Off Kilt(er)

Late for my clan meeting so I'll be quick.

I'm OK, arrived in Scotland in one piece. Conference has been great so far, with many fantastic (and young!) speakers. And Stirling is beautiful.

Save for an apparition-related experience in my strange bed the night before, which is too ridiculous for my (quasi)rational mind to even talk more about (here, anyway).

Will post more, probably after I leave here.

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Bucharest, here I come

Update: Photos added - enjoy.

I am sorted. *huge satisfied grin*

Visa approved. Flight moved. Even if the next one (without costing >£450) is more than 12 hours away. But I'll take what I can get.

Also, last night I had a (much-needed) good night's sleep at Wake Up! backpackers'.

And got to meet some really cool girls.

More than I could've asked for in this entire drama, really.

Thank you for all the SMSes and calls (and messages on the blog, I just noticed!). They counted for more than I could express in a call or a text. Each one of you. Also, special thanks to Merv and Nkululeko for setting me up with friends in London. And Jared.

Feeling much loved, and warm fuzzies. :)

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(lost in the) streets of london

Update.

I am now wandering Kensington High Street, hungry, tired, and online.

Earlier at the airport, I tried to get the travel agent to take responsibility for their mistake - the airline independently agrees - of "under-connecting" me. And arrange an alternative flight on their cost.

Nada. (The guy was in fact rather brusque with me, and challenged me to speak to his General Manager. Whatever.)

Called the Singapore High Commission in London. They would not intervene, but instead passively encouraged me to "stand up for my rights". Yes, [name removed] dear, but generally pressure from a national institution helps as opposed to a powerless random individual from nowhere, yes?

I was informed that the extension on my otherwise expired Singapore passport will not be recognised. So I'll have to use my Aussie one instead, which wouldn't be such a problem if Australian nationals didn't need a visa to enter Romania.

After putting my baggage in temporary storage at £5.50 apiece, I left the over-priced, hyper-paranoid safety net of Heathrow to fend my way around the London public transport system. Yes guys, the tube.

I got lost. Unsurprisingly. But I didn't get bombed.

And I made it to the Romanian embassy. (After asking about 15 random people on the street for directions - even other lost tourists, lol - but hey, who's counting.)

***
I've just come back from the Romanian embassy, who - after sending me to get passport-sized photos and buy travel insurance - tells me that the visa takes 48 hours to process, even in emergencies.

The guy didn't even want to accept my application at all (and after I'd gone out and shelled out for the stuff he asked for!); I had to nearly plead with him with my quivering anxious Asian female voice, which unfortunately was not put on. I haven't felt this vulnerable in some time.

Even if the visa gets approved by tomorrow arvo, I am due back at Heathrow by 2000 on the 29th, to catch my 2140 flight to Glasgow.

Is there any point clinging on?

***
It's almost 4. I think I deserve some lunch.

ps. Did I mention I'm stuck here without accommodation? Sleeping at the airport for 1 night (maybe 2, egad) sounds like fun.

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O.M.G.

I am stranded in London Heathrow airport.

The collective assortment of symbols on this keyboard cannot express the multitude of frustration and anxiety I feel right now.


After (in reverse chrono order) a ridiculous rush from Terminal 1 to 2 of the labyrinth that is LHR; locating the damn Heathrow Express (equivalent of the Skytrain @Changi) which some LHR staff told me wasn't working - freakin' false alarm which got me out of the Terminal - jumping queue at customs; bumping my seat up next to business class (near the exit) on the flight - I freakin' tried - I am then ceremoniously denied access to my connecting flight at the check-in counter.

(Not that it was the airline's fault I was sweaty, red and probably quite deranged-looking. Or that I was just minutes to take-off.)

And then told, by the airline that was supposed to carry me to Bucharest via Zurich, that my agent was at fault for booking me in with insufficient time for my connection ("under-connecting").

And there is nothing - nothing - for me to do until the freakin' travel agent's office opens, because apparently, nobody picks up the phone on the 24-hour support service. Well you might as jolly well not have it.

Except blog, of course.

And now, I am spinning with too many thoughts swirling in my head now. Do I have to buy another ticket altogether? Another one, airline-direct at this stage, would cost upwards of £500. Should I be threatening with the bloody travel agent? Can I? Should I get legal advice? Can I?

Oh, my gosh.

Stop.

Breathe.

!"£$%^&*()(*&^%$£"~@?><*!!

Yah, the clincher would have to be if they bombed here as well.

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I *heart* NYC

- also known as National Youth Council.

I got the grant!


My jokes about expressing profuse gratitude for covering the equivalent of my airport taxes in total (SGD-AUD exchange rate factored) notwithstanding, I think my satisfaction derives more from symbolic reasons - that youths are still being supported in their social change efforts off these urban jungle shores. Or maybe it's just relief that I haven't been completely blacklisted - yet.

[Ed: This post has more, but the link isn't showing up. As always, techpundits welcome. Meantime, just click on the timestamp for the full post.]

On a heavier note back home - late on the game as this is - I'm rather disappointed by how Durai of NKF has conducted himself in the course of this debacle, including the oft-witnessed knee-jerk wielding of Weapons of Mass Defamation. And of course, you know, the general failures in accountability and transparency of Durai NKF.

I think that many in the mainstream media (local and international) and Singapore blogosphere have sufficiently debated the issue of transparency, so I won't beat it further to death. However, one thing that caught my eye, as it did Akikonomu's, was Balaji's comment on the NKF being such an efficient organisation. What is with the government's obsession with the free market?

I find it extremely problematic to engage in discussion about the non-profit sector in Singapore when it is so overwhelmingly framed by liberal economic parameters. Yes, it is important to minise waste (particularly) in a non-profit organisation - in fact inefficiency is one of my biggest gripes with certain arms of the UN - but the point that seems to have been missed is, the element of competition in market forces is often fundamentally in conflict with the nature and processes of non-profit organisations themselves.

This, perhaps, may be where the line of the 'efficiency' argument needs to be drawn: it is good practice to minimise waste of any kind in an NPO, insofar as it does not compromise the objectives and principles the organisation is founded upon.

Much of this rant stems from my imminent path in the non-government sector, I think, but it doesn't take away from the issues facing non-profit work in this.. market culture, that we have in Singapore.

It's rather ironic for me personally, reflecting on this, in the light of citizenship issues that scream to be ploughed through. It had already begun at the immigration counter in the arrival hall just a few hours ago, when they wouldn't let me get through (initially) because the extension on my expired Sg passport that I'd received from SIR wasn't physically reflected - even though I was officially travelling on my Aussie passport. How I suppressed my urge to roll my eyes in the face of their "who's this girl and what's she trying to do" flurry, is beyond me.

