Critical Times

(Left, Malcolm Turnbull, leader of the conservative Liberal Party which introduced laws removing the right to silence from construction workers, under threat of six months jail, nevertheless claimed the same right for himself, under parliamentary privilege, when investigated over fake emails in the “Utegate” affair. The new “Labor” government has kept intact these laws that victimise construction workers. The following article is cross-posted from the Ark’s tribe website.

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The so-called “regulator” over the Finniss River at Clayton should have been finished a fortnight ago.

However, unexpected problems with its construction have delayed completion and placed project workers in danger.

In the first place, workers are being made to start early and finish late without any more lighting than that supplied by truck headlights.

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A Review of the new movie “BALIBO” from Arenafilm, Australia.

The new “drama film” named “Balibo” was officially released on Friday (24/7/09) on the Opening Night of the Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF). The Timor Leste President Jose Ramos-Horta spoke.

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Source: The Guardian

by Anna Pha

In the coming weeks superannuation funds will be reporting record losses for the 2008-09 financial year, far greater than those of the previous year. Around $200 billion of workers’ retirement savings have been wiped, and many workers forced to put off retirement, while retirees return to work. The forecast average loss is around 13 percent for “balanced funds”.

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by Renfrey Clarke

If combatting climate change is left up to the governments of the world’s wealthy nations, much of humanity is likely done for. That’s not the message that was supposed to emerge from the July summit meeting in Italy of leaders of the G8 group of countries – Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and the US. But apply a little climate science, and such is the unmistakeable conclusion.

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by Bobbrit

It seems an age since the ALP went to the 1977 federal elections with an anti-uranium mining policy complete with a green campaign button bearing the slogan “Uranium – Leave it in the Ground.” The no mines position was subsequently watered down to a three-mine policy. That was overturned in a charge headed by Kevin Rudd at the 2007 national party conference.

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Regardless of what one thinks of uranium mining, there can surely be no argument that the decision by Federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett to approve the Four Mile uranium mine in the northern Flinders Ranges area proves that parliament is the graveyard of principle.

We often talk of this or that political party “getting in to power” when they win an election. Really, this betrays an illusion about the workings of bourgeois democracy.

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by Joanna Souers
Friday, 17 July, 2009 11:27 AM

Dr. Luther Castillo is a dear friend of mine… he is doing amazing things as a doctor in Honduras, and now that the world has turned it’s
back, he’s trying to shed light on the situation…

He asked us to thank all of you for defending the lives of Hondurans
threatened by the coup. He is spending some hours most nights attending
to wounded or to families housed in temporary shelters throughout
Tegucigalpa.

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Parliament is in recess but the storm whipped up over “Utegate” is yet to die down. Police are still investigating the origins of a fake email that sought to link Rudd adviser Andrew Charlton to finance arrangements for Queensland car dealer John Grant – a friend of the Prime Minister and a generous donor to the major parliamentary parties. Treasurer Wayne Swan has come under pressure about his department’s representations in the same matter.

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Below are 2 interesting comments on joint military exercises received from the Peace Convergence.

First is an email from an Australian sailor condemning the exercises, and the second is a report on Jo Valentine (ex-politician) arrested at Freemantle (WA) after protesting on July 4 against the exercises and calling for “Independence from America”.

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Australia has a toxic ‘friend’.

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by Renfrey Clarke

From desert-fringe villages and Pacific atolls, global warming is predicted before long to set climate refugees on the move. But arguably, the first climate refugees to reach Australia’s major cities are arriving already. And the places from which they have come are not exotic – places like Mildura, Renmark and Griffith.

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From July 6-26, more than 15,000 American and up to 8,000 Australian troops will be involved in a major joint US-Austarlia military training exercises in Shoalwater Bay, north Queensland. The biennial Talisman Sabre war games involve air, land and sea bombing and military assaults along the coastline and inland.

The joint US-Australia military exercises and major US military bases on our soil make Australia an integral part in America’s global military in its wars of aggression.

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The Chicago Model of Militarizing Schools

Monday 29 June 2009

by: Brian Roa, t r u t h o u t | Perspective

For the past four years, I have observed the military occupation of the high school where I teach science. Currently, Chicago’s Senn High School houses Rickover Naval Academy (RNA). I use the term “occupation” because part of our building was taken away despite student, parent, teacher and community opposition to RNA’s opening. read more »

Killer Company: James Hardie Exposed
By Matt Peacock

Price:
$35.00
On Sale:
1/09/2009
Formats: Trade Paperback

Book Description
James Hardie, the name, like the company, is a lie. The real James Hardie died a long time ago and had almost no connection to the Australian asbestos empire that grew under his partner Andrew Reid.

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Labour and Human Rights
An address by Geoffrey Robertson QC
Proudly brought to you by the Evatt Foundation
To be introduced by Julian Burnside AO QC
Friday 31 July 2009
5.45 p.m.

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