LL:ART: Editorial: Crucial test, crucial time
The following articles were published in "The Guardian", newspaper of the Communist Party of Australia in its issue of Wednesday, October 2nd, 2002. 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: Crucial test, crucial time The Australian Government is busy re-writing its strategic military plans along the lines laid down by the US in its National Security Strategy document issued by Bush on September 17. It is a chilling document of militarization and war throughout the world using the phony "war against terrorism" as the justification. Defence Minister Robert Hill foreshadowed the Government's thinking in a speech last week. Its direction is indicated by Hill's remark that "the Australian Defence Forces (ADF) will continue to find themselves turning up in unexpected places far from our shores". Bush's statement says: ". the US will require bases and stations within and beyond Western Europe and Northeast Asia, as well as temporary access arrangements for the long-distance deployment of US forces." To look after the global interests of the transnational corporations these governments require "transnational security", to use Robert Hill's phrase. Readers may be astounded to learn that Australian military forces are not only in East Timor, Afghanistan and in the Gulf but are now to be found in Kyrgyzstan and Diego Garcia. (Diego Garcia is an island strategically based in the Indian Ocean which is used by Britain and the US as a base for communications, and the refuelling and resupplying of ships and aircraft. It could be used to control traffic through the Suez and launching or supporting an attack on Iraq.) Other countries in which Australian military forces are to be found include PNG, Bougainville, Indonesia (obvious from issues raised by Senator Faulkner last week in the Senate about the sinking of the refugee boat SIEV-X), Malaysia and in several other countries under the UN "peacekeeping" flag. They are also almost certainly operating in Iraq at the present time. In respect to Indonesia, the Australian Government is attempting to re-establish working relations with the Indonesian Army (the TNI). Despite the role of the TNI in maintaining in power the Suharto dictatorship, Robert Hill asserted that the "TNI will remain a fundamentally important institution in Indonesia. Its handling of difficult internal security problems across the archipelago will have a crucial bearing on stability". The reality is however, that elements in the TNI are not the solution to but the cause of instability as their forces manoeuvre to re-establish its dictatorship over Indonesian politics. Underlying the Government's review of "defence" strategy is the intention to act as the deputy sheriff of the US as it pursues its objective of world domination and, for this purpose, to join with the US in its various military adventures. Referring to the "war on terrorism" Hill says that "this is a conflict more likely to be fought out well beyond Australian shores". The Government's strategy has no use for the United Nations. It does not even rate a mention in Robert Hill's review. The recent criticisms of the Government's policies by former political leaders and some retired Army and Navy commanders express fundamental disagreement with the whole strategic approach that the Government is attempting to foist on the people of Australia and on Australia's military forces. Responsible military commanders are concerned that Australian forces under their command should not be put into impossible and dangerous situations merely on the demand of the US. The Government's strategy also leads inexorably to the destruction of the United Nations and its replacement by US unilateralism and pre-emptive strikes. This option has been clearly spelt out by Bush in his insistence that if the UN does not act the US will. This is not a new policy. The US has for a long time ignored those UN decisions with which it disagrees. The many UN decisions relating to Israeli aggression are just one example. The refusal of the US to support the creation of the International Court of Justice is another. The people of Australia and other countries face a crucial test. EITHER the rule of law, collective decisions by the UN and the various covenants of the UN are to be abided by OR its replacement by US unilateralism backed up by its military power, war, occupation, bribery, threats, assassinations and the whole armoury of US coercion in the sole interests of the United States. *** -- -- Leftlink - Australia's Broad Left Mailing List mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
LL:DDV: Outworker Forum & Briefing Melb
