By Sean Healy
SYDNEY — The Fight Racism conference, scheduled for September 27 and 28 and sponsored by the NSW branch of the National Union of Students, is shaping up to be an important forum for discussion and debate on combating racism.
The conference will feature three panels, a large number of workshops and a final plenary to discuss plans, as well as a public meeting on the topic "Defend Aboriginal Rights" on Saturday, September 27, at the Redfern Settlement.
Speakers confirmed for the public meeting include Jacqui Katona, the director of the Gundjehmi Aboriginal Corporation and spokesperson for the campaign against uranium mining at Jabiluka; Graceland Smallwood, an Aboriginal academic and activist recently awarded a peace prize by the Libyan government; representatives from the Kumarangk Coalition in South Australia, fighting against the Hindmarsh Island bridge; and Jenny Munro, from the Metropolitan Lands Council and a campaigner against the demolition of the Redfern block.
According to Jo Brown, one of the organisers of the conference, "What we're trying to do is to cover a large range of issues to do with experiences of racism, and of fighting racism, here and overseas. Clearly the Aboriginal perspective will be an important one to cover. We also want to look at issues facing migrants and issues of tactics and strategy in fighting racism."
The organisers anticipate "some lively discussion, including on how to explain, and how to fight, the rise of Pauline Hanson's One Nation, and on what tactics should be used in combating racism. We're also hoping that the conference will allow participants an opportunity to find out about the various campaigns, including against One Nation, against mining at Kakadu and on Wik and native title."
The planned feature panels are "What is Racism?" on Saturday morning, "Fighting Racism then and now" on Saturday afternoon and "Migrants and work — the real story" on Sunday morning. Four workshop sessions have also been organised.
"The way we've organised the agenda, there's plenty of room for discussion, both in the panels and in the workshops", Brown continued. "But there's still lots more space for people to participate — we are still calling for people to give workshops on topics relating to the general theme of the conference."
For more information about attending or giving a workshop, contact (02) 9690 1230 or NUS NSW on (02) 9267 4462 or your local student organisation.