No mandate rally
CANBERRA — The ACT Jabiluka Action Group has called a No Mandate rally to coincide with the first day of the new parliamentary sitting: 12:30pm, November 10, at Parliament House.
Kim Bullimore from JAG said, "The purpose of this rally is to let the Howard government know they have no mandate for a uranium mine at Jabiluka, nor for a GST. A majority of people voted against the Liberals. We need to mobilise to show Howard we won't allow Jabiluka to go ahead without a fight."
Andy Arief interview screened
SYDNEY — Around 40 people attended a screening here on October 25 of a video interview with People's Democratic Party (PRD) leader Andy Arief. The interview covered Arief's period of detention following his kidnapping by Indonesia's Kopassus special forces.
The Indonesian language meeting, organised by Action in Solidarity with Indonesia and East Timor (ASIET), also saw footage of PRD chairperson Budiman Sujatmiko and East Timorese resistance leader Xanana Gusmao addressing a rally outside the Cipinang Prison from inside the prison complex, where they are being held.
Jill Hickson, who is following up her first documentary in Indonesia, There is only one word: Resist, with a second film currently in production, addressed the meeting on the situation in Indonesia during her recent trip. The footage shown at the meeting will be featured in the new documentary.
Jabiluka picket
SYDNEY — Seventy protesters rallied outside the annual general meeting of North Ltd on October 30. North is the parent company of Energy Resources of Australia, the company constructing the Jabiluka uranium mine in the Northern Territory, and has extensive involvement in the woodchipping of native forests in Tasmania.
Another 30 protesters attended the AGM and raised objections to North's involvement in the mine. The next event planned for Sydney is a march and rally on November 6, meeting at Town Hall at 5.30pm.
Left and live
MELBOURNE — More than 200 people packed the top floor of the Resistance Centre here for Left and Live, a comedy and performance night, on October 24, to benefit the Green Left Weekly fighting fund.
The night featured fabulous performances by comedian Rod Quantock, anti-racist drag queen Nancy Boyce, poet Michael Rudd, Kurdish dancers, circus performers and others.
The event was organised by Melbourne branches of Resistance and the Democratic Socialist Party and supporters of Green Left Weekly.