Protest - Bust the Budget

Yesterday, Sun 6 July, protest marches were held across Australia in cities and regional towns.
Dubbed "Bust The Budget" rallies, they are in protest at the unfair cuts being made by the federal government. Almost no institution is spared: scientific research, the public broadcaster the ABC, students, schools, hospitals, the disabled, the elderly, the poor, the sick, the homeless, asylum seekers, women suffering violence...

The only groups spared are the very wealthy and the large corporations.

I love this home made sign....someone took the time to show he cares.

(Abbott is the Prime Minister - deeply unpopular, even though only elected last September) and Hockey is the Treasurer. Hockey was photographed with his finance Minister smoking a big fat cigar on the afternoon he delivered the budget in parliament....sort of symbolic of the fat plutocrat....

Moratorium

In the late 1960s and early 1970s, opposition to the war in Vietnam had grown to a huge mass movement.

This piece of remnant graffiti promoting the cause still exists (as of yesterday!) in the railway underpass at Arncliffe in Sydney. I wonder if there is any elsewhere?

The Moratorium against the Vietnam War began in the United States, with the first Moratorium march on 15 October, 1969. This followed anti-war marches on the United Nations and Pentagon in 1967. On 15 November, 1969, 500,000 people marched on Washington DC.

In Australia the first marches took place on 8 and 9 May, 1970. Over 200,000 people took part, 100 000 in Melbourne. It was the largest mass movement against the war to that time. The second was in September 1970 and the third  in July 1971. By this time, public opinion was turning decisively against conscription and Australia's involvement in the war.

Putting Students First

by guest photographer, Fred Thorpe



Recently the NSW government ripped $1.7 billion from funding for public schools and TAFE (Technical and Further Education) colleges.

The Teachers Federation yesterday organised a community day of action at Darling Harbour in Sydney, and at regional centres across the state.

The day was a "fun day with a serious message" .

Nothing speaks more eloquently about the need to fund our public education system properly than the joy of children - who represent OUR future - and their right to be offered every opportunity to fulfil their potential.  My friend Fred captured this shot of her own children at the event. Her eldest daughter spoke from the stage....we'll see her tomorrow.

A colleague once said "public education is the promise which one generation makes to the next."

To find out more, see here, and here.

Out-take

Aaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrggggggggghhhhhhh, the horror .... but we got there!

Teachers stopped work for 2 hours today and put the NSW state government on notice: negotiate to achieve a fair and reasonable salary increase, or face disruption to schools at the start of the 2012 school year.

Read more here.

Jason

here's his work



and here

Protest

Teacher mark Jankovics from Young High School addresses a rally outside NSW Parliament House yesterday. The rally was organised by Unions NSW to protest against the state government's plan to amend the state's industrial relations legislation affecting all public sector workers.

The amendments would remove the role of the Industrial Relations Commission as an "independent umpire" in settling wages and conditions disputes for the state's public servants, including teachers working in public education.

The legislation could mean a cut in real salary and attacks on conditions, worse than what would have been the result of the Howard government's Work Choices.

Workers from all areas of the public sector attended the rally. Federation President, Bob Lipscombe, and several teachers, explain in the video why the issue is so important.

100th International Women's Day

March 8th was the 100th anniversary of International Women's Day. Today in Sydney was the annual march. It was the best turnout for years. Above: my colleagues Maxine and Kathy.

A hard game

Thanks to my friend Fionie for this picture!

As Fionie says, Politics is a hard game, but funny.

Verity Firth is the member for Balmain. She is also Education Minister in the state governmnet. There is a state election on 22 March, which the government is widely tipped to lose, in a big way.

Recently, Ms Firth's husband was arrested and charged with drug possession of an ecstacy tablet.  See story here.

Ms Firth is under strong challenge in her electorate from local Mayor and candidate for The Greens, Jaimie Parker.

Election posters in her electorate have had the letters V-RITY blacked out, so her campaign slogan, "KEEP VERITY" now reads "KEEP E".

Protest

The federal government has been privatising the provision of adult migrant English programs, after 60 successful years of puboic provision. Of course it is all about lower costs - public teachers are paid "too much".

This afternoon a protest rally took place outside the Department of Immigration and Citiznship in Sydney.

