News briefs
Young Liberal boycott campaign
PERTH — The Young Liberals (WA) have threatened to boycott Body Shop stores for selling armbands in opposition to Howard's 10-point plan. Profits from the sale of armbands — which carry a range of slogans in support of Wik and co-existence — were to go to an Aboriginal corporation. Victorian shops have sold out several times over.
Management of the shopping centre have objected to Booragoon Body Shop stocking the armbands. Anti-racist activists point out that this centre is owned by AMP, which has an interest in the success of Howard's plan through its subsidiary Stanbroke Pastoral.
Jim Percy memorial lecture
BRISBANE — Forty people attended the Jim Percy memorial lecture on November 19 on the topic "The Russian Revolution: Lessons for Today". The lecture was presented by Democratic Socialist Party executive member Kathy Newnam.
Newnam examined the reasons for the success of the Bolshevik-led revolution in 1917, including the consistent building of the revolutionary party for many years before the revolutionary crisis developed. She also addressed many of the falsehoods propagated by the big-business media.
Equal opportunity complaint
MELBOURNE — The Australian Education Union has lodged an equal opportunity complaint on behalf of Alison Thorne, former president of the AEU sub-branch at Northern Melbourne Institute of TAFE. Thorne and the AEU allege that NMIT discriminated against her because of her union activities when she was retrenched on April 11. Thorne and two others were retrenched on the grounds of being "excess".
In response, co-workers and community activists established No More Intimidation of Teacher Unionists (NMITU) to publicise the retrenchments and pressure management to reinstate former staff who wish to return.
NMITU is holding a fundraising function on December 16 at Lebanese House, Russell St, Melbourne. A three-course Middle Eastern dinner will be followed by speakers. Tickets are $20. Phone Delia Maxwell, 9497 1496 for bookings.
Prison claims another life
PERTH — A 28-year-old man was found hanging in Casuarina Prison on November 25. This is the 10th WA prison death since January and the seventh at Casuarina.
Kath Mallott, executive officer of the WA Deaths in Custody Watch Committee, called on the WA government to increase resources and funding so that adequate health and psychiatric services are available in all prisons.
Many of those who have died were on remand, Mallott pointed
out. "Legislation such as the 'three strikes and you're in' law are adding to the overcrowding within prisons. There are too many prisoners who should never have been sentenced to a custodial sentence in the first place, and too many Aboriginal prisoners in particular."
Forum on prison reform
BRISBANE — A Prisoners Legal Service forum on November 27-28 discussed prison reform in Queensland. The forum heard from victims of crime, prison officers and families of prisoners. The aim was to take a more considered and rational approach to reform than that displayed by politicians and media commentators.
"A correctional system can breed crime, by placing people who already have problems fitting into society into an inhumane, dangerous, punishing and humiliating environment. The system can contribute to crime prevention only by providing an environment which gives offenders an opportunity to re-enter society", said conference organiser Karen Fletcher.
Education crisis discussed
BRISBANE — The education system is "one sector in the struggle between social classes", Gary McLennan, lecturer in media studies at the Queensland University of Technology, told an audience of around 70 at the monthly Politics in the Pub on November 27.
"Economic rationalism is dominant in the education system", and the massive cutbacks and user pays mean a major shift of resources from working people to the wealthy, McLennan said, adding that there is an urgent need to pose an alternative.
"Students have power when they unite. If they strike together, they can win", McLennan said, pointing to recent examples.
Pedal for the planet
The Bicycle Federation of Australia has called on the government to introduce a national bicycle strategy to reduce greenhouse emissions. Data from Australia and overseas indicate that a third of all journeys in cities could be taken by bicycle, in the right conditions.