the second casualty of war

Posted on April 24, 2006 by @ndy

Everybody knows about the illegal occupation of Iraq by the United States armed forces; fewer know that Australia’s armed forces play a supplementary role. Militarily speaking, the Australian state’s contribution is negligible; politically-speaking, it offers the US Administration a further pretext to speak of a ‘multinational’ occupying force rather than, say… oh, I don’t know… ‘US imperialism’?

In any case, despite massive public opposition to this, the current phase of the 15-year-old war between the U.S. and Iraq, the war has — to this point — proved to be relatively clear sailing for the HoWARd Government. But just a few days ago, Jacob Kovco had the unfortunate privilege of becoming the first Australian soldier to die in Iraq. To be precise, “The 25-year-old father of two was today [April 22] named as Australia’s first fatal casualty in the Iraq conflict”; his death appears to have been accidental (he shot himself while cleaning a pistol).

And while HoWARd refuses to say ‘sorry’ for committing Australian soldiers — on a fraudulent basis — to the illegal occupation, The Age reports that he did manage to ‘offer… his condolences to Private Kovko’s family. “We have people at the present time in many parts of the world and we especially feel for the family of that young soldier who died so tragically and accidentally in Baghdad over the weekend,” Mr HoWARd said during a public address in Nowra, on the NSW south coast. “We feel especially for his grieving widow and his two young children and his parents.”‘

A staunch advocate of death and destruction, HoWARd today [April 24] refuses to concede that the war has been a disaster. And, technically speaking, he’s correct. For the corporate sector — notably Halliburton — the war has been a massive windfall. For the men, women and children of Iraq, on the other hand…

Posted in Media, State / Politics, War on Terror | Leave a comment

into my arms, oh bored, into my arms // what is to be undone?

Posted on April 23, 2006 by @ndy

I stumbled across the following passage, taken from an otherwise unremarkable resignation letter written by a small group of Trotskyists, and thought it deserved some sort of a reply. That — and reading a post by a soon-to-be-unemployed blogger — gives me all the excuse I need (I hope) to take another jaundiced (yet also strangely joyous) look at the student movement. Anyway, here’s the passage:

The bunkered, sectarian approach of the 1980s IS and of Socialist Alternative today makes it impossible for a [socialist] group to take seriously these [political/social] openings [for building the party]. Nowhere is this so clear as in the student movement. The graduation or withdrawal from activity of a whole layer of old leaders of the independent left has left a hole[?]. That gap poses problems but also opportunities for socialists. [But] instead of a patient and comradely approach seeking to win sections of the independent left [to the party and its political program], the SA leadership has sought to antagonise and terrorise them [!] into accepting SA’s positions. This has only served to drive some [students] into the arms of a handful of anarcho-sectarians among the independent left. We cannot continue to allow this to go on without actively resisting it.

Pffft. Bring it on ‘Marc N’, ‘Shannon P’, ‘Tony B’, ‘Belgin K’, ‘Trudy McQ’ and ‘Sophie B’! I love a good argument. (Although careening from pretended ignorance to panic at the presence of anarchists on campus [eeek!] doesn’t exactly inspire confidence in your critical faculties…)

In any case, how, precisely, is this disastrous eventuality to be avoided? (Whatever we make of the (alleged) fact that a number of regiments of today’s greatly diminished Red (Student) Army have ‘gone over’ to the enemy / are cuddling into the arms of ‘anarcho-sectarians’, ‘socialists’ in Australia have never really been in a position to go Kronstadt …) For the authors of the letter, the answer to this, and no doubt many other questions, lies in continued allegiance to ‘revolutionary Marxism’ and building the revolutionary party.

Same old shit.

