Newswire

Flanked by his trusty team of reindeer and elves, Santa visited Melbourne with a simple question – do Victorians all want coal for Christmas? ‘I’m confused’, he told onlookers. ‘If you don't want coal for Christmas, why would Victoria have plans for a new coal fired power station HRL?’ Luckily, the people of Melbourne set Santa straight, signing up in droves to support a joint petition by Quit Coal and other environmental groups calling for No New Coal!

On December 17th 2011, Bradley Manning turned 24 and his pre-trial hearing began. Bradley has been charged with a variety of offences that related to the release of documents and evidence of war crimes by the U.S. to Wikileaks. On this day an international day of solidarity occured and a number of actions occured in Australia. In Brisbane musicians played in solidarity in the Brisbane Mall. In Sydney a daily vigil during the pre-trial has been organised by the Sydney Stop the War Coalition outside the U.S. Consulate General in Martin Place. In Adelaide a small group gathered to sing Bradley happy birthday and to hand out information on his trial. In London, Australian peace activist Ciaron O'Reilly was amongst solidarity protestors outside the U.S. Embassy. Meanwhile Australin journalist Julian Assange will have the next stage of his appeal against his extradition to Sweden heard on December 20th.
Related:Updates on Brad's trial at www.bradleymanning.org

HRA media release: All three major political parties caused the drownings off Java - and more - they must stop criminalising humanitarians

Moral leadership is not being represented by any political party or its leaders.

None are prepared to lead that far from the front that the others behind them can leverage solutions. Instead they are on par with each other and merely casting blame and aspersion and portraying themselves as being able to do the job better.

From the Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation

Tuesday 20 December 2011 - - Last Tuesday, the WA Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Peter Collier, reneged on an earlier commitment to hold Fortescue Metals Group (FMG) accountable for identification and protection of Yindjibarndi heritage in the path of its Solomon Project mine. After FMG demanded that critical conditions of his consent be deleted, Minister Collier complied, clearing the way for wholesale destruction of rare and ancient Yindjibarndi heritage.

A small group of peace activists celebrated Bradley Manning's Birthday in Adelaide's busiest shopping mall on Rundle Mall with signs and giving out birthday cake to passers by on December 17th as part of a global day of action. Lots of folks came to say hi and find out more about who Bradley is. We got a great response, even the security guard asked for a flyer and thanked us!

Join the campaign for justice for Bradley Manning and win his release from prison, outside the US Consulate General in Martin Place:

Friday, 16 Dec, 1:00pm – 2:00pm
Saturday 17th Dec, 11:00am – 12 noon
Monday 19th Dec, 1:00pm – 2:00pm
Tuesday Dec 20, 1:00pm – 2:00pm

The week December 16-21 marks the long awaited pre-trial of 24-year-old US army intelligence analyst Bradley Manning who is charged with leaking classified material to WikiLeaks.

On Thursday, December 15, the Refugee Action Collective (Victoria) held a vigil and performative action to remember over 4,000 asylum seekers and refugees that will languish in immigration detention over Christmas. Supporters and activists, and passers-by helped to light the 4,000 candles and keep them alight over a few hours as musicians performed and passers-by stopped to talk to us about the issue, and sign petitions to stop the deportation of a Hazara asylum seeker, Ismail.

http://radio4all.net/responder.php/download/56524/63167/76982/?url=http:...

Letzte Ausgabe 2011 der Nachrichten kommentiert mit Wolfgang

29:52 min 128 kbps stereo 27.5 MB

By GetUp!

Amazingly 74,938 people signed the petition to save the Great Barrier Reef. Lincoln has delivered it to the UNESCO head offices in Paris - your voice is being heard!

Lincoln is a a GetUp member who now lives in Paris. Lincoln grew up in Adelaide but moved to Tasmania in 1982 to take up the fight to save the Franklin River. He ran The Wilderness Society's legal campaign which ultimately saw a High Court Victory which resulted in the Franklin River being saved. Like the Great Barrier Reef, the Franklin River now has World Heritage status.