BRISBANE — Fifty women attended the International Women's Day Collective meeting on January 19. The theme this year will be around the Year of Indigenous Peoples, with Murri women taking a strong role in the collective. It was also suggested that the collective send a clear message to the state government's Women's Policy Unit that the Goss government has failed to deliver on Aboriginal and women's rights. For further information please call Tracey on 844 6682.
- Opponents of the US and United Nations intervention in the Gulf held a successful rally and picket at King George Square on January 22. More than 50 people attended the event in response to the renewed bombing of Iraq. Susan Price, candidate for the Democratic Socialists in the federal seat of Brisbane, said, "To defeat the US we need to build mass public protests and opposition. This was how the Vietnam war was stopped."
CANBERRA — Approximately 40 people attended a rally here on January 21 against the renewed bombing of Iraq and called on US and Australian forces to leave the region. Participants spoke on the hypocrisy of sanctions being enforced against Iraq but not against Israel or Indonesia over East Timor; French and Russian objections to excessive force being used by the US; Australia's involvement in the Gulf; Clinton's policy on Iraq; and US involvement in world affairs. Peace activist Sean Kenan attracted widespread interest from passing shoppers as he led a group singing songs on Iraq, police harassment and Aboriginal dispossession.
WOLLONGONG — About 30 people turned out in the rain on January 22 to protest against the bombing of Iraq. Photo by Bernie Brian.