Sydney branch

Thursday March 4

Other-wise by Sunny Drake. A gutsy, convention-defying, gender-euphoric one-person show weaving theatre, magical animation, movement, comedy & multimedia. This morning I lost my homework and the dog ate my gender. Children, can you say trans-gender. Animated creatures whisk us into worlds of magic as Sunny explores boy tits, coming out to family, learning to fly and getting comfortable with contradictions and not knowing. 8pm Thursday March 4. Tickets at the door only. No one turned away for lack of funds. Full $25, NMG Member $18, Concession $18

Friday March 5

Conference:Key forces for climate action. Climate politics forces new issues onto the political agenda. New sites of policy, contestation and transformation are emerging. If nothing else, the 2009 Copenhagen summit proved that climate politics is here to stay. But what are the key forces for climate action today? Presentations and discussions will be printed as background papers for the 2010 Climate Movement Summit in Canberra held later in March. The conference is convened by the Climate Action Research Group in partnership with Friends of the Earth Australia. http://cosmopolitancivilsocieties.com/projects/climate-action-research-group. 9am-6pm, Friday 5 March 2010. Lecture Theatre 024, New Law School, University of Sydney. Free, donation for lunch RSVP, places are limited: rebecca.pearse@uts.edu.au

Saturday March 6

International Women's Day Rally. Assemble at Sydney Town Hall at 11am Saturday March 6 for the march to Martin Place. Contact Anne 0410.524.523 if you would like to join the collective.

International Women's Day Justice Cultural Night. Join with Green Left Weekly, The Latin American Social Forum and other women's groups to mark International Women's Day 6pm March 6, Art Gallery at the Addison Rd Community Centre, 142 Addison Rd Marrickville, Ph Brianna for more details 9690 1977

Sunday March 7

Green Left Weekly's BIG red book sale. For 18 years Green Left Weekly has offered an indispensable alternative to the lies of the big-business media and has helped build the various movements for social change. The project has been sustained only through the generous support of its readers and friends. Green Left Weekly is organising a 'BIG RED BOOK SALE' 10-4pm Sunday March 7. Phone Peter 0401 760 577 for more info or if you want to donate some books!

Monday March 8

Forum at Sydney University: 'Sorry' means you won't do it again - Why the Intervention is a racist policy. Reportback from Union Protest House Against the NT Intervention with Union House participant Paul McAleer (Sydney Branch Secretary, MUA) 12pm Monday March 8 @ New Law Building, Seminar Room 446 (Changed from previously advertised room LT Rm 1)Sydeny University. For more information call 0416121616 or 0401378274 Organised by the Anti-Racism Collective, Sydney University.

Women's Eye on Peace: photography exhibition and speakers night. Too commemorate International Women's Day on Monday 8 March, Amnesty International NSW in conjunction with International Women's Development Agency will be hosting a photography exhibition entitled 'Women's Eye on Peace'. 6pm Wednesday March 10 TAP Gallery, Level 1, 278 Palmer Street, Darlinghurst. swsvawactiongroup@amnesty.org.au

Tuesday March 9

Building a radical alternative in the Federal Elections Central Socialist Alliance branch meeting to discuss the elections, plan our campaign, and preselect candidates.Tuesday Mar 9, 6pm for dinner, 630pm meeting, @ Resistance Centre, 23 Abercrombie St, Chippendale. Phone 9690 1977 or 0410 629 088

Wednesday March 10

USYD eyewitness event: NT Intervention / Apartheid Australia. A discussion about race and politics in Australia. 1pm Wednesday March 10 @ Sydney University, Eastern Avenue 403 (EA403.In 2007, 600 Australian Defence Force soldiers invaded Indigenous communities to impose undemocratic government policies. To make it legal, the Racial Discrimination Act was suspended. Since then, conditions for Aboriginal people have deteriorated. To stand up for their rights to control their community and their land, the Indigenous people of Ampilawatja walked off their prescribed area. With the help of unions and workers, they have started building their own housing estates, independent of the government. Resistance invites you to a discussion about the intervention and the fight against it.Hear from people who helped build the 'protest house' in the Northern Territory. Get involved in the struggle to end racism once and for all.

Tuesday March 16

Film screening: To Shoot an Elephant.The Coalition for Justice and Peace in Palestine & The Sri Lanka Human Rights Project (Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies, The University of Sydney)Present an eye witness documentary from Gaza:Directed by Alberto Arce and Mohammad Rujailah.Filmed during Israel’s ‘Operation Cast Lead’ (2008-2009) by foreigners who chose to be embedded with the ambulances and Palestinian civilians. Many visuals in this documentary are quite brutal, but this is the true reality of war.6.30pm Tuesday 16th March 16 @ The Auditorium, NSW Teachers Federation, 27 Reservoir St, Surry Hills. (close to Central Station)Entry by donation. brami.jegan@usyd.edu.au. gobie.rajalingam@gmail.com. Proceeds will go towards CJPP’s advocacy projects and El-Wafa Rehabilitation Hospital in Gaza. Donations to the hospital will go through Union Aid Abroad - APHEDA.www.srilankaproject.com.au - www.coalitionforpalestine.org www.toshootanelephant.com - www.apheda.org.au.

