photos from Honduras action
Support Democracy in Honduras! - pictures from Hobart Rally and Media release
For Immediate Release 29th of June
Support Democracy in Honduras!
Reject the Coup!
Socialist Alliance has called on the Australian Government to not recognise the coup government of Honduras, which installed itself after a military coup d'état on Sunday June 28. As part of the call, the Socialist Alliance and supporters of democracy in Honduras, will be holding an action outside Duncan Kerr's office 5pm on Monday 29th of June.
"It is quite clear that what is happening in Honduras is an undemocratic coup. The military kidnapped the democratic elected president Manuel Zelaya and has reportedly been flown to Costa Rica.
This has been justified by the Military, because a non-binding vote was to occur asking the people of Honduras whether or not a majority of Hondurans desire to eventually enter into a process to modify their constitution. This is an outrageous assault on the democratic rights of the Honduran people" said Linda Seaborn, Socialist Alliance's spokesperson on Latin American Affairs.
The coup d'état has received immediate condemnation throughout the world. The Organisation of American States said it would not recognize any government but that of ousted President Manuel Zelaya. It also called for the 'immediate, safe and unconditional return' of Zelaya to his office. It described the coup as 'an unconstitutional alteration of the democratic order'.
"We absolutely believe the Rudd Government must follow the lead of the OAS and immediately condemn the coup and call for the restoration of Zelaya. Any other call would be anti-democratic and will help sentence the people of Honduras to a military dictatorship.
Massive protests have been held in Honduras in support of Zelaya. The Socialist Alliance stands with the people of Honduras, in their struggle to return President Zelaya and we believe the Rudd Government must too" Seaborn continued.
Support Democracy in Honduras!
Reject the Coup!
Action outside Duncan Kerr's office Australian Government Centre 188 Collins Street Hobart
Monday 29th of June
x5 PM
Media Contact:
Linda Seaborn 0409 421 738
Pictures taken by Linda Seaborn
MR: No fixed terms! Introduce recall referendum legislation
****Media Release************Media Release********
No fixed terms! Introduce recall referendum legislation
The Tasmanian Greens bill to fix state governments term's to four years will do nothing to improve accountability or honest government.
The Socialist Alliance believes that rather than legislating for a fixed term, the Tasmanian government should introduce a mechanism that allows for recall
referendums.
"The majority of Tasmanians are opposed to the proposed Tamar Valley pulp mill, but the Labor Government have been actively supporting it for the past 4
years anyway", Duncan Meerding a Socialist Alliance member said.
'We should have a mechanism like in California where the people can recall their elected representatives,' Meerding continued. 'There, if a petition is
signed by 12% of the number of people who voted in the previous election, a recall election is triggered. Tasmania should have the same measure so there's
some accountability over politicians'
The ability to call a recall election would mean the government could be held to account for the decisions they make all year round. Ordinary people would
be able to pressure the government to call an election early and face the people.
In response to Greens MP Nick McKim claims that fixed terms are more democratic, Meerding replied, "Democracy should not be limited to a once-every-four-years
vote. A fixed term only increases the amount of time that unpopular governments can stay in power."
"We should be increasing the ability for the people to put pressure on the government on when it can call elections, not decrease the people power", Meerding
finished.
For further comment call Duncan Meerding on 0419 406 875
Upcoming activist events 13 Feb - 1 Mar 09
Victorian fire tragedy highlights scale of global warming emergency and need for real action
Socialist Alliance statement, February 11, 2009
Click on http://www.socialist-alliance.org/ to read.
Florentine EVENTS
Friday 13th February
Festival launch & Art Exhibition Opening - 6pm
Art, Food, Bar, Sunflower Syco, Roving Performances
The Polish Club
20 Newtown Road, Newtown
Be My Florentine Friday 13th Cabaret 8pm
The Polish Club
20 Newtown Road, Newtown
$10/$8 concession
Dress theme: Burlesque!
with:
The Muddy Turds
Circus Horrificus
We are the Kicks Unplugged
Circus of Doom
Steve Smart
Vamp
No Nuke Nancy
The Florentina Lumberjills
Mean Francine
Miasma Belly Dance
Be My Florentine Beauty Pageant
DJ Fade In Fade Out
MC Miss Soda
Saturday 14th February
"Be My Florentine - Picnic in the Park"
1pm - 6pm
Princes Park - ("The Boat Park") - Salamanca Place, Hobart
Free Community Event
With: Billy Whims, Circus Of Dooom, Steve Smart, John Goodall, Old Girls Revenge, Queen Billy Shine, Nick Mercer, The Card Man, The Black Swan and P.Chi.
