Friday, August 26, 2005

Community to keep an eye on police violence

Task Force Harm

The Community will keep an eye out for police violence while they are having fun demonstrating and protesting the Global Forbes conference today.

The community are warning the police that they will not tolerate any violence from them or the bullies in their ranks and have set up a task force to alert protestors to the tactics of undercover police infiltrators put into the crowd to incite violence.

Task Force Harm is a group of dedicated community members who will be placed in strategic locations with cameras and mobile phones to spot the trouble and relay the message to those protestors who are just having fun and peacefully demonstrating.

File footage will also be made available to any of those people wrongfully abused, brutalised or arrested by police and a special eye will be out for the ringleaders in police ranks who incite other police to be violent during the demonstration.

About 350 greedy senior executives who profit from war spoils from corporations around the world will attend the conference at Sydney's Opera House.

Acting Deputy Clown Bobbo, says any police causing trouble will face consequences.

"We will take photos of police with our camera's regardless of rank in regard to if they are [unlawful] in their attack on any protestors," he said.

"I make no apology for the fact that if police are breaking the law and are disrupting the protest, we will deal with it, we will take them to court and deal with them appropriately."

NSW Premier Morris Iemma has defended the decision to devote hundreds of police officers to the event.

"The conference is on and the security arrangements have been put in place," he said.

"We are sponsoring it and it does bring 350 of the world's top CEOs to Sydney. It is an opportunity to showcase Sydney, New South Wales, to try and get them to invest in our city and in our state."

The speakers' list includes war criminal john hoWARd, rudolf the red nose reindeer from New York and a chip off the old block from bhp.

The 30A group of political activists has staged its annual meeting to coincide with the Forbes conference.

The organiser of the Sydney Social Forum says unionists, environmentalists and anti-war protesters have used the meeting to present an alternative vision to what it calls "the neo-liberals".

Among the speakers in Sydney last night was ACTU leader Sharan Burrow, who says corporate greed is undermining people's rights in the workplace.

"As the global economy grows we should have cause for celebration for the advancement that this should deliver for workers and their families all over the world, but the reality is that corporate greed is driving profit share at the expense of wages, safe workplaces, conditions and entitlements for workers," she said.

The 25 Richest Americans Homes Of Billionaires

Up from the ashes. After two years of declining values, the rich finally got richer. On this, FORBES' 21st annual edition of The Forbes 400, the aggregate net worth of the nation's wealthiest 400 citizens leapt 10% in the past year, to $955 billion--just one Bill Gates away from $1 trillion.

Leading the charge: Internet stocks. Jeff Bezos added more than $3 billion to his net worth with a tripling of Amazon's share price. Chief Yahoos David Filo and Jerry Yang nearly tripled their wealth, while the fortunes of Ebay's Pierre Omidyar and Meg Whitman rose almost 50%. With help from a fin-challenged clown fish named Nemo, Steve Jobs moved up 44 places in our rankings to 78th.

Financiers also fared well: Carl Icahn moved up $1.5 billion, a third of it stemming from his takeover of XO Communications. Investor Bruce Kovner made $500 million betting on the bond and currency markets.

Other fortunes were not so fortunate. A rising price of admission--$600 million--pushed 20 members off the list, including wrestling's Vince McMahon and Global Crossing's Gary Winnick.

Their places were filled by newcomers like hedge fund managers Steve Cohen and Ken Griffin, both of whom would prefer we keep them out of our club. Their lack of enthusiasm is more than made up for by oil tycoon Patrick Taylor, who is proudly using his $700 million to send hundreds of kids to college.

Reclaim the Streets! Carnival Against Capitalism

Carnival Against Capitalism: 350+ CEO's of the most powerful companies in the worlds are coming to party in Sydney Aug 30th, Sep 1st .. and you weren't invited!! Let's have our own party! Meet 12 Noon Wed 31st Town Hall Steps (QVB) for a roaming Gatecrash of corporate Sydney.

Bring: Drums - noise - sports - costumes - banners - street theatre - food - water - bikes - skateboard - feet - dancing shoes - yourself - your friends - your neighbours - your grandma ..

