The Venezualan Model

What Venezuela is proposing is a system of democracy that involves the people, at every level, at the level of decision-making and co-ordination, not just at the ballot box.

Looking at the new model of politics the Venezuelan government is proposing under the leadership of Chavez, it is not hard to envisage its success - minus, of course, external factors such as the role of the US.

Take a look at the success of such web-related ideas as open-source technology, and you will find progression of ideas within the space of short years, where technology, accuracy, reliability and useability all out-run their counterparts in software run under a capitalist business mentality. MySQL and PHP are just a couple of good examples of this;already businesses are switching to open source programmes due to their reliability - not to be found in the market leaders versions.

What Venezuela is proposing is a system of democracy that involves the people, at every level, at the level of decision-making and co-ordination, not just at the ballot box. It is, in a way, a more organised version of anarchy - and I believe it could work. The question is, will it be allowed to work?

The other question is what has lead to such a radical rethink of this country's politics? The recent protests in Argentina over Bush's Americas Summit is a good indication of a mood that has existed in South America for several years. Bush, really, is the icing on the cake, and the fact Chavez was present at the Summit must have strengthened the resolve of the protestors in Argentina.

South America has been in the grip of the US foreign policy for a long time, think about Guatemala, Nicaraqua, Panama, Chile for some examples.

South America knows best about the US penchant for control and power, under the guise of democracy. South America has seen burgeoning democracies crushed by the US foreign policy and replaced with murderous dictatorships in the name of the US, (not to mention the near-miss for Chavez himself). They have seen the reality in their own countries, and the lie pushed on the people of the US and the world, of the freedom that the US brings, and they are sick of it. If this is what democracy brings, then let us have something different.

But South America is not the only country rising up to tell Bush they have had enough. Indeed, it is happening in his own country, with many questions now hanging over his head regarding the invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan. The tragedy is that it has only so far netted some of his advisors as casualties in this indictment process. The greater tragedy is that even if it were to swallow him as well, he is just one man in a chain of deceit, lies and the violent foreign policy of the United States. Venezuela knows this, so do many other countries - they have seen it firsthand. The trick is convincing the West of this.

We are learning, but too slow. It is only now that our fundamental freedoms are being threatened by the advancement of foreign policy - the Anti-Terror laws being bolstered in the US, the UK, Australia and many other countries, at the detriment of our own freedom and democracy that we are forcing ourselves to question the legitimacy of the foreign policy of our countries. The danger is, of course, that even if our countries leadership backs down on these pieces of legislation, that they will not do so unconditionally, and that their losses (of leaders) will allow us to sit back and breath a sigh of relief, rather than wondering how it came to this, and how to stop it from happening again. And that is, of course, a big 'if'.

Now that Venezuala has come up with a new model of government, we owe it to them (for our own interests, if for none other) to observe them publicly, to ensure that US censorship in terms of military intervention does not stifle such a possibility from existing. There would, in the normal course, be mistakes, just as there has been in our version of democracy, but it will hopefully be mistakes made by the people, not for the people.

Similiar to the US stance on Canadian healthcare, it must not be allowed to suffer at the hands of the US simply because it makes the US look bad.

As Michael Albert in his article at Znet says:

"Venezuela looks to me like Uncle Sam's worst nightmare".

If it survives we may well be taking instruction from Venezuala in years to come on how to form a real democracy. Let's hope.

Please take a look at this Znet article - Venezuela's Path - Michael Albert -

govinfo.billystyx.co.uk

By Derek Lane 10 November 05

LETTER TO BUSH FROM MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT ALICIA CASTRO

In November 4-5 the Summit of the Americas will take place in Mar del Plata, Argentina. Below is the translation of an astounding letter sent to Bush by an Argentinean Member of Parliament, Alicia Castro. The letter speaks for itself.

As Member of Parliament of the Argentinean Nation. I am one of the 257 representatives of the Argentinean people in Parliament; the second time I got into the Chamber of Deputies half a million citizens voted for me, but I can guarantee that what I will be expressing to you in this letter represents the majority of the Argentinean people.

President Bush:

We do not want you to come to our country. Maybe for diplomatic reasons, our Chancery will not have made you aware how reviled you are by our people. It is not simply that we disagree with your policies, but that you represent a danger to the democracies of South America.

Not long ago, at an OAS Summit where you defended interventionism, you dared to mention the name of Jose de San Mart’n in your speech. You must know that this father of our nation fought against imperialism and in favor of the unity of South America.

The people of San Martin do not want you, Mr. Bush, because you represent neo-imperialism, which, as in the 19th century, is an attempt to dominate regions by means of financial measures or armed actions.

We Argentineans know full well the consequences of the policies that you promote: our country, being immensely rich, was driven to misery by irresponsible leaders who followed each and every of the recipes of the International Monetary Fund. We know that international credit organizations are not neutral and respond to the policies of the United States.

Bolivar's prophecy is fulfilled: "the United States of America seem destined by providence to sow misery in Latin America". We Argentineans have nothing against the American people, but much against the government that has put the largest political and military might in the planet at the service of bloody ambition, which does not doubt to annihilate lives to appropriate someone else's oil, to make money from arms trade and, moreover, to expand its most sinister industry: the one that reconstructs what you destroy. You represent the decadence of Western values. Your people, which used not to tolerate lies in political practice, has to endure your having lied with a brazen face to the entire world regarding the existence of nuclear weapons in Iraq, in order to justify invasion.

The Nobel Peace Prize recently awarded to Mohamed El Baradei, who revealed the existence of these deceptions, is an eloquent display of the importance that the international community attaches to Truth in the construction of Peace. The theory of "pre-emptive war", one of the distasteful novelties in your political discourse, places your government outside any known law and presently threatens concretely Iran, North Korea, Venezuela and Cuba, in sum, the whole world.

You threaten us, but you do not confound us. You do not fool us with your proclaimed "war on terrorism", while you practice state terrorism. This is borne out by the tortures at the Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo prisons, the distraught mothers of American soldiers taking part in the carnage of women and children in Iraq, and the advances to militarize and control our region. You are a terrorist protecting other terrorists such as Luis Posada Carriles, escaped from a Caracas prison and who, among other crimes, has confessed his authorship of the explosion, in 1976, of a Cuban airliner causing 73 deaths.

Spare us your undesirable presence. We do not share anything that can be debated at the Summit of the Americas, to be held the next 4 and 5 November in the city of Mar del Plata. No government supporting your policies could guarantee its own stability. We the peoples of South America have already chosen.

We choose Energy sovereignty: we want Petrosur; we need to recover our Food sovereignty, and for that, American companies must stop infecting our seeds with their pesticides and their trademarks; we reject your patents which leave our sick without a cure; we do not want your dangerous "Open Skies".

Do not come here to promote the FTAA, we do not want your "free trade" from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego, we choose our solidarity and fair trade to complement and benefit the peoples of South America. We have already constituted the South America Confederation of Nations: larger and wealthier than the United States, which we shall unify following the ideals of San Mart’n, Bolivar, of O'Higgins, of Artigas, of Mart’.

Your values, Mr. Bush, are not within our scale of values nor are your aims compatible with out principles. We have our own South Agenda: we foster a Latin American Monetary Fund, a South Bank, a great South University; we want to inform ourselves from the south and for the south.

Unearth already, the antennas of CNN and your international machinery of lies, spare us your crude conspiracies. Your government, which rejected the Kyoto protocol, and your terrible management, which drowned your own people in New Orleans, represents a concrete threat to the environment and to planet Earth. We South Americans are for the happiness, freedom and life of peoples, we are also for peace. You are on the side of war, of predation and of death. Regarding practical matters, responsibly and as a national representative, I consider it evident that nobody could guarantee your safety in Argentina. Not yours, nor that of our citizens.

