Public sector, public service. Our communities, our services. Do them justice.

Support those who support us.
You might complain about the public sector, about bureaucrats.
I know a chain is only as strong as its weakest link.
Don't let the Baillieu Govrnment weaken the public sector.
Don't let the people who serve you suffer a decline in theirs wages and conditions.
Just as you deserve their service,
they deserve just treatment.

Please go to their site.

Faith communities condemn violence against women

I didn't receive this in time to include it yesterday...

but this message is vital any day of the year!

MEDIA RELEASE - Friday, 25 November 2011 STATEMENT ON BEHALF OF  THE MULTIFAITH ADVISORY GROUP  IN RECOGNITION OF WHITE RIBBON DAY:  FAITH COMMUNITIES CONDEMN VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN On behalf of Victoria’s faith communities, we, the members of the Multifaith Advisory Group (MAG), join together on White Ribbon Day to voice our support for women affected by violence and to unequivocally denounce such violence. Violence against women is a sad reality in the Victorian and Australian community, lurking in the shadows and impacting on those of all ages, faiths, ethnicities, education levels and socio-economic statuses. We come together to pray for the women, children and families who are afflicted by violence in all its forms – acknowledging that violence is not only physical and that those who witness violence are among its victims. Violence against women cannot be tolerated.  Such violence is emboldened and perpetuated by ignorance, fear and silence. We will not remain silent, and we will not allow this issue to be consigned to the fringe of public and interfaith dialogue. It is the responsibility of all faith communities to come together against violence. We stand united to reaffirm that: · Violence in all its many forms is unacceptable. · We will defend the rights of those affected by violence. · Our faith communities will embrace those affected by violence and work to prevent such violence. · Violence is and will continue to be denounced in our respective faith practices and teachings. · All members of the Victorian community are entitled to dignity and respect. We commend the work of the people and organisations who have made it their mission to support and protect those who are impacted by or at risk of violence. Initiatives such as the Northern Interfaith Respectful Relationships Project are vital to proactively responding to violence against women. We call on State and Federal Government agencies to continue to support this and similar programs as a means of preventing violence against women. The protection of the vulnerable and care for those affected by violence are fundamental principles in all of our respective faiths and traditions. The faiths and communities that we represent have not, do not and will not accept violence in any form or in any setting. In order to put into action these shared principles, the MAG will explore in 2012 ways in which we as faith leaders and peak faith organisation representatives can more effectively prevent violence within our own communities. We take White Ribbon Day as an opportunity to make this commitment; categorically condemn all forms of violence, particularly that affecting women; and voice our shared support for victims. The Multifaith Advisory Group consists of senior representatives from Victoria’s diverse faith communities including the Baha’i, Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim, Sikh and interfaith communities.  The MAG represents the voice of Victoria’s faith leaders to the Victorian Government through the Office of Multicultural Affairs and Citizenship (Department of Premier and Cabinet). Media contact:  Theo Mackaay, Faith Communities Council of Victoria,  M: 0407 082 607  W:www.faithvictoria.org.au

This email was sent by 

Faith Communities Council of Victoria, 

Level 4, Causeway House, 306 Little Collins Street, Melbourne, Australia 3000 

Toys and Clothing Drive to help children in Palestine. Please donate

It’s time for another clothing drive to help children in Palestine and the refugee camps in Jordan.  This time, there will be two drives to make it easier for people living on one side of Melbourne’s great metropolitan sprawl to the other.  People wanting to donate from interstate should contact Moammar Mashni   at <info@olivekids.org.au>  or on his mobile 0419 999 773.

So many people have been generous since Olive Kids began this initiative and we hope that as our festive season draws closer, you will also remember how little joy Palestinian children have in their lives and that even the smallest gift can light up those sad faces.  Please consider giving a NEW toy along with any used clothing, or even separately.  They may well bring much comfort to those children in Gaza who are still suffering from the terrifying sounds and effects of Israel’s aerial attacks and artillery fire that continue spasmodically without so much as a mention in our media. 
Sonja Karkar
Editor
http://australiansforpalestine.com

~~~~~~~~~~~

Baiada blockade and battle - #OccupyLaverton

Picture from here

Please read here  Dr David Whyte's article on the horrible people-hating
conditions at Baiada, the strike, the victory.
~~~~~~~
Please remember the name.

LILYDALE.

That's right Lilydale.

No, it's not that suburb in the Outer East of Melbourne.

It's a brand name that you might want to detour around

next time you are purchasing chicken.

I don't know how authentic the free range chicken is.

That could be a contested definition for all I know.

However, what is being contested is 

the company's industrial relations practices.

