Fighting for global justice
ADELAIDE — Twenty people attended a public meeting here on February 10, organised by the International Women's Day collective, to discuss the theme of the March 10 IWD march and rally, "Women fighting for global justice against corporate tyranny".
Speakers discussed women and global violence, the struggle for women workers' rights and the role of feminists in the movement for global justice. Monica Chiappe, long term women's liberation and Latin American solidarity activist talked about the way the state uses violence as an instrument of control against women who dare to take political action.
Students protest
MELBOURNE — Forty high school students and others gathered outside the education department building on February 15 to protest a program to convince people that free trade and globalisation are the keys to "Australia's prosperity". Federal minister for trade recently announced the program, part of which includes a high school education curriculum to be trialed in 20 schools from June. Resistance member Tim Doughney called for the government to redirect the funding to the run-down state education system.
Residents angry at council
WOLLONGONG — An angry crowd of over 500 residents rallied in Wollongong Mall on February 17 to protest the pro-development, ALP-dominated local council. The rally was initially called against a new housing estate at Sandon Point in the northern suburbs of Wollongong. The protest broadened out to include other campaigns against overdevelopment, from Helensburgh in the north to Shell Cove in the south.