rally For Honduras, 5pm Thurs Sept 24, Latin American Plaza, Chalmers
St, Sydney (next to Sydney Central Station). Please notify your networks & come along!
Wednesday, 23 September 2009
Honduras repression: urgent solidarity needed!
Following the recent return of ousted president Manuel Zelaya to Honduras, the coup-leaders have apparently sent squadrons of loyal police and army to besiege the Brazilian embassy, where Zelaya has been staying.
The coup forces have dispersed the pro-Zelaya crowd in front of the embassy by force (using firearms, teargas, pepper spray and rubber bullets, occupied adjacent buildings, snipers have been installed on the roofs of neighbouring building, and sonic weapons have been deployed in the streets.
Electricity, water and phones were been cut to the embassy, as well as surrounding building - the only anti-coup TV station, Channel 36, is now effectively off-air after its electricity was cut - and it appears that tear gas has been fired into the Brazilian embassy. The tear gas also killed an eight-year-old boy in a nearby building - dying of asphixiation from the gas.
The electricity cut was clearly meant to intimidate Zelaya or the Brazilians - or both - into submission. It failed, and electricity was restored some time later. Zelaya remains inside the embassy, with around 70 supporters.
The curfew has also been extended - effectively turning the whole country into a giant concentration camp, and at least one protester, Oscar Adán Palacios, was shot to death on by the army while peacefully protesting against the illegitimate government.
In a move eerily reminiscent of the fascist 1973 Pinochet coup in Chile, the National Police are holding unspecified numbers protesters in the Chochy Sosa baseball stadium and football stadiums in Tegucigalpa. Adrés Pavon, president of the Human Rights Defence Committee says "there are people being tortured, disappeared, and we are confirming the death of two people." Bertha Oliva, director of the Committee of the Families of the Detained and Disappeared in Honduras (COFADEH) called the stadium a "concentration camp".
COFADEH itself was subject to a police attack yesterday (Tuesday) morning, with tear gas launched through the windows.
The National Front Against the Coup in Honduras (FNRG) has claimed that members of the Israeli Army are training a group of the National Police in protest disruption tactics.
According to NarcoNews, at least two popular barrios in and around Tegucigalpa have defied, en masse, the curfew order and chased National Police out of their communities: El Pedregal and Colonia Kennedy. They've erected barricades and declared the coup regime and its security forces non grata. [update: see comments for a longer list of barrios that have defied the curfew and are protesting the coup]
The website of the FNRG posted a declaration at 11am calling on “all of the resistance” to participate in “a peaceful march tomorrow, September 23 at 8am in front of the Pedagogical University Francisco Morazan”.
More regular updates from: NarcoNews, HondurasCoup2009, HondurasResists, Green Left Weekly, Emergency Committee Against The Coup In Honduras, Socialist Unity blog, BoRev,
There will be an emergency protest in solidarity with the Honduran people in Sydney on Thursday September 24 at 5pm, in the Latin American Plaza (outside Central Station).
"The Real News" on the repression after Zelaya's return:
The coup forces have dispersed the pro-Zelaya crowd in front of the embassy by force (using firearms, teargas, pepper spray and rubber bullets, occupied adjacent buildings, snipers have been installed on the roofs of neighbouring building, and sonic weapons have been deployed in the streets.
Electricity, water and phones were been cut to the embassy, as well as surrounding building - the only anti-coup TV station, Channel 36, is now effectively off-air after its electricity was cut - and it appears that tear gas has been fired into the Brazilian embassy. The tear gas also killed an eight-year-old boy in a nearby building - dying of asphixiation from the gas.
The electricity cut was clearly meant to intimidate Zelaya or the Brazilians - or both - into submission. It failed, and electricity was restored some time later. Zelaya remains inside the embassy, with around 70 supporters.
The curfew has also been extended - effectively turning the whole country into a giant concentration camp, and at least one protester, Oscar Adán Palacios, was shot to death on by the army while peacefully protesting against the illegitimate government.
