LL:ART: Poncke Princen, Human Rights activist (and anarchist)
'Poncke' Princen (21-5-1925 - 21-2-2002) An obituary for this person appeared in the Melbourne Age newspaper (see below). It mentions that he was influenced by anarchist ideals in his youth. Poncke Princen deserted the Dutch military and joined the Indonesion independence movement in 1948. He played a major role in defending human rights in Indonesia since then, particularly recently in regards to East Timor and Aceh, but also in regards to helping to organise Trade Union organisations. He was outspoken against Sukarno and the Suharto regimes in defence of Human Rights (and was jailed a number of times for his Human Rights stance). In 1993 he applied for a Visa to visit the Netherlands. A Visa was denied him and caused much debate at the time, with strong opposition from Veterans organisations. Takver http://www.takver.com/history/feedback.htm OBITUARIES - JOHANNES CORNELIS, `PONCKE' PRINCEN - FEARLESS CHAMPION OF, HUMAN RIGHTS Author: Jill Jolliffe Date: 28 Feb 2002 Words: 737 Publication: The Age Section: The Culture Page: 11 21-5-1925 - 21-2-2002 Poncke Princen, who died last Thursday in Jakarta, was an extraordinary figure who played a fearless role in upholding human rights in Indonesia. Born in The Hague, he was raised by freethinking parents and influenced by anarchist ideals in his youth. During World War II, he was captured by the Germans and spent time in a Nazi concentration camp. He later enlisted in the Dutch army and was sent to Indonesia to fight in the so-called ``police action" to restore Dutch colonial rule against Indonesian nationalists. He quickly sympathised with the Indonesian nationalists, and in 1948 deserted to fight with them against his compatriots. Indonesia's founding president, Sukarno, decorated him with the Guerrilla Star, Indonesia's highest honour. Princen took out Indonesian citizenship, converted to Islam and was elected to the Indonesian parliament in 1956. His stand caused great bitterness in Holland, where he was branded as a traitor and banned from returning to his homeland until the closing years of his life. In death, however, Dutch cabinet minister Jan Pronk paid him a cautious tribute. ``Poncke Princen was no hero, martyr or saint, but first and foremost a human rights activist," he told Radio Netherlands. Unlike many opponents of the Suharto regime who had never criticised the populist Sukarno, his record on political freedom was thoroughgoing. He was imprisoned by both Sukarno and Suharto for his defence of human rights, serving more than eight years in jail. In the early 1970s, he was a founder of the Indonesian Legal Aid Institute. Despite his critical role, his prestige in Indonesia always remained high because of his role in the independence struggle, and in the early 1990s he was a founding member of the Group of Fifty, a movement for democratic reform that included conservative military figures who had fallen out with Suharto. But he stood out from others because of his early stand in support of East Timorese self-determination, a cause that was taboo even in the most progressive circles, where nationalism reigned supreme. In later years, he was treated for skin cancer and a series of strokes. Yet his luminous spirit shone through his wrecked body, and he continued his work as before. After the imprisonment of East Timorese resistance hero Xanana Gusmao in 1992, the two formed a friendship, although Princen was only able to visit him personally after the reformasi movement gained force in 1998. In the wake of the 1991 Santa Cruz massacre in Dili, Princen gave sanctuary in his house to five young East Timorese who had fled their homeland. A stand-off with the Indonesian military followed, but he successfully negotiated with Jakarta military commander General Hendropriono - then perceived as a liberal harbinger of ``reformasi" - for their safe passage to Jakarta airport, from where they travelled to Portugal. Gusmao, who is likely to be East Timor's first president after elections in April, said in Dili that he was deeply saddened by Princen's death. He said his first contact with him had been when he was still leading the guerrilla struggle in East Timor's mountains. They corresponded from that time, a link that continued during the Timorese leader's imprisonment in Jakarta. ``After the reformasi movement began, he visited me at the first opportunity," Gusmao recalled. ``It was a very emotional meeting, and I thanked him for the support he had given to our people. ``He then came frequently and we usually discussed the evolution of the democratic struggle in Indonesia. He encouraged us in our struggle. East Timor owes a lot to him." The Timorese leader's Australian wife, Kirsty Sword, also knew Princen from her work with the Timorese underground after 1990. ``I can still remember him telling me
LL:PR: Informal Vote Sign of Disenchantment claims Anarchist
Today Dr Joseph Toscano claimed an examination of the informal vote has shown that the number of Australians who have voted informal has increased by nearly thirty percent, and the informal vote in the Victorian Senate election has increased by nearly 100%. Press release from Dr Joseph Toscano: In the euphoria about the Prime Minister's electoral hat trick, a much more interesting and worrying phenomena for those who support the parliamentary system, has occurred. An examination of the informal vote has shown that the number of Australians who have voted informal has increased by nearly thirty percent. The informal vote in the Victorian Senate election has increased by nearly 100%. At the close of counting on Saturday night, 7.08% - 182, 662 ballots cast were informal. This figure is 70% greater than the figure in any other State. N.S.W 4.41%, QLD 3.81%, WA 4.29%, SA 3.9%, TAS 4.43%, ACT 2.7%, NT 3.64%. The difference between the Victorian Senate Election and the Senate Election in other States, is that two Anarchists, Dr. Joseph Toscano and Mr Stephen Reghenzani, stood as Senate candidates and conducted a vigorous election campaign using the slogan - 'Parliamentary Democracy, Two Minutes of Illusory Power'. In their campaign they encouraged electors to vote informal or consider not voting at all. Their campaign, a campaign which bypassed the mainstream media, was conducted using the Internet and alternative media sources. It will be interesting to see whether the abstention rate in Victoria is higher than in other States and whether the national abstention rate has increased during this election. Currently, 20% of votes still remain to be counted, this includes pre-poll, postal, absent and provisional votes as well as those who abstained. The A.E.C will have the final figures within the next ten days. Compulsory voting or no compulsory voting, an increasing number of Australians are not participating in parliamentary elections. They do not want to be forced to participate in a system of government they have no belief in. I'm 49 and have never voted at a local, State or Federal election, am not on the electoral roll, but was able to stand as a Victorian Senate candidate. There are an increasing number of people like myself who are no longer willing to give blank cheques to parliamentarians to make decisions for us. The struggle for direct democracy, a struggle to create a system of government, where the people involved in a decision, make that decision, is one which crosses old political divisions and which encompasses the apolitical as well as the politically aware. Our candidature have given people who have voted informal, or have not voted at all, a philosophical basis and a respectability that they have not enjoyed in the past. We can no longer be dismissed as apathetic, we have made a significant political statement that challenges the myths and assumptions that the parliamentary system is based on. Dr. Joseph Toscano/Spokesperson Anarchist Media Institute. -- Ring Dr Joseph Toscano if you want to verify this letter or to organise a newspaper, television or radio interview Anarchist Media Institute P. O. Box 20, Parkville. Vic. 3052 Australia Telephone: (03) 9828-2856 (24 hr Message Centre) Fax: (03) 9482-4371 Website: http://www.vicnet.net.au/~anarchist/ Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Radio: Anarchist World this week on Radio 3CR 10am Wednesdays -- Background Information and Links: -- Election Night Results: http://election2001.aec.gov.au/night/ Senate Results for Victoria: http://election2001.aec.gov.au/night/SEN_VIC.htm Parliamentary democracy - two minutes of illusory power - why vote? by Takver 9:01am Tue Oct 30 '01 Indymedia: http://www.melbourne.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=18554&group=webcast Dr Joe Toscano outlines why he is standing for the Senate in Victoria as an anarchist. See also Direct Democracy not Parliamentary Rule Index Anti-parliamentary politics and the case against voting at: http://www.takver.com/history/elections/index.htm -- with solidarity Takver Takver's Initiatives - http://www.takver.com Radical Tradition, an Australasian History Page Visit Anarres Books -http://www.anarres.org.au -- Leftlink - Australia's Broad Left Mailing List mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Archived at http://www.cat.org.au/lists/leftlink/ Sponsored by Melbourne's New International Bookshop Subscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=subscribe%20leftlink Unsubscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=unsubscribe%20leftlink
