Fight the System: join Resistance
By Sean Healy
The system sux — but the question is what are you going to do about it? Resistance is getting organised in the knowledge that people are more powerful collectively than on their own.
Resistance is the largest socialist youth organisation in Australia. We have 12 branches: Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Darwin, Hobart, Lismore, Melbourne, Newcastle, Perth, Sydney Central, Sydney West and Wollongong. There are also networks of Resistance activists in Rockhampton, Gympie, Launceston and Geelong.
Last year, 1200 young people decided to join Resistance and become part of the struggle against the injustices of the system. Across Australia, these people are getting involved in Resistance branch meetings, campaigning stalls, rallies and action committees. They are working with other young people in the fight for a green, feminist, anti-racist, democratic and socialist world.
The need for change in Australia is clear. The government is opening new uranium mines, chopping down old-growth forests, attacking women's right to abortion, privatising education, attacking the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and making life harder for all of us. Meanwhile, their rich mates are scooping in the cash.
The richest 200 individuals and the richest 24 families in Australia have a combined wealth of $40.6 billion. Kerry Packer takes just six seconds to make $270, yet 1.7 million Australians survive below the poverty line. Young people are forced to survive on the Youth Allowance or scrape out a living on poverty wages.
Injustice is intrinsic to the sort of society we live in — one in which private profits and business interests are more important then human rights and the environment.
Resistance takes up the fight against this system. We have identified four major campaigns that we will be involved in in 1999:
- stopping the Jabiluka uranium mine;
- fighting "voluntary student unionism";
- solidarity with Indonesia and East Timor; and
- fighting for women's liberation.
But we will also be involved in other actions and issues, from fighting cop harassment of young people to campaigning against homophobia.
Resistance seeks to draw the links between these issues and campaigns, and to involve people in a fight against the system itself. Rather than saying "I'm only one person, what can I do?", we're uniting to make an impact, to challenge racism, to oppose governments and corporations, to change the way this whole society works.
Certainly, the governments and corporations which perpetuate injustice are very organised (and very powerful). But the effectiveness of an organised rebellion against them is also clear. In Indonesia in the past year it has been organisations like the People's Democratic Party which have spearheaded the movement for democracy and helped to organise masses of people in struggle against the dictatorship.
In this country, when the politicians and "media commentators" were hypocritically wringing their hands about Pauline Hanson, it was Resistance which went out and organised the large high school walkouts against racism and One Nation.
As the government's "voluntary student unionism" legislation demonstrates, the powerful minority want to take away our collective right to organise. But when people rise up we can defeat their agenda and defend our rights. Right now, this begins with you getting active and organised.
There are plenty of ways to get involved:
1. help organise one of our demonstrations or actions;
2. come to one of our regular branch meetings;
3. come to our regular campaigning stalls;
4. be part of building a club on your university or high school;
5. be part our Introduction to Socialism discussions; and
6. join Resistance.
The fight back begins here and now. Fight the system — join Resistance.