Brisbane Young Activists

TEST

2006-05-02T03:40:00.000-07:00

I am not Nadia.
This is a test.

Recent Protest in Sydney

2006-04-16T03:36:00.000-07:00

A refugee advocate has been arrested at a demonstration outside Prime Minister John Howard's Sydney home.
A large contingent of police are keeping a group of about 100 protesters away from Kirribilli House.
The protesters earlier marched through the streets of Kirribilli, on Sydney's north shore, calling on the federal government to free refugees from detention and wind back tough new border security measures.
A 37-year-old man was arrested for abusing a police officer and taken to North Sydney police station, police say.
Another activist was involved in a heated exchange with a riot squad officer as police forced protesters to the footpath across the road from the prime minister's residence.
Mounted police, Pol Air and both specialist riot and uniformed police were all on hand for the demonstration.
Speakers at the rally outside Kirribilli House, including Islamic community spokesman Keysar Trad, commented on the police presence.
"I'm inspired by the overwhelming police presence today and I have a proposition to give to them," Mr Trad said.
"We, as a nation, elected a government to represent us, we elected a government to be truthful to us and to take up our issues.
"So surely these police who are present today, who are supposedly protecting us, can go and arrest that government and bring it to justice."
Refugee Action Coalition spokesman Ian Rintoul called on the federal opposition to reverse the "iron curtain" legislation announced by the government this week, which he said effectively closed Australia's borders to asylum seekers.
"Everybody here is absolutely committed and determined to see the end of the Howard government," Mr Rintoul said.
"But we are not content to get rid of the Howard government and have a look-a-like pale image take its place.
"Now (Labor) have got the opportunity to put the cards on the table ... by making it very clear, that there is a policy alternative at the next election."
Protests are also planned for Melbourne and Perth today, an international day of action in support of asylum seekers.
On Saturday, two Villawood detention centre detainees were taken to hospital. One who had swallowed razor blades remains in a stable condition.
The pair are among 260 detainees temporarily moved out of Villawood after an asbestos scare.

Street Demo

2006-04-16T01:49:00.000-07:00

Street Demonstration

Hands off workers' rights.
Troops out of Iraq
Let refugees land, let them stay.
No uranium mining.
10am Thursday 20 Apriloutside St John's CathedralAnn St, Brisbane(between Wharf & Queen Sts)

Howard will be at St John's Cathedral on Thursday morning for the ceremonial laying of a keystone. Please pass the word on about the protest.

For more details phone Mark on 07 3891 5385.

Rally endorsed by Stop the War Coalition, Refugee Action Collective, the Peace Convergence and Friends of the Earth, Brisbane Anti-nuclear Collective.

Profiles for this Week

2006-04-15T07:10:00.000-07:00

Nadia
age: 21
occupation: arts student from uq
political background:
- previous non factional member of ALP
- 4ZzZ radio democracy
- Amnesty Indigenous Rights collective
- proud unionist
- gender studies, indigenous rights
interests: painting, philosophy and literature and poetry
you may of seen this member: in your classes, she's been at uni for some time now.

Danieka
age: 18
occupation: arts/social science
political background:
- ALP non factional left leaning
- harvard UN conference China 2006
- UN comp. conference national and state conferences 2005
- amnesty international
- women's festival co-ordinator 2005
interests: community development, cooking international foods, event management.
you may of seen this member: on queen st on an amnesty stall

Brisbane Activists Forum

2006-04-15T06:37:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Young Brisbane Activists. You may have heard or read about us around the message boards of the University of Queensland, on toilet walls in the QUT libraries, or on the lips of people whom we have planted within your area to talk about it.

We are a web based group who meet at least once a week to discuss grass roots issues of Brisbane and Australian politics. We are an organisation who push for change outside the periphery of party politics. We are non profit, non aligned group of activists, predominantly full time university students, whom are interested in grass roots politics.

We are left progressive activists, and we encourage people who are also interested in meeting up with other activists to join. Some of us are still members of the ALP, or SA or Greens and Democrats, but we leave it completely outside and focus on the goals and principles of actually making things happen. A prospect which is a little out of reach with parties overwrought with factional concerns when it comes to where you live.

We will have up to date boards of meeting places, events from feminism to environment and euthanasia issues, to homelessness to small business initiatives and aide work overseas.

We are not affiliated with any unions, parties we are independent and active. Brisbane is more active than you think, come along, meet new people, change your part of the world, they say it is the first step.

Nadia