Baiada is the company behind the Lilydale free range chicken brand. This article gives an idea of the jockeying for position going on in the chicken processing industry.  With the high level of competition within the industry and Baiada's long and continuing saga of industrial problems, it might be fair to ask if what we are seeing in action is a race to the bottom with price the major - and perhaps only - determining factor.  It might also be fair to ask if that price induced competition is treating human beings unfairly, what is the status of product quality exiting Baiada and heading for the supermarket shelves.

These are questions that ethical consumers should always ask.

If money and price become the dominant factors in a company's existence,

the treatment of human beings involved in production

and 

product quality

should be examined.

Things have not been good at the Baiada workplace in Melbourne.  Last year ABC's Lateline covered the situation at that time. Issues currently placing Baiada in dispute with its workers at Laverton in Victoria are outlined here. The workers are represented by the National Union of Workers.  

Workers have been blockading the factory at Laverton.  The current level of action co-incides with #Occupy Melbourne and occupiers have been supporting the Baiada workers.  Yesterday, the company got a court order to halt the blockade.

By now, though, the blockade has a distinct community flavour reminiscent of the activities of Union Solidarity. The indefatigible Mike Stuchbery - blogger, activist, commentator and Occupier - has been tweeting this afternoon from the Baiada Blockade and has sent a photograph from the site as well.  You will notice the criminality and volatility of the pictured blockaders.

Over to Mike:

IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE BAIADA WORKERS

AND THEIR FELLOW BLOCKADERS.

BTW, have some Union Solidarity colours

gathering dust in the wardrobe

if they'd come in handy!

:-)

Harry Jenkins resigns as Speaker: Miss Eagle is just wild about Harry and will miss him in the role

Picture from here

The news has come out of an ordinary day.  I had a 9am appointment with my dentist at Croydon for a six monthly dental check.  Afterwards, I had to take a walk in the morning sunshine to visit The Red Parasol, then across to the Food Clearance shop where I picked up a couple of bargains.  Coming home, Colleen McCullough was being interviewed on The Book Show.  Came home, in the door.  Switched the radio on to continue listening to McCullough.  I had made by favourite rice porridge before I left for the dentist but didn't get time to eat it.  Switched on the computer, got the porridge and sat down in front of it.  Opened The Age to this.

As Speaker, Harry Jenkins has been a a class and entertaining act. Harry followed in his father's footsteps by becoming Speaker of the House of Representatives.  I imagine young Harry eavesdropping on his father's conversations. I imagine conversations and explanations at the family dinner table as young Harry quizzed his father on reasons and histories.  I imagine the young Harry being formed to be the Harry we have been watching in the Green Chair of the Australian House of Representatives for quite a long time now.

Harry has acquitted himself well in the role and has been the centrepiece of the sometimes dark, sometimes illuminating, and often theatrical spectacle that is the entertainment of televised Question Time from Parliament House in Canberra.  

He has portrayed a variety of characters and emotions: the frustrated but in control Head Master presiding over unruly children (our MPs); the repository of Parliamentary history, knowledge, and proceedings; the representative of Australian democracy as we saw recently when he led the House in response to President Obama's speech in the House of Representatives.  He has displayed boredom with the carry-ons of the LibNat Opposition. We have seen, from time to time, a twinkle in his eye.  We have seen him laying down the law. We have experienced his frozen silences as he waits for decorum and quiet among the adult children who are on the taxpayers' payroll.

I - and I believe that I am not alone - am just wild about Harry.  

An intimate word to Harry:

Harry, I luvs ya.  I'll miss ya.  Ya all class.  I'm shedding a tear or three for ya, Harry. I wish ya all the best, Harry. Lastly, Harry. Keep the Faith! My blessings go with you. 

...and there's more

Harry Jenkins Highlights

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-11-24/video-gallery-speaker-harry-jenkins-highlights/3691042

Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation, Fortescue Metals Group, and Emergency Declaration: Woodley to put the case on FMG abuse

MEDIA ADVISORY

YINDJIBARNDI ABORIGINAL CORPORATION

EMERGENCY DECLARATION to stop FMG sites destruction

-   ABORIGINAL HERITAGE CRISIS IN WA DEEPENS

-   YINDJIBARNDI PLEA FOR FEDERAL INTERVENTION 

-   FORTESCUE METALS THREATENS TO SUE STATE

MEDIA CONFERENCE 

Wednesday 23 November 11.30AM

SENATE COURTYARD

Parliament House, Canberra

MICHAEL WOODLEY CEO 
YINDJIBARNDI ABORIGINAL CORPORATION

Michael Woodley, CEO of the Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation, and senior Yindjibarndi elders are in Canberra this morning meeting the Hon. Tony Burke (Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities).

Mr Woodley will put the Yindjibarndi case for EMERGENCY DECLARATION to stop Fortescue Metals Group (FMG) desecrating and destroying the highly significant heritage and religious sites of his people at FMG’s Solomon Project in the Pilbara (under sections 9, 10 and 12 of theAboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act 1984).

