Australia, Anarchist Affinity - an anarchist communist group - The Platform - Issue 3

"Everyone's worried about stopping terrorism. Well, there's really an easy way: stop 
participating in it." -- - Noam Chomsky, 2002 ---- We are only year into the Abbott 
regime, and already we have seen dramatic changes to the Australian political climate. The 
current government has begun a programme of radically stripping civil liberties in the 
name of security, whilst expanding the circus of 'anti-terrorist' propaganda and policing. 
They herald another war, supporting the US in cleaning up the excesses of their 
imperialist campaigns in the Middle East. While the drum beat of war sounds, attacks on 
the rights of the working class are passed in parliament with barely a whisper from the 
politicians and media, though we have seen some signs of working class resistance.

In our third issue of The Platform, we explore Australia's racist colonial legacy, and its 
relationship with war. We look at the recent nationwide 'terror raids', and the subsequent 
spree of racist violence against Muslims and people of colour. In particular, we examine 
the role of national security theatre in continuing the colonial project of defining 
'Australian' identity and ask what an antifascist response might look like.

After 100 years of attempts to reinvent the pointless slaughter of the 'Great War', we 
examine the politics of war remembrance. From the Aboriginal warriors who fought and died 
resisting colonial invasion, but who are deemed not worthy of commemoration by the state, 
to the conscription of the dead soldiers of the Western Front.

We continue to address the need to develop better processes for dealing with sexual 
violence in our communities, as well as questioning recent criticism of the public 
'calling out' of those who commit sexual violence and appeals for more 'compassion' for 
perpetrators.

Finally, we take a look at worker's organising. Tom discusses experiences and approaches 
to organising in the hospitality industry, and in an interview with Dave Kerin, we discuss 
the Earthworker cooperative and its potential as a limited form of workers' control of 
production. As the hysterical dogwhistling about immigration continues, we discuss racism 
in the union movement, particularly in relation to responses to the 457 visa category, and 
look to examples of anti-racist organising within the labour movement as an alternative.

Every week brings a new attack on the working class and oppressed communities in 
Australia. Anarchists and others on the left need to start taking seriously the importance 
of acting in *genuine solidarity* with marginalised communities.

- Anarchist Affinity

Contents

Terror Raids in the age of Team Australia
http://www.anarchistaffinity.org/2014/11/terror-raids-in-the-age-of-team-australia/

Slaving in the Kitchens: Hospitality in Australia
http://www.anarchistaffinity.org/2014/11/slaving-in-the-kitchens-hospitality-in-australia/

'Calling out' and the limitations of accountability processes
http://www.anarchistaffinity.org/2014/11/calling-out-and-the-limitations-of-accountability-processes/

Dave Kerin on workers cooperatives and the climate emergency
http://www.anarchistaffinity.org/2014/11/dave-kerin-on-workers-cooperatives-and-the-climate-emergency/

The politics of war graves
http://www.anarchistaffinity.org/2014/11/the-politics-of-war-graves/

The forgotten war
http://www.anarchistaffinity.org/2014/11/the-forgotten-war/

Racism and labour organising in Australia
http://www.anarchistaffinity.org/2014/11/racism-and-labour-organising-in-australia/

Download (pdf): The Platform - Spring 2014
http://www.anarchistaffinity.org/wp-content/uploads/Platform-Issue-3.pdf

Acknowledgements

This publication was written, printed and distributed on the land of the Wurundjeri people 
of the Kulin Nation. This land was stolen by white colonisers, sovereignty has never been 
ceded. We must act in solidarity with their fight for justice, and that of all colonised 
peoples.

Thanks are owed to Dan, Tess, Dave, Ben, Sam, Rebecca, Tom, Kieran.

Hard Copies

To order printed copies for distribution, contact editor at anarchistaffinity dot org.

http://www.anarchistaffinity.org/the-platform/the-platform-issue-3/