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Issue No. 256 | 18 March 2005 |
Planet Common Cents
Interview: Dot.Com Workplace: Dirt Cheap Industrial: Daddy Doesn’t Live With Us Anymore Economics: Who's Afraid of the BCA? International: From the Wreckage Politics: Infrastructure Blues History: Meat and Three Veg Savings: Super Seduction Politics: Popping the 'E-Word' Poetry: To Know Somebody Review: Off the Rails
The Soapbox The Locker Room New Matilda Parliament Postcard
Fabulous Fan Mail Skilled Tools Nelson ‘Solves’ Skills Crisis Loyalty Nonsense
Labor Council of NSW |
Activists Activist’s What’s On!
Anti-war action in Sydney, and global, this weekend March 20 Parramatta - 2pm, Palm Sunday rally and march for peace and justice for the Iraqi people. Prince Alfred Park, cnr Church St and Victoria Rd, servcie and multi-faith prayers for peace. March at 2.40pm to Parramatta town Square. Speakers: Bishop Kevin Manning, Doug Cameron (ACTU), Prof Stuart Rees (Sydney Unio Centre for Peace & Conflict Studies); Mr Fayez Lababedi (Arab Council Australia); Rose Jackson (Sydney Uni SRC). Performance: Susan Andres & Shimmer, Urban Guerrillas. MC Genevieve Lemon. Organised by Sydney Peace & Justice Coalition (http://www.nswpeace.org)
Sydney City - noon, Hyde Park North. Speakers: John Pilger, Senator Kerry Nettle (Greens); Kaysar Trad. March to Belmore Park. Organised by Stop The War Coalition.
This coming weekend will mark two years since the U.S.-led bombing and invasion of Iraq began. No weapons of mass destruction were ever found; no compelling reason for the war was ever given. Yet more than 1500 U.S. soldiers have been killed, more than 11,000 wounded; 100,000 Iraqis are dead, and the country remains gripped by horrifying violence, with no end in sight.
Despite saying Australia would not increase its presence in Iraq after the invasion was over, Prime Minister Howard announced a month ago that an extra 450 soldiers will be sent to southern Iraq to replace the 1200-strong Dutch force that has been withdrawn.
This is a political deployment, aimed at Australia's relations with the Bush Administration and the Japanese government, not the best interests of the Iraqi people. Global actions against the war All over the United States, and all around the world, people will be converging through the March 18-20 weekend to protest the war and occupation, mourn the losses, and demand immediate U.S. withdrawal from Iraq. More than 365 activities in at least 45 states are already listed on our calendar at http://www.unitedforpeace.org The March 18-20 weekend will feature an array of vibrant events ranging from marches and rallies to silent vigils, civil disobedience actions, interfaith services, musical and theatre performances, and art exhibits. Events will take place on main streets and courthouse squares, alongside highways and bridges, in public parks and in front of military recruiting stations, at statehouses and Congressional offices. Some examples: · Marches, rallies, vigils, and nonviolent civil disobedience actions in Juneau, AK; Atlanta, GA; Wilmington, DE; Appleton, WI; Springfield, MO; Amarillo, TX; and elsewhere, with many of them focused on military recruitment centers. · Interfaith memorial services in Des Moines, IA; Chicago, IL; New York, NY; Portland, OR; and elsewhere. These are being organized in sync with a call by Clergy and Laity Concerned about Iraq, a new UFPJ-supported initiative. · A major regional mobilization in Fayetteville, NC, home to Fort Bragg. With military families and veterans at the center of the organizing, this will be a powerful and historic protest. Activists from as far north as Minnesota and as far south as Florida are organizing buses to attend this event. For more information, visit the website of the North Carolina Peace and Justice Coalition, http://www.ncpeacejustice.org After two years of pointless and costly war, the anti-war movement is more determined than ever. And with increased organizing by military families, veterans, faith-based communities, and young people who are resisting predatory military recruiters, the movement is growing broader and more diverse each day. Join us in taking action this weekend to bring the troop home now! GLOBAL DAY OF ACTION SUNDAY 20th MARCH 12 NOON AT TERRIGAL SKILLION BRING : * PICNIC LUNCH * WATER * UMBRELLAS * RUGS and a spare blanket or length of cloth with which we will form the word NO as a giant 'patchwork'. * WEAR A WHITE RIBBON [ white ribbons are a symbol of our grief for all those killed in Iraq and our desire for the war to end. White is the symbol for peace in many countries around the world and the symbol of mourning in others.] NO war NO erosion of human rights NO troops in Iraq NO Australians in Guantanamo Bay NO mandatory detention