AUSTRALIAN woman Deanne Scanlan is the winner if our exclusive Bent Banana Books T-Shirt.
Deanne won the t-shirt as one of the first 15 Likers of the BBB Facebook Page.
… Go to Article And the winner is…
Month: February 2012
17 Group: 7th of March Meeting
The March 2012 Meeting of the 17 Group will take place on Wednesday the 7th of March at 7pm in unit 6 at 20 Drury St in West End on the topic of energy policy in relation to the Queensland State Election.… Go to Article
Arab Spring in Syria — dilemma for the Left?
“Why would you allow criminals to be present here?
They are responsible for our situation now…
It is they who turned our country into the centre of national and international wars”
— Malalai Joya, former member of Afghan Parliament
Recently, commentators on the Left in Brisbane have been trying to grapple with what is going on in Syria in particular and in the region generally.… Go to Article
WikiLeaks can help us interpret and change the world
By Humphrey McQueen
More than 400 people crowded into a lecture theatre at the University of Technology Sydney on February 17 (2012) a public forum, “Don’t shoot the messenger: WikiLeaks, Assange and Democracy”.… Go to Article
9 ways art tells the story
THREE years ago, the not-so-magnificent seven of us were sitting around, drinking coffee and eating crackers laden with chili-cheese dip.
We were gathered in the comfortable recreation room – actually a detached building – at the home of Arts Alliance president Ken Armstrong.
… Go to Article PUBLIC FORUM: Being smuggled to freedom: behind the anti-people smuggling rhetoric
Dear refugee supporters,
This is to inform you of our public forum which will review and analyse the rhetoric surrounding “people smuggling”.… Go to Article
Five peace activists say “Join us in court” — an end to the War of Terror
On 5 March 2012 5 peace activists – Andy, Christel , Jim, Cully and Sean – will appear in the Brisbane Magistrates Court to answer charges of causing a public nuisance and disobeying a police direction without reasonable cause.… Go to Article
BRISBANE FILM PREMIERE: ‘Chasing Chavez’
Wed Feb 29, 6.30pm, Schonell Cinema, UQ
Foco Nuevo Turns Four In March
Come and join in the celebrations for our fourth anniversary! After our wonderful start to the year we’re looking forward to a great night with our friends from Pirate Brides and the spectacular playing of Innes Campbell.… Go to Article
Public Forum — Being smuggled to freedom: Behind the anti-people smuggling rhetoric
On this night like any other night
Maybe raining maybe clear
In a world exploding is any heart open?
Can you hear us, Can you hear?… Go to Article
Phil Monsour – ‘Ghosts of Deir Yassin’: CD Launch April 21, 2012
Hi
We are all set to release the new 12 song CD, Ghosts of Deir Yassin in early 2012. The launch in Brisbane will be held at Souths Leagues Club on the 21st of April 7.30pm and the CD will be available on line in April.… Go to Article
Amnesty report back on Refugee Detention
SEE BELOW AMNESTY LIVE Q &A on Detention
plus ASRC Facts on Bridging Visas http://www.championsofchange.org.au/?p=827
Have you seen our explosive new report on Australia’s detention centres in ABC News, News.com.au… Go to Article
Kindling & LiLi Kite at the Joynt March 1
hello Folk,
I’m letting you know about a great coming together of two groups, Kindling and Li Li Kite next Thurs March 1 at the Joynt, 42 Montague rd South Brisbane.… Go to Article
7 Celebrities cultivated in 7 Shouts
YOU know actor George Clooney personally and regard him as the nastiest person on earth.
You are invited to a dinner party with the traditional girl-boy/girl-boy seating.
… Go to Article REFUGEE ACTION COLLECTIVE, QLD: RAC organising meeting, State Library
Organising meeting
When: Wednesday, 22nd February. 6.30pm.
