Party or federation?
In the recent debate concerning the value or otherwise of the proposed "Green Party," the example of "Green Alliance" in Brisbane has been quoted. I was pleased to see the way several fairly disparate left and progressive groups were able to work together to achieve an approximate 10% of the vote.
While not denying there were some problems in holding together an alliance of Australian Democrats, "Greens," Socialists of various tendencies and Humanists like myself; the non-rigid structure seemed to allow for the development of a slate of common policies, while the constituent groups were able to pursue the rest of their platform elsewhere.
Despite the initial appeal the notion of an integrated, formalised, "Green Party" may have in organisational and electoral campaigning terms; I am worried that the structure as proposed (or what little I have heard of it) would exclude too many key activists, and not allow the range of inputs necessary for comprehensive policy development.
I would opt for something more along the lines of a "National Federation of Green Alliances". This semi-loose structure should also be non-exclusionary, with any executive positions being elected by proportional representation so that each of the significant tendencies (Democrats, "Greens," Socialists, Humanists, et al) are represented accurately at all levels.
"Green Alliance" would be organised regionally, with regions sending several delegates to a national conference to determine policies and endorse candidates for federal elections; regions could group together to determine policies and candidates for state elections. Regions would be responsible for endorsing local government candidates in their areas.
Out of this process, a true "Green Party" could emerge once the major philosophical and tactical differences of the present constituent groups have been thoroughly resolved.
A forced amalgamation at this stage may provide some "organisational integrity," but would leave the various differences of opinion very much in place; with key invaluable elements unnecessarily outside the new party.
Guido Verdi Rossi
Windsor Qld
[Edited for length.]
Correction
Contrary to a report in issue 16 of Green Left Weekly, I am not involved with the Hazardous Materials Action Group. However, I am involved in the Altona Environment Action Group.
Dave Mizon
Melbourne
[The error occurred in our report on the Victorian Green Alliance campaign in the next state election. — Ed.]
Reply to critics
It is significant that my article, "Australian Peace Movement — Moral Queasiness" (GL #9) has excited
more adverse comment than any other the paper has published.
By contrast, the utterly disgraceful "PLO in Kuwait"(GL #11) has passed unquestioned. That this propagandist and distorted apologia for imperialism should be acceptable while a Marxist critique of the peace movement proves anathema says a lot about the readership GL attracts.
There is little point debating with many of my critics. Those who assert that Iraqi "Imperialism" is just as reprehensible as the US variety display such ignorance that the only reasonable response would be to send them a reading list.
And those whose belief systems include virgin birth, transubstantiation, life after death and original sin are, of course, at liberty to believe in almost anything — including if they choose, crystal healing, channeling and pacifism.
Likewise, those "greenies" whose response to the environmental crisis is to argue for zero economic growth (screw the starving) and to romantically yearn for a return to the "lost garden" of pre-industrial times. Their world view is grounded in utopianism.
My argument was specifically directed towards Marxists, whose politics commits them to a more scientific approach.
For this reason I was disappointed in Frank Noakes response (GL #14). His suggestion that I argued for "ideologically pure" peace rallies of half a dozen people is invalid. Nowhere did I seek to deny pacifists their right to participate in the movement, though I was critical of their stand.
Basically, I asserted that position which socialists in the movement should have been arguing for. My position arose from Marxist analysis — something sadly lacking in the Australian "left".
Ian Bolas
Fremantle WA
Media discovery
On June 7 1991, ABC radio presenter Andrew Olle discovered that the recent NSW elections boasted Green candidates. This fact surfaced finally through the quicksand of non-event reporting prior to the election and the proliferation of balance-of-power analysis resulting from the pundit-shocking election result. Predictably enough, it was the possibility that Fred Nile might get rolled by Ian Cohen which attracted attention.
Having now noticed Mr Cohen, Mr Olle allowed him to explain in some depth the policy positions he campaigned on, what his role would be if he got the 15th upper house spot, and what sort of pin-stripe suits he preferred. Next came the question of who Cohen would actually represent. Wasn't the green movement full of factions? Alas, scandal and embarrassment failed to result. Cohen didn't even get defensive. He simply explained about the Greens and the common positions adopted by all candidates and explained that debate and public discussion was a positive and democratic feature rather than, as in the case of other "mainstream" parties, a source of damage.