And to go back from the huge digression, a few concluding thoughts:

I'm glad Durai resigned

I'm glad Mrs Goh CT decided not to be an NKF patron anymore

I hope NKF's loss of some 4000 donors, as well as nearly 44 000 signatures on this NKF responsibility petition, sends out a clear message on the gravity of lack of transparency and accountability


Technorati: NKF, Singapore, non profit

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Leaving on a jet plane

- once more, in less than 12 hours.

Have yet to recover fully from the dreadful throat inflammation, or to finish packing. Feeling rather unprepared, although that's not beyond a standard deviation.

The scattered-ness hasn't disappeared, which isn't particularly helpful for my pre-flight manic-packing mayhem.

I'm looking forward, though, to seeing home once again. Despite the fact that I won't be able to meet up with as many as I would have time indulge me.

Outstanding things on the to-do list sit on my mind, jutting out, against the knowing defenselessness that time will not allow me that luxury.

Many other thoughts clamour for space, stubbornly refusing to conform to any manner of traffic order of sorts. How they flow in such uniform precision in Coruscant and others of the Galactic Alliance baffles me. Then again I should remind myself of the fictional nature of, well, fiction.

But my stream-of-(un)consciousness rambling betrays my sleepless fatigue.

Go to bed.

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MIA

Nursing a rather nasty throat infection. Will be out of action for a few more days, by the looks (and sounds - blearghh) of it.

(Yes, sympathy welcome.)

Also wanted to express my gratitude, having been touched by an angel. You know who you are. Thank you.

Lastly, call for photos! If you have any from the following conferences, please do not hesitate to send them (or a link) to ipanema.garota [at] gmail.com :

NUS Education Conference 2005 (Ed Con) | Perth

Queer Collaborations 2005 (QC) | Perth

NLC Annual Conference 2005 (NLCAC) | Newcastle

AMUNC 2005 | Sydney

Many thanks in advance from a poor camera-less soul.

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Bouncy red curls and burly red(neck) bouncers

[Ed: This post is overly narrative, and excessive, mostly because I don't have much consciousness left in me. I may or may not return to edit/finish this one. Or I might take it off altogether. We'll see.]

What a night.

The ball tonight was more eventful than most. Inane and informative as they were (respectively), I shall skip the costume store shopping in Surry Hills and the Richard Woolcott speech.

[By the way, the picture is what I wore tonight. :)]

Update: Couple more photos here. Any more would be dependent upon the charity of fellow delegates. :P

***
I had found one of the co-directors of the Commission rather attractive... from about, oh, the second day I saw her. In the interest of privacy not being grotesquely ba gua, I shall simply call her Ms D.

So I had been watching Ms D in CHR during caucus and debate sessions, and on the harbour cruise on wednesday I sorta let slip - cut me some slack, I had had 2 shots and was rather delirious by the time - that I was a little taken by her. I believe my exact words were, "I think... you're cute." Gawd. Welcome back to high school.

But that was all rather taken in good humour, and we laughed/talked/danced it off (no grinding, please - Singapore does not encourage alternative lifestyles, which are against the public interest)... and that was that.

By tonight, though, I think the attraction had proven to be a rather mutual affair. At the Shelbourne club, where we adjourned for the after-party, there was a buzz in the air; the excitement of adolescent crushes from a previous chapter whose pages had already started to yellow.

Eye contact. 'Casually' gravitating towards each other for conversation. Surreptitiously (intentionally) sitting next to the other at the dinner table. 'Coincidentally' positioning ourselves adjacently when it was picture time. Taking turns to playfully grab the other for a boogie on the dance floor.

- me dragging as a guy for the first time notwithstanding. I think she really liked my fedora though. And my suspenders.

A few moments after -

"[garota], [garota] - someone's [A] been kicked out of the club"
"Wha - why?"
"He was pashing his boyfriend [L] , and then the bartender said he was too drunk"
"Fuck. I'm going down."

It was all too familiar.

When I ran out to the entrance, A and L were waiting out in the cold, with a few others. L was visibly shaken. It looked like his face was wet. One of the delegates was trying to reason with the bouncer.

I was almost in disbelief that two exact same incidents would happen in my circles within 2 weeks of each other¹. Yet - it almost served as a reaffirmation of the need for the work of queer rights activists to continue. But I digress.

Almost as if a knee-jerk reaction, I suggested a mass kiss-in, to the group huddling outside the club. Including Ms D. I was actually serious - but I don't think it was taken that way. On hindsight, I wonder if Ms D thought I was using that to be opportunistic about getting (physically) closer to her. Oh gosh please let that not be true. But I digress once more.

At this point, there were a few things happening: me wrangling (politely, of course) details of Shelbourne club staff and talking to the manager; a delegate getting people to leave the club and go somewhere else; A comforting L; another delegate helping me get my bag (I wasn't "allowed" to go back inside because I had "taken the manager's card" - wtf?).

I had this list of things to do, details to gather and steps to follow - all in my head already. I civilly informed the manager that this was going to be a case for the Anti-Discrimination Board - to which he scoffed, "Go for your life!".

One of the most important pieces of information we needed to get , in my opinion, was A's alcohol level. If that was the basis for the bartender's charge, we'd do well to prove that judgment call misguided - and more revealingly - (potentially) discriminatory.

Incidentally, on the way to another club, we chanced upon a police car stationed for breath testing. We jumped on it and A asked if he could be breath tested. But he included the phrase "kissing my boyfriend" in his explanation. I thought that was a bad move - based on all my direct and indirect experiences with cops here, they are not the most tolerant people in the world.

Constable Matherson of car plate YYJ470 denied A's request. As is evident I have (attempted to) collect as much information on the night's events as possible.

I suggested to L that it might be good for both him and A to write an account of the incident with as little lag as possible. Signed and dated, and if possibly signed by a JP.

I told A about Aristotle, a pro-student migration lawyer who has worked with me on the travel concession case for international students - (very generously) pro bono.

I'm not sure how invested A and L want to be on this case. I think that if they do want to take this up, then it would be imperative that they take ownership of the issue. So I will step back, and just help point them in any direction I think may be useful. Or anything else they ask me to do, if I can. It's gonna be their call.

The incident inadvertently came to closure when the whole bunch of delegates with us walked past the police car, and straight into Cargo Lounge. I'm not sure if L and A went on to get breathalysed.

I stayed outside, and sat on a bench next to Ms D. After a little bit of inconsequential natter, she decided to sway with the subliminal message that the visual of the line of cabs was sending to her. And go home.

There wasn't a goodbye hug, which left me feeling a little confused. She didn't have any more phone credit, she said, so she couldn't text me when she got home.

Despite the slightly awkward conclusion to the night, and the awful Shelbourne club experience, it had been quite fun, actually. A lot of it had to do with Ms D (and 2 dear friends but that's not the point). I texted her when I got back, with something along the lines of keeping in touch. And that she was great company (of course).

