President Nasheed: "Our country will not exist."

President Mohamed Nasheed of the Maldives addresses the UN on Climate Change:

Still not dead enough in Gaza

It would appear that even dead Palestinians aren't dead enough for Israel's purposes, if they happen to live in Gaza. Having killed over 1000 people in the past 3 weeks (including over 300 children), the Israeli Occupation (and Chid-murdering) Forces have decided to kill those terrorist babies one more time, for good measure. Or were there weapons hidden in the coffins? I forget.

Either way, as limbs and rotting guts from recently buried victims of Israel's war-crimes [or not. The International Criminal Court is doubly and triply washing its hands of jurisdiction in Gaza, on the back of endless petitions that Israel be tried for what most of the world can see plain as day. Of course, this didn't stop them in Sudan] were flung through the windows of neighbouring houses, Israel got along with their next stage of "fighting terror" - testing experimental weapons by burning refugees with white phosphorous that burns flesh down to the bone.

Because, you know, if they run away they must be guilty of something, right? Like being Palestinian? Or working for the United Nations?

Looks like Tzipi Livni's election campaign's coming along nicely, then. Especially now that those pesky Arab party's won't get to take part and interfere with the "only democracy in the Middle East". Mind you, Livni's idea of what constitutes democracy clearly leave a little to be desired:

"I am willing to give up a part of the country over which I believe we have rights so that Israel will remain a Jewish and democratic state in which citizens have equal rights, whatever their religion."

Mind you, when you have Israeli academics whose solution to the Gaza issue is like that below, Livni seems positiviely moderate...

Apparently, Arnon Sofer, a Jewish Israeli intellectual, "teaches" at Haifa University that:

"When 2.5 million [Palestinians] live in a closed-off Gaza, those people will become even bigger animals than they are today, with the aid of an insane fundamentalist Islam. So, if we want to remain alive, we will have to kill and kill and kill. All day, every day. If we don't kill, we will cease to exist. The only thing that concerns me is how to ensure that the [Jewish] boys and men who are going to have to do the killing will be able to return home to their families and be normal human beings." (Jerusalem Post weekend supplement Up Front, May 21, 2004. quoted here)

But who cares, anyway? Israel certainly doesn't. They can't even be arsed keeping their story straight:




And just in case you thought Israel's upporters might be well-meaning but merely misguided, Max Blumenthal went along to the pro-Israel rallies in New York, attended by a number of major Democratic politicians, and some of the statements made there will send shivers down your spine [eat your heart out Paul Sheehan]:





Just don't forget the protests. End the massacre in Gaza! NOW!

Cuba - Overwhelming UN General Assembly vote against US blockade

FOR THE 17TH CONSECUTIVE OCCASION
Overwhelming UN General Assembly vote against blockade of Cuba

NEW YORK.—The UN General Assembly today approved by an overwhelming majority the resolution demanding an end of the U.S. blockade of Cuba, a vote passed by the Assembly over 17 years, the news agencies report.

Of the 192 UN member states, 185 voted in favor of the resolution, while three voted against (the United States, Israel and Palau) and two abstained (Marshall Islands and Micronesia). With this result, Cuba has gained another vote this year in relation to 2007, when 184 voted in favor, four against (the United States, Israel, Palau and the Marshall Islands), and Micronesia abstained.

The resolution calling for an end to the blockade has been approved on 16 occasions with a backing that has grown from 59 votes in 1992 to the 185 of today.

Before the vote, Cuban Foreign Minister Felipe Pérez Roque spoke before the Assembly and noted the special situation in which this resolution is taking place, an economic crisis that is being internationally felt and above all, the imminent U.S. elections which, he observed, will produce a new president who "will have to decide whether the blockade is a failed policy."

"You are alone, isolated," said the foreign minister, addressing President George W. Bush. Pérez’ speech was loudly applauded by the Assembly.

Translated by Granma International

Lift the Blockade of Cuba!

Dear friends of Cuba,

Lift the US blockade on Cuba - Urgent appeal for your solidarity

On October 29, the UN General Assembly will once again vote on Cuba’s annual motion calling for the criminal US blockade against it to be lifted. It is likely that the overwhelming majority of the General Assembly will vote with Cuba once again. However, given the Australian government’s prevarication on this vote in recent years, it is crucial that all supporters of Cuba’s right to sovereignty urgently put pressure on the minister of foreign affairs and Australian ambassador to the UN to this year vote in favour Cuba’s motion without amendment.