Where: State Library of Qld, Grey St, South Brisbane. 2nd level, meeting room 2A.… Go to Article
Justice for Palestine_Brisbane Film Screening – Budrus
There will be an information stall this Saturday to spread the word about this film screening – from 10am-noon at the West End Markets (the Montague Street entrance – under the big fig tree).… Go to Article
e-Books by Bernie Dowling — a Review
Some new release eBooks are worth having a look at. Thanks to the author, these reviews preserve the rich content that readers obtain when they use eReaders [hyperlinks, YouTube] I have turned off embedded ‘text enhance’ messages which I do not like (sic).… Go to Article
Syria
http://www.counterpunch.org/2012/02/10/or-your-lying-eyes-truth-and-fiction-in-the-news-business/
It’s clear enough that the Sunni alliance led by Saudia Arabia and Qatar has ensured that the insurgency inside Syria will countenance no ceasefire offers; and that the propaganda machine so well described by Aisling Byrne on this site http://www.counterpunch.org/2012/01/06/the-neocon-propaganda-machine-pushing-%3Fregime-change%3F-in-syria/… Go to Article
TJ Hickey: 8 YEARS OF COVER-UP AND LIES
8 YEARS OF COVER-UP AND LIES DEMAND JUSTICE NOW!
TJ died in Sydney in February 2004. His bike was rammed by a police vehicle driven by a Redfern police officer
There has been a Coronial Inquest, Redfern police and a NSW Government cover up, and continuous protests, but 8 years later still no justice for the young Aboriginal man and his Family.… Go to Article
4ZZZ’s Opening Statement in 1975
And something is happening here
But you don’t know what it is
Do you, Mister Jones ?
— ‘ballard of a thin man’ by bob dylan
Editor’s Note: Thanks to the efforts of Peter Gray we now have the transcript and sound track of 4ZZZ’s initial broadcast on 8 December 1975.… Go to Article
The People Speak – Australian Palestinian Partnerships
Upcoming events:
Film screening: The People Speak
4-7pm Saturday 4th February
Loophole Community Centre
670 High Street, Thornbury
Inspired by Howard Zinn’s books, The People Speak celebrates the extraordinary possibilities for creating social change that ordinary people have realized throughout the course of the United States’ rich but often ignored history of dissent and protest.… Go to Article
The Tall Man
[Editor’s Note: Ray Jackson continues his good work here analysing the ‘The Tall Man’ that was shown on SBS this week.… Go to Article
Pet Peeve # 1
THE most abused word in the literary world is audience.
And this, dear readership, introduces an occasional Save the Book series, Pet Peeves.
… Go to Article Ballad of a Thin Man
by Bob Dylan
You walk into the room
With your pencil in your hand
You see somebody naked
And you say, “Who is that man ?”… Go to Article
Assange – Don’t Shoot the Messenger
WikiLeaks, a free press publishing and media organisation, has revealed human rights abuses, war crimes and corruption in governments across the world.… Go to Article
Navvies rocked this city
By Humphrey McQueen
Canberra 1911-16
Canberra Historical Journal, New Series, 67, December 2011, pp. 17-24.
For the Federal Area to become a Federal Capital on the ground as well as in law, hundreds of navvies had to construct before tradesmen and other labourers could build.… Go to Article
Workers Vocabulary
by Humphrey McQueen
“I cannot understand this language. I cannot make it out. This language, which is half slang, I cannot understand at all.”… Go to Article
What the Dickens: birthday wishes
I FOUND them dull, most of the thousands of words written to mark the 200th birthday of English author Charles Dickens.… Go to Article
Refugee Action Collective: Organising Meeting
The Bridging Visa BV policy WAS ANNOUNCED ON 25th NOVEMBER
Aim to release 100 people per month from long term detention – those most vulnerable and over two years in detention as a priority.… Go to Article
Our back pages: Black Friday / General Strike
This picture is from a collection held by the John Oxley Library / State Library of Queensland (W. Davies collection).
The 1912 Brisbane General Strike began when members of the Australian Tramway Employees Association were dismissed when they wore union badges to work on 18 January 1912.… Go to Article