By Lisa Macdonald

Socialists and other progressive activists from around Australia will be gathering in all capital cities (including Darwin and Canberra) on or around the Easter long weekend to participate in a political feast.

The "Democratic Socialism 96" conferences, organised by the Democratic Socialist Party and the socialist youth organisation Resistance, follow the successful Marxist educational regional conferences held nationally last year. They are also the first major forums for discussion among activists about what lies ahead after the election of a Coalition federal government.

"The focus of the conferences this year has to be on action, on fighting the attacks that are rapidly coming down the line under Howard", said John Percy, DSP national secretary. "People are justifiably worried about what this government intends to do to the environment, the trade unions and workers' rights, Aboriginal communities, women, young people, the unemployed and those trying to survive on welfare.

"By bringing activists from all the movements together, the Democratic Socialism 96 conferences will provide a much-needed opportunity to discuss and plan strategies for fighting and stopping the inevitable attacks."

Some of the major themes which will be covered at all the conferences are campaigning for independence for East Timor, rebuilding the union movement, the way forward for the women's liberation and anti-racist movements, solidarity with the Cuban revolution and strategies for the student movement.

In addition to the feature talks, dozens of workshops will cover a range of other topics. These vary from city to city but include sexuality, the history of the anti-uranium movement, "green capitalism", Marxism today, young people under attack and developments in the European left.

A special session at the Sydney conference and several other conferences has been set aside in response to the request from the Zapatistas in Mexico for regional conferences to support the "Intercontinental Gathering for Humanity and Against Neo-liberalism" they have called in Chiapas for July 27-August 3.

For more information or to register for the conference in your city, phone the Resistance Centre at the number listed on page 11.

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