Proof of this is that Argentina has suffered terrible terrorist attacks, which remain unpunished and unsolved. Today terrorism travels on public transportation and the vengeful threat that you profess like a dogma, has already cost the lives of worker and users of public transport in Madrid and London, and has made unsafe such disparate places as Roma, Bali, Miami and New York. I ask you in the name of the Argentinean people, that you spare us of these risks; you could make yourself present at the Summit of the Americas through a teleconference from Washington, which, at the same time, would keep you safe from physical expressions of our repudiation of you.

Awaiting your response, I greet you with distinguished regards.

Alicia Castro
Member of Parliament of the Argentinean Nation

Argentina

By Alicia Castro posted 7 November 05

Related:

Bush, God and Transnationals
The tragedy (for the entire world) is not that Bush is delusional, mentally unstable and intellectually challenged - that is well known. Rather, it is that he remains as commander in chief of the USA - placed in that position by commercial and other financial interests.

I'm in a right f***kin mood

This story is all about how the Australian public were conned out of their democracy by Lib/Lab. The agreement made between the government and its opposition to maintain complete power over its representative constituents and the falsehood that people could vote and make changes to this country.

But not by a country mile...

Given Enough Rope the opposition stands naked with the allegations made by ex-leader of the Labor opposition Mark Latham that the Labor right sabotaged its own party time and time again to ensure the neo-Liberals stayed in power, sold the government to the USA and went on to take full control of the Senate.

That's what you call the Sin-ate!

All the while the Labor right maintained the States, received big fat pay cheques and toured the world as well paid losers with no intention or ambition whatsoever to even try to be elected into government office and were prepared to sabotage anyone in their own party who disagreed. Having inside information did help.

A facade

Who needs power when you're second in command of a country that is being sold to the USA and living fat on prawns and lobster?

For all these reasons everything the government want the opposition wants because they both want the same thing including illegal and degrading wars on foreign nation states like Iraq or any other war for that matter. The sale of Telstra where 80 per cent of the people said no. The Medicare debate or any other worthwhile debate we've had in the last twenty years that meant allot to the community but not much to the government of the day or its alleged opposition.

But when Labor had to make those difficult decisions, decisions that most people were unlikely to want to agree with easily like the hard decisions about Peace and Industrial Relations laws where you just have to be seen to be doing the right thing in opposition and then the horse bolts through just like the election 9 lengths in front.

Remember for years now the election goes like this. Howard says, it will be close. The media on the right seem to give Labor every chance in the world but maintain that the government will be hard to beat. Neck-a-neck to the death but Howard romps home 9 lengths in front. Why?

Well paid losers that's why!

Because it was always meant to be that way. The government were the salesmen and Labor shook hands and toured the world.

That's how you sell the country and make any draconian law you want to control the people of this country who don't agree with what you're doing. All 80 per cent of them.

Why would I care like Kim Sleazely if I were in on the deal and getting paid well in a comfortable position for the rest of my life and the life of my party - until I get a big fat pension and go on more well paid holidays - all the days of my life?

Mark Latham was an honest family man who had a conscience big enough to change the world and all it has got for the community!

Mark Latham employed Peter Garrett to help him out because he was being stabbed in the back and undermined for his belief - that we could do a lot better for the community and that that wasn't being done.

When the Labor right found out Mark wouldn't toe the party line they stabbed him in the back. Out came the knifes folks and the rest is history until Mark sold his story. A story that was attempted to be highjacked by News Limited so they could control the fall-out and kick Mark Latham to death for being so "stupid" as to blow himself up.

You know the hand-grenade that blew up in his hand as he threw the pin away. Ha, ha, ha.

In a way thank you Andrew Denton that that didn't happen quite the way News Limited meant it to happen and the full truth was exposed for what it was including the undemocratic sham by the media giants to cover it up.

I'm angry at what this government and its opposition have done to our community and I demand answers from the top now. I'll bet like so many other people that this farce we've been calling democracy has now been seen for what it is.

We are being fully controlled by one government call Lib/Lab who have deceived us and that my friends is what you've really been voting for. For many years they've bluffed everyone and just like thieves sold public infrastructure and resources owned by this country out from under our very own feet.

I'm not going to say anymore at the moment because I'm angry even though I could remind you of many instances that prove what I have said and I could go on forever but I'm going to leave it up to you.

Comment:

More than enough rope...

How could he bite the hand that feeds the well paid losers?

That was the easy part he was honest to some degree!

After they stabbed him in the back!

And the ABC stole the show...

Enough Rope: Mark Latham

In December 2003, Mark Latham became the youngest leader of the federal Labor party in over a century. Thirteen months later after a leadership marked by flashes of brilliance, personal controversy and illness, he quit politics altogether, having led Labor to one of the worst defeats in the party's history. Since his resignation in January he has said not one word in public, until now.

MEDIA WATCH: Latham strikes! (again)

Mark Latham's book launch was supposed to be a tightly controlled media event - but after he split the nation and the ALP - Latham had no trouble splitting the media.

By Propaganda Monster 20 September 05

Related:

Bush, Howard, Blair, Axis of Evil
From bad to worse is the new sub-text slogan for Bush and his administration. Appearing on US media, flanked by Cheney, Rumsfeld and numerous other (wooden) neo-cons, Bush repeated his rehearsed lines - "we are problem solvers".

Labor, 'Showroom Dummies'
Labor does not oppose illegal and degrading wars? Nor do they stand up for renditioned and tortured citizens, welfare rights, people held in detention for years on end? Or anything else that matters to the marginalised voters who have to rely on the minor parties time and time again for some support.

Australia: Lib/Lab Cult Squad
AUSTRALIA: WHEN pastor peter costello delivered a speech in July last year from the pulpit of the hillsong church, an 18,000-strong cult, based in Sydney's northwestern suburbs, most people wrote them off, all accept those neo-liberals who were seeking the gargoyle vote.

Constitution change recognises Indigenous Victorians

Recognised: Politicians hope the change will inspire Indigenous Victorians. 

In an Australian first, Victoria's Indigenous community has been acknowledged as the original custodians of the state's land in a constitutional amendment bill passed by Parliament.

Victorian Aboriginal Affairs Minister Gavin Jennings says both sides of politics supported the change, which recognises that Victoria was set up and its constitution passed without involving the Aboriginal people.

Mr Jennings says the largely symbolic legislation does not confer any legal rights? but comes after the Government committed nearly $32 million over four years in this year's Budget to address Indigenous issues.

Mr Jennings says the amendments may mean there is more respect for the state's laws from Indigenous communities.

"We think it'll mean that there's a greater respect and regard for Victorian laws emanating from Aboriginal communities as they actually finally believe that they are a part of a parliamentary democracy that many people in the Aboriginal community feel pretty alienated from," he said.

By Sorry 5 November 04

In Other Developments:

Native title recognised for Wik people in Cape York
After 10 years of negotiation, the Wik Aboriginal people of western Cape York finally have native title recognised over the majority of their traditional lands, at Aurukun, the Federal Court has handed down two native title determinations covering more than 12,000 square kilometres of land.

Related:

HoWARd's 'attitude' to Aboriginal welfare racist
The Federal Government says it is still considering a radical plan to rebuild the Aboriginal welfare system, which could make financial assistance dependent on behavioural change?

UN rates Indigenous health poorly
The Australian Nursing Federation says the United Nations has rated Indigenous Australians as having the second worst quality of life in the world after China.

