Amy McDonell, 21 (Socialist Alliance Senate candidate in South Australia)
"While I was growing up in rural New South Wales, I spent a lot of time yelling at the television. I was angry at the way billions of people had to suffer because of the greed of corporations and governments, and frustrated - especially as a young woman - because I felt I could do nothing to change the system.
"When I saw the protests against the World Economic Forum in Melbourne in 2000, I felt incredibly inspired by the example of ordinary people standing up to the rich and powerful."
Amy joined the Socialist Alliance in 2001 and has been involved in numerous campaigns, including the anti-war, refugee-rights and women's liberation movements. "I still yell at the TV sometimes, but because of my involvement in the Socialist Alliance, I no longer feel helpless."
Peter Robson, 25 (Socialist Alliance candidate for Newcastle)
Peter started campaigning against racism in 1998 when protests broke out against Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party. In 1999 he helped to organise a high-school walkout against racism in his home town of Gympie in Queensland, and has been an activist ever since. Peter is currently the vice-president of the Newcastle University Students' Association.
"Every day we can see examples where ordinary people can make better decisions than elites and politicians. We, as students and workers and the majority, have the capacity to run society in our own interests rather than the interests of big business or their mates in parliament."
Nikki Ulasowski, 28 (Socialist Alliance candidate for Perth)
Nikki has been active in the socialist movement for more than a decade, and was one of the organisers of the huge anti-war rallies in Perth last year. She believes that PM John Howard's decision to ignore the massive opposition to Australian involvement in the war on Iraq "exposed the undemocratic nature of our society - majority opinion counts for little and decisions are made by an unaccountable elite".
Nikki wants the Howard regime to go in this election, but acknowledges that Labor isn't much of an alternative, which makes "building an alternative a pressing priority for working people".
Josephine Cox, 28 (Socialist Alliance candidate for Hotham)
Josephine Cox is a post-graduate student at La Trobe University, who has been involved in refugee and anti-war campaigns. Her two major concerns are the Free Trade Agreement with the US and the building of the Scoresby Freeway in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne. According to Cox, the FTA will impact on the most disadvantaged 91×ÔÅÄÂÛ̳ of society first.
Nicole Clevens, 29 (Socialist Alliance Senate candidate, Queensland)
Nicole is an Aboriginal mother of four who has worked as a youth educator. Nicole is outraged at the appalling living conditions her people are forced to endure. Her mother, the Reverend Alex Gaitor, inspired her thirst for justice: "It can't be simply an idea, it has to be something we all live and struggle for."
Kathy Newnam, 27, Socialist Alliance candidate for the Senate in the Northern Territory
"I am angered by what is the apparent normality of the injustices that are perpetuated by capitalism. When something has gone on long enough, it begins to appear normal. It appears normal that politicians lie and deceive. It appears normal when wars are waged in the name of money and power. It seems normal when billions of dollars are spent on the military while social services are run into the ground. Things don't have to be this way. History shows that when enough people join together and take a stand, there is no stopping us! It's all about people power."
Zoe Kenny, 25 (Socialist Alliance candidate for Melbourne)
Zoe has been fighting for social and global justice since 1998 when she helped blockade the Jabiluka uranium mine in Kakadu national park. She is inspired by the "incredibly courageous" young people in Palestine and since the beginning of the second intifada (uprising) in 2001, has helped to build solidarity with the Palestinian struggle.
Zoe was one of the leaders of the 2003 "Books not bombs" protests which mobilised thousands of students against the invasion of Iraq. She is also involved in campaigns against the federal government's attacks on higher education.
Chris Williams, 26, Socialist Alliance candidate for Cunningham
Chris is a founding member of the Illawarra Refugee Action Collective. For the past three years he has been the assistant secretary of the South Coast May Day Committee, which in the face of Coalition attacks on working people and trade unions, has organised growing May Day rallies and toasts.
Chris has also played a leading role in the Free Palestine Committee and Illawarra NoWar. He ran for the Socialist Alliance in the 2002 Cunningham by-election; in the seat of Illawarra in the 2003 NSW elections; and as the candidate for Wollongong Lord Mayor in the March 2004 council elections.
From 91×ÔÅÄÂÛ̳ Weekly, September 29, 2004.
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