Jess writes for Tertangala, UOW students' magazine

Check out this article by Jess in the 4th Tertangala produced by the Wollongong Undergrad. Students' Association (WUSA) for 2010.

It also has a two-page interview with Jess starting page 36.

Jess was the president of WUSA in 2006 and has been a leading member of Students Against War (SAW) and the campus enviro collective. She has written for the Tert on a number of occasions since.

Click on the article for a larger image.

Jess in Northern Leader this week

Check out this article from this week's Northern Leader; it covers the August 11 'meet the candidates' forum organised by the Wollongong Undergrad. Students' Association (WUSA). Jess was president of WUSA in 2006 and played a leading role in the campaign against John Howard's Voluntary Student Unionism (VSU) legislation.

Jess received a loud cheer when she described this election campaign as the 'most boring' she'd ever experienced, and called on the major parties to actually outline what they stand for.

For Jess's speech to this forum visit http://jessmoorecunningham.blogspot.com/2010/08/jess-speaks-to-200-students-at.html

Jess in today's Illawarra Mercury

In today's Illawarra Mercury there are profiles of every candidate in the Illawarra. Check out this image from the Cunningham electorate of the Greens' George Takacs and Jess.

Remember if you can help staff a polling booth tomorrow, Saturday August 21, please contact Will on 0425 329 963 or email bendigo1977@yahoo.com.au

For all Socialist Alliance members, supporters, friends and volunteers there will be a 'S.A.N.E party' (Socialist Alliance Night of Election party) from 7pm on Saturday at 13 Girvan Cres, Corrimal. For catering purposes please let Will know on the above number that you'll be there.

Help put people and the planet before profits in Cunningham!

Youth activists say: Vote socialist and Green, then use your power!

Jess Moore, Socialist Alliance candidate for Cunningham, and Melanie Barnes, candidate for Denison, today urged young people to vote socialist and Greens and put the Coalition last.

“The spectacle of Labor and the Coalition blowing millions in an advertising slagging match is a turn off to younger voters,” said Moore, the national convener of socialist youth organisation Resistance.

Barnes, well-known Hobart climate activist, added: “The temptation for many young people is to turn off and vote informal, but that’s a mistake.

“We need to ignore the spin and demand some serious answers about the policies of parties on the issues that concern us."

Barnes recommended the web site Vote-o-Matic 2010 (at http://trog.qgl.org/voteomatic/) as a guide for undecided voters. The site orders parties according to people’s policy preferences on the issues in the election.

“The Socialist Alliance has produced a Policy Summary from Left to Right. (at www.socialist-alliance.org). Check it out and make up your own mind "

Jess Moore added: “But after voting socialist and Green, let’s act for the policies we have voted for—otherwise they´ll never happen.

“There is a lot at stake in this election for us - from climate change to our workplace rights to whether more young people's lives are going to be wasted in war of occupation of Afghanistan.

"It is our future and we can't let politicians in the pockets of big coal, big oil and big banks wreck it."

Barnes concluded: “Socialist Alliance candidates have had their best reception ever in this election campaign. That’s because we´ve spoken straight and we've addressed the big issues not played the manipulative politics of fear and spin".

Candidate profiles in Wollongong Advertiser

Check out the profiles of candidates in this week's Wollongong Advertiser. You can see from the titles that candidates stand for VERY different things. Jess stands for 'People before profits', while Labor's Sharon Bird vows to 'cut business tax'! The Liberals are 'taking a stand', whatever that means; the Greens are worried about unemployment.

If you can help out with the campaign to put people (and the planet) before profit in Cunningham - especially if you can help staff polling booths on Saturday - please call Will on 0425 329 963.

WIN TV coverage of Walk Against Warming

Watch WIN TV's excellent coverage of Wollongong's Walk Against Warming on Saturday August 14. Jess can be seen speaking from the platform, scroll down for her speech to the rally!

Walk Against Warming in the media

Check out this coverage of Saturday's Walk Against Warming in the Wollongong Advertiser.

Please come along to the walk to demand action on climate. Speakers so far include: John Kaye, Greens MLC; Jess Moore, Socialist Alliance candidate for Cunningham; George Takacs, Greens candidate for Cunningham; Genevieve Kelly, NSW secretary, National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU); and Patrick Harrison, enviro rep, Wollongong Uni students.

After speakers we'll hear from a class of students from St Brigid's, Gwynneville. They've written a song about climate change and will perform it on stage! Then we'll walk to WA Lang Park for a sustainable BBQ, stalls & entertainment.

See you there!

