November 25, 2002

Hindutva, the Hindu supremacist ideology that has under girded much of the communal violence in India over the last several decades, has seen tremendous growth outside India over the last two decades. This report focuses on one US based organization--the India Development and Relief Fund (IDRF), which has systematically funded Hindutva operations in India. "The Foreign Exchange of Hate" establishes that the IDRF is not a secular and non-sectarian organization as it claims to be, but is, on the contrary, a major conduit of funds for Hindutva organizations in India

November 21, 2002

World Says No To War On Iraq

Press Conference 10.30am Monday 25 Nov
Nsw Parliament Media Centre

November 20, 2002

Today's oil spill disaster in Spanish waters shows the "crying need for tough new liability laws for environmental damage" Friends of the Earth said today.

November 19, 2002

On Saturday, November 16, 2002, an offspring of the sacred fire from the Aboriginal Tent Embassy in Canberra was brought by Wiradjuri Elders to bring peace and justice to Lake Cowal in Central New South Wales. Canadian company, Barrick Gold is continuing to damage Aboriginal artefacts and to desecrate marked trees and sacred lands as part of its intensive exploration drilling program at the Lake which is under long term threat by Barrick's proposed cyanide leach gold mine project.

November 15, 2002

Following the announcement yesterday of a proposed Free Trade Agreement between Australia and the United States, Friends of the Earth are warning that such a deal is likely to involve US bullying over Genetically Engineered (GE) crops and food.

November 14, 2002

Over 150 civil society groups world-wide denounce the “invitation only” Mini-Ministerial of the World Trade Organization (WTO) held today and tomorrow in Sydney and in which the EU, represented by the European Commission (1), will play a lead role. Signatories of a civil society statement issued today include prominent NGOs, such as Focus on the Global South, Friends of the Earth Europe, the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy and even the Greens / European Free Alliance Group of the European Parliament. According to these groups, the Sydney meeting where only 25 governments have been invited is illegitimate since de facto and illegally, this group is assuming an executive role on behalf of the majority. Key WTO Secretariat Staff will also be present. The issues that will be discussed will include: Agriculture, the Singapore Issues (Investment, Competition, Transparency in Government Procurement), Trips and Health.

November 13, 2002

Nationwide protests against war on Iraq under the slogans of 'No War on Iraq' 'No Australian Involvement', have been scheduled for the weekend of November 30/December 1, with actions in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Darwin, Canberra, Brisbane, and Lismore.

November 13, 2002

Summit Wasted - The Time for Action is Now

New York / Amsterdam, November 13th, 2002 -- As the United Nations (UN) meets for the first time today to pick up the pieces after the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD), Friends of the Earth International accused governments of betraying people and the planet in Johannesburg (1).

November 13, 2002

Friends of the Earth activists from across the country are joining the protests against the World Trade Organisation in Sydney and Melbourne.

"The WTO has the power to override a host of national environmental legislation", says trade campaigner Damian Sullivan. "In the past two years, we have seen a number of countries including Sri Lanka, Croatia and Bolivia drop legislation imposing a moratorium on Genetically Modified Organisms. They dropped the legislation because they were scared of sanctions for not complying with the WTO."

November 11, 2002

Iraq Troop Commitment 'Height Of Hypocrisy' Say Groups

Friends Of The Earth Australia
Australian Peace Committee
People For Nuclear Disarmament Nsw
People For Nuclear Disarmament W.A.

Australian peace groups have labeled comments by foreign minister Alexander Downer, reported from Shanghai this morning, to the effect that Australian troops might have to go into Iraq in support of a US effort even without a UN resolution, as the height of hypocrisy and double-standards.