Green Left Weekly issue #817

Why Australia must welcome refugees

Australia’s racist refugee policy continues to create greater horror stories. Over recent weeks, in a replay of the years of former prime minister John Howard, the prospect of masses of refugee boats landing on Australian shores have sent politicians and the corporate media into a frenzy of right-wing rhetoric.

Afghanistan: an unjust war unravels — time for troops to leave

On November 2, Hamid Karzai began another term as president of Western-occupied Afghanistan after being officially declared the winner in an election so blatantly fraudulent that his main opponent, Abdullah Abdullah, refused to take part in it any longer.

David Spratt: Powerful working towards climate talks disaster

The global community is supposed to be negotiating an agreement to contain greenhouse gas emissions to manageable levels. But with less than two months to the Copenhagen climate change conference, the big players are stuck in an elaborate game of chicken.

Aboriginal leaders: ‘Rudd must change refugee policy’

The following statement by Socialist Alliance Indigenous rights activists was released on November 4.

Solidarity is vital for Indigenous struggle

Three hundred and fifty kilometres north-east of Alice Springs a group of elders from the Alyawarr language group are sitting down in a rough, makeshift camp. Three kilometres away is their community of Ampilatwatja.

John Pilger: Cambodia’s holocaust remembered, 30 years on

The aircraft flew low, following the Mekong River west from Vietnam. Once over Cambodia, what we saw silenced all of us on board.

Get on board a coal-free future

Newcastle-based climate activist and Socialist Alliance member Laura Ealing is an organiser of the Just Transition Tour, a bus trip through NSW coal communities from November 20 to 26. She spoke to Green Left Weekly about the aims of the tour.

Honduras: Deal to restore Zelaya collapses

The accord signed on October 30 to resolve the crisis that has brought Honduras to a standstill since the June 28 military coup has collapsed. The coup leader Roberto Micheletti has continued to refuse to accept the accord’s insistence that elected President Manuel Zelaya be reinstated.

Nepal: New uprising builds against governmment

The Unified Communist Party of Nepal-Maoists (UCPN-M) has initiated a nationwide “people’s movement” to topple the government and anti-people forces.

Venezuela, Colombia and the threat of war in Latin America

The possibility of an imperialist war in the Americas came a step closer on October 30, when Colombia and the United States finalised a 10-year accord. The agreement allows the US to hugely expand its military presence in the Latin American nation.

Venezuela: Socialists prepare for party congress

Activists from the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) are preparing for the party’s second congress, scheduled to start on November 21.

Union support escalates for anti-intervention walk-off

A recent national speaking tour generated growing support for the Ampilatwatja community walk-off — an ongoing protest camp against the Northern Territory intervention.

Treasury: ‘Recovery’ means real wage cut

The Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook (MYEFO) released by the federal Treasury on November 2 is upbeat. Revising the May budget’s projections for the Australian economy, it predicted unemployment will peak lower, growth will be higher and inflation will be under control.

Iran: ‘The regime’s legitimacy has disappeared’

Iranian activist Parveen Ardalan recently accepted the Olof Palme prize in Sweden for championing women’s rights. She was awarded the prize two years ago, but travel restrictions prevented her from accepting it. Swedish-based socialistFarooq Sulehria spoke with Ardalan about the situation in Iran.

NSW plans billions more ‘black balloons’

NSW Premier Nathan Rees launched a government “education program” about climate change in May. The “what you can do in your world” program urged householders to cut carbon pollution by using less energy and switching to energy-efficient light bulbs and electrical appliances.

$50k to go — yes we can!

Our Spring Offensive, which ended on October 31, took the total raised for the Green Left Weekly Fighting Fund this year to more than $200,000, and $8003 came in the last week.

6000km run for safe climate begins

A relay team of 25 people began a 6000 kilometre run across Australia on November 2 to urge a rapid transition to a carbon-neutral future.

ACF responds on population

I was surprised by the letter from Dr Stuart Rosewarne and others (“Population is not to blame for climate change” GLW #814), accusing the Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) of pandering to racism and urging us to demand government action to reduce carbon [dioxide] emissions.

Activists prepare to break Gaza blockade

Vivienne Porzsolt, a spokesperson for Jews Against the Occupation Sydney (JAO), is one of 10 activists from NSW who will spend their summer break challenging Israel’s defiance of international law. She will take part in the international Gaza Freedom March over December-January.

Afghan women are desperate for justice

Shiko Zaher is a member of the Tulo Association in Wollongong, which runs assistance and service to Afghan people in the community. She delivered the speech below at the October 30 Reclaim the Night rally in Wollongong.

Anti-protest laws for Copenhagen planned

The Danish government is preparing new “anti-riot” laws in time for the United Nations-sponsored climate talks in Copenhagen.

Austrian university protests widen

The statement published below was released on November 2 by the international press team of students occupying the University of Vienna. Email the occupying students at internationalpress.unsereuni@gmail.com or visit www.unsereuni.at.

