Canadian consulate occupied
SYDNEY — The Canadian consulate was briefly occupied on June 30 by 100 members of the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union and the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union. The occupation was in opposition to the Canadian government's intention to challenge France's recent ban on asbestos.
The occupation coincided with similar actions in a number of European cities. Building workers across Europe, spearheaded by the British construction union UCA TT, are fighting to ban asbestos from the industry.
A number of European governments have already banned asbestos but are facing retaliation from the Canadian government. Canada, one of the biggest producers of asbestos, has announced that it will take France to the World Trade Organisation over its asbestos ban.
Indonesian solidarity meeting
MELBOURNE — Max Lane, national coordinator of Action in Solidarity with Indonesia and East Timor, spoke to a public meeting of 80 people on June 26. Other speakers included Leigh Hubbard, secretary of Victorian Trades Hall Council; Caroline Lambert, national women's campaign coordinator for Amnesty International; and Joaquim Santos, Melbourne Fretilin coordinator.
Hubbard will to meet with various union leaders while visiting Indonesia and will brief ASIET upon his return on July 6.
Ethnic Community Council condemns racism
CANBERRA — Mark Tiirikainen, president of the ACT Ethnic Communities Council, warned all political parties on July 2 that the ECC will watch all political parties' decisions on preference distribution in the federal election. The ECC will analyse One Nation's policies and inform ACT migrant and wider communities of their implications.
Tiirikainen called on political parties to take a stand against racism and put Hanson last on their how to vote cards. The ECC will be holding a "meet the candidates" meeting before the election.
Vigil enters third week
CANBERRA — The vigil outside the Indonesian embassy is in its third week. Participants include Amnesty International, members of the Catholic and Uniting Church, Canberra Program for Peace, the Greens, Australian National University and University of Canberra students, and Australians For a Free East Timor.
It remains to be seen if the ACT government will try to move the protesters to another site 100 metres, across the road. Officials told them to move, but they refused.
Tourists doing the embassy circuit are busily snapping photos of placards and banners that proclaim: "Free East Timor!", "Free all political prisoners in Indonesia!", and "Free Xanana Gusmao!".
Wik protest at PM's office
SYDNEY — To protest at the dirty deal on native title, a "Greens action team" unfurled a giant banner from John Howard's Sydney office on July 3. The banner read "Shame Howard, Harradine".
Greens Senator Bob Brown explained the reason for the action: "The Howard-Harradine Wik deal is a shameful act which panders to One Nation's racist policies. If anyone wondered why the prime minister prefers One Nation and Senator Harradine to the Greens and the Democrats in the senate, this is the reason."
Burma protests
SYDNEY — On July 7 and 8, the All Burma Students Democratic Organisation and their supporters marked the 35th anniversary of the first protest against military rule in Burma. Hundreds of students were killed on July 7, 1962. The actions were also a show of support for pro-democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.
The protests consisted of a mass blood donation at the Parramatta blood bank and a protest outside the Burmese military office (better known as the Burmese embassy) in Canberra.
Youth Allowance denounced
HOBART — Delegates attending the Queer Collaborations conference here held a rally and march against the introduction of the Youth Allowance on July 1. About 150 people marched from Franklin Square to the office of Liberal Senator Eric Abetz.
Conference organiser Aaron Myers told participants that young people will be forced to remain at home with their parents, which for non-heterosexuals can mean being forced to deny their sexuality or be put in danger of psychological or physical abuse. Homophobia is not accepted as a criteria for YA recipients to gain economic independence from their families and, unlike married people, people in same sex relationships do not qualify for independent status.
Later that day, 30 people attended another anti-YA rally organised by TAFE and collage students. The rally was addressed by Young Labor and Tasmanian Greens senate candidate Louise Crossley.