LL:INFO: An anarchist anti-election campaign
, think again. 14% of electors didn't vote (9%) or voted informal (5%) at the recent Aston by-election in Melbourne. At the Federal election in 1998 around a million electors who are entitled to be on the roll were not enrolled. Eight per cent of electors on the Commonwealth Electoral roll didn't vote or voted informal at the last Federal election. Dr. Joseph Toscano Victorian Senate Candidate Written and authorised by Joseph Toscano, 205 Nicholson Street, Footscray Melbourne. -- Anarchist Media Institute P. O. Box 20, Parkville. Vic. 3052 Australia Telephone: (03) 9828-2856 (24 hr Message Centre) Fax: (03) 9482-4371 email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Anarchist World This Week Radio Programme on the net: - http://www.freespeech.org/anarchistAge Wednesdays 10am for one hour on Community Radio 3CR in Melbourne and on community stations across Australia via the Community Radiop Satellite -- For background information, including Joe Toscano's 1998 antielection campaign visit: http://www.takver.com/history/elections/index.htm -- with solidarity Takver Takver's Initiatives - http://www.takver.com Radical Tradition, an Australasian History Page Visit Anarres Books -http://www.anarres.org.au -- Leftlink - Australia's Broad Left Mailing List mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Archived at http://www.cat.org.au/lists/leftlink/ Sponsored by Melbourne's New International Bookshop Subscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=subscribe%20leftlink Unsubscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=unsubscribe%20leftlink
LL:INFO: New Books from Anarres Books
New titles just arrived at Anarres Books. These join our extensive list of books we stock on anarchism, social change, social justice and sustainability. Anarres Books is a collectively run anarchist mailorder book service based in Melbourne. http://www.anarres.org.au Various Against War and Terrorism , struggle.ws , 20pp , $3.00 Political Systems Anarchist writings on the war from struggle.ws puts forward an anarchist analysis on the attack on the World Trade Centre Towers and the war on Afghanistan. 20 A4 pages of commentary by anarchists on 4 continents focusing on: * Capitalist Terror and Madness * "Why do they hate us"? * The tragedy of Afghanistan * Building an antiwar movement * The anarchist alternative * Diversity in Islam for Absolute Beginners * History of anarchist anti-imperialism * Commissars of the Free Press * Anarchism is the cure Visit the struggle.ws Stop the War Site (http://www.struggle.ws/stopthewar.html) to read the articles online, download the PDF file, and follow many useful antiwar links. For Melbourne people, visit Takver's Soapbox (http://www.users.bigpond.com/Takver/soapbox/index.htm) for news of future and past protests and rallies against the war indexed from Indymedia. Albert, Michael Moving Forward , AK Press , 160pp , $21.50 Political Economy If not capitalism, then what? Something's not working here, and it's pretty clear what's wrong. But there's a dearth of material on what could be right -- and more important, how to do it. Michael Albert breaks through the stranglehold on this debate and lays out the vision and strategy for a new "participatory economy." Beyond the discussion of how our society might look with a participatory economy, Moving Forward is about strategy and program: what should we fight for, with what means, to move ever closer to a new future. Anon. Soy, Not Oi , AK Press , 111pp , $9.00 Food Politics An authorized reprint of the classic vegan cookbook. Over 100 recipes designed to destroy the government, complete with musical notes to accompany the chef. A sure-fire winner for every revolutionary palate. Cleaver, Harry Reading Capital Politically , AK Press , 183pp , $27.00 Political Economy Through a close reading of the first chapter, Cleaver shows that Das Kapital was written for the workers, not for academics, and that we need to expand our idea of workers to include housewives, students, the unemployed and other non-waged workers. Reading Capital Politically provides a theoretical and historical bridge between struggles in Europe in the 60s & 70s, and particulary the Autonomia of Italy to the Zapatistas of the 90s. Cleaver's introduction provides a brilliant and succinct overview of working class struggles in the century since Capital was published. Cohn-Bendit, Daniel & Gabriel Obsolete Communism , AK Press , 239pp , $30.50 Anarchism 'Their nightmares are our dreams' In May 68 a student protest at Nanterre University spread to other universities, to Paris factories and in a few weeks to most of France. On May 13 a million Parisians marched. Ten million workers went out on strike. At the center of the fray from the beginning was Daniel Cohn-Bendit, expelled from Nanterre for his agitation. Obsolete Communism was written in 5 weeks immediately after the French state regained control, and no account of May 68 or indeed of any rebellion can match its immediacy or urgency. Daniel's gripping account of the revolt is complemented by brother Gabriel's biting criticism of the collaboration of the state, the union leadership and the French Communist Party in restoring order, defusing revolutionary energy & handing the factories back to the capitalists. Leninism & the unions come under fire as top-down bureaucracies whose need to manage and control are always at odds with revolutionary action. Critical Art Ensemble Electronic Civil Disobedience: and Other Unpopular Ideas , Autonomedia , 139pp , $14.40 Technology Following up CAE's The Electronic Disturbance this incisive series of essays expands on the ideas of nomadic power and radical resistance in the increasingly wired world. Danaher, Kevin (ed) Democratizing The Global Economy: The Battle Against The World Bank & IMF , Common Courage , 221pp , $28.70 Political Economy For half a century the IMF and World Bank - two of the most powerful institutions on Earth - operated in near-total secrecy. Now, an international grassroots movement is exposing these elite operations to the uncomfortably bright light of public scrutiny. Authors include Robert Naiman on how IMF and World Bank policies lower wages and encourage sweatshops; Carol Welch on how economic lending institutions are used for corporate welfare; Terry Allen on police brutality and recent government efforts to chill activism; Naomi Klein on how criticism of p
LL:INFO: New Books from Anarres Books