Michael will hold a media conference to: 

-   discuss the outcome of his meeting with the Hon. Minister Burke 

-   pinpoint key aspects of the Yindjibarndi application for EMERGENCY DECLARATION

-   highlight the most appalling aspects of FMG abuses of heritage and due process

-   provide new information exposing FMG’s legal threats against the Western Australian Department of Indigenous Affairs

-   describe the Yindjibarndi initiative for immediate, rigorous and independent heritage assessment of FMG tenements with Australia-wide support of heritage professionals 

For further information 

CONTACT 

Michael Woodley – CEO YAC – 0419 097 130      mwoodley@juluwarlu.com.au

Phil Davies – Anthropologis/Public Officer – 0429 110 451     pdavies@juluwarlu.com.au

For media materials please contact – media@juluwarlu.com.au

___________________________________________________________

    

NEWS & INFORMATION ARCHIVE

http://yindjibarndi.org.au/yindjibarndi/

FACEBOOK

http://yindjibarndi.org.au/facebook.html

SUBSCRIBE: http://ethreemail.com/subscribe?g=7cfea1c9

Social Impact 2011: indigenous business, corporations and entrepreneurship: new models, stronger communities

SOCIAL IMPACT NATIONAL CONFERENCE 2011 

Indigenous Business, Corporations and Entrepreneurship:

New Models, Stronger Communities

The 2011 Centre for Social Impact (UWA) Conference is on the theme Indigenous Business, Corporations and Entrepreneurship - New Models, Stronger Communities. This important conference will shape opinion and understanding, and share best practice and research on the role of Indigenous business and Indigenous corporations in expanding economic opportunities for Indigenous people and creating positive social and economic impact for Indigenous communities.

Keynote speakers include Wayne Bergmann, CEO, Kimberley Regional Economic Development Corporation, Natalie Walker, CEO, Australian Indigenous Minority Supplier Council, Kevin McLeish, Managing Director, Argyle Diamonds and Ian Trust, Director, Indigenous Business Foundation.

In recent years there has been a significant growth in Indigenous business in Australia, providing new opportunities for employment, income and wealth generation. Indigenous business activity represents one of the most promising strategies available to address the chronic gap between the economic, social and health outcomes of Indigenous Australians and those of non-Indigenous Australians. 

PROGRAM THEMES

• Balancing cultural values, employment markets and sustainable social impact
• Creative engagement: pathways and partnerships in the resource economy
• Indigenous business leaders in action 
• Leveraging Native Title Agreements for Indigenous economic and social growth 
• The delicate art of procurement: enabling Indigenous entrepreneurs to create a vibrant and engaging Indigenous enterprise sector 
• Social enterprises in remote Australia 
• Growing sustainable Aboriginal Community Housing Corporations 
• Microfinance: Small loans for big impact 
• Closing the economic gap: exploring the role of Indigenous business and self- employment 

REGISTRATION: $990 (inc. GST) standard; $660 (inc. GST) not-for-profit organisations, Indigenous businesses and corporations.

RSVP/ registration required - www.business.uwa.edu.au/research/conferences/forum

Registration includes full program (8.30am-5.30pm) & post-conference event (5.30-7.30pm).

Speaker(s)	Wayne Bergmann, CEO, Kimberley Regional Economic Development Corporation; Natalie Walker, CEO, Australian Indigenous Minority Supplier Council; Kevin McLeish, Managing Director, Argyle Diamonds and Ian Trust, Director, Indigenous Business Foundation
Location	UWA Business School
Contact	Winthrop Professor Paul Flatau <Paul.Flatau@uwa.edu.au> : + 61 8 6488 1366
URL	http://www.business.uwa.edu.au/research/conferences/forum
Start	Tue, 06 Dec 2011 08:30
End	Tue, 06 Dec 2011 19:30
RSVP	RSVP is required.
Submitted by	Harpreet Kaur <Harpreet.Kaur@uwa.edu.au>
Last Updated	Wed, 09 Nov 2011 12:43

Can MicroMoney solve MacroProblems? Does Microfinance really provide widespread solutions?

As Fagin's song suggests, we should always review the situation. What is attractive in the beginning may have unforeseen consequences.  Human beings have a tendency to seek universal solutions and answers which in turn leads to one size fits all policies.  We can also be hubristic, pushing forward our solutions without reflection, without pause for review, without recognising the risks and benefits of human interconnectedness with others.

The work of Muhammad Yunus and the Grameen Bank are well documented. In 2006, Yunus and the Grameen Bank were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Earlier this year Yunus was ousted from the bank he founded. An appeal was dismissed. Yunus's concept of microfinance has been imitated by others and operates in other countries outside Bangladesh.

