Picket BHP Billiton in Melbourne!
SP Newsletter No.212
Protest against the climate criminals! Meet at BHP Billiton HQ at 4pm this Friday May 2nd, 180 Lonsdale St City. Say NO to big business destroying the planet for profit. For more information contact 0396399111.
Recent polls have shown that the number one issue for Australians is the environment. Most people think environmental problems are getting worse, yet big business companies like BHP Billiton continue to destroy the planet in their quest for more profits.
BHP Billiton is the world’s biggest mining and petroleum company and the biggest company in Australia. Last year it posted a record annual profit of $US 13.42 billion. BHP Billiton produces 50 million tonnes of greenhouse pollution annually. This is equivalent to 10 per cent of Australia’s entire emissions!
This multinational giant has failed to set any targets for gross reductions to its greenhouse emissions. Instead BHP Billiton has set a target to reduce ‘energy intensity’ by 13 per cent by 2010. This would allow the company’s emissions to continue to increase, so long as the company also continues to grow.
BHP Billiton is guilty of some of the world’s biggest environmental crimes. One example is BHP’s Roxby Down mine which is the largest uranium mine in the world. Roxby has been plagued by spills and despite the fact that radioactive waste remains dangerous for thousands of years, BHP has no long-term plans for waste management!
When all the resources have been extracted from the mine the company plans to simply ‘cap’ the tailings dump with soil. Currently BHP’s Roxby mine alone produces 15% of South Australia’s greenhouse gas emmissions and with plans in place to increase production this figure will sky rocket.
Despite his pre election pledge to seriously tackle climate change, Kevin Rudd is set to increase uranium and coal production and continue Howard’s legacy of giving massive handouts to companies who profit from fossil fuels. Currently the fossil fuel industry receives $9 billion in tax payer’s funds. In reality Rudd’s environmental policies are a firm handshake with big business, rather than a serious commitment to reduce emissions.
In order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions we need a plan to phase out coal fired power stations and increase investment in renewable energy. We also need massive investment into our public transport system to make it more integrated, frequent and free.
We need governments to legislate to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. We need a 60% reduction by 2020 and a 90% reduction by 2030 (compared to 1990 levels). Companies like BHP should be forced by law to follow suit, with compulsory targets to reduce their emissions.
Penalties for companies that break the law should be increased and those that claim they can’t make profits by adhering to the targets to reduce emissions should be nationalised. If you can’t run a company without destroying the planet it should be handed over to the public. We also need greater regulation to ensure safety and protection for our environment, and for those who work in these industries.
Some parties, including the Greens, have sought to imply that society as a whole is responsible for global warming. The Socialist Party rejects this point of view. We lay the blame for the destruction of our planet firmly at the door of big business.
It is big buisness whoes short term drive for profit, regardless of the consequences, has led to a dramatic increase in carbon emissions. We need to challenge big business polluters like BHP who continue to destroy our environment. We also need to challenge the profit driven capitalist system if we are to ever save the planet from destruction.
More actions against BHP Billiton are planned for May 30 and June 27. The actions have been endorsed by the Socialist Party, Nuclear Free Australia, Solidarity and the Latin American Solidarity Network. To endorse the actions or for more information contact 0396399111.
New SP pamphlet out now! Socialism and the Environment
The Socialist Party has just published a new pamphlet called Socialism and the Environment. It is a collation of material written by members of the Committee for a Workers’ International (CWI) in Australia, Britain and the United States.
The pamphlet argues that urgent action needs to be taken to fix the current environmental crisis. It also makes clear that the changes required are totally at odds with the profit driven system of capitalism. Therefore the pamphlet also outlines a democratic socialist alternative.
Copies can be purchased from our National Office or by sending a cheque or money order to PO Box 1015 Collingwood VIC 3066. The cost is only $4 per copy plus $3 postage and handling. For international orders or more information call 0396399111.
Public meeting in Melbourne – The future for Smith Street Collingwood
All residents in the Yarra area are encouraged to attend this important public meeting which has been organised by the Socialist Party. We will be discussing the question of a local law to ban public drinking and asking is it required or is there a better solution?
Speakers on the night will include: Stephen Jolly (Yarra Councillor), Meghan Fitzgerald (Fitzroy Legal Service) & Denise Lovett (Parkies Inc.). The details are: 7pm Wednesday May 7th, 2008 at the Fitzroy Town Hall Reading Room, corner of Napier and Moor Sts, Fitzroy. For more information phone 0396399111.
May Day
Join socialist and trade union comrades on May Day in 2008.
Sydney – Meet on Saturday May 3rd at 9am at Darling Harbour.
Say NO to electricity privatisation! Protest outside the ALP conference.
Melbourne – Meet on Sunday May 4th at 1pm outside Trades Hall on Lygon St in Carlton.
Scrap all anti worker IR laws! Send a message to Rudd.
Join the Socialist Party
If you agree with what you have read in our newsletter or on our website you should consider joining SP. The Socialist Party has branches in Melbourne, Sydney, Newcastle and Perth as well as members and supporters in all other states.
We are involved in trade union work and student work. We also run community, anti-war and environmental campaigns. But most of all we want to build a party that will fight to get rid of the capitalist system. We fight for socialism - a system that will bring an end to wars, poverty and environmental destruction. For more info contact our National Office on 03 9639 9111.
Subscribe to ‘The Socialist’ newspaper!
Become a supporter of SP by subscribing to our monthly newspaper ‘The Socialist’. It only costs $20 per year or $10 concession and you will receive our paper delivered to your door every month. You will also receive our email newsletter every week and you will know that you are supporting an organisation that is at the fore of fighting against the capitalist system. To subscribe phone 03 9639 9111 or email our National Office.
The May edition is out now! Pick it up from one of our street stalls!
Socialist Party regional activity-
Victoria
To find out more about SP in Melbourne contact Anthony on 0396399111.
New South Wales
To find out more about SP in Sydney contact Gary on 0297287727.
To find out more about SP in Newcastle contact Samantha on 0249681545.
Western Australia
To find out more about SP in Perth contact John on 0894020728.
Rest of Australia
To find out more about SP anywhere else in Australia contact our National Office on 0396399111.
News links just a click away –
Scotland: The SNP government, one year in power
http://www.socialistworld.net/eng/2008/04/29scotla.html
World Food Crisis: Total Failure of Capitalism
http://www.socialistworld.net/eng/2008/04/28worlda.html
China: New child slavery scandal exposed
http://www.chinaworker.info/en/content/news/408/
Get Active - Join the fight back, Get Militant - Join the Socialist Party.
The Socialist Party is the Australian section of the Committee for a Workers’ International (CWI). To contact or join the SP or the CWI anywhere in Australia, or the world, call +61 3 9639 9111 or email our National Office.
‘Workers of the world unite – you’ve got nothing to lose but your chains’
http://www.sp.org.au
http://www.socialistworld.net
http://www.myspace.com/socialistpartyaustralia