Saturday March 20

Rally for Equal Marriage Rights. This is going to be a year of action for Equal Marriage Rights. This is the hub for information about the NSW events, but we'll have links to all the other events that are happening nationally. 1pm Saturday, 20 March Sydney Town Hall http://www.caah.org.au/

Monday March 22

2010 Juanita Nielsen Memorial Lecture. Guest speakers: Greens MP Sylvia Hale, "The Greens - minority or mainstream party" Dr Shirley Fitzgerald, City of Sydney Historian from 1987 - 2010, will introduce the life and times of Juanita Nielsen. Organised by Greens MP Lee Rhiannon. Monday 22 March, 6.15pm for 6.30pm Mori Gallery, 168 Day St, Sydney All welcome -attendance free RSVP (02) 9230 3551 or to linda.wilhelm@parliament.nsw.gov.au

April 10-11

The F word: Feminism Conference. Diverse collective of women who have come together to organise a conference which will enliven and ignite the feminist movement. We invite you to join us for two days of lively debate, workshops and discussion. April 10-11 NSW Teachers Federation 39-41 Reservoir Street, Surry Hills, NSW 2010 f.the.conference@gmail.com

Regular Events

Australia East Timor Association meets 6.30pm every fourth Wednesday in Room 318 of the 3rd Level of the UTS Tower Building, Broadway. Ph Stephen 9331 5986.
Australia Venezuela Solidarity Network meets regularly. Ph Adam 0414 728 815
Climate Action Newtown meets Wednesday fortnight from 6.30pm at the Watershed, 218 King St, Newtown. www.climateactionnewtown.org

Gaza Defence Committee meets fortnightly in Lakemba on Monday at 7pm. Ph Aaron 0403 879 220.
Power to the People meets Wednesdays at 6pm at AMWU offices in Chalmers St Surry Hills. Ph Colin 0419 698 396
Refugee Action Coalition meets fortnightly on Mondays at NSW Teachers' Federation, 23-33 Mary St (off Albion & Reservoir Sts near Elizabeth St) Surry Hills. Ph Peter for more information 0401 760 577

Stop the Intervention Collective Sydney (STICS) 6pm Monday, Level 4 NSW Teachers' Federation, 23-33 Mary St (off Albion & Reservoir Sts near Elizabeth St) Surry Hills. Further info please call Mon 0415 410 558 or Jean 0449 646 593 or e-mail: stoptheintervention@gmail.com
Sydney Central Socialist Alliance   meets fortnightly on Tuesdays 6.30pm @ Resistance Centre, 23 Abercrombie St, Chippendale. Ph Paul or Bri 9690 1977
Sydney East Socialist Alliance branch meets the last Tuesday of the month Unit 44, 21 Council St, Bondi Junction. 6.30 for dinner/ 7pm for meeting. Contact Haskell on 0431 268 759.
Stop the War Coalition meets 6.30pm fortnightly on Monday's @ UTS. Ph Pip 0412 139 968
Introduction to Marxism Classes are conducted regularly by Resistance and the Socialist Alliance @ the Resistance Centre, 23 Abercrombie St, Chippendale. Ph Bri or Trish 9690 1977. B

Friday March 5

Refugee Rights, Racism, and the Housing Crisis. Prices for housing in Australia has risen dramatically - the average house price in the capital cities is now equivalent to over 7 years of average earnings; up from three in the 1950s to the early 1980s. There are 100,000 people homeless every night, yet the ALP Rudd government refuses to place massive investment into public housing. Additionally, racism in Sydney’s Western Sydney means African, Arabic and Chinese families are turned away from rental properties. Refugees are still treated appallingly by Rudd, with refugees protesting within the inhumane Christmas Island. Socialist Alliance will look at this social crisis, and the fight for refugee rights and against racism. 7pm Friday 5th March Multi-cultural Ethnic Health Centre. Ph Soubhi 0425 289 885. Presented by the Sudanese Human Rights Association and the Socialist Alliance. www.socialist-alliance.org

Saturday March 13

Gaza Today: Eyewitness report from the Gaza Freedom March participants. Around 1400 people from across the globe participated in the Gaza Freedom March last month. Their aim was to focus worldwide attention on Israel’s continuing illegal and immoral siege of Gaza, Palestine – one year after Israel’s brutal invasion of the area. "For us, a population of 1.6 million being imprisoned and starved, the gratitude we express to you, the Gaza freedom marchers, is immense. Thank you all from the depth of our hearts!" was the response of one Gaza resident, Mohammed Omer. Come hear eyewitness accounts about the role of the Egyptian government, the struggles with Egyptian police, the roll of the western embassies in Cairo, how a delegation crossed the border into Gaza, the reaction of Gaza’s people, and more. Also we will be discuss the next steps in the solidarity campaign with Palestine. The Gaza Defence Committee meets every second Monday at the General Union of Palestinian Workers, Cnr Haldon St & Railway Pde, Lakemba. Sat 13th March, 2pm Punchbowl Community Centre. 414 Rossmore Ave. More information contact Marlene 0401 758 871 or Raul 0403 037 376 Endorsed by the Gaza Defence Committee, Jews Against the Occupation, Stop the War Coalition and the Centre for Justice and Peace in Palestine

Regular events

Buy GLW every Saturday, Hapenny Lane near Fresh Cafe & Food Coop.