We'll see.

Til then, I will let the image of her cute smile, bouncy red curls, and that gorgeous green halterneck dress play in my mind for just a little bit.


ps. this is totally random, but I just realised that my fresh AMUNC ball photos have been viewed - almost 50 times - since they got put up. 3 hours ago. Should I find this freaky?

¹ A QC delegate had been thrown out on the second night of QC, in pretty much the same scenario. We had organised a mass same-sex kiss-in in protest to the club’s decision, 2 days later.

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AMUNC concludes

What a day.

And so today concluded the last General Assembly of AMUNC 2005. Helen Durham, widely known international humanitarian lawyer now with the ICRC, opened the session beautifully. I’m not sure if I’ve heard speakers of such experience and calibre talk on such a down-to-earth – and real – level that didn’t leave me nodding off even once. If the ability to capture my very slippery attention is anything to go by, that is something.

I was amazed at the simultaneous expertise and candour with which she spoke. Not the mention her oodles of cuteness which made hearing (and watching) her so much more bearable. Her path in international humanitarian law has been a rather exceptional one, and I am inspired by her passion – and more significantly – her gusto, and having the courage balls to just go for it, which is what really led her eventually to where she is now.

Take-home lesson: you can have all the legal knowledge in the world, but ultimately, you will still need to listen to those on the ground to be truly informed.

Resolutions, after, were rather interesting – semi-serious on one hand, because of the formality of debates on the proposed resolutions, yet also hilarious at times when ‘rogue nations’ (not my term) acted perfectly true to form. Like when China emphasised their belief in "freedom" of religion. Or "freedom" of thought. And when USA spoke against resolutions on queer rights, or terrorism.

Good times.

One thing about the GA though: I find the amount of debate afforded to the floor rather alarming. Granted, each committee is meant to have sufficiently debated their relevant agenda topic before proceeding to voting at GA, but that leaves out all the other committees’ resolutions, which any one committee would not be privy to. And at the GA, the format of allowing only one speaker for and one speaker against each resolution is one that I find hardly satisfactory. In fact, I would say that it is a rather inadequate framework, considering that it immediately precedes international policy of such scope and magnitude, in the span of a few minutes.

Of course, if what happened at the AMUNC GA was completely different to what happens (or is supposed to happen) in the real UN – leaving me severely mistaken – then I would be glad to have my concerns unfounded.

***
I feel that with a conference like AMUNC, what you get out of it really is what you invest in it to begin with. Sitting on the CHR, I did gain a fair bit from the contributions of the other delegates, as well as the general manner of processes in the course of resolution drafting/voting. However, I would certainly have gotten more out of it, had I researched the topics at hand with somewhat more scrutiny than I afforded.

The challenge for NGOs – who don’t get a vote, and don’t get to sponsor resolutions – is to be able to quickly identity potential allies on specific topics, get our act together on working papers for various countries’ perusal, and lobby them. Hard.

While researching one’s NGO position on an issue may clue one up on what to say when exercising the right of statement, it really is the understanding of the multilateral context of countries’ positions that will contribute most to targeted (and effective) lobbying.

That said, I wonder how many NGOs actually went that far in their research – considering that wasn’t even listed in the recommended research for all delegates.

Nonetheless, the level of preparedness of a delegate was probably inversely proportional to the extent of the (other) challenge of having to think on the balls of your feet – til they’re practically flat – which provided much stimulation, and a huge source of interest.

I’ve enjoyed AMUNC tremendously.


Technorati: international law, UN, NGO

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Working a working paper

- on counter-terrorism and human rights.

I'm about to caucus with the other NGOs on the CHR, namely Amnesty and World Vision, on the working paper we are going to propose to the Commission.

Main gist: To what extent can counter-terrorism measures impinge upon human rights?

Our thrust: None.

Probable result: Someway 60-70% in our favour.

It is worth noting that specific UN convenants have been breached in the process of the counter-terrorism measures of certain countries (that shall not be named). How then, can we ensure that UN's international legal instruments are not only upheld, but also compatible with counter-terrorism? It would seem contradictory that the very instruments striving to protect human rights are being violated in the name of terrorism - and everything about it that is antithetical to human rights in the first place.

As I said in my NGO statement this morning - human rights abuses committed in the name of fighting terrorism only serve to fuel terrorism, not end it.

Interestingly, (in real life) USA is the only country to declare activation of state of emergency - thereby suspending human rights compliance in favour of counter-terrorism. Correct me if I'm wrong.

So far we've gotten rather specific human rights standards laid out, though Brazil and the Netherlands have indicated that they want a broader paper framing relevant UN covenants in a counter-terrorism context. I think it would be good to aim for both, in the interest of scope and depth.

AMUNC is fun.


Technorati: human rights, United Nations, terrorism, counter-terrorism

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Pink and Blue don't mix

This is an announcement following up on this. Perth Indymedia reports.


5 students got arrested. Much brutality was used by the police on the queer students from QC. Here are accounts by Belinda Cooper, QC convenor, Alex Ettling (one of the arrested students), and Annaliese Constable (one of the rally participants). I've also pasted several statements from other people who were at the rally.

[Update: More photos here.]

Very, very disturbing implications on the abuse of power by institutional agents of the state. I think we really need intervention by somone with calling power in the legal circles. A progressive lawyer or media spokesperson.

Julian Burnside, are you reading this?

***
Belinda Cooper

Queer Collaborations Thur and Fri actions

Well some may already know of the Queer Collaborations students' actions that took place on Thursday night kiss-in at the Deen and yesterday’s speak out at Forrest chase.

As a convenor of QC I felt a sense a weight of overwhelming responsibility as four of our delegates from various eastern state universities were arrested in Forrest chase yesterday.

As convenor I had handed the direction of the organisation of the actions to the QC 220 strong student collective. The QC student collective will be sending out a formal press release and many of the photographic/ filmed evidence that took place in Forrest chase yesterday will hopefully be available later in the week.

Why were the QC delegates arrested? For swearing firstly and secondly the others were arrested for wanting to know why their friend was being arrested. Whether laws were broken or not is not the issue. The real question is what was behind the police officers motivation for initiating the arrests.

The idea for the action was for students to speak out about why they were there then too march through the CBD area. We were not violent. We were not asked to move on. We barely got ten meters before one of the guys was arrested. We were speaking out about being queer LGBTI students, about how VSU (voluntary student unionism) will affect us as students as youth and how Howard’s attack on the rights of individuals and in the workplace will have such a detrimental affect on LGBTI people, in providing safe space just to be us. So yes we were passionate and we did speak out and would you believe it we where heard; by school students by families by everyday people and more.