Ella Ryan, local climate activist, on JJJ's Hack

Listen to Ella Ryan - local climate activist working with Jess's campaign - speak to Triple J's Hack program on the campaign for 100% renewable energy!

Vote Climate website recommends vote for Jess Moore in Cunningham

The “world’s first dedicated climate election website” - Vote Climate (http://www.voteclimate.org.au/) - has recommended a vote for the Socialist Alliance in the August 21 federal elections.

Vote Climate provides detailed policy analysis based on available policy as the primary source, and public documents and public statements as a secondary source. Socialist Alliance is ranked first as the only party that has “policies that might stop runaway climate change” and that “adopt[s] a climate emergency response”.

The Greens are ranked second followed by the Democrats, as parties with “policies that won’t stop runaway climate change, but have numerous positive elements that will help the adoption of stronger response down the track”.

Labor and Liberal are also ranked as parties with “policies that won’t stop runaway climate change” and “take only limited action which will not stop global warming reaching dangerous levels quickly.”

Jess Moore, Socialist Alliance candidate in Cunningham and dedicated renewable energy campaigner, said: 'The science tells us we have about a decade to shift away from carbon-intensive practices if we are to avoid runaway climate change.This must be the starting point when developing policy to combat climate change. I am proud to be running for a party with the courage to put forward solutions that will give us a chance for a safe climate future.

'Australia faces a choice: continue with business as usual or make the changes needed for a safe climate future. But Labor and Liberal seem to think they can negotiate with the laws of physics and chemistry. They are totally tied to the interests of big polluters and refuse to take urgent action.

'Some politicians and corporate lobby groups even talk about climate change as though it were something to choose whether to believe in or not. But like the Earth being round, climate change is scientific fact. And the real question is: "are we going to solve the climate crisis or aren’t we"?

'The technology exists to move Australia to 100% renewable energy within 10 years. It will cost 3-3.5% of GDP. We can do this by taxing the corporate polluters and billionaires that were bailed out using public money during the financial crisis.

'Delay is denial. People want the government to take stronger action on climate change. Our policies on public transport, renewable energy and a just transition for workers to move out of polluting industries are an essential part of the required response. These policies would not only help avoid dangerous climate change but they would create jobs, cleaner environments and they would improve ordinary workers’ lives', Moore concluded.

Vote Climate describes Socialist Alliance’s policy as “driven by care for people, and they understand the direct connection between the environment, the services it provides and human well-being. They have reviewed climate science and impacts and concluded the mainstream response to climate change is nowhere near enough. The Socialist Alliance policy ... offers the best hope for the future.”

Media coverage of campaign

Check out this coverage in today's Illawarra Mercury. It covers the Liberal Party's purchasing of sponsored links of other candidates' names on Google (scroll down for initial media release).

Notice Sharon Bird comments that she's not upset by the Liberals' actions - no doubt because the Labor Party does the same thing!

Liberals buy sponsored link for 'Jess Moore for Cunningham' on Google

MEDIA RELEASE

Saturday August 7, 2010 - If you search for 'Jess Moore' - the Socialist Alliance candidate for Cunningham - on Google, the first link to come up is for the Liberal Party. The same sponsored link appears if you search for 'Jess Moore for Cunningham'. This is now the case for all candidates running in Cunningham.

'Money from the big end of town funds the Liberal Party's campaign, and this is what they are spending it on. People who are trying to find out what the candidates stand for are being mis-directed to the Liberal Party's anti-worker and anti-social policies. This kind of dishonestly and manipulation should be condemned by all those who believe in open and democratic elections', said Moore.

'Rather than debate us openly or honestly the Liberals are buying sponsored links to confuse and mislead people. I have attended every 'meet the candidates' meeting that I've been invited to, in the interests of democracy and choice. The Liberal Party has failed to attend any of these meetings. Now - worse still - they're trying to stop people finding out about the alternatives.

'For candidates not backed by the major parties it's incredibly hard to get your ideas out to a broad audience. We can't afford TV ads, for example. But the internet is a much more even playing field. We've put a lot of work into the "Jess Moore for Cunningham" blog for this reason.

'How can we break the undemocratic dominance of the two major parties if our ability to talk to people is undermined by tricks like this?

'I challenge Philip Clifford to a public debate on the issues facing the people of Cunningham. Rather than just buying up website links, Clifford should face his opponents and honestly put forward what his party stands for', Moore concluded.

Union legends back Jess!

