Events

Aireys Festival of Words

Aireys Festival of Words is an annual event that attracts internationally acclaimed writers and showcases the talents of local authors, illustrators, musicians and artists, who all take part in a weekend-long celebration of words, sounds and images.

In 2009 the Festival will once again take over the beautiful coastal town of Aireys Inlet, transforming local venues big and small into artistic spaces full of words and music from Friday 14 to Sunday 16 August.

Highlights of this year’s Festival include author readings and conversations, poetry sessions, a children’s literature hub, panel discussions, writing and visual art workshops, contemporary art exhibitions and live music performances. Guest authors include Festival key note speaker and creator of the popular Murray Whelan series Shane Maloney, short story aficionado Cate Kennedy, acclaimed children’s author Alison Lester, award-winning illustrator Robert Ingpen, much-loved young adult writer Maureen McCarthy and foodie Allan Campion.

For more information about Aireys Festival of Words and to sign up to receive email updates visit the website.

Take Action at Your Rights At Work

In 2007 Australian workers all fought for our rights at work, and we won. Or so we thought.
 
From 1 July most of us will have access to the new Fair Work
Australia laws. Sadly workers at Marriott hotels will be stuck with
WorkChoices for three more long years.
 
At the very last minute Marriott Hotels have rushed through 3 year
WorkChoices contracts.
 
Hundreds of workers at these hotels have signed union cards to say
they want a Fair Work Agreement not a WorkChoices contract. They want to have a say.
 
But they need your help.
 
Marriott's Human Resources are based in the USA. It's probably not
surprising they don't know how seriously Australian workers take our
rights at work. They might not even realise how insulting it is to us
Australians that after we voted John Howard's nasty WorkChoices out
Marriott (a big multi-national company) is desperately clinging to
it.
 
We fought for our rights and we will keep fighting for them if
companies like Marriott ignore what Australians voted for 2007.
 
We need you to send a message to Marriott CEO Bill Marriott in
America. Please help us fight for Marriott workers' rights at work.
 
Go to Your Rights At Work to send your message to Bill Marriott.

People´s Power is changing the World:

Latin American Solidarity Conference 

August 28 and 29, 2009, Victorian Trades Hall

Major cracks are appearing in the global capitalist system – cracks that are being forced open by the tide of rebellions and revolutions across Latin America.

From Cuba to Venezuela and Bolivia to El Salvador, people’s power is toppling neo-liberal governments, challenging multinational corporations, and constructing social and economic alternatives to the plunder, war and injustices of the old system. For 50 years, the Cuban revolution has inspired millions of people around the world struggling for  independence, human rights and genuine democracy.

Now, the Venezuelan revolution, with its vision of “socialism of the 21st century”, is continuing to provide examples of what a socialist government can achieve.

Imperialism is confronting an unprecedented challenge to its brutal rule. The Latin America Solidarity Conference will provide an open forum for all people wanting to learn about, learn from and build solidarity in Australia with the people’s power movements in Latin America.

AGENDA

FRIDAY

7pm • People’s power is changing the world: revolution and reconstruction in Latin America
50 years since the victory of the Cuban revolution and 10 years since the coming to power of the Bolivarian revolution in Venezuela has shown that the continent is unwilling to bow to international capital. Over the last few years further victories have been added including Evo Morales in Bolivia and the FMLN in El Salvador. What does all this mean for a new socialism of the 21st century?
SATURDAY

9:30am • Obama´s foreign policy for Latin America: militarisation, blockade& trade agreements
The Bush administration supported death squads and mass killings in Colombia, an attempted coup in Venezuela, continued the blockade against Cuba, organised assassination attempts against Hugo Chávez and Evo Morales and reinforced trade agreements in favour of its multinationals. Will the empire be any different under the Democrat regime of Obama?

Multiple workshops

2pm • Latin America as alternative: new models of economic, social and political power
After more than two decades of orthodox neoliberal doctrine and anti-democratic regimes, the tide has decisively turned across Latin America. Spearheaded by the Venezuelan revolution’s practical experiements in participtory economic and democratic models, the movement is impacting struggle from Boliva to El Salvador and Ecuador. The “end of history” has itself ended; a new discussion and practice for human suvivial and justice is being pursued apace.

Feature workshops: a) Venezuelan Revolution, b) Central America, c) Workers struggles in Latin America

5:30pm • Their struggle is our struggle: Strengthening solidarity
Campaigns, brigades and projects have been part of the process of globalising resistance to exploitation and inequality and building solidarity between Australia and Latin America.

Plus many workshops and evening fiesta.

Lunch provided by Food not Bombs
Guest speakers include:

VENEZUELA

Heryck Rangel Hernandez: National coordinator of the Venezuelan Eco-Citizens movement, student leader, radio broadcaster and activist with the PSUV Youth.

Daniel Sanchez: Leader in Venezuela´s “people´s power” movement through the Rebirth of the South Commune, local councillor for South Valencia and activist in the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV)

Nélson Dávila:  Founding member of Hugo Chavez’s Bolivarian Revolutionary Movement and currently head of Venezuela’s diplomatic mission in Australia.

CHILE

Jaime Gajardo:  General Secretary of the United Workers Federation of Chile CUT, member of the Communist Party and a long time activist with the Teachers movement, also the head of this union. One of the most outstanding leaders of the  teachers´ struggle in the last decade in Chile.

GUATEMALA

Walter Rolando Félix:  long time activist for human rights and better living conditions in Guatemala. Current parliamentarian for the Guatemalan National Revolutionary Unity (URNG) and representative for the Commission for Peace and against field mines.

COLOMBIA

Jesús González:  Founding member of the United Workers Federation of Colombia, forced to leave his country as a result of his work as political leader, organiser and for his work documenting the assassination of trade union leaders in Colombia.


Registration and further information:

Friday*: Conc $5/ regular $10/ Solidarity $15
Saturday: Conc $15/ regular $40/ Solidarity $50
* When registering for Saturday, Friday is free
To register use the form attached below or fill in the online form on the website.
Payments can be made by Money order or Cheque payable to Solidarity Conference.

Please send registration forms to c/ PO Box 5421 CC Melbourne VIC 3001
For more information, please email
Roberto 0425 182 994, Sean 0415 122 135, Oscar 0415 232 057, Paul 0413 072 137 or Lisa 0413 031 108