It was not the swearing that was deemed offensive, but the context it was placed in words and statement such as: queer, gay, lesbian, bi, trans, Intersex, I F83k men. I was gang raped by six men and NOTHING was done about it. No one wants to hear how high queer suicides are in comparison to our hetro community. And more….

It is intriguing to note how extreme and variant different responses from the public were as well; then how when homophobic combined with swearing remarks were so ignored by the police.

The police were stopping us from marching at one point we had 30 police officers standing around us and by then several of the delegates who were quite rightly freaking out or just winded from being kicked in the gut by the police had dispersed. Me, I was trying to stop any more individuals from being arrested or hurt (also freaking bloody out) and getting Brother Steve to call the uni students lawyers to assist the students who had been arrested. The others QC delegates can tell you their own story and many have already written up their personal statements.

The community is always so quick to judge students and dismiss us as riff raf and so forth. They seem to forget about how these students are soon to be teachers, sociologists, lawyers, doctors, social workers, physiologists, politicians, judges, engineers, geologists and artists. That we are informed and care for our community, that we care for our youth as we are youth and were not so long ago in school, that we do have parents in the community that do care and support us.

Why do you think so many students traveled so far and worked so hard towards having a five day conference that had wonderful speakers from our community come talk to us about education, about the workplace, about our trans, Intersex community, about marriage rights. Many speakers who brought with them heartwrenching stories that brought us to tears with our frustration at the world and our society.

Yesterday I was in shock and then I was just plain angry. The police incited the situation, they were heavy-handed, they were violent and they were trying to justify their actions that were driven by LGBTIQ phobia. I guess I was still a country girl used to friendly country police officers from an average middle class rural family. Yesterday I learnt that unless you know your rights you don’t get them, because no one is just going to give you them. You must DEMAND your rights!

To prove my point on how well behaved the QC delegates actually were; after retrieving the four arrested individuals we later all went to our genderf*#k Ball on the riverboat gambler. The staff thanked us, and commented on how we where such a friendly polite and happy bunch. That in fact we were extremely welcome to come back anytime.

The conference was extremely rewarding and we got so much out of it, well I know I did, I hope everyone else who participated in the event did as well.

An extremely physically and emotionally exhausted Belinda Cooper

***
Annaliese Constable

so, on friday at approximately 2:40 a peaceful rally began in the forest chase mall in perth - which for sydney siders is similar to the pitt street mall. the rally was about the Howard governments attacks on student and trade unions and calling on the government to repeal all homophobic laws.

it began with about 100 queer kids from QC hanging out and chalking body outlines in a die-in. there were some speakers on the mega phone and general cheering and jeering (at the right moments) from the crowd. there was an extreme presence of police before the speakers even began and some police had already threatened to arrest someone for chalking on the paving....which last time i checked is not illegal but if it is my 4 year old nephew is in the shit.

anyhew, the first person to be arrested was james who was targeted for saying the fuck word on the megaphone. some young kids who overheard the police came and told me what was about to happen so i went and alerted james and some other kids about the impending arrest. i gave my whistle to james telling him to blow the whistle as hard as he could to draw attention to himself if he was in trouble. as i was talking to james and alex and louisa i could see two police officers approaching james from two different angles. at this point alex ettling bear hugged james to protect him from being taken away. the police roughly grabbed james and louisa and others began to latch on. james was desperately trying to blow the whistle but the police held his arms down so he couldn't. i took the whistle and blew it to draw attention to the fracas.

at this point the crowd turned to see the police pushing people to the ground and throwing people off james. more people became involved and asking what was happening. i recall seeing shae, her partner (i think tal), tracey boyd, the other james and louisa all being attacked by the police.

as i was blowing the whistle i circled the group of police and protesters and i picked people up who were being trampled. one particular person whom i recall picking up as she was being stood on was *tal*. as i blew the whistle one particular police man who was the largest man there targeted me and laughed in my face. as i continued to blow the whistle he slammed me with both hands so that i was propelled backwards into the crowd.

i saw people crying and screaming for the police to stop. i saw bystanders (otherwise shopping) stopping and aghast at the brutalisation. some bystanders joined in as we chanted "this is not a police state we have the right to demonstrate."

my approximation would be that there were some 300 people witnessing this event. with an upper level in the mall some bystanders became quite vocal. some young men (approximately 10)began to shout out "ya fuckin' faggots. ya' fuckin' faggots come suck on this." as they were doing this they were laughing and grabbing their crotches.

i turned to the police and demanded that the homophobes be arrested for saying the fuck word in public. the police merely warned them and moved them on. as i tried to help my comrades i was trampled on by the police and lost my shoe. as the police were brutalising us they were consistently saying the fuck word.

i saw the police miss the door of the paddy wagon as they attempted to throw louisa into the back. louisa's limbs and head were slammed into the metal slab which constitues the rear of the paddy wagon.

i saw *alexin* grabbed by the police when he was doing nothing but standing nearby. i heard him shout "i didn't do anything, i didn't do anything".

following the arrests, we circled the paddy wagon linking arms to prevent the vehicle from leaving the mall. people were pushed back with force and the police used their batons. after some further speakers, our protest continued and we marched through the mall.

eventually the march split so that half of the participants could leaflet about queers and unions etc and the others went to the police station to express our solidarity with our arrested activists.

when were at the police station we sat across the road sitting peacefully and quietly against the brick wall. some of us had our placards sitting on our laps. the police approached us and told us that we were creating a traffic hazard and that we had to move on. they said it was the placards that was causing the disturbance. we offered to put the placards away. the police then officially warned us that if we did not move on they would arrest us. there was an excessive police presence. we moved on to the park over the road.

we waited for a long time with the police giving varying information about how long it would be before the activists would be released. after hours some police came over to the park. i watched as one police officer pretended to make friendly and the other checked people's laps and basically checked us out. i kindly informed them they were not welcome and they were not trusted. they scoffed but i don't care how paranoid i seem/ed - blue and pink don't mix.

anyway,

yeah so - we need to fundraise and support those who support us.

annaliese

***
Alex Ettling

The whole thing is a bit of a blur for me. At least now I know why I was pissing blood in the police station. gross.

Thanks to everyone (and I'm sure Louisa Bassini, James Higgins, Alexis Vassiley and James Vigus would join me too) for the kind support people have given us. It was nice to see Qc-ers waiting outside. We could see everyone through the security monitors inside the lock-up. We were really grateful that people waited around even though it meant that they didn't have time to dress up for the Genderfuck Ball later that night. Thanks also for all the kind messages and phone calls, and also the offers to fundraise to pay our fines.