Rozelle markets

Adam believes in fairer funding for public schools and was there to help spread the word at Rozelle markets yesterday.

More funding for public schools

Michelle and Mel staff a stall at Rozelle markets today, encouraging people to sign a petition and make a submission in favour of fairer funding for public schools in Australia.

For more information click here.

Cockatoo Island Part 5

Old graffiti of hammer and sickle in the dogleg tunnel

Rally of TAFE teachers

Four thousand Technical and Further Education (TAFE) teachers and supporters from across NSW rallied outside Parliament House in Macquarie Street today.

The particpants voted unanimously to continue their campaign to ensure the NSW government delivers proper salary increases without destroying the quality of TAFE education in the state.

The government wants to increase teaching hours and take away professional development opportunitties.

In total, they want to fund a $15 million salary increase for teachers by making $50 million of cuts in conditions and services.

Teachers at TAFE are the people who train our plumbers, electricians, engineers, hairdressers, hospitality workers, technical people, library support staff, child care workers.....and hundreds more groups of workers. They also offer opportunitites for second-chance education.

They are the engine room of productivity and the Australian economy, trainign and educating our workforce. Yet the government looks to this group of workers to solve their own budgetary black holes.

"You outlasted the bastards!" (One Word . . .WE!)

One Word …WE! : The songs and story of Pete Seeger and friends…a musical biography by Maurie Mulheron.

In 1993, teacher – activist – musician, Maurie Mulheron, wrote a theatrical work about the life and times of iconic folk musician – activist, Pete Seeger.

The play had a sellout season at the New Theatre in Newtown, Sydney, in 2000. It has been taken on the road to folk festivals at Maleny and Woodford in Queensland, and Port Fairy in Victoria.

Most recently it was revived for three performances (June 12, 13 and 14) at the Tom Mann Theatre in Surry Hills, Sydney. The performances were a celebration of Seeger’s 90th birthday, on May 3 this year. It contained much new material. As Bruce Springsteen said at Pete's 90th birthday concert/celebration in New York (a who's who of American folk - protest - activist musicians) : "You outlasted the bastards, Pete!"

Seeger was once America’s most boycotted, banned, blacklisted and picketed singer. But Pete not only survived and at 90, still records and performs including at the recent Obama Inauguration Lincoln Memorial Concert with Bruce Springsteen, and his grandson Tao Rodriguez-Seeger. (Springsteen and Seeger sing This Land Was Made For You and Me at Barack Obama's inaguration concert)

The title? Well, many of the old union songs of the 1930s - like We Shall Overcome and We Shall Not Be Moved – started off as gospel songs ‘Jesus Is My Captain, I Shall Not Be Moved’; ‘I Will Overcome’. Instead of singing the first person singular “I”, the unionists changed just one word … “we”.

And 'The Friends'? Maurie says: "The show is not really about one singer. It's about a tradition. A tradition dating back centuries in which singers and songwriters, 'the friends', have used their skills to galvanise others to action and to provide spiritual nourishment when things looked bleak. "

For this production I was privileged to be able to provide some technical support, and enjoyed working with the talented cast and crew. The house was packed for each performance, including on the final day, a standing ovation.

Perhaps you know some of the songs Seeger, and his bands and friends have written or sung over the years?

Where Have All the Flowers Gone? (Pete Seeger and Joe Hickerson) : sung by Pete Seeger
Pastures of Plenty (words and music by Woody Guthrie) : sung by Pete Seeger
This Land Is Your Land (words and music Woody Guthrie) : sung by Bruce Springsteen, Pete, and Pete's grandson, Tao Rodriguez-Seeger
Union Maid (words Woody Guthrie, music traditional) : sung by Arlo Guthrie & Sarah-Lee Guthrie
If I Had A Hammer (words and music Lee Hays and Pete Seeger) : Peter Paul and Mary's version, and here, Arlo and Pete.
Turn! Turn! Turn! (words and music Pete Seeger) : sung by Judy Collins & Pete. And here Pete tells how he came to write it.
Waist Deep In The Big Muddy (words and music Pete Seeger) : sung by Tao Rodriquez-Seeger
Goodnight Irene ( words and music Huddie Ledbetter – Leadbelly) : The Weavers (Pete and friends Lee Hays, Fred Hellerman, Ronnie Gilbert)

If you follow any one of those links, you risk being lost forever in great folk music, as one thing leads to another....

