Russia's birth rate
I think David Kault (Write On, GLW 61, July 1) misses the point rather badly in his criticism of Irina Glushchenko's article, Russia's Population Falls (GLW 59, June 17). He says he's shocked that GLW should run an article describing as a catastrophe the fall in Russia's birth rate due to the economic crisis and a partial collapse of the medical system.
In fact, the only reference to the falling birth rate as a catastrophe is in a quote from a Russian paper, which Glushchenko cites with what I consider to be ironic intent. The main point of the article is the crisis in the medical system, and the impact this is having on ordinary people's lives.
What shocks me, David, is an article that appeared in the July 9 Australian, reporting "an alarming rise in the number of abandoned babies and infants left to die on the streets of Russia's dilapidated capital". This year's thaw of the winter's snow is expected to expose hundreds of frozen infants, buried by their mothers during the winter. This is in addition to many more abandoned near the city's hospitals and other areas where they are more likely to be found alive. Every spring, some frozen infants' bodies are discovered when the snow melts, but this year the situation is expected to be two or three times worse. Here, apparently, is the source of at least part of the fall in the birth statistics.
I agree world population growth is a big problem, but I also know poverty, war and political repression are no solution, even if they do temporarily reduce populations. Population growth rates are generally higher in poor countries and lower in more prosperous regions, and they generally rise steeply in the aftermath of wars and other catastrophes.
If David really welcomes "all falls in the birth rate", is he also pleased to hear of events such as famine in north Africa and war in the Balkans, as well as the crisis in Russia? The truth is, calamities such as this only add to the sum of massive problems confronting humanity. They are tragedies, in no way welcome, not part of a solution to our problems, and certainly nothing to do with a green vision for our future. In my opinion, a green vision without social justice is no vision at all.
Ed Lewis
Glebe, NSW
NUS
We are writing in reference to the article "Coming Soon: an Austudy loans Scheme?" by Jorge Jorquera in the June 24 issue of Green Left Weekly. Mr Jorquera is of course free to express his opinion on any matter. Nonetheless, we feel that some minimal journalistic responsibility should be required when it comes to facts.
For example, to whom did Mr Jorquera speak regarding the NUS position on loans schemes? Jorquera writes that "NUS has now accepted the introduction of a loans scheme in exchange for some crumbs from the ALP government". In reality the position of the NUS National Executive has been clear and consistent — that is, complete opposition to any form of loans scheme.
Ben Ross
President NUS Victoria
Robert Houghton
Education Officer NUS
NUS and left
Chris Francis' views on NUS (GLW July 15) miss the point. Of course some office bearers are genuine, progressive, have done useful work etc. But there are also genuine officers of trade unions, the ACTU, even the ALP, who do not alter the fact that generally these organisations are dominated by bureaucratic, pro-government, pro-business elements. The election of a few "friendly" officials does not necessarily mean an organisation has turned to the left, especially when the process of election involves closed deals and compromises.
The simple fact is that NUS is still dominated by ALP forces, who are willing to "campaign" (just as the ACTU is) to let off pressure. But by narrowing the issues (keeping protest to the loans scheme early in the year when the government was able to distance itself from the proposal and so many students did not see it as a threat), by condemning actions (as President Tony White has done), by hinting at deals to accept the loans scheme in return for token "reforms" (as General Secretary Pablo Campillos has done), by turning to lobbying (as Queensland NUS has called for), the right can undermine the campaign.
Resistance, unlike some NUS officials, has supported every action NUS has called, and has helped build them on many campuses (although as a broad youth organisation we are involved in many things outside the tertiary student movement). We hope the work of left officials can help break the movement out of its present state, but NUS can only be turned into a genuine leadership if the left has a large mass movement behind it. It is working out how to build this (which may have to involve organising outside NUS) that is the priority, not defending a particular union at all costs.
Nick Fredman
Sydney
Education and training
On the 14th of July, Tasmania's daily newspaper the Mercury ran a cover story on youth unemployment. The article was based on a recently released survey of employers conducted by the Confederation of Australian Industries in September 1990. This survey claimed that the reason bosses did not employ young people was basically because the school system was not providing adequate training for teenagers to enter the workforce and that "teenagers lacked discipline and maturity and did not respect their colleagues."