Ned Breslin points out in the simple video below how microfinancing is not always the success story that is promoted.

He points out:

I am a big fan of microfinance, having started my first microfinance project for water and sanitation in rural KwaZulu, Natal, South Africa in 1993. But I learned very quickly in this project that there was often a gap between repayment rates and actual impact. The microfinance sector spends a great deal of time focused on repayment rates -- with organizations suggesting that they are successful and impactful because they can show a high repayment rate on the loans that they made. To illustrate, MFIs will often publish statistics like 95% repayment rates on loans and suggest that this means they are great at transforming poverty and changing lives. 

Repayment matters of course, but it does not in any way confirm the impact of the loan. In the case of water and sanitation, a focus on loan repayment as the key (or only) indicator of success is misleading. Repayment of loans simply show that money was used to purchase a latrine and the money was paid back by the family.

But in this example from rural Bolivia I show that the real impact question is about whether the loan actually changed the lives of loan recipients? And as I learned in South Africa and since, the answer is often no. Families take out loans because they want to change their lives with that loan. That is great! 

But if the toilet is poorly constructed, if the system does not work, or if a tap is paid for by a loan but water rarely is available at that tap, then the family took out a loan, repaid that loan and the investment had no impact on their lives. In fact, the loan might have made the family poorer in the end! 

In the example here, the loan scheme was linked to a water project that was never completed. The family in this video took out a loan to get a flush latrine that has never been used because the water project -- started 6 years ago -- was never completed. The toilet is now useless.

Microfinance success should be judged on whether loans transformed lives, 

not on whether loans were repaid.

Further reading:

Yunus Centre website

Grameen Bank website

Grameen Foundation Australia

Microfinance king may call it quits(Vikram Akula)

Microfinance   sites

Microfinance Gateway

Microfinance challenges in Australia

Australian  aid: approaches to  microfinance and  enterprise development

Microfinance: development as freedom

Microfinance (National Australia Bank)
Microfinance (Westpac)
World Education Australia
Talk Change Conference 2011: Microfinance
Empowering women through microfinance

Woolworths : can you trust a grocer who owns the largest number of high-loss gambling machine venues in Australia

Senator Nick Xenophon with a sign that tells the story.

Picture from here.