MEDIA RELEASE

Thursday August 5 - Some of the Illawarra's foremost fighters for social justice have backed Jess Moore, Socialist Alliance candidate, in the seat of Cunningham. Trade union legends Monica Chalmers (pictured, right), Neville Arrowsmith (pictured, left), Jim Keogh and Ken McBride have endorsed Moore and are actively assisting her campaign.

'I'm incredibly humbled to have people like Monica, Jim, Neville and Ken on board. They have tirelessly been at the forefront of struggles for workers' rights, women's rights, Aboriginal rights and other social justice issues.

'Change that put people before profit - universal healthcare and education, the 40 hour work week and the right to vote for Aboriginal people - were not gifted to us, but won by the trade unions and social movements. They were won by people organising themselves to act together for change. Here in the Illawarra, Monica, Jim, Neville and Ken are some of the people most responsible for leading progressive change.

'I'm proud to stand next to them, work alongside them and aim to carry on their tradition. They struggled with people and never gave ground to racism, sexism and attacks on the less well-off. They never gave up and they inspire me to carry on the struggle to put human need and the planet before corporate greed.'

Monica Chalmers was the first woman to head the South Coast May Day committee and spent decades in the union and women's rights movements. Jim Keogh is the secretary of the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) Veterans, Southern branch. Neville Arrowsmith is a founding member of the Illawarra Labour History Society. Ken McBride is the assistant secretary of the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) Veterans, Southern branch. All four have spent decades in the trade union and solidarity movements and continue to be active today for social justice.

Jess to preference Greens, then Labor before Liberal

MEDIA RELEASE

Wednesday August 4 - Jess Moore, Socialist Alliance candidate for Cunningham, will direct her preferences first to the Greens' George Takacs, and then Labor's Sharon Bird.

'The Labor government has failed the Australian people. They have shown their inability to govern in the interest of people and the planet. But it's important to recognise that a Liberal government, led by Tony Abbott, would be even worse', said Moore. 'That's why we've chosen to preference Sharon Bird ahead of Philip Clifford in Cunningham.

'Our preferences go to George Takacs first. The Greens have a range of policies that are far superior to either major party when it comes to social justice and action on climate. That being said we disagree with the Greens' decision to issue an open ticket. It's an example of electoral opportunism to maximise votes. We preference in a principled way, from left to right, regardless of what it might mean for our vote.

'I strongly urge the people of Cunningham to maximise their vote. Vote Socialist then Greens, and then put Labor before Liberal. A large primary vote for Socialist Alliance and the Greens will show Labor that it's just not good enough to be 'less bad' than the Liberals. It will pressure Labor in the direction of social justice and environmental sustainability while not risking a Tony Abbot led government', Moore concluded.

Julia Gillard's climate 'plan': more talk while icecaps melt

Jess Moore's climate plan: boost public investment in renewables now

MEDIA RELEASE

Wednesday July 28 - 'Julia Gillard's "new" climate policy is the same as it was under Kevin Rudd: more talk, and inaction', said Jess Moore, Socialist Alliance candidate for Cunningham.

'But delay is denial. The climate crisis demands urgent action now. As Julia Gillard herself said in 2008: "Climate change is the biggest social and economic challenge of our generation. The science is overwhelming and after years of inaction, we can no longer sit on our hands and hope that the problem goes away".

'That’s why I and the Socialist Alliance support a comprehensive plan for stripping carbon emissions out of power generation, like Zero Carbon Australia’s 10-year stationary energy plan (see http://media.beyondzeroemissions.org/ZCA2020_Stationary_Energy_Report_v1.pdf). Immediate large-scale public investment for 100% renewable energy by 2020 is not only essential but would create jobs.'

Moore, a leading renewable energy campaigner in Wollongong, added: 'On July 23, Labor - equally frightened of offending the big polluters and losing marginal seats - joined the Coalition in producing more pretend climate policy, like:

• New coal-fired power stations having to be “ready” to capture carbon-dioxide when 15 coal-fired stations are on line in NSW alone and commercial Carbon Capture and Storage technology doesn’t exist;
  
• $1 billion over 10 years to upgrade Australia's electricity grid for renewable energy when the full cost of the job is about $90 billion;
• Cutting $520 million from renewable energy programs to fund a ‘cash-for-clunkers’ scheme - a handout to the polluting car industry!'

Moore stressed: 'According to Gillard Australia now needs a "citizens assembly" to create a consensus about the seriousness of global warming. This is nonsense! It's a delay tactic that benefits the big polluters while selling out our future.

'The vast majority of Australians want to see a quick transition to climate sustainability. The sticking point is - who’s going to pay the bill.

