Nomination
I'd like to nominate the Honorable Gareth Evans for the inaugural award of the Crichton-Browne statuette to the Australian politician for outstanding achievements in disservices to humanity. The award already affectionately known as "the Basher" is to be presented to the most pre-eminent basher of defenceless people in the Australian parliament. Gareth has worked selflessly and tirelessly in this area in many places such as Bougainville and East Timor for outstanding results.
May I also take this opportunity to congratulate the Honorable Gareth's best mate Ali Alatas for his recent reception of the Order of Australia, also known as the Rape of East Timor Medal.
As former joint winners of the international award for Foreign Ministers (the Machiavelli) these two are sure to have many more awards heaped upon them in the near future.
Robert Wood
Surry Hills NSW
Socialism
Reihana Mohideen [GLW #183]has answered Irwin Silber's pertinent declaration that there is no objective basis for socialism under late capitalism by reminding us that capitalism has and continues to undergo profound economic, political and cultural crises while it continues to revolutionise productive forces. In my view this only half answers the question. The extent to which crises constitute a "potentiality" for socialism is dependent on the capacity of historical agencies (e.g. the "working class") to transform social structures. Perhaps there is some credence is the view that capitalist crises in the 20th century are beyond the control of conscious historical agencies. Is late capitalism an era where the fragmentation and loss of political authority of existing states would make a democratic socialism impossible?
Mohideen's discussion about the viability of a socialist project also failed to discuss what is meant either by "socialism" or "revolution". Before suggesting the possibility or impossibility of socialism it might be useful to find out what it is. Depending on the audience, defenders of third international orthodoxy usually swing between defining socialism as nationalisation plus a revolutionary party in power or the more modern collective ownership plus democracy. There is a vast difference between these two concepts and it would be useful if we agreed on what we meant before we argue about what ought to be. Similar questions could be asked about what we mean by "revolution".
Silber and Mohideen have opened up a very interesting debate which ought to excite as much passion as the discussion on the ALP. Our continuing belief that human beings are able to collectively and consciously organise their fate in the face of productive forces that continuously seek to overwhelm our existence and autonomy is the basis of a commitment to socialism. I think we socialists benefit by putting such notions and assumptions under scrutiny.
Jeff Richards
Prospect SA
World war II
As a World War II soldier I was there and saw what went on. I have no reasons to tell untruths. If anyone disagrees with what I have said, I am available for a debate.
It's 50 years since World War II ended and I feel that the truth on how the Australian government of that day treated the natives must be told. About six years ago, I saw the documentary Angels of War on TV. PNG veterans came forward and told how they were treated by the Australian government. Some had lost limbs. I don't have to tell you about the "Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels". If it had not been for these men, many Australian mothers would not have seen their sons again.
After the war ended on Bougainville our Artillery Regiment broke up. My friends and I were transferred back to Lae, New Guinea. We had left Lae to go to Bougainville. Each day 20 New Guinea natives were sent to our unit. They were the same men and became our friends. They would show us marks on their legs and arms where they were beaten by Australian soldiers who were in charge of the native compound. We went down to the compound and saw natives beaten with bamboo sticks.
Before we left Lae, the boys came down to our unit to say goodbye. They left the compound with no food, no clothing. Before they left us we supplied them with food and clothing. How can you expect New Guinea people to trust the Australian government? These natives received no compensation for their services to the Australian army. I was so disgusted when I saw Angels of War on television that I sat down and wrote a letter to the Post Courier. My letter appeared on the front page, headed "Digger apologises for his government". I received many letters from sons of PNG veterans who had passed away. Many are still waiting to be compensated, Mr Keating.
David Morgans
Brisbane
Fruit picking
The fruit picking industry in Australia is being undermined in its wages and conditions by the use of so-called overseas backpackers. I am not saying that these people should be denied jobs because they come from other countries. As we know, there are only two types of people in the world: the exploited and the exploiters.
So what is happening in the picking industry? It goes like this: the Australian government gives out working visas to overseas travellers who come to Australia, usually with no money, and who end up picking fruit and vegetable crops. The visas last for 12 months and are issued for only one time in your life. With these restrictions, overseas travellers cannot take a job longer than 3 months or any job that is permanent so they end up picking (also because they are trying to make money as they travel around).
They are basically at the mercy of the growers who will use this to cut pay and conditions across the board to all workers: if you don't like the pay, I'll get the overseas backpackers in.
I could go through hundreds of situations where people have been ripped off by the bosses but I'll just give you two.
First, a group of Swiss people I met were working in Mildura in a tomato factory for $8 an hour (below the award rate, which they weren't aware of). When they left the job their pay was to be put into their bank accounts, but $100 short of what they were owed was deposited.
Second, two English people were working in Bowen, North Queensland, for $50 a day between them picking tomatoes. They only have tourist visas and were not entitled to work here. The grower knew this.
So when you think that this only happens to Mexicans going across the US border to work for Uncle Sam at $5 a day, think again, it's happening here.
Lawson Tullipan
Grafton NSW