Socialist Alliance Newcastle

Sunday Marxism

2012-01-30T07:41:00.002+11:00

We are resuming our regular series of Marxism discussions on afternoon of the first Sunday on the month.

Sunday 5 February 2-4pm
Resistance Centre 472 Hunter St, Newcastle

Marxism and War
• Why is Australia fighting a pointless war in Afghanistan?
• Will Australia get involved in an attack on Iran?
• Why is Gillard inviting US marines to set up base in the Northern Territory?

Come along for open and lively discussion. Info: 49265328

Socialist Alliance meeting

2012-01-13T20:31:00.000+11:00

Lagos, Nigeria, Jan. 3, 2012

The next meeting of SA in Newcastle is next Tuesday 17 January - 6.30 at the Resistance Centre, 472 Hunter St, Newcastle.

On the agenda:
• proposal for Resistance Radio
• Discussion on Draft resolution of the Socialist Alliance: Towards a socialist Australia and Second draft of Socialist Alliance Perspectives Resolution
• Election of conference delegates

The national conference is on at our Sydney central office Friday 20 to Sun 22 at the Sydney office you can look at the documents at http://alliancevoices.blogspot.com/

See the agenda at http://www.socialist-alliance.org/page.php?page=1154
SA meetings this year be on the second Tuesday of the month at 6.30pm (except for January).

Socialist Alliance meeting

2012-01-13T08:03:00.000+11:00

#occupy- discussion

2011-11-06T19:25:00.000+11:00

The global Occupy movement has inspired huge numbers of Australians who have grown chronically disengaged with the political game-playing of the two big parties and an economic system that puts profit before people and the planet.

But this burgeoning sentiment has met with derision and ridicule, even from so-called progressive commentators.

Socialist Alliance meeting
6:30 pm Wednesday 9th November
Resistance Centre
472 Hunter St (upstairs)
All Welcome
cheap nutritious meal available
contact: Niko 0406296141

Forum on Sri Lanka War Crimes

2011-09-21T01:03:00.003+10:00

Download Poster

1) Sri Lanka

’s Killing Fields and Justice: Australia’s role

In 2009 as its war against the Tamil Tigers was ending, the Sri Lankan government trapped and bombed 330,000 Tamil civilians. It refuses an independent international inquiry.

Newcastle NoWar Collective is organising a public forum with Gordon Weiss, Bruce Haigh & third speaker TBA.
7:30pm Friday 21st October at Newcastle Leagues Club
17 National Park Street Newcastle West (bistro open)

ENTRY BY DONATION
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=274690015889430

download & circulate poster

contact: 0406296141

2) Speakout for Asylum Seekers!

Join us 4:30pm Friday 14 October at the Hamilton Clocktower in Beaumont St Hamilton. Organised by Refugee Action Network Newcastle (RANN)

contact: 0406296141

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=232259293491675

"Militarising Oz"- documentary premiere

2011-09-09T17:04:00.000+10:00

Premiere screeening introduced by filmmaker
John Kirk

6:30 pm Wednesday 14 September
Resistance Centre 472 Hunter St Newcastle
followed by
Socialist Alliance Meeting

Entry by donation Delicious & nutritious meal available
Inquiries: Niko 0406296141

OFarrell’s WorkChoices: War on public sector workers

2011-08-05T19:24:00.005+10:00

Barry OFarrell wants to take away the rights of teachers, nurses, firies, public servants and other state workers.
Hard won conditions such as leave loading; working hours, lunch breaks, carer’s leave, sick leave, redundancy provisions and pay equity are under attack. O’Farrell has made the Industrial Relations Commission do his bidding.
Howard’s Workchoices was beaten - how can NSW workers beat O’Farrell’s WorkChoices?
Socialist Alliance Meeting
Resistance Centre 472 Hunter St, Newcastle
Weds 10 August 6.30 pm

Sunday Marxism: China: from 1949 til today

2011-08-04T10:27:00.005+10:00

Resistance Newcastle branch presents the latest *sunday marxism* discussion group*

**A look at China: the pre eminent global manufacturing hub, home to almost a quarter of the planets population.**

The discussion will look at the character of the 1949 revolution, how the revolution changed Chinese society (eg with regard to access to food, healthcare and education; gender equality; gap between wealthiest and poorest etc), and how the Chinese state has itself changed over the last 60 years.

Was/is China Communist...? Or has it morphed back into capitalism - albeit with a communist paint job?
Where do you draw the line- what defines a bureaucratically deformed type of 'socialism/communism', as compared to **democratic** socialism, as compared to capitalism?
Are stalinist/bureaucratic socialist states all the same, or is there a 'spectrum' of freedoms and democratic rights they sit on? If so where does China sit on the spectrum, compared to the former USSR (which was itself not necessarily a homogenous bloc) or Vietnam, or North Korea, or Cuba, or Venezuela?

Political repression, sweatshops, 'socialism with Chinese characteristics', the reintegration of Hong Kong into the Chinese economy, the Tianmen Square massacre and the ecological record/potential ecological pathway(s) of China will be topics we will have a chat about.

All welcome! Sunday Marxism is held on the first Sunday of the month.

Snacks and drinks available ;)

All Socialist alliance members and friends welcome.

For info call zane 0401 466 831. For background reading check out this page at links journal of socialist renewal. http://links.org.au/taxonomy/term/53

What were they running from? War crimes in Sri Lanka

2011-06-30T09:51:00.001+10:00

Closed meeting for Newcastle NOWAR Collective and Socialist Alliance members and supporters only-
Not "go back where you came from", but rather looking at the facts as disclosed by the Channel 4 video "Sri Lanka's Killing Fields" (unlikley to be broadcast in Australia).

The programme features devastating new video evidence of war crimes - some of the most horrific footage Channel 4 has ever broadcast.

Captured on mobile phones, both by Tamils under attack and government soldiers as war trophies, the disturbing footage shows: the extra-judicial executions of prisoners; the aftermath of targeted shelling of civilian camps; and dead female Tamil fighters who appear to have been raped or sexually assaulted, abused and murdered.

The film is made and broadcast as UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon faces growing criticism for refusing to launch an investigation into 'credible allegations' that Sri Lankan forces committed war crimes during the closing weeks of the bloody conflict with the Tamil Tigers.

Public meeting Sarah Hanson-Young and Mark Goudkamp

2011-06-21T09:59:00.002+10:00

Asylum seekers: facts vs spin

7:30 pm Thursday 4th August
Newcastle Leagues Club
17 National Park St Newcastle West

Bistro Open

Senator Sarah Hanson-Young,
(Greens spookesperson on asylum-seekers)
Mark Goudkamp,
(Refugee Action Coalition Sydney)
Gleny Rae
(participant "Go Back Where You Came From")

Contact: Bev: 4962 2160 or Niko: 0408 296 141
ENTRY BY DONATION

Gaza and Muckaty

2011-05-30T21:38:00.000+10:00

Wens 8th June SA meeting 6:30 pm
' One Wall One Jail'
Eyewitness account of life in Palestine by
Katrina Byrne- recently returned from Apheda trip there

Bring a few bob to support Australia's contingent in Gaza Freedom Flotilla leaving June 16th

meal available

Resistance Centre
472 Hunter St Newcastle

and

Rally: No Waste Dump at Muckaty,
11th of June
10 am, Civic Park, Saturday June 11th.

