*urgent Action* Sydney 18/7

[rioters bloc]

Hey all,

This is intense. On Tuesday, at 2pm UTS will be hosting a presentation from the Defence department about accepting a contract to help design fighter jets. I think we should try and disrupt this presentation and build a campaign to try and stop this contract.

Anyone interested meet 12.30pm at the UTS students association this Tuesday the
18th to plan an action. What form this direct action will take will be decided on then.

Following is a letter from the Director of Research and Innovation:


Dear UTS researchers

UTS is one of a small number of Universities chosen by the Department of Defence as a potential research partner for the Government's new Joint Strike Fighter Aircraft project. The Department will provide a detailed briefing on the research opportunites at a presentation on July 18 in Lecture Theatre CB 02.04.11 commencing at 2pm.

Research staff and higher degree research students are invited to attend. Relevant areas of technology include, for example:

Aerospace engineering
Materials science & engineering
Aviation
Mechanical & manufacturing engineering
Computer science & engineering
Physics
Chemistry
Mathematics
Optometry & vision science
Safety science
Electrical engineering & telecommunications
Chemical Engineering & industrial chemistry
Spatial information systems
Information Technology
Psychology
Medical Technology

Some background on the project has been provided by the Department. Australia’s anticipated acquisition of Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) aircraft represents the largest Defence procurement program in the nation’s history.

The program is expected to run for 40 years and includes on-going development of JSF capability and support systems, involving a vast range of technologies.

A major benefit of Australia’s involvement in the JSF Program is the opportunities that will be created for Australian Industry and Research and Development sectors. The JSF Project will differ significantly to other Defence procurements. Australia is a partner in the System Development and Design (SDD) phase of the Project and, subject to Government approval later this year, will sign up to be a partner in the on-going development of the aircraft.

Developments within Australia may be applied not only to the Australian aircraft but also to the thousands of JSF aircraft that will be used worldwide. Expenditure for US aircraft acquisition alone is estimated to be over US$200 billion. When sales to other countries and support costs are taken into account, total expenditure could be well over US$500 billion over the 40-year life of the program.

The New Air Combat Capability (NACC) Integrated Project Team, within the Department of Defence, seeks to identify early those new technologies and applications that may have a significant impact on JSF capability. The objective is to develop a national infrastructure where R&D and industry exploit Australian technology for future development of the aircraft.

Jeff
--
Jeffrey Francis
Director
Research And Innovation Office
University of Technology, Sydney
Chief Executive Officer
accessUTS Pty Ltd

[Black Dagger]

I'll be there :)

[rioters bloc]

excellent. i think this one might be fairly decent actually. its gone out to all the uts and usyd e-lists, as well as mutiny and a bunch of other non-student collectives, and anti-war collectives.

i'm gonna try and do something creative, if i get enough time :)

[Black Dagger]

Can you please get me added to that list you were gonna add me too? :)

Thanks xoxoo

[Mujer Libre]

Will try to make it- but I have to arrange a meeting with someone from the Bessie Smyth Foundation (to dig up dirt on corporate abortion suppliers) next week.

[rioters bloc]

*bump*

there's going to be a meeting+working bee tomorrow at uts from 12:30 in order to decide what kind of action we should do and to make props :)

[rioters bloc]

so i've done a huge ringaround and consensus so far is to go into the lecture hall and disrupt the presentation. we're thinking some radical cheerleading/guerilla theatre would also be appropriate - just come commando ;)

tomorrow we'll be writing media releases to send out on the day, designing fliers to hand out to the audience, and of course getting down some choreography :)

people will be around all day so rock up whenever. i'm really excited about tuesday, am looking forward to some direct action :D there's been such a drought...

[rioters bloc]

some more info, compiled by a researcher at uts :)

Dear all,

I have done an initial look into the Joint Strike Fighter Project that UTS has been asked to join and undertake research for the military. A briefing meeting will be held for research students and staff on 18th July. As a "small number" of Universities have been invited to be involved, the first point would be to find out who they are. So far, it seems UNSW and Adelaide University have already had briefings on the project. Some information is provided below about those briefings, including the information presented. I will try to find out other Universities who are involved in the project.

