Friday, December 19, 2014

ACFS welcomes the release of Cuban Five


Yesterday we woke to the news we have long been waiting for Gerardo, Ramón and Antonio have returned to their beloved Cuba and their families, free at last after 16 years of unjust imprisonment.

Many people around the world have been in solidarity with the Cuban people to campaign for the Freedom of the Five and see an end to this injustice. We were all inspired by the words of Fidel in 2001 that “they shall return”.

As we have come to expect Fidel’s words were realised – history has absolved him and the Cuban Five are Free.

We will continue to support Cuba’s challenges in the new US-Cuba relations until the inhumane blockade is finally lifted as well as the return of Guantanamo Bay to the people of Cuba.

We have seen before when there is a gross miscarriage of justice such as the unjust imprisonment of Mandela that the struggle and resistance of people can be triumphant in bringing about truth and victory.

We congratulate the Cuban Five, their families, the Cuban people and their government as well as the millions of activists around the world for this victory.

The Australia Cuba Friendship Society in Western Australia celebrates this victory for justice and freedom with Gerardo, Antonio, Ramon, Fernando and Rene and all the people of Cuba. The Cuban Five are finally free!




[Media Release from the Australia-Cuba Friendship Society in Perth, Australia]

Thursday, December 11, 2014

Fremantle standing up for human rights: Sat 13 Dec


Join the Prohibited People standing up for human rights in Kings Square, William Street Fremantle on

Saturday 13th December!

10 am—3 pm: Information stalls, buskers, Mad Hatter’s Market

1:30 pm: Community Photo & Film Shoot

Show those suffering human rights abuses that we care. Photos to be streamed to asylum seekers and torture victims world-wide through Social Media.

(Bring placards and messages of support)

Donation gift cards available for purchase on AfHRTESL and RRAN stalls.

Action for Human Rights Tamil Eelam Sri Lanka in collaboration with The Institute for the Prevention of Human Cruelty IPHC

Enquiries: Leonie M 0439 475 174

An International Human Rights Event

To all from Fremantle and beyond: the main call to attend is for 1:30 pm: Community Photo & Film Shoot

We are looking to create a strong and positive message of support to the victims of violations of human rights and of authoritarian regimes, and we need your help!

The three participating organisations — Amnesty, Fremantle RRAN and Action for Human Rights Tamil Eelam Sri Lanka — will be staffing the stalls and talking human rights with passers by and attendees for the duration.

Saturday, November 22, 2014

Perth rally for equal marriage rights


Over 100 people defied police and Perth City Council on November 22 to rally and march in Perth to demand equal marriage rights. The rally began with threats by Perth City Council and WA Police. They claimed the rally had not been granted approval by the Perth City Council despite the fact that no approval is required. Everybody has a common law right to protest in a public area. Police threatened to disallow a march (as has been increasingly common in recent months). Equal Love stood up to the intimidation and the protest and march took place without incident.

Speakers included Greens' Lynn MacLaren, End Queer Lockdown's James Rendell, trans activist Natalia Verne, Socialist Alliance's Farida Iqbal and Miranda Wood from Curtin Guild (and Socialist Alternative).

The rally took place on the same day as the Pride Parade at which the End Queer Lockdown float will be an important activist contribution.



Thursday, November 20, 2014

Refugee Rights are Human Rights: protect them or lose them


[Information from Refugee Rights Action Network]

RRAN Human Rights Day forum

A discussion and activist training event organised by the Refugee Rights Action Network to mark international Human Rights Day.

We all know that indefinite mandatory detention violates fundamental human rights. The question is: what can we do about it?

6:30pm, Wed 10 December

Perth Activist Centre
15/5 Aberdeen St, Perth (next to McIver station)

Attend on facebook:
www.facebook.com/events/708682489239303


Friday, November 7, 2014

Abbott and Barnett threaten Aboriginal communities, heritage


Aboriginal activists in WA are gearing up for a rally on November 12 to protect remote communities in the face of Abbott government attacks. This follows a September 16 rally against state government threats to Aboriginal heritage and an October 23 rally against ongoing Black deaths in custody.