Walk to the tram sheds in the foreshore park for BBQ, speakers and music

Marxism and Feminism: Marxism and Feminism:

2011-05-20T19:51:00.002+10:00

Sunday Marxism : A regular series of seminars on the first Sunday of the month
Marxism and Feminism: Why half the population get paid less?
Adrienne Corradini, Wollongong Resistance organiser will lead discussion on
•The origins and nature of women’s oppression
•Women and class society
•The family under capitalism
Lots of time for questions, lively discussion & coffee breaks
Sunday 5 June 2 - 4pm
Resistance Centre, 472 Hunter St Newcastle Ph. 49265328
www.socialist-alliance.org

How the CIA created Osama bin Laden

2011-05-20T19:43:00.002+10:00

None of the recent mainstream media hype about the killing of Osama Bin Laden tends to make mention of the billions in cash, weapons and training the USA provided to him and the other fundamentalist Mujahideen to overthrow the secular PDPA government of Afghanistan between 1978 and 1992. Come and hear the rest of the story- a radical history of Afghanistan and of the monster spawned by ruthless US imperial foreign policy.The evening begins with film screening 'rethink afghanistan' from 6:30pm followed by feature discussion at 7:45pm. There will be a cheap tasty meal available from 6:30 but feel free to get you own dinner and get there after the film for the main discussion at 7:45pm.

Wednesday, May 25 · 6:30pm - 9:00pm

472 Hunter St, Newcastle

The night will finish by 8:45pm.There is some interesting background reading at http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/24198

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/event.php?eid=188470051200180

A PRICE ON CARBON – has the Gillard government got it right?

2011-04-24T14:24:00.002+10:00

Socialist Alliance Public forum

May Day Marxism

2011-04-24T00:36:00.004+10:00

May Day Marxism: An afternoon seminar on some of the basic ideas of socialism

· 2pm Class struggle: From the pyramids and slavery to the people's revolt today

· 3pm Capitalism in crisis: A Marxist view of economics

· 4pm Socialism for today: permaculture in Cuba, workers control in Venezuela, Zapatism in Mexico

Lots of time for questions, open debate and lively discussion

Resistance Centre, Upstairs, 472 Hunter Street, Newcastle

Sunday 1 May 2 pm to 5pm

http://www.socialist-alliance.org/ 49265328

May Day March/Rally at Hamilton Station Park, Beaumont St. Organised by Newcastle Trades Hall Council Saturday, Sat April 30, 10.00 am. March with Socialist Alliance – NSW not for Sale – Renewable and green jobs now

After the NSW elections: What can working people expect?

2011-04-10T20:52:00.001+10:00

More attacks from employers and their governments or a union/community fight back like in the UK and Wisconsin?
Speaker: Lisa Macdonald Socialist, Alliance national co-convenor
Wednesday 13 April
Resistance Centre, 472 Hunter Street, Newcastle
Cheap tasty meal served from 6:30pm, followed by a brief SA branch meeting, over by 8.30pm

Info: 4926 5328

Newcastle Premiere of Johns Pilger's latest film

2011-03-14T20:54:00.002+11:00

Newcastle Premiere

‘The war you don’t see’ a new film by John Pilger

Royal Exchange, Bolton St, Newcastlle

The War You Don't See' is a powerful and timely investigation into the media's role in war, tracing the history of 'embedded' and independent reporting from the carnage of World War One to the destruction of Hiroshima, and from the invasion of Vietnam to the current war in Afghanistan and disaster in Iraq.

As weapons and propaganda become even more sophisticated, the nature of war is developing into an 'electronic battlefield' in which journalists play a key role, and civilians are the victims.

Includes an interview with WikiLeaks founder and editor-in-chief Julian Assange.

Thursday, April 7, 7.00 pm

Organised by Green Left Weekly Tickets: $7. Information Steve on 0409 878485

SA branch meeting

2011-03-04T21:23:00.002+11:00

Wednesday 9 March at 6.30pm at the Resistance Centre.
Wisconsin USA – what NSW could look like under a Liberal Government!
In the US state of Wisconsin thousands of workers are protesting against an attempt by a new right wing ‘Tea Party’ governor to make it harder for workers to collectively organise. This has been met by massive protests and even the police union has joined in! Is this what a Liberal government will mean for NSW? What kind of attacks are we likely to face from Liberal or Labor and how can we resist them at the grassroots?

Newcastle International Women's Day 2011 - celebrating 100 years!

2011-02-28T05:28:00.003+11:00

Tuesday 8 March 2011 6:30pm to 9ish

Resistance Centre upstairs @ 472 Hunter Street, Newcastle

all welcome for dinner, drinks, discussion and music!

With the recent inspiring events in Egypt, the Middle East, Northern Africa and Wisconsin, there is no better time to celebrate the centenary of International Women's Day. This will be a chance to discuss past, present and future campaigning for women's rights, and the role of women in all struggles for social justice.

We would love your input, if you have ideas to contribute to the night, pls contact us via this event page, or give Katie a call on 0433 695 693 or email katiejc@gmail.com

We will be putting together a slideshow of inspiring images of women... please email us your suggestions!

We will also be featuring a partial recap of last year's hugely successful Hottest 100 songs by Women poll... check out our event page from last year for more info and the list of songs: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=308494442719

This event is hosted by Green Left Weekly, a proudly independent weekly newspaper committed to human and civil rights, global peace and environmental sustainability, democracy and equality.

Check out http://www.greenleft.org.au/

Our generataion screening

2011-02-07T06:17:00.002+11:00

Wednesday 23 February 6.30 pm
Ground-breaking new documentary on Aboriginal Rights, a rallying call for understanding and action. Benefit screening for Save the Alum Sacred Mountain Bulahdelah’ campaign and Green Left Weekly‘ $10 or $5 concession,
Cheap tasty meal at 6pm
Newcastle Resistance Centre Upstairs 472 Hunter St, Newcastle
Info: 4926 5328

Community meeting with Zane Alcorn

2011-01-21T07:50:00.004+11:00

Benefit Premiere - Two films

2011-01-20T02:48:00.000+11:00

It's worth while reflecting on the Howard era, as Australia's treatment of asylum seeker becomes even more inhumane.

Two premiere screenings

1) Through the Wire: Woomera breakout, 2002. Pip Starr (10min)

Introduced by Mira Wroblewski, refugee advocate who was there.

2) Australia's ‘Pacific Solution’: undercover expose of Nauru detention by

'Melbourne housewives' Kate Durham, Sarah Stephen (2002) 40min.

7:30pm
Wednesday 16th Feb

The Royal Exchange

Hybrid Performing Arts Theatre

32-34 Bolton Street Newcastle

entry by Donation
More info: Niko Leka 0406296141

Hosted by Refugee Action Network Newcastle

Socialist Alliance Newcastle branch meeting

2011-01-10T09:58:00.001+11:00

Socialist Alliance Newcastle branch meeting.
6.30pm Wednesday 12 January 2011,
Resistance Centre, 472 Hunter St Newcastle
– info 49265328

South of the Border screening

2010-11-08T21:03:00.001+11:00

Climate Camp 2010

2010-10-31T15:39:00.002+11:00

SIEV-X Memorial Screening: "Hope"

2010-10-23T02:40:00.001+11:00

Suspension cafe, 3 - 5 Beaumont St, Hamilton

Wednesday 27th October 7pm

Brought to you by the Refugee Action Network Newcastle

Download flyer here

Click here to learn more about SIEV-X

NSW state conference

2010-10-22T20:45:00.003+11:00

Socialist Alliance branch meeting

2010-10-09T17:13:00.003+11:00

Wednesday 20 October, 6:30pm - 8:30pm

Preselection for local candidate for NSW state election.

472 Hunter Street, Newcastle

Phone: 4926 5328

Racism and the media: the lie that built the Northern Territory Intervention

2010-10-09T17:03:00.005+11:00

Special guest Chris Graham, former editor of the National Indigenous Times. Organised by the NUSA Environment Collective

Phone: 0401 466 831

Wed 13 Oct, 6:00pm

Direct from Cuba - JJ Son to play in Newcastle

2010-10-02T13:53:00.003+10:00

Direct from Cuba – JJ Son, the masters of salsa are back by popular demand. Supported by local band GRCO. Lass O'Gowrie Hotel, 14 Railway Street, Wickham. Thursday, Oct 7, 8.00 for 8.30 pm. JJ Son will play their sets between 8:30 and 10.15. No cover charge. Sponsored by the CFMEU, supported in Newcastle by Green Left Weekly. Enquiries: Zane on 0401 466 831

Pasted - political poster exhibition

2010-09-29T20:18:00.005+10:00

Selections from Green Left Weekly's poster archive - representing 50 years of radical street art.