Just arrived at Anarres Books, new titles from New Society Publishers. These join our extensive list of books we stock from this publisher which specialises in books on social change, social justice and sustainability. Anarres Books is a collectively run anarchist mailorder book service based in Melbourne. http://www.anarres.org.au Alvord, Katie Divorce Your Car!: Ending the Love Affair with the Automobile New Society Publishers , 320pp, $22.95 Housing & Planning Not so much a book about planning for a car-less future, more a practical book about how to organise your life without your car, or at least to reduce your dependence. Douthwaite, Richard The Growth Illusion: How Economic Growth has Enriched the Few, Impoverished the Many, and Endangered the Planet New Society Publishers ,400pp $25.95 Political Economy Douthwaite examines the history of western economic growth from the birth of capitalism through the industrial revolution and the world wars, drawing a startling link between rising GNP and the erosion of the quality of our health, family and community life, and a sustainable future. This engaging and well-researched work looks at the end of the American dream and why national growth patterns are so difficult to break, and offers radical ideas to steer our economies on a new course. Hill, Linda Connecting Kids: Exploring Diversity Together New Society Publishers ,192pp $25.95 Education This book helps children explore and celebrate differences, building acceptance and an inclusive culture that prevents and reduces prejudice and discrimination. Focusing on 20 key skills, it includes over 200 fun games and activities that teach social connecting behaviours. Kivel, Paul Boys will be Men: Raising our Sons for Courage, Caring, and Community New Society Publishers ,256pp $19.95 Education Boys will Be Men is for all parents who have a vision of a society where peace and justice exist; for parents raising their sons in economically disadvantaged communities; for feminists who feel confused about raising their sons, and for parents of color who need to add their sons' strength to their communities. Macy, Joanna R. Widening Circles: A Memoir New Society Publishers ,296pp $22.95 Biography An absorbing memoir from a well known eco-philosopher, Buddhist and Deep Ecology activist/teacher. Seo, Danny Be the Difference: A Beginner's Guide to Changing the World New Society Publishers ,224pp $18.95 Community Development An energized primer for beginning activists on how to start their own activist group, fund raise, gain media exposure, organise a protest, use the internet as a tool for change, and make legislators listen - all with a unique emphasis on activism for service and personal growth. See the Anarres Books website for a full catalog and ordering details or enquire via [EMAIL PROTECTED] Anarres Books P.O. Box 150 East Brunswick Victoria 3057 -- with solidarity Takver Takver's Initiatives - http://www.takver.com Radical Tradition, an Australasian History Page Visit Anarres Books -http://www.anarres.org.au -- Leftlink - Australia's Broad Left Mailing List mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Archived at http://www.cat.org.au/lists/leftlink/ Sponsored by Melbourne's New International Bookshop Subscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=subscribe%20leftlink Unsubscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=unsubscribe%20leftlink
LL:DDV: Art's Alternative Tradition
An exhibition of work of a dissident and alternative artistic tradition from the collection of art historian Robert Smith. Featuring work by Australian Noel Counihan, Nicholas Charlet, Honore Daumier, Käthe Kollwitz, William Gropper, Francisco Goya, Pablo Picasso and others. This exhibition explores the great insight of these artists into the aspirations and injustices of the societies in which they lived. Where: Counihan Gallery, (next to) Brunswick Town Hall 233 Sydney Road, Brunswick, Melbourne When: 10 August to 2 September 2001 Wednesdays to Saturdays 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sundays 1 to 5 p.m The exhibition programme includes an annotated tour of the 88 works on display. Take a Virtual Tour to wet your appetite for visiting in person: http://www.vmore.org.au/wssfiles/218/art.htm Robert Smith will conduct vibrant free performance tours in connection with the exhibition, with a passionate account of the shared experiences of these artists across time and place. Public performances will take place at the Counihan Gallery in Brunswick on: Saturday 18 August; 9.15am, 10.15am, 11.15am Saturday 25 August; 9.15am, 10.15am, 11.15am Places are limited, please RSVP the Gallery at least one day prior to performance. Gallery Inquiries to Louise Allgood, Counihan Gallery, Ph 03 9240 2498 -- with solidarity Takver Takver's Initiatives - http://www.takver.com Radical Tradition, an Australasian History Page Visit Anarres Books -http://www.anarres.org.au Visit Art: The Alternative Tradition - http://www.vmore.org.au/wssfiles/218/art.htm -- Leftlink - Australia's Broad Left Mailing List mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Archived at http://www.cat.org.au/lists/leftlink/ Sponsored by Melbourne's New International Bookshop Subscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=subscribe%20leftlink Unsubscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=unsubscribe%20leftlink
LL:INFO: New Books from Anarres Books
role in revitalizing both the peace and anarchist movements in the late '70s and early '80s. Vaucher's work with Crass is seminal to the "protest art" of the '80s. Seeing her art as a tool for social change, the extensive work that she did with Crass is perhaps the most obvious example of her agit-prop approach, but if her more recent works are superficially less confronting, it is only because the subject under attack is less immediately obvious. Crass Art & Other Pre-Postmodernist Monsters offers an opportunity to view Vaucher's work from its art-school origins to the present day. Offering 112 pages of full-colour plates, and a text detailing the historical context of the work. Ward, Colin Social Policy: an anarchist response. Freedom Press 89pp $17.60 Housing & Planning In 1995-96, Colin Ward was the visiting Centenary Professor at the London School of Economics. This volume collects all the talks he gave during his tenure. Topics covered include on Housing, Water, Welfare Reform as well as his views on Anarchism in the 21st Century. One of the most accessible and entertaining Anarchist writers. Yates, John September Commando. AK Press 93pp $21.50 Arts 'September Commando: Gestures Of Futility And Frustration' is the second installment of politically charged satire, scrutiny and social commentary from John Yates' Stealworks graphics compound. Featuring over 100 of Yates' designs, 'September Commando' is a visual assault on all things bad. From our benevolent leaders on Capitol(ist) Hill to Twenty First Century Cops, from his "own" apathy-embracing (de)Generation X to the selling of Corporate American ignorance (and purchase thereof) to the (pocket) enlightened m(asses). 'September Commando' picks up where 'Stealworks' left off and from there on out it's a trilateral social injustice kill spree. To the barricades, and don't spare the hors d'oeuvre! See the Anarres Books website for a full catalog and ordering details or enquire via [EMAIL PROTECTED] -- with solidarity Takver Takver's Initiatives - http://www.takver.com Radical Tradition, an Australasian History Page Visit Anarres Books -http://www.anarres.org.au -- Leftlink - Australia's Broad Left Mailing List mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Archived at http://www.cat.org.au/lists/leftlink/ Sponsored by Melbourne's New International Bookshop Subscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=subscribe%20leftlink Unsubscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=unsubscribe%20leftlink
LL:URL: Freemasons, Trade Unions and the Tragedy of History
