Australians to go to El Salvador - Linda Seaborn, and the Australian Delegations

Linda Seaborn of the Tasmanian Committee in Support of the FMLN (El Salvador's main opposition party) talks about why a delegation of Australians should go to El Salvador as observers, before and during next year's elections. The current government has a long record of turning a blind eye to, if not actively promoting, human rights violations, and this year the political opposition is particularly targeted. Already the ARENA government of El Salvador has been challenged for its corrupt political practices in previous elections, and is demonstrating a distinct reluctance to subject itself to scrutiny for the coming elections, discouraging international observers. But some Australians are determined to see honesty and fair practice prevail.

10.5Mb. 128kbps mono 11mins 34 seconds

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Venezuelan Brigade is back! - Coral Winter reports

Coral Winter is back after coordinating the distinctive presence of the Australian 'Mayday' brigade to Venezuela, that included appropriately, a large contingent of Australian Unionists. The Howard government's ambassador had the Australian embassy in Venezuela closed down when a Washington inspired coup against President Hugo Chavez failed, but hopefully that will change, if Australian Green Senator Bob Brown (with the Australian 'brigadistas'), returns after his own visit, with the news that President Hugo Chavez is not a 'dictator', but a popularly elected leader who increases his electoral popularity regularly with each electoral contest.

8.4Mb 64kbps mono 18mins 19secs

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Timor Leste - Darwin - Environmental impact of Timorese Oil - Rob Wesley-Smith

Rob Wesley Smith, experienced campaigner for East Timor independence since 1974, points out the flawed motivation of the Northern Territory government, and the perverse logic of the Australian government, to encourage the development of a refinery in Darwin, to exploit the gas and oil reserves of the Timor Gap. Apart from the absurd reasoning processes ( - Timor Leste needs employment, therefore biofuel agriculture is good, but a gas refining plant should come to Australia to create jobs here, but Timorese can come as guest workers ... ) - the environmental issues and the impact on Darwin and the lifestyle of the people of Darwin and the local ambience is virtually ignored. Collective glaucoma, anyone?

7.4Mb. 64Kbps mono 16 minutes

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Sydney Free the Cuban Five demonstration

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Over 30 people joined this international action to free the Cuban Five in response to the June 4 court ruling by the 11th Circuit Court of Appeal in the US. (See:article here )

Photos:Alex Bainbridge
See also: freethefive.org

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Timor Leste - Jim Dunn reports on his recent visit

Jim Dunn has just returned from a five week visit to Timor Leste where he has had conversations with the President Jose Ramos Horta and other top political leaders. He had time to observe the situation in the streets of Dili, the halls of Parliament, the countryside and the refugee camps. Jim has some 'filthy' questions about why, Human Rights violations against the Timorese people over the last 75 years are still not recognized. Even Indonesian visitors are surprised that the Generals and Colonels who devasted Timor Leste have not been called to account. Most have actually been promoted. Is it always the role of the suffering Timorese people to be an instrument of the power games of others?

12Mb. 64kbps mono 25mins 47secs

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Film on Timor Leste-Cuba medical cooperation program

The Doctors of Tomorrow with Tim Anderson

"A documentary on the Timor Leste-Cuba health cooperation"
See interviews with some of the 850 East Timorese students studying medicine with the Cubans, in the biggest medical college on earth. From 2010 onwards these young people will begin to take control of their country’s health system.

38 minutes
Filmed in Timor Leste and Cuba
Produced by Tim Anderson, 2008

FILM LAUNCHES IN AUSTRALIA:
Sydney: Thursday 12 June 2008, 3pm (to 5pm)
NSW Parliament, Macquarie St, Sydney
Hosted by: John Kaye, MLC (Greens)

Wollongong: Thursday, June 26 at 7:00pm
Aboriginal Cultural Centre, Wollongong
Hosted by Tim Anderson & Friends of Green Left Weekly

For Melbourne launch details ph: 0407 023 672