6.30 pm Friday 1 October Exhibition opening by Lauren Carrol-Harris an organiser of the upcoming Live Red Art exhibition.

Friday 1 October 5pm t0 8pm
Saturday 2 October 11am to 4pm
Sunday 3 October 12pm to 4pm

Upstairs at the Resistance Centre, 472 Hunter Street

Info: 49265328

Benefit screening of ‘Wall Street - Money Never Sleeps’.

2010-09-05T12:11:00.010+10:00

Friday, September 24, 6.30pm for 6.45pm start

Greater Union Cinemas, King Street, Newcastle.

"Money Never Sleeps" is Oliver Stone's sequel to the 1987 movie "Wall Street". As the global economy teeters on the brink of disaster, a young Wall Street trader partners with disgraced former Wall Street corporate raider Gordon Gekko who has just been released from prison.

Enquiries: Steve 0409 878485 or 4926 5328

Benefit for Green left Weekly. Cost is $20 or $15 concession.

Report from Leonora - "Welcome to Leonora Family Rejection Centre"

2010-08-19T07:41:00.000+10:00

Report from Leonora - "Welcome to Leonora Family Rejection Centre"

WALK AGAINST WARMING SUNDAY 15TH AUG

2010-08-12T15:09:00.002+10:00

Join us to walk against warming just days before the federal election. Let's make sure our politicians get the message loud and clear - we want climate action, not denial or delay!

We want a renewable future - not more dirty coal-fired power stations.

12pm at Wheeler Place, for rally and speeches, then we will march to the foreshore park.
...
Speakers include John Kaye (NSW Greens), Geoff Evans (Just Transition Report), Laura Ealing (Climate Action Newcastle) and Jonathan Moylan (Rising Tide) and candidates for the seat of Newcastle.

PLUS live music from Afro Moses!

Bring a picnic lunch to enjoy in the park.

Everyone is welcome so please bring your kids, family and friends.

What is the ‘sustainable population’ of coal and uranium mines? Or livestock?

2010-08-12T15:06:00.001+10:00

Socialist Alliance candidate for Newcastle Zane Alcorn believes that ‘population’- and boat people – are being used as a scapegoat for further climate inaction.

Talk of actual concrete programs to make any substantial reduction in Australia’s massive carbon emissions – for instance by replacing coal fired power with renewables- is conspicuously absent from the mainstream election debate. Dick Smith is promoting his concerns with the effect of population on water supply.

Alcorn believes there are other ways to save water than denying refugees their universal human right to seek asylum: “I was recently part of a protest at Olympic dam, the worlds largest uranium mine, which uses 37million litres of water per day, against the wishes of the traditional owners, the Arabunna people. If we need to conserve water why don’t we shut down that mine?”

“In December I will be attending climate camp at Bayswater power station; its water cooling system uses vast amounts of water. The coal burned in it is first washed with huge quantities of water. Wind and baseload solar energy, by comparison, use miniscule amounts of water. Why aren’t we reducing the population of coal mines and coal fired power stations?”

Alcorn says “I am not a vegetarian myself but I know many people who are - on ecological grounds - and I think they have a good point. According to the world water council it takes 13,000litres of water to produce one kilogram of beef; compared to 1000 litres for a kilo of wheat. Australia is home to over twenty million beef cattle; couldn’t we reduce that number by a few hundred thousand a year to save water?”

“The amount of water that is used to graze cattle is immense. The methane emissions are formidable. I’d rather see everyone eat a bit less meat than send Tamil asylum seekers to Sri Lanka to get tortured and killed.”

“I’d rather see rainwater tanks and greywater recycling systems on every Australian house than send Afghan asylum seekers back to a country still occupied by a heavily armed and trigger happy US and Australian invasion force”.

“Australia could comfortably take many more refugees than we currently do. There is plenty of work to be done here- we have a renewable energy grid to build and an ageing population to take care of. What I want to know from the Liberal and Labor candidates is this: what do they think is a ‘sustainable population’ of coal mines? Or Uranium mines? Or beef cattle?”

“And when are we going to see a steep increase in the population of baseload solar thermal plants and wind turbines?”

For interview or comment call Zane Alcorn on 0401 466 831.

Authorised by Simon Cunich for the Socialist Alliance 472 Hunter st Newcastle.

INDIGENOUS SOLIDARITY RIDES REPORTBACK - WED AUG 11

2010-08-09T14:58:00.002+10:00

From June 30 to July 20 this year, a group of around 35 people from
Newcastle, Wollongong, Sydney, Port Macquarie and Canberra travelled over 7000km to hear from Traditional owners and to support the campaign against the racist Northern Territory
‘Intervention’.

Participants spoke first hand with people living under the intervention and were briefed on campaigns for bilingual education and jobs with justice, and against the proposed
Muckaty radioactive waste dump.

Please join us to hear from several solidarity riders (including both Socialist Alliance members and non members) and see photos from our journey.

Wed 11 August, 472 Hunter st Newcastle.

Cheapy tasty feed from 6pm, discussion from 6:30pm.

Refugee Action Network Newcastle (RANN)

2010-06-18T03:51:00.001+10:00

RANN streetstall

Saturday 18 June

Hamilton Clocktower 10am-Noon

petitions, information-

come along and help us talk to

people about asylum seeker issues

Click here or
contact niko 0406296141 or email niko@idl.com.au

2010-05-27T11:33:00.002+10:00

You are Invited to TWISTED TWIVIA!

A night of games, quirky questions, unexpected bonus rounds and INCREDIBLE prizes.

Bring your self, your friends, your family, your neighbours and your thinking cap

There will be food and drinks, nibblies, and an auction at the end
of the night.

When: 6pm, Saturday June 5 (world environment day)
Where: GUOOF/ Yoga Hall, Steel st Hamilton
Cost: $10conc/ $15 waged

The Indigenous Solidarity Ride will take over 40 people from NSW
on a trip from Newcastle to Alice Springs to attend a convergence for Aboriginal rights on the 7th to the 11th of July.

This convergence will be a milestone in the history of Australian/Aboriginal affairs.

Hundreds of people from all over Australia will be gathering to discuss the campaign to get rid of the Northern Territory Intervention, reinstate the Racial Discrimination act, protect indigenous language and cuture, and flip this attack on land rights.

But we need your support to get there!

All funds raised from Twisted Twivia will go towards to the bus trip, so bring your self, your friends, your family, your neighbours, your thinking cap and some coins...

Hope to see you there!

For info including registering interest in the bus trip itself call Zane- 0401 466 831

Socialist Alliance state conference

2010-05-15T16:44:00.002+10:00

The fight for climate justice : Report back from Bolivia climate summit

2010-05-04T19:12:00.003+10:00

In late April, around 20,000 climate change and indigenous rights activists from around the world attended the World People’s Summit on Climate Change hosted by Bolivia’s radical government.

The conference, a grassroots alternative to the failed Copenhagen summit, was a pivotal event in the fight against global warming.

It discussed the important topics the rich countries try to ignore such as climate debt, climate refugees, problems with existing market-based solutions, and the structural causes of climate change.

6.30pm, Monday, May 10 Resistance Centre
472 Hunter St, Newcastle
www.greenleft.org.au Australia’s radical newsweekly For more info ph 0438 297 552

Speaker: Ben Courtice, recently returned from the World People’s Summit in Bolivia. Ben is climate change activist & Socialist Alliance member from Melbourne.

Ideas for social change

2010-04-29T21:13:00.004+10:00

Sunday Discussion group reading circle

Get in touch if you’d like copies of the readings related to each discussion or just show up on the day. Bring a plate and/or your ideas to share. 3.30 PM Sunday 2 May.