Speakers include
Professor Jamie Kirkpatrick (UTAS)
Margaret Steadman (Sustainable Living Tasmania)
Ula Majewski (Still Wild Still Threatened)
Information stalls, kids activities and face painting. Dress up!, Wear Red! Bring a Picnic!
Support protecting Tasmania's ancient southern forests. Family Event. No alcohol please.
"Be My Florentine - Finale" 8pm
The Loft - Liverpool Street
$10/$8 concession
with:
Nick Mercer
Old Girls Revenge
Dougy Sparrow
Llama loves Pony
Scripts for Sidewalks
Barons of Tang
Simple as ABCC? – Fabian society forum
The Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC) was introduced
by the Howard Government to reform the construction industry. Given extraordinary powers of entry and investigation, the ABCC has forced union officials and workers into secret interrogations and taken away rights enjoyed by other working men and women. What precedent does the ABCC set for industrial law and for the union movement?
At the last Federal Election, the ALP pledged to scrap the ABCC in 2010. Is it
that simple?
Friday 13 February 2009 • 1pm
Chaired by Senator Carol Brown
Featuring
« Tony Benson - CFMEU Secretary
« Prof. George Williams - University of NSW
« Conclusion by Duncan Kerr SC - Federal Member for Denison
The Johnnie Fox Room @ Irish Murphy's - Salamanca
Gold Coin entry • ALL WELCOME • Audience participation encouraged
For more information phone The Fabian Society (Tas Branch) - 03 6234 5255
CLEANERS RALLY
Community rally on Tuesday 17th February at 1pm out the front of the State Government Offices 10 Murray St (muster at 12.45pm on parliament house lawns).
The cleaners would love as much support as possible to put some pressure on the State Government and General and Window Cleaning to commit to the model Clean Start Union Collective Agreement. Could you please forward this invitation out to any community supporters you have contact with for us please?
More than 50% of CBD office / commercial space across Australia is now cleaned by responsible contractors who have signed on to the model collective agreement – which aims to give all cleaners secure jobs, a living wage and fair conditions across the industry.
This is a great result so far but unfortunately local contractors in the Tasmanian market are yet to sign. General and Window is the biggest contractor here in Hobart and has a large portion of state government contracts. The Tasmanian State Government should follow the lead of other States and make a real commitment to Clean Start by instructing their contractors to sign up.
We'd like to send this message home loud and clear. We hope that you'll be able to make it to the rally!
Contact Rebecca Flanagan, Lead Organiser, LHMU TASMANIA , ph: 03 6220 3222
A CONVERSATION WITH PETER CUNDAL AND BUCK EMBERG
Wednesday, 25 February 2009 at 7:30 PM
UTAS Annexe Theatre, UTAS School of Visual and Performing Arts, Launceston.
Prof Henry Reynolds in conversation with Peter Cundall and Buck Emberg. Living for a future - 21st century lessons from the Great Depression. How will we meet the 21st century challenges of global warming and the crisis of capitalism? History is a great teacher. Join in a conversation on sustainable living, drawing on experience in three continents of the Great Depression.
The registration link is https://www. utasalumni. org.au/NetCommun ity/SSLPage. aspx?pid= 211
Launceston Climate Festival
When - Sunday,1 March 2009, 12 noon - 4.00pm
Where - Royal Park Regatta grounds (off Paterson St/Park St ,Launceston)
What - free rickshaw rides, live music, short films, family fun/learning activities.
Contact - 0437 741 677
Website: www.climatelauncest on.com
Blogsite: http://climatelaunc eston.blogspot. com/
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