Poverty cycle must be addressed: Ridgeway
The Democrats' Aden Ridgeway says Prime Minister John Howard should stop beating up on people who are on welfare, and focus on solving the national Indigenous unemployment rate.

AMA calls for extra health funding for Aborigines
The Australian Medical Association (AMA) is asking for an extra $450 million a year to be spent on the health needs of Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islanders.

WA bid to recognise 'original custodians' stalls Western Australia's Opposition has rejected a Government proposal to amend the state's Constitution to recognise Aboriginal people as the original custodians of the state.

Labor to request Senate inquiry into ATSIC's future
The Federal Opposition has announced it will call for a Senate inquiry into the Government's plan to abolish the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC).

Reconciliation dreaming
Djerrkura had witnessed the collapse of ATSIC, which he led from 1996 to 1999, with sadness. Despite the peak indigenous organisation's flaws, which he did not deny, its abolition, he said, had been done in "the classic imperial fashion, without negotiation, without understanding and with little empathy". He noted that as early as December 2001 he had called on his successor Geoff Clark to resign for the good of the organisation. But he reserved his harshest words for John Howard.

The bone has been pointed at Howard
A Queensland Indigenous leader says an ancient Aboriginal curse placed on Prime Minister John Howard is no laughing matter and could even have deadly consequences.Suspended Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commissioner (ATSIC) chairman Geoff Clark was with a group of Aboriginal people who performed a ceremony known as pointing the bone at Howard at Colac in south-west Victoria this week.

PM in denial over Redfern Death in Custody
Prime Minister John Howard says treating Aborigines differently is contributing to violent confrontations with police.

INDIGENOUS EMPLOYMENT: ISJA
If we want to survive we must work at it Indigenous unemployment reaching crisis: welfare group Action to lower Indigenous unemployment rate Govt underspends on indigenous employment: dept Economic development: The outback malaise Call for end to Indigenous welfare cycle.

Australian Govt human rights record 'worsening'
Community groups have given the Federal Government five out of ten for its record on human rights this year. Mr Purcell said the Government was also marked down because of the policy of holding children in immigration detention centres.

O'Shane blasts constitution
Controversial New South Wales magistrate Pat O'shane has described the Australian Constitution as flawed and grossly inappropriate.

Demounting Auntie Isabel Coe
The information demountable and Auntie Isabel Coe's demountable were set alight at 3am last Saturday morning. The info demountable was completely destroyed- 31 years of photos and info on the grassroots Indigenous rights movement destroyed! Wilson Tukey (FUCKER)has wanted any excuse to get rid of the embassy for ages. This week he has been using the excuse that the burnt out shell is a danger to the community therefore the embassy must be removed.

Democrats call for improved accountability

ACCOUNTABILITY!

The Democrats are calling for greater political accountability and protection of whistleblowers, in their first policy package of the election campaign.

Democrats' Senator Andrew Murray says reform of the rules governing political donations and politicians' salaries is needed, as well as measures to help whistleblowers in the public service.

"When a public servant puts up their hand on whistleblower issues, they are victimised in ways today which are just unacceptable," he said.

"We have to see this sort of area as a package of protections, less politicisation of the public service, better whistleblower laws, better freedom of information laws, less secrecy and of course bringing ministerial advisers to account."

By The Lie Detectors posted 2 September 04

Related:

Latham stands by Scrafton in children overboard affair
[War criminal], Prime Minister John Howard needs to apologise to Mark Latham over the children overboard affair! The Federal Government lies and John Howard's integrity is in the sewer after attempts to discredit a defence, [war], whistleblower over allegations he did not tell the truth before the last election.

Children overboard continues to haunt PM like the plague...
War criminal, John Howard's lack of integrity and morality will be under question "again" today after Labor seized on claims that a Liberal Senator called Scumbo Howard a 'lying rodent'.

Un-Australian Polling Pill Boosts Illusions
The Howard Government is a 'claw in the back' not "clawed back" with today's Newspill revealing the Coalition and the Un-Australian Newspaper are ready to pounce on the primary vote.

Howard 'Scumbo': Community
The community warned that the, [war criminal], Liberal Coalition was susceptible to what they described as a 'Scumbo' neo-Liberal agenda. Mr Truth said this included issues like children over-board, the illegal and degrading war on Iraq, and children in detention which some liberal politicians think, is normal.

Trust John Howard like you can trust George Bush...
Once again, [war criminal], Prime Minister John Howard unleashed his "politics of fear" to win his election campaign trying to scare ratepayers. Looking back it makes me shiver, don't be scared to kick the past, selling losers down the river.

Howard can't look back
War criminal, John Howard's election pitch to focus on future because Howard can't look back! Prime Minister 'Honest John' Howard, [?....], says he will use the election to outline his 10-year vision for Australia.

When the going gets tough, THE TOUGH GET GOING!
THERE is an air of hysteria about the election campaign that is unrealistic and misplaced. Unrealistic, because today's hot-button issues are SERIOUSLY likely to maintain momentum during the formal election campaign. Misplaced, because WAR CRIMINAL PRIME MINISTER JOHN HOWARD WON'T STEP DOWN.

PM LIES! AND THE LIBERALS ARE 'IMPLODING'
Hard yards paying off...Opposition Leader Mark Latham back at work yesterday after his short rest. The Community warned that John Howard's dishonesty would implode him and his own party at the coming election. A large majority of voters have said this issue will influence their polling booth choice; there is no doubt that the Prime Minister lied.

Costello, Howard's Disciple
JOHN HOWARD AND PETER Costello lost their vision for Australia from the time they were elected and embarked on a vision for the neo-Liberals.

Gillard stirs Liberal leadership pot
[War criminal], Peter Costello yesterday said that the Federal Government should aim to get all children out of immigration detention and he suggested there should be an increase in immigration levels.

Public wants accountability: Latham
Federal Opposition Leader Mark Latham says the Prime Minister needs to take responsibility for what he has said to the Australian public. Earlier today Howard responded to a list of alleged lies that Labor says he has told during his time in office. The Opposition released a document on the weekend titled Truth Overboard outlining 27 alleged lies.

Don't rock the Boat Howard!
PRIME Minister John Howard today denied the children overboard affair had swayed the 2001 election? Mr Howard has spent the week defending himself against claims he had been informed that nobody in Defence believed children had been thrown overboard by asylum seekers.

Australia an unfair nation, say young and all!
Young people and older people think Australia is undemocratic and unfair. Young people cite their teachers as having the greatest influence on their political thinking, according to a provocative new national survey funded by the Government. Older people cite "injustice" amongst other things as a "bent legal system" favouring hi profiled superstars, corporations and politicians.

Not happy, John
John Valder's alarm whistle effort 'let love be thy weapon' indeed Prime Minister John Howard is also the subject of a stinging attack in a Sunday feature this week, from the man who first engineered his ascent to the Liberal leadership in the mid-1980s former party president John Valder.

HOWARD'S LIE DETECTOR TEST: CHILDREN OVERBOARD AFFAIR
Prime Minister John Howard says voters will decide whether he has told the truth about the children overboard incident.

Children Overboard Affair: Howard 'unfit to lead'
The Federal Opposition says John Howard is not fit to be Prime Minister after new revelations about the children overboard affair. A former federal ministerial adviser says he told Howard in the lead-up to the 2001 election that no children had been thrown overboard from a boat carrying asylum seekers in Australian waters.

'Refugees and Indigenous People in John Howard's Australia' Politician - Senator Aden Ridgeway, the only Indigenous Federal parliamentarian, visits Villawood immigration detention centre and is a vocal critic of current refugee and Indigenous policy. Senator Ridgeway will discuss the proposed abolition of ATSIC as well as current refugee and Indigenous policy changes being fought for by the Australian Democrats. Advocate.

