"Pride" film screening - Fri 9 Oct

Come and see this inspiring story about lesbian and gay activists in Britain who supported the year long miners' strike in 1984-85. It is a story of struggle and solidarity that left a lasting legacy.

6:30pm Friday 9 October

16 Jackson St (Pearce St access)
North Fremantle

Dinner will be available by donation from 6:30, for a 7:00 start for the film showing.

If you are interested in having dinner, please send us a confirmation to 0415 922 740. Our thanks to Karen and FERN for making us delicious food!

Organised by Green Left Weekly
www.greenleft.org.au

Attend on Facebook:
www.facebook.com/events/1489759814684861

ALBA versus BRICS on "Opinionated"

Socialist Alliance member Alex Bainbridge on West TV's Opinionated show first broadcast on September 23.

Chris Jenkins on Opinionated: Break the power of the corporations

This episode of "Opinionated" features a video interview with Socialist Alliance member Chris Jenkins.

Video from Refugee protest

Video from Rez Nez about the September 12 "From Europe to Australia: Free the refugees" protest.

Video from Rethink the Link bridge protest

Video from Rez Nez of the September 13 bridge protest against Perth Freight Link.

From Europe to Australia: Free the refugees - Sat 12 Sept

From Europe to Australia: Free the refugees
12 noon, Sat 12 Sept, Murray Street Mall, Perth

Join us 12pm this Saturday (Murray St Mall, Perth) at our speak-out for refugees. Following the action we will hold an informal forum and discussion for people wanting to get involved in the campaign.

We will also be building a participatory art installation. People who wish to participate in the installation are asked: what would you take with you if you were a refugee? Please bring this item with you at 11:30 am for the building of the installation.

Perth, Melbourne and Sydney will join in solidarity with actions across Europe and UK in an international day of action calling for an end to policies of deterrence which turn refugees away at the border.

In Australia this means:
-closing down Nauru & Manus Island detention centres,
-ending detention completely,
-ending the forced tow-back of boats at sea and
-reinstating permanent protection visas for refugees.

Increasing the allocation of resettlement numbers for Syrian refugees is welcome but it will not address the dangers facing people forced to flee persecution if fences, walls and deterrence policies remain intact at the borders.

LET THEM LAND; LET THEM STAY.
FREE THE REFUGEES TODAY!

Attend on Facebook: www.facebook.com/events/1467771800217516

[Information from Refugee Rights Action Network]

#LightTheDark vigil in Perth: Deterrent policies don't save lives

"Boat turn backs, mandatory detention, offshore processing and indefinite limbo do not save lives."

This was the comment made by Refugee Rights Action Network activist Michelle Bui before the 1000-strong #LightTheDark vigil for refugees in Perth on September 7.

"You have to understand," she said that "no one puts their child on a boat unless the water is safer than the land."

"Therein lies the flawed logic of Australia's supposed deterrent policies."

Bui said that if Aylan Kurdi had made it to Australia, the government would have shifted him to suffer the torture of the Nauru detention centre.

"We were all shocked and horrified to see that photo of Aylan's tiny lifeless body washed upon the shore," she said.

"What is equally horrifying but something much more difficult to encapsulate in one image is the reality of the indefinite mandatory detention system."

This sentiment was echoed by Hazara refugee Ashraf Mohammad.

"You can't even imagine the impact of the government policies on asylum seekers," he said.

"The agony of life as a refugee is one that is never-ending."

"It is heart-breaking when I see grown up men sitting in a corner sobbing because of the devastating situation they are in as a result of this government's policies."

Other speakers included Marilyn Beech and Jarrod McKenna.

The rally chairperson said that the rally demonstrates that " we choose unity, we choose love and we choose solidarity".

















[This story and photos by Alex Bainbridge first appeared in Green Left online on 7 September 2015.]

Sudanese protest: Omar Al-Bashir to ICC

Members of Perth's Sudanese community (and supporters including Socialist Alliance members) protested against the participation of Sudanese government representatives at the "Africa Down Under" conference 2-4 Sept 2015 in Perth. A leaflet was handed out to participants based on the text below (taken from the Facebook event).

* * * * * *

Amongst the arrivals for The Africa Down Under conference taking place in Perth from 2-4 September 2015 is a delegation from the Sudanese Ministry of Mines, a branch of the Islamic Dictatorial Sudanese government that came to power through a military coup in 1989.

The Sudanese president and upper ministry, including members of the cabinet, are wanted by the International Criminal Court on charges of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity committed against the Sudanese people in Darfur.
The Ministry of Mines is part of a corrupt system used to rob Sudanese people of their resources. The profits from these ventures finance militant organisations and support terrorist activity worldwide.

The Bashir regime’s attempts to participate in a global conference is a desperate attempt to end its international and economic isolation, that has resulted fits many violations of human rights and crimes against the Sudanese people.
Cooperation with, and inclusion of, the fascist Bashir regime can be seen as supporting the on-going suppression of the Sudanese people, including their lack of access to health and education and the continuation of genocide and ethnic cleansing in Darfur, The Nuba Mountains and The Blue Nile.

· We call upon the Australian Government to Boycott Bashir’s Bloody Regime and cease all forms of cooperation and support with their representatives.

· We call on human rights organisation and political parties in Australia to stand in Solidarity with the Sudanese People.

· We call upon the Sudanese Community in Perth and Surrounding Areas to protest during this conference.

· We call on the wider community to stand in solidarity with the Sudanese people and protest the exploitation of the African Nations

The protest will be outside the Pan Pacific Perth Hotel

Murdoch Uni Forum: From Adam Goodes to Reclaim Australia and Refugee Scapegoating - Wed 9 Sept

This public forum will look at where racism comes from and how we can defeat.

Hosted by the Murdoch Resistance Club.

Time: 1:30pm
Date: Wed 9 Sept.
Location: Amenities Building 2.020 (Murdoch Uni)

Attend on Facebook: www.facebook.com/events/418557311668631