News briefs

Issue 

Newcastle union leader quits

Australian Manufacturing Workers Union organiser Mary McGill has refused to comment publicly on her reasons for resigning as president of Newcastle Trades Hall Council.

McGill was elected president in 1997. According to press speculation, her resignation is related to moves to bring in a union official from outside the region to take over from the council's long-serving secretary, Peter Barrack, when he retires. In the past, McGill has stood in for Barrack when he has been on leave.

International aid discussed

PARRAMATTA — On February 2, Politics in the Pub debated the politics of international aid. Ken Davis, from APHEDA, the humanitarian aid agency of the ACTU, spoke about the flaws and misdirection of aid.

He pointed out that the main recipients of US aid are Israel and Egypt, and that 90% of Australian aid goes to Australian business. "Trade interests often come ahead of real development needs", Davis said.

An example of this is the "Friendship Bridge" between Laos and Thailand, built at a cost of $42 million by Australian company John Holland. Virtually the only vehicles that pass over the bridge are large freight trucks.

Liam Phelan, from AidWatch, also spoke, pointing out that of world aid, only 0.1% goes to basic education, 0.3% to health and 4% to sanitation.

Anti-nuclear symposium

Prominent anti-nuclear activist Dr Helen Caldicott is organising a symposium on the nuclear industry, to be held at Old Parliament House, Canberra, on March 19 and 20. The symposium will bring together experts and anti-nuclear activists.

Speakers will include: Jacqui Katona from the Gundjehmi Aboriginal Corporation, on the Jabiluka uranium mine; David Noonan and Dave Sweeney from the Australian Conservation Foundation; Green Left Weekly journalist and nuclear power expert Dr Jim Green on the real agenda behind the second Lucas Heights reactor; and Dr Dennis Matthews on foreign nuclear investment in Australia.

Several US experts will also attend, including Mary Olsen from the US Nuclear Information Resource Service, and Michael Kraig, Peace Fellow at the British and American Security Council.

The fee for the two-day event is $50. Phone Cressida Hall on (02) 9361 3039 or Sabina Erica on (02) 4787 8784.

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