In a move eerily reminiscent of the fascist 1973 Pinochet coup in Chile, the National Police are holding unspecified numbers protesters in the Chochy Sosa baseball stadium and football stadiums in Tegucigalpa. Adrés Pavon, president of the Human Rights Defence Committee says "there are people being tortured, disappeared, and we are confirming the death of two people." Bertha Oliva, director of the Committee of the Families of the Detained and Disappeared in Honduras (COFADEH) called the stadium a "concentration camp".
COFADEH itself was subject to a police attack yesterday (Tuesday) morning, with tear gas launched through the windows.
The National Front Against the Coup in Honduras (FNRG) has claimed that members of the Israeli Army are training a group of the National Police in protest disruption tactics.
According to NarcoNews, at least two popular barrios in and around Tegucigalpa have defied, en masse, the curfew order and chased National Police out of their communities: El Pedregal and Colonia Kennedy. They've erected barricades and declared the coup regime and its security forces non grata. [update: see comments for a longer list of barrios that have defied the curfew and are protesting the coup]
The website of the FNRG posted a declaration at 11am calling on “all of the resistance” to participate in “a peaceful march tomorrow, September 23 at 8am in front of the Pedagogical University Francisco Morazan”.
More regular updates from: NarcoNews, HondurasCoup2009, HondurasResists, Green Left Weekly, Emergency Committee Against The Coup In Honduras, Socialist Unity blog, BoRev,
There will be an emergency protest in solidarity with the Honduran people in Sydney on Thursday September 24 at 5pm, in the Latin American Plaza (outside Central Station).
"The Real News" on the repression after Zelaya's return:
Friday, 21 August 2009
SOS - No privatisation of Sydney ferries!
Privatisation spoils a nice day on Sydney harbourBy Peter Boyle
Sydney, August 21 - It was a nice day to be out on Sydney harbour. But we were at Circular Quay not to go on a relaxing ferry ride but to protest against the planned privatisation of Sydney ferries by the NSW Labor government. The Maritime Union of Australia had organised the rally but it drew support from a range of other unions, including the Nurses Federation, whose members are in the frontline of a hospital system in severe crisis after years of cutbacks by neo-liberal Labor governments.
O'Bray Smith, a midwife representing the Nurses Federation, told the protestors that she had been taught at school that in the late nineteenth century the trade unions had formed a party to represent the interest of the working class. But today, she and other trade unionists are fighting a privatisation- mad NSW Labor government.
"I've spoken to many rank-and-file members of the Labor party and they can't believe what is going on. And many are not going to vote Labor in the next elections as a result."
This echoed the angry sentiment at another anti-privatisation rally in Sydney organised by trade unions less than a month ago, that one being against the Rees Labor government's attempts to privatise jails. And before that it was the privatisation of the power industry that workers had to mobilise against...
Pictures here
Wednesday, 19 August 2009
Latin America: Will the era of military dictators & US military intervention return?
“The U.S. Empire ... has launched a retrograde and anti-historic counteroffensive, with the aim of rolling back the union, sovereignty, and democracy of our continent.”
- Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, August 17, 2009
- Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, August 17, 2009
The recent military coup in Honduras, which deposed democratically elected President Manuel Zelaya, and the planned establishment of new US military bases in Colombia (just next to Venezuela), has set off alarm bells around Latin America. Is this the beginning of a return to military dictators and US military intervention that blighted the subcontinent for decades?
Guest speakers on this important topic will address the next meeting of the Sydney Central Socialist Alliance branch:
- Jose Pena, Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front (FMLN) committee in Sydney.
- Victor Hugo, Committee for Human Rights in Guatemala.
- Stuart Munckton, Green Left Weekly co-editor.
Saturday August 22, 2pm
Sydney Resistance Centre
23 Abercrombie St
Chippendale (near UTS Broadway)
More info: Peter 9690 1977/0401 760 577
Tuesday, 28 July 2009
Join the protests at the ALP 2009 national conference Jul 30-Aug 1
Below are details of some of the protests against the Rudd Labor government's right-wing policies that will be held at the ALP national conference this week (Thursday July 30 - Saturday August 1). The Socialist Alliance would like to encourage everyone to attend. You can read about why these protests are taking place here.
