© 2018 Greg & Sylvia RAY

Mining

Read more about the article James Fletcher, by Dulcie Hartley. Chapter 3

James Fletcher, by Dulcie Hartley. Chapter 3

My late friend and amateur historian Dulcie Hartley published several books during her lifetime, but one book she was very proud of never made it into print. This was her book about James Fletcher, Newcastle's famous "miners' advocate" - the only man in the city to be commemorated with a statue. Miner, politician and newspaper proprietor, Fletcher was immensely popular and influential, and Dulcie was fascinated by him. After Dulcie's death, her daughter Venessa entrusted me with the manuscript, and I have slowly transcribed it. Fletcher the employer and capitalist During the early 1870s James Fletcher…

Continue ReadingJames Fletcher, by Dulcie Hartley. Chapter 3

Wealth, power and justice

The 12-month jail sentence handed down last month to coal protester Eric Serge Herbert sent a chill of fear through activist circles. As it was intended to do. The sentencing magistrate, Janine Lacy, imposed the severe sentence after Herbert delayed a coal train in Newcastle for a few hours. His action was part of a campaign by Blockade Australia, a protest group to which he belongs. While Blockade Australia sponsored 20 anti-coal protests aimed at the major coal port over a period of 11 days, the state's police and court system responded with equal or greater…

Continue ReadingWealth, power and justice

Young people are right to be anxious

“I want children growing up in Australia to feel positive about their future, and I think it is important we give them that confidence that they will not only have a wonderful country and pristine environment to live in, that they will also have an economy to live in as well. I don’t want our children to have anxieties about these issues.” Scott Morrison, Prime Minister of Australia, urging young Australians to stop worrying about climate change. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- So the Australian government wants its young citizens to feel positive about the government’s approach to the environment…

Continue ReadingYoung people are right to be anxious
×
×

Cart