Just to help flesh out the picture, here is my recollection (told in story format!):

I wasn't even sure if I was going to make it to the protest. I was feeling really sick and knew I wouldn't be able to chant or anything (boo!). And then just before we were about to head off, we got called to pick up a QC delegate from the East Perth Watch House for shoplifting. I wouldn't have predicted that in less than 20 minutes I'd be back at the lock up, but with people waiting to pick me up. That's what you call 'ironic' - or is that what you call unfortunate. I remember the Alanis Morrissette song causing a similar controversy in definition. Anyway, I drove S and S to the Moon so they could have
a drink and chill out over their imprisonement ordeal. It was 3.10 so I thought I still had time to make it to the demo. Unfortunately, the only place with 1 hour free parking in the city area is erroneously titled Money Street, a reasonable walk away from Forest Chase. So I power walked – as you do.

When I got to the city there was a pretty good crowd. Lots of noise and some rousing speeches – I only really caught the tail end though. It was inspiring to hear personal stories of queerphobia though and the impact that VSU would have on queers. When we tried to lead the protest out of Forest Chase for the march around Murray and Hay Streets, the police moved to block us. We briskly walked past them. When we turned our heads to see why everyone wasn't following we saw a
cop had James H in a headlock. Apparently, he had been swearing and this offended the sensibilities of the cops. It was in front of kids at Russian Winterland and apparently they didn't want to see the women and children' scarred for life by our bad language, so they did the sensible thing and decided to beat up the protesters – in front of the children.

James V latched on to James H to try and de-arrest him. Louisa, myself and others grabbed on too. Annalise blew her whistle at the police to disorient them. Eventually, after a struggle, they got the James's into the back of the paddywagon. Protesters linked arms around the van to prevent it driving away. At some point Alexis got arrested too, but I didn't see that. The chant `this is not a police state, we have the right to demonstrate!' was screamed at the police who continued their – I think it's fair to say – brutal treatment, pushing over demonstrators and using batons.

I stood in front of the paddywagon and was pushed away by a cop. I moved back in front of it and that's when the cops sprang on to me. I don't really remember it. I'm told that I was put into a headlock. Somehow I fell to the ground. Apparently cops were kicking me in the stomach – that would explain the sore kidneys and blood. My lip was cut open as well and my finger sprained. I remember Megan and Louisa grabbing on to me. I think had three cops lift me and throw me into the back of the paddywagon. Then Louisa was picked off and thrown in, but because it was full of us, she was thrown into the step and corked her thigh. As we were driven away I remember looking out of the grate like a caged primate in a very sad nature documentary. Then I tried to swallow as many pain killers as possible in case they denied me medical care for my flu.

We were taken to East Perth Watch House. On the ride over, we hurriedly tried to call everyone and erase stuff from our phones. When we got there we were lectured about `not going crazy' and asked if we had knives and stuff. It was ludicrous. Louisa was taken out and placed in `the tardis' where she was apparently lectured for her use of language. James V, Alexis and I were taken inside. It was a slow process to get through. There were already two Nyoongar women in front us being disciplined by the state – so you know, everything in due course. We were searched in front each other – unfortunately not by
the good looking cop. During this time the cops tried to make small talk with us – I was really not in the mood. I was told to relax because `we're not the Gestapo'. Well, they don't have to try much harder. During processing we had to give up all our belongings, belt and shoes. They asked me what my `pan' badge was. When I told them they laughed in my face. We were asked to detail all our health problems in a very unprivate and unsympathetic manner. The cop was trying to get me to say that my cut lip wasn't because of police brutality but rather due to dry, chapped lips! We were placed in a holding cell, which I didn't expect would be peach coloured. Perhaps it is to have a calming influence – to remind you grandma's apricot pie, or some shit like that.

The worst thing about being arrested is how boring it is. You're at the complete mercy of these fucktards and they draw the process out just because they can. We got it good though – there were plenty of people who were there over night or longer. A lawyer from ECU student guild called us to give us some legal advice which we were grateful for. They didn't bother taking statements from us. We were photographed, DNA tested and had our fingerprints done. This was by far the most painful experience for me. He kept saying `just go with it' as he rolled by hands across the paper. My sprained finger crunched each time. The next day it was a purple pulp. Of course, throughout this the police were trying to be chatty. Whether it was trying to boast their union credentials (well, you've got a funny way of showing you support unions!) or talking to me about the Phantom (what the fuck?). The guy who did my hands asked what the protest was for. I said it was about queer rights and the impact of Voluntary Student Unionism. He was like `what, homosexual stuff'. I said `er, yeah'. I couldn't be bothered having a discussion about queer theory. He said `well, you can't help what you are. As long as you don't force it on me, right. Good Philosophy?' I smiled. James H's experience was of the cop saying that `this new finger printing system is so gay'. Although the best homophobia was when the cops had a go at us for Steve saying that he fucks men – gasp – in front of children.

I listened to more of the cops inane chit chat. I felt sorry for them. So deluded and in such a nasty service. I waited for ages. The Keystone cops couldn't get the photocopier to work. I thought the comment `this fucken facility is fucked!' by one of the cops summed it up – and was somewhat ironic considering how we go ourselves into our predicament. Obviously, they don't have a swear jar at the East Perth Watch House.

Anyway…

We all got released. Most of us were charged with `obstructing police'. I think James H was charged with obscenity and disorderly conduct. The police lied on their statements – of course. They had no idea who we were. They kept calling us by the wrong name. The whole time they were referring to Louisa as `the female'. When we got out there was a crowd of people there to greet us. It was nice. Sarah presented me with a cup of cough syrup and some pain killers. Lovely.

The experience wasn't really that traumatic. I was feeling too detached and delirious from the flu to really get too caught up in what was happening. After I got out I just wanted to get drunk and force myself to somehow have fun. I drank a bottle of champers on the cruise to `give me a lift'. It didn't really work but I had fun dancing to New Order for the third time at QC. I hit my wall at 2am and had to go home. The rocktastic music at Ampy just wasn't inspiring me.

We went to court the next morning. Alexis was dressed very smartly, which made me feel shameful cos I hadn't even changed my clothes. Perhaps that's shameful whether you are going to court or not. Anyway, we had our turn with the public defender – speedy service. Alexis had his case remanded, whilst James pleaded guilty to both his charges. Because the fines were relatively small, Louisa and I decided to plead guilty too. The magistrate was a bit of dick. Apparently he made some
quip about me `being the next prime minister' when I told him I did public policy and management. I get that crap all the time. From now on I'm going say I do geology. No one has any jokes to make about geology.

The experience of being in the court was a good one. We had to sit through all the cases of the people who had been in custody first. It made it really clear how fucked the justice system way. Whether is was suspended jail sentence being given to a guy who hadn't paid his traffic fines or the magistrate calling a likely domestic violence victim a `twit' – it was pretty horrible. It was a parade of fucked up lives and fucked up treatment.

In the end James H got a $253 fine, Louisa and I got a $203 fine each, James V didn't show up but will probably get the same and unless Alexis defeats the charge, I'm sure he will too. We all got spent convictions, which means we can't re-offend or we'll get both convictions on our record.

