Readers will be aware of Brandon Astor Jones who has written the Looking Out column for Green Left Weekly for the past three years. Brandon has spent many years on death row, in Georgia, USA, after being sentenced to death by an all white jury.
Six years ago Brandon was granted a resentencing trial by the US Supreme Court. That trial will be held later this year. Brandon has recently been appointed a lawyer by the court; however, every previous client this man has represented where the death penalty was sought has been sentenced to death. Unless we can raise the funds to hire a private attorney, Brandon will almost certainly be executed within two years.
The set fee for defending a client where the death penalty is sought begins at US$75,000, and at least two lawyers are normally required. Last week, however, a private lawyer with an excellent reputation agreed to take Brandon's case for only US$50,000 and to obtain a second lawyer for the same fee. This was entirely due to the fact that he is thoroughly convinced of Brandon's worth and believes he is a truly special person.
Michael Marcum, the assistant sheriff, for the city and county of San Francisco, wrote, "There is value in Brandon's life and in his writing, for all of us — jailers, prisoners, potential victims. I have seen his writing sober and inspire young offenders who are still at risk of committing violence upon their release from our jails into our community. He conveys, convincingly, a belief that they can retake control of their lives before they further harm others and themselves, that they can make a lawful place in our society ... This man has value to all of us, to a community unable to make sense of the violence, victimisation and hopelessness that eats away at our best attempts of criminal justice."
If we can raise the US$100,000 through your kindness and contributions, Brandon will have a real chance of being given a fair trial and being spared the electric chair; otherwise there is little hope. Any amount, no matter how small, can be deposited at any branch of the Commonwealth Bank in the Brandon Astor Jones defence account, No. 2127 1003 7638, or you can contribute to the fund by sending your cheque or money order to the Brandon Astor Jones Defence Fund, 10 Palara Place, Dee Why, NSW, 2099.
Glenys Alderton
Sydney
Nursing home privatisation
Canberrans are beginning to ask questions about the three month old management of the newly privatised section of the Jindalee Nursing Home, Red Hill ACT. The Carnell Government, assisted by the ACT Greens and Independents, sold off our only remaining government owned nursing home to an interstate owner who bid less than the local Salvation Army. That is a wonderful mystery in itself.
Why is it that so many of the nursing staff are now resigning? Could it be that they have had enough of the industrial action, hassles regarding amounts and availability of redundancy payouts and problems with future job security, or perhaps they are objecting to being called "lazy" and doing jobs which are totally outside their jurisdiction.
Most of the residents are questioning why they are not receiving their medically prescribed diet or enough food to satisfy their hunger. Maybe that is why there was a procession of walking frames to a recent residents' protest meeting. It's just as well the nurses are good at making toast.
Perhaps this is the new Liberal vision of care for the elderly and infirm. After all it is a business and one must make a profit. It does seem a pity that they are so vulnerable, but then there is quite a long waiting list, to give a good turnover.
W. Zirngast
Canberra
Telstra
Most residents of NSW will or already have received a ballot paper asking them to decide between Telstra and Optus.
Telstra's telecommunications are owned by the Federal Government, that is owned by the people of Australia. Only 51% of Optus is Australian owned, with Mayne Nickless owning 25% of Optus. Foreign interests own a whopping 49% of Optus. That's almost half the profits from Optus going straight out of the country into the pockets of the British and American investors.
I have just received my glossy brochures from Optus telling me why I should choose Optus. I see nothing to interest me or convince me to take up their offer, even though they hold out the carrot of a $10 voucher towards the cost of my first phone bill.
Optus is not Australian, although the brochure says it only has a minority foreign ownership of 49%. Sounds like almost half to me.
Telstra is Australian. It laid the lines, repairs the lines and has been providing decent service to Australians for a long time. I am going to keep my money in Australia, and give Optus the flick and ensure that my money goes to providing Australians the profit and the jobs we so desperately need. In 1995 Telstra made a $1.75 billion after tax profit, paying the Federal Government $1.5 billion in taxes and dividends. Profits from Telstra help fund public education, public health, public transport and other necessary community services. Telstra is one of the largest employers in Australia with over 70,000 full time workers employed.
There's far too much foreign ownership of Australian core services already.
Therese Mackay
Port Macquarie NSW
Keep faith?
Sir Willam Dean says that John Howard will "keep faith" with the Australian people, by sacking five, ten, fifteen or twenty thousand wage and salary earners. Who's the "schizophrenic" now?
With tens of thousands of sackings imminent, all over Australia, what has happened to "the Sacredness of the Family", Sir William?
Denis Kevans
Wentworth Falls NSW