MELBOURNE — Around 500 student activists gathered at Monash University from July 11 to 15 for the Students of Sustainability (SOS) conference.
The conference opening was addressed by representatives of the Aboriginal Tent Embassy, Aboriginal elders and members of the Black GST campaign collective. Emphasis was placed on the need for the environmental movement to consult with, and work in conjunction with, Indigenous communities.
The conference discussed the devastating humanitarian impact of climate change, including the resulting refugee crisis. Speakers related this to national campaigns such as No More Polluting Power, which opposes the use of non-renewable energy sources. Students shared campaign experiences of demanding green energy usage on campuses.
Underlying the week's discussions was opposition to proposed "voluntary student unionism" (VSU) legislation, which will attack students' ability to organise opposition to federal government policies, such as cuts to education funding, attacks on trade unions, the mandatory detention of refugees and the ongoing occupation of Iraq.
On June 14, conference participants joined an action outside the state parliament, in opposition to the expansion of the Hazelwood power station. A march followed, targeting the Liberal Party headquarters and BHP offices.
Laura Ealing & Simon Cunich
From Green Left Weekly, July 20, 2005.
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