Dr Bob James has researched and written a major new study: CRAFT, TRADE OR MYSTERY: Part One - Britain from Gothic Cathedrals to the Tolpuddle Conspirators available at: http://www.takver.com/history/benefit/ctormys.htm From the Preface: Freemasons, Trade Unions and the Tragedy of History The tragedy is at least five-fold: First - students of history have been denied an adequate account of the 'lodge movement' and its social context, with the result that it is invisible to the general populace and researchers in many fields have been denied the challenge of seeing Freemasons, 'trade unions' and 'friendly societies' as fruit of the same tree; Second - the idea of mutual aid, the impact of its once wide-spread existence, its origins and its demise have all been rendered invisible to the detriment of our understanding of ourselves. The clearest example of historico-cultural consequences of this process is the tradition of the 'true believer', the worker who allegedly chose to be disciplined by the collectivity, the 'trade union', at the precise moment she/he became aware of his/her individual freedom; Third - social commentators have advocated and governments have legislated flawed, indeed destructive 'solutions' to social needs, eg, the State-regulated health and welfare system; and Fourth - we have all been denied an adequate understanding of ourselves and of our potentialities, because the history we have been taught lacks depth, complexity, ambiguity and resonance. Fifth - mis-understanding the failure of the particular model of 'mutual aid' dominant since industrialisation has prevented practitioners (lodge members) and their observers (historians) from redressing it in the direction of systems theory, ie replacing linear with integrated perspectives. Thus, social theory has pendulumed between goal-oriented models, 'free trade' and 'protectionism'. Other articles of interest are available at the Freemasons, Friendly Societies and Trade Unions Index: http://www.takver.com/history/benefit/index.htm -- with solidarity Takver Takver's Initiatives - http://www.takver.com Radical Tradition, an Australasian History Page Visit Anarres Books -http://www.anarres.org.au -- Leftlink - Australia's Broad Left Mailing List mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Archived at http://www.cat.org.au/lists/leftlink/ Sponsored by Melbourne's New International Bookshop Subscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=subscribe%20leftlink Unsubscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=unsubscribe%20leftlink
LL:INFO: Recovering Our Roots: Mutualism, Mutuals and the ALP
Articles on Mutualism and Labour History in Australia now available on Takver's Radical Tradition Website: http://www.takver.com/history/index.htm In 'Recovering Our Roots: Mutualism, Mutuals and the ALP' Dr Race Mathews argues for the Australian Labor Party to look to its roots and adopt policies friendly to Mutualism. With the collapse of the Soviet Union and the discrediting of State Socialism, this is part of a reappraisal of socialist and social democratic vision taking into account libertarian currents, such as Mutualism, which have been overshadowed by Authoritarian forms of Socialism. Also available are a number of articles by Dr Bob James on Mutuality, Benefit Societies, Secret Societies and the Labour Movement, and the exclusion of the history of mutualism and Benefit Societies from Labour History. -- with solidarity Takver Takver's Initiatives - http://www.takver.com Radical Tradition, an Australasian History Page Visit Anarres Books -http://www.anarres.org.au -- Leftlink - Australia's Broad Left Mailing List mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Archived at http://www.cat.org.au/lists/leftlink/ Sponsored by Melbourne's New International Bookshop Subscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=subscribe%20leftlink Unsubscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=unsubscribe%20leftlink
LL:ART: Unions, the Labor Party and the WEF
Unions, the Labor Party and the WEF A look at some aspects of union involvement inside and outside the WEF, comments by Labor Premiers Brack & Carr, and a list of some relevant media sources. Article by Takver http://www.takver.com/soapbox/index.htm A union Stop Work rally and march, advocating 'fair trade' not 'free trade' was organised for 10.30am Tuesday outside Melbourne Trades Hall. Originally, the march destination was Enterprise Park, north of the Yarra, but this was changed to the main assembly area outside Crown on Queensbridge Street. Some 6,000 - 10,000 people gathered, and then marched down to the main assembly point. Giant puppets were part of the parade. Outside Nike, the march stopped to explain how Nike exploits workers in countries like Indonesia. Union marshalls ensured the protest was symbolic by forming a line in front of the store. At the rally near Crown Casino speeches were made by various Union officials and Greens Senator Bob Brown. Bob Brown was the only member of Federal parliament to support the S11 blockade and oppose extensive laws allowing use of the military where there is 'the threat of domestic violence'. The Labour Party chose to support the legislation with minor amendments, even though such legislation may be used in the future against the Union Movement. Labor party politicians were noticable by their absence at the rally. At the end of the rally many of those who marched took up an offer to march around the casino complex adding their weight to the human blockading of the many entrances. Although the turnout for the rally was reasonable, I thought there was little outreach amoung some unions to inform their members and to get them to attend the rally. Please remember this was a Trades Hall Council sanctioned Stop Work Rally! Personally, I received no bulletins from my union, the CEPU (Communications Division), advertising the rally. Similarly, the previous week a CPSU organiser attended my workplace for an open meeting, however no mention was made of the Stop Work Rally. In the morning of s12 about 100 unionists came down from Trades Hall and opened up a passage through the blockade for workers to enter the Complex! This indicated that there has been a fair amount of friction between s11 and the official union bureacracy, although there has been of involvement by individual unionists, and some of the more social justice oriented unions in the blockade. Whether people who worked in the Crown Casino complex should be allowed in and out was a major disagreement between union officials and blockaders. It was alleged by Leigh Hubbard, Secretary of the Trades Halll, that World Economic Forum organisers threatened to cancel their meeting after the success of protesters blockading the venue on Monday. This led to increased police confrontation on Tuesday, and the at times violent crackdown by riot police. To the credit of the union movement, Leigh Hubbard strongly condemned the violent actions of the police: "there ought to be a broad inquiry beyond just what happened" during the police baton charge on Tuesday night. "I believe the state should provide trauma counselling for those young people hurt. Once these things start, who knows where they might lead? The fact that the police weren't wearing ID badges suggests premeditated provocation. I think we as Victorians should be deeply ashamed of what happened, we don't want it to be forgotten." The State Ombudsman, Dr Barry Perry, has received numerous complaints about the behaviour of the police and has agreed to open an investigation. The Law Institute of Victoria has also welcomed the inquiry into claims of police brutality. Marcus Clayton, a lawyer associated with the s11 legal team, said that officers clearly used excessive force during two baton attacks on Tuesday. While Deputy Police Commissioner Neil O'Laughlin claimed that police were provoked, Clayton said that: "Provocation isn't a defence to an assault, if someone provokes you you're not entitled to hit them.the police are in no legally different position." While it was to be expected that Prime Minister John Howard would praise the heavy police action, both Steve Bracks, Labor Premier of Victoria, and Bob Carr, Labor Premier of NSW, have made comments praising the police response as reasonable "despite great provocation". While there were a few incidents of provocation of police, most blockaders substantially dealt with and minimised provocation and abuse of the police. The provocation was certainly not "great". Blockaders were overwhelmingly peaceful and disciplined in their actions. The media showed incidents that took only minutes and ignored the essential and overwhelming peacefulness and festive nature of the blockade. The violence inflicted on demonstrators in the horse and baton charges is clearly documented in television coverage
LL:ART: s13 - WEF protesters defy Police violence and maintain