Still, a belated recognition “that despite the forms, there is no democracy in SA”; that in reality, it’s an “authoritarian sect” in which the leadership — by means of an ill-conceived “hyperorganisation” (“a detailed control of many areas of members’ political activity and lives”) — seeks to dominate its followers, is, at least, a step in the right direction. And further consideration of the fact that, for some reason, the (current) SA leadership “have not felt the need to learn any new tricks [as] the old ones have worked perfectly” could even function as a stepping stone to a broader critique of authoritarian socialism. And even if this isn’t a radical critique of everything a la Mr. Marx, it could, at least, display some awareness of the anti-authoritarian implications of communist praxis. But I won’t hold my breath, any more than I expect Australian workers — if not students — to not realise, concretely, the lessons of recent French struggles against the CPE.

Speaking of students, there was another National Day of Prayer Against VSU a few weeks ago (April 12). Obviously impressed by the success of previous such prayer gatherings, 800 students in Sydney, 300 students in Melbourne and 150 students in Perth marched and chanted. In another alarming display of religious intolerance, police in Sydney arrested 26 and charged four.

Next: No compromise in defence of compromise

Posted in Anarchism, Student movement, Trot Guide | Leave a comment

damn i’m a slack bastard

Posted on April 21, 2006 by @ndy

yeah yeah.

i’ve been meaning to piss and moan about a few things this week… just haven’t had the energy. so here’s a truncated version of my recent concerns; one which also constitutes an excuse to be done with all those other entries i’ve saved drafts of for later publication. fuck ’em.

1) hoWARd on the wheat scandal: “what’s a wheat board?”

2) here’s a list of pop groups beginning with the letter ‘a’, all of whom sit on my shelves (that is, when they’re not on tour or in the studio): A.C. African Head Charge Anti-Flag Archers of Loaf Area-7 Asian Dub Foundation Assück Atari Teenage Riot At the Drive-In Attila the Stockbroker

3) Go and see a band and it’s another fucking bore
Another bunch of jerks are shitting on the poor…

Earlier this year millionaire property developer John Lydon signed over the rights to the Sex Pistols back catalogue to Universal Music Publishing Group, which is now hawking it to companies for use in advertising. This surprised the naive:

Sex Pistols sell out
The Age
March 10, 2006

Surely not. Surely, if there was one band that would never, ever, sell out it would be the Sex Pistols.

Not the gods of punk! Not those spitting, sneering rebels who called for anarchy, mocked the Queen, raised a middle digit to everything establishment, and ridiculed the greed of record companies.

But it appears so.

[AAP]

Pistols put high price on anarchy
The Australian
March 06, 2006
Adam Sherwin

THE threat of anarchy in Britain appears to have been replaced by the certainty of capitalism. The Sex Pistols have been rebranded for business after signing a deal to use their hits to promote luxury brands.

Thirty years afer the British punk pioneers screamed defiance at the establishment, the surviving members will cash in with a multi-million-pound deal partnering blue-chip corporations as advertisers seek an association with rebellion.

Great rock ‘n’ roll swindle as ageing Pistols go corporate
March 04, 2006
Adam Sherwin

‘We believe the band will want to maximise the income we can generate’

THE threat of anarchy in the UK appears to have been replaced by the certainty of capitalism. The Sex Pistols have been rebranded for business after signing a deal to use their hits as a vehicle to promote luxury brands.

Thirty years after the punk pioneers screamed defiance at the Establishment, the surviving members will cash in with a multimillion-pound deal partnering blue-chip corporations as advertisers seek an association with “rebellion”.

[The Times]

“When, in 1976, punk first spewed itself across the nation’s headlines with the message ‘do it yourself’, we, who in various ways and for many years had been doing just that, naively believed that Messrs. Rotten, Strummer etc. etc. meant it. At last we weren’t alone…

By [1977] we had realised that our fellow punks, The Pistols, The Clash and all the other muso-puppets weren’t doing it at all. They may like to think that they ripped off the majors, but it was Joe Public who’d been ripped. They helped no-one but themselves, started another facile fashion, brought a new lease of life to London’s trendy Kings Road and claimed they’d started a revolution.

Same old story.

We were on our own again…”

4) Just when I thought that corporate dominance of sport couldn’t get any greater (= worse)…

Pies on McDonalds’ menu
Paul Gough
01 March, 2006

Collingwood has added another $1 million plus to its ever-growing coffers thanks to a three year sponsorship deal with McDonalds.