There are a few policies we have at UTS - a sustainablity agreement and the UTS Mission (detailed below), in case we need to use the "Committee Road" to deter UTS involvement.

Also in this email is some info on what the JSF project is about. This is followed by a little info on the company involved - the world's biggest arm's dealer, exporter and defence contractor - Lockheed Martin.

If anyone wants specific info looked at, please let me know - I'm happy to do whatever is needed before the UTS briefing.

Cath

------------

It might be worthwhile to note that UTS states a commitment to research sustainability in the following statement from the Research Office website. This can be used as part of the argument against UTS becoming involved in war: http://www.sustainability.uts.edu.au/commitment/index.html

Also, the UTS Mission statement, in particular the reference to "benefit to humanity" might be useful- in fact, it might make involvement in the JSF Project against policy: http://www.uts.edu.au/about/mission.html

The full statement is below:

Mission
The University of Technology, Sydney is an Australian university with an international focus. It provides higher education to enhance professional practice, to serve the community at large and to enable students to reach their full personal and career potential.

Through its promotion of learning and pursuit of research and creative practice, the University contributes to the advancement and integration of knowledge, professional skills and technology, and their intelligent, sustainable and enterprising application for the benefit of humanity.

Details on the JFS Project
Universities known to be invited to be involved (there may be more):
Here is a flyer that was put around UNSW about the project - it's 2 pages:

http://www.nsinnovations.com.au/Downloads/...V9_website_.pdf (http://www.nsinnovations.com.au/Downloads/JSF_seminar_flyer_2sided_V9_website_.pdf)

The presentation to UNSW on 28th June is below (presumably this is the one that will be presented by ADF on July 18. It's 76 pages and very "scientific" so it's probably worth just mousing through.

http://www.nsinnovations.com.au/Downloads/...Jun06(1100).pdf (http://www.nsinnovations.com.au/Downloads/seminars/JSF%20Uni%20Brief%2028Jun06(1100).pdf)

University of Adelaide is also involved and had a briefing on June22nd:

Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) Information Session
On Thursday 22 June ARI, together with the Defence & Security Cluster, hosted an information session for researchers on the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) project. Guest speaker Group Captain Brian (BJ) Walsh from the Department of Defence provided an overview of the research and development that has already begun on the project. The JSF project is an opportunity for researchers across a range of Faculties, particularly in the areas of physics, engineering, materials, communications, radar and human movement. Researchers interested in the project have been invited to submit a one page summary of their potential technology for review by the JSF team. The project has a life cycle of around 20 years so this is the first stage in the University's strategy to become involved. For further information see the Defence & Security Cluster website.

The "Defence and Security Cluster" link (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/desec/) above takes you to Adelaide University's link to ADF and DSTO. Clicking through the links on that site will show how involved UofA is in warfare already.

Below is a research note for the Parliament on issues around the SJF

http://www.aph.gov.au/library/pubs/rn/2005-06/06rn32.pdf

It's written by a DFAT employee, but it might be of use to check out the history of the project.

Lockheed Martin:
The Australian Govt will work with the company Lockheed Martin, which is the world's biggest arms supplier. You can find lots of stuff about LM on the net, including the following article, "The Center for Corporate Policy's Ten Worst War Profiteers of 2004."

http://www.corporatepolicy.org/topics/topten2004list.htm

The article below is from corpwatch. It shows how Lockheed Martin has been involved in corporate and organised crime, as well as lobbying for the invasion of Iraq.

http://www.corpwatch.org/article.php?list=type&type=9

[Black Dagger]

It's 12.30 not 1.30 yeah?

[rioters bloc]

Originally posted by Black [email protected] 17 2006, 01:15 AM
It's 12.30 not 1.30 yeah?
yessir

[rioters bloc]

today's organising went well. made some cool fliers and posters, found a banner, and i'm about to start writing a media release :)

totally looking forward to this!

BUMP!