peaceful blockade Sender: [EMAIL PROTECTED] X-Loop: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Precedence: bulk s13 - WEF protesters defy Police violence and maintain peaceful blockade Report by Takver - http://www.takver.com/soapbox/index.htm S13 started in the morning with another baton charge on about 40 blockaders at the Clarendon Street entrance while most people were at the entrance on Queensbridge street. According to an ABC report: One of the protesters, Nick, says he and his colleagues were hopelessly outnumbered by police involved in this morning's baton charge. "I saw a woman about 40 that went down and people were just screaming to let her out, let her up... just general people getting hurt, a lot of screaming, a lot of young people going down," he said. This follows a similar baton charge on Tuesday night to bring the delegates out. Riot police viciously attacked people engaged in nonviolent civil disobedience with more than 20 people needing hospital treatment. The ABC interviewed well known Melbourne entertainer Rod Quantock who said that several friends were hit by police batons in an unprovoked attack: "Nothing would justify the violence that was there. I was on the ground. I couldn't see who was batoning me. It wouldn't have made a difference. They didn't have ID on anyway," he said. "I was hit all over the body and eventually kneecapped as I tried to stand up. They just came at us. They just attacked us. I saw people with so much blood on their face you couldn't literally tell if they were men or women." Klaus Schwab, the founder of the World Economic Forum, said: "The police action was excellent. They gave the protestors a chance at the first day to behave in a civilised way, they charged when it was necessary to restore law and order." His bidding was done by our esteemed Labour Premier, Steve Bracks, who stated: "Police have been charged with the responsibility of keeping law and order and keeping the public protected, the delegates protected, and peaceful protesters protected and in that they have done a fantastic job," he said. "Those that have incited disruptive behaviour by throwing missiles are the ones that are causing difficulty for the peaceful and sensible protesters." This makes a mockery of the numerous unprovoked baton charges on peaceful people protesting through civil disobedience techniques. The level of violence by the police had been deliberately escalated after the successful blockading on the first day. The Sydney Morning Herald reported: Up to 200 protesters had been injured by police who had hit them on the head with batons, trampled them with horses, dragged them by the hair, punched, kicked, elbowed and bitten them and driven at high speed to disperse crowds, the team of legal observers said. Police are also not wearing their identification badges. Legal observers estimate 90 per cent of officers have taken off their name tags. Damien Lawson, of Melbourne's Western Suburbs Legal Centre, said: "This goes to the heart of accountability at this protest. If they can't be identified then they can act with impunity. "There was a young man who was baton-charged and lost two teeth and had to have emergency surgery." Now we know that Bracks is just another puppet like our Prime Minister, John Howard, with the ear of the rich and powerful. The WEF organisers complained and Bracks and his police minister jumped to obey and ordered the Victorian police to use horses, riot police and batons in unprovoked attacks on peaceful protestors. Cam Walker from Friends of the Earth told the ABC reporter: "We've always used civil disobedience. We've always done it according to protocol and that protocol is the police ask you to leave, they remove the protestors, and they arrest them if they believe they've done anything unlawful. The police have broken with 30 years of tradition and they've declared war on peaceful protestors," he said. At lunch time more than two thousand protestors toured the city precinct stopping outside a Nike store and several McDonalds. When they returned to the assembly point outside Crown Casino, a giant multicoloured Gippsland Earthworm puppet led an encirclement of the Crown Casino complex of people linking hands. This act involved thousands of people ringing the Casino complex. By mid afternoon the blockade was winding down. Why then, did an unmarked police car try to force its way into a group of blockaders? When a person was trapped underneath the car, with people pleading for the car to stop, the driver accelerated running over the person. This person required immediate hospitalisation, and comes at the end of a long list of brutal police attacks and violence at the encoragemment of WEF organisers and conservative politicians, including the Labor Premier, Steve Bracks, and his Deputy, John Brumby. The excessive
LL:URL: 1990 Melbourne Tram Dispute
I have loaded up to Radical Tradition articles by Dick Curlewis on the 1990 Melbourne Tram Dispute and lockout. I also wrote an introduction which gives a (too brief) history of Sparks, a rank and file journal published by the Public Transport Workers Association, an affiliate of the Anarcho Syndicalist Federation. http://members.xoom.com/takver/history/index.htm My thanks to the Melbourne Anarcho Syndicalist Group, who organised a meeting on 22 January to discuss the history of Sparks and the 1990 dispute. This was the 10th anniversary of the dispute. -- Takver Takver's Soapbox: http://www.users.bigpond.com/Takver/soapbox/index.htm War on the Wharfies - Radical Tradition, an Aussie History Page http://members.xoom.com/takver/history/index.htm Visit Anarres Books http://www.anarres.org.au
LL:DDV: Discussion on Contemporary Anarchism
Discussion on Contemporary Anarchism Visiting Speaker: Ronald Creagh Emeritus Professor at Universite Paul Valery, Montpellier, France Director of the Centre for Information and Research on North American Cultures (CIRCAN) Moderator of the Research on Anarchism Email List. Where: Barricade InfoShop 115 Sydney Road Brunswick, Melbourne Tel: 9387 6646 When: Saturday 29 January 2000 7.00pm Vegetarian Food provided Entry by Donation Ronald Creagh will also be interviewed on 'The Anarchist World this week' on community radio 3CR 10.30am Wednesday 2 February 2000 Sponsored by: Barricade Books, 115 Sydney Road, Brunswick. Tel: 9387 6646 http://www.anarki.net/barricade/index.html Anarchist Media Institute, P.O. Box 20, Parkville 3052 Tel: 9828 2856 http://www.vicnet.net.au/~anarchist/ Anarres Books, http://www.anarres.org.au Takver's Initiatives, http://www.takver.com -- Leftlink - Australia's Broad Left Mailing List mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.alexia.net.au/~www/mhutton/index.html Sponsored by Melbourne's New International Bookshop Subscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=subscribe%20leftlink Unsubscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=unsubscribe%20leftlink
LL:URL:Radical Tradition and Labour History
The Radical Tradition site has been restructured and includes several new items: Foremost of these new items are essays by Bob James on Labour History. The essays raise questions on the focus of Labour History, and the writing of history to eliminate people and organisations which don't fit in to the official 'Labour History' model. Although the focus of research is Australian based, the arguments draw on much material from Britain and North America, and from Europe. Bob argues that anarchists, women, and a whole range of working peoples organisations have been effectively ignored in the writing of Labour History. Recent additions to the site include: Secret Societies and the Labour MovementBob James The Knights of Labour and their contextBob James Display of Secret Society ParaphenaliaLabour History Conference, Wollongong, October 1999 Seachange: An essay on Maritime HistoryRowan Cahill The Tragedy of Labour History in Australia.Bob James Chrysler Factory at Tonsley Park (Adelaide) 1976-1978... 'Anatomy of an Industrial Struggle' by Garry Hill Anarchism in Sydney 1975-1981' Reprint of John Englart's 'A Short History of recent Sydney and Australian Anarchism' Visit the site at: http://members.xoom.com/takver/history/index.htm Through studying the lessons of the past, Radical Tradition works for the creation of social and political structures which allow all people equal decision making power and equal access to society's wealth. -- Takver -- Leftlink - Australia's Broad Left Mailing List mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.alexia.net.au/~www/mhutton/index.html Sponsored by Melbourne's New International Bookshop Subscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=subscribe%20leftlink Unsubscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=unsubscribe%20leftlink