Howard's war crimes, Turnbull, at least he's honest
HIGH-profile Liberal candidate Malcolm Turnbull has told voters the Iraq invasion was "an unadulterated error".

Alexanda Downer guilty of war crimes!
The agreement for going to war on Iraq carried with it and incentive and that was free trade with the US. The Howard Government knew about it and went along with it with the US under the guise of Iraq's WMDs. In criminal law this is commonly know as collusion to commit a crime.

John Howard's war crimes blameworthy
General Peter Gration is the spokesman for a group of 43 ex-military leaders, diplomats and departmental heads who have criticised the Government, saying involvement in Iraq has put Australia at greater risk of a terrorist attack.

Human Rights Watch slams Iraq war attacks
Human Rights Watch has condemned the 'wanton' targeting of civilians by 'armed militants', in Iraq. Then what about the Coalition of the Killing?

Genocide and Torture in Iraq: Justice in the balance?
No one is more vulnerable than a prisoner held beyond the reach of the law. So the grim picture of life as a US detainee, [prisoner], held without charge or trial, set out in the Guardian yesterday by three Britons should come as no surprise.

Auditor Generals damning war 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.

Truck drivers working for US face death: resistance
A lot has been written about Insurgents they're all over the place these days especially in Iraq and the term means "Rebel" so all the Rebel's once they've been locked up and "tortured" become "Enemy Combatants" without any "rights". Can someone explain to me what is going on?

Ancient Babylon ruined by foreign troops: Iraqi minister
Iraq: Foreign forces in Iraq have caused severe damage to the site of ancient Babylon, one of the world's most renowned archaeological treasures, and need to leave the area as soon as possible, Iraq's Culture Minister Mofeed al-Jazaeri said.

UK report propaganda
Damaged basic services, cover up of key intelligence and prisoner abuse........They got that right but they got the remedy of the report wrong. Sure as hell they're using this as serious "propaganda".

Iraqis accuse British troops of war crimes.........
British troops committed "war crimes" in post-war Iraq, unlawfully killing civilians and beating and torturing prisoners in their custody, lawyers for the victims have alleged. Soldiers played cruel "games" with prisoners, forcing them to recite lists of English or Dutch footballers and beating them if they failed, Phil Shiner, a British lawyer leading six test cases in the High Court this week, said.

Fifteen "resistance" killed in Iraq shootout
The US military said insurgents opened fire on Iraqi security forces as they provided security for the 1st Infantry Division during a raid in a nearby farming area.

US:Military Draft expected
US: There is pending legislation in the House and Senate (twin bills: S 89 and HR 163) which will time the program's initiation so the draft can begin at early as Spring 2005 -- just after the 2004 presidential election. The administration is quietly trying to get these bills passed now, while the public's attention is on the elections, so our action on this is needed immediately.

US accused of butting into Australian election
The Prime Minister, war criminal, John Howard couldn't win an election this year if he hired the cheerleaders of the US Super Bowl. Howard the coward has accused the Opposition leader of hypocrisy in his response to the, war criminal. Bush administration's criticism of Labor's Iraq policy.

Whatcha Gonna Do, When They Come For You? Bad boy!
Former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein was a threat and sought to possess weapons of mass destruction, United States President, [war criminal], George W Bush reaffirmed when asked why no such weapons had been discovered in Iraq.

Saddam trial US propaganda
Saddam will be handed over to Iraqi, [puppet], justice on Wednesday, two days after the country allegedly regained sovereignty from Washington, but US militants will still guard him to ensure he does not escape.

US liars warn against 'fortress Australia'
The US and Australia could lose the war on terror, [the Coalition of the Killing's resource war's in the Middle East], if they adopted a fortress mentality and failed to go after the terrorists, [scapegoats and patsies], in their global strongholds, US ambassador to Australia Tom Schieffer warned yesterday.

Fahrenheit 9/11: Cannes ends in controversy
Moore's film - about the, [war criminal], George Bush presidency and its response to, [US reichstag, call to arms, false flag], 9/11 and the subsequent, [resource], wars in Afghanistan and Iraq - pulls no punches in depicting George W. as a duplicitous buffoon.

George Bush never looked into Nick's eyes
My son, Nick, was my teacher and my hero. He was the kindest, gentlest man I know; no, the kindest, gentlest human being I have ever known. He quit the Boy Scouts of America because they wanted to teach him to fire a handgun. Nick, too, poured into me the strength I needed, and still need, to tell the world about him.

IRAQ: CPT Colleagues Describe Massacre in Fallujah
What is portrayed in the US mass media as a grand and heroic firefight is,in reality, the crassest, goriest, and basest single incident of massacre of innocents by US troops in recent memory.

Lose the Occupation and Win the War on Liberty!
Friendly allies do pull militants out of illegal battles, believe it or not, under the heading, lose the battle and win the war. In this case it's lose the Occupation and Win the War on Liberty.

Spain demands 'radical change' in Iraq strategy
Spain's prime minister-elect Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero has demanded a "radical change" in the post-war strategy in Iraq otherwise he would withdraw Spanish militants from the country.

'FACTOPHOBIA' HOWARD, BLAIR AND BUSH
Well think about this! Australia's intelligence agencies, [fear mongering, propaganda agencies], look set to receive a substantial funding boost in this year's Federal Budget, with the Prime Minister saying it is an obvious step to take.

US to increase Iraq border security in Iraq
Just plain rubbish, the USA are the terrorists and are dividing and conquering Iraq, by attacking the Shiite Muslims and blaming it on someone else another "A" typical false flag operation.

Halliburton's Ancient Scandals
In the world of corporate scandals, the story breaks, there is a frenzy of reportage, a culprit in the lower levels of upper management is thrown to the SEC and then, slowly, the story dies.

Missile defence program 'will lead to arms race'
A group of Australian doctors opposed to war is warning national security will be compromised by any proposed involvement in the United States' missile defence program 'Son of a bitch'..

Pope calls for sanctions on leaders who violate rights
Leader of the child molesters, Pope John Paul II has called for political leaders who violate human rights to be punished, in a World Day of Peace message released amid worldwide debate over how Saddam Hussein should be brought to justice.

War criminals should be tried: Human Rights
The UN War Crimes Tribunal in The Hague should try George Bush, Tony Blair and John Howard for their part in the coalition of the killing for crimes against humanity.

Who cares wins? Those who inflict or those who endure?
When occupation means war then who cares wins? Not those who can inflict the most, but those who can endure the most, I would have thought.

Coalition of the Killing's alliance against law 'the wrong way'
Australia and Britain [and the Coalition of the Killing], could have agreed that the [resource], wars on Afghanistan, Iraq, and liberty, the proliferation of Security Housing Units, and Detention Centres, can be addressed unilaterally - a trend in the US that is feared all over the world - but must be faced collectively.

A STRUGGLE ON TWO FRONTS: PRISONS & IMPERIALIST WAR
After a war waged by the U.S. military against Vietnam which took the lives of more than 3 million Vietnamese people and more than 58,000 GIs, the U.S. finally withdrew in 1975. It had suffered its first official major military defeat by a united people struggle led by the Vietnamese, along with a mass U.S. anti-war movement.

Police surround protesters outside US Embassy
Thousands of protesters have marched to the Lodge to protest against [war criminal], US President George W Bush's visit. The protesters had rallied outside Parliament House, booing when the president arrived this morning and chanting "go home Bush you war criminal".

David Burchell: Paradox of anti-Americanism
[War criminal] President George W. Bush's trip to our shores today has focused attention on a striking fact - the apparently irresistible rise in hostility among many Australians towards the US.