Grocery giant Woolworths is the surprise owner of the largest number of dangerous high-loss gambling machine venues in Australia – enabling a social ill that ruins families and destroys lives. You're getting this email because you've already signed our pokies reform petition, but can you let us know if you’re a Woolworths’ shareholder, customer or employee before we present the petition to the Woolworths AGM this Thursday? 

~~~~

  
Australia is home to the largest number of dangerous high-loss pokie machines in the world – and grocery giant Woolies is the king of the hill: the largest pokie machine venue owner in the country, with more pokie machines than the top five Las Vegas casinos combined!^[1] 

Why? Pure dollars: owning hotels with pokie machines is reportedly three times more profitable than selling groceries. No one would know this better than Australia's trusted household brand, which now has more than 12,000 computerised gambling machines in around 300 hotels across the country.^[2]  

These machines have been called the "crack cocaine" of gambling. Players are estimated to lose hundreds of millions of dollars annually.^[3] They’re designed to be highly addictive, especially to those already prone to problem gambling, making them uniquely profitable to big corporations and destructive to the lives of thousands of Australian families. Plenty of Woolworths customers – and shareholders – are not happy that the ‘Fresh Food People’ are heavily profiting from an industry that’s taking the food off so many family tables. Together, we’re taking our voices to the top by presenting your petition directly to senior executives at this Thursday's Woolworths AGM. 

Imagine the look on the faces of these back room executives when we tell them directly how many shareholders, employees and customers of Woolworths want them to better serve their customers by coming out in support of pokie reform. We won't reveal your name to Woolworths but the total number will be powerful. Can you let us know if you are a Wooloworths customer, employee or shareholder? 

http://www.getup.org.au/woolworths-agm-petition 

It’s alarming enough that a trusted family brand has out-invested the top five Las Vegas casinos in pokie machines – but they’ve also made it clear that they don't think that their many customers who have been devastated by the impacts of problem gambling are their problem. Earlier this year the head of Woolworths' gambling subsidiary spoke in front of a parliamentary inquiry and shamelessly compared gambling addiction to hamburgers by saying: ''I think the product is safe. Some people have addictions, be it to fast food or drugs…are we asking, is a hamburger safe?" ^[4] Woolworths representatives sit on the executive board of the Australian Hotels Association, who are jointly responsible with Clubs Australia for the so called '$20 million' mass advertising campaign against pokies reform.^[5] 

Woolworths may have the dollars, but with more than 585,000 of us across the country – many of whom are Woolies' shareholders, employees and customers – we can change the direction of the company. Some concerned individuals have already volunteered to allow GetUp to send “proxies” on their behalf to the AGM – spokespeople who will represent them, and speak directly about their personal experience of the devastating effects of problem pokie gambling (and present your petition). It's a rare opportunity to take our message directly to the top and have it delivered, not by an outside group of activists, but through the company's own concerned shareholders. Add your voice now: let us know if you’re a Woolworths shareholder, employee or customer and be part of the message to company executives on Thursday. 

http://www.getup.org.au/woolworths-agm-petition 

An Annual General Meeting is the one chance we get each year to bypass the usual spin doctors and media gate holders and speak directly to the company chair and senior executives, publicly, and on the record. 

The truth is, Woolworths can more than afford to curb problem gambling and still profit handsomely from recreational pokie players, alongside all their other business. We frankly expect better of a trusted Australian family brand than to fund a massive and misleading ad campaign against pokie reform. We've already got a 45,000 strong petition of Australians supporting reform to limit problem gambling, and now we will tell Woolworths just how many of their customers, shareholders and employees have signed it. 

Thank you for all that you do, 
Erin, for the GetUp team 

^[1]"Woolworths hits the jackpot with pokies after signing deal with Laundy hotel group", Daily Telegraph. November 11, 2011 
^[2]"Woolworths in pokie grip talks", Sydney Morning Herald. April 18, 2011 
^[3]"Woolies is poker machine king", Daily Telegraph. November 12, 2011 
^[4]"Playing pokies just like eating a burger, says Woolies subsidiary", Sydney Morning Herald. February 15, 2011 
^[5]"Woolworths revealed to own more pokies than the Adelaide Casino", News.com.au. April 16, 2011

Further reading:

Woolies blasts plans for pokie reform

Maria Riedle: Demanding open, inclusive community engagement on the Murray-Darling Basin Plan by Craig Knowles AND the MDBA

Maria Riedl is a hardy and experienced water campaigner.  She lives in the Mildura district and has written this letter to her local paper:

Dear Editor,

With the draft Murray Darling Basin Plan set to be released on the 28th of November, it is time for Victorian communities to contact the Murray-Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) and let them know how you would prefer to be consulted. I encourage my community, both sides of the river,  to contact MDBA directly through their email (engagement@mdba.gov.au), their phone line (1800 230 067) or their on-line blog (http://freeflow.mdba.gov.au). 

And perhaps contact council to ensure that anyone who wants to attend can even if this means more than one meeting in the day in a large venue, when the MDBA is here!