Now, had I been Mr Olle, I would have then asked Mr Cohen if he thought this was symptomatic of the difference between a new, developing political movement and an atrophied, rigid set of
formalised procedures divorced from grassroots input, let alone influence.
Andrew Olle, however, having taken lessons from Paul Lyneham (chief 2BL commentator on the Canberra circus) missed the opportunity and failed to get beyond the prevailing habits of political reporting, ie scandal and choreography.
Ah well, maybe next time. Olle at least did better than a Hinch type. No true scandal monger could have resisted "exposing" the Greens' left supporters and managing to mislay any discussion of issues.
Dot Tumney
Lilyfield NSW[Edited for length.]
Philippines forests
Steve Painter, Craig Cormick and Debra Wirth write on the problems of population in GLW of May 29. That fact that forests are cleared for farming is mentioned but not that forests in mountainous country unsuitable for farming are cleared for timber. This is an all too common sight in the Philippines, where denuded mountains affect the flow of water in the rivers, causing floods during rains and dry river beds or rivers which once ran clear having only a trickle of polluted water.
In areas, such as Agusan del Sur, where some tropical forests remain, legal and illegal logging is rampant. Indiscriminate mining operations also pollute rivers.
Farmers in villages I visited said they have had to reduce the amount of rice and vegetables planted because of shortage of water. Fishermen in coastal villages complained that fishing was reduced because soil carried down by floods covered coral reefs. Another nursery for sea life — mangrove swamps — were being cleared to make seaside resorts for tourists.
Other factors affecting food supply: Use of chemical fertilisers impoverishes the soil, more has to be used every year. This impoverishes the farmer.
In Agusan del Sur, I visited a minilaboratory and demonstration farm which enlightened the prevalence of gloom. They are producing a trichoderma activator used in organic fertiliser composting. They wish to develop trainers in organic farming systems. Anyone interested in getting more information can write to: Agusan Ecotech Foundation Inc, St Joseph parish, Sta. Josefa, Agusan del Sur, Philippines.
Emlyn Jones
Aveyron, France
Justice
Justice, justice, justice, where the hell is bloody justice?
We have a bloody police force than can shoot anyone with impunity, a bloody medieval Lord Mayor who wages a vicious campaign against homosexuals, a bloody Public Prosecutor who is too gutless to get out of bed on a cold morning and who lets a man who pumps three bullets into someone get away with murder, we have just seen a public inquiry into police corruption that could only be described as farcical and a public whitewash of all police forces and prison officers in Australia by the Royal Commission into Black Deaths in Custody.
Diogenes, of ancient Greece, was said to have wandered
about with a lantern searching without success for an honest man, he would be just as unsuccessful today seeking justice in the Northern Territory.
C.M. Friel
Alawa NT
Unanswered questions
Who bombed the Hilton? During the Hilton Bomb trial the prosecution attempted to link Tim Anderson with some gelignite which was discovered in a student locker at the University of New South Wales in April 1980. However, evidence showed that he was in jail at the time the locker was hired and Evan Pederick was in Queensland.
Some obvious questions that arise now that Tim Anderson has been acquitted are:
1. Did J.J. Melton leave a black zipper bag containing 52 sticks of gelignite at the Men's locker room at UNSW? If so, why?
2. Why did the suitcase contain a newspaper from two days before the date of the Hilton bombing?
3. How come the police managed to lose the relevant receipt book for the Men's locker room at UNSW?
4. Why did the head of Special Branch order the destruction of the black zipper bag and its contents in 1985, when at that stage there was no belief that the Hilton bombing had been solved?
5. Is it true that J.J. Melton was trained in weapons as a member of the Australian Navy at the UNSW facility in Jervis Bay?
6. Is it true that J.J. Melton had trained to enter Naval Intelligence?
7. What links did J.J. Melton maintain with the Intelligence community?
8. Why wasn't J.J. Melton called as a witness at the Inquest into the Hilton bombing?
9. Why was the gelignite discovery not even mentioned at the Inquest into the Hilton bombing?
10. Why did J.J. Melton commit suicide three months after Evan Pederick came forward and admitted to the bombing?
11. Why did our police come to the conclusion that J.J. Melton wasn't a suspect in the Hilton bombing?
I believe that I smell a rat and a coverup. It is essential that there be a Royal Commission to answer these questions.
L. Howlett
Campsie NSW