Pilger said White House knew Saddam was no threat
Australian investigative journalist John Pilger says he has evidence the war against Iraq was based on a lie which could cost George W Bush and Tony Blair their jobs and bring Prime Minister John Howard down with them.

Illegal and degrading war crimes: Society on the New World Order (OWN)! While Australia and the US are very distinctive societies war criminal, Prime Minister John Howard and war criminal, President George Bush share core values.

Thousands march for peace! But does that mean no war?
THOUSANDS of people took to the streets around the country yesterday to march against the war in Iraq and for world peace.

US disturbed over 'biased' reporting in Arab media! But the US lies to the world! How could anyone describe pre-emptive strikes on a sovereign nation, occupation, genocide, torture, and human rights abuse by the Coalition of the Killing in a positive light?

Coalition force 'surprised' by stiff resistance for food aid
About 4,000-5,000 allied forces have launched what they vowed would be an all-out blitz. "We're going straight through that city," a US Marine officer, who asked not to be named, said. "It will be a Hail Mary with guns ablazing."

Explosions rock Baghdad, jets overhead Iraq
BAGHDAD, March 20 [Rooters] A handful of explosions rocked Baghdad at dawn today as jets roared overhead, Iraqi anti-aircraft batteries opened up and air raid sirens sounded.

Bin Laden calls? CIA blind man's bluff!
A [US propaganda, fear-mongering] taped message purportedly from Osama bin Laden has warned Arab nations against supporting a war against Iraq but has branded Saddam Hussein an infidel.

U.S. AMBASSADOR WARNED TO STOP MEDDLING:
The Australian Federal Opposition and Labor Party Leader, Simon Crean, has again warned the U.S. ambassador to stop meddling in Australian politics.

War: Part one The human cost
On the road to Basra, ITV was filming wild dogs as they tore at the corpses of the Iraqi dead. Every few seconds a ravenous beast would rip off a decaying arm and make off with it over the desert in front of us, dead fingers trailing through the sand, the remains of the burned military sleeve flapping in the wind. "Just for the record,'' the cameraman said to me. Of course. Because ITV would never show such footage.

Mandela speaks out against Bush, Blair
Former South African leader Nelson Mandela has lashed out at US President George W Bush's stance on Iraq, saying the US leader has no foresight, and cannot think properly.

All the way with (LPK) Love Peace and Kindness: Dalai Lama
Communication is a two way street. Threats and punishment solve nothing and serve none. In fact it is against the law in most countries to threaten or punish a person.

Pleas for peace ring the globe
Anti-war demonstrators turned out in their hundreds of thousands around the world on Saturday to protest against United States military preparations for an invasion of Iraq.

Not too late for Iraq peace, Blix says
But we all know that's rubbish now. The Coalition of the Killing were not seeking WMD in Iraq, they were there for their resource wars. So who gave the 'UN' and Blix the wrong information back then? War criminals!

George Bush's other poodle
John Howard, Australia's PM, is the mouse that roars for America, whipping his country into war fever and paranoia about terrorism within.

Australia: Silencing Dissent - Report on NGO's

The Australia Institute's report on the role of NGOs is now available.

The report, titled "Silencing Dissent: Non-government organisations and Australian democracy", can be downloaded by going to 'What's New' on The Australia Institute website.

The report begins with an account of the important role played by NGOs in public debate in Australia. It also presents the results of a survey of 290 NGOs. They provide a disturbing picture of the limits on public debate in Australia: For example:

90 per cent of respondents believe that dissenting organisations and individuals risk having their government funding cut; 76 per cent do not believe that current Australian political culture encourages public debate; 74 per cent agree that NGOs are being pressured to amend their public statements to bring them into line with current government policy; and 92 per cent do not believe that individuals and organisations that dissent from current government policy are valued by the government as a part of a robust democracy;

We hope that the report stimulates a vigorous public debate about the role of NGOs and their relationship to government, and I encourage you to read the report and participate in that debate drawing on your own experience.

By Clive Hamilton posted 7 June 04

Dr Clive Hamilton Executive Director The Australia Institute Tel: (02) 6125 1270

Related:

Aust may host US military base
The United States is close to an agreement to build a major military base on Australian soil disguised as a training base. The US would spend tens of millions of dollars to upgrade one of Australia's existing training bases in Queensland or the Northern Territory.

Looming Hicks charges no surprise, father says
The father of Australian Guantanamo Bay detainee, [prisoner], David Hicks says it would be wrong for, [war criminal], Prime Minister John Howard to take any credit for speeding up the legal processing of his son.

Australia: Bringing up children can we afford it?
[War criminal], Peter Costello expects us to carry out our patriotic duty by going home and having more children. But for most people it is a struggle to bring up one child let alone two or three.

Australia: Private job network agency blues
Can you trust a private job network agency? No you can't! A friend of ours is registered at MTC Marrickville. This agency has a practice of forcing unemployed to fill out preparing for work agreements. Of course they didn't offer him any work! So why was he cut off the dole?

Greens call on Mark Latham to commit to ending Howard's abusive policies Greens Senator Kerry Nettle has called on Mark Latham to commit to abolishing the human rights abusing policies of the, [war criminal], Howard government if they win the next election.

Amnesty report criticises Aust, US
Amnesty International has accused Australia of using national security to justify the erosion of human rights and says the United States has proved "bankrupt of vision and bereft of principle" in its fight against terrorism and invasion of Iraq.

UN support for Iraq...conditions?
One of the most important acts that really needs to be done by the United Nations if it is to take over from the United States and Coalition Forces in Iraq, is to demand that ALL prisoners taken from the region, and from Afghanistan, be immediately placed into the hands of the international community (UN) and made available as soon as possible (if required upon further examination) to the International Criminal Court. This has to include Saddam Hussein. Not to do so would smack of further injustice.

Ruddock moves to give police access to emails
Police could get access to stored voicemails; emails and SMS messages under a Bill introduced to federal Parliament today.

The bone has been pointed at Howard
A Queensland Indigenous leader says an ancient Aboriginal curse placed on Prime Minister John Howard is no laughing matter and could even have deadly consequences.Suspended Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commissioner (ATSIC) chairman Geoff Clark was with a group of Aboriginal people who performed a ceremony known as pointing the bone at Howard at Colac in south-west Victoria this week.

O'Shane blasts constitution
Controversial New South Wales magistrate Pat O'shane has described the Australian Constitution as flawed and grossly inappropriate.

Demounting Auntie Isabel Coe
The information demountable and Auntie Isabel Coe's demountable were set alight at 3am last Saturday morning. The info demountable was completely destroyed- 31 years of photos and info on the grassroots Indigenous rights movement destroyed! Wilson Tukey (FUCKER)has wanted any excuse to get rid of the embassy for ages. This week he has been using the excuse that the burnt out shell is a danger to the community therefore the embassy must be removed.

HoWARd, where's your head at?
Australians is living on the edge! Seems each time the bombs go off overseas for the Coalition of the Killing's resource war's in the Middle East Australians are living on the edge.

JUDGEMENT: HOWARD'S WAR CRIMES
Howard Vs Regina in Canberra the Capital Territory of Australia- Friday January 30 2004. Would the defendant please stand while I read out the judgement of this court.

War criminals should be tried: Human Rights
The UN War Crimes Tribunal in The Hague should try George Bush, Tony Blair and John Howard for their part in the coalition of the killing for crimes against humanity.

Message of Solidarity: Greens
The Australian corrections system is appalling and rife with abuse of prisoner's rights. The spiralling numbers of those locked up, now over 23,000, is an indictment on a society which purports to be fair and democratic.