Please find below a “model” letter (to be modified as you wish) to be sent to the minister, with a copy to the Australia’s ambassador to the UN, urging their support for Cuba’s motion.

Please also forward this letter as widely as possible to others in the next few days with a request that they actively support this emergency campaign – the letters need to be received by the minister by October 24 to be effective.

Thank you for your solidarity.

Lisa Macdonald

************ ********* ********* ********* ********* ********* ********* *********

The Hon. Stephen Smith

Minister for Foreign Affairs

PO Box 6022, House of Representatives, Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600

Fax: 02 6273 4112

Phone: 02 6277 7500

Email: Stephen.Smith. MP@aph.gov. au

Cc: The Hon. Robert Hill

Australian Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations

150 East 42 Street, Level 33, New York NY 10017, United Nations

Fax: 212 or 646 351 6610

Phone: 212 or 1-646 351 6600

Dear Minister,

We are writing to urge you, as a representative of the Australian people, to ensure that Australia votes in support of the government of Cuba’s motion to the United Nations General Assembly on October 29 calling for the United States government to lift its 46-year-long economic blockade on Cuba.

The lifting of the US blockade is, this year, more urgent than ever following the devastation of Cuba last month by hurricanes Gustav and Ike. While Cuba’s remarkable achievements in social development meant that very few lives were lost as a result of those natural disasters, the US blockade – by preventing Cuba from buying most construction and other supplies directly from the US - is a huge obstacle to this tiny country’s ability to recover from the hurricanes. On humanitarian grounds alone, we believe it is incumbent on Australia to do all it can to end this unjust blockade.

As in every previous vote on Cuba’s motion to the UN, it is likely that the overwhelming majority of General Assembly members will once again recognise that the US blockade is a flagrant violation of the Cuban people’s right to decide their own government and future, and support the motion. We urge the Australian government to do likewise, and to refrain from sponsoring, as it did in 2006, an amendment to Cuba’s motion that sought to interfere in Cuba’s sovereign affairs.

As a nation that values democracy, Australia has a responsibility to advocate and uphold in forums such as the UN the right of all nations to self-determination, just as we expect our national sovereignty to be respected. To sacrifice such democratic principles to an economic and foreign policy alliance with the United States shames Australia in the eyes of the rest of world.

We urge you to take a principled stand on behalf of the Australian people and ensure that Australia votes in favour of Cuba’s just motion in the UN.

Yours sincerely,

[Name and contact details of individual or organisation]

End the Intervention! National Day of Action on Saturday June 21!

from Aboriginal Rights Coalition

Endorsed by the national conference called by the Aboriginal Rights Coalition on Sunday May 25 in Sydney attended by over 200 people.

• Repeal all “NT intervention” legislation


• Restore the Racial Discrimination Act


• Fund infrastructure and community controlled services


• Sign and implement the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples- Aboriginal Control of Aboriginal Affairs

June 21 will mark one year since the Howard Government announced the NT intervention. Far from improving child welfare, the intervention has created a new wave of dispossession and is compounding social problems.

The Racial Discrimination Act has been suspended, land taken over and business managers imposed on communities.

The universal quarantining of welfare payments, the closure of many Community Development Employment Projects (CDEP) and the compulsory acquisition of Aboriginal property has forced thousands of people from their communities into urban centres.

Bagot town camp in Darwin, for example, has increased in population from 500-1200 people since the intervention. People are facing extreme hardship without jobs, services or stable accommodation.
While the Rudd Labor government made a symbolic apology for the Stolen Generations, in practice, it has retained and expanded Howard’s explicitly racist intervention laws. The government refuses to acknowledge the social break down taking place. They continue to deny protection under the Racial Discrimination Act.

Aboriginal people are suffering stark discrimination as they are forced to stand in segregated queues in Centrelink, in supermarkets and in schools. The practice of traditional culture is becoming impossible for many, unable to travel due to welfare restrictions. As Lyle Cooper, Vice President Bagot Community has said, “I thank you Prime Minister Rudd for your apology…(but) it’s an invasion all over again. We are being told where to shop, what to eat, how to act and how to live”.

Communities continue to stand up against the intervention. Scores of representatives from “prescribed areas” traveled to join the 2000 strong Canberra Convergence at the opening of the new Parliament. Many more will come from communities around the Northern Territory to protest in Alice Springs and Darwin as part of the national protests on 21 June.