'But it’s easy to find the resources if we want to. For example, the Zero Carbon Australia plan could be funded by cuts to wasteful military expenditure, subsidies to polluters and private schools and by taxing the corporate polluters and billionaires. This approach would also answer Coalition scare campaigns about "a great big new tax on everything".'

Moore concluded: 'The big parties are selling out our future at this election. People should vote for a climate policy based on the polluters paying and with boosted public investment in renewables at its heart.

'We should also mobilise and demand real action. The August 14 Walk Against Warming provides a great opportunity to do just that.'

Jess interviewed on ABC radio

Listen to Jess interviewed on local ABC radio, Friday July 23, 2010: http://blogs.abc.net.au/nsw/2010/07/seat-of-the-week-cunningham.html?site=illawarra&program=illawarra_mornings

Candidate helps build Aboriginal protest house in remote NT

MEDIA RELEASE

Thursday July 22, 2010 - Jess Moore, Socialist Alliance candidate for Cunningham, has just returned from the Northern Territory where she helped put the roof on the Alyawarr people's 'protest house'. The Alyawarr people have walked out of Ampilatwatja, a remote Aboriginal town about 350 kilometres north east of Alice Springs, to protest government treatment and the Northern Territory intervention. They have set-up a camp on their traditional lands just out of Ampilatwatja; the protest house is the first building to be constructed.

‘The Alyawarr people are an inspiration; working on the house was just amazing. They are taking things into their own hands after repeated government failures in the areas of housing, health and education and being supported by solidarity activists and trade unionists. We need to show solidarity with the Alyawarr people and their walk-off', said Moore.

Moore also attended the Defending Indigenous Rights gathering in Alice Springs, which took place over July 6-9 and brought together 200 Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people from around the country.

‘The immense poverty and Third World conditions inflicted upon Aboriginal people was a stark feature of the gathering', she said. 'There were stories of communities without doctors, schools or housing, and the inability of remote communities to access fresh fruit or veggies (a lettuce cost $14(!) in one community). This was also very visible in Alice Springs with widespread homelessness among Aboriginal people.'

In Ampilatwatja, Moore could see first-hand the effects of the intervention. The complete lack of real employment for Aboriginal people was striking.

'There are people in the community who desperately want to work. And there is certainly plenty that needs doing. But with the intervention came welfare quarantining, and changes to the Community Development Employment Projects. Aboriginal people now are forced to work for the dole, and half their payment is put onto the Basics Card, which can only be used at certain stores to buy certain things', she said.

'This is nothing more than working for rations, and it’s happening across the Territory. Unless government policy changes more communities will follow the lead of the Alyawarr people. I'll be returning to the walk-off camp again to help out, and plan to organise others from the South Coast to join me'.

'Every election candidate should get out to remote Aboriginal communities and see the impact of the NT intervention for themselves. The gap is not being closed, it's getting wider. And an enormous amount of public money is being spent to starve Aboriginal people off their land.’

'The human impact of the racist NT intervention must be brought to light. Out of sight cannot be out of mind. Aboriginal people are living in Third World conditions in wealthy Australia. We must put an end to this!', she concluded.

Gillard equals more of the same - We need real change!

MEDIA RELEASE, Thursday June 24

Jess Moore, Socialist Alliance candidate for Cunningham, says Julia Gillard's ousting of Prime Minister Kevin Rudd is a blatant attempt to re-brand the Labor Party. She has called on people to vote for real change in the coming federal election.

"In the face of Rudd's epic nosedive in the polls since April this is a desperate attempt by Labor to re-brand itself. But the swearing in of Julia Gillard as Prime Minister will only mean more of the same for the people of Australia.

"As Kevin Rudd's deputy she has been as complicit as anyone in the actions of the ALP. This is a desperate attempt to re-badge a political party in crisis.

"Labor’s use of this same tactic in NSW with Kristina Keneally shows that, while it works in the short term, over time the focus shifts back to the issues.

"People are angry with what Labor has done - and failed to do - in government. We need real change, not more factional maneuvering from Labor.

"Gillard has been responsible for some of this government's most anti-social acts. As federal workplace relations minister, she maintained the Australian Building and Construction Commission which denies construction workers basic human rights. As education minister she allowed damaging school league tables to be used by the media, stigmatising those from disadvantaged schools.

"We shouldn't let the scrapping of Rudd fool us. We need a political alternative to the major parties.

"I promise to continue to push for real and immediate action on climate and for workers' rights. It's also important to continue the campaign against racism in this country, in particular the racism directed at asylum seekers. Australia must let the boats land and close the detention centres.

"In this federal election, we need real change, not more of the same", Moore concluded.

Jess in Northern Leader