Outworker Forum: Outworker speaking on why we need legislation Briefing on Legislation Action Group and FairSchool Wear Updates Where: TCFUA - Level 2 132 Leicester St Carlton When: Thursday 17th Oct. @ 3 - 4.30 pm Dear FairWear Supporter, We are writing to ask for your support for Outworkers at this critical time. There is now a real possibility of achieving legislation for outworkers in Victoria. The Family and Community Development committee inquiry into the conditions of clothing outworkers, released a report last week, recommending that the State Government introduce legislation for outworkers as was introduced in NSW in December 2001. The NSW legislation, or Ethical Trading Act, provides some of the essential framework for protection's for outworkers, offering a real prospect of changing the exploitative culture in the industry and giving outworkers wage justice at last. The legislation allows for outworkers to be deemed employees, and the capacity for outworkers to recover monies up the contracting chain beyond the person who gives them work. It also provides for a state Retailers Code, similar to the Code recently launched in NSW, to ensure transparency in the contracting chain and for accreditation to the Homeworkers Code of Practice. Legislation to cover all links in the contracting chain is needed to give outworkers the same rights as other Australian workers to fair wages and conditions. Actions you can take *Fax, post or email letters urging the Government to keep their pre-election promise to outworkers and introduce legislation to end exploitation within the clothing industry. *Fax, post or email letters to the Opposition encouraging them to show bipartisan support for legislation for outworkers. *Pass on this request far and wide and get Networks to call or send letters, faxes and emails and come along the campaign briefing. *Form a delegation and see Ministers, Independents or your local member to ask them to support these most vulnerable and underpaid of workers. *Join FairWear in actions to highlight the need for effective legislation. In the lead up to the State election we are stepping up the campaign for legislation. The next few months are important. A real opportunity exists to make an immeasurable difference to the lives of outworkers and their families, to end the $2 and $3 an hour wages. We need to see effective legislation for outworkers in Victoria and we are seeking your support to do this. For further information or to let us know if you or a representative from your organisation will be at the briefing please ring 92515270 or 0403 920 195. Yours sincerely, Karrina Nolan - FairWear Coordinator 130 Lt Collins St Melbourne 3000 Ph 92515270 fax 96504490 [EMAIL PROTECTED] Why Outworkers need legislation - Points to inlcude in your letter *Outworkers in Victoria still have no legal protections, despite numerous Senate inquires, reports, commissions and academic research which has documented the vulnerable position of outworkers who often work long hours, with pay rates as low as $2-$3 an hour. Many companies in Victoria are not party to the Federal Award and do not have any obligations about what pay and entitlements they provide to outworkers. Legislation would go some of the way to address the culture of exploitation in the industry. *An inquiry conducted by the Family and Community Development Committee into the conditions of clothing outworkers released a report in September 2002 recommending that the Victorian Government introduce legislation. The Government attempted to introduce legislation for outworkers as part of the Fair Employment Bill in 2000, which did not receive support from the liberals. *We are calling on the Bracks Government to keep their election promise of ending exploitation within this industry and to initiate specific legislation to ensure outworkers receive a fair go. We are urging bipartisan support for legislation to protect outworkers. *It is also time for the Government to set an example and end exploitation through ensuring all government contracts are covered by an ethical procurement/sourcing code. Governments on NSW and QLD have already done this. *Legislation is necessary as retailers continue to renege on their responsibilities under the voluntary industry Homeworker's Code of Practice, most companies who are signed on are refusing to support the accreditation and labelling parts of the code. This refusal to abide by the voluntary code demonstrates why legislation is necessary. The Hon Robert Doyle Leader of the Opposition Parliament House, Melbourne 3002 Ph: 9651 8512 Fax: 9651 8426 [EMAIL PROTECTED] Phil Honeywood Deputy Leader of the Opposition 44 New St, Ringwood 3134 Ph: 9870 7396 Fax: 9870 9518 [EMAIL PROTECTED] Andrew McIntosh Shadow Minister for Industrial Relations Suite 1, 400 High St, Kew 3101 Ph: 9853 2999 Fax: 9853 1299 [EMAIL PROTECTED] John Lenders Pa
LL:DDV: Hard Travelling - the Woody Guthrie Story in Song
Hard Travelling - the Woody Guthrie Story in song an informative and entertaining night rediscovering the songs and stories of Woody Guthrie - from the Dust Bowl Ballads, union and anti-fascist songs. Acts include: Peter Hicks (Tasmania) Melanie Shanahan (Akasa) Victorian Trade Union Choir and more... $5.00/$8.00 (includes nibbles) Trades Hall Bar, cnr Lygon Street & Victoria Street, Carlton Thurs Oct 31st 7.30 proceeds go to Green left Weekly newspaper for bookings contact Margarita on 9639 8622 .. -- -- 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]?Body=subscribe%20leftlink Unsub: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=unsubscribe%20leftlink
LL:DDN: RALLY IN SUPPORT OF SYDNEY HILTON WORKERS!!!