My name is Maria Riedl, I am on the Victorian Water Minister Peter Walsh's Advisory Committee for the MDB Plan as a community member, and I just received this. We need to have public meetings as we did last time with the MDBA about the Basin Plan. I urge the community to ask that there be a proper, open and inclusive consultations held by the Murray Darling Basin Authority here, and to ensure that hard copies of the proposed Basin Plan are available before the community meeting for everyone that wants one. Perhaps council can ask that the MDBA send a very large number and make them available to everyone, so we know what is proposed.

Community consultation is vital and it must not be limited to interest groups only,  but include the entire community; anyone who is interested in making a submission to the proposed Plan. Being informed, by having all the information in front of us (this includes Mr Knowles and the MDBA and the relevant supporting documents) allows us to participate in decision-making, resulting in a better outcome for the environment, for irrigators and for all who rely on the Basin's natural resources; both underground and surface water. 

Our natural resources provide totally free benefits and this must be acknowledged. 

It is time to ensure that the balance between environmental and human usage is fair and equitable, and will stand the tests of climate change, increases in population, in human usages such as mining, forestry and other. It is no longer possible to go along a 'business-as-usual' path, it never was!

I encourage all my community, both sides of the river, to take an interest. Ask for full community meetings (more than one if needed because of interest)  with the MDBA to inform and to debate. This is how democracy works. This is participatory democracy, not decisions handed down from politicians and others with vested interests. Government by the people for the people!

Green Left Weekly Activist Calendar: 2011-11-23

Green Left Weekly Activist Calendar

November 23, 2011

Community rally Support the nurses! Defend safe patient care! Defend nurse-patient ratios! Thursday, November 24, 12:30pm. Assemble 12:30pm, Bourke St mall, City. Then march to Parliament House, Spring St, City. Community picnic Occupy Melbourne's 'Dare to share' teddy bears picnic Saturday, November 26, 11:30am-2:30pm. Treasury Gardens, cnr Spring & Flinders Sts, City. : . It's about sharing! Kids get it, why doesn't everyone?! Currently, in Victoria funding is being cut to 9000 'take a break' occasional care places, impacting on shift workers, single parents and families in crisis. Meanwhile the 1% continues to grow richer. Join the 99% for a day of fun and kids activities at Occupy Melbourne's picnic! Bring a blanket and some snacks and let's show the 1% how this 'strange concept' called sharing is done. Organised by Occupy Melbourne Kids & Carers Committee. For more info visit Occupy Melbourne. This is the regular Melbourne activist calendar compiled by Green Left Weekly. Emailed to subscribers each Wednesday fortnight, it is a one-stop listing of the main left and progressive events in Melbourne and Geelong. Since it began in early 1991, Green Left Weekly has offered an indispensable alternative to the lies of the big-business media and has helped build the various movements for social change. To subscribe to Green Left Weekly, visit our secure online website for rates and payment at Green Left Weekly or call our national hotline on 1800 634 206. You can also contact us at the Resistance Centre, 5th floor, 407 Swanston St, City; ph 9639 8622. In Geelong we are at the Activist Centre, Trades Hall, 127 Myers St (opening hours: Mon 2-4.30pm, Fri 10am-4.30pm); ph 5222 6900. New email address? Not already receiving this calendar regularly? Want to subscribe someone else? Let us know at Greenleft Melbourne. Green Left Weekly needs your help We hope you are finding the fortnightly Green Left Weekly Activist Calendar a useful resource. Perhaps you also check out Green Left Weekly itself online or buy or subscribe to the print version. Green Left is a people-powered independent media project. We run against the stream in a society where public debate is dominated by the slick, self-serving corporate media which uses all its resources to try and shape our attitudes and limit our imaginations. The Green Left Weekly project costs money. We rely wholly on the support of our readers to keep going. And as we near the end of the year, the thermometer shows our national fundraising effort is significantly behind schedule. Can you help us finish the year in a stronger financial position? All donations, large and small, are very much appreciated. You can donate online to the Green Left Fighting Fund. Direct deposits can be made to Greenleft, Commonwealth Bank, BSB 062-006, #0090-1992. Otherwise, you can send a cheque or money order to PO Box 515, Broadway NSW 2007; donate with your credit card on the toll-free line at 1800 634 206; or you can drop into the Resistance Centre (address above). Other coming events Wednesday, November 23 Public meeting with Rubén Pereira: For the 99%: Social movements and political change. Speaker: Rubén Pereira from Venezuela, Coordinator of Social Movements for the Bolivarian Alliance of the Peoples of Our America (ALBA). The rise of the Occupy movement, from Wall Street to Sydney, reflects the mass dissatisfaction and growing anger about the injustices of capitalism. In Latin America, a united organisation that reflects and fights for the needs of the people against the greed and destructiveness of the corporations is changing the shape of politics across the continent. ALBA was launched by Cuba and Venezuela in 2004 and now includes eight Latin American nations. Rubén Pereira is a member of its executive secretariat. 