Action for native title
BRISBANE — A branch of Australians for Native Title and Reconciliation (ANTaR) was launched here on August 31. Fifty people gathered at Kangaroo Point to hear speakers stress the need to defeat the Howard government's proposed amendments to the Native Title Act.
Les Malezer, speaking on behalf of the National Indigenous Working Group, said that if the Howard government was successful, the hope for land rights and justice would be more remote than at any time since 1984.
Picket to save old growth forests
PERTH — On September 12, around 40 people gathered for an emergency picket in defence of the old growth forests in the state's south-west. People passing Wesfarmers' corporate headquarters, owner of logging company Bunnings, saw a giant banner publicising the "Buy-pass Bunnings" campaign.
The picket was organised by the WA Forest Alliance after the state Coalition government that chip log supply contracts be immediately renegotiated. The contracts have nearly a full year to run.
Bunnings currently has 34,000 hectares of plantation timber in the south-west, yet prefers to destroy the last remaining pockets of old-growth forest. Contact WAFA on (08) 9220 0652, or fax (08) 92200653.
Anti-racist conference
BRISBANE — An education and planning conference for anti-racist activists, organised by Resistance and the Democratic Socialist Party, drew 60 people to the Resistance Centre on September 6 and 7.
Dennis Bobongie outlined the history of Aboriginal dispossession, noting that Australia was the only British colony where the government did not make a treaty with the original inhabitants. Workshops were followed by a lively debate on "Hanson, Racism and Free Speech".
On Sunday, Karen Fletcher talked on the origins of racism. The evening panel featured Rafael Pacheco from Latin American Action.