The federal government announced on September 24 that it was withdrawing funding for 180 remote Aboriginal communities in WA. $90 million will be granted to the WA government for a two year "transition period".

Federal minister Nigel Scullion said that this was an "historic agreement" while state minister Bill Marmion said "this was not an agreement, it was an ultimatum – we had a gun pointed at our head".

Aboriginal activists believe that this arrangement will mean that communities will lose basic services and be shut down.

Marmion told The West Australian that it is "too early to tell" if any communities will close but that "this may well be an outcome".

"Barnett's plan will inflict more suffering and death on us First People" said a representative of the Swan Valley Nyungar Community (SVNC) in a November 1 email to supporters.

"By closing down communities, this state government is denying us as First People our right to live on our Land the way we want to live, as a community of people, protecting our families, our culture and our sacredness in the land," the statement said.

Already some communities have been destroyed. Oombulgurri in the East Kimberley is one example that was bulldozed last month. The community was forcibly closed in 2011 after a coronial inquiry concluded it was in a state of crisis.

However, according to Amnesty International, some former residents wanted to return to their homeland.

``There's 40 houses, there's a school, there's a clinic, there's a police station, a shop, water tanks, power station – it's not just a couple of houses, it's a whole community,'' human rights lawyer Tammy Solonec told the ABC before the demolition.

She pointed out that people who'd been forced to leave and who don't have adequate housing now were to have their previous houses destroyed.

"People weren't afforded their free and informed consent in regards to the closure of the community, the forced evictions, or the demolition," she said.

The Swan Valley Nyungar Community was also bulldozed this year after a long struggle to reclaim access to their Lockridge site.

"Bulldozing our communities is attempted genocide," the SVNC statement said. "The damage will be felt for generations to come."

The Greens have also expressed concern at the development. State parliamentarian Robin Chapple has pointed out that "we don't go around closing small rural towns half the size of many of these communities, so why shouldn't Aboriginal communities be nurtured on their lands and in their towns?"

These attacks come on top of attempts by the state government to weaken the Aboriginal Heritage Act. While the government claims that proposed changes will result in "greater protection" and "fairness", the reality is that the changes are motivated by a desire to streamline the approval process for mining and construction companies.

In particular the proposed changes would concentrate enormous power in the hands of the CEO of the department of Aboriginal Affairs. In particular, the CEO would have authority to simply make a declaration that "there is no Aboriginal site on [a particular piece of] land".

The Law Society has also criticised the changes. According to senior vice president Matthew Keogh, "the Government has spoken about the idea that the regulations that will go with this legislation will require the CEO to have regard to certain matters, such as consulting with the relevant Aboriginal communities, but it hasn't actually put that into legislation, nor has it actually required that the regulations include that".

"It's also provided in these amendments the capacity to change the criteria that the CEO is to assess against by a regulation," he said. "So its setting up a system which will be weaker and can be made weaker by government decision without having to go back to the Parliament."


[This article by Alex Bainbridge was written for Green Left Weekly #1032. Photos from September 16 rally and October 23 rally.]




Tuesday, November 4, 2014

Save Aboriginal Communities from Barnett's Bulldozers: Unity rally 12 Nov


[Information from Swan Valley Nyungar Community]

Oombulgurri, Swan Valley Nyungah Community and Kennedy Hill have already been bulldozed.

What is next? More Prisons?

The Abbott Government is withdrawing funding from 180 communities in Western Australia. The State Government is letting it happen, which means they will lose basic services and be shut down.

“Barnett’s plan will inflict more suffering and death on us the First People”.

By closing down Communities this State government is denying us as First People our right to live on our Land the way we want to live, as a community of people, protecting our Families, our Culture and our Sacredness in the Land.

Bulldozing our Communities is forced assimilation, forced displacement and homelessness, forced sickness and death. The damage will be felt for generations to come.

Article 8 of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples says “Indigenous peoples and individuals have the right not to be subjected to forced assimilation or destruction of their culture”.

“Our rights as the First People are not being respected”.

