March on International Women's Day
BRISBANE — The International Women's Day collective is expecting a large turnout for this year's IWD rally and march on March 8. The theme is "Women demanding peace and justice". Meetings to organise the march have been bigger than in previous years.
The IWD collective unanimously supported the demands, "No war, no racism, no sexism", as well as support for Indigenous and refugee women and free childcare, more maternity leave and the defence of reproductive rights.
An Indigenous welcome ceremony will start the rally at 2pm in Roma Street Forum and the march will proceed through the city and end at Southbank.
The Queensland Labor government has scheduled its IWD festival at the same time as the rally and march, but the IWD collective has decided to end the march at the festival and place its more political demands at the forefront of the festival. For more information, phone Kerry on 3831 2644.
Residents rally against development
SYDNEY — On February 13, more than 100 people attended a public forum called by the ADI Residents Action Group (ADI RAG) in St Marys, in Sydney's outer west.
The meeting was called to give an update on recent court cases and new information that has come to light regarding radioactive waste on the former Australian Defence Industries site. A massive housing estate is planned for the site, despite the objections of local residents.
The mayor of Blacktown and a representative from the developer Lend Lease failed to appear at the meeting. The state Labor member for Londonderry Jim Anderson also refused to attends.
Four members of ADI RAG will be standing for lower-house seats near the planned development in the March 22 NSW election, under the Save Our Suburbs party.
From Green Left Weekly, March 5, 2003.
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