LL:ART: Allan Nairn's Arrest in East Timor
neral Tanjung and General Wiranto. I do not think that I am a threat to the Indonesian or Timorese people, but I hope that I am a threat to General Wiranto and General Tanjung, and the other present and former leaders of the TNI/ABRI. I believe that they feel threatened by anyone who would expose their crimes. General Wiranto and Generals Bambang, Zacky, Syafei, Kiki, and many others, for example, are responsible for the current militia terror in occupied East Timor and for the increase in repression against the people of Aceh. This is no secret to the people of Timor or to the people of Indonesia or Aceh. They have suffered for decades under the repression and corruption of TNI/ABRI.vMany brave Indonesians, Timorese, Acehnese, and West Papuans have been killed, arrested, tortured or raped because they dared to criticize the army and demand their right to freedom. As a foreigner and a journalist, particularly an American journalist, I know that I enjoy a certain de facto political leeway that enables me to say things that local people would be killed for saying. I have tried to use that privilege to tell the truth about TNI/ABRI. If, because of this, the army feels they must arrest or jail me, then I know that there is nothing I can do to stop them. But they know that they cannot arrest or kill all the people of Indonesia. That is why they are now so fearful, and that is why I believe they will lose their desperate struggle to retain their hold on power and their police state. During my most recent detention, I have been interrogated by officials from army Intel, police Intel, Kopassus Group 5, and many other units. They have asked me many questions about my political motives and opinions. I would summarize my opinions this way: I am pro human rights, pro democracy, and anti TNI/ABRI. I am a supporter of the people of East Timor, Aceh, West Papua, and Indonesia, and an opponent of the officials who have repressed and exploited them. As an American citizen who is visiting Indonesia and occupied East Timor, I also want to be clear that I believe in even-handedness. The same political, moral and legal standards that are applied to TNI/ABRI officers should also be applied to the officers and political leaders of the United States. So while I support the UN Secretary-General's call for war crimes and crimes against humanity prosecution on East Timor, I think that the prosecution should not be limited to Indonesian officials. Foreign officials who were accomplices to atrocities in East Timor, and provided both murder weapons and the logistics of repression should also be charged, prosecuted and if convicted, jailed. Pragmatically, it is hard to imagine General Wiranto sitting in jail. It is even harder to imagine President Clinton as his cellmate. But justice should be impartial. It is time for the genocide to end. Untold thousands of Timorese lie slaughtered. Their families are bereft. The victims of Santa Cruz, Liquica, and Suai can no longer speak. Those of us who can should insist that the killing stop right now. And we should also insist that the killers face justice, regardless of who they are. These same principles apply of course to atrocities everywhere. I think that this is a simple idea and that most people would agree. If General Wiranto or any other officials have further questions about my views, I would be glad to answer them personally at a time and place of their choosing. I would also be glad to give details on the crimes referred to above, and on the complicity in them of General Wiranto and other officials. -- Takver Takver's Soapbox: http://www.users.bigpond.com/Takver/soapbox/index.htm -- Leftlink - Australia's Broad Left Mailing List mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.alexia.net.au/~www/mhutton/index.html Sponsored by Melbourne's New International Bookshop Subscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=subscribe%20leftlink Unsubscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=unsubscribe%20leftlink
LL:DDV: Picket for Public Health Wed 15/9/99
*** Picket for Public Health * 12.30pm Wednesday 15 September Outside Victorian Minister of Health, Rob Knowles Office 555 Collins Street, Melbourne All welcome Return the funding to our health services Money for Healthcare not casinos Organised by Save our Community Medical Service * Public Meeting ** to discuss proposals for the medical service at Moreland Community Health Centre 7.15pm Tuesday 28 September Brunswick Town Hall, Sydney Road, Brunswick What kind of medical service do you want? Visit our webpage to read our Community/consumer criteria for a community medical service. Save Our Community Medical Service http://www.users.bigpond.com/Takver/soapbox/jul99.htm -- Takver Takver's Soapbox: http://www.users.bigpond.com/Takver/soapbox/index.htm Leftlink - Australia's Broad Left Mailing List mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.alexia.net.au/~www/mhutton/index.html Sponsored by Melbourne's New International Bookshop Subscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=subscribe%20leftlink Unsubscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=unsubscribe%20leftlink
LL:DD: Australian Teachers protest on East Timor
The 300 strong NSWTF Council on 11/9/99 carried astrong condemnation of the situation in East Timor.An attempt will be made to hold a 2 minutes of silence at 11am Tuesday14th in all Gov Schools Australia wide. Students are urged to write letters to appropriate world leaders.Teachers are urged to contribute to the APHEDA fund john Hennessy <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sydney, nsw Australia - Saturday, September 11, 1999 at 20:23:11 (EDT) Above information from the www.freetimor.com Guestbook http://209.238.28.114/guestbook/guestbook.html -- Takver Takver's Soapbox: http://www.users.bigpond.com/Takver/soapbox/index.htm Leftlink - Australia's Broad Left Mailing List mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.alexia.net.au/~www/mhutton/index.html Sponsored by Melbourne's New International Bookshop Subscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=subscribe%20leftlink Unsubscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=unsubscribe%20leftlink
LL:AA: Closure of Community Medical Service
Board Rescinds Closure Motion... Local Community wins a victory 20 July 1999Report by Takver At its monthly meeting, the Board of the Moreland Community Health Service decided to rescind its decision to close the medical service. More than 40 members of the community were present at the announcement of the decision. This followed an hour of public discussion between the board and concerned members of the community and an hour of private discussion by the board. A community campaign had built momentum with a 10 day community picket, a well attended public meeting on July 7 of more than 300 people which passed resolutions unanimously to maintain the medical service, and the establishment of weekly meetings of Save Our Community Medical Service. It is now important for the community and the Board to work together to find solutions and find a way to keep and expand our community medical service. The Service is presently looking for another doctor. The Save Our Community Medical Service will continue to meet weekly on Tuesdays at 7.00pm at Warr Park Community Centre, DeCarle St, Brunswick, and will hear weekly reports from our representatives on the working party. All welcome. We are also organising public rallies on community health funding, and will be trying to organise a delegation to the State and Federal Health Ministers. This is a significant victory for the Moreland Community. Now we have an opportunity to find a way to keep our medical service open and to take up funding issues with the State and Federal Government. -- Takver Takver's Soapbox: http://www.users.bigpond.com/Takver/soapbox/index.htm War on the Wharfies - Radical Tradition, an Aussie History Page http://members.xoom.com/takver/history/index.htm Visit the People's Justice Alliance: http://home.vicnet.net.au/~pjan/ -- Leftlink - Australia's Broad Left Mailing List mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.alexia.net.au/~www/mhutton/index.html Sponsored by Melbourne's New International Bookshop Subscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=subscribe%20leftlink Unsubscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=unsubscribe%20leftlink