So that's roughly what I remember. To be honest, I'd take the experience of being arrested 3 times over the flu I've got. It's hell. Everyone who went to QC seems to have got it. sniffle, sniffle.

Alex Ettling

***
Farida Iqbal

We had a gathering at Forest Place at 3:10pm. The speakers stood on top of the raised grass bit and did their speeches. We gathered around the speakers. When the speeches were over we started up Murray St. Straight away police started trying to arrest one of our speakers. Someone called out "unlawful arrest!" I couldn't see why he was being arrested. I didn't think he broke any laws. The police were being very forceful. They made very little attempt to negotiate with us. They just grabbed this guy, we tried to defend him. The police started arresting more people. Some people were thrown down to the ground.

***
Trent Hawkins

Protest began at 3:30pm in between the two grass islands. Began with a few speakers talking on a megaphone, four police persons milled by the small station. They moved around to watch the speaker. A couple more police arrived. A woman went to chalk on the ground and was forced to clean it off.

James was speaking on the megaphone about collective action and the need to challenge the ruling class. I don't recall any specific swearing.

As the protest moved to undertake a march through Murray St Mall, about 3-4 Police attempted to grab James and pull him out of the line of the march. They then succeeded and dragged him away with several other protestors trying to get him away from the cops. They then called for more people to help. Another was pushed into the police station thing and arrested. The arrested people were taken to the paddy wagon around which a crowd of people formed and chanted "shame" and "this is not a police state, we have a right to demonstrate."

Alexis was grabbed by a policeman around the throat and were pushed and thrown into the paddy wagon.

***
Simone Epistafsson

As the march started, cops surrounded James who was wearing a white shirt, a member of Socialist Alternative (S.A.). James (Vigas?) who had glasses, also a member of S.A. had his arm around James. The police tried to tear them apart, which was when several other protestors including Louisa latched on as well. Two police officers grabbed James Vigas and then threw him against a wall. Several people got thrown on the ground as a result of the scuffle with police.

Protestors surrounded the police car in which the two James and Louisa were in. Alex Etting was pushed to the ground and dragged into the back of the car by several police officers.

Annalise, who was just standing around was pushed hard by a very tall and large cop. She did not provoke him and excessive violence was used upon her.

At the police station where the five protestors had been detained, a group of protestors sat against a wall opposite the station. We were not being loud or doing anything illegal. Police officers told us we were a `traffic hazard' and that if we did not leave we would all be arrested.

***
Shae McLean

I started to move off with the march and I watched two policemen at least walk up and surround (one on each side) a male marcher/protestor. Myself and a few others moved towards the protestor and asked "What did he do (to be arrested)?" and all the police officer would say was "Step away or you'll be arrested." I grabbed one officer's arm and asked again "What did he do?" The officer pushed me away from himself and then when I was an arms distance from the police officer, the police officer side-kicked me in the stomach and forced me back into the crowd and onto the ground.

***
Alicia Shevlin

I saw Alex Ettling being taken in a high headlock. I didn't see how he ended up on the ground, but I remember him being kicked twice, then by 3 (I think) cops into the van.

Everyone in front of the car was being pushed right over by a number of police. I saw one cop using a baton (held with one hand at each end, then moving forward to knock people over in his path.).

Later about 15 cops came to where about 20 of us were sitting peacefully over the road from the police station (East Perth) and told us to move on because our placards were disrupting traffic – we were only sitting there cross-legged, a few of us with placards flat on the ground at our feet.

***
Paul McCormick

When the protest first started marching, `James from SA,' (who was wearing a white shirt & introduced himself on the loudspeaker) was approximately 1-2m in front of me. A police officer went straight towards him from behind & grabbed his arm roughly. At the same time 2 or 3 officers came from the other direction (I couldn't see over the first officer at the time, as I am quite short.). There was an ensuing scuffle.

Alex Ettling was grabbed from behind by a police officer, with his (the officer's) arm over his chin and pulling his head backwards. He was then thrown to the ground and two other officers surrounded him. Two of the officers kicked him, one twice. I saw Alex kicked in the kidney and the stomach. He was then hauled roughly into the police van.

***
Tali Sternfein

I was in a peaceful rally, which begun with a few speakers. Suddenly, when we began marching, a protestor was being forcefully grabbed by at least three police officers. I approached to hug my fellow demonstrator and became surrounded by police in an aggressive manner.

Despite being jammed in the sudden mob that had surrounded the arrestee, and the police and unable to free myself, I was repeatedly shoved and yelled at. A police person shoved me aside that forcefully that I was thrown back, landing straight on my back and slamming my head on the cement. While I was flat on the floor, stunned, a number of police people continued on, blithely stepping on me, with no concern for my health or safety. It was a member of the concerned public who hauled me up, from under the police people's feet.

***
Stuart Richards

– Shae getting side-kicked
- 20 cops 10 quiet protestors
- everyone (including Lucille) in front of the car getting pushed over
- James Higgins getting arrested

***
Lucille Paterson

– Shae standing behind a policeman, asking "Why is he being
arrested?" Shae was then pushed and kicked forcefully to the ground.

***
Katie Sfetkidis

I saw James (ANU) being grabbed by the police, when he really didn't do anything. I saw tell of a girl with straight black hair for chalking.

Outside the police Station (East Perth) we were asked to leave for obstructing traffic, while we (about 20 people) were peacefully sitting on the footpath opposite the station. When we offered to get rid of the placards, they told us we had to move on. As we were leaving I said "You should be ashamed of yourselves, this is disgraceful!" and a cop said "You should ashamed of your dress sense." I said "Excuse me?" The officer said "You abused me, I can abuse you!" Then we left.

***
Rachel Evans

I was engaged in a peaceful rally at Forest Chase. The Queer Collaborations Conference had an end of conference rally, as most student conferences do. We were listening to speakers and started to march off. Around 3-5 cops pushed into the leading students and grabbed one of the speakers. The student, surprised, struggled. There was no warning given by the police. A number of students rushed in to defend the student grabbed.

The cops manhandled him and hit him against the paddy-wagon while trying to get him in. We shouted "Shame" and "This is not a police state, we have the right to demonstrate." The cops picked off some other students. After they had a number of people in the way and a burly cop (Gogh No.11431) said to the other cops "get them out of here." He shoved and other cops shoved students that were in front of the paddy-wagon. No 11431 got out his baton (Whip Stick) and hit a number of students who had fallen, after shoved to the ground.

At no time did the police tell us why they were arresting these activists. We then marched off to the cop station (East Perth).

***
Sunny Ho

Immediately after Shane Cuckle had finished making a speech, two police confronted him, and one of them grabbed his arm unnecessarily. Whilst questioning Shane the police continued to hold his arm in order to intimidate Shane Cuckle.

