Jura Books is on the way to becoming solar-powered! Jura is a not-for-profit bookshop, community library and social space run by a democratic, volunteer, anarchist collective. The solar system Jura hopes to install will be a community-owned renewable energy resource in the heart of Sydney's inner west. It will be a model of community-controlled renewable energy.
Jura Books is going solar-powered! In order to explore the politics of community owned renewable energy, Jura welcomes Nicky Ison for a special presentation on practical community action towards a climate just world. Nicky is a climate change and renewable energy activist and researcher who has recently returned from a study tour of 28 community renewable energy projects across Europe. She is a founding member of the Community Power Agency. This presentation will:
RISE MEDIA RELEASE: Wednesday 27/4/2011 RISE is concerned about the portrayal in the mainstream media of the latest protests by asylum seekers incarcerated in Sydney’s Villawood immigration detention centre. The images of fires and other distressed acts carried out by incarcerated asylum seekers coupled with sound bites from mainstream media commentators, radio shock-jocks and politicians are being used to whip up flames of hysteria in the Australian community at large.
About 300 people marched on Villawood Immigration Detention Centre in Sydney's west on April 25 to demand an end to mandatory detention of refugees. The rally was in solidarity with all people caught up in mandatory detention but also offered specific support to the three detainees still up on the roof protesting on the roof of Villawood where they have been for six days without food. One of those on the roof Majid Parhizkar, a 24-year-old Iranian spoke to the crowd via mobile phone. His mother and sister and brother are already in the community and were present at the rally.
Over 100 asylum seekers imprisoned within Villawood protested last thursday against unending detention. Nine buildings burned to the ground. Currently 3 detainees continue their hunger strike atop a roof in the Centre, while 22 detainees are being held in solitary confinement in Silverwater prison. now is not the time to turn back, let's keep on until we end the rotten detention system. Solidarity forever!
Sydney Labor MP Tanya Plibersek does a backflip on Palestine in the wake of the stupid Marrickville boycott “debate”.
In 2002 the left wing member for Sydney was pretty clear about what she thought of the government of Israel.
She said: “I can think of a rogue state which consistently ignores UN resolutions whose ruler is a war criminal - it is called Israel and the war criminal is Ariel Sharon”.
She also said: “There have been criticisms of Israel's policies, but I don't think that's being anti-Israel”.
Refugee Action Coalition Press Release 24.4.2011 Solicitors visiting asylum seekers now incarcerated at Silverwater prison are shocked at what they have seen. Stephen Blanks, solicitor and secretary of the NSW Council for Civil Liberties briefly interviewed two of the 22 (mostly Iranians and Kurds) locked up there. He said: “They are in solitary confinement, locked down for 18 hours a day with no access to communication, either with each other or with the outside world.
Refugee Action Coalition Press Release 23/4/2011Wayne Swan is wrong to criticize Monday’s planned refugee rights protest at Villawood detention centre, refugee supporters say. Following this week’s unrest at Villawood, refugee rights advocates will stage a mass show of support for Villawood detainees on Easter Monday, 25 April. The 25th is also Anzac Day. Refugee supporters will meet at Chester Hill station at 12 noon, before marching to the Gurney Rd side of the detention centre for a rally in support of detainees.
BILL OF RIGHTS & POLICE BRUTALITY
A public Forum to discuss with David Shoebridge MLC his proposed bill of rights.
Location:
Customs House Meeting Room, Level 2, 31 Alfred St, Circular Quay NSW 2000.
Refugee Action Coalition Press Release Friday 22 April 2011Following this week’s unrest at the Villawood detention centre, refugee rights advocates will stage a mass show of support for Villawood detainees on Easter Monday, 25 April. Refugee supporters will meet at Chester Hill station at 12 noon, before marching to the Gurney Rd side of the detention centre for a rally in support of the detainees.