LL:DDV: Closure of Community Medical Service
Melbourne: The Save Our Community Medical Service Committee has organised the first of a series of weekly campaign meetings for anyone to attend who is interested in saving our community medical service at the Moreland Community Health Centre. The meeting has been organised for: Tuesday, 13th July at 7.00pm Warr Park Community Centre, De Carle Street, Brunswick. Then every week from Tuesday the 27th July at the Warr Park Community Centre. For more information contact Brunswick Progress Association on (03) 9380 4463 or Community Health Action Group on (03) 9386 2082 or Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For your information - the following report of the public meeting on last Wednesday night at the Brunswick Town Hall has been loaded to the Save our Community Medical Service Webpage at: http://www.users.bigpond.com/Takver/soapbox/jul99.htm Thursday 8th July 1999: Meeting of Moreland Residents Protests against closure of community medical service On a cold wintery night a meeting of over 300 angry residents at the Brunswick Town Hall protested against the decision to close the Brunswick Community Health Centre Medical Service. Several moving statements were made describing the importance and the usefulness of the service, and the necessity for its continuation. Helen Lee, the person who initiated the community picket outside the Health Centre for the previous 10 days, presented CEO Philip Moran with a petition signed by more than 1,700 residents (more signatures were still being collected at the back of the hall). A number of motions were carried unanimously, including a motion that the Board of Management at its next meeting rescind its decision to close the medical service, and to setup an independant working party to include representatives of Council and the Save Our Community Medical Service Committee, to look at creative solutions for maintaining the medical service. Further motions endorsed a joint delegation of the Moreland Community Health Centre Board, the City of Moreland and the Save our Community Medical Service Committee to both the Federal and State Health ministers seeking funding and support to enable continuation and expansion of the community medical health service model. It was also seen as very important that the Community Health Centre involve the community much more in what services are provided and how they are provided. Originally community involvement was an important attribute of the centre which has been steadily diminishing over several years. The fact that the local community no longer selects a Committee of Management, but has a Board appointed by the State Minister has substantially contributed to the feeling of community disempowerment. It was announced at the meeting that the Economics columnist, Kenneth Davidson, had agreed to examine the past few years accounts of the Health centre. This independant examination is important to reassure the community that the Health Centre finances are being properly managed. One of the doctors employed by the service raised the issue of a lack of consultation and cooperation between Management and the doctors. In the past year three female doctors have left the service (two of these doctors attended the meeting), which has precipitated a staffing crisis. The problem of staff consultation and a suitable working environment must be addressed by management. The meeting was attended by Carlo Carli, State Member for Coburg, who offered his assistance in finding a creative solution for the continuation of the Medical Service. Kelvin Thompson, Federal Member for Wills, was also in attendance, while Lindsay Tanner, Member for Melbourne, Jenny Macklin, Federal Shadow Health Minister, and John Thwaites, State Shadow Health Minister sent their apologies. Kelvin Thomson has circulated a letter he has sent to Federal Health Minister Michael Wooldridge on the closure of the medical service and asking "advice about what can be done to help the MCHC continue to provide its quality service." Jenny Macklin, Federal Shadow Minister for Health, has sent out a media release on 6th July to tighten up over-servicing rules for Medicare rebates for Doctors. This obviously needs to be done to reduce the abuse by some doctors of the medicare system by pushing through as many patients as possible. Jenny Macklin said "more than 100 doctors are believed to charge Medicare for more than 80 consultations a dayThis exceeds a reasonable level and it puts at risk the quality of patient care." However, our community Health Centre has the opposite problem - our doctors often need long consultations with clients with complex medical problems, which means while the quality of medical care is high, the income rebate from medicare is proportionally low. The medicare rebate discriminates against Medical Practices which bulk bill and provide quality medical care to a client base wi
LL:REMV: Protest against closure of community medical service
Moreland Community Health Centre Medical Service is being closed! Protests have won a Public Meeting about the Medical Service organised by the Health Centre for When: Wednesday 7 July at 7.00pm Where:Brunswick Town Hall, Sydney Road, Brunswick The Picket outside Moreland Community Health Centre in Glenlyon Road, Brunswick (near Sydney Road) will continue to 3pm on Wednesday. There is a lot of community concern and outrage with the decision to close the Community Health Center Medical Service. Well over a thousand signatures on the petition have been collected in just a week. The petition will be presented at the meeting! This is an important opportunity to get more information about the situation and an opportunity to raise your concerns. If you live or work in Moreland, or you are client of the Health Centre, please come along. Thanks to Lindsay Tanner, Federal MP for Melbourne, the only elected representative for the area to issue a media release about the closure and take a public stand on 1. 'the Board should reconsider its decision to cut medical services' and 2. public & media representations on the issues of public funding of community health. I have not seen or heard of any public statement from the offices of Kelvin Thompson, Federal MP for Wills, or Carlo Carli, State Member for Coburg. See the background info on my website for Lindsay Tanner's Media Release, plus a reply to correspondence Carlo Carli sent to a constituent about the issues. Also other documents at: http://www.users.bigpond.com/Takver/soapbox/index.htm -- Takver Takver's Soapbox: http://www.users.bigpond.com/Takver/soapbox/index.htm War on the Wharfies - Radical Tradition, an Aussie History Page http://members.xoom.com/takver/history/index.htm Visit the People's Justice Alliance: http://home.vicnet.net.au/~pjan/ LL.VG Leftlink - Australia's Broad Left Mailing List mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.alexia.net.au/~www/mhutton/index.html
LL:DDV: Protest against closure of community medical service
