Bankstown against the war
BY ANDY GIANNIOTIS
SYDNEY — On March 2, 70 people gathered in the Bankstown City Gardens for a "Peace Picnic". Local anti-war activists used the get-together to form the Canterbury-Bankstown Peace Group.
Following a halal sausage sizzle provided by the Lebanese Muslim Association, Bankstown City Mayor Helen Westwood welcomed people to the park.
Greens candidate for Lakemba Bashir Sawalha said that the invasion of Iraq was all about oil, and a UN Security Council motion endorsing it would not make it any less wrong.
Federal Labor MP Alan Ashton also expressed his personal opposition to the war under any circumstances. In sharp contrast, state Labor member for Bankstown Tony Stewart did not even respond to an invitation to come to the picnic.
Sam Wainwright, the Socialist Alliance candidate for Bankstown, reminded everyone that, although Sydney had seen a massive demonstration on February 16 , it would take more than one demonstration to force the government to retreat from its war plans.
Kuranda Seyfit from the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils called on Muslims to "vote with your heads, not the way your parents voted". He said that ALP had taken the Muslim vote for granted and that the only candidates that were taking a decent stand against the war were the Greens, the Socialist Alliance and a number of independents.
To contact the Canterbury-Bankstown Peace Group, phone Raul on 0403 037 376, on Bashir 0413 859 060 or Marlene on 0401 758 871.
Thousands return anti-terror kits
Tens of thousands of the federal government's "anti-terror kits" are piling up in post offices across Australia after being marked "return to sender" by their recipients.
The postal workers' union told the March 4 Adelaide Advertiser that 12,000 kits returned from South Australia and 4000 from Tasmania had been counted.
In Queensland, the returned packs are piling up uncounted, while in NSW and Canberra tens of thousands have been put aside after being returned. However, thousands more have been destroyed as unsolicited junk mail.
The Communications, Electrical and Plumbing Union's Noel Paul said the returns were a strong rebuke to the government's handling of the terrorism threat and impending war with Iraq.
Public servants oppose the war
BY PAUL OBOOHOV
CANBERRA — On February 27, the Public Servants Against War (PSAW) group was formed. A lunchtime information meeting on March 5 in Tuggeranong attracted 14 people.
"We want to deepen the level of commitment and involvement of public servants in the anti-war movement, through workplace meetings, discussion and debate, participation in demonstrations and hopefully industrial action", PSAW activist Andrew Hall said.
PSAW activists are disappointed at their union's weak response to the federal government's support for a war on Iraq. The Community and Public Sector Union national council has adopted a position expressing "support for our members in fulfilling their duties as public servants".
"If we are to pose a serious challenge to the war drive, we need people to take collective action that will impact upon corporate and political leaders. The unions should organise industrial action if bombing escalates and place bans on all paperwork related to military activity or the government's war policy", said Hall.
PSAW is organising a series of lunchtime meetings over coming weeks in Civic, Braddon, Woden, Barton and Belconnen. For more information phone Andrew on 0438 624 744 or email <pssaynowar@yahoo.com.au>.
Multicultural picnic for peace
BY RAY FULCHER
MELBOURNE — Despite hail, freezing winds and rain, more than 400 people attended a multicultural picnic for peace in the Yarraville gardens on March 1. Organised by the Western Suburbs Peace Group, the picnickers heard speakers from diverse backgrounds condemn the coming US-led war on Iraq. Speakers from the Electrical Trades Union and Australian Education Union highlighted the need for unions to take a strong stand against the war. Participants were also entertained by a range of performers, including the Multicultural Choir and a group of young Palestinian dancers. To contact the Western Suburbs Peace Group, phone on Shirley Winton on 0417 456 001.
Local peace festivals
BY BARBARA TATE
SYDNEY — The Marrickville and Newtown community peace groups will hold a peace festival on March 16, from 11am, at Enmore Park. There will be speakers and entertainment. Participants will be encouraged to "picnic for peace".
Newtown residents will assemble at Hollis Park, in Georgina Street, and march down King Street and Enmore Road to the festival. Marrickville marchers will leave for the festival from Post Office Square, Marrickville, at 11am.
In Balmain, a peace festival will be held from 3pm, March 15, at Gladstone Park, opposite the Balmain markets. It is organised by Leichhardt Stop the War Group. There will be speeches at Balmain Town Hall at 2pm before a short march to Gladstone Park.
Phone 0410 629088, 0418 668098 or 0418 290663 for information about the Balmain event. Phone Minh on 9569 2810 or Barbara on 8505 3002 about the Marrickville festival. Visit .
Bega business refuses to fund war
BY JENNY SPINKS
BEGA, NSW — Staff and partners of Candelo Bulk Wholefoods in Bega have decided to withhold 10% of their taxes if John Howard supports US President George Bush's attack on Iraq. The 10% figure is based on the fact that about 10% of Australia's budget goes to the military.
Instead of paying the money to the government, Candelo staff and partners will be donating it to the Bega Valley Rural Australians for Refugees. This is in recognition that the war will create as many as 950,000 refugees, according to United Nations estimates.
Candelo Bulk Wholefoods are encouraging other individuals and businesses to do the same.
From 91×ÔÅÄÂÛ̳ Weekly, March 12, 2003.
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