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Loose cannons

Only BMW drivers are human? "My wife is not obliged to withdraw from the human race because you will attack her." — Victorian treasurer Alan Stockdale, replying to opposition questions about his wife being given free use of a BMW for a year;

Alternative forum at environment conference

By Stephen O'Brien NEWCASTLE — Community activists are organising an alternative to the "Pathways to Sustainability" conference, which will be held here on June 1-5. The official event, one of a series of international follow-ups to the Rio de

Not a new problem

By Allen Myers Government inspection of foods arose from experience: as industrial capitalism developed, it became clear that only fear of the law could restrain some capitalists from selling adulterated and/or poisonous goods. In his book The

Twenty years of poetry and struggle

By Sean Magill and Maureen Baker Juan Garrido, a dedicated and talented poet and political activist, has released his first collection of poetry in Australia, Twenty Years on the Rollcall of the Marginalised, in celebration of his 20 years of

A Hollywood surprise

Devil's OwnDirected by Alan PakulaWith Brad Pitt, Harrison Ford, Margaret Colin, Treat Williams Review by Sean Healy When I first saw the shorts for this film, I thought, "Oh no, another Hollywood anti-republican film" and was sharpening my pen

Arguments for socialism: Would socialism work?

Would socialism work?Would socialism work? By Dave Holmes Socialists condemn capitalism because it has failed the overwhelming mass of humanity in the most decisive way. It promises freedom, democracy and prosperity but spectacularly

Heat rises across Taiwan Strait

By Eva Cheng In an act of defiance towards Beijing, Taipei test-fired two US-made surface-to-sea missiles on April 1, two days after China's President Jiang Zeming offered Taipei leaders a vice-presidential position in exchange for their

Looking out: Wherever there is a human being

Wherever there is a human beingWherever there is a human being By Brandon Astor Jones "Wherever there is a human being, I see God-given rights inherent in that human being, whatever may be [his/her] sex or complexion." — William

Russian generals, budget-cutters battle over military reform

By Renfrey Clarke MOSCOW — During 1996, the head of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, General Viktor Samsonov, told journalists recently, about 500 of the country's military officers committed suicide. As recently as 1991, the

Residents fight to save park

Residents fight to save park SYDNEY — Around 150 Marrickville residents packed into a public meeting in Herb Greedy Hall on April 7, outraged by a Marrickville Council proposal to hand over a public park and sports fields to a private

How politicians are poisoning our food

By Jennifer Thompson The recent spate of food poisoning in Victoria has heightened concern over safety. In response, national health officials are only proposing to improve company-operated "quality assurance" programs — industry

'We have to present an alternative vision'

PERTH — