Students commit to anti-racism campaign
MELBOURNE — Following their successful vigil outside the Maribyrnong immigration detention centre, students at Princes Hill High School, in inner-city Melbourne, have committed themselves to organising further anti-war and anti-racism actions.
Nine students gathered for a lunchtime meeting called by the school's social justice group on November 16 and resolved that, while the school year was winding up, their campaign for refugee rights had only just begun.
The students have since organised a benefit for the Asylum Seekers Resource Centre and flooded the school with leaflets for a November 24 protest concert at Maribyrnong.
They have also joined plans by the newly formed HATEWAR (High school students Acting to End War and Racism) and Resistance for a lively contingent in the December 9 rally to welcome the refugees of war.
To get involved or to invite a HATE WAR speaker to your school, phone Chris on 0401 081856 or Vivian or Kylie on (03) 9639-8622.
Fifty attend teach-in
CANBERRA — More than 50 people participated in an anti-war teach in on November 24, organised by the ACT Network Opposing War (ACTNOW).
The first session was addressed by Shakira Hussein, PhD student and freelance writer on Islam who has just returned from Pakistan, and Ali Kazak, head of the Palestinian delegation to Australia.
Workshop themes included the myths and realities of Islam, the liberation struggle in the Middle East, refugees and war, and US and Australian foreign policies.
The teach-in concluded with a brainstorming session about how to build the anti-war movement, which produced a range of ideas. Activists plan to contact Greens Senator Bob Brown and trade union leaders to ask them to make a public call for people to join the December 9 human rights day rally against the war.
From Green Left Weekly, November 28, 2001.
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