At East Perth Police Station, Franscheni No. 6728 collected my personal details. Upon myself asking him why he singled me out to take my details, he made a spurious attempt at civility by suggesting that the police could only collect one persons details at a time. There were approximately fifteen (15) police, and about twenty (20) citizens in our group, yet he singled me out. I believe he singled me out because I was noting down police details (names and numbers). My friend beside me also asked him why Franscheni was taking my details, which he replied, in the sense of: "Because he [Sunny Ho] was taking our details."

***


Technorati: VSU, queer, activism, Perth

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Of Jenny Macklin, resolutions, and others

NUS Education Conference 290605 - 010705

The last day of Ed Con started with a bang, with Jenny Macklin (shadow minister for Education) delivering a rather encouraging (can’t really say it was inspiring) speech about the evils of VSU, sinister minister Brendan Nelson, and most of all - but of course - the great and wonderful solidarity of the Labor Party. Labor is behind all you students in your fight against VSU! You should all be congratulated for the enormously successful campaign you have built thus far.

She did make a good point, though, about the importance of building a campaign that cut across many sections of society. Incidentally this has been an increasingly applied strategy in education campaigns in the last half-decade or so. It seems that the cross-community strategy has been yielding much greater gains as compared to the more conventional uni-demographic – or even uni-organisational – model of lobbying.

And quite rightly so, IMHO. Not only does this provide the opportunity for different perspectives (and thus different interests) to be taken into account, it also – more significantly – highlights the fact that the different sectors of the community are stakeholders just as much as politicians are decision-makers – and the latter simply cannot make informed decisions by excluding the former. (Democratically speaking, anyway.)

Sounds wanky musing about all this – but I do reckon that this particular strategy isn’t being tapped enough by student activists, at least to a level that we should really strive to be working at. Possibly because it takes a lot more coordination and effort and some may not be arsed enough to go the distance; perhaps they aren’t getting their act together; perhaps the difficulty in some groups of sustaining motivation and interest is posing a more immediate challenge; perhaps - shock horror - factional in-fighting… I don’t know.

But our strategising finesse, as a movement, can see better days yet.

I shall pen off with the best part of Jenny Macklin’s speech: VSU is quite the misnomer – there is nothing about it that is voluntary.

Indeed.

Update: The Resolutions Session on the last day of Ed Con was a bit of a wank, undiplomatically speaking. There was no order. (Some) motions were badly written. Content of motions were often unfocused, and not always relevant to the campaign at hand. Nevertheless, some good arguments were put up by some of the Broad Left. Which is more than can be said of (some) NOLS (Labor left) kids.

***
This post created 070705.


Technorati: Australia, higher education, activism, NUS

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(No)mad

Just got back from Newcastle. Room is in a mess - and me, in a state of restlessness. It feels so good to be back in my own space, with my music playing on my speakers... and yet, I cannot calm my unsettled, scattered mind. My unsettled, scattered self.

It's only halfway through the 5-conference-in-a-stretch mayhem, but I feel the ominous fatigue creeping its way nearer and nearer to me, furtively, almost like a shadow closing in with stealthy motion to consume my salient, sentient, defenselessness.

So far, it's been Ed Con, QC, NLCAC. Tomorrow, AMUNC starts. I have yet to read any background papers, nor committee guides. I have 5 hours to go, and no sleep since... almost exactly 48 hours. (This time for totally frivolous reasons - only clue being an L word - how about that!) (Seems strange that I'm being proud for the wrong reasons. Lol.) I'm glad my general all-round inquisitiveness led me to at least some 'leisure' reading on HRW some time back.

It's somewhat frustrating to find myself in such a scattered state, mainly because the past coupla weeks have been a really positive experience overall - and my mottledness is refracting that with a perspex sheet of noise. Distracting, white, noise.

Shush.

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QC Action in Perth

To clue in the clueless - today was the rally by the queer student bloc at Queer Collaborations, against VSU. Here is an SMS update from the ground:

Action eventful. Some arrested, cops a bit psycho until they realised it was making things worse. Left us alone after that.

This should be popping up in the news rather shortly.

Update: 5 students arrested. Full update with personal accounts here.


Technorati: VSU, queer, activism, Perth

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Nadir of the Summit

And now we interrupt your program "Perth Reminiscence" for a few short messages.

***
Tomorrow is the final day of the G8 summit. Today, London is bombed.

An immediate question that comes to mind is, of course: Are the two linked?

Blair's overt determination not to let the bombings stop the summit suggests such a link. In particular, his comments about the intended timing of the attacks - to coincide with Africa talks on opening day - are quite revealing.

If the attacks were indeed a form of pressure amplifying debt relief demands by much of the anti-poverty movement, I am deeply disturbed by 2 things on the part of the perpetrators:

i) Blatant disregard for the British civilians' right to life

ii) Counter-productivity for the anti-poverty movement by a) disregard for the rule of law; and b) sending a diametrically contradicting message of objectives for economic justice through acts that conflict with social justice

I am particularly disappointed about the damage that these acts have inflicted upon the work of so many others - who have been fighting so long and hard for economic justice and rights - for the very people who suffer at the hands of such wanton recklessness.

No, I am not disappointed. I am angry.

I am hoping that this anger mounting inside me is at least in part due to lack of terrorist intelligence from the recency of the attacks. I want need to be proven wrong.


Technorati: G8, poverty, London, Scotland

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Media Schmedia

Yet another flight. And of course, yet another blog post. Perth has gone by amazingly quickly. In a rare opportunity, I have (this time) somehow managed to actually see some lovely snippets of the conference host city, for which Nic must be muchly credited. :)

***
The rest of Ed Con was alright, and surprisingly civil (in comparison to the factionalised shit-stirring chair-throwing bitch-fighting screaming-match anecdotes I’d heard about past Ed Con’s). (Lovely, I know.) Unsurprisingly a lot of it was about the WA experience in dealing with VSU. And about running guilds and student associations under business models. *shudder*

Possibly the most useful workshop at Ed Con might’ve been … the media workshop on the 2nd day (300605). We had a couple of journalists speak, one of whom was a fairly senior reporter with the West Australian – so it was good to tap in to both her experience as well as her professional media perspective.

A lot of the stuff I had learnt on the job as NSW branch media officer with NLC, but it was good to rehash the pointers that were of particular priority for a representative/lobby group such as NUS. And certainly I’d picked up a coupla new ones as well. Yes, of course I’ll share.

And because I love screen shots –






It was interesting to see how some of these points were inter-linked to the discussion that was to happen the following week at QC, during our action planning for tomorrow’s (!) rally. More on that later.

***
Update: Notables on the media coverage on the Nelson retreat --

It had been decided beforehand, collectively, that the action would be peaceful.