The deal – which will see the Magpies run extra football clinics in conjunction with the family restaurant chain as well as support the Ronald McDonald House charities – will also involve McDonalds sponsoring Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse – who will wear the golden arches emblem on his apparel this season…

McGuire said the new deal was about more than just money.

“This partnership will enable Collingwood to make a real difference to the lives of young people,” he said.

“It provides the resources we need to drive a range of new junior football activities and events for thousands of children around Victoria…”

Stephen Mayne points out that not everybody — not least the British courts, in addition to millions of parents around the world — agrees that McDonalds is ‘great’ for kids (or animals, workers and the environment for that matter):

Eddie Everywhere’s McDonalds conflict
Stephen Mayne
08 March, 2006

As keen students of Eddie McGuire’s vast conflicts of interest over the years, we couldn’t help but notice the amazing Media Watch story… about Ronald McDonald gate-crashing a Hi-5 spot on Channel Nine’s Mornings with Kerry-Anne…

Ronald McDonald gate-crashed the Hi-5 segment, prompting their executive producer Helena Harris to tell Media Watch:

“We were deeply distressed that Ronald McDonald was put anywhere near Hi-5. Hi-5 has no association with junk food. We do not want to be seen in print or on TV together. We did all we could to prevent the situation… Our creative director was waving at them (Hi 5 cast members) to get away from him.”

Now this is a pretty serious allegation that deserves an answer. As CEO of Channel Nine, did Eddie direct that Ronald McDonald get favourable publicity on Channel Nine after agreeing to kick millions into his football club? Given the horrors of multinationals targeting children outlined on Four Corners… Hi-5 has every right to be angry, as it damaged their fit and healthy image.

And as for me… as an anarchist vegetarian Collingwood supporter… I’m ANGRY too!

See also:
:: Mclibel – Two Worlds Collide (2 DVD Special Edition)
The story of “The postman and the gardener who took on McDonald’s. And won.”
:: McDonald’s Workers’ Resistance
:: Remember remember the 16th of October: Worldwide Day of Action Against McDonalds

Posted in Collingwood, Music, State / Politics | Leave a comment

kangaroos to the slaughterhouse

Posted on April 17, 2006 by @ndy

COLLINGWOOD 23.15 (155) def. KANGAROOS 11.10 (76).

Magpies hand Kangaroos an AFL hiding; Roos’ spirit goes missing as Magpies fly; ‘Dangerous’ Collingwood on the rise; Pies turn it on against Kangaroos; Pies distinguish themselves at the Dome; Pies massacre Shinboners; Magpies cue for goals, Roos cue blooper tape.

Posted in Collingwood | Leave a comment

discipline & punish

Posted on April 15, 2006 by @ndy

I’ve been neglecting the student right. Here it is. (Or parts of it.) Counter-protesting. (Or planning to.) A ‘national day of action’ on April 11 in protest at the impending introduction of VSU. Peter Campbell, eat ya heart out.

Young Libs are blocking streets with block letters
The Sydney Morning Herald
April 13, 2006…”Dear Liberal Student,” came the instructions from Timothy Andrews, federal secretary of the Australian Liberal Students’ Federation. “This will be a great opportunity for us to annoy the left, show the media that many students DO support VSU, and, most importantly, have a great time.”

…”THE RULES. Due to the large media presence, and the nature of what we shall be doing, please keep in mind the following things:

1) DO NOT attempt to provoke any violence or aggression from the left. We are going to annoy them enough by being there.

2) DO NOT make any comments which may be construed as personally offensive. We attack policy, not the person.

3) FOLLOW ALL INSTRUCTIONS given by ANY member of the Liberal student executive without question. This is vital, particularly if there is the possibility for a confrontation to occur.

4) MOST IMPORTANTLY, NO ONE is to speak to any members of the media whatsoever … If any member of a Liberal club is found speaking to the media, they shall be IMMEDIATELY expelled … Furthermore, if they are a member of the Young Liberals, they may face disciplinary action up to, and possibly including, expulsion from the Liberal Party.”