Brain injury for suspicion 'inhumane'
Faheem Khalid Lodhi refused bail by a Sydney court and remanded until June in hell at the (HARM-U) High Risk Management Unit at Goulburn. While he is in there he will receive a brain injury and is likely to self-harm due to the gross violation of living standards.

AUSTRALIA: RIOT ACT READ AGAINST INSPECTION TEAM
The secrecy of the unit holding several people charged with terrorist offences, [scapegoats for the Coalition of the Killing's resource war's in the Middle East], here in Australia was confirmed during an attempted community inspection by a delegation from Justice Action. The delegation comprised four women and two men.

QLD Politician (Community Safety?) Amendment Bill 2004
NEW LAWS: A picture of the [false flag] Madrid killer bombings was used to introduce a terror Bill so that we are so fearful we will accept it as being appropriate behaviour by the authorities and law enforcement. [So where is our protection against a corrupt government and complicit corporate media organisations?]

Dictatorship under the crimes Act?
[War criminal], Attorney General Phillip Ruddock said yesterday under the Crimes Act Izhar Ul Haque committed a crime. But the real crime was preventing a 21-year-old young man decide for himself what is wrong and what is right. What a disgrace! Under the heading, further education.

Report recommends freeing child detainees
The Human Rights Commission has found that some children held in Australia's immigration detention centres have been exposed to cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment.

Child detention breaches UN convention: human rights report
There are currently 86 children in detention in Australia and more than 70 on the Pacific Island of Nauru. The Federal Opposition, [as well as of at least half of Australia], has called on the Government to act on the report immediately.

Detention centre media ban criticised
The Howard Government has been criticised in a report by media freedom advocate Reporters Without Borders for stopping journalists covering the conditions in refugee detention centres.

Refugee protests expected to move to Sydney
Refugee advocates look set to protest in Sydney this Easter instead of the Baxter detention centre near Port Augusta in South Australia's north.

Zimbardo on US Soldiers and Iraqi prisoners
My former colleague in the Psychology Department at Pace University in Pleasantville, NY forwarded this letter to me. It was distributed via the Social Psychology e-network. I think you will find it enlightening, and possibly disturbing, but I believe it is important information for us to be aware of.

Steve Stefanowicz: Adelaides new torturer!
Is the U.S. citizen Steve Stefanowicz going to be allowed to resume his working entry visa to Australia, given the revelations in the Weekend Australian May 8-9?

Hicks interrogator features in CBS broadcast
An American television program has broadcast an interview with a man who interrogated Australian terror suspect, [scapegoat for the Coalition of the Killing's resource war's in the Middle East], David Hicks at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

JUSTICE KIRBY: JUDICIAL ACTIVISM

Activist judges are alert and aware of common decency. They can make governments accountable for breaches of human right standards. Over the past week at the University of Exeter, High Court Justice Michael Kirby has delivered a series of tongue-lashings to his critics, those "bully boys (and girls)" who believe activist judges undermine the democratic deal and dare to say so.

Kirby's insight is decent, last week Justice Kirby threw at the Federal Government's barrister, the Solicitor-General David Bennett QC, in a ground-breaking case heard in the High Court, testing for the first time Australia's Mandatory Immigration Detention Scheme.

Australia's highest court finally rebels against the outlandish efforts of the Howard fascist government.

Fortunately, Kirby is delivering knowledge to his critics for the sake of humanity. He told his English audience that critics of judicial activism "are contemptuous of fundamental human rights and jealous of any source of power apart from their own". They "hate it when judges express the law in terms of legal principles to protect minorities, the weak and the vulnerable".

Contemptuously those bullies who criticise judicial activism are feeding their greed and lining their filthy pockets all the time. These vultures are all too willing to side with fascist governments regardless of human rights.

Dictators like John Howard and his cronies have lost sight of human rights standards.

Howard has undermined the parliamentary process and the rule of law. Politicians and (corporate club critics) who grasp at the notion of "human rights". Critics who lie, bend the truth and deceive us all, a result that is politically motivated and makes them feel good but bears little relation to democracy and justice for all in the struggle of life.

A STRUGGLE ON TWO FRONTS: PRISONS & IMPERIALIST WAR

On guard to protect liberty from evil minded rulers, thoughtful? You bet. Judges who use their role to encourage human rights (and therefore promote liberty) have reminded us of their job description. Of course, judges have to make choices when they interpret vague laws.

Undoubtedly, the common law legitimately moves in small, incremental ways. The benefit is that when you give them a platform judges take a deep, intricacy Kirbyeinsight mile to tell you what is in their soul. They travel down roads they have a right being on, using as their road map their own vast personal experience and knowledge.

Guantanamo escape may be justified: Kirby

For example, inside Kirby's Guide to Law-Making you will probably find a long chapter on "human rights" followed by an even fatter chapter on international law, because, as Kirby said in an interview in April: "(International law) will make us more creative." And then there is the chapter on protecting "minorities, the weak and the vulnerable" where phrases like "community values" and "social justice" will equal any references to the rule of law.

Why? Because the rule of law is guided by community values and social justice. So for all those critical bullies (Un-Australian's) that think they're not in the same boat. Think again! In other words the Un-Australian's don't see themselves as 'equal', that's why judges speak out above their critics.

As one judge on a bench of seven, Kirby's activist forays make human rights a reality opposed to fascist governments and corporate media who just don't care. But don't you worry, because they'll get by without their rabbit pie.

In NSW, unfair dismissal laws stop unscrupulous employers who try to pay employees below award rates by using independent contractor arrangements. Think garage sweatshops and overworked, underpaid migrant workers.

The Un-Australian newspaper said, "You soon had senior executives claiming unfair dismissal, using the same laws to secure $14 million option packages and has been extended to corporate executives who are neither weak nor vulnerable."

Are senior executives equal regardless of their status? Should corporate media journalists place barriers before equality and the law, for their hip pocket nerve endings? How would they react if it were their job on the line? Was this argument by the Un-Australian newspaper, just a sleazy way of undermining judicial activism? A payback? Or simply a way to undermine unfair dismissal laws as being useless and invalid?

An alleged expert Sydney lawyer John Colvin put on a pedestal by the Un-Australian newspaper to back up their story, who is in employment law said, "he has seen the IRC become the rich boys' legal playground."

He has written about the "lucky executives in NSW" who can apply to the IRC to "set aside negotiated contracts of employment even when they provide for lengthy notice periods, termination payouts, share schemes and bonuses.

"An employee will always call a termination "unfair" but why do IRC judges so often agree? Because they can. "Fairness," says Colvin, "is a bit like beauty, which can reside in the eye of the beholder." NSW politicians made it easy for them by drafting vague laws, leading the judges out into the wilderness and abandoning them, as former High Court judge Hayden Starke said once."

"Laws can translate into expensive litigation. Employers will pay a premium to avoid those costs. That jacks up the costs of employment and that, in turn, acts as a disincentive to business to set up headquarters in NSW."

But do unfair dismissal laws act as a deterrent to keep away bad business practice in NSW. If the answer is yes then perhaps it serves the greater good Mr Colvin?

The IRC has claimed jurisdiction over all sorts of commercial contracts far removed from the original intention of parliament. Fortunately, the state's highest court is [allegedly], objective and impartial.

Overturning a decision of the IRC, the president of the NSW Court of Appeal, Keith Mason, recently delivered a scathing critique of the IRC: "Like the Chief Justice, I am profoundly troubled by the march of the commission's jurisdiction into the heartland of commercial contracts."

On it went. "The matter is also troubling," said Mason, "because it must frankly be stated that the members of the commission do not generally have the experience of the judges of the Equity Division in such matters and because ... the commission lacks the ongoing assistance of appellate and other supervision by the Court of Appeal or the High Court in such matters." Translation: An interventionist court out of control and out of its depth. That about sums up what's right about having a balance with judges.