One of the strongest examples is Yuendumu, where a strategy of non-cooperation has held off repeated attempts by the government to take over local programs and implement “income management”. Jeannie Nungarrayi Egan from the community council has said, “No body likes it, we have to control our own community, we’re going to push out the quarantine”.

Social Justice Commissioner Tom Calma recently released a report which demonstrates how NT intervention legislation contravenes numerous UN charters to which Australia is signatory, including International Covenants on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR); on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR); and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD).

In July Jenny Macklin, the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs will begin a review of the Intervention. We need to bring thousands of people out onto the streets around the country to ensure grass-roots voices are no longer ignored. The new Government must break with the assimilationist policies of the Howard era. They must act on the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. A massive injection of funds and resources into communities is badly needed, but cannot come at the expense of basic human rights. Only an approach which respects self-determination will lead to improvements in community life.

Stop the intervention, Stop the Racism - Human Rights for all!

Sydney: 11am, The Block, Redfern

contact Monique Wiseman 0415410558 or Paddy Gibson 0415800586

Alice Springs - Mbantua: 2pm Court House Lawns

contact Barbara Shaw 0401291166 or Marlene Hodder 0889525032

Darwin: 10am Raintree park

contact Liv 0401955405

Perth: 11am Wesley Church, cnr Hay and William st

contact Natasha Moore 0434303248

Brisbane: 11am State Parliament, George st

contact Lauren 0413534125

Melbourne: 12pm State Library

contact Michaela 0429136935

Wollongong: 10am Lowden Square (east side of Wollongong Station),

contact Sheree Rankmore 42281585 or Tina McGhie 0415504589

Adelaide: details tba,

contact John Hartley 0424943990 Sue Gilby 0431112898

Rally endorsed by the Aboriginal Rights Coalition National Conference on Sunday May 25 in Sydney attended by over 200 people.

Support from Aboriginal leaders and activists includes: Barbara Shaw (Mt Nancy town camp, Alice Springs), Lyle Cooper (President of Bagot community, Darwin), Harry Nelson (President, Yuendumu community council), June Mills (Long-grass association, Darwin), Pat Eatock, Brian Butler, Shireen Malamoo, Millie Ingram, Pastor Ray Minniecon, Mitch, Peta Ridgeway, Heidi Norman, Shane Phillips

Supportive organisations include: Maritime Union of Australia (MUA NSW & NT), Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU), Railway Tram and Bus Union (RBTU NT), Australian Services Union (ASU NT), Top End Aboriginal Conservation Alliance, Australians for Native Title and Reconciliation (ANTaR NSW & NT), Indigenous Social Justice Association, Alliance for Indigenous Self Determination Melbourne, Intervention Rollback Action Group (Alice Springs), Aboriginal Rights Coalition (Darwin, Sydney, Brisbane and Perth), Socialist Alliance

Converge on Canberra: Stand up for Aboriginal rights on Feb 12

Calling all Aboriginal people and supporters to converge on Canberra: Stand up for Aboriginal rights on the first day of the new parliament.

Tuesday, February 12 2008
Meet Aboriginal Tent Embassy 11:30am
March to Parliament for 1pm rally

Turn back Howard and Brough's racist legacy!

- Reinstate the Racial Discrimination Act
- Demand immediate review of the NT intervention
- End welfare quarantines, compulsory land acquisition and 'mission manager' powers
- Implement the UN Declaration on the Rights of Aboriginal People
- Aboriginal control of Aboriginal affairs

In the final months of government, John Howard introduced a package of discriminatory, unfair and punative measures against Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory. Aimed at controlling Aboriginal lives and land, the legislation was a stark violation of basic human rights and dignities.

Federal Labor is promising a new era in Aboriginal affairs. They are pledging to say sorry to the stolen generation and to sign the UN declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People. They have promised to restore both the CDEP (Community Development and Employment Program) and the permit system, which will ameliorate some of the worst effects of the NT intervention.

Unfortunately there are aspects of ALP policy that is still disturbingly similar to the Liberals. Plainly discriminatory measures such as mandatory welfare quarantines, compulsory land acquisition and the presence of non-Aboriginal "business managers" with extraordinary powers are being suffered under right now. There has been no move to allow the operation of the Racial Discrimination Act. The cry for immediate review of the legislation coming from across the NT has been ignored.

