'Radical times' conference slams war plans

BY JIM McILROY

BRISBANE — The September 7-8 “Radical Times: Brisbane in the '60s
and '70s” conference overwhelmingly condemned US plans to wage war against
Iraq. Participants demanded that the Australian government keep out of
any war in the Middle East.

The conference's aim was “to commemorate and record the significant
social protest movements and political-industrial issues of the [1960s
and 1970s], focusing on students at the University of Queensland”. It was
organised by the Brisbane Labour History Association and attracted around
150 people.

Particular sessions focused on the anti-Vietnam War movement, the trade
unions, civil liberties struggles in Queensland during the regime of Joh
Bjelke-Petersen, the early women's liberation movement, the 1970 anti-Springbok
tour and racism, left and alternative media, radical organisations and
the relevance of the 1960s-1970s movements for today.

Speakers included prominent radical leaders of the period, such as Dan
O'Neill, Brian Laver, Carole Ferrier and Megan Martin, Murri activists
Sam Watson and Bob Anderson and many other participants from that turbulent
period.

From Green Left Weekly, September 18, 2002.

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From GLW issue 509