Tim reads out our first statement endorsed by the consensus of the General Assembly.
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Electronic Intifada (EI) brought together three stories in early October that paint a vivid picture of the need for a cultural boycott of Israel. This certainly is no surprise, given that EI is without a doubt the best source out there on the Palestinian struggle.
Sideshow: Dumbing Down Democracy
By Lindsay Tanner
Scribe, 2011
232 pages, $32.95 (pb)
Lindsay Tanner, the former finance minister in the federal Labor government, laments in his book, Sideshow, the rotting core of democracy in Australia that plumbed its most dismal depths in the lacklustre, 鈥渘on-of-the-above鈥 elections of 2010.
The commercial media, he says, have been responsible for dumbing down the quality of political debate and sapping the level of popular political engagement.
There is much in Tanner鈥檚 critique that is accurate.
Occupations in Sydney and Melbourne have been violently broken up by police in the past few days, but the camp at Post Office Square is going well so far.
Occupy Melbourne released the statement below on October 24.
The Darwin Asylum Seekers Support and Advocacy Network (DASSAN) released the statement below on October 23..
Between 80 and 100 people gathered for an open-air general assembly in Perth on October 22. It began at 11am and finished around 5pm. The main purpose of the assembly was to make plans for establishing a Perth occupation at the end of the Chogm Protest (taking next Friday, October 28) that would last at least throughout the CHOGM summit. There was quite a constructive discussion and a lot of enthusiasm to begin an occupation next weekend. Eleven working groups were established.
The barriers to renewable energy are many. It鈥檚 not just a matter of the draconian new Victorian laws against wind farms 鈥 the legacy of government support for fossil fuels also hangs heavily over the renewables sector.
A confusing feeling passed through me after hearing about the exchange of 1027 Palestinian detainees for the only Israeli soldier, Gilad Shalit, who was held captive by the Palestinian resistance fighters.
I don鈥檛 know whether to feel happy or sad.
Gazing at the faces of the prisoners鈥 families in the solidarity tent in Gaza City on October 18, I see a look that I have never seen before: eyes glittering with hope. Thinking about those women whose relatives are most likely to be released and seeing their big smiles makes me happy.
The released this statement on the morning of October 23.
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Socialist Alliance condemns violent police attacks on Melbourne and Sydney occupations
Socialist Alliance condemns the violent police dispersal of peaceful protesters at Occupy Melbourne (October 21) and Occupy Sydney (dawn, October 23) and pledges its full support for the re-establishment of these occupations against the tyranny of the world's richest 1%.
The sense of joy was palpable in the streets of Gaza on October 18 as hundreds of Palestinian prisoners jailed by Israel returned home. It was a remarkable day in the life of the territory鈥檚 1.6 million Palestinians.
During the past five years Israel has levied a heavy price on Gaza's civilian population for the capture of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit by Palestinian resistance fighters. It has been extracted with Israel鈥檚 warplanes, tanks, bulldozers and relentless siege.
On October 15, about 4000-5000 of protesters in London descended on London's financial sector as part of the 鈥淯nited for Global Change鈥 actions that took place in more than 1000 cities and towns worldwide. Occupy London Stock Exchange is occupying an area in front of St Paul's Cathedral and holding people's assemblies to discuss the goals, demands and direction of the movement.
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