As young people we were outraged and disgusted by this article. First of all, schools should not exist primarily for the sake of job training. Young people have a basic right to an all round education to enhance their quality of life, not geared for the workforce and for private profit.
Secondly, they say more job training is needed but they don't propose how. When our schools are underfunded and our universities and TAFEs are overcrowded and expensive, how are we supposed to get this ave completed a degree or a course, most employers will tell you it is inadequate because you need to have had work experience. But how can you get work experience if no one will employ you until you've had experience?
Young people want to work. We're unemployed not because we're "lazy", "too immature" or "lack training", but because the jobs just aren't out there. We're sick of Keating and Co. talking about more job training. We want job creation.
Jobs can be created simply by taking money out of military spending (if the "commies" are gone, who's the enemy now?) and putting it into public and community services which are currently under attack from the government. And as for Hewson's $3 and hour "youth wage", would he work for his poverty?
Sarah Stephen
Ben Courtice
Zari Duniam
Natasha Simons
Rohan Gaiswinkler
Hobart
Stephen Jay Gould
Let's welcome Allen Myers to the fold. His discovery (GLW 62) of the books of Stephen Jay Gould means that there is yet another Gouldite on earth. There are no bar mitzvahs or degrees, no funny handshakes or passwords. You don't have to like birds or buy all your paperbacks at the same Sydney bookstore. Our pleasure relies solely on Gould's magical way of dissecting existence. Not since Engels has there been a materialist with the popular savvy and quest for synthesis that seems to be Gould's hallmark.
I think reading Gould is the best way for people to approach Marxism today because he is so relentlessly concrete. In contrast the David Suzukis and the Stephen Hawkings and the New Age popularizers of science like to have a bit each way.
Gould's passionate exercises in polemics and his commitment to suck into scientific investigation the most cosmic or minute and obscure of phenomena makes reading him one of the better habits of human discovery.
Allen, your membership badge is in the mail.
Dave Riley
Brisbane
GLW Security Risk
You will be amused or concerned to learn that 91×ÔÅÄÂÛ̳ Weekly is considered a security risk at Maghaberry Jail in occupied Ireland.
A recent edition of GLW contained a statement issued by the Republican Women Prisoners of War in Maghaberry denouncing the strip-search assault that took place in the jail on 2nd March this year. Twenty-four female POWs were attacked and degraded by the prison authorities.
I sent a copy of this particular GLW to a correspondent in Maghaberry. She wrote back to tell me GLW had gone to "security". She went on to say "it's ironic, as we've sent dozens of statements out and none have been withheld, yet when newspapers publish them, the newspapers are held back. It's really typical of the mentality of these people."
She also stated that there is still a tense atmosphere in the prison with the prisoners being charged for resisting the assaults on their bodies. She also said "We are still angry and disgusted, while the Administration has asked us to 'get back to normal' i.e. re-establish the working relationship that existed prior to 2nd March. They don't realise things will never again be the same. They expect to wade in, sexually abuse women one day and the next day we're supposed to forgive and forget. I have more self-respect than that, as has every other woman."
John McGill
POW Officer
Australian Aid for Ireland (WA Branch)
Perth
Liberal conference
John Hewson's fightback conference just about contained every ingredient necessary for successfully throwing up many times over.
The American style campaign was as fitting as it was sickening. Right wing "survival of the fittest" philosophies from the US and NZ, "long live the Queen of Australia" and "an English flag for Australia forever" sentiments are just a taste of things to come if the proto fascists get elected.
For us in the Top End however there was more bad news( not unexpected) on the environmental front. The developmentalists in Canberra would not only fully cooperate with the NT government but would give it much more independence. Since right wing governments in the NT get re-elected with an unnerving monotony by a supposedly "intelligent" electorate this would mean trouble because these gentlemen can't wait to turn Kakadu upside down.
Thus poison Dr. Hewson's Australia will be a country situated on a toxic rubbish tip in a gigantic desert crater with the good doctor still dreaming of short-term solutions for the economy.
Michael Rose-Schwab
Rapid Creek NT