Resistance Centre, 472 Hunter St, Newcastle

“Build It Now”: a fresh, clear and innovative vision of a socialist future. Canadian activist-academic Michael Lebowitz published an innovative book in 2008, “Build it Now”, that looks at the relevance and reimagining of socialism in the 21st century.It reflects on the mistakes of the past, crimes committed in the name of socialism but analyses the examples of worker and community self-management today in Latin America to develop a democratic and humane model of socialism.

Save our Rail rally

2010-04-28T08:25:00.001+10:00

Could a carbon tax help tackle climate change?

2010-04-17T08:56:00.001+10:00

Celebrate May Day

2010-04-06T19:11:00.003+10:00

Documentary screening: There's no future in coal

2010-03-14T12:38:00.003+11:00

Filmed on the just Transition Tour and featuring interviews with anti coal activists from around NSW

Wednesday 31 March 6.30 pm

Suspension Cafe

3 Beaumont St Hamilton

The Just Transition Tour travelled through NSW coal mining town November last year.

www.transitiontour.wordpress.com

People's Blockade of the World's biggest coal

2010-03-12T18:30:00.008+11:00

Sunday 28 March 2010
10 am - all day
Horseshow Beach Newcastle

Fun peaceful and effective protest against Australia's biggest contribution to the climate crisis. BYO vessel, use one of the kayaks provided, or make your own funky raft and enter it in the parade.

Organised by risingtide.org.au

Grafitti: art or vandalism

2010-03-12T18:30:00.003+11:00

Resistance is a proud affiliate of the Socialist Alliance

Socialist Alliance branch meeting The fight for same-sex marriage rights

2010-03-07T09:40:00.005+11:00

6.30pm Wednesday 10th March @ the Resistance Centre, 472 Hunter St Newcastle

with speakers: Rachel Evans, founding member of Community Action against Homophobia (Sydney) and Socialist Alliance member Conor Montgomery, trans rights activist and Socialist Alliance member

In July last year, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd made clear at the ALP national conference that his government’s policy would not reflect the majority view. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people would remain the only group in Australia without the right to marry. Queer rights activists across Australia are gearing up for an important year of action on equal marriage rights for LGBTI people.

A meal will be available from 6.15pm

"Signage wars" in Newcastle

2010-03-01T17:46:00.002+11:00

The Newcastle Herald's take on the signage wars on the corner of Auckland and Hunter Streets in Newcastle West.

published p. 34 27 Feb 2010

International Women's Day 2010

2010-02-21T11:35:00.008+11:00

Poll: Hottest 100 songs of all time by female artists (for IWD 2010)

In 2009, radio station Triple J ran a poll to find the Hottest 100 songs of all time...

Only 2 of the songs in the final list were sung by female guest vocalists, and only 3 bands had women in them. Come on people - we can do better than that!

In honour of International Women's Day 2010, we are calling for a poll of YOUR Hottest 100 songs by female artists of all time, and we'll hold a listening party on IWD (March 8th) to celebrate!

So vote now, and pass this along to all your friends. Anyone can vote for up to 10 songs each, but vote only for each song once. Songs can be by a female artist, a female vocalist in a band, or a band with at least two female band-members.

Email your votes to IWDhottest100@gmail.com or post them on our Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=308494442719&ref=nf

Check out the Triple J list here: http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/hottest100_alltime/countdown/cd_list.htm

After we started our poll, we found that some awesome women ran an alternative poll last year, check out the results here for some ideas for your vote...

http://hottest100women.blogspot.com/2009/08/top-110-final-list.html

International Women's Day is on Monday 8 March 2010.

http://www.internationalwomensday.com/first.asp

thanks for voting, and if you're in Newcastle, come along to our listening party - Monday 8 March, Resistance Centre, upstairs, 472 Hunter St, Newcastle... from about 7ish

Inside the revolution - screening

2010-02-21T11:10:00.003+11:00

A screening of a new film which takes a warts and all look at the unfolding Venezuelan Revolution - with special guest Pablo Navarrete - the film's director

Cheap tasty feed available.6.30pm Tuesday 23 February

Resistance Centre 472 Hunter St, Newcastle,

Presented by Resistance and the Australian Venezuela Solidarity Network.

For more information call Zane on 0401 466 831

Screening of Age of Stupid

2010-02-14T21:44:00.001+11:00

20 Feb 2010 - 6:30pm

GUOOF Hall, 21vSteel St Hamilton.

Green Left Weekly benefit. $10/$5.

Cheap delicious meal from 6.30pm.

Enquiries 4926 5328

Haiti Solidarity Night

2010-02-05T11:12:00.001+11:00

A fundraiser for the Haitian Emergency Fund, a grassroots organisation in Haiti made up of unions, women's groups, and human rights activists which has been directing aid to where it has been most needed.

Wednesday 10 February from 6.30pm

Resistance Centre 472 Hunter St Newcastle

Speaker Stuart Munckton, co-editor Green Left Weekly talking about the exploitation which has made Haiti one of the poorest countries in the world but one which has an inspiring history of struggle.

meal availabel from 6.30pm

contact Simon on 0438 297 552

First meeting for 2010

2010-01-20T07:45:00.008+11:00

1) The first Socialist Alliance meeting for 2010 is at 6:30pm Wednesday 27 January.
at the Resistance Activist Centre, (upstairs) @ 472 Hunter Street, Newcastle. Inexpensive dleicious meal available.

All welcome, including non-members. Ph 0409 878 485 for more info

2) Report from Rally in support of Tamil refugees in Merak- the high point was the question that Brindha, a 9 year old girl asked, after describing how the boat was shaking so much they were afraid for their lives- hear it (one minute)

To read the report you can download here -it includes links to photos from the rally

Rally for Refugees in Merak- Global Day of Action

2010-01-14T19:45:00.004+11:00

International Day of Protest in support of Tamil refugees in Merak:

Clocktower
Beaumont St
Hamilton
Monday Jan 18th
4:40-5:30 pm

The situation for the 254 Tamil refugees in Merak is becoming worse, as the 100th day nears. They are being threatened with deportation by force back to SL. Since our PM asked Indonesia to detain them, Australia bears responsibility.

See report from Australian refugee advocates (including Ian Rintoul) in late December, download

Download poster for the rally
Contact: Newcastle No War Collective 0406296141

Brief list of possible actions from SA conference

2010-01-07T02:28:00.004+11:00

The Socialist Alliance conference Jan2-5 was useful re things to do this year.

This is not a report, but a list I made of some of these ideas. It might be handy for comrades & supporters in case they want to elaborate or comment.

Palestine solidarity
Israel Apartheid Week- March 15th
Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions Movement against Israel Apartheid - L’oreal products might be a focus - to follow up
International Solidarity Day for Palestine Nov 29th
Contact "Jews Against Occupation" for a talk up here (jao.org.au)?

Iraq/Afghanistan
Focus on invasion of Afg Oct 7 2001 to discuss it more explicitly
Contact Standfast http://stand-fast.webs.com/ for possible speaker at a meeting- need to do defence force outreach

Union
Ark tribe- trial Jan 15th- send message of support

Venezuela solidarity
Mayday brigade- Join the 2010 May Day brigade to VenezuelaBrigade dates: April 24 - May 2, 2010- ?meeting- maybe feature video being made of Coral Wynter?