7pm. New International Bookshop, Trades Hall, cnr Victoria & Lygon Sts, Carlton South. Hosted by the Venezuelan Embassy in Australia. Supported by the Australia-Venezuela Solidarity Network & Latin American Forum. For more info ph 9639 8622 or Sean 0415 122 135. Public meeting: 50th Anniversary of the pill in Australia. An incomplete revolution. Featuring: Nelly Thomas (comedian), Leslie Cannold (author & Age columnist), Louise Keough (lecturer, Melbourne University) & Mary Crooks (executive director, Victorian Women's Trust). To mark 50 years since the introduction of the pill we will reflect on the promise of the sexual revolution, and the reality of what has been delivered for young women today. 5:45pm. BMW Edge Federation Square. Sponsored by the Victorian Women's Trust. For more info, email Pill. Public meeting: Choosing between progress & planet. Is the world split between those who want to save the planet and those who want to save themselves? In Quarterly Essay 44, Andrew Charlton exposes the rift that will shape our future: progress versus planet, rich versus poor. Across the globe, economists and environmentalists are locked in a struggle over who has the right response to climate change, population and food security issues. Charlton argues that our descendants will only thank us if we find a way to preserve both the natural world and human progress. 6:15pm. The Wheeler Centre, 176 Little Lonsdale Street. Free entry. Bookings recommended. Bookings at Wheeler Centre. Thursday, November 24 Rally: Stand up for our services> Action by public sector workers. 10:45am. Cnr St Andrews Place & Macarthur St, City (back of Parliament House). Community rally: Support the nurses! Defend safe patient care. Defend nurse-patient ratios. Assemble 12:30pm, Bourke St mall; march to Parliament House, Spring St, City. Protest against Gunns pulp mill. 10:15am. Outside Gunns AGM, Sofitel Hotel, 25 Collins St, City (assemble back entrance Sofitel Hotel, Flinders Lane, near carpark before moving around to the front entrance). Participating groups include TAP, Pulp the Mill, Tasmanian Wilderness Society & Friends of the Tamar Valley. There is a possibility that members from Occupy Melbourne will also attend. For more info ph Lucy Landon-Lane 0417 105 390. Film screening: Screaming Queens: The Riot at Compton's Cafeteria. This Emmy Award-winning documentary tells the story of the first-known collective uprising against queer and transgender oppression. A multi-racial rebellion in San Francisco's Tenderloin district, led by drag queens, that took place three years before the Stonewall Riot in New York. The revolt connected to issues of police harassment, housing rights, war resistance, and sexual liberation. 7pm. Solidarity Salon, 580 Sydney Road, Brunswick. Dinner from 6pm. $8. For more info ph 9388 0062. Public meeting: The battle of Chile: Free, quality education for all. Speaker: Cristian Milla Curiñanco (Mapuche student visiting Australia, representative of one of the Chilean grass roots students organisation, Convergencia Estudiantil, fighting for free, quality education in Chile). Organised by Latin American Solidarity Network (LASNET). Supported by Chile Solidarity Melbourne. 7pm. LaTrobe University City Campus, 215 Franklin St, City. Saturday, November 26 Rally: Defend the Fertility Control Clinic Campaign for Women's reproductive rights stands with Occupy Melbourne against its eviction by Mayor Robert Doyle. 10am. 118 Wellington Parade, East Melbourne. For more info ph 9388 0062. Community Picnic: Occupy Melbourne's 'Dare to share' teddy bears picnic. It's about sharing! Kids get it, why doesn't everyone?! Currently, in Victoria funding is being cut to 9000 'take a break' occasional care places, impacting on shift workers, single parents and families in crisis. Meanwhile the 1% continues to grow richer. Join the 99% for a day of fun and kids activities at Occupy Melbourne's picnic! Bring a blanket and some snacks and let's show the 1% how this 'strange concept' called sharing is done. 11:30am-2:30pm. Treasury Gardens, cnr Spring & Flinders Sts, City. Organised by Occupy Melbourne Kids & Carers Committee. For more info visit Occupy Melbourne. Tuesday, November 29 Public meeting: Humphrey McQueen & Kenneth Davidson on the state of the world economy. Humphrey McQueen is a Canberra-based freelance historian and cultural commentator who has written extensively on Australian society, culture and the labour movement. Kenneth Davidson is a Fairfax columnist, a Walkley Award winning journalist and a committed Keynesian, who in his spare time is a co-editor of Dissent magazine. 3CR presenters Bill Deller, Lalitha Cheliah and Diana Beaumont will join Humphrey and Kenneth in a conversation about capitalism's most recent crisis, the role of the banks, and its fallout. 7pm. Meeting Room 1, Trades Hall, cnr Lygon & Victoria Sts, Carlton. Entry by Donation. Wednesday, November 30 Book launch: We built this country: Builders' Labourers & their unions Speaker: Humphrey McQueen. His new book charts the history of Australian builders' labourers and their unions, from their early beginnings through to the radical days of the green bans and workers' control of the 60s. 6:30pm. New International Bookshop, Trades Hall, 54 Victoria St, Carlton South. $5/$2. Presented by New International Bookshop & Community Radio 3CR. Thursday, December 1 West Papua national day: Raising of the flag. 10:15am. Trades Hall, cnr Lygon & Victoria Sts, Carlton. Saturday, December 3 Sydney Rally for marriage equality at ALP Conference. This is a national protest. Equal Love groups from across the country are organising for their supporters to make the trip to Sydney. What better reason to make a trip to Sydney than this! Equality advocates are urged to gather at Hyde Park to march to the Labor Party national conference as they debate their policy on marriage. 12 noon. Hyde Park North at the fountain. Book launch: Aborigines in the Yarra Valley and Northern Dandenongs. Performances by Gabony Yubupi Yinggabbai (First Children Sing) Choir and the Valley Crew Hip Hop group. 