BAXTER 2005 Convergence for Human Rights

BAXTER05 Convergence

So its over. After months of rough and ultra disparate logistical organising. After many provocative flame-wars, secret meetings and idiotic bickering amongst various elements of crusty refugee rights mobs, the crew have managed to forge an relatively aligned facade in the reality of some of the best activista bodies in the country, they're on the way home... [sigh of relief]

I've been locked onto the baxter05.info site throughout the weekend sorting out the mms and audio stuff as it came in. Juggling phone calls and emails, dictating mobile phone messages...


With excellent yet awkward indymedia-style software, it was quite a task to grab the various media as it came onto the server then make it suitable for page viewing.

Was a great experience. And I must have blown at least a hundred bucks on mobile phones!

Was good to see some dedicated crew uploading from cam phones and texting reports to my mobile - some audio reports were good too via an mbox account which i checked constantly.

however the most shocking of news i discovered from a barrage of early calls today before i had even booted up the PC...

i heard from crew that t and 4 spikey friends were arrested this morning trying to pull at the fence with a grappling hook! They were charged with "trespass" and "criminal damage". I hope there are some pictures.

Theres a report on the site i'd link to but it seems the indy server is down - hence my writing in the blog for a change!

Police Violence: I'm gonna write about the portrayal of violence in news media over the next few days.

But I'm tired...

azzzzzzadi

TAZERS KILLIN PEOPLES

TASER! BBBBZZZZZZTTT!



Ripped this article straight from www.indymedia.org. - WA are in the throes of using these weapons. The recently re-elected government used "TASERS" as part of its "law and order" platform...

"Taser" is the brand name for an electrocution device produced by US-based Taser International, and is currently being used by 7,000 law enforcement agencies worldwide. The Taser is marketed as a "non-lethal" device that is "saving lives everyday." However, the recent killing of a man by police in Houston, TX, who shocked him with a Taser three times in a row, is just one incident in a growing pattern of lethal abuse that contradicts this claim. The death toll due to Taser use in North America has climbed near 100 since the weapons were first introduced in 2000.

Taser International's medical director's claims that there is no connection between the use of Tasers and subsequent death by cardiac arrest are being challenged by those who point out his deep financial ties with the corporation.

Save Our Civil Liberties | Ban Less Lethal Weapons | US-Indymedia

According to a report by Amnesty International, tasers are hand-held electronic stun guns that fire two barbed darts up to a distance of 21 feet, which remain attached to the gun by wires. The fish-hook-like darts are designed to penetrate up to two inches of the target’s clothing or skin and deliver a 50,000-volt shock to the target. The report asserts that Taser guns are "inherently open to abuse."

While police departments across the U.S. continue to insist that tasers are only used as an alternative to lethal force, their use as a tool of repression at demonstrations has become increasingly common. On January 20 (Inauguration Day) tasers were usedagainst demonstrators in Austin, TX. This sparked a campaign called by Austin Spokescouncil against taser use by the Austin Police Department. In response, the Austin City Council tabled a proposal to purchase 90 new tasers for its officers, which would have cost taxpayers $75,000.

In addition to protesters, Tasers have been used to subdue a 6 year-old boy, a man in a wheelchair and most often, people of color....

See story on Perth Indy

ALERT and ALARMED - ASIO and "Anti-Terrorism" Laws

Be alert and alarmed about ASIO laws ... 01/03/2005

Be Informed: ASIO and anti-terrorism laws - is the title of an information kit just published by the Community Law Centre, University of Technology, Sydney. The publication outlines the power of ASIO (Australian Security Intelligence Organisation) to detain people for up to 7 days, and where refusing to answer questions can lead to a maximum penalty of 5 years imprisonment. The purpose of the publication is to provoke people to make submissions to the committee which is reviewing some of the laws. [Full Story on Perth Indymedia ]

PDF version of the information kit are available at the Australian Muslim Civil Rights Advocacy Network at and at the Civil Rights Network.

A Parliamentary Joint Committee on ASIO / ASIS and DSD is reviewing these laws by looking at the effect and operation of these laws.

[Activists Rights ] [ Terror Laws Archive] [ The Parliamentary Review ] [ Atorney General ] [ Attorney General Media Release ] [ Two ASIO Annual Reports? ] [ Right To Organise in Jeopardy - GLW ] [ COMMUNITY LAW CENTRE - UTS ]

Read More/Discuss on Perth Indy...

(this article was adapted by me from Melbourne Indymedia )

fresh experiments

Tuesday: As usual I'm putting together tonight's Indymedia Radio Show : Tuesday - Midnight - 1am on RTRFM.

I havent got much to say except...

Workshop was great intimate and intense. With some excellent results from the small diverse group of poet participants. I love doing those things.

YIKES: My band MITEYKO are playing at RTR's IN THE PINES!
In the Pines 2005 Sunday April 10. Midday until 10pm. Somerville Auditorium, UWA, Crawley - we're on at 1230 sharp!

My new band "waiting for broken trains" has a party on the 12th March.

I've been throwing some new gear up on my antipoet blog...
Also on the Perth Indymedia Artswire... for a new batch of antipoet output

Very soon I'll start archiving/uploading a bunch of AUDIO stuff and i'm thinking of building a blog for the Radio Show.


Anyway just leave me alone...





see also:
http://baxter05.info