Nepal
Info evening- ?screen doco "From Bullets to Ballots" about women in the Maoist army
Meeting on how revolution there is tackling problem of bureaucracy- contact Ben Peterson who spent a few months with them as possible speaker his blog site is http://maobadiwatch.blogspot.com/

Malaysia
should we have an educational on Malaysia & Indonesia? Socialist Party of Malaysia has had some great victories despite incredible repression- eg they knocked out the FTA & also for a 700-strong party they have demos that unite the three main ethnic groups with about 30,000 turning out to demonstrate against some of their their anti-terror style laws…Perhaps with Sivaranjani Manickam (who spoke at the conference) via Skype

Bad Banks
Great campaining material from Unity in NZ… would be good for street stalls- maybe a GLW issue featuring it with title for cover? Contact http://unityaotearoa.blogspot.com/

Climate change
am liasing with Kinetic Energy Theatre to come to Ncsle with their “Climate Change” play -very simple, very powerful explanation of CO2 levels and feedback effects, as well as ETS nonsense, and they pose solutions... useful for schools year 5- 8, but also for workplaces?Climate change-
work with Kinetic Energy Theatre to come to Ncsle with their “Climate Change” play -very simple, very powerful explanation of CO2 levels and feedback effects, as well as ETS nonsense and solutions... useful for schools year 5- 8, but also for workplaces?

Bookshop
Have asked Asch if he could order us a copy of Malalai Joya’s book "Raising My Voice". Pip Hinman may be asking Malalai Joya if she'd do another tour of Aust. Ncsle filmakers made a film which included an interview with her called "Honeymoon in Kabul"- their contacts might broaden audience if she was to come here

We should order some copies of “How to make trouble and influence people” –it’s a great book with good ideas for culture jamming/ Red Art? Maybe we could use it to workshop spoofs for L’Oreal BDS campaign?

Come to our Seventh National Conference!

2009-12-28T21:43:00.003+11:00

Fighting for socialism in the 21st century: Towards justice, sustainability and people’s power

January 2-5, Women’s College, University of Sydney

In the face of global environmental, economic and social crises that threaten billions of lives, if not the very survival of humanity, the need for fundamental social change is urgent. The world can’t wait, and the question of how to construct sufficiently strong social movements fighting trade unions and alternative political organisations that can stop the capitalist parties’ neo-liberal rampage, warmongering and greenwashing confronts us all.

Answering this question will be the focus of discussions at the Socialist Alliance’s 7th national conference, sponsored by Green Left Weekly

The conference agenda includes educational workshops, and panel presentations and discussions to plan the Socialist Alliance’s policies and campaign activities for 2010.

Walk Against Warming

2009-12-07T20:30:00.003+11:00

Newcastle 12 Dec 1pm

Start Wheeler Place

Walk to Newcastle's foreshore

War on refugees: Is Rudd becoming Howard?

2009-11-19T23:42:00.004+11:00

Public forum

Wednesday Dec 9th

6:30pm for 7pm start

Guest speakers from Tamil community

Resistance Centre

472 Hunter St Newcastle

contact: Niko 0406296141 niko@idl.com.au

link to download poster

300,000 Tamils need 30 seconds of your life-

click to send Rudd a postcard demanding the Australian Government take up issue of 300,000 Tamils in concentration camps with the Government of Sri Lanka and the international community as a matter of urgency.

Also visit http://tamiljustice.com/ for up to date information on the asylum seekers.

Speakout in support of Tamil refugees

2009-11-15T21:40:00.002+11:00

Friday 20th November

Noon to 1pm

Outside Federal Member Sharon Grierson's office

cnr Hunter & Auckland St Newcastle

Download 2 page leaflet-

page one- http://tinyurl.com/yzjxqhr

page two- http://tinyurl.com/yjtlzkw

The Just Transition Tour

2009-11-02T05:25:00.007+11:00

Welcome back party
Lass O’Gowrie Hotel Railway St Wickham

7pm Thursday

26 November

When: 21-26

November 2009

http://transitiontour.wordpress.com/ for full details

A five-day bus tour through coal communities around NSW to learn about coal, its contribution to climate change and its impacts on communities and environments. The tour is also about promoting the potential for a just transition to a renewable energy future that guarantees jobs and protects communities.

Map of route and Link to Google map of route

When: 20-26 November 2009

There's also a weekend option, Fri 20th - Sun 22nd.

All the details at

http://transitiontour.wordpress.com

Fri 20th Nov Newcastle – Gloucester – Singleton – Jerry’s Plains

Sat 21st Nov Jerry’s Plains – Muswellbrook – Bickham – Caroona

Sun 22nd Nov Caroona – Mudgee – Cowra

Mon 23rd Nov Cowra – Canberra

Tues 24th Nov Canberra – Lithgow

Wed 25th Nov Lithgow – KatoombaThurs

26th Nov Katoomba – Sydney – Lake Macquarie – Newcastle

Climate scientists like NASA’s James Hansen have given the planet a five year window to make serious carbon cuts if we are going to avoid crossing dangerous climate tipping points.
Coal is a massive contributor to Australian and global carbon emissions.
Communities need green jobs and green industry alternatives to coal mining.
We need to work with coal communities to phase out coal for a safe climate.

Who:
Anyone and everyone is welcome! Students, parents, activists, workers, grandparents – anyone who is worried about climate change, and wants to find out more from communities on the ground about how we can work together to make a fair and fast transition to renewables in NSW.
The tour is being organised by an alliance of different groups and individuals in Newcastle. But you don’t have to be from Newcastle to help out or come along!

Capitalism, a love story

2009-10-17T21:38:00.004+11:00

Capitalism, a love story, Friday 6 November, 6.45pm for 7pm

Greater Union Theatre, King St, Newcastle Light supper afterwards

Green Left Weekly benefit showing- please invite your friends, family, etc.

$20 / $16 concession Contact : Steve 0409 878485 Niko 0406296141

Mike Moore's new film explores the disastrous impact of corporate dominance on the everyday lives of Americans (and by default the rest of the world)Download a flyer for printing-click here

Rethink Afghanistan

2009-09-30T20:48:00.008+10:00

Rethink Afghanistan is a ground-breaking, full-length documentary focusing on the key issues surrounding the Afghanistan war.

Download flyer for printing from this url: http://tinyurl.com/yggyp8d

Screening 7pm Wednesday October 14 Resistance Centre 472 Hunter St Newcastle

Cuban band night

2009-09-29T20:28:00.007+10:00

Direct from Cuba

JJ Son con Idabelis

supported by Dhopec

Lass of Gowrie Hotel
Railway St Wickham
8.30 Weds 11 November

JJ Son and Idabelis touring with the support of the CFMEU NSW branch
Organised by Newcastle by Green Left

Coal free trivia night. Brain power not coal power!

2009-09-06T18:36:00.005+10:00

A fundraiser for The Just Transition Tour.
7pm Saturday 26 February
GUOOF Hall 21 Steel St, Hamilton.
With MC Hannah Gissane.

Tickets $15/$10 conc. or book a table, $50 for 6 or $70 for 8. To book contact Laura 0406 793716 or email just.transition@gmail.com

In November the just transition tour will take a busload of people through coal affected communities around NSW. See the impact of mining, meet amazing activists and support the transition to a better future.

Renewable energy is ready to roll

2009-08-25T05:14:00.006+10:00

How Australia can make a rapid transition to 100% renewable energy using currently available technology

Speaker: Matthew Wright, climate and energy campaigner, Beyond Zero Emissions (Melbourne)

Matthew has conducted extensive research into sustainable transport, buildings, agriculture and specifically modern large scale renewable energy sources such as wind and solar thermal with storage. His talk will cover the work of the BZE Initiated 'Zero Carbon Australia 2020' project, applying this to the Hunter region where the State Government have recently proposed a massive new coal fired power station 'Bayswater B'.

With special guests John Kaye- Greens NSW MLC, and Pauline Dunne - Blackhalls Against the Mine (BAM)

Monday 31 August 6:30 - 8:30 pm Croatian Wickham Sports Club Albert St Wickham

contact: Zane O401 466 831 Sponsored by http://www.greenleft.org.au/ and http://www.beyondzeroemissions.org/

Green jobs are the way out speaking tour

2009-08-12T06:08:00.005+10:00

Graham Brown ex coal miner speaks out

Monday 24 August 12 pm NUSA Building

People’s power speaking tour Daniel Sanchez and Yoly Fernandez direct from Venezuela

2009-08-12T06:01:00.006+10:00

The revolution underway in Venezuela is an inspiring example of what happens when a people decides to take power into its own hands. Venezuela’s development of universal free health care and education, worker-controlled workplaces, Indigenous self-determination, advances in women’s rights and strong internationalism is proving that a peaceful, democratic and socially just world is possible.