Sydney protestors reach agreement with police

Organisers of the 30A Protest, planned to coincide with this weeks Forbes Global CEO Conference, have reached an agreement with police about how the protest should proceed. The 30A Network has received permission to use the Customs Square area of Circular Quay.


Forbes claims it reports on the 'business of life' - not simply the life of business. It hosts a weekly business show on Fox News - a media outlet described as 'patriotic and mainstream'. But what policies does it stand for? A trawl through recent editorials written by Forbes executives yields a remarkable agenda.

Treating Capsicum Spray

The correct way to handle capsicum spray (other than not handling it). Something that some people have been asking about for a while is the correct treatment if you or a friend gets capsicum sprayed. Now if Venezuelan security forces can be fired upon without shooting back, there really is no justification for use of horses, batons, or capsicum spray against protesters in Sydney.

This, however has had little bearing on NSW Police management of non-violent, rowdy protests in the recent past. While we may all hope that they keep their heads as they're paid although not sufficiently trained to do in crowd situations, if the publicly funded, privately contracted security for Forbes do get belligerent with capsicum spray (as in NOT vegan deodorant), here's what paramedics recommend. No Tears Baby Shampoo.

No kidding. Applying water first will just wash residue around the eyes into the eyes. Don't rub the area with your hands as this will do the same. Apply shampoo to the eyes to remove the bulk of the residue, rinse with water, then wait it out. There will still be discomfort but it should be significantly lessened.

The Secret Rulers of the World - New Link
By CLOWN BOBO 26 August 05

Related:

Clowning as a protest tactic
Australian police will call in reinforcements to help guard next week's Forbes Conference of world business heavyweights which is expected to draw thousands of demonstrators, they said on Tuesday.

THOUSANDS of protesters to take over Circular Quay
Trade unionists, anti-globalisation activists, peace campaigners, environmentalists and religious groups will join forces as the 30A Network on the opening day of the conference, August 30, to make their point on everything from industrial relations reform to global warming and the continuing commitment of troops to Iraq and Afghanistan.

Illegal and Degrading War

Teachers accused of anti-US bias
AUSTRALIA: The fascist federal treasurer has drawn a rebuke from teachers for warning them against spreading anti-Americanism in schools and suggesting it could mutate into anti-Westernism and terrorist attacks against Australia.

Social Services

Australian Greens Senator Responds To: Social Services Cuts
I am writing to you because I am concerned about people living in poverty in Australia. In Parliament, legislation will be introduced to put many people with disabilities and single parents on unemployment payments. If this law goes ahead unchanged, more people will live on less money after July 2006.

Corporate Welfare

Corporate welfare or how to steal social services?
Ever wondered why there are so many homeless, why we need a 10 pc GST, lack of services for mental disability, still paying off the Olympics, poor public transport planning etc etc etc?

Unemployment

Work for the dole is legal slavery
Work for the dole was originally sold to us by Howard as a warm and fuzzy light work project. We would be working for nothing but we would be enjoying giving back something to the community, so it was reckoned.

Military Spending

Howard: We as a nation have got to invest heavily in defence?
Fascist Prime Minister John HoWARd has indicated the Government will make major changes to work place laws, cut disability support forcing the disabled to work and increase his defence commitment.

Hill primed for war!
Australian Caretaker Defence Minister Robert Hill has announced a multi-million dollar upgrade of the Pearce Air Force base in Western Australia. Hill says $87 million would be spent on a major upgrade of the base, which is Australia's main flying training facility.

Troop deployment not a deepening of effort: Hill
Deploying an extra 30 troops to Iraq was not a deepening of Australia's involvement because they were being sent to protect those already there, Defence Minister Robert Hill said yesterday.

Auditor Generals damning defence report
The Defence Department computer system upgrade has cost Australia tens of millions of dollars in a gigantic bungle, according to the Federal Opposition. The Commonwealth auditor-general has issued a damning report into the project.

Climate Change

Pressure remains on Australia as Kyoto takes effect
The Kyoto Protocol to reduce greenhouse gas emissions will today come into force after a decade of deliberations.

HoWARd: Winner who failed to lead by example but still won?
CHRISTMAS and the lead-up have their familiar rituals. On Christmas Day there is the present giving, church going and massive lunch, followed by the big recovery sleep.