There will be a Socialist Alliance working bee to make props, placards and banners in Sydney 5.30pm-7pm Tuesday July 28 @ the Resistance Centre, 23 Abercrombie St, Chippendale. If you can come and help us at any of these protests and/or help at the working bee please call Brianna 0439 694 505 or Peter 9690 1977/0401 760 577
Thursday: Tasmanians Against the Pulp Mill
9am @ Convention Centre, Darling Habour
Thursday: Stop the NT Intervention
Join a public lobby of the ALP conference. Hands off Tangentyere - no blackmail! - no take-over of Alice Springs Aboriginal town camps - housing and services NOW for all communities. 12noon Thursday July 30 @ Convention Centre, Darling Harbour. Organised by the Stop the Intervention Collective Sydney.
Thursday: Troops out of Afghanistan
Join the Stop the War Coalition from 12 noon on Thursday 30 July at the Darling Harbour Convention Centre, to call on the ALP to bring the troops home and end the war on the people of Afghanistan. For more information ph Pip Hinman 0412 139 968, Marlene Obeid 0401 758 871, Anne Picot 0404 090 710
http://www.StopWarCoalition.
Thursday: Gaza Defence Committee is calling on supporters of Palestine to help leaflet the ALP conference
At noon GDC will be leafleting outside the convention centrewith a leaflet calling for support for the campaign of boycott, divestment and sanctions against Israel.
A further action will take place at 5pm at an event being organised by Paul Howes, secretary of the Australian Workers' Union and a promoter of an international group, TULIP, which is opposed to isolating apartheid Israel. This event is at the Maritime Museum, 2 Murray St, Darling Harbour.
For more information about the Howes' event see <http://labor.net.au/news/
For more information about TULIP, see <http://www.tuliponline.org/>
For a critical appraisal of TULIP see <http://www.labournet.net/
To find out more about this action ring Raul 0403 037 376 or Diane on 0413 003 148.
Friday: Billionaires for Coal's "celebration" of ALP coal & climate change policy
9am @ the Convention Centre
Friday: Protest for Honduras
Restore democrasy, no more dicatorships! Protest outside the ALP national conference. 5pm Friday July 31 Convention Centre Darling Harbour. Convention Centre Darling Harbour.Organised by the Latin American Forum. Ph John for more info 0413 310 452.
Friday: Jobs and Rights for Working Australians - Rip up all Howard's anti-union laws!
12.45pm – 2pm Friday 31 July. Parkside Auditorium, Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre Darling Harbour. Meeting for all trade unionists & ALP conference delegates. For more information contact Pirjo Laine: plaine@actu.asn.au ph 03 9664 7333
Saturday: National Day of Action for Same-Sex Marriage. This year we alongside our Melbourne brothers and sisters, we will stage the nation's largest 'illegal' same-sex wedding! Chances are your relationships won't be formally recognised on the day, and you'll still be considered a second-class citizen long after you've consumated your marriage... so, what the hell... grab your partner, shine your ring, and invite your friends - we're getting hitched! Start 12pm @ Town Hall march to ALP conference @ the Sydney Convention Centre.
Organised by Community Action Against Homophobia www.caah.org.au.
Progressive fringe events at ALP conference:
Burma's future and Australia's role in it
Date: Saturday, August 1, 2009
Time: 12:30pm - 2:00pm
South Steyne Floating Restaurant and Function Centre
Cockle Bay, Darling Harbour
Sydney, Australia
Phone: 0416289235
Email: admin@aucampaignforburma.org: Australia's Role in a Time of Crisis
THE PERFECT STORM: Australia's role in a time of crisis
The Centre for Policy Development and Oxfam Event at the ALP Fringe Porgram
Friday July 31, 6pm, The Sussex Room, Crowne Plaza, 150 Day St, Darling Harbour.
Speakers include: Sharan Burrow (ACTU and ITUC President), Andrew Hewett (Executive Director, Oxfam Australia), Ian Dunlop (CPD Fellow and previous head of the Australian Institute of Company Directors), Reverend Tafue Lusama (Chairman, Tuvalu Climate Action Network), Ben McNeil (Climate Change Research Centre, UNSW)The Centre for Policy Development and Oxfam Event at the ALP Fringe Porgram
Friday July 31, 6pm, The Sussex Room, Crowne Plaza, 150 Day St, Darling Harbour.
RSVP to marian.spencer@cpd.org.au or call 02 9514 2034.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