Daniel Sanchez, a leader of the Rebirth of the South Commune in Venezuela, and Yoly Fernandez, a community organiser in Mission Mercal, Venezuela’s subsidised food program, are touring Australia to explain how “people’s power” is transforming their country and creating a new socialism of the 21st century.

Both are passionate and experienced advocates of grassroots democracy. Daniel, a municipal councillor in South Valencia, heads a project to coordinate the work of 18 “communal councils”, the backbone of Venezuela’s new model of participatory government. Both are members of the President Hugo Chavez’s new United Socialist Party of Venezuela.

Thursday Sept 10, 7pm. Suspension Café, Beaumont St, Hamilton. Ph 0409 878 485

Socialist Alliance screening of Sicko

2009-07-29T06:37:00.003+10:00

Sicko shows how privatisation and the market has failed to provide health care for ordinary Americans

As the state government pushes ahead with its proposals to sell off and undermine public assets – prisons, electricity generation, lotteries, Sydney Ferries Newcastle rail corridor – Sicko has some useful lessons.

6.30pm for 6.45pm Wednesday 12 August 2009 Resistance Centre, 472 Hunter St, Newcastle

meal and popcorn available

Palestine Solidarity Tour with David Rovics and Phil Monsour

2009-07-27T07:11:00.004+10:00

Saturday 1 August

7pm Lass O’Gowrie Hotel

Railway Street Wickham

with special guest Phil Monsour and Newcastle's Grace Turner

Info 4926 5328

The war on democracy

2009-07-22T18:15:00.003+10:00

This Sunday

Green Left presents John Pilger’s film

War on Democracy

Join us on Cuba’s nation day, July 26, for this powerful film about US meddling in the democratic affairs of Latin America.
Introduced with a brief account of the recent coup against the President of Honduras, Manual Zelaya and the ongoing resistance to this coup

4.30 for 5 pm start.

Suspension cafe is at the Maitland Road end of Beaumont St.

Saving the rail!

2009-07-13T20:38:00.002+10:00

Yet another proposal to cut a portion of the inner city rail line is currently being pushed by a section of developers, politicians and The Herald.

Is cutting the line a good idea in lieu of climate change and peak oil? Is the rail to blame for unutilised buildings in Newcastle? Should road traffic take precedence over rail? Can we be sure the 'green corridor' would never be built on? Aren't there more important things for the government to spend S600m on? How were previous campaigns to save the line won? Where is the current campaign at? Join us to discuss the many issues and where to next for the campaign.

with special guests
Simon Butler: Green Left Weekly's environment editor was active in the previous Save Our Rail campaign as a rail worker and member of the Rail, Tram and Bus Union
Kim Cross : President of Save Our Rail Maitland Branch
Zane Alcorn : Resistance member and architecture student and has designed a masterplan for an improved Newcastle rail corridor
4pm Sunday July 19 Lass O' Gowrie Hotel Railway St. Wickham
(Out in the beer garden)
Plus film screening " Battle in Seattle" and debut spoken word performance by Exekreye (Esistential Crisis Collective)
Info: 49265328

Condemn the military coup in Honduras

2009-07-01T20:15:00.002+10:00

No War collective will be holding a petition stall at Hamilton, Clocktower

this Friday, July 3 12.30 to 2pm

For updates on development agsinst the coup see http://www.greenleft.org.au/

The sell off

2009-07-01T20:10:00.002+10:00

The struggle against privatisation in NSW

Newcastle State dockyards, Jails, GIO, Rail, TAFE

Speaker: Zane Alcorn environment and anti privatisation activist

Resistance centre, 472 Hunter St, Newcastle

Wednesday 8 July 6.30 for 7pm to 8pm (followed by Socialist Alliance branch meeting)

Cheap meal at 6.30 pm

Discussion forum

2009-06-28T09:49:00.009+10:00

A green new deal or a green revolution?

the economics to deal with the crisis

Speaker: Simon Butler climate activist and Green Left Weekly's environment staff writer

Wednesday 22 July 6.30 for 7 pm

Cheap tasty meal from 6.30pm

Resistance Centre, 472 Hunter St, Newcastle

Palestine Solidarity Tour with David Rovics and Phil Monsour

2009-06-20T15:40:00.006+10:00

Saturday 1 August 7pm
Lass O’Gowrie Hotel
Railway Street Wickham
with special guest Phil Monsour and Newcastle's Grace Turner

4926 5328

Green Left Weekly will be touring two excellent performers: David Rovics from the US and Brisbane-based Phil Monsour. Earlier this year the world watched in horror as the Israeli military slaughtered more than 1300 people in Gaza. Around the world people poured into the streets protesting the bloodshed, showing the potential power of international solidarity.

The Palestine solidarity movement continues to organise. Across Europe and the US there have been a wave of university occupations which, amongst other demands, have called for an academic boycott of Israel; several Israeli high-tech companies have reportedly been dropped by European and US companies; Venezuela and Bolivia have cut diplomatic ties with Israel and South African dock workers have refused to unload an Israeli ship. Comparisons are being made between the Boycott, Divestment and Sanction campaign against Israel and the successful international sanction campaign to end apartheid in South Africa.

In Australia, Green Left has been one of the key proudly pro-Palestinian activist media sources. At many of the rallies,public forums, film screenings and organising meetings – Green Left will be found!

The Palestine Solidarity Tour is another way we can raise the issue of justice for Palestine. The events will raise funds for Green Left, for the Australian based solidarity movement and for projects in Palestine. The concerts will protest the occupation and and do so in a cultural context which fosters solidarity and strength within the movement – a celebration of our, and the Palestinian people’s, resistance. US peace campaigner Cindy Sheehan has called David the “peace poet and troubadour for our times”.

He has toured the US and Europe extensively. David and Phil have been Palestine solidarity activists for many years and their commitment to the cause is reflected in their music. David’s songs such as They’re Building a Wall and Jenin powerfully express the injustice that moves us to action. Phil’s songs such as What Tomorrow Will Bring and Lies and Silence are performed to the backdrop of moving images showing the human impact of the occupation.

Download leaflet here.

Proceeds to Green Left Weekly and the Palestine solidarity campaign

http://www.greenleft.org.au/ http://www.davidrovics.com/ http://www.philmonsour.com/

Climate emergency rally

2009-06-10T21:53:00.001+10:00

Rally to demand a law system that puts the safety of women and children first

2009-06-05T21:37:00.001+10:00

Wednesday 10 June 2009 @ 12:30pm
Meet at Newcastle mall near main bus stop and ‘the feet’

This will be a silent march up to the family law court with the silence to be broken by the ‘choir of no more knocks’

Wear black to acknowledge and mourn the abuse children have sustained as a result of a biased law system

Safety- Increasingly, magistrates and judges in Family Law jurisdiction ignore violence and abuse against mothers and children. The family law system routinely hides, ignores and trivialises the causes and effects of domestic violence. Fathers are getting access to children when domestic violence and sexual abuse have been alleged.

