Parkin Decision A Win For Openness
Greens Senator Kerry Nettle has welcomed a decision by the Federal Court ordering ASIO to provide information about their deportation of American peace campaigner Scott Parkin for being a security risk.
The decision handed down in Melbourne this morning [3/10/06] also requires ASIO to provide documents relating to their adverse security assessment of two Iraqi men who have been detained on Nauru for several years. "This is a win for commonsense, accountability and openness" Senator Nettle said.
"Perhaps we will now see why Scott Parkin was deported at the order of ASIO. Did the order come from Washington or the Howard government?"
"The ball is now in Attorney-general Ruddock's court. Will he allow the public to know the truth or will he try and cover it up using his national security veto."
"Finally justice may be served and these three men may know the reasons for ASIO labelling them a security risk"
Senator Nettle intends to visit Nauru this month to visit Mohammad Sagar who is still detained on Nauru.
Back Off Bono!
The Australia-Venezuela Solidarity Network has joined the international
campaign initiated by the US Venezuelan Solidarity Network, calling for
U2's Bono, who has appealed to the world on many occasions for peace and
poverty reduction, to apply those same values to block the manufacture and
distribution of a videogame which promotes the invasion and destruction
of Venezuela.
Bono is backing a videogame which promotes the invasion and destruction
of Venezuela in order to check "a power hungry tyrant" who has
"seized control of Venezuela and her oil supply." Mercenaries
2: World in Flames, created by Los Angeles based Pandemic/Bioware Studios,
simulates a mercenary invasion of Venezuela in the year 2007. Pandemic is
a subcontractor for the US Army and CIA funded Institute for Creative Technologies,
which uses Hollywood techniques to mount war simulations in California's
high desert in order to conduct military training. Mercenaries 2: World
in Flames simulates destruction in downtown Caracas, and promises to leave
no part of Venezuela untouched.
Elevation Partners is an investment firm that Bono helped create in order
to exploit marketing opportunities between U2 and its fans, including projects
from Pandemic/Bioware Studios. Pandemic states that as a partner in Elevation
Partners, Bono "has visibility into all projects at Pandemic and Bioware."
The Australia-Venezuela Solidarity Network will organise actions outside
of U2 concerts in Australia, asking Bono to take sides with the poor in
Venezuela and condemn US intervention:
BRISBANE:
Meet at 7pm, Tues Nov 7
At the Queensland Sports and Athletics Stadium next to Nathan Campus of
Griffith University
For further information contact network@venezuelasolidarity.org or Marg
Gleeson: 0439 411 330
Brisbane Land Warfare Conference
Last week, while Brisbaneites were distracted by Beattie's bleating about the blasted blimp, and the "terrible traffic chaos", the Land Warfare Conference was taking place at the Brisbane Convention and Entertainment Centre. Conference organisers couldn't go wrong with their excellent slogan: "Urbanisation, Complexity and Lethality", and their chosen venue of the BCEC, with its motto: "Making Events Personal".
It's that blimp! [taken from Spring Hill 25/10/06]
A peaceful protest action against the Land Warfare Conference took place last Wednesday at the front entrance of the BCEC. Security was tight as Australian Federal Police and ASIO agents patrolled the interior of the BCEC, and directed a row of Queensland Police situated at the top of the entrance stairway. Police also patrolled the perimeter of the complex, and protesters were only permitted to stand at the bottom of the stairs.
As the snazzily attired conference delegates ascended the front stairs, or snuck in around the side of the building for the opening night party, they were greeted with barrage of comments appealing to the delegates sense of shame in appearing so disconnected in the role the play in the manufacture of weapons which kill people. Protestors yelled "Shame!" and spoke about the testing of weapons containing depleted uranium and the war in Iraq.
Conference sponsors included Raytheon, Boeing, Israel Military Industries and the Queensland and Australian Governments.
Wickham Park Tree In Peril
A historic Moreton Bay fig located on the slopes of Wickham Park, Spring Hill is in peril. A spokesperson from Deputy Mayor, David Hinchcliffe's office said that the tree is badly distressed and has been fenced off so the arborists can treat it. "Because of its historical significance, every effort is being made to save it," she said.
According to the Wickham Terrace Spring Hill Heritage Tour, Wickham Park was first gazetted as a park in 1887. It was named after Captain John Clements Wickham, the chief magistrate and then government resident from the opening of Brisbane Town to free settlement in 1842 until the separation of Queensland in 1859.
Sayonara Sister
Senator Stott-Despoja spoke about choice and an emerging female solidarity across the political spectrum, when she addressed the Children By Choice Annual General Meeting last Thursday evening at Brisbane Girls Grammar School. After eleven years in the Senate, Stott-Despoja recently exercised her choice to make her family a priority and will not run for the Senate in the next Federal election.
As for the notion that babies and politics don't mix, Stott-Despoja said, “I think they should mix and they should mix more.” She explained that working women don't have the support structures they need. “In the last few years we have seen a raft of regressive legislation,” she said, referring to the new conservatism lead by Tony Abbott and certain members of the Senate. “There is a very strong push to turn the clock back,” she said, citing the “stunning budgetary decision” to withdraw $10million funding from programs dealing with domestic violence to fund the “War On Terror” fridge magnets.
Stott-Despoja also regards the government's baby bonus payment as a “cheap” and “shortcut” option which limits choice, and clouds the debate surrounding paid maternity leave. The message is clear - if you have babies, we are not going to assist your workplace transition. Despite the setbacks, Stott-Despoja believes this is a “positive and really exciting time” and that we are witnessing a “renewed process of women working together to regulate our own reproductive rights”. Working together across party barriers, government backbenchers and Julia Gillard have indicated their support for Stott-Despoja's private member's bill that seeks to prohibit misleading and deceptive advertising by pro-life counselling agencies.
Senator Stott-Despoja was the youngest woman to enter federal parliament in 1995 and led the Democrats from April 2001 until August 2002. She also recently introduced a private member's bill on stem cell research.
World Day Against The Death Penalty
This evening [10/10/06] we went to see a lantern procession for the Amnesty International, World Day Against The Death Penalty. A small march was held though the streets of Brisbane (some yobbos verbally and physically violated the marchers in King George Square) and ended with a candlelit vigil adjacent to the Old Windmill on Wickham Terrace.
Poignant, as some people were hanged at the windmill in 1841 - though you probably won't have read about it anywhere because they were black.
9/11 Plaque Goes Missing
A plaque commemorating the 9/11 tragedy, which was located in the Roma Street Parklands, has disappeared. The plaque was presented to the US consul representative in October 2001, following a service during which Queensland Firefighters paid tribute to their US colleagues who died in the World Trade Centre on 9/11. It was located beneath a magnolia tree alongside the main pathway in the Albert Park area. Roma Street Parkland officials are currently making enquiries as to the plaque's whereabouts.
A Winner On Wandoo
That rickety old house in Wandoo Street, New Farm, adjacent to the highfalutin James Street precinct, will soon be but a memory. It was sold at auction last Wednesday [25/10/06] for $1.71 million. At that price it can't be rented out to real Bohemians anymore!
Agent for the property, Mr Dan Palmer from CBRE Richard Ellis said the new owners plan to build and occupy the building as an office, for the purpose of a long-term hold.
“It was a great campaign, with an exceptional result,” he said. A great stencil appeared on the sold sign, as can be seen from the image below.