NO forced deportations NO deaths in custody "Measuring Social Results" NCOSS is holding a half day seminar to look at how the social impact of Government and Corporate performance is, or should be, measured. When: 9am to 1pm, Monday 21st March Where: Sydney School of Mechanics and Arts, level 1, 280 Pitt St, Sydney Cost: $80 ($50 for NCOSS members) further info: www.ncoss.org.au Sydney: Is Government Delivering a Livable City? What sort of city should Sydney be? What challenges does it face? And is Sydney a sustainable and livable city? The NSW Fabian Society is conducting this seminar with: Craig Knowles (Minister for Infrastructure & Planning) Julia Finn (Lord Mayor of Parramatta) Professor Peter Newman (Murdoch University) The seminar will be chaired by Sean Kidney, Executive Member of the NSW Fabian Society. When: Wednesday 23 March from 6.00pm - 7.30pm Where: Theatrette, NSW Parliament House, Macquarie Street, Sydney Cost: Free Watson Remembered
The Sydney Branch of the Australian Society for the Study of Labour History in association with the Business and Labour History Group, School of Business, Sydney University, will present Ross McMullin speaking on "Chris Watson and the World's First National Labour Government", the subject of his recent acclaimed book (2004). Ross will look at the astonishing press abuse this government received, and examine its record, achievements and its place in history. Wednsday March 23, 6pm, ACIRRT Training Room, Institute Building, University of Sydney. Admission Free. For furter details contact Rowan Cahill (02) 48 612323 or The controversy of one man - Kisch in Australia When Czech journalist and peace campaigner Egon Erwin Kisch (1885-1948), came to Australia in November 1934, he challenged a conservative Lyons government, caused a media sensation and won the hearts of many Australians. The renowned political activist will be remembered in a new exhibition - Kisch in Australia - opening at the State Library of NSW on 14 February 2005.
The exhibition tells the story of the man who publicly defied the government's ban on his entry to Australia by jumping overboard at Port Melbourne (breaking his leg) in his determination to reach the Australian public with his message of anti-Fascism. According to State Librarian & Chief Executive Dagmar Schmidmaier AM: "The fascinating story of this extraordinary man will be brought to life through original items from the Library's renowned collection, including Kisch's hand-written notes used in his public speeches." The exhibition panels also include newspaper reports of the controversy surrounding his arrival, rare protest posters campaigning for Kisch's release and letters written in defence of Kisch's freedom. Dr Heidi Zogbaum, author of the recently published Kisch in Australia: The untold story (Scribe, 2004) said, "Kisch had the ability to give rousing speeches with limited English and drew enthusiastic crowds wherever he went." "Kisch was convinced that his ban was the result of Nazi pressure on the Australian government," said Dr Zogbaum, "but he was quite wrong. The newly appointed Attorney-General, Robert Gordon Menzies had staked his reputation on keeping Kisch out of Australia." After his return to Paris, Kisch worked tirelessly on behalf of his fellow writers who had fallen victim to the Nazi regime. Upon the fall of France in 1940, Kisch managed to escape to Mexico. He returned to Prague in 1946 and died of a massive heart attack in 1948. "The memory of Kisch is kept alive in Germany through the renowned Egon Erwin Kisch Prize for journalism, which honours the "reporter of truth" in a most fitting way," said Dr Roland Goll, Director of the Goethe-Institut, Sydney, who initiated and is supporting the exhibition. Kisch in Australia is a free exhibition in the State Library's Picture Gallery from 14 February - 24 April 2005. It will then travel to the Migration Museum in Adelaide. Community Organising School In light of the re-election of the Federal Liberal Government, reflecting on and increasing our ability to organise and work across movements is vital. We can gain strength if we learn new strategies for working with people from different sectors and experiences. The Community Organising School 2005 is a part of a broader project that seeks to link experienced organisers from a variety of movements, including community organisations, the union movement, environmentalists and social justice movements, to learn together and to build our collective strength. Details of the School The School will be held at Currawong (Pittwater training facility) from Sunday April 3 to Wednesday April 6 2005. It is the first of a variety of cross-movement, capacity building projects to begin in 2005. People attending the School will learn, share and build