2pm. Mt Evelyn Station House, Wray Crescent, Mt Evelyn. Organised by Mount Evelyn History Group. For more info, ph 9736 2935 or email Mt Evelyn History group. RVSP by November 30. Sunday, December 4 Sydney Rally for refugees at ALP conference. End mandatory detention. Refugees are welcome. Not in Malaysia, not in Nauru: No offshore processing. 12 noon. Meet Sydney Town hall to march to the ALP conference at Darling harbour. Organised by Refugee Action Coalition Sydney. Initial endorsements: Chilout, Refugee Action Coalition, Labor for Refugees (NSW), National Tertiary Education Union (NSW), Australian Services Union (NSW & ACT (Services)). Monday, December 5 BZE December discussion. Greens senator Richard Di Natale explains his vision for Australia. Entry by gold coin donation. 6:30pm. Fritz Loewe Theatre (entry via level 2), McCoy Building, University of Melbourne, cnr Elgin & Swanston Sts, Carlton. Tuesday, December 6 Film screening: The Yes Men fix the world. The second screwball true story about two gonzo political activists who, posing as top executives of giant corporations, lie their way into big business conferences and pull off the world's most outrageous pranks. Who knew fixing the world could be so much fun? Entry by donation. 6pm. Ross House, 247 Flinders Lane, City. For more info ph 9650 1599. Presented by Environment Victoria. Wednesday, December 7 Public meeting: International Human Rights Day 2011: What does the future hold for Human Rights in Australia?Speakers: Rob Stary & Malcolm McClure. 6:30pm. Preston City Hall, 284 Gower St, Preston. Organised by City of Darebin. For more info ph 8470 8888 or visit City of Darebin. AAWL workshop: Living wages, not repression. To mark International Human Rights Day, an open workshop with international and local activists. Discussion on how to fight the repression labour movement activists in many countries face where workers can be jailed or killed for demanding improvements in wages and conditions. Genuine labour movement representatives from the Philippines, Korea, Thailand, Pakistan and West Papua have been invited to participate via Skype link. All welcome. 6pm. Trades Hall, cnr Lygon & Victoria Sts, Carlton. Presented by Australia Asia Worker Links. Thursday, December 8 New International Bookshop Christmas party! 6pm til late. New International Bookshop, Trades Hall, cnr Lygon & Victoria Sts, Carlton. Sunday, December 11 Public meeting: YGender's 1st birthday and Christmas party Wow what a year it has been! Now it's time to have a big party with the entire family! We have decided to have a joint christmas and birthday party. We would like to invite you and whomever else you wish to bring whether its that special someone, your best friend or even your supportive parents.This is a chance to celebrate the great first year that we have and be thankful to all those people that have supported and encouraged us. 5pm. ALSO Building, Level 10, 225 Bourke St, City. Saturday, December 17 Rally: Vigil for Bradley Manning on his 24th birthday On this day Bradley Manning will have been incarcerated for 571 days. On this day in Melbourne we will gather at the US Consulate on St Kilda Rd to stand in solidarity with him. 5pm. Forecourt of Consulate General of the United States, 553 St Kilda Road, City. Sunday, December 18 Fundraiser: Rhythm, rock, reggae, rap, recycle benefit concert. For books for libraries and schools in newly independent South Sudan. With The Mystic Trio ,Quashani Bahd, Culture Crew, Majak & Deng, Black Orchid String Band, West Papuan Dance Group, Ben Jackson Band, Flybz. Speakers from South Sudan and West Papua. 2:30pm. Fitzroy Town Hall, 201 Napier St Fitzroy. Entry fee: Bring a book (new or 2nd hand) to donate to school/university libraries in South Sudan (children's and recent text books welcome) and/or donation to help with rebuilding after years of war. Organised by SSPARC (South Sudanese People in Australia Relief and Care, Auspiced by Multicultural Arts Victoria, with thanks to the City of Yarra.For more information contact Esther 0439 555 291 or Tania 0438 702 528. Thursday, January 12, 2012 Concert: Immortal Technique first Australia & NZ tour. Slingshot is proud to announce the long awaited tour of battle emcee, activist, revolutionary and philanthropist Immortal Technique. After many attempts over the years, Immortal Technique will finally bring his raw political commentary to Australia in January 2012. Born in a military hospital in Peru, Immortal Technique moved to Harlem, New York with his family in the early 80s. Here he became captivated with Hip Hop culture, writing graffiti and discovering his passion for rhyming. After some trouble with the law, he spent a year in prison, where he began to prolifically write down his ideas about what he had lived and seen in the struggle of New York and his visits back to his native land. 8pm. The Espy, 11 The Esplanade, St Kilda. Friday, January 20 Rally: Freedom fighters Tunnerminnerwait & Maulboyheener. Tunnerminnerwait and Maulboyheenner were among five Tasmanian Aborigines who conducted a campaign of resistance to European settlement in 1841 around Western Port and South Gippsland near Melbourne. After three military expeditions they were finally captured and brought back to Melbourne for trial. They were not allowed to give evidence themselves. The two men were found guilty of murder, with the jury saying due to the circumstances mercy should be granted. No mercy was given and Tunnerminnerwait and Maulboyheenner were the first judicial executions to take place in Melbourne on January 20, 1842 before a crowd of 5000, a quarter of the population of Melbourne at the time. 12pm. RMIT entrance, cnr Bowen & Franklin Sts, City. Thursday, January 26 Canberra Rally: Stand up & be counted on Sovereignty Day. Invitation to the 40th anniversary of the Aboriginal Tent Embassy. Friday, February 17-Sunday, February 19 Festival: Sustainable Living Festival 2012. Federation Square & Birrarung Marr Event Park, near cnr Swanston & Flinders Sts, City. For more info visit SLF.