It Just StoppedWritten by Stephen SewellDirected by Neil ArmfieldWith Kim Gyngell, Rebecca Massey, Catherine McClements and John WoodCompany B at the Belvoir Street Theatre, Surry Hills, SydneyUntil November 5
687
On October 10, 50 people joined a memorial service at Melbourne University to commemorate the drowning of 353 refugees when their Indonesian boat — the SIEV X — sank in international waters off Christmas Island in October 2001. A year after the sinking, a Senate select committee investigation concluded that it was “extraordinary that a major human disaster could occur in the vicinity of a theatre of intensive Australian [border patrol] operations and remain undetected until three days after the event, without any concern being raised within intelligence and decision making circles”.
When invited to address an October 12 rally in defence of womenÂ’²õ right to abortion, both Labor Premier Steve Bracks and state Liberal Party leader Ted Baillieu declined to attend. The rally, held on the steps of the state parliament, was initiated by the Socialist Alliance.
Fast Food NationDirected by Richard LinklaterBased on the book by Eric SchlosserWith Kris Kristofferson, Greg Kinnear, Patricia Arquette, Ethan Hawke, Catalina MorenoIn cinemas October 26
The NSW Labor government has been forced to partially back down on its plans to enforce the educationally unsound A-E report system.
“AinÂ’t that the truth”, said the Socialist AllianceÂ’²õ lead upper house candidate in next MarchÂ’²õ NSW state election, Susan Price. “And it sums up why weÂ’re running against them.”
ERIC SCHLOSSER was in Australia in September for a publicity tour to launch Fast Food Nation. Â鶹´«Ã½ WeeklyÂ’²õ BELINDA SELKE interviewed him about the film.
Changes to AustraliaÂ’²õ “landmark” environment and heritage law, the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Act 1999, will give the federal environment minister more discretionary power to reject public nominations to protect areas of natural and cultural significance. The proposed amendments were tabled by the federal government in parliament on October 12 in a 414-page document.
Architects for Peace, Australia, took an active part in the protests against IsraelÂ’²õ attacks on Lebanon and Palestine. Beatriz Maturana, a founder of the group, told Â鶹´«Ã½ Weekly that the group formed in February 2003, in response to the invasion of Iraq. It continues to campaign against the US-led occupation of Iraq.
IsraelÂ’²õ war on Gaza, its continued colonisation of the West Bank, and its construction of the apartheid wall represent the third wave of ethnic cleansing in Palestine since the establishment of Zionist state, Israeli academic Tanya Reinhart told 250-strong meeting in Melbourne on October 12.
People charged over their involvement in a February protest outside PM John HowardÂ’²õ state memorial service at the Sydney Opera House for media mogul Kerry Packer have called a protest demonstration on the first day of their three-day trial, which begins on October 27.
Two cases of ruthless exploitation of Chinese guest workers have recently come to light in the printing industry, throwing the spotlight on the plight of the growing number of guest workers.
- Page 1
- Next page