Tempe House - then and now (Tempe House Tour Part 8)

To finish this series about Tempe House I was keen to take some photos from similar vantage points from which 19th century artists depicted it. These were taken from Kendrick Park in Tempe, across the Cooks River.

Many people and heritage organisations argue that the Wolli Creek development has ruined the context and setting of Tempe House, and I agree. Others say that, sadly, it was the only way the house could be preserved at all. That is probably true too. In the 1990s the state government was lobbied to buy the site and restore the house, as the only one of its architect, Verge, still in its original setting, with no bulk behind. They declined.

I think it is such a shame that a development of this size and bulk was presented as the only option. Sadly, in Sydney, developers are allowed to extract every cent they can. Promises were also made that there would be public access, including the parkland sweeping down to the river, but it has never been open as far as I know, and the house, while beautifully restored by renowned heritage architectures is sitting unused and inaccessible (other than to curious bloggers who scramble up rock faces, scale walls and straddle fences...and to the owners of the apartments who have private access through electronic codes on gates.)

Postscript: This afternoon I went into the city to see an exhibition at the Museum of Sydney called Lost Gardens of Sydney. The garden of Tempe House is one of those featured.

Below: Taken 18 Sep 2008

Below: Cooks River Tempe House by Conrad Martens, 1838

Below: 18 September 2008

Below: Tempe House by Samuel Elyard, 1836
Below: Cooks River with Tempe House by James Clarke. I couldn't get a similar vantage point because the railway bridge now runs at the right, and the river is obscured by trees in the park

Costa Living

NSW public sector workers, including the fire brigade, are looking for pay increases more than what the state treasurer and givernment is offering - 2.5%. Inflation is currently over 4%, so it would mean an effective pay cut.

The name of the Treasuer is Michael Costa, so this banner on the side of the fire engine is a "cost of living" pun on his name.

Gathering support

Some Falun Gong practiotioners were out and about garnering support from the Catholic World Youth Day participants recently. With some success as you can see above!

What I Learned Today

According to the young man on the megaphone:

1. Taxpayers pay teachers' salaries. (True: for public school teachers)
2. 90% of taxes paid in Australia are paid by Liberal Party* voters (manifest nonsense, and one would hope for better from someone with ambitions to be a politician in this country)
3. Ergo, teachers who belong to the teachers' union and who don't support the Liberal Party are shooting themselves in the foot.

* The Liberal Party in Australia is the conservative party. These 12 or so young people are members of the Young Liberals, and they staged a "demonstration" today outside the building of the public school teachers' union. It was very funny. Their megaphone work needs a little work, and their grasp of facts helps one understand why their party is not in government nationally, or in a single state! But they were very polite.

Democracy was served

In primary school and church halls all over Australia today, the people voted. (And by the way, it's compulsory to vote - there are fines if you don't turn up and get your name marked off the roll).

Later: In light of gmg's comments (inside), I add that there were, if not fireworks, whoops and hollers of joy, and air punching delerium emanating from the Sydney Daily Photo household at the outcome, it must only have been because private fireworks are banned in NSW! !

What the people decided was that it's all over for the bloke below as Prime Minister. John Howard's coalition government was resoundingly defeated, and he looks like losing his own seat in parliament. He faced a very strong challenge from a former ABC journalist, Maxine McKew, of the Labor Party. At close of counting tonight she is just ahead. This would make him only the second Prime Minister in Australian history to lose his own seat.
And it's all beginning for Kevin Rudd, the leader of the Australian Labor Party, who will be the next Prime Minister. On many issues, there is not much difference between Rudd and Howard. But, there are also significant, election defining differences. Rudd has promised to ratify the Kyoto Treaty on climate change, withdraw combat troops from Iraq, and roll back the extremely unpopular Industrial Relations laws.

Peaceful protest

A message for our Prime Minister, John Howard. Tomorrow is the federal election. John Howard is, according to the polls, fighting for his own political survival as much as the government overall. Tomorrow evening should reveal all. (Mind you, Howard is not really able to influence whether a paricular school stays open or not - that is the decision of the state government; but there's nothing like an election to focus protest.)