Moreland Community Health Centre Medical Service is being closed! Protests have won a Public Meeting about the Medical Service organised for When: Wednesday 7 July at 7.00pm Where:Brunswick Town Hall, Sydney Road, Brunswick The Picket outside Moreland Community Health Centre in Glenlyon Road, Brunswick (near Sydney Road) has been extended to Friday 2nd July, 9am to 3pm each day. There is a lot of community concern and outrage with the decision to close the Community Health Center Medical Service. Hundreds of signatures on the petition have been collected in just a few days. The protests have succeeded in getting the Community Health Service and Moreland Council to call a Public meeting about the Medical Service. This is an important opportunity to get more information about the situation and an opportunity to raise your concerns. If you live or work in Moreland, or you are client of the Health Centre, please come along. If you wish to help with the picket, or collect signatures on the petition please call Helen on (03) 9386 2082 Copies of the petition for download and some background information can be found at: http://www.users.bigpond.com/Takver/soapbox/index.htm -- Takver Takver's Soapbox: http://www.users.bigpond.com/Takver/soapbox/index.htm War on the Wharfies - Radical Tradition, an Aussie History Page http://members.xoom.com/takver/history/index.htm Visit the People's Justice Alliance: http://home.vicnet.net.au/~pjan/ LL.VG -- Leftlink - Australia's Broad Left Mailing List As vilified, slandered and attacked by One Nation mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.alexia.net.au/~www/mhutton/index.html Sponsored by Melbourne's New International Bookshop Subscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=subscribe%20leftlink Unsubscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=unsubscribe%20leftlink
LL:AA: Protest against closure of community health service
Urgent - Protest against closure of community health service Picket outside Moreland Community Health Centre in Glenlyon Road, Brunswick (near Sydney Road) from Monday 28 June to Thursday 1st July, 9am to 3pm each day. If you can't come to the picket, you can phone fax and email your support for keeping the service to the relevant elected representatives and management. (see details at bottom of message) Why is the Community Health Service in Moreland closing its Medical Service? The Moreland Community Health Centre in Melbourne has decided to close it's Brunswick Medical Service. State Government cuts to funding for Community Health and the Federal Government's policies on Medicare funding have made it difficult to continue the Service. This Medical Service was established in response to community need. Many people in Moreland had complex health needs that were not met by other health services. This has not changed. The Centre was originally controlled by members of the community elected to the Board of Management. A number of years ago, the Victorian Minister of Health changed the relevant legislation and withdrew community control of Community Health Services. The Board of Management has been selected by the Minister and his Department since then. There are 29 unfilled vacancies for Doctors, in private and public practice in the Northern Region. Is the provision of medical services going to depend on where Doctors want to work? One of the reasons the Community Health Service is having difficulty employing Doctors is that they are only able to pay $35 an hour while the private sector is paying $60 an hour. This is possible because of the number of clients seen per hour. The Medicare payment schedule pays more the shorter the consultation: 2 Patients / hour Item 36 = $77.70. 10 Patients / hour Item no 3 =$102.00. Sick people with complex health problems cannot be rushed through in six minutes. Closing the Medical Service may help the Health Centre's budget but it will not fix this problem. Who will care for these people? Closing the Medical Service is not the answer. Unless there are changes to State and Federal Government policy only the rich and the well will get a quality health service. There must be a public meeting to discuss this closure and the provision of medical services in Moreland. Let them know how important a community medical service is. Ring, email or fax: Phillip Moran, Manager, Moreland Community Health Service PH: 9387 6711Fax: 9387 5417 Andrew Rowe, Mayor, Moreland City Council email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Moreland Council: 9240 Kelvin Thompson, Federal Member for Wills [EMAIL PROTECTED] Electoral Office: Ph: 9350 5777 Fax: 9350 6613 Micheal Wooldridge, Federal Minister for Health Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Electoral Office Ph: 9724 9222 Fax: 9724 9220 Carlo Carli, State Member for Coburg Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Electoral Office PH: 9384 1241 Fax: 9384 0481 Rob Knowles, State Minister for Health Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Ministerial Office PH: 9616 8561 Fax: 9616 8566 This information plus more is available at Takver's Soapbox: http://www.users.bigpond.com/Takver/soapbox/index.htm -- Takver Takver's Soapbox: http://www.users.bigpond.com/Takver/soapbox/index.htm War on the Wharfies - Radical Tradition, an Aussie History Page http://members.xoom.com/takver/history/index.htm Visit the People's Justice Alliance: http://home.vicnet.net.au/~pjan/ -- Leftlink - Australia's Broad Left Mailing List mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.alexia.net.au/~www/mhutton/index.html Sponsored by Melbourne's New International Bookshop Subscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=subscribe%20leftlink Unsubscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=unsubscribe%20leftlink
LL:URL:History of Anarchism in Australia
Anarchism in Australia has a history and involvement in the labour movement reaching back to last century. The Melbourne Anarchist Club was formed and first met on May 1st 1886. To commemorate the 113th anniversary I have loaded many articles by and about anarchists in Australia in the 1880s and 1890s. These consist of 'A Reader of Australian Anarchism 1886-1896' edited by Bob James and first published in 1979. Also biographies of J.A. Andrews and Larry Petrie to complement the existing biographies on David Andrade and Chummy Flemmy. This material joins "Anarchism in Australia: An anthology" which covers selections from 1886 to 1986. This book was published in a limited 50 copy edition for the anarchist centenary in 1986. The material can be accessed from: http://members.xoom.com/takver/history/index.htm MayDay greetings & solidarity -- Takver Takver's Soapbox: http://www.users.bigpond.com/Takver/soapbox/index.htm War on the Wharfies - Radical Tradition, an Aussie History Page http://members.xoom.com/takver/history/index.htm Visit the People's Justice Alliance: http://home.vicnet.net.au/~pjan/ Leftlink - Australia's Broad Left Mailing List mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.alexia.net.au/~www/mhutton/index.html Sponsored by Melbourne's New International Bookshop Subscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=subscribe%20leftlink Unsubscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=unsubscribe%20leftlink
LL:URL: The Tragedy Of Labour History in Australia
Now available at: http://www.users.bigpond.com/Takver/history/ The Tragedy of Labour History in Australia.Bob James Anarres Books in Melbourne organised for Bob James to present this talk at the New International Co-Operative Bookshop. Bob presents some provocative facts to challenge the Labour History orthodoxy. Further research into hidden labour history is continuing... European Socialism and the Russian Revolution... Anarchism/Syndicalism.Bob James This is the text of a lecture written and given by Bob James at the University of Newcastle, Australia, around 1995. It is important as it gives some detailed background into the origins of the socialist movement, and the development of statist and libertarian forms of socialism. A Personal Journey Through Anarchism in Australia.Bob James Anarres Books(http://www.anarres.org.au/) in Melbourne organised for Bob James to present this talk at a public meeting organised by the Anarchist Media Institute. It is a personal account of Bob's journey and exploration of anarchism in Australia. Bob James is a labour historian who has done extensive research into the origins of the labour movement in Australia. He has published a number of books and pamphlets detailing the early history of anarchism and the labour movement in Australia. -- Takver Takver's Soapbox: http://www.users.bigpond.com/Takver/soapbox/index.htm War on the Wharfies: http://members.xoom.com/Takver/wharfie/index.htm Visit the People's Justice Alliance: http://home.vicnet.net.au/~pjan/ -- Leftlink - Australia's Broad Left Mailing List mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.alexia.net.au/~www/mhutton/index.html Sponsored by Melbourne's New International Bookshop Subscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=subscribe%20leftlink Unsubscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=unsubscribe%20leftlink