Please circulate widely (apologies for cross posting) RALLY IN SUPPORT OF SYDNEY HILTON WORKERS!!! RALLY IN SUPPORT OF SYDNEY HILTON WORKERS!!! *Saturday 5th October *11:00am on the George St entrance of the Hilton *(opposite Queen Victoria Building) Workers at the Sydney Hilton have voted to take industrial action on Saturday 5th October from 6:00am and need your support! Anyone who could attend at this time would be much appreciated. However the community rally will occur at 11:00am on the George St entrance of the Hilton (opposite the Queen Victoria Building). The strike follows the collapse of union-management talks on Monday, over the hotel's plans to sack nearly 500 workers so they can implement a $400 million renovation. There are two outstanding issues:- 1. Some of these workers have worked at the hotel for over 20 years and will only recieve 8 weeks pay as they are under a federal award. 2. The hotel will not guarantee total preference of employment when the hotel reopens in 2004. **FOR MORE DETAILS: http://www.lhmu.org.au/union/737.html **You can also support the LHMU Hotel Union campaign by sending a protest e-mail to the Sydney management at LabourStart's Sydney Hilton Hotel protest webpage http://www.labourstart.org/actnow/20020912.shtml -- For more information contact: Jagath Bandara - 0425 214 618 [EMAIL PROTECTED] Rebecca Reilly - 0425 214 598 [EMAIL PROTECTED] .. -- -- Leftlink - Australia's Broad Left Mailing List mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Archived at http://www.cat.org.au/lists/leftlink/ Sponsored by Melbourne's New International Bookshop Sub: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=subscribe%20leftlink Unsub: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=unsubscribe%20leftlink
LL:ART: Marching for Peace
The following articles were published in "The Guardian", newspaper of the Communist Party of Australia in its issue of Wednesday, October 2nd, 2002. 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. ** Marching for peace, against war From London to Sydney and from Rome to Washington, hundreds of thousands marched over the weekend to stop an illegal war against Iraq. In London, estimates of the numbers ranged from 150,000 (the police) to over 350,000 by the march organisers. "Nothing can take the British people into a war that they do not accept and do not want", said former Labour Party MP, Tony Benn. "When the bloodshed begins, if it does, criminal responsibility for what has happened will rest with those who have taken that decision. There is a share of responsibility with us as well." The Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone said: "This is the largest march for peace I have seen in 30 years. This will have an electrifying effect on the Labour Party conference and on those MPs opposed to war. Over one hundred thousand flag-waving, whistle-blowing and chanting demonstrators took to the streets of Rome last Saturday. In Sydney about 2000-3000 marched from Town Hall Square to Belmore Park. Speakers included John Sutton, National Secretary of the CFMEU and Meredith Bergmann, Labor Party MLA in the NSW Parliament. Following the joint statement from former Australian Prime Ministers, former Army and Navy Chiefs of Staff and the National Secretary of the RSL, David Woolcott, the former Australian representative to the United Nations, also came out in opposition to unilateral action by the US. A letter published in the "Sydney Morning Herald" by Major-General Stretton (ret) asks, "How could Australia be under any threat from a county with no current nuclear weapons, no delivery system ... and a country which would not even be interested in Australia were it not for our belligerent talk of supporting America in an attack. "There is simply no rationale for Australia to be involved. To send young Australians into a war ... is irresponsible to say the least." In Washington, thousands of people opposing war with Iraq marched to the residence of Vice President Dick Cheney on Sunday, culminating three days of demonstrations in the US. "Many thinking people are questioning this war", said Rita Clark a 70 year old grandmother. "I have to do this for my children and grandchildren", she said. Protestors held banners saying "No Blood for Oil" and blamed Cheney for pushing the nation towards war. There were protest marches in Cyprus, Spain and many other countries. Many more actions are planned in Australia, Britain, the USA and elsewhere during October. In Australia, there will parallel actions this week in solidarity with the big protest at the US Pine Gap base in the Northern Territory. Meanwhile US attorneys, Carl Messineo and Mara Verheyden-Hilliard have declared that "no UN resolution and no Congressional