Speakers:
RICHARD WILKES (NYUNGAR)
GEOFF STOKES (WONGI)
SANDY DAVIES (YAMATJI) (to be confirmed)
MARIA SMITH (WESTERN DESERT)
CISSY GORE BIRCH (OOMBULGURRI) (to be confirmed)
DANIELLA ROCHFORD (BARDI)

12 PM WEDNESDAY 12 NOVEMBER
PARLIAMENT HOUSE, PERTH, WA

Please forward and print out and pass this on any way you can and come and join us to save our Homelands, Culture and Way of Life all over Western Australia.

Article 8 of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples says "Indigenous peoples and individuals have the right not to be subjected to forced assimilation or destruction of their culture".

STOP CLOSING OUR COMMUNITIES

For more information contact Bella Bropho 0467 329 047 or Herbert Bropho 0475 080 523 or office phone 08 9279 1636.

Monday, November 3, 2014

Photos from Solidarity with Kobane rally






Over 100 Kurds and supporters marched through the streets of Perth on November 1 to express solidarity with the Rojava liberated zone within Syria.




GLW performance night: songs of struggle and comedy for comrades - Fri 21 Nov


Green Left Weekly Performance Night

songs of struggle
poems of passion
& comedy for comrades

Performers include:
Selekt Few - awesome hip hop
Helchild - comedian
Afeif Ismail - poet and playwrite
WAMDA - Sudanese musical group
Ahmedo - Kurdish liberation songs
Kamala Emanuel - song for women of Rojava
Kerry Mulholland - poetry
Until We Return - Sudanese music

Also features:
Tributes to Kobanê - solidarity with the Rojava revolution
Delicious Sudanese finger food

7pm Fri 21 November

Perth Activist Centre
15/5 Aberdeen St, Perth
(next to McIver station)

$10/$5 or $20 solidarity

Ph 9218 9608, 0413 976 638 for more info

Attend on Facebook:
www.facebook.com/events/704220876335077

Purchase tickets here:
www.trybooking.com/GJOS

Tuesday, October 28, 2014

Solidarity with Kobanê day: rally, march and fundraising


Support the Kurdish liberated zone

Join this rally, march and fundraising effort

Kobanê is a canton of Rojava – a predominantly Kurdish “liberated zone” in northern Syria. It is an essential line of defence against attacks by Islamic State thugs.

11am, Sat 1 November

Murray Street Mall, Perth City

Organised by Kurdish Association of WA. Ph 0401 686 067.

Attend on Facebook: www.facebook.com/events/1493300347596650

Monday, October 27, 2014

Pink Saris screening to mark Reclaim the Night


All welcome

"Pink Saris" tells the story of the Gulabi Gang, an Indian women's organisation founded by Sampat Pal Devi, to fight women's abuse and oppression. Drawn predominantly from Dalit women (the "untouchable" lowest caste), they organise direct action to prevent abuse of women. Famous for threatening violent husbands with beatings using laathis (long sticks), they oppose child marriage, official corruption and the lack of educational opportunities for girls.

Join us on the evening of Reclaim the Night, in celebrating women's resistance to violence. We will also be paying tribute to the women of Kurdistan and expressing solidarity with Muslim women confronting the rise of Islamophobia in Australia today.

Friday 31 October

Perth Activist Centre
15/5 Aberdeen St, Perth (next to McIver station)

6pm Greetings
6.30pm Pink Saris film screening
8pm walk to Northbridge together to Reclaim the Night

Hosted by Socialist Alliance. Ph Kamala 0417 319662

www.Socialist-Alliance.org

Attend on Facebook: www.facebook.com/events/1515477592033454

Saturday, October 25, 2014

Photos from rally against Black deaths in custody




Hundreds of people marched from Supreme Court Gardens to protest against Black deaths in custody on October 23.








Monday, October 20, 2014

Stop Black deaths in custody: Justice for Miss Dhu - Thurs 23 Oct


[Information from Deaths in Custody Watch Committee.]

**** Aboriginal people should be aware that the following content contains images of a deceased person ****

"On Thursday 23rd October 2014 communities across the country will pause to remember the tragic death in custody of Miss Dhu and to call on Governments around the nation to take action"


'Justice for Miss Dhu'
- NATIONAL DAY OF PROTEST -

National rallies being held around the country on the 23rd October

The Deaths in Custody Watch Committee WA Inc will join with the Family of Miss Dhu and concerned Australians in calling on the State Government of Western Australia to fully investigate the death in custody of their loved one and to bring about an end to Aboriginal deaths in custody.