Green Left Weekly available at the Three Sisters Bookshop, Katoomba. GGreen Left Weekly is now on sale at three sisters second-hand bookshop (open Tues-sun, noon-6pm) in Bathurst Rd, Katoomba (opposite the pedestrian crossing outside the railway station). the new issue will be available every Thursday. it is near the front counter -- if you can't see it, just ask. now you never need to miss an issue! Of course, you can also subscribe. go to http://www.greenleft.org.au/subscribe.php for freecall 1800 634 206.

Friday March 5

Party - Night of Mayhem.Come along to the Illawarra Activist Centre for a Friday night of fun! Resistance is involve in a bunch of different areas of campaigning, both locally and nationally, but we're also human beings who want to kick back and unwind once in a while. So come along, get to know us if you haven't already, help us to raise money so we can keep doing what we do, and celebrate the start of what will undoubtedly be a great year for local activists!Special guest: Rachel Evans, Community Action Against Homophobia spokesperson, Socialist Alliance spokesperson on LGBTI rights, and big fan of Wollongong's beaches 7pm Friday March Illawarra Activist Centre - 17/157 Crown Street (overlooking the Chess Pit)

April 24-26

The world can't wait! Resistance National Conference 2010. Our future is uncertain. We live in a world in which the relentless drive for profits is killing the very environment we depend on to survive. War, poverty, racism and oppression dominate the lives of millions. We are told we are powerless to change this. But together we have the power to change the world. We're taking action today, because tomorrow is too late. Resistance is about fighting injustice today to build a sustainable and just world for the future. Resistance's national conference brings together activists from around Australia and the world to discuss, plan and build radical movements for justice, equality and sustainability. Meet and hear from active Australian and international guest speakers on: * climate change and the struggle for a safe planet * the revolutions in Latin America leading the way for a better world * Aboriginal rights and the struggles against the racist NT intervention * same-sex marriage, LGBTI and women's rights * refugees, anti-war and anti-imperialism struggles. – Saturday April 24 – Monday 26 Thirroul District Community Centre Lawrence Hargrave Drive Wollongong. Wollongong is one hour south of Sydney Central, catch the South Coast line to Thirroul station and walk 100 metres to the venue. www.resistance.org.au, nationaloffice@resistance.org.au . Phone: (02) 4226 2010 Resistance is a socialist youth organisation that is fighting for a socially just, democratic and ecologically sustainable society.

March 13-15

Australia's Climate Action Summit. You're invited to the 2010 Climate Action Summit, the only national meeting of the grassroots movement for a safe climate. The Summit will provide much needed space to work out how we move forward in the year of a federal election after Copenhagen. Plenary speakers include David Karoly, Christine Milne, and Walden Bello, and there is a strong focus on alliance building and tactics to build the movement. The full program is available for download from http://www.climatesummit.org.au/register-2010-summit. Saturday March 13 – Monday March 15 Australian National University, Canberra. This year we are asking participants for a registration payment to cover the costs of organising the summit. Registration will cost $10-15 per person day for unwaged individuals and $25-30 per person per day for waged individuals. Ph Ellen 0408 583 694.

Saturday March 28

Peoples Blocade World's Largest Coal Port.Protest: Newcastle, already the world's biggest coal port, is set to open a massive new coal terminal this year, bringing the export capacity of the Hunter Valley coal chain to an incredible 178 million tonnes of coal per annum. That's the climate change equivalent of 30 Bayswater Power Stations.Within ten years, the coal corporations plan on exporting more than 300 million tonnes of coal per annum - a tripling of current export capacity. 10am Saturday March 28 Horseshoe Beach, in the mouth of Newcastle Harbour. Bring your Bring your canoe, kayak, tinnie, surfboard, (yacht?), whatever pleasure craft you like. Don't have your own boat? Don't fancy yourself a raft-maker? That's fine. Rising Tide is organising as many kayaks as possible, and making them available for general use. www.risingtide.org.au

Camp and Protest: Lake Cowal. Easter Weekend

Come and camp out at Lake Cowal this Easter weekend for music, action and learning, bring water, food, camping gear and some friends. Every year since 2001 people have gathered at Lake Cowal in opposition to the Barrick owned Lake Cowal gold mine. Lake Cowal is in the heart of NSW and is known as the heartland of the Wiradjuri Nation.The mine is due to close in 2013 but Barrick have applied for an expansion of the open cut, cyanide leach gold mine. Come and join us this Easter at Lake Cowal to stand in solidarity with the Mooka Kalara united families and people world wide affected by Barricks gold mines. To find out more see www.savelakecowal.com or www.protestbarrick.net

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