resolution can legalise an illegal war. A war of aggression violates the US Constitution, the United Nations Charter and principles of the Nuremberg Tribunal. It violates the collective law of humanity that recognises the immeasurable harm and unconscionable human suffering when a country engages in wars of aggression. "The US administration is now waging a campaign to convince the people of the United States to fall into step and finance with money and blood this war brought for conquest on behalf of the corporate and oil interests that make up Bush's true constituency." Commenting on the National Security Strategy document issued by President Bush on September 17, the attorneys said that "Bush's pre-emptive war against Iraq doesn't even purport to pre-empt a physical attack. It purports to pre-empt a threat that is neither issued nor posed. Iraq is not issuing threats of attack against the United States. It is only the United States which threatens war. "It is not for disarmament. It is the US which has stockpiled nuclear, biological and chemical weapons. It is the US which is directly threatening to use these weapons against another country. It is the US which has bombed Iraq relentlessly for more than ten years, killing scores of innocent civilians. "There has been no evidence that Iraq is capable of an attack on the US, let alone possessing the intention of carrying out such an attack", said the attorneys. UN Security Council members France, Russia and China, who have the power to veto any Security Council resolution, have refused to support the proposed US-British war resolution. Voices need to be raised to ensure that these governments reject US and British pressure and blandishments and exercise their votes rath
LL:DDV: friends of the earth needs volunteers for sun 6/10
BACKSTAGE VOLUNTEERS NEEDED- FRIENDS OF THE EARTH BENEFIT– SPIKE MILLIGAN TRIBUTE- SUN 6 OCT 02 Comedy Theatre- Sun 6 Oct 02 Backstage volunteers needed Spike Milligan Tribute- promoted by ABC For a few hours between noon and midnight Lifting couches and tables, also looking for a rigger to hang banners Dinner provided Call Howard 9527 3236 asap -- -- 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]?Body=subscribe%20leftlink Unsub: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=unsubscribe%20leftlink
LL:INFO: Socialist Alliance state registration a certainty!
Socialist Alliance will be a registered political party for the coming Victorian state election. Over the last few weeks, Socialist Alliance members been polled by the Victorian Electoral Commission to varify that the party has at least 500 members. Today, positive responses to the VEC questionnaire reached 502. There follows from tomorrow a four week period where objections to Socialist Alliance's registration can be made. The grounds for objection however are particularly narrow, and will not be satisfied. It is a certainty therefore that Socialist Alliance will achieve registration before any early election called by the Bracks government. Successful state regitration will mean the identification of Alliance candidates with 'Socialist Alliance' on all ballot papers. At last there will be an easily identifiable socialist alternative for elections in this state. On behalf of Socialist Alliance I would like to thank all individuals and organisations who have made this success possible. It is testament to what a united left can achieve together. Once again our thanks to all who have contributed. In solidarity, Graham Matthews Socialist Alliance state co-convenor. -- -- 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]?Body=subscribe%20leftlink Unsub: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=unsubscribe%20leftlink
LL:DDV: Land Justice for Indigenous People
Land Justice for indigenous people 7.30 pm, Thursday, October 10 Coburg Concert Hall; in Coburg Town Hall; facing Urquhart Street, Coburg Melway 17 J12; Tram No 19 along Sydney Rd; Upfield train to Coburg Station; Bus No 513 along Bell St Ian Hunter: Wurrundjeri Elders Representative Joe Caputo: Mayor of Moreland Annette Xibberas: Kulin Nation Cultural Heritage Organisation Tony Shelley: National Native Title Tribunal Joel Wright: Gunditjmara claimant and Indigenous Education Officer, NTEU Peter Seidel: Yorta Yorta Native Title Claim Case Lawyer Funded By Moreland City Council Australians for Native Title and Reconciliation, MORELAND/WILLS, Contact Jenne: 0414 650 727; Les: 9380 8158;email: antarwills2002.yahoo.com.au ANTaR meets: 8-9 pm, First Thursday of every month, Café Mingo, 600 Sydney Road, Brunswick. -- -- 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]?Body=subscribe%20leftlink Unsub: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=unsubscribe%20leftlink