[rioters bloc]

Originally posted by BD
Lucky it's on tuesday too, coz otherwise if i get arrested id miss work (again) and probably get fired :P

Should i wear a suit tomorrow? :)

i don't think there'll be cops there - maybe just campus security. and even if there are, we're all students at uts anyway, remember? ;)

wear a suit if you like! :D i might go army with war paint and stuff. we're gonna make paper aeroplanes (since its abt jet fighters). oh bring water pistols if you have any!

[Black Dagger]

Great action! We managed to shut-down the meeting with relative easy, great strong start to the campaign :D

No money for war and occupation! :P

[rioters bloc]

Originally posted by Black [email protected] 19 2006, 12:57 AM
No money for war and occupation! :P
money for health and education ;)

yeah, i had a blast. felt good afterwards too (if wary - kept feeling like they were gonna have the meeting anyway)

i'm glad you enjoyed :D good to meet ML finally too!

[Black Dagger]

Yeah this was a huge boost for me after holsworthy and the world refugee day rally/aborted march - i really felt shit about being in sydney, the people in melbourne had been really radical and busy and shit, but the world refugee day thing was such a downer. So yeah, great confidence booster for me :)

Oooh and i got to network some more with people from rad soccer and i met Paddy, could you ask him if he remembers me? :blush:

I dunno, i saw him reading one of my queer badges and then he looked up and smiled really sexily at me and then a bit later he introduced himself :P

He's so cute and nice :blush:

[rioters bloc]

Originally posted by Black [email protected] 19 2006, 01:49 AM
Yeah this was a huge boost for me after holsworthy and the world refugee day rally/aborted march - i really felt shit about being sydney, the people in melbourne had been really radical and busy and shit, but the world refugee day thing was such a downer. So yeah, great confidence booster for me :)

Oooh and i got to network some more with people from rad soccer and i met Paddy, could you ask him if he remembers me? :blush:

I dunno, i saw him reading one of my queer badges and then he looked up and smiled really sexily at me and then a bit later he introduced himself :P

He's so cute and nice :blush:
he's gorgeous, he's honestly one of the most lovely activists i've ever met. he always has time for you, and he goes fucking hard at protests (probably the most arrested person i know), and he is one of the most intelligent people i know, he's compassionate and caring as well as having great politics, he's one of the best speakers out there, and he does a shitload of work for activists who get arrested (both in terms of legal research and fundraising)

*sighs dreamily* :wub:

but yeah, he's been with his partner for about 3 years now and it's not a polyamorous relationship so you'll have to wait :P

i'll ask him if he remembers you for sure.

and yeah, it was good to be involved in actual direct action again. been so boring lately.

[Black Dagger]

Originally posted by RB+--> (RB)but yeah, he's been with his partner for about 3 years now and it's not a polyamorous relationship so you'll have to wait tongue.gif

i'll ask him if he remembers you for sure.[/b]

Argh nooo! :'(

Fuck i have no 'luck' with guys at all!


RB

i'll ask him if he remembers you for sure.

Eh, it doesn't matter as much anymore :P But yeah, could you ask him to come to rad soccer? It would be cool to play a game with him.

[rioters bloc]

Originally posted by Black Dagger+Jul 19 2006, 01:57 AM--> (Black Dagger @ Jul 19 2006, 01:57 AM)
RB
but yeah, he's been with his partner for about 3 years now and it's not a polyamorous relationship so you'll have to wait tongue.gif

i'll ask him if he remembers you for sure.

Argh nooo! :'(

Fuck i have no 'luck' with guys at all [/b]
awww sorry to break your heart :(

i thought you'd already met karo (she goes hard as well... prolly the second most arrested person i know :P

but anyways! where was maynard?? :o

[Black Dagger]

Maynard was the guy who said we were 'naive' :lol:

Or maybe the aged 'hippy' who now gets paid to feed the US war machine?

That guy was such a tosser! He got all flustered, poor guy :(

[rioters bloc]

Originally posted by Black [email protected] 19 2006, 02:03 AM
Maynard was the guy who said we were 'naive' :lol:

Or maybe the aged 'hippy' who now gets paid to feed the US war machine?