There followed, of course, in the finest of university traditions, free drinks on the club.

The missive was signed: “Yours in liberalism.”

The police signed their repressive with 24 arrests.

Posted in Student movement | Leave a comment

gramsci is dead…

Posted on April 15, 2006 by @ndy

…and i didn’t even realise he was unwell!

(boom boom)

Richard J.F. Day has written a very interesting book, called, funnily enough, Gramsci Is Dead: Anarchist Currents in the Newest Social Movements (Between the Lines / Pluto Press, Toronto / London, 2005).

From the blurb:

GRAMSCI’S CONCEPT OF hegemony casts a long shadow over radical political theory. Yet how far has this theory got us? Is it still central to feminism, anti-capitalism, anti-racism, anarchism, and other radical social movements today?Richard Day shows how most contemporary movements attempt to develop new forms of self-organization that can run parallel-or as alternatives-to existing forms. They follow a logic of affinity rather than hegemony.

From Hegel’s concept of recognition, through theories of hegemony and affinity, to Hardt and Negri’s reflections on Empire, Day translates academia’s theoretical and philosophical concerns to the politics of the street.

A review by Roger Farr of Gramsci the Norwegian Blue is available here, while A Canadian Lefty in Occupied Land writes their thoughts on the matter of the ideological legacy of dead parrots here and Chris Carlsson adds further ornithological insight here; and, finally, some Sketchy Thoughts on the subject of affinity versus hegemony may also be found here. As for my own sketchy thoughts… well, I’m only up to page 106, but I think that an alternative sub-title could be ‘Anarchism for Marxist Dummies’… but maybe that’s just me? Anyway, I’m gonna write a (more) serious review when I finish the damn thing… next year or next week, who knows?

Posted in Anarchism, History, State / Politics | Leave a comment

so what?

Posted on April 14, 2006 by @ndy

Approximately 2000 years after a Jewish carpenter was nailed to a tree for saying how great it would be if people were nice to each other for a change (RIP Douglas Adams), I thought it was time to do an update…

december 2005

the timur/fdb gig is yet to happen (but definitely will!);
luke connors of the fascist psychotic youth league has left the group;
dr. james saleam remains at the helm of the fascist australia first party;
my review of the tyranny of structurelessness remains unwritten;

january 2006

some peeps got arrested for the racist shootings on australia day;
david innes remains a leading scumfronter (whose radio broadcasts may be found in the oed under ‘stupid bigot’);
andrew sanders is still a very naughty boy whose mummy has to keep him on a short leash;
an anonymous reader reckons i got it all wrong over neo-nazi axe murderer dane sweetman, but unfortunately lacks the courage to explain how or why;
irate communiqués from australia’s political dinosaurs of the left remain unsent;
peter campbell now employs the pseudonym ‘victor whitelaw’… thus allowing him to WRITE even MORE BIZARRELY in the THIRD PERSON;
alleged muslim terrorists remain languishing in gaol (although having been joined recently by two more persons from melbourne);
the socialist alliance continues to teeter on the brink of disintegration;

february 2006

nobody else cares much for writing about pissarro (although i still plan on visiting the exhibition with a mate some time before it closes);
paul reynolds remains too much of a snob to reply;
orthodox communists remain too chickenshit to defend their putrid ideology;
a poster on scumfront reckons neo-nazi colin campbell is in trouble with the law;

march 2006

no-one wants to talk about vsu or the student movement and;
the stolenwealth games is now over and was judged by organisers to be a success (and the energy with which the black gst pursued the campaign will hopefully continue, as continue it must if there’s to be land rights, justice and something approximating ‘reconciliation’)…

So fucking what!
Well I’ve been to Asia
And I’ve been to South America
I’ve been to Europe too
So what, so what
Well I’ve been here
And I’ve been there
And I’ve been every fucking where
So what, so what
So what, so what you boring little cunt
Well who cares, who cares what you do
Who cares, who cares about you
You, you, you…