22-year-old Ms Dhu died on August 4 after three days in police custody for unpaid fines. She had been taken to the Hedland Health Campus twice after complaining of pain, fever and paralysis from a suspected leg infection.

Both times she was declared medically fit to be kept in custody. Police said she was fine when her family called to see if she was OK.

She died the next day. Now the premier is calling for an expedited coronial inquest to quell calls for an independent inquiry into Ms Dhu's death.

Will anyone be held responsible?


Read More
"Behind every death in police or prison custody there is a family that grieves for their loved one"
Petitioning the Australian Government Justice for Julieka - No more deaths in custody Julieka was failed by the system. Nobody deserves to die like that, wounded, begging for help and being mocked and dismissed. All because she had around $1,000 in unpaid fines. This latest tragedy could easily have been prevented.

In 1987, the Hawke government set up the Royal commission into Indigenous deaths in custody, to help find out why Indigenous deaths in custody were so prevalent and to address how to stop it.

When the commission handed down its findings, the Australian government lost it's right to feign ignorance of the issue. The commission made over 300 recommendations to either eliminate or significantly reduce deaths in custody. Yet very few, if any were ever acted upon.

Sign the Petition HERE


PERTH ACTION
We call on concerned members of the WA Community to come together and support the Family and community of Ms Dhu who tragically died in a Port Hedland lock up last month.

The family are demanding answers to numerous questions surrounding the death of their loved one.

The Public Rally & March in Perth will take place from Supreme Court Gardens (Riverside) forming up from 11:30am and marching off up Barrack St, left into St Georges Tce and up to Parliament House.

23 October 2014

Our Demands

Freo for Freedom: 2 Nov 2014


Freo 4 Freedom

An afternoon of social education and collaboration, leading into an evening of insightful comedy and inspiring music as we come together to build a creative local movement for social and political change.

Sunday 2 November

North Fremantle Bowling Club
40 Stirling Highway, North Freo

music food lawn bowls workshops
from 2pm (free entry)

hip hop freestyle comedy show
from 6:30pm (entry by donation)

#freo4freedom

Attend on Facebook:
www.facebook.com/events/944366122246547

Organised by Freo RRAN

No crime to seek asylum

Sunday, October 19, 2014

Images and sound from Perth rally against Islamophobia






Over 200 people rallied in Perth city on October 18 to stand against Islamophobia. The government and corporate media are fostering an environment in which ordinary people blame Muslims, instead of the Abbott government, for their problems.

The result is sweeping attacks on civil liberties for all in Australia.

It is also being used as an excuse for a new war in Iraq.

[Audio from the rally is above. Video below by James Rendell. Photos by Alex Bainbridge. More photos from Marziya Mohammedali and Zeb Parkes.]



Save our communities: Defend Aboriginal heritage - 12 November 2014


[Information from the Swan Valley Nyungah Community]

UNITY RALLY

Stand with us at Parliament House at

12 noon on 12 November 2014 

to speak out against genocide and human rights violations in WA.

Oombulgurri, Swan Valley Nyungah Community and Kennedy Hill have been bulldozed.

What is next?

The Abott Government is withdrawing funding from 180 communities in Western Australia. The State Government is letting it happen, which means they will lose basic services and be shut down.

“Barnett’s plan will inflict more suffering and death on us the First People”.

By closing down Communities this State government is denying us as First People our right live on our Land the way we want to live, as a community of people, protecting our Families, our Culture and our Sacredness in the Land.

Bulldozing our Communities is forced assimilation, forced displacement and homelessness, forced sickness and death. The damage will be felt for generations to come.

Article 8 of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples says “Indigenous peoples and individuals have the right not to be subjected to forced assimilation or destruction of their culture”.

“Our rights as the First People are not being respected”.

Speakers:

Elders from: Oombulgurri;
Western Desert;
Yindjibarndi People;
Wongi Country; and
Nyungah Country.

LAND. LAW. COMMUNITY LIVING.