The Labor Government must comply with accepted international human rights laws and standards of non discrimination, equality , natural justice and procedural fairness. Legislation being implemented in the NT breaches commitments Australia has made as a signatory to major human rights treaties and conventions; such as the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination and the International Covenant of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. The Human Rights Commission must immediately review the legislation to ensure compliance with these obligations.

The federal election revealed overwhelming opposition to the intervention among Aboriginal communities. When Labor MP's in affected areas emphasised political differences to the Coalition they consistently received over 80% of the vote; with 95% in the town of Wadeye.

Despite government claims that the intervention is a response to the Anderson & Wild "Little Children are Sacred" report, no new community-based services to ensure the safety and protection of children have been established, and there has been a notable duplication of services - particularly in the area of child health checks. There is an urgent need for delivery of essential services, infrastructure and programs genuinely targeted at improving the safety and well being of children and developed in consultation with communities. Huge amounts of public money have been wasted, with $88 million alone going towards bureaucrats to control Aboriginal welfare.

Moving Forward
A vibrant, mass convergence Canberra on the first day of parliament will be an important step in challenging the lingering legacy of Howard's racism. We can strongly push for an immediate end to what Aboriginal communities have themselves described as an invasion. We can send a strong signal to Kevin Rudd and his new government to put Aboriginal rights at the centre of their agenda; to massively increase the resources available to communities across Australia and to respect Aboriginal control of Aboriginal affairs.

Initiated by the Aboriginal Rights Coalition, Sydney

Contact:
Shane Phillips 0414077631
Greg Eatock 0432050240

Endorsements from Aboriginal activists include:
Olga Havnen (Combined Aboriginal Organisations of the NT)
Barbara Shaw (Tangentyere council, Alice Springs)
Lez Malezer (Chairman, Global Indigenous People's Caucus UN,
Foundation Aboriginal Islander Rights Association)
Jackie Katona (CEO of Lumbu Indigenous Community Foundation, Djok clan)
Michael Mansell (Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre)
Sam Watson (Brisbane)
Mitch (Eastern Arrernte/Luritja activist from Alice Springs)
Robbie Thorpe (Melbourne)
Phil Falk (Senior Lecturer School of Law, Griffith Uni, Wiradjuri nation)
Linda Murphy (Lecturer, School of Arts, Griffith Uni)
Sandra Phillips (QUT)
Nicole Watson (Jumbunna, Sydney)
Heidi Norman (UTS)
Victor Hardt (Oodgeroo, QUT)
Shane Phillips (Redfern)
Peta Ridgeway (Newcastle)
Arthur Ridgeway (Newcastle)
Greg Eatock (Coordinator Deaths in Custody Campaign, Sydney)
Pat Eatock (Secretary, First Aboriginal Tent Embassy)

Supportive Organisations include:
Women for Wik
Indigenous Social Justice Association
Australians for Native Title and Reconcilliation (ANTaR SA)
Aboriginal Rights Coalition (Sydney)
Intervention Reform Coalition (Darwin)
Intervention Rollback Working Group (Alice Springs)
Alliance for Indigenous Self Determination (Melbourne)
Working Group for Aboriginal Rights (Canberra)
Australian Peace Committee (SA)

40 years since Che Guevara, the lesson still stands...

On December 11, 1964, Ernesto "Che" Guevara, gave Imperialism a good smack about the face at the United Nations. Not only Imperialism, but that pathetic cop-out that characterised the Moscow camp, "peaceful coexistence". The video below is footage of that speech.



Perhaps one of the most relevant parts is this:

We want to build socialism; we have declared ourselves partisans of those who strive for peace; we have declared ourselves as falling within the group of non-aligned countries, although we are Marxist-Leninists, because the non-aligned countries, like ourselves, fight imperialism. We want peace; we want to build a better life for our people, and that is why we avoid answering, so far as possible, the planned provocations of the Yankee. But we know the mentality of United States rulers; they want to make us pay a very high price for that peace. We reply that price cannot go beyond the bounds of dignity.

And Cuba reaffirms once again the right to maintain on its territory the weapons it wishes and its refusal to recognize the right of any power on earth -- no matter how powerful -- to violate our soil, our territorial waters, or our airspace.

Click here for the full speech.

Why do the Wombats bring this up at this point? Well, as many readers will know, Latin america is again in the throes of revolution, as millions of people rebel against the poverty, oppression and inhumanity that has been wrought on them.

And this year is 40 years since Che was killed in the jungles on Bolivia.

