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Kids make more sense than Vanstone
MELBOURNE — David Glanz, Socialist Alliance candidate for the federal seat of Wills, has spoken out in defence of children at Brunswick East Primary School who wrote to the government to criticise its refugee policy.
"I am appalled that immigration minister Amanda Vanstone handed the names of students who wrote letters to her to the producers of A Current Affair", Glanz said.
"These children, their parents and their school have been placed under siege by the Nine network for the 'crime' of expressing their opinion.
"Minister Vanstone can't have it both ways: she says it saddens her that some people choose to give school children 'a politically biased account of our refugee policy'. Yet she is spending taxpayers' money to send kits to schools putting her point of view."
According to Glanz, the children who wrote the letters "have a much greater sense of justice than the entire federal cabinet put together".
Chris Slee
Protest at carve-up of Iraq
SYDNEY — The US and Australian governments held a conference at the Hotel Intercontinental on April 30, to advertise commercial contracts in Iraq for Australian corporations. Many of these contracts are for the building of military bases and the private operation of utilities.
They were greeted by a picket organised by the Stop the War Coalition. Greens Senator Kerry Nettle, Socialist Alliance's NSW co-convenor Paul Benedek, and Rob Kennedy from the STWC gave speeches denouncing the conference.
Inside, the conference heard representatives of the Coalition Provisional Authority, the US department of commerce, and federal trade minister Mark Vaile.
Representatives of four US companies currently operating in Iraq canvassed their subcontracting needs. These included Lucent Technologies, which is heavily involved in hi-tech armaments production. The other three corporations are involved in running water, electricity, education, health and general infrastructure. One of these, Parsons Delaware, is a major builder of military bases.
Iggy Kim
Sydney activists support Craig Johnston
SYDNEY — On May 1, 100 people attended a Skilled Six campaign fundraiser at the Gaelic Club. The Faigans, Denis Kevans and the Solidarity Choir perfomed.
Melbourne Skilled Six campaign activist Simon Miller addressed the gathering, along with other unionists, including Australian Manufacturing Workers Union rank-and-file-group activist Liam Mitchell.
Funds raised will go towards the defence of militant unionist Craig Johnston.
Adam Leeman
Police attack Reclaim the Streets
SYDNEY — Three-hundred people attended a Reclaim the Streets action at Erskinville Road on May 1.
Around fifteen people were arrested after heavy-handed tactics were employed by police.
Dale Mills
Aboriginal Tent Embassy attacked
CANBERRA — For 32 years the Aboriginal Tent Embassy has been a protest against continued genocide and the theft and destruction of Aboriginal land.
On April 10 there was another racist fire-bombing attack on the embassy, which took place while many local activists and embassy supporters were out of town.
The fire destroyed the museum tent, including banners, equipment and many artifacts collected over the years.
One embassy resident was asleep in his hut at the time of the attack and was lucky to escape. The fire was so intense that it melted the steel roof truss above his bed.
It appeared as though flammable liquid had been poured all around the hut and through the museum. The attack took place during a half-hour window when the rest of the people guarding the embassy were out.
Nick Ingman
From Â鶹´«Ã½ Weekly, May 5, 2004.
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