Action for Aceh
DARWIN — On September 30, around 20 people, wearing gags across their mouths and carrying placards, marched to the office of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. They were demanding that the Australian government assist Lesley McCulloch, an academic and solidarity activist who has been detained in Aceh by the Indonesian government.
Anti-war protests planned
BRISBANE — The Brisbane Stop the War Coalition, which unites a variety of peace and community groups and political organisations, has begun holding weekly anti-war speak-outs on the steps of King George Square on Friday evenings at 5pm.
The speak-outs are aimed at building the mass anti-war rally on November 3 in the Roma Street Forum. The November 3 rally has gained a growing list of sponsors, including state Labor MPs Karen Struthers and Ronan Lee, the Ethnic Community Council, Transport Workers Union, Maritime Union of Australia, Ipswich Trades and Labour Council, Socialist Alliance, Queensland Greens and Refugee Action Collective Qld.
Labor Lord Mayor Jim Soorley has called an anti-war rally on October 27 in King George Square. BSWC activists are discussing the organisation of a week of protest action against the planned US war on Iraq between the two rallies.
The BSWC meets very second Monday night at the Trades and Labour Council building, 16 Peel Street, Brisbane. All anti-war activists are welcome. For more information, subscribe to e-list: peace-bris-subscribe @yahoogroups.com, or phone (07) 3831 2644, (07) 3716 0848 or (07) 3255 1465.
Gay and lesbians reps condemn war drive
SYDNEY — On October 3, community radio station 2SER-FM's Gaywaves coordinator Michael Schembri and representatives of the UTS Queer Students, Queer Students Network, Community Action Against Homophobia, National Union of Students NSW Queer Department and the NUS National Queer Department issued a media release condemning the planned US war against Iraq and calling on "all Australians to join the campaign against war".
Refugee-rights protest outside ALP conference
CANBERRA — One hundred and twenty refugees' rights supporters rallied on October 5 outside the special national conference of the ALP, called to discuss recommendations from the Hawke-Wran review of the ALP's structure.
Participants in the rally included 30 members of Labor for Refugees from Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra. Speakers including Amanda Tattersall, convenor of NSW Labor for Refugees; Canberra-Goulburn Bishop Pat Power; Tony Pun from the NSW Ethnic Communities Council; and various community activists, unionists, and rank-and-file Labor Party members.
Flinders Uni provides refugee places
ADELAIDE — At the request of Flinders University Chilout Society, the vice-chancellor of Flinders University agreed to allocate 10 places in the university's "Foundation Course" for refugees on temporary protection visas. The Foundation Course prepares people for university study who do not meet the normal university entrance requirements. Because TPV holders cannot receive government-funded education, Chilout is campaigning for scholarships to be established to cover the fees.
From Â鶹´«Ã½ Weekly, October 16, 2002.
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