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The Federal Government should not try to pass legislation that would allow a national radioactive waste dump on Muckaty Land Trust in the Northern Territory before the Federal Court case opposing it lodged by some traditional owners of the Land Trust is heard, Oxfam Australia said today.

The National Radioactive Waste Management Bill 2010 is due to be debated in Parliament this week in the face of opposition from some Aboriginal traditional owners of Muckaty Land Trust who lodged the case with the Federal Court contesting the process used to nominate the land as a radioactive waste site.

Canberra was the focus of action today over climate change and the Government's proposed carbon tax, with an action for climate change petition presented, youth climate activists from AYCC in town to meet politicians, and the No Tax on Carbon rally attended by climate deniers and conservatives that had been actively promoted on shock-jock talk back radio as a "people's tax revolt".

People opposed to a carbon tax rallied at noon in Canberra, Melbourne and Brisbane. The protest in Canberra was organised by the Consumers and Taxpayers Assoc Inc. and 2GB broadcaster Chris Smith.

No to imperialist intervention in the Libya! Saudi, UAE troops out of Bahrain!
Support Middle Eastern democracy struggles! End imperialist wars in Iraq, Afghanistan!

On March 17, 2011, the UN Security Council passed a resolution authorising military intervention by the Western imperialist powers or their puppets in Libya. The justification for this is to prevent further loss of life in fighting between forces remaining loyal Muammar Gaddafi and forces supporting the uprising that began on February 15 against his 42-year-old rule, and to support the pro-democracy forces.

A small but vocal crowd braved crazy Sydney rain and wind to demand freedom for 23-year-old alleged WikiLeaks whistleblower Bradley Manning. Manning has been detained in maximum custody under horrendous conditions for over 10 months without trial. On March 20, 2011 demonstrations were held all over the world to call for freedom and justice for Bradley Manning including one in outside the U.S. consulate in Melbourne

I’m still riding a high from the IWD march now more than a week ago in my life. Marching along with a few thousand like minded people and being smiled at by pedestrians brings much joy. From the outset the energy was high, the celebration was just as important as the struggle for what we still confront to achieve Equality and Fairness for Women in this world we live in. I love the diversity of those who come to IWD, I love the different groups of women – our Indigenous sisters, those from other Nations, unionists, Lesbians, community groups, our elders of the feminist movement.

“I have become Death, the destroyer of worlds”. Robert Oppenheimer, quoting the Baghavad Gita, on witnessing the first atomic bomb test, 1945

As I write this – on the afternoon of March 16 in the United States – the situation at the Fukushima Nuclear Plant No. 1 is, tragically, looking increasingly grim. Radiation levels are increasing, mass evacuations in the area surrounding Fukushima are underway; and experts are speculating –with trepidation, but understandable caution – about how far the radiation will spread, both within Japan and to other parts of the planet.

As a leftist who supports the inspiring democracy uprising in Libya I was very disturbed to see the start of military action by France, Britain and the U.S. Let me be chrystal clear from the start, I believe Gaddaffi to be an odious ruthless dictator who has no legitimacy and violently oppresses his own people. However I do not believe the intervention is a good thing for the following reasons:

As part of the March 19-20th Global Day of Action in solidarity with Bradley Manning a small group of protestors gathered outside the U.S. Consulate in Melbourne. Similar vigils and protests occurred around the world with the primary rally occurring outside the brig in Quantico where Manning is being held in the U.S. Protestors expressed that if Bradley Manning is “guilty” of giving information to Wikileaks he is a hero not a criminal for revealing war crimes. The hypocrisy of the U.S. bombing Libya to support democracy whilst it tortures Bradley Manning was also pointed out.

Brad Manning & Going to see Laverty/Loach's "Route Irish" with my mate Ben an SAS Iraq War veteran!
by Ciaron O'Reilly Cathoilic Worker/ Plowshares

Last night I went to see Ken Loach/ Paul Lavety's latest effort, the film "Route Irish". I was invited along by a friend, Ben Griffin, who is an Iraq S.A.S. combat veteran.