That guy was such a tosser! He got all flustered, poor guy :(
you know what's cool? after we left the claire and i went up to vertigo, we had to call the it department to fix out printer (cos i accidentally jammed some acetate in there :blush:)

and they rocked up, and then asked us if we were at the protest.. and we said yes and gave them each a leaflet. and then they started talking about unis as part of the war machine, and the corporatisation and militarisation of unis, etc... it was so great! we talked to them for like half an hour, i love meeting cool people randomly :)

[Black Dagger]

Hehe, that reminds of me of when in the middle of the action, one of the people at the front of the blockade started chatting to the cater that had arrived for the meeting, who they happened to know :lol:

Despite attempts by security and the whinging of the arms dealers, i had a really good time and the atsmosphere was really good, a lot of fun and jokes :)

[rioters bloc]

Originally posted by Black [email protected] 19 2006, 02:45 AM
Hehe, that reminds of me of when in the middle of the action, one of the people at the front of the blockade started chatting to the cater that had arrived for the meeting, who they happened to know :lol:
yeah, the high school friend right?

apparently she's uber-left ;) :D

i'm gonna g ooo o o sleep :)

[Maynard]

Maynard was the guy who said we were 'naive'
Haha but I did go to UTS, I just had no idea where I was going. I was completely lost, so after awhile, I just had to give up :) I'm glad it all went so well, the presentation didn't go ahead then? How many people were involved?

[Mujer Libre]

Originally posted by [email protected] 18 2006, 11:17 PM

Maynard was the guy who said we were 'naive'
Haha but I did go to UTS, I just had no idea where I was going. I was completely lost, so after awhile, I just had to give up :) I'm glad it all went so well, the presentation didn't go ahead then? How many people were involved?
There were maybe 30 people there all up? I dunno, I'm terrible with counting people...

And I think I have a crush on Paddy now. :blush: :wub: There aren't enough hot activists at Melbourne U.

[rioters bloc]

Originally posted by [email protected] 19 2006, 09:17 AM

Maynard was the guy who said we were 'naive'
Haha but I did go to UTS, I just had no idea where I was going. I was completely lost, so after awhile, I just had to give up :) I'm glad it all went so well, the presentation didn't go ahead then? How many people were involved?
oh no! :(

i was considering putting up signs from the entrance with like "maynard: -->" or whatever :P

but we ended up running around a fair bit anyway so prolly would have not helped :(

i may see you saturday though!

[rioters bloc]

hey all!

here's some media from this action :)

http://www.thewire.org.au/audio/protestFINAL.mp3

(from http://www.thewire.org.au/daydetail.aspx?S...Day=2006-07-18) (http://www.thewire.org.au/daydetail.aspx?SearchDay=2006-07-18))

[Black Dagger]

Haha, that radio segment was awesome (i remember the guy who is interviewed - what a tosser!), thanks for hunting this down n posting it :)

[rioters bloc]

Originally posted by Black [email protected] 21 2006, 08:18 PM
Haha, that radio segment was awesome (i remember the guy who is interviewed - what a tosser!), thanks for hunting this down n posting it :)
yeah he was such a fool :P

'i don't believe that the government is going to use them for anything harmful, like killing civilians'
'but isn't killing civilians an offshoot of war?'
'well...yes'

(i'm paraphrasing of course ;))

and no hunt, got it on the mutiny list. speaking of which, are you added yet?

[Black Dagger]

Not yet, please add me! :D

[rioters bloc]

i asked lou to.. guess she didn't. you should ask her or vikram next time you see them :)

they&#39;ll be at the rally tomorrow, along with 400 cops <_<

[Black Dagger]

I can&#39;t make it tomorrow coz of the mountain of work that has collapsed onto my skull... and unless i can get sum friends together (since you&#39;re not coming) i dunno if i&#39;ll be at rad soccer on sundee, so um.. yeah... actually, didn&#39;t you say you emailed the list or sumting?