Page 2289 - Week 07 - Wednesday, 16 August 2006
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Even though people might not know his name, Murray Bookchin was one of the great thinkers who contributed to what we know about ecology and living in a way that is best for society and for the planet. Murray Bookchin was a rabid anticapitalist and a Marxist who tried to bring Marxism into the late 20th century. He made the comment:
Capitalism is a social cancer. It is the disease of society. Capitalism can no more be ‘persuaded’ to limit growth than a human being can be ‘persuaded’ to stop breathing.
That was his view. Recently I was at a shop in Kingston, a place to which people go when they are looking for that “essential” ingredient. On the counter I saw a note entitled “plastic bag policy”, which states:
Please note as from 1 July 2006 the following applies to the use of plastic bags in the store
Small $0.30
Medium $0.50
Black Eco $1.50
• Assist a better understanding of the impact of plastic on the environment.
• Assist a better understanding of bag management and our responsibility as consumers.
Tim, the proprietor or manager of that store—I am not sure of his role—said that some people really took offence at being charged for a plastic bag. That indicates that there is still a role for government. Brave retail centres are prepared to do these things but until we create a general understanding and awareness in society we are leaving it to them to do the hard yards. That is fair enough but I think the government could give them a hand in regard to plastic bags.
Industrial relations—reforms
MR GENTLEMAN (Brindabella) (6.10): In retaliation to John Howard’s new WorkChoices laws the Australian Council of Trade Unions launched the Your Rights at Work campaign. That campaign has been greatly successful, with all Australia’s trade unions contributing to the operation. The Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance published the ACTU’s Your rights at work: a survival guide, a booklet designed to be used as a reference source for workers to look over at any time should something concern them in their workplace.
The Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers Union employed the talent of Australian actor Matt Doran, who appeared in Star Wars II, The Matrix and The Thin Red Line, in its anti-WorkChoices movie 36 Ways to Get Fired Thanks to John Howard. But most of the action has been delivered by the ACTU. That action included constant television advertisements telling the shocking truths of WorkChoices and how that has affected and will continue to destroy workers’ rights in atrocious ways such as we saw in the Cowra abattoir case. I refer also to the Spotlight case and the Boral driver, Tim Bollard, in Canberra.
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