Climate talks: Africa denounces rich countries

African nations walked out of climate talks in Barcelona on November 3, blaming rich nations for undermining the negotiations. The Barcelona meeting was the final international meeting before the UN-sponsored climate conference in Copenhagen in December.

CPRS opponents 'dinosaurs', says ACTU

Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) president Sharan Burrow emailed thousands of people with a plea to back the federal Labor government’s flawed Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS).

Desalination plant: cost keeps rising

The price tag for the desalination plant planned for Wonthaggi has increased from $3.5 billion to $4.8 billion.

Ethiopia: US food aid wasteful

The system for delivering US aid to help starving African countries, especially Ethiopia, helps contribute to hunger, said an October 22 Oxfam report. US policies ensure the amount spent delivering food aid is double the amount spent on food.

Iranian government jails sugar union leaders

The article published below is abridged from a statement released on October 26 by the International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers’ Association (IUF). To send a protest message to the Iranian government, visit www.iuf.org.

Iraq: Occupation continues suffering

Two car bombs exploded in Baghdad on October 25, targeting the justice ministry and the Baghdad Provincial Council building. This was the deadliest attack in Iraq in two years, with 155 people killed. Among the victims were 24 school children.

John Pilger: ‘No more looking on from the side’

John Pilger, recipient of the 2009 Sydney Peace Prize, told a packed Opera House concert hall on November 5 that the time for “looking on from the side” had to end.

Mexican power workers take on government

I met Jose Hernandez, a leader of the Mexican Union of Electricity workers (SME), at his house in a working-class suburb of Mexico City. “I’m very tired, I’m exhausted”, he said, smiling, as he made me tea. “I haven’t stopped for days.”

New law targets Indigenous community

Police harassment of Melbourne’s Indigenous community will likely increase as a result of a new law banning public drinking in the City of Yarra. The City of Yarra includes the suburbs of Fitzroy, Richmond and Collingwood.

NSW TAFE teachers resist unfair wage deal

NSW Technical and Further Education (TAFE) teachers have continued their industrial campaign against an unfair award imposed by the NSW Industrial Relations Commission (IRC), which would have TAFE teachers work an additional five hours a week, and teach an additional 36 hours a year, with no right to refuse.

On the box

Peru: Government attacks indigenous organisation

November 4, 2009 --The government of Peru has launched a massive attack on Indigenous peoples through a request to dissolve the Amazon Interethnic Development Association of the Peruvian Rainforest (AIDESEP), Peru's largest and most representative Indigenous organisation. AIDESEP groups numerous regional organisations, representing 65 ethnic groups and has led the struggle against the Garcia governments neoliberal decrees (which are part of the US Free Trade Agreement) aimed at opening up huge swathes of the Amazon to exploitation by transnational logging, mining and oil companies.

Rallies to back queer marriage bill

Rallies for marriage equality will be take place across Australia on November 28. The protests will launch a National Year of Action for same-sex marriage.

Refugee supporters protest against ‘Indonesian solution’

"It not illegal to seek asylum", NSW Greens MP Sylvia Hale told a rally of about 100 people outside the Department of Immigration offices on November 2.

Regional left groups: ‘Support Tamil refugees’

The article below is slightly abridged from a joint statement released on November 5 by the Socialist Alliance (Australia); the Socialist Party (Australia); the Socialist Party of Malaysia (PSM); the Network of the Oppressed People (JERIT — Malaysia); CWI Malaysia; the Confederation Congress of Indonesian Union Alliance (KASBI); the Working Peoples Association (PRP — Indonesia); the National Liberation Party of Unity (PAPERNAS — Indonesia); the Indonesian National Front for Labor Struggle (FNPBI); Socialist Alternative (Australia); Socialist Worker New Zealand; Partido Lakas ng Masa, Philippines; Transform Asia; Labour Party Pakistan; Resistance (Australia); and Militan-Indonesia. To add your organisation’s name, email .

300,000 reasons for Tamil solidarity

The Australian Tamil Congress (ATC) launched 300,000 Reasons, a campaign to raise awareness of the plight of up to 300,000 Tamils interned in military-run camps in Sri Lanka, on November 6.

Oil rig disaster inquiry begins

PERTH — Owners of the West Atlas oil-drilling platform announced a devastating fire on the rig was extinguished on November 3.

Fighting to win a safe climate

The University of Wollongong Environment Collective (EC) has gone from strength to strength this year. Its meetings are now averaging more than 20 people each week and the list of its campaign achievements is growing.

Gov’t youth policy: all talk, no ‘conversation’

The mainstream media have been quick to praise the “resilience” of the Australian economy and the Rudd government has lauded itself for avoiding a “technical recession”, but the human impact of the economic downturn has been downplayed.

Write On

Don’t be hoodwinked on climate change

Hoodwinked in the Hothouse: False Solutions to Climate Change By Rising Tide North America Available for download at www.risingtidenorthamerica.org

The popular struggle against the Musharraf dictatorship

Facing the Musharraf Dictatorship: An Activist Narrative By Farooq TariqGood Books, 2009 310pages, $25(hb) Available from www.resistancebooks.com