NO ACCESS BEFORE INVESTIGATIONS HAVE OCCURRED

Public meeting! Stop Sri Lanka’s genocide of the Tamil People

2009-05-19T21:12:00.001+10:00

Speaker: Dr Brian Senewiratne, Physician & Human Rights Campaigner.
12.30 pm Saturday 23 May

Hamilton Station Hotel, Beaumont St, Islington

Held as part of the 23 May National Day of Action to oppose the genocide of Tamils

Info : Zane 0401 466831 Niko 0406 296141
Organised by Newcastle No War Collective

World Environment Day in Newcastle

2009-05-17T22:02:00.004+10:00

screening of The Carbon Connection
plus 3 short films featuring local climate activists:

Bayswater Eraring Flotilla 2007

$5 or &10 (solidarity)
Fri 5th June
7pm
at Suspension Espresso Coffee Lounge
3 Beaumont St. Hamilton

Download a high-quality copy of the poster for printing by clicking here

Urgent Rally

2009-05-08T17:36:00.001+10:00

Venezuela : 10 years of the Bolivarian Revolution!

2009-05-01T08:41:00.004+10:00

Public meeting with Nelson Davila, Head of Mission, Venezuela Embassy.

Tuesday 5 May 6.30 pm

Joy Cummings Community Centre, 61-63 Scott St, Newcastle East.

Click here to download high-quality flyer to print 'n paste up

Hear about how Venezuela is creating a new society and the work of the Australian Venezuelan Solidarity Network, including its brigades to Venezuela.

Organised by the Australia-Venezuela Solidarity Network contact Steve on 0409 878485

Also: Venezuela’s alternative Tuesday 5 May 12:00 noon

Room V107 Mathematics building, University of Newcastle, Callaghan. Talk by Nelson Davila, Head of Mission, Venezuela Embassy. Sponsored by NewcastleUniversity Students Association, Resistance, Australian Venezuela Solidarity Network.

May Day Anti Capitalist 'Ball'!

2009-04-19T17:34:00.001+10:00

Bands: Fuji Collective, Dhopec and Doubting Thomas.

Lass O’Gowrie Hotel Railway St Wickham. Benefit for Green Left Weekly.

Friday May 1 from 8pm

Come as your favourite revolutionary or the most despicable capitalist scumbag.

Contact Zane on 0401 466831

MAY DAY MARCH – 2 May, 10 am -

assemble Pacific Park to march down Hunter St to Wheelers Place

Speakers include: Greens MP John Kaye

How to save jobs? Screening of Workers' Republic

2009-04-04T17:37:00.003+11:00

When the workers at Republic Windows and Doors -- in Chicago, USA -- were notified their factory would close in three days, they took matters into their own hands. The unionised workers seized control of the factory for six days to demand the entitlements they were owed by law. They also demanded that Bank of America, which was "bailed out'' with taxpayers' money just weeks before, make funds available to the company to pay the workers. On the sixth day, December 10, 2008, of their occupation, they won all their demands, and showed the world's working class a classic example of people's power.

Screening of Workers' Republic, the video of the occupation followed by discussion of "How to save jobs". Resistance Centre, 472 Hunter St, Newcastle West. 7pm. cheap meal available. Info on 0409 878485

Press release Save Our Rail

2009-04-04T00:43:00.003+11:00

SOR applauds architecture student's plans for improvement of the rail corridor into Newcastle Station

Save Our Rail is pleased to announce that one of our members, a fourth year architecture student, will be redesigning the Newcastle railway corridor between Wickham and Newcastle Stations, with a view to providing better connectivity between the city and its harbour while maintaining access along the line for the residents of the lower hunter and central coast, who use the line to reach all the facilities and destinations that Newcastle as a regional city provides, within a spectacular harbour / beach side setting.

Zane Alcorn, 25, who has been a member of SOR since Michael Costa's unsuccessful bid to have the line cut in 2005, will spend the next eight weeks developing a design which incorporates new level crossings and associated “activation nodes” and has projections for new development along the corridor.

The design will also feature a new “HarbourLink Station” to directly service the Hunter Street Mall (as advocated by SOR), and a tram/train loop linking Newcastle to Merewether and The Junction via Darby St and Union Sts as proposed by the Newcastle Transport for Business Development group.

The design brief prepared by Professor Steffan Lehman and issued to all fourth year students, asks them to design a masterplan for a “green corridor” to replace the rail corridor between Wickham and Newcastle.

“As a member of Save Our Rail, my immediate response to the City Centre Revitalisation brief was to keep the rail in my masterplan proposal”, said Alcorn.

“Retaining the rail line is crucial if Newcastle is to become a clean, low emissions city and cater for more rail travellers as peak oil inflates the cost of private vehicle usage”.

“I requested permission to keep the rail corridor in my design and I have been reassured by Professor Lehmann that students can keep the rail corridor in their masterplan”.

Alcorn says that there are good reasons for keeping the line, which have been outlined many times by groups such as Save Our Rail and retention has been continually supported by the majority in surveys of travellers and members of the public. Additionally the cost involved is prohibitive.

“Removing and decontaminating the line; building a new terminus at Wickham; diverting Stewart Avenue down Gordon Avenue and along the old Bullock Island rail corridor; purchasing buses to replace the removed section of rail....this is expensive stuff”.

Alcorn believes that proposals to retain the line will be far cheaper than cutting the line and that the funds if available from the Federal Government should be used to retain the line and improve access across the line.

“According to Professor Lehmann, including the $40 million Gordon Avenue bypass, cutting the line would cost $250 million. He said that it would be interesting to see an alternative proposal in case Federal funding could not be secured to cut the line. “I can't give a detailed quote for my proposal but I think it is fair to say it would cost less than half the price of removing the line.”

Save Our Rail President Joan Dawson said that it was fantastic that students such as Mr Alcorn would be developing a plan to improve the rail corridor.

“Save Our Rail is a grassroots community organisation. Unlike the developers, we can't afford to pay consultants to produce glitzy images of our vision for the city”. The images produced by Zane Alcorn will support SOR concept available on our website which outlines how the rail line, its stations, and railway crossings (at grade and grade separated) can be put in place to improve access across the line.

Having images and models will make our alternative vision for the city easier for the broader community to understand.

How can people make an informed choice about whether to remove or improve a rail line if they are only being given one option???

Comment: Call Joan Dawson on 0409 618 198 or Zane Alcorn on 0401 466 831

Big red book fair this Saturday

2009-03-26T18:14:00.001+11:00

Switch off the CPRS - protest this Friday!

2009-03-23T21:07:00.001+11:00

Join the flotilla this Saturday!

2009-03-19T07:33:00.001+11:00

BLF Green Bans

2009-03-12T19:30:00.002+11:00

A piece of Australia's radical green/union history and its relevance to the struggle for climate change.
Featuring former NSW BLF Newcastle organiser Tony O’Bierne at 6pm.
Screening of Rocking the Foundations, a film about the NSW BLF, at about 7.30.
March 15 Lass O’Gowrie Hotel, 14 Railway Rd Wickham.
Hosted by Resistance.
In the 1970s the NSW Branch of the Builders Labourer's Federation broke new ground in fighting to protect the environment by linking up with communities and placing green bans on anti social development. For example, in Newcastle the BLF helped save historic Newcastle East from the bulldozer.

One year since the apology: Rudd's racist record

2009-03-02T20:23:00.001+11:00

Socialist Alliance public meeting

7pm Wednesday 11 March
Resistance Centre 470 Hunter Street
Cheap meal from 6.30pm

Pat Eatock, veteran Aboriginal activist and Kairie community elder.
Peter Robson is the Indigenous affairs writer for Green Left Weekly (GLW).
Emma Murphy, GLW Editor, has lived and worked on remote Aboriginal communities.

In December, Peter Robson and Emma Murphy visited communities, town camps and aboriginal organisations in Central Australia to hear first hand about the intervention.

Info 49265328 Cheap meal from 6.30pm

International Women's Day

2009-03-02T20:15:00.002+11:00

At the Lass O'Gowrie Hotel, Wickham, 4pm to 8pm Sunday 8 March

Come down for relaunch... support legal graffiti culture

2009-02-26T20:37:00.003+11:00

Socialist Alliance still thinks whacky councillors and the Herald need to stop the war on graffiti, start the war on climate change...

