Darlington Review : defend the environment

In defence of the environment

On May 19 Perth Hills SA branch hosted a successful forum on Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO). We showed Unjust Genes, a film made by Columban Missionaries in the Philippines and Australia, featuring radical priest Fr Brian Gore. The film and following discussion aired health, economic, environmental and moral concerns, all pointing to the same conclusion: these giant companies must be stopped!
Our guest speaker was anti-GMO activist Janet Grogan. The current moratorium on GMO is due to expire in 2008 and powerful bio-tech companies have begun lobbying the government and growers’ associations to ensure it will not be renewed. We were able to present Janet with 13 full petitions to extend the moratorium, achieved by persuading people to take a sheet and collect signatures themselves. We aim not just to educate, but also to empower people to actively reclaim the planet.
The Soul Tree café, where we showed the film, is now selling the Green Left Weekly newspaper and has copies of the petition for you to sign or take away to gather signatures.
Our next event will be a forum on climate change and nuclear power, with David Bradbury’s latest film Hard Rain. We are planning this for June 23 or 30. For details please consult: http://socialistallianceperthhills.blogspot.com/
The Socialist Alliance is campaigning in the federal elections for radical greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets - 95% of stationary power emissions and 60% of overall emissions compared to 1990 levels by 2020, and 90% of overall emissions by 2030.
Many Alliance members support even tougher emission reduction targets, including a zero emissions goal by 2020, and we actively invite amendments to the policy.To participate in this discussion contact Kamala Emanuel 0417 319 662 and read the special dossier on climate change at: www.socialist-alliance.org, click on “download the latest Alliance Voices”.

Nuclear Power - No solution to climate change

Time: 2 June 2007 at 3:00pm

Forum featuring David Bradbury's new film, Hard Rain.

Venue: 15/5 Aberdeen Street, East Perth.

Entry by donation. Organised by Perth Socialist Alliance. Ph 9218 9608.

Film Screening: Unjust Genes

Time: 19 May 2007 - 6:30pm

Who can own life? Who can control food? Who benefits from GMO foods? Who wants it? A screening of this film made by famous Australian progressive priest Father Brian Gore, Unjust Genes reveals the dangers in the gene transfer process; the clandestine moves by big companies to misuse patent laws to control the food industry and the danger to bio-diversity.

Venue: Soul Tree organic café (near the Train Park in Glen Forrest). Organised by Perth Hills Socialist Alliance. Entry by donation. Ph 9299 6453.

Darlinton Review : Unjust Genes

Last year WA witnessed the remarkable power of political lobbyists. Daylight saving was raised as a possibility and within days it passed through parliament. The virtues of daylight saving are nothing compared to such efficient machinations.

Now, another grouping of powerful lobbyists is campaigning for the introduction of genetically modified crops into WA. The West Australian is publishing any number of articles touting the claims of the GM profiteers. It is said GMO’s will save water, they’ll feed the starving millions, they’ll cure disease and anyone who thinks otherwise is not to be taken seriously.
Luckily, the Say No to GMO movement is spreading the truth of the matter. They can be reached here.

One who stands against GMO’s and the monster corporations peddling them is Brian Gore, the priest famous for his bravery in support of Filipino peasants, who now runs organic demonstration farms in Mindanao.

“Bio-tech companies can see there is a fortune to be made out of control of the whole food chain,” Gore told a recent meeting in Perth. “They’re planning for GMO crops to wipe out everything else and Monsanto and their like will be the sole owners of all food crops, forcing every grower to pay a tribute to them.”

“This is totally immoral. Life, seeds and everything else that is life-giving belong to all the people, not to a handful of companies,” he said.

East/Hills Socialist Alliance will be showing his film Unjust Genes, which examines the issues confronting Filipino farmers, the environment and human health. The film features London-based anti-GMO campaigner, Dr Mae-Wan Ho, who warned that GMO crops would lead to “global famine, environmental devastation and massive crop failures”.

The showing will be at 6:30 pm, May 19 at the Soul Tree organic café in Glen Forrest, just near the Train Park.

New Alliance Voices

New issue of Alliance Voices(Global Warming Dossier)

Click here to download the latest Alliance Voices

Click here to go to the Socialist Alliance discussion bulletin download page

The criminalisation of protest-Rob Stary speaks

This public meeting will discuss how the Howard government has used the so-called 'war on terror' to attack our basic democratic rights. The definitions of terror are so wide and vague as to criminalise peaceful protest. At the same time the government's Building and Construction Improvement Act has stripped construction workers of rights that effectively leave them as second class citizens.

Rob Stary is a prominent Victorian lawyer and former chair of the Criminal Law Section of the Law Institute of Victoria and is the President of the Criminal Defence Lawyers Association. Stary represented former Victorian AMWU state secretary Criag Johnston, Jack Thomas, the Barwon 13, G20 protestors and construction workers appearing before the Australian Building and Construction Commission.

3pm Saturday May 12, Maritime Union Hall, 2-4 Kwong Alley, North Fremantle. Phone 0412 751 508.

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