organising techniques for expanding our capacity and effectiveness for social change in Sydney and NSW. It will run sessions to draw out experiences and lessons on effective organising and social change practices from participants. The School‚s residential accommodation only allows us to provide 40 places and we are aiming to have a very diverse range of participants in the school. For this reason we are asking people to go through a registration process. If your or your organisation is interested in participating in the school, we request that you distribute the attached registration form to individuals in your organisation, or to other organisations that you work with, and encourage them to register for the School. Registrations are due by Friday 11 February. The registration fee for the school will be approximately $300 per person (including three and a half days of training, accommodation and food). However we do not want costs to prevent people from registering. If your organisation cannot afford this cost, please indicate this on the registration form. We are seeking sponsorship from larger organisations to subsidise the costs of others. Please do not see costs as a barrier to attendance. The Community Organising School is the culmination of a year-long discussion between union organisers, community organisations, adult educators and environmentalists. While the School is the first public project, it will be one of many opportunities provided to reflect and learn about community organising. To find out more about the School or to discuss how you can participate in this exciting and timely project feel free to contact either:
Tony Brown, Centre for Popular Education [email protected] Christine Laurence, Western Sydney Community Forum [email protected] 9637 6190 Melanie Gillbank, Search Foundation [email protected] 0403 051 606 Amanda Tattersall, Unions NSW [email protected] 0409 321 133 Community Organising School Committee C/- Centre for Popular Education, UTS PO Box 123 Broadway 2007 ---------------------------------- Community Organising School 3- 6 April 2005 Currawong, Pittwater Aims To increase our ability to organise and work across movements in order to build cross movement collaboration, by: o providing the opportunity for organisers and activists to share their experiences with other organisers and activists working in different fields o identifying differences while examining commonalities and opportunities for working together o learning, sharing and developing organising techniques for expanding our capacity and effectiveness for social change o discussing different approaches to strategic campaigning and community organising The School will draw on the experience, knowledge and expertise of those attending. Are you organising for social and economic change? Concerned at the growing power of employers, the state and big business? Concerned at the state of advocacy and activist groups to influence the agenda? Wanting to turn the tide and re-build grassroots capacity in local communities and the workplace? Wanting to build cross movement collaboration? We are seeking organisers working in/with: social movements, young people, environmental advocacy, resident action trade unions popular arts, cultural development and education migrant communities, community organizing and development organisations student organising who are committed to working for social, economic and environmental justice. What's in it for you? The School will: bring together organisers and activists from across different sites of activism who are focused on developing new ways of working to build strong and effective organizations, enable participants to meet, learn from and work with organisers in different fields of practice, provide an environment where organisers from a range of backgrounds can develop mutual respect, understanding and knowledge, develop networks as a continuing resource of skills, expertise and influence, and challenge you to think and act differently. ________________________________________ The program will run from Sunday afternoon April 3 ˆ Wednesday April 6 2005. The Community Organising School is a residential weekend; applicants must be available to attend the entire event. Union Aid Abroad APHEDA raffle The annual Union Aid Abroad APHEDA raffle is on again. There are wonderful prizes including an around the world trip for two and the proceeds go to UAA-APHEDA's work to help build human rights, workers' rights and justice in developing countries. If you can sell a book of tickets to friends, family and workmates please contact UAA - APHEDA on tel. 1800 888 674 or by email [email protected] The raffle closes on June 2nd with the winner drawn on June 16th.
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