Don’t wait for the justice that never comes, stand up and demand your rights.

Stand With Us

For more information contact Bella Bropho 0467 329 047 or 0411 240296, or email svnc@nyungah.org.au (office phone number 92791 636) Herbert Bropho 0475 080 523

Friday, October 17, 2014

Post rally: Muslim rights, women's rights & queer rights - Sat 18 Oct


Post-rally discussion: All welcome

Muslim rights, women's rights and queer rights

Come back after the rally against Islamophobia to discuss some of the key issues in this campaign.

Sat 18 October

3pm Perth Activist Centre
15/5 Aberdeen St, Perth (next to McIver station)

Thursday, October 16, 2014

Rojava: Why we should all support the Kurdish freedom struggle - Tues 21 Oct


Public forum: All welcome

Kobanê: Why we should all support the Kurdish freedom struggle

A desperate battle by progressive Kurdish-led resistance fighters is seeking to defend Kobanê from ISIS fundamentalist forces. Kobanê is in Rojava, or Western Kurdistan, is a predominantly Kurdish area in northern Syria that is a semi-autonomous “liberated zone” experiencing a social revolution.

This forum will recount the story of liberation in Rojava and discuss the issues for progressive people in Australia. It will feature DAVE HOLMES from Socialist Alliance in Melbourne (via Skype).

Tues 21 Oct

6:30pm, Perth Activist Centre
15/5 Aberdeen St, Perth (next to McIver station)

Ph 0413 976 638

Attend on Facebook:
www.facebook.com/events/298940920295464


Tuesday, October 14, 2014

Rally against Islamophobia: Sat 18 Oct


Rally against Islamophobia

Take a stand against the government and media racism against Muslims and people with Middle Eastern background. This distraction from the budget attacks on ordinary people is being used to fuel war abroad and attack democratic rights at home.

Sat 18 October

1pm Murray St Mall, Perth

Phone Kamala 0417 319 662 or Miranda 0424 613 941

Attend on Facebook:
www.facebook.com/events/355411687957862



Post-rally discussion: All welcome

Muslim rights, women's rights and queer rights

Come back after the rally against Islamophobia to discuss some of the key issues in this campaign.

Sat 18 October

3pm Perth Activist Centre
15/5 Aberdeen St, Perth (next to McIver station)

Thursday, October 2, 2014

Book launch: Sri Lanka's Secrets - Tues 7 October


Book launch: SRI LANKA'S SECRETS

Author Trevor Grant in conversation with Senator Lee Rhiannon.

6:30m Tues 7 October

Reception Room at rear of Fremantle Town Hall (enter via stairs and patio).

An insight into the end of the Civil War in 2009 and the continuing torture and abuse of Tamils in Sri Lanka - although denied by the Australian Government, cynically preoccupied with ’stopping the boats’ at any cost.

Books for sale and book signing at the event.
Tamil cuisine and beverages available by donation 6-8pm.

Sri Lanka’s Secrets is Published by Monash University Publishing

Hosted by Action for Human Rights in Tamil Eelam and Sri Lanka and Fremantle Refugee Rights Action Network

Facebook event: www.facebook.com/events/289879344549523

Tuesday, September 23, 2014

internet and activism: public forum Tues 30 Sept


Public forum - all welcome

internet and activism

Is the internet a powerful tool for activism?
Or an excuse for "slacktivism"?

A means of mass surveillance?
Or a challenge to the status quo?

Speakers:
Fletcher Boyd (Pirate Party)
Gerard Gill (Curtin Uni researchers)
Zeb Parkes (Socialist Alliance)
Bec Davies (Socialist Alliance)

6pm Tues 30 Sept

Perth Activist Centre
15/5 Aberdeen St, Perth (next to McIver station)

Attend (and share) on Facebook:
www.facebook.com/events/295273870680786

Hosted by Socialist Alliance. Ph 9218 9608, 0417 319 662.

Monday, September 22, 2014

People's climate mobilisation in Perth




Van Badham speaking at the Perth climate change action as part of an international day of action in the lead up to the New York climate summit.








[Photos and video by Zeb Parkes.]

