Multicultural democracy
Democracy has to be more than picking between tweedledum and tweedleduller on a ballot paper and then sticking our heads back in the sand till next time or demonstrating for TV cameras.
South Africa's and New Zealand's constitutions recognise distinct cultural groups seeking fairer self-determination. Similarly, the Australian Women's Party seeks equal numbers of each sex in parliaments.
I think ideally a voter should have the right to choose a cultural organisation as her/his electoral roll, rather than a geographic electorate. Proportional representation (PR) should reach into Cabinet, not just parliamentary committees which do most of the constructive, investigative deliberation of parliaments.
Our Senate is a house of review because no party has an absolute majority. It is PR, not a second house, that provides this review function. Major parties have to talk with minorities and get considered amendments to laws. They resist PR, claiming it destabilises, noting frequent realignment of governing coalitions in France, Italy etc. But the delay they deplore is generally good for minority representation, e.g. Greens in the Senate, and the recent end to conflict over abortion in Italy after a clear result in a petition-initiated referendum.
Middle Park Qld
[Abridged.]
Growth and greenhouse
John Howard's latest 4 billion dollar gift to business is indicative of the failure of his government and the ALP to realise the direct link between production and greenhouse gas emissions.
If he succeeds in his projected 4% annual increase in gross national product for 10 years, he will, given present production methods, increase our greenhouse gas emissions by 48%.
Every increase in production means an increase in greenhouse gas emissions and, if it is ecologically disastrous to increase our greenhouse gas emissions, it is ecologically disastrous to increase our economic activity, it is ecologically disastrous to increase exports, it is ecologically disastrous to take part in the globalisation of our economy.
Not only must the left work for a reduction in production, a reversal of growth, but it must solve the problems associated with such a reduction, particularly the reduction in employment opportunities.
Alawa NT
US political prisoners
Like other progressive people around the world I was delighted to read in mid-1997 of the release of Geronimo Ji Jaga, a New African political prisoner and former member of the Black Panther Party (BPP) after 27 years in US prisons.
Despite this victory there are still many other political prisoners behind bars in the USA. Some like Geronimo were framed, others convicted on tainted evidence or through police entrapment activities and are in prison for their political beliefs. They were targets of intense police and FBI repression and when convicted were singled out for harsh treatment and long sentences.
One such man among the scores of ex-BPP members is Sundiata Acoli, one of the longest-held political prisoners in the US, having served over 24 years. He was also a victim of the many illegal government undercover operations against the BPP and other radical groups in the 1960s and 1970s.
Sundiata came up for parole in 1994 and despite a fine prison record and the length of time served the New Jersey Parole Board gave him another 20 years in prison before coming up for parole again!
I request that people concerned about human rights and justice write to the judges hearing his appeal and urge that the parole board decision be overturned and that Sundiata be paroled. Send your letter to: Judges Long and Cuff, Superior Court of New Jersey, Appellate Division, CN006, Trenton, NJ 08625, USA. Send a copy to Sundiata and his defence committee: Sundiata Acoli, #39794-066, Allenwood, PO Box 3000, White Deer, PA, 17887 USA.
Hurstbridge Vic
[Abridged.]
Misinformation
On January 6, the Australian published an article uncritically quoting a report that found that the native title debate has cost the country $30 billion in lost mining revenue and foregone investments opportunities. However, according to ABS figures, a record $60 billion worth of mining investment is going ahead, regardless of the native title debate.
The article did not state who had commissioned the report, which was produced by consultancy transnational Coopers and Lybrand. When C&L was contacted, it refused to say who had paid for the report, while denying that this was a secret.
In the "projects on hold" table from the C&L report, the first two items are projects of Rio Tinto, the world's biggest mining company. Two of the other projects mentioned are Comalco projects, which means they are also owned by Rio Tinto.
Rio Tinto's intended uranium mine, Kintyre at Rudall River in WA, is at one of the most isolated places in Australia. Cost figures in the table of projects relate to the development costs, which bear no relationship to any governmental revenue from the mining activity.
The development cost given for Kintyre is $120 million. However, there will be huge public cost incurred in building the road for the 16-hour drive from Port Hedland to Rudall River, to truck uranium across the state, as well as for setting up and maintaining support services for such a remote mining site.
The sticking point on the native title debate, the one point in the 10-point plan that a weak Labor position has held out on, is for the right to negotiate. It's the issue that really concerns the mining industry, and one on which the government is prepared to go to a race election.
Misinformation needs to be constantly questioned. If anyone hands out a leaflet, they are obliged, legally, to put the name of who authorised it, as well as who printed it. When people are prepared to produce slick, corporate misinformation, we need to know who's paying the piper.
Sydney
[Abridged.]
Tribute to Lou Gugenberger
We are extremely sorry to hear that Bougainville activist Lou Gugenberger passed away on January 8, 1998.
Since 1993, Lou would always participate in our regular Bougainville phone link-ups and his words of wisdom were always noted. He often expressed deep concern with regard to multinationals and governments continuing to exploit the people of Bougainville, as well as most indigenous peoples on our planet. He was deeply suspicious of their motives.
It was in January 1995, that we had the honour of meeting Lou face to face at our Bougainville retreat. Lou drove from Brisbane to near Newcastle to attend the retreat. He planted many trees for the Bougainville forest and participated with great enthusiasm. It was just wonderful to meet him personally and to put a face to the voice on the telephone.
Lou named me "naughty Vikki" for certain activist protests and demonstrations we had achieved for Bougainville. I would always chuckle with laughter when he called me this.
Although Lou's health was not the best, he continued to work very hard to his last days for the independence of Bougainville and its freedom from Rio Tinto mining company.
The Bougainville Freedom Movement of Australia will miss "our" Lou. He is well respected and will be sadly missed.
National coordinator, Bougainville Freedom Movement
Sydney