Kyoto Protocol start date set
The Kyoto Protocol to combat global warming will take effect from February 16 after Russia formally handed over its notice of ratification overnight.

Law Enforcement Violence

Community Forum on Law Enforcement Violence
Don't miss an opportunity to join a diverse group of community members, organizations, students, workers, activists, organizers, artists, educators, experts, and spiritual leaders for a community discussion on organizing a grassroots movement to end law enforcement violence in our communities, on Saturday, July 16, 2005 from 9:00 am -- 12:00 pm at the TremZ Community Center, 900 N. Villere St. (at the corner of N. Villere and St. Phillip St.).

Racial Justice Day 2005
Religious congregations across the city will have services of remembrance & resistance, as a reminder to us all that police violence & brutality are real and continuing threats to the safety of communities throughout NYC and the nation.

Restrictions on police stun guns
UK: The controversial Taser stun gun is a "dangerous weapon" which should not yet be issued to all frontline police officers, Home Office minister Hazel Blears has said.

CPS drops prosecution over death in custody
UK: The family of Roger Sylvester, who died after being restrained by police officers, yesterday expressed their disappointment at a decision by the Crown Prosecution Service not to prosecute any of the officers involved.

Death in Custody: Douglas Bruce Scott
We congratulate Ms Letty Scott, her Family and her supporters, of which the writer counts himself and this Association as being, towards their successful twenty year struggle for Justice.

OUR STORIES MUST BE TOLD. THEY HAVE TO BE
This is for all the children, now, and those to be............

Rally to seek fresh Hickey hearings
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Doomadgee's body released for burial
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NSW Police Force: 2 dead, $1 million dollars to catch a thief?
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Community disturbed by riot violence?
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The ALP's fascist police states
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AFP: The unlikely CRIMINAL
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GIVE A DOG A BONE?
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Fatal accident prompts police pursuit probe
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Bent cop no different
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Random police raid terrorised residents
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Failure to sack 'racist' prison staff condemned
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MISTREATED IN CUSTODY - NO ACCOUNTABILTY
I was in custody in NSW six weeks ago, and was a victim of an aggravated assault incited by a prison officer. Despite this happening in front of many witnesses, including correctional services officers and other detainees, and under mandatory video surveillance, a formal complaint to the NSW Commissioner of Corrective Services an his Professional Conduct Management Committee only revealed that as far as they were concerned, this didn't happen.

ICOPA XI International Conference on Penal Abolition
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Baxter visit convinces Burke of need for royal commission
AUSTRALIA/CUBA Federal Labor's new immigration spokesman Tony Burke says after visiting the Baxter detention centre he is now more convinced then ever of the need for a royal commission into immigration detention.

Association for the Prevention of Torture
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Unlock the Box:
Unlock the Box is a product of many years of struggle to shut down the Security Housing Units in California. During this time, the United Front to Abolish the SHU was created as a forum to coordinate the actions of everyone involved in this campaign.

Baxter,'akin to the time in Nazi Germany'
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Overhaul Department of Justice: Reform Group
WA: The Prison Reform Group of WA is calling for a complete overhaul of the Department of Justice following recent events which have compromised its integrity, placing prison staff, prisoners, their families and the community, at risk. We call for the Minister to publicly apologise for last week's debacle which has seen the public badly let down by the Department of Justice yet again.

Detention Centres, Solitary Confinement
On Friday night the NSW Council for Civil Liberties awarded Sydney solicitor John Marsden honorary life membership. Julian Burnside was invited to make the speech in Marsden's honour. In the course of his speech, Burnside referred to the unregulated use of solitary confinement in Australia's immigration detention centres, criticising it as inhumane and also as unlawful.

Abu Ghraib, USA
When I first saw the photo, taken at the Abu Ghraib prison, of a hooded and robed figure strung with electrical wiring, I thought of the Sacramento, California, city jail.

On Solitary Confinement
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Failure to condemn prison abuse risks lives: Kenny
The Prime Minister is morally bankrupt stay "alert and alarmed"
Posted by NSW Community News Network Archive at 10:00 AM
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