The police galloped on mounted horses in numbers that at least equalled the student congregation, ostensibly to invoke fear.

A mainstream paper dramatically claimed that a student, Craig Comrie, had lunged towards the police in an offensive move – actually, Craig fell.

From several observer accounts, the first incidence of violence began with the police. (Mainstream) media accounts portrayed the exact opposite.

Technorati: Australia, higher education, media, NUS

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Lessons To Learn

[Ed: I hadn’t been arsed enough to reflect upon my experiences and knowledge infusions at Ed Con – until now. (Technically, I started writing this post a bit ago but never tied it up til now.) So here you go – retrospectively speaking.]

Update: Dear Nic has very expertly and kindly fixed up my template so that it shows as it should, on IE. Much gratitude and kudos. :)

For all the horror stories I’d heard about the screaming matches between “evil right-wing neo-cons” and “crazy ludicrous lefties” at many an ed con, today actually went off to a pretty good start.

I was particularly impressed by the candour of Roger Cook, the inaugural president of the AUS (Australian Union of Students), when he shared his own experiences as a student activist, and – more importantly – his insights on the way forward for the student movement, in an impending age of VSU.

What touched me about his speech was – his honesty in the admission that the activists of his time had “thrown away the baby” by focusing too much on lobbying, and neglecting to make the (then) AUS more relevant to students.

He was not the only one to emphasise on the practical, day-to-day benefits for students for the continued survival of the student movement. Even the media representatives from the West Australian and [another media house which escapes me], who presented a media workshop, stressed the importance of delivering the student discounts and other visible benefits, in keeping the connection alive between students and student representatives.

I think this was an extremely useful nugget of advice for all student activists, particularly at a time when the very existence student organisations is under siege.

Personally, I feel that the real issue of the whole VSU scandal (yes, scandal) is that of silencing the student voice – extinguishing political dissent. More than just being an all-too-familiar phenomenon back home, the increasing shift towards social conservatism – the kind that uses stability or security (take your pick) as a pretext for quelling “inconvenient” political expression – which is amassing increasing momentum in major western “liberal democracies”, forces me to think harder about the roadblocks and pot holes on the bumpy road for social change. And democracy.

However, the vast majority of constituents – oh how I hate the word; they are humans with dignity and voice, not political commodities – do not relate to the politics nearly as much as they do to the pragmatics of representation and advocacy. People need to see the tangibles.

I recognise the necessity in being responsive to those we claim to represent, inasmuch as it may be an inevitability in the course of delivering the real product: advocacy.

I inevitably drew connections between the Australian student movement and the much, much broader, global one that Student Rights Watch may potentially grow to be an integral vehicle of.

It’s difficult to say anything now, because we’re barely even done drafting our constitution – which I see still many inadequacies in – but, there are many aspects which cannot be generalised between a national peak body and an international rights lobby NGO of sorts. Membership. Funding. Organisational structure. Decision making. The advocacy itself. There’s more.

Nevertheless, I believe the way in which SRW may be made relevant to students is different in different socio-politico-cultural contexts. Heck, I think it’s in fact necessary to be agilely responsive to the various situations we will inevitably be faced with.

Yes, there is much work to be done.

And I am excited about the challenges – and change – ahead of us.


Technorati: Australia, higher education, activism, politics

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Spain is back!

- and one more up, yet, for the movement.



BBC 30 June: Spanish MPs approve gay marriages

Technorati: gay, LGBT, gay marriage, Spain

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Are you wearing your white band today?

My personal issues concerning dependency cycles notwithstanding, I thought this deserved a post on its own.

July 1 will see people around the world wearing their white bands and wrapping public buildings in white to send a message to the G8 world leaders that they demand action on trade justice, debt cancellation, and more and better aid. International White Band Day will prove to be one of the largest global actions ever taken.

Check out the Global Call to Action Against Poverty website.

Credits to Jw for the scoop.

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Chasing A Running Dog Brendan Nelson

ABC online July 1: Students defend rally after Nelson forced to retreat



Direct action at its strongest in a while, with student activists across the country making a statement - loud and clear - against VSU.

Anecdotal report from Alex Ettling on the ground.

Update: Canada passes gay marriage bill - woot!! The battle is worth continuing to fight for, comrades.

***
What an amazing day we had in Perth!

One of the largest protests we've seen in the city for years, with up to 30, 000 people filling up the Perth cultural centre to protest the Liberal Government's proposed industrial relations reforms.

Unions were out in force and we had a large turn out of students marching behind the NUS banner, against the government. The neoliberal agenda will affect many students who are often in low-skilled jobs where individual bargaining will see a reduction in basic rights for workers.

We also showed disgust at the pursuit of the government to implement an ideological reform which will see the removal of unfair dismissal laws and an attack on union's ability to defend the interests of workers against businesses.

During the rally which was addressed by Stephen Smith, Geoff Gallup and Sharon Burrow - we had Claire English (NUS queer officer) and Farida Iqbal (CAPA queer officer) stand up on the stage with a huge queer banner, whilst the compere praised the contribution of queer activists in the struggle for fair working conditions. This was met with loud cheers from the crowd including members from the construction and maritime unions.

After the action, students met up at The Court pub and discussed the possibility of an action against federal education minister Brendan Nelson who was attending an opening at Edith Cowan University. A packed bus load of student activists headed to the Mt Lawley campus and protested outside the building. We jeered Nelson as he walked in. Even though police sent horses and ludicrous amounts of back up, we prevented the minister from being able to leave the building. We chanted anti-VSU slogans and showed solidarity with the struggle of indigenous people for reconcilliation.

Nelson and his body guards tried to get through the crowd and violently pushed back students. However, due to the presence of media, they were perhaps reluctant to bruttally stampede throught the chain of students linking arms and demonstrating their unwillingness to take the VSU legislation without a fight. Nelson ran back into the building when they realised they weren't going to get anywhere due to the power of the student collective.

In the fracas, Craig Comrie, NUS queer officer was arrested and thrown into the back of a paddy wagon. Whilst showing solidarity with Craig and preventing Nelson's luxury car from leaving, we watched as the police and ASIO thought of ways of getting Nelson out of there, whilst also dragging students away from the car.

Eventually Nelson cowardly ran out the back door. He was pursued by angry students who ran, shouting 'scum'. He was forced to run his body guards from students with to a waiting car which sped off at break neck speed out of the uni. We continued to give chase to the round-a-bout and then let him go with a large scale middle finger
salute.

It was a great on-the-spot direct action, and coupled with the mass demo earlier in the day, showed how students and workers getting together can influence things and disrupt the workings of the oppressive, capitalist machine.

We look forward to achieving similar results at next week's queer collaborations conference, where we hope that all the activists who turned up today will join the fight against heterosexism and queerphobia.

***
Technorati: higher education, Australia, VSU, current affairs

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