12pm Friday
March 13
Rio Tinto
120 Collins St, Melbourne

download: Peace in Colombia flyer | poster

In the past 6 years, over 2,500 union members have been killed in Colombia. This is in addition to the over 1,800 indigenous activists that have been murdered, over 25,000 disappeared and over 29,000 people that have been extra judicially executed.

Multinational mining companies are guilty of the displacement of communities and had financed the Colombian army, responsible for most of the human rights violations. The Colombian government has launched a campaign to persecute international solidarity, accusing intellectuals, students, activists of collaborating with international terrorism.

Peace and justice for Colombia asks workers and peace loving people to protest against the assassination of workers in Colombia, and against the criminalization of international solidarity. Bring banners and flags.

more info: Organized by Peace and Justice for Colombia, Melbourne

Labels: Colombia, International Solidarity, Upcoming Events

2-3pm Friday
March 6
Crn Swanston and Latrobe St
Melbourne

Download: International Women's Day rally leaftlet

Labels: International Solidarity, IWD, Upcoming Events

7.15pm Thursday
Nov 27
West Footscray Neighbourhood House
539 Barkly street, West Footscray

Western Sahara, an ex-Spanish colony in Africa, has been occupied by Morocco since 1975. Around half of the Saharawi population is living in refugee camps in the Hamada desert in South Western Algeria. Many foreign companies, including Australian, are engaged in illegal trade deals with Morocco and profit from Western Saharan natural resources.

Three Australian unionists went to the refugee camps in October to participate in an international trade union conference. Margarita Windisch will provide an eyewitness account, discuss the current political situation and possible solidarity campaign to support the Saharawi people's struggle for self determination.

more info: 9639 8622 or 0438 869 790

Labels: International Solidarity, Upcoming Events

On Friday 8th August 2008 Liliany Obando was arrested by Colombian government forces. Liliany Obando has visited the MUA on numerous occasions in connection with her human rights work. A campaign is curently underway to secure her release.

Download Trade Union Support Letter

Ms Obando has been detained on charges of "rebellion" against the state, a catch-all charge that is regularly used to imprison those who speak out against the government for long periods without trial. 'Rebellion' also allows the regime to smear those accused of it as being 'terrorists' and helps to delegitimise their work. Source and more details...

Labels: International Solidarity