Wednesday, September 17, 2014

Confronting Capitalism's climate crisis


Post-rally forum

Come back after the People's Climate Mobilisation to this post rally event discussing the measures needed to solve the climate crisis.

As Naomi Klein's new book argues, it is impossible to solve the climate crisis without confronting the capitalist system that caused it.

This forum will hear from a leading activist in the victorious Bentley Blockade in northern NSW about defeating the fossil fuels industry. It will also help explain what every environmentalist needs to know about capitalism.

3pm (or when the rally finishes)
Sunday 21 Sept

San Churros cafe, back room
132 James St, Northbridge (just near Russell Square)

Attend on Facebook:
www.facebook.com/events/963121013704089

Tuesday, September 16, 2014

Waging Peace on War and Terror: Wed 17 Sept


Politics in the Club
Waging Peace on War & Terror


Tony Abbott and Julie Bishop are gloating about the prospect of sending troops to Iraq while at the same time trying to convince anybody who will listen that this intervention is different to the invasion of 2003.

Meanwhile, defence advisor and former head of the Australian army Peter Lealy recently predicted Australia will be engaged in a “savage, 100 year war against radical Islam”.

With hype around the ANZAC centenary reaching fever pitch, the Abbott government is signaling its readiness to support the latest US/NATO military interventions in the Middle East and Eastern Europe. This forum will discuss building the anti-war movement today.

Sandra Nasr (Politics lecturer, NDU) on Israel/Palestine
Adrian Glamorgan Fremantle-based peace & anti-nuke campaigner
Nicolas Gribble on the West’s endless war in the Middle East
Barry Healy on nationalism, war and ANZAC

Wednesday 17 September 6:30pm
Fremantle Workers Club, 9 Henry St

Attend on Facebook:
www.facebook.com/events/1501926800054783

Sponsored by Green Left Weekly

For more info: fremantle@greenleft.org.au or 0415 922 740

Monday, September 15, 2014

People's Climate Mobilisation: Sun 21 Sept


[Information from People's Climate Mobilisation. Check here for information about mobilisations around the country.]

Join people from all walks of life as we call for urgent action, not words, to create a world that works for people AND planet.

On September 21, we join hundreds of thousands of people around the world in calling on our leaders to commit to bold climate action at the UN Climate Summit.

Our message is simple and clear: we want a safe climate future.

To achieve this goal, we call for:
1) Tony Abbott to put real climate action on the G20 agenda
2) Strong Renewable Energy Target and a timeline to reach 100% Renewable Energy ASAP
3) No new coal or gas projects

This will be a fun, family friendly event with loads of opportunities to learn about how YOU can take effective personal and collective climate action.

Let's make sure the world knows we take our climate seriously!

Time: 1:00 PM

Date: Sunday, September 21,

Location: Russell Square Perth,

Attend on Facebook:
www.facebook.com/events/736467746424833


Speakers:

Prof. Fiona Stanley - Future Health and the impact of global warming.

Bishop Tom Wilmot - Divestment, what organisations like the church can do to help win this fight.

Zaheer Allam - Small island nations and climate change.

Chantelle Roberts - Bunbury Against Coal Exports and the local fight against Fracking.

Cameron Power - How WA can reach 100% renewables by 2029, a vision for the future.

Organisations Supporting:

350.org
Animal Justice Party WA
Anglican Diocese of Perth
Australian Conservation Foundation
Australian Youth Climate Coalition
Avaaz
Climate Reality Project
Conservation Council WA
GetUp
Labor Environment Action Network
March Australia - Perth
No Fracking WAy
Socialist Alliance
Sustainable Energy Now
The Greens WA
The Wilderness Society
Transition Town Perth
Uniting Church WA
WA Climate Roundtable
WA Forest Alliance

Sunday, September 14, 2014

More videos from Perth rallies for Palestine


Ayman Qwaider


Coilin Devlin on August 16


Victoria Martin-Iverson


Victoria Martin-Iverson on August 2


Protest the Israeli Film Festival opening night






Saturday, September 13, 2014

Seamus Doherty: "Why we support BDS" (video now available)




This video is of Socialist Alliance member Seamus Doherty representing the Plumbers Union of WA. He was speaking at the August 16 rally for Gaza in Perth city.