So we are adding to the chorus of advertisements for the LATIN AMERICA & ASIA PACIFIC SOLIDARITY FORUM 2007, to be held on October 11-14 in Melbourne. Details are below, or check out VenezuelaSolidarity.org.

Oct 11-14, 2007 - Melbourne, Australia - Fighting and organising globally against neoliberalism! - A global call for participation

We call on all activists, organisations and communities who are committed to building a better world to join together at the Latin American and Asia Pacific International Solidarity Forum to be held in October 2007, in Melbourne Australia.

The forum has been initiated by the organisers of several successful conferences and gatherings in solidarity with Latin America and the Asia Pacific, the Australia-Venezuela Solidarity Network (AVSN), Asia Pacific International Solidarity Conference (APISC) and the Latin American Solidarity Network (LASNET). With this call we would like to invite you to participate in this international forum.

A time of resistance, progress and struggle

Today, cracks are beginning to appear in the neo-liberal capitalist ruling system. In the Asia-Pacific there is a growing crisis of legitimacy for neo-liberal governments and mass movements of resistance are on the rise. In Latin American a people's rebellion is growing across the continent. An echo of the massive independence struggles against colonialism and imperialism can again be heard.

Old ideas are being re-examined and new ways experimented with. Discussion and debate have been revived among whole communities - on issues such as workers' control and management; indigenous autonomy and self-determination; building trade unions and social movements; electoral campaigning and counter-power strategies. These discussions have given birth to some of the most dynamic and successful social movements and political organisations in recent decades.

There is great diversity among these movements. Some are working to achieve power, while others, such as the Zapatistas, aim to completely re-define and recreate the notion of power. Some have formed links with political parties and are constantly adjusting how they relate to the government of the day.

Popular governments have won elections with the support of social movements, and in countries such as Venezuela, Bolivia and Ecuador we are seeing progressive and radical changes. The Venezuelan idea of socialism for the 21st century is giving renewed hope and energy to other liberation processes.

Many of these movements and political organisations are winning. They are strengthening people's participation, strengthening their communities, developing people's power and inspiring a new generation of political activists.

Another world can only be realised if people like you and me also commit to this emerging project of struggle against neoliberalism.

The main aims of the conference are:

* To facilitate the sharing of ideas and experiences and generate political discussions between Latin American, Asia-Pacific and Australian social movements, political organisations and individual activists, thereby helping to create spaces for global coordination and campaigning, as well as strengthening mutual ties.

* To build support for and solidarity with grass-roots movements and political organisations fighting neoliberalism and resisting the plunder of natural resources by capitalist transnationals and governments.

Major forum themes include:

* The histories and experiences of struggles and movements of resistance
* Campaigning and organising strategies
* Anti-capitalist and revolutionary theory and practice
* Emerging alternatives to neo-liberalism
* Saving our planet from ecological collapse
* Indigenous struggles and resistance
* Cultural action and liberation

International guests and participants
The Forum would like to see the broadest possible participation from the Asia-Pacific and Latin American regions, and also encourages activists from all parts of the world to participate.

The Forum will likely include featured guests from:
Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela, El Salvador, Cuba, Chile, Mexico, Indonesia, the Philippines, East Timor, Pakistan, Fiji, West Papua, India, Mauritius, Bangladesh, Japan, Korea, Malaysia and New Zealand.

Workshops/papers
The Forum encourages campaign organisations, trade unions, NGOs, progressive political parties, social movements, academics and all activists to submit proposals for workshops and papers. In order to maximise participation and inclusiveness, the conference will have an open door policy on workshops---space permitting. We will attempt to accommodate all workshop proposals that fall within the broad scope of the conference.

To register for the forum, sponsor it, submit a workshop proposal or be added to the forum email list to receive updates please contact us.

We hope that this Forum will be a contribution to popular global resistance and struggle against neoliberalism, war and injustice. We hope for a continued renewal of the solidarity movement around the world and for projects such as these to become more than isolated events.

Only organisation and struggle will make us free!

Latin American-Asia Pacific International Solidarity Forum
Organising Committee, Australia

Further Information:
Email solidarityforum2007@yahoo.com or phone

Solidarity Forum steering committee contacts
Australia Asia Worker Links Tel: 03 9663 7277
Australia-Venezuela Solidarity Network - Jody Betzien 0425 887 078
Bolivarian Circle - Jorge Jorquera 0431 720 787
Asia Pacific International Solidarity Conference - Lisa Macdonald 0413 031 108
LasNet - Lucho Riquelme 0402 754 818