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

the (international) sweatshop conspiracy

Posted on April 13, 2006 by @ndy

ok, so i went + saw the (international) noise conspiracy play at the the corner hotel on sunday.

they kicked arse… so i really wasn’t all that disappointed that they’d not responded to my email requesting that barricade have a stall at their gig.

anyway, as well as numerous pots of beer, i also bought a t-shirt.

the t-shirt was manufactured by honduran workers employed by a company called gildan activewear.

gildan activewear employs sweatshop labour.

other companies manufacture no-sweat products:

nosweatstuff
stayhuman
unbranded

but it appears that dennis, inge, lars + ludwig prefer the former.

oh well.

Posted in Music | Leave a comment

i know i’m not alone in thinking this film is great

Posted on April 11, 2006 by @ndy

Michael Franti – Live At The Nova
Tuesday April 11 @ 7.00pm

The I Know I’m Not Alone screening with a performance by Michael Franti sold out. But ha! I was there [thanks Eleven!]. Anyway, the film’s great — it even features an Iraqi rock band called Black Scorpion and some Palestinian hip-hoppers! Oh, and Franti’s performance was also… great.

Go see it!

This film came out of my frustration with watching the nightly news and hearing generals, politicians and pundits, explaining the political and economic cost of the war in the Middle East, without ever mentioning the human cost. I wanted to hear about the war by the people affected by it most: doctors, nurses, poets, artists, soldiers and my personal favorite, musicians. So I bought some plane tickets and headed to Iraq, Israel and the occupied territories of Palestine. I was joined on the trip by several friends who wanted to see the war first hand as well: two human rights lawyers, my manager, a drum tech, a retired U.S. Army captain and a beauty salon owner (just for good measure).

See Also: A Family in Baghdad

Posted in Film, Music, War on Terror | Leave a comment

WAI! Kulila! Hey Listen Up!

Posted on April 10, 2006 by @ndy

WAI! Kulila! Hey Listen Up!

World First online Pitjantjatjara language course now taking enrolments!

Sign up now at ngapartji.org and pass this msg on to all your friends, family and workmates!

It is with much excitement that the team of Ngapartji Ngapartji would like to invite you to enrol in the first ever intake for our online language course!

Taking its name from the Pitjantjatjara concept of reciprocity and exchange, Ngapartji Ngapartji – I Give You Something, You Give Me Something – is a long term inter-generational language arts project based in and around Alice Springs.

Members of the Pitjantjatjara community invite you to learn their language – which is one of the world’s oldest – through online stories, songs, animations and short films before seeing one of Australia’s deadliest new theatre works in Melbourne International Arts Festival later this year.

Pitjantjatjara is one of the many varieties of the ‘Western Desert’ languages spoken by around 3,000 people across the North Western parts of South Australia and adjacent areas of W.A and N.T. In light of the global trend in language loss, by engaging with the course and raising the awareness of the status of indigenous languages in Australia you are also directly supporting their maintenance and survival.

The course is in 26 parts – and we’ll be building it as you are taking it – made by young Pitjantjatjara people, their families and elders with support of BighART Arts Mentors.

Enrolment fees cover the entire 26 part language course, a ticket to the live stage production premiering in October, a special edition copy of the Pitjantjatjara/Yankunytjatjara dictionary from Institute of Aboriginal Development Press and go directly to supporting the project’s community development processes on the ground.

The show, by Writer/Director Scott Rankin, Spinifex man and principle performer Trevor Jamieson and the creative team of Big hART, reaches across time to tell the stories of Trevor’s family experience. Performed in Pitjantjatjara and English the show explores the impact of the cold war on the Spinifex Nation. Your tutors and members of the Pitjantjatjara community complete the ensemble cast of the touring production.

In the true spirit of the meaning of Ngapartji Ngapartji – I Give You Something, You Give Me Something – you are invited to exchange the time to hear deeply and clearly this personal experience of contemporary Australian life while keeping this beautiful language alive.

Courses for Perth audiences open in August and for Sydney audiences in November!

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment