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  Issue No 117 Official Organ of LaborNet 26 October 2001  

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Activists Notebook


All the latest details on actions, workshops and conferences for anyone interested in labour politics.

Picnic for Peace

Sunday 28th October from Midday

Overflow Park at Sydney Olympic Park, Homebush

What's On: Live music and entertainment, food stalls, speakers and activities for all the family

You will hear speakers talk about the next step for diversity, peace, refugee rights and reconciliation.

Let's send the political parties a powerful message that Australian's do support the international Human Rights system and want to end punitive and discriminatory immigration and social policies.

As a gesture of peace bring or wear something white as a sign of solidarity for refugee and indigenous rights. BYO chair, hat, picnic and friends.

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CONCERT AGAINST RACISM

Addison Road Centre for Arts Culture Community + Environment presents - CONCERT AGAINST RACISM

All proceeds go to the Refugee Council of Australia

Fri 2 Nov, 7:30 pm, Addison Road Centre, 142 Addison Rd Marrickville

nfo: 9569 7633

Geng Gong /Vangelis Papageorgiou & Annette Tesoriero/ Ustad Sarshar/ Voices From The Vacant Lot/

Shohrat Tursun/ Entehkni/ George Doukas & Friends/ And Others..

Bar/Food Raffles/ Art Auction $15 / $10

Proudly sponsered by: Sidetrack Performance Group, Marrickville Council, Greek Orthodox Community of NSW,

Construction Forestry Mining Energy Union (CFMEU), & Addison Road Centre

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REVERSE GARBAGE: 25 YEARS OF FUNKY JUNK AND RE-USE

Australia's first re-use centre, Reverse Garbage, has been saving junk and industrial discards from going to the tip for 25 years. Reverse Garbage trucks are a regular sight Sydney wide, picking up industry offcuts, and bits and pieces of all shapes, sizes, colours, and molecular make-up.

Over 8000 cubic meters of waste per year has been saved from landfill, and been used instead by Reverse Garbage customers to make and create art, craft, props, furniture, clothing and house & office renovations.

Reverse Garbage Co-operative Ltd. was started in 1976 by a group of primary teachers who were concerned by the amount of waste going to landfill and the need for a centralised supply of cheap, useful art and craft materials.

From an initial seeding grant from the Department of Urban Affairs and Planning Area Assistance Scheme Reverse Garbage has developed into a community business with independent and sustainable trading operations, generating all it's own income through resource reuse trading, education and consulting activities.

Over the years Reverse Garbage has undertaken a variety of waste minimisation, cultural and educational projects in collaboration with organisations such as the Australia Council, NSW Department of Community Services, NSW Environment Protection Authority and the Environmental Education Trust and regional Waste Boards.

They also conduct an Environmental Education Program for schools, Creative Recycling Workshops at major community events, Waste Education campaigns for Local Councils, and Waste Reduction Projects for local Councils, the Environmental Protection Authority and the former regional Waste Boards(now Resource NSW).

Current initiatives include the Office Re-use Scheme which is being trialled with the co-operation of Australia Square management in the Sydney CBD. Old office equipment, disused stationary and other items from over 50 floors of offices will be collected and sold at the Reverse Garbage warehouses.

Reverse Garbage has two warehouses in Sydney; in the Addison Road Centre at Marrickville and in the Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre.

As the largest and oldest creative re-use centre in Australia, with a proven commitment to community and environmental benefit, Reverse Garbage has been instrumental in the creation of other re-use centres Australia wide, such as R& R Recycling in the Hunter region, & Illawarra Revolve.

Staff member Belinda Masi says 'The diversity of customers we have is truly amazing; from the handyman building special tap handles for his disabled wife, to partygoers making Sleaze costumes, to artists, designers and mad inventors. Everyone gets so excited with all the weird and useful stuff we get in here, and it ALL gets sold.'

Reverse Garbage is holding two special birthday events to celebrate their 25 years of operation.

Junk Love-The Exhibition, displaying re-use art and sustainable design, opens on Tuesday 13th November at 6pm and runs through until Thursday 22nd (Entries for the Junk Love competition are open until Nov 5th); & Love Trash-The Party, on Sunday 25th of November from 11am to 5pm, hosting a day of music, activities, art, and a giant birthday cake. Both events will take place at the Addison Road Centre, 142 Addison Road Marrickville.

Reverse Garbage is open from 9am to 5pm Monday to Saturday, and from 11am to 3pm on Sundays. Members receive special discounts but the warehouse is open to all. For further information call Reverse Garbage on 02 9569 3132.

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Political Economy Courses at Sydney University

Union members and activists wanting to come to grips with the economic orthodoxies that bombard us daily will find excellent alternatives supplied by the courses presented at Sydney University by the Political Economy Group. They are an ideal antidote to the nostrums of the Economically Correct.

The course modules of study on political economy subjects are on in the evenings. These modules are the components of degree programs, but they are available on a stand-alone basis. It is possible for people to enrol on a one-off basis in units that are of interest to them and could help them in their work activities.

The Political Economy group have been teaching economics from a progressive perspective for over 25 years. This is especially important at a time when economic ideas have been adopted uncritically, with detrimental effects on people's livelihoods.

The units available in 2002 are:

First Semester (week beginning 4 March to week ending 14 June)

� Core Concepts in Political Economy [ECOP 6101]; Mondays 6-9pm

� Environmental and Ecological Economic Management [ECOP 6108]; Tuesdays 6-9pm

Second Semester (week beginning 29 July to week ending 8 November)

� Policy Documents and their Analysis [ECOP 6102]; Mondays 6-9pm

� Developments in Infrastructure Provision [ECOP 6109]; Tuesday 6-9pm

Core Concepts in Political Economy [ECOP 6101]

This core unit introduces a basic analytical framework for a 'political economy' perspective on current economic and social issues. Core concepts introduced include the accumulation process and economic crisis, the labour process, the role of the state, and the duality of nation state and global economy. The unit is concerned with the relationship between economy and society - the general character of the capitalist economy and how 'markets', state, class and ideology interact in shaping its social order. The perspective is enhanced through case studies of key current economic 'problems'.

Policy Documents and their Analysis [ECOP 6102]

The unit examines economic policy-making by a novel route. It provides a vehicle to understand the context in which economic issues are confronted by policy-makers and advisers, and the context of the development of economic policy itself. The unit examines the policy-making process by examining representative policy documents for what they expose about the policy process - the economic dilemmas that the documents confront; the underlying philosophical principles and conceptual apparatus; the language of persuasion; the mediums for influence; the role of 'committees of inquiry'; and so on. The unit will also address economic issues raised by participants, issues that arise within the arena in which they are employed and embodied in particular documents on which their particular professional expertise is relevant.

Environmental and Ecological Economic Management [ECOP 6108]

The objectives are to understand the parameters that define the management of material interactions within ecological systems; to focus on the formulation of policy and management strategies for sustainable development in particular sectors; and to develop a critical appreciation of the systemic nature of the pressures imposed on environmental/ecological systems. The unit will provide an overview of revisions within the general field of environmental economic theory, as a prelude to the consideration of ecological economic perspectives. The different tendencies that inform environmental economic management will be broached through an examination of particular problem areas. Drawing on environmental assessments and management processes at various levels of government, there will be a scrutiny of the relative merits and weaknesses of management techniques and strategies advanced by traditional environmental economic theory and by ecological economists.

Developments in Infrastructure Provision [ECOP 6109]

The 1970s witnessed dramatic changes in policy rationales for state involvement in economic affairs. This unit explores the theoretical rationales for these policy changes, their origins and the results. Issues to be explored include: the role accorded to state assets in the Australian colonies prior to federation and the extension of this tradition into twentieth century Australia; features of Australian state asset management peculiar to Australia; the rise of the 'new' theories behind the breakdown of the consensus on state-owned infrastructure in the 1970s; the 'revolution' in Australian public infrastructure management during the 1980s and '90s; and the difference between privatisation and corporatisation. Case studies from the last 20 years of Australian economic and public policy history will provide detail on the impact of changes in economic and policy fashion. The unit will discuss strategies to deal with issues arising from corporatisation and privatisation.

Administrative Details

� The fee for each unit of study is $900

� Semester 1 runs from week beginning 4 March to week ending 14 June

� Semester 2 runs from week beginning 29 July to week ending 8 November

More Information

Contact Evan Jones

Tel: 9351 6617

Email: [email protected]

Web: http://www.econ.usyd.edu.au/pe/postgrad/MecSS.htm


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*   View entire issue - print all of the articles!

*   Issue 117 contents

In this issue
Features
*  Interview: Brothers In Arms
Labour historian Marilyn Dodkin explains how she exposed ASIO ties with Labor Council's Cold War leadership.
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*  Politics: Defending the Faith
Launching 'Brothers', Premier Bob Carr gave his own take on the allegations that union leaders worked with security agencies during the Cold War.
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*  History: Surviving the Split
In this extract from 'Brothers' Marilyn Dodkin, looks at the manouverings around the establishment of the DLP.
*
*  International: Viral Attack
Postal unions in the USA are mobilizing to protect their members from the widening repercussions of an apparent bio-terrorist attack.
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*  Unions: A Living Wage
The ACTU this week unveiled its claim for the 2002 Living Wage Case. Here's what they'll be arguing.
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*  Campaign Diary: Week Three: Wave Them Goodbye
In a week when our boys and girls went off to war, Labor fought a desperate battle to fight the election on the home front.
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*  Human Rights: Colombia's 'Dirty War' Against Unions
It might be tough being an organiser in Australia under the Howard Government, but spare a thought for Colombian trade unionists.
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*  Review: Red Rag Unfurls
Ian Syson is an upfront, knockabout bloke. He heads up a new, small, independent publishing outfit called Red Rag Publications.
*
*  Satire: New Hope for Labor: Mackerras Tips Liberal Win
The electoral hopes of the Labor party have revived dramatically, after the perennially unreliable analyst Malcolm Mackerras forecast a huge victory for the Liberals.
*

News
»  Unions Call for Air Price Floor
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»  With Friends Like the Banks, Who Needs Kiwis?
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»  Living Wage Claim For GST Rises
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»  New Compo Showdown Looms
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»  NIDA Tax Rorts Embarrass Howard
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»  First Case Under NSW�s New Pay Equity Principle
*
»  Veil of Silence on Public Sector Outsourcing
*
»  False Start for Race Day
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»  Union Proxy Campaign Gets A Boost
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»  Nauru Guards Claim Back-Pay
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»  Unions Await Final Triumph
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»  PM Claims No Aged Care Nursing Home Crisis!
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»  Eighty Woolies Cleaners About To Lose Jobs
*
»  CFMEU Gets Disabled Athlete A Start
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»  Malaysian Solidarity Action in Sydney
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»  Activists Notebook
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Columns
»  The Soapbox
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»  The Locker Room
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»  Trades Hall
*
»  Tool Shed
*

Letters to the editor
»  Super Risks
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»  The Great Orwell Debate Continues ...
*
»  In Defence of Nader
*

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