Grafitti wall Re-Launch Sth Newcastle Beach Skatepark.
28th feb 2009.
South Newcastle Beach Skatepark.
12:00 - 18:00 - live hip hop acts & DJ's
12:00 - DJ
12:30 - Laird & lomas
13:00 - Soul purpose
- Aerosol art area Finishes.
13:30 - Tunz-1
14:00 - Dhopec
14:30 - Urban Freeflow
15:00 - Mojos Lab
15:30 - Nameless
16:00 - Nikkita
16:35 - Blades
17:20-17:25 - (changeover)
17:30 - Thats Them
18:00 - stage closes.

Socialist Alliance Video

2009-02-24T01:39:00.000+11:00

I collect with Vodpod. Watch more of my videos

Public Meeting with Abe Quadan: Why did Israel attack Gaza?

2009-02-07T23:12:00.005+11:00

Abe Quadan is Council member of the Centre of Peace and ConflictStudies - University of Sydney and the Secretary of the Australian PalestinianSupport Association.

Evening hosted by Socialist Alliance

6:30pm Wens 11th Feb upstairs at Resistance Centre 472 Hunter St Ncsle, meal available.

News re the Palestinian Call for a Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign.

The Maritime Union of Australia (Western Australia) resolved to boycott all Israeli vessels and all vessels bearing goods arriving from or going to Israel.

Now the South African Transport and Allied Workers Union (SATAWU) has resolved not to offload an Israeli ship that is due to arrive in Durban, South Africa, on 8 February.

Download the press release from here-

International civil society fully recognizes that Israel must be held accountable before international law.
Secretariat of the Palestinian Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions National Committee (BNC)
http://www.bdsmovement.net/

Gaza: end the silence and make YOUR voice heard

2009-01-31T21:38:00.004+11:00

... because the media won't. Download this email from Sonja Karkar, Australian Friends of Palestine, explaining how out of 35 letters to the media in Melbourne, only one was published. Download the 35 letters and decide for yourself if they were unpublishable.

END THE BLOCKADE OF GAZA

END MEDIA SILENCE ON ISRAELI WAR CRIMES

BREAK TIES WITH ISRAEL

Please come to Charlestown this coming Saturday- the more bodies, the more impact and the more chance that our voices will have an influence.

Go to the GETUP survey https://www.getup.org.au/ and take opportunity to request that Australia break ties with Israel until it respects meets UN resolutions and International Law.

Have you sent a letter re Gaza to the Ncsle Herald & not had it published? Send it to niko@idl.com.au and NoWAR Collective will display it during the action in Charlestown

Download printable copy of the flyer (3 per page) from here (colour) or (black n white)

From Protest to Campaign- this Saturday

2009-01-28T15:00:00.003+11:00

Its not over yet

Hi all

As Israeli tanks re-enter Gaza, even more important that you make it
to Saturday's meeting 2pm Suspension Coffee Lounge Beaumont St Hamilton to work out longer term protest/campaign.

Re delegations to Gaza- see below:

1. From Australians for Palestine, Kamahl Mashni is being sponsored to go with the George Galloway delegation- download details here.

2. Another delegation, Melbourne Palestine Solidarity Network, go to this link

" Hi All,

Some of us are involved in organising a delegation to Gaza. Assuming we get permission we will be leaving soon. We are trying to get Trade Union members along if possible and representatives from other groups. If any comrades are able to come or have contacts who might be interested please contact me ASAP 0406 402 401.

The program will involve the following:

The departure will be in mid February, depending on arrangement with Egypt;
The trip will be 7-10 days;
We will visit destroyed areas, hospitals, meet with the injured and NGOs;
We will witness the effect of war and siege on 1.5 million Palestinians in Gaza;
All transportation and accommodation will be covered;
We have limited resources to help with some flight costs.

If you are interested in attending please let us know ASAP as we are trying to get permission within the next 10 days.

Regards,
Ema Corro"

Niko
Moderator

About us -- Join us

2009-01-24T00:25:00.001+11:00

Our members come from a variety of ages, occupations and cultural background, some are new to politics while others have been involved in parties as the Labour, the Democratic Socialists, the original Communist Party, as well as anarchist groups. Socialist Alliance is committed to Socialist Unity.

We have NSW electoral registration and while we have run in elections we emphasis people's activism.
We are active in groups and issues such as Newcastle No War Collective, the community campaign against Howard’s WorkChoices legislation, refugee rights, women’s rights, young people's activism such as Resistance and distributing alternative media, such as the newspaper Green Left Weekly.

We share a commitment to working people’s and socialist unity in the fight against capitalism and Howard.As well as meeting monthly we have regular film showing and public forums, Join the SA email list for regular updates by emailing sa-newcastle@yahoogroups.com.

We need your support, please donate to the Socialist Alliance.

a membership form

Gaza & Israel: at the Lass O'Gowrie Sun 18th Jan

2009-01-14T14:21:00.007+11:00

Revolution Sessions at the Lass for Resistance

Dont be deceived by the fake ceasefire just announced. Jo Trainor reported from the Sydney Rally on Sunday, that John Pilger spoke of the timidity of the media & the Australian Labour party's support of Israel. He said “The media has built a wall between the massacres in Gaza and the truth of what has happened there” (Download her report here with useful links).

download flyer here

... this Sunday Jan 18th

4pm till 9pm

Session1- Gaza & Israel

followed by

DHOPEC with special farewell to their drummer Kron Fusion

NEXT GAZA RALLY

Wens 21st

Hammo clocktower 5_30 pm - pls download and print off flyer at top to put up around the place or give out to people... plants... cars... we need to keep pressure up

GAZA Rally Jan Wens 14th 5:30pm

2009-01-10T17:20:00.008+11:00

Even if the Israeli army were to succeed in killing every Hamas fighter to the last man, even then Hamas would win ... in [the] face of the mighty Israeli military machine, it will look like a fantastic victory, a victory of mind over matter.

What will be seared into the consciousness of the world will be the image of Israel as a blood-stained monster, ready at any moment to commit war crimes and not prepared to abide by any moral restraints. -Uri Avnery.

For full text of this important analysis go to web page or download Word copy

Protest against the brutal Israeli invasion of Gaza and demand an immediate ceasefire and withdrawal!

Wens 14th January 5:30pm

Hamilton Clocktower

Beaumont St Hamilton.

Download flyer from here (not from the image)

Please write emails, letters, or phone Australian, Israel, US & UN parliamentarians & key figures from the addresses available in here (in Word format)

Free Palestine rally- outcomes

2009-01-07T21:20:00.013+11:00

Free Palestine? Yes we can!

These are the decisions from the 50-strong rally at Hamilton Clocktower on Jan 7th:

Ncsle NoWar Collective meeting in the beergard
Hamilton Station Hotel 4pm Saturday 10th Jan

The rally was deliberately optimistic in the face of the brutal and inhumane carnage wreaked by Israel upon the citizens and their children in Gaza. It opened with the chant:
Free Palestine? Yes we can!

Beginning with George Burchett's proposed "two word solution"
The emphasis was upon solidarity and collective action. This means continuing to protest publically and organising and conducting a boycott against apartheid Israel.

Actions taken included signing of the letter to Sharon Grierson that was also circulated at last week's rally, a petition to trade unions, and a contact list. The overwhelming conclusion by the majority of speakers was that Israel is embarked on a programme of ethnic cleansing of Palestinians. The implication of this is that even if Israel does call a ceasefire, that it will only be a further ploy. This makes a continuing boycott even morenecessary, as an effective form of protest that will not end with a mere "ceasefire".

Audio is available of some parts-
Intro (Niko, Chair)
Roger Markwick
Dennis ?Siedel
Kerry Vernon
Phillippa Parsons
Zane Alcorn
Conclusion (Chair)

It is vital that you join the Newcastle NoWAR (niko@idl.com.au) or the Facebook group"Protest Against Israeli Actions in Gaza"
-thats the best way to not only be informed but also to participate in decisions regarding these actions.