What would Kirby make of this latest criticism from judges of the NSW Court of Appeal?

You are entitled to your opinion!

By No Rabbit Pie 27 November 03

THE FOX: They'll get by without their rabbit pie so run rabbit, run rabbit, run run, run!

Related:

Justice Kirby concerned at self-representation
High Court judge Michael Kirby says Australia's justice system is weakened by the increasing number of people representing themselves in court. Justice Kirby says he agrees with One Nation founder Pauline Hanson's concerns about the high cost of legal advice.

Litigants are drowning: in the High Court
There were so many self represented litigants appearing in the High Court that more than half of its registry staff's time was taken up in dealing with them. The "go it alone" litigants have to take on tasks well above their qualified league causing them stress. This growing problem cannot be left unchecked.

Democrats call for more accountability in NSW Govt

The New South Wales Democrats are calling for more accountability in the state Government.

The Democrats have accused the NSW Government of running a planning system more at home in a totalitarian system than a democracy.

Democrats upper house MP, Dr Arthur Chesterfield-Evans, made the accusation while launching a policy calling for more accountability in state government.

The Democrats have launched a five-point plan which they say would end government secrecy, ban lucrative consultancies for departing ministers, overhaul politician's entitlements, protect whistleblowers and ensure government jobs are awarded on merit.

Dr Chesterfield-Evans says the state planning system is open to corruption because governments are morally obliged to make decisions which benefit political donors.

"Obviously if someone merely takes money and they say 'this won't influence my decision,' that is not inherently corrupt," Dr Chesterfield-Evans said.

"But of course it puts the person in a morally-obliged position to the donor.

"They then have difficulty saying 'no' and I think it also means that the wealthy get access to the Minister as they're giving the money at those donor functions.

"The model I want is the New Zealand model where the government has to prove that a document has to be kept secret.

"In other words all documents are... instead of them being all secret unless you prise one out with Freedom of Information, it's the other way around: all documents are public unless you apply to have it kept secret.

The Democrats are fielding a total of 75 candidates in the New South Wales Election - 56 in the Legislative Assembly and 19 in the Legislative Council.

By Keepthe Bastards Honest 10 March 03

THE ELEPHANT: I remember! You don't have to be a mouse to know that people who investigate themselves like police are always going to be bias and corrupt. The Government is the problem!

Related:

NSW Election 2003: VOTE 1 DEMOCRATS
The Democrats have watched with concern as both of the major parties support more and more legislation that puts more and more people in prisons. It is very easy for politicians to be tough on crime but it is harder to for them to explain to develop solutions to crime. Talkback radio and populist media driven opinion polls that show that the public approves of imprisonment.This comes from the notions that:

NSW ELECTION 2003: VOTE 1 GREENS
Drug law reform: The Greens are proud to have the most progressive policy of any party on drug law reform. Our Drugs and Harm Minimisation Policy is available in full from The NSW Greens, as are all our policies.

The Breen Machine - Reform The Legal System Party
For the past four years, Reform the Legal System has promoted human rights in the new South Wales Parliament. Our most significant achievement is the legislation, passed late last year, to require all bills introduced into the Parliament to be checked for breaches of human rights.

PM lost in space! Pre-emptive Strikes & Star Wars Defence!!
War criminal PM backs missile defence investigation but he is not on his own. Bob Carr dubbed Darth Vader after draconian laws were introduced in NSW following John Howard's threats to strike first and ask questions later.

Constitution, politics, police and prison corruption

Carr appeal is rotten
NSW voters believe the Carr Labor Government has performed bad on crime and public safety and done a poor job in health and hospitals, people can see it with their own eyes.

NSW Election 2003: The Sale of Justice
NSW Young Lawyers' Criminal Law & Human Rights Committees, however, have been concerned about the civil rights trade-offs that both major parties have been proposing (or, in the case of the Government, implementing) prior to the election.

Human Rights 'Framed'
Here is a quick report on our Human Rights Commission approach on Framed (the quarterly magazine of Justice Action) being banned from all NSW prisons. After 42 issues went in.

Abolition of 800 year old double jeopardy law a crime
The 800-year-old rule prevents a person who's acquitted of a criminal charge from ever being re-tried for that offense.

Prison Privatisation: Death camps looming in NSW
I asked for the identification of the person I was speaking to and was told that I was not entitled to that information. I needed to verify the call and asked for a name or number to register my call because I was asked to get those details by my coordinator.

Take crime talk beyond the bars:'lobby group'
A coalition of academics, crime experts, welfare and church groups is preparing to launch an intensive pre-election campaign aimed at refocusing the attention of NSW politicians from harsh sentencing reforms to crime prevention strategies.

NSW A-G moves to stop criminals and ex-criminals selling stories
From next month criminals or ex-criminals who try to profit (earn a living for paid work, like writing a book etc..) from their crimes in New South Wales will have the proceeds confiscated.

NSW Govt criticised over criminal justice record
Key criminal justice groups have described the New South Wales Government's record on justice issues as a "disappointing performance".

Demolishing Democracy
How Bob Carr, [ the Coalition of the Killing,] and Bin Laden gave birth to the NSW police state. The [CIA false flag ]Bali bombings could not have come at a 'better time' for [the Coalition of the Killing and] Bob Carr and his project to bring an end to Westminster democracy in NSW.

Litigants are drowning: in the High Court
There were so many self represented litigants appearing in the High Court that more than half of its registry staff's time was taken up in dealing with them. The "go it alone" litigants have to take on tasks well above their qualified league causing them stress. This growing problem cannot be left unchecked.

The community questions ICAC's slagging and fobbing you off?
The ICAC, Commissions, Ombudsman, Police Integrity Commission (PIC), and numerous Tribunals etc, are all arms of government set up as an insurance police for the government's 3 or 4 year election terms. In short they'll be out of office by the time you may be lucky enough to have your matter heard.

Mr. & Mrs. Mandatory Sentencing
Well congratulations to the bride and groom. Could you please be upstanding and raise your glasses for Mr. And Mrs. Mandatory.

NSW prisons - primary industry bailed up!
In many quiet regional centres around NSW there is a new primary industry shaping up. It has something to do with Bail but not with bales. The minister for Agriculture Richard Amery who also has the prisons portfolio is now committed to farming prisoners.

NSW Parliament Bitter Pills To Swallow?
One delusion pill: So people who investigate their own mistakes make sure there was no mistake or someone else made the mistake. Perhaps you're not biased and you will be honest about it.

Who is bad?
Super Rat? M5? M11? K8? N2? So I trust that some people who, with the photos and guns guessed that a jury would quickly establish a case against a profiled person whom, you just had a picture and a history of. Common knowledge? The government knew their victims would take the blame. Not just chess in court, 'moving around the pieces', but 'putting false evidence, or not enough evidence before the jury."

False flag operations, scapegoats and patsies

State terror units caused the terror!
The level of suspicion and surveillance created by the [US false flag operation and call to arms] Bali bombings, created by [ the Coalition of the Killing and Australian's complicity to go to war on Iraq] means that all Australian's suffer the loss of their human rights, civil rights and their democratic rights, as well as those Australian's who lost their life in Bali.

Middle Eastern: Specific Legislation
"If there is a target person the police would have powers in relation to that type of person," Mr Costa said. Asked what he meant by "type of person", Mr Costa said: "The example that's been given is if there's a description of somebody, an identikit photograph released by Interpol or other agencies ... these powers may well be exercised on that type of person."

Hypocrisy not Democracy? No Blood for Oil!

Most Australians undecided on Iraq: PM?

Channel nine and Sixty Minutes? Well Kerry Packer's farts smelt like a dead dog after the peace demonstration. A demonstration like no other against war in Australia that carried an everlasting freshness like splashing water on your face.

Sixty Minutes was defeated before its propaganda monster could be unleashed.

We want optimism and like millions around the world, a quarter of a million NSW voters crossed the line for peace on the globe.

The Prime Minister John Howard believes most Australians are still undecided about whether they support military action against Iraq [Murdering innocent people for their resources].

He wants to scare all the children out of their lives like a mad professor gone wrong.

Howard has refused to back down on the threat of war despite hundreds of thousands of Australians rallying against it. The question is why?

When you Howard have raised a family. When you Howard are told that the family is the fundamental group unit of society, then the suburb then the state then the country then the globe and yes Howard, then the Universe, the greatest power.

What about the people who couldn't get out to demonstrate along side those who could?

Australians who worked, who played sport and those who had other commitments.

Australians from all walks of life took the streets over the weekend in demonstrations against a possible war with Iraq.

The Prime Minister says he still does not believe they represent the majority view.

Howard has told Channel 9 most Australians realise the need to deal with Iraq.

"The one constant in all the polls is that people think that Saddam Hussein has got dangerous weapons. They don't believe him and they think something ought to be done," he said.

[The corporate media never helped some people think that Saddam had WMD?]

HoWARd: "I don't think the mob, to use that vernacular, has quite made up its mind on this issue and it can't really make up its mind until we know what all the alternatives are."

The Prime Minister concedes the majority of Australians would prefer the involvement of the United Nations but he is still not ruling out acting in coalition with the United States and Great Britain should the UN Security Council fail to draft a new resolution.

Opposition leader Simon Crean maintains a UN mandate is the only option.

"This just isn't about the question of how we deal with the disarmament if Iraq. It's how we deal with international conflict in the future. Deal with it through the UN, not unilaterally," he said. He says Mr Howard is clearly out of touch with the community.

By Love Peace and Kindness 17 Feb 03

THE CHILDREN: HOWARD THE HYPOCRITE! TO LIVE WITH FEAR IS A LIFE HALF LIVED.

Related:

Red paper classes Australia as terrorist suspects
Australia's old foreign policy red paper says Australians have become targets because their own government is being run by war criminals that are complicit in state terror, torture, murder, occupation and genocide.

Australia backs CIA Reichstag, Downer's propaganda
The Foreign Affairs Minister says the latest message from Osama bin Laden is worrying. [Just plain rubbish!]

UK Reid, Blair and the reichstag London threat!
The nature of the [alleged] terrorist threat to London is on the scale of the [USA false flag] September 11 attacks in the United States, the chairman of Britain's governing Labour Party said.

Bin Laden calls? CIA blind man's bluff!
A [US propaganda, fear-mongering] taped message purportedly from Osama bin Laden has warned Arab nations against supporting a war against Iraq but has branded Saddam Hussein an infidel.

U.S. AMBASSADOR WARNED TO STOP MEDDLING:
The Australian Federal Opposition and Labor Party Leader, Simon Crean, has again warned the U.S. ambassador to stop meddling in Australian politics.

War: Part one The human cost
On the road to Basra, ITV was filming wild dogs as they tore at the corpses of the Iraqi dead. Every few seconds a ravenous beast would rip off a decaying arm and make off with it over the desert in front of us, dead fingers trailing through the sand, the remains of the burned military sleeve flapping in the wind. "Just for the record,'' the cameraman said to me. Of course. Because ITV would never show such footage.

Mandela speaks out against Bush, Blair
Former South African leader Nelson Mandela has lashed out at US President George W Bush's stance on Iraq, saying the US leader has no foresight, and cannot think properly.

All the way with (LPK) Love Peace and Kindness: Dalai Lama
Communication is a two way street. Threats and punishment solve nothing and serve none. In fact it is against the law in most countries to threaten or punish a person.

Hill defends decision to attack Iraq: Step by step?
FEDERAL Defence [War] Minister [Sinister] Robert Hill has defended the government's decision to send troops [ send militia] to the Persian Gulf [ to attack Iraq] in readiness for any [pre-emptive strike that would cause a] conflict with Iraq.

Pleas for peace ring the globe
Anti-war demonstrators turned out in their hundreds of thousands around the world on Saturday to protest against United States military preparations for an invasion of Iraq.

Not too late for Iraq peace, Blix says
But we all know that's rubbish now. The Coalition of the Killing were not seeking WMD in Iraq, they were there for their resource wars. So who gave the 'UN' and Blix the wrong information back then? War criminals!

George Bush's other poodle
John Howard, Australia's PM, is the mouse that roars for America, whipping his country into war fever and paranoia about terrorism within.

US prepares for trade talks with Australia but it's not worth it!
The office of the United States Trade Representative has started formally preparing its negotiating position for the first round of talks on a free trade agreement between Australia and the US.

First strike and you're out!
The ideology of a super loser? John Howard shocks the nation again. A nation who cannot believe Howard's stupidity following his [complicity in the CIA's false flag operation, the Bali bombing.]

UN charter doesn't reflect new self-defence needs: Hill?
The Defence [War] Minister, Robert Hill, says the United Nations' charter needs to be changed to help countries defend themselves against potential threats. [?] [Pre-emptive strikes on soveriegn nation states like Iraq and Afghanistan?]

Australian Propaganda

Middle Eastern: Specific Legislation
"If there is a target person the police would have powers in relation to that type of person," Mr Costa said. Asked what he meant by "type of person", Mr Costa said: "The example that's been given is if there's a description of somebody, an identikit photograph released by Interpol or other agencies ... these powers may well be exercised on that type of person."

Howard defends terror alert
Prime Minister John Howard says the Federal Government would not have issued a terror alert if it had not come from a credible source. (America?) Speaking for the first time since the Government revealed the warning, Mr Howard says he wants people to be more careful, but not to stop living. [As long as they don't go dancing in Bali? And sure we'll all be depressed for as long as John Howard and Bob Carr say so.]

Carr backs Fed Govt's terror alert
New South Wales Premier Bob Carr has defended the Federal Government's decision to issue a warning to Australians about a possible terrorist attack in Australia.

NSW Police Force may get 'special powers'
Civil libertarians are questioning the need for further anti-terrorism laws, which will be announced in the New South Wales Parliament on Tuesday.

When Johnny comes marching home again: 'hoorah hoorah'
Posted on the Resistance web page Bronwyn Powell, an organiser of the youth-led mobilisation told Green Left weekly that "in the face of attacks on civil liberties, it is unfortunate that some union officials have felt they need to submit. It could set a negative precedent for upholding the hard-won right to demonstrate in the street."

Give peace a chance
PIERS AKERMAN DT 28 Nov 02: JUSTICE John Dowd should be removed from the bench. His crime? Stupidity. In a breath-taking display of hand-wringing sanctimonious morality, Dowd has condemned the State and Federal Governments' anti-terrorism measures, claiming they erode rights and give encouragement to oppressive regimes.

The scavengers of terror
The NSW Government is to introduce increased police powers bill. Legislation giving New South Wales police special powers to deal with an emergency terrorist situation [emergency scapegoat situation] will be introduced into the New South Wales Parliament today.

About Protesting &: Corporate media, Ben English and Rachel Morris who spell their names in capitals? [Yes too right! Ordinary people some protesting against the occupation, murder and genocide of hundreds of thousands of innocent men, women and children. And you call yourselves reporters? You should hang your head in shame and go get jobs defending those poor innocent people. Shame on you!!!]