Reclaim the Night
MELBOURNE — The Reclaim the Night Collective has continued to meet. It is planning a number of activities such as a debate on the way forward for the feminist movement, the traditional rally and march on October 30, and a fundraiser. Fortnightly meetings involve students, working women and unemployed. All women are welcome to attend the meetings at CASA House, 270 Cardigan St, Carlton. The next meeting is on Thursday, July 16, 5.30pm.
Indonesia forum
CANBERRA — On June 23, students of Narrabundah secondary college participated in a forum on the democracy movement in Indonesia and the campaign to release political prisoners. As part of the event, students wrote an open letter to jailed trade union leader and People's Democratic Party activist Dita Sari.
Forum organiser and Resistance activist Justine Kamprad said: "The success of the forum indicates there's a lot of potential for this campaign on high schools and secondary colleges. Students feel real sympathy with young people in Indonesia, and are starting to think about what concrete solidarity they can offer."
Meeting opposes Fitzroy River dam
CANBERRA — On June 24, 90 people heard Greens Senator Bob Brown speak on the Aboriginal and natural heritage of the Fitzroy River in the Kimberley region of WA. The river is threatened by a proposed private project for a 100-metre high dam to divert water for cotton growing.
The dam will flood 50 kilometres of the river valley, including gorges, Aboriginal burial sites and rock paintings, and native flora and fauna habitats. The local Aboriginal people have been evicted by force from the region but intend to return. The federal government and Labor opposition's support for restriction of native title threatens their right to the land.
Anti-Hanson speak-out
WOLLONGONG — A speak-out against Pauline Hanson's One Nation party was held in Wollongong mall on June 20. Dr Margaret Perrott, the Democratic Socialists' candidate in the federal seat of Cunningham, spoke about the need to build a real alternative to the Labor-Liberal duopoly in Australia.
The Democratic Socialists and the youth organisation Resistance plan to organise more speak-outs, public meetings and protest actions in Wollongong, including a high-school student walkout on July 24. To get involved, phone (02) 4226 2010.
Save Chullora bushland
SYDNEY — A National Rail Corporation development proposal that will decimate what remains of a scarce type of natural habitat at Chullora in Bankstown is being fought by the Cooks River Coalition, which includes the Bankstown Bushland Society. Planned track extensions, which pass through Bankstown, Auburn and Strathfield, will devastate the bushland at Chullora, which is a crucial refuge for native birds in Sydney's metropolitan area. Less than 1% of the original forest remains.
Seven new railway lines and two 116-metre-wide access corridors will be cut through the area, destroying 60% of the bushland. For more information contact Gary Blaschke on 9759 0887.
Candidates condemn racism
SYDNEY — A public meeting titled "How can Hanson be stopped?" at the Resistance Centre on June 25 was addressed by two federal election candidates — Jenny Munro from Broad Alliance and John Percy from the Democratic Socialists.
Munro, an Aboriginal rights activist and chairperson of the Metropolitan Land Council, said the need for a mass campaign against racism was greater now than ever before. She identified the Coalition as the main enemy and described the anger and frustration of those bearing the brunt of the racist attacks. She encouraged anti-racist campaigners to draw the links between racism and uranium mining, the attacks on waterside workers and public service funding cuts.
John Percy, national secretary of the Democratic Socialist Party and the Democratic Socialists' candidate for the seat of Sydney, said the Queensland election result reflected the disillusionment with the two major parties and the failure of economic rationalist programs to offer anything but hardship to the majority of working people. One Nation's boost in support was a product of the racism fostered by the Liberal and Labor parties, which blame migrants and Aboriginal people for problems inherent in capitalist society, he added.
Royal Prince Alfred nurses stop work
SYDNEY — NSW Nurses Association members at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital held a two-hour stop-work rally on June 24. More than 100 hospital staff protested against the federal government's funding cuts, which may lead to 200 job losses and the closure of the Queen Mary Building which provides cheap accommodation for nurses from rural areas.
The rally heard that the person in charge of a critical care ward will now be assigned a patient load, making them less available to nurses in crisis situations. Nurses have already refused to take new patients in their wards because they cannot assure their safety. The cuts will also mean that ancillary staff, such as ward clerks and cleaners, will not be replaced when sick or on leave, forcing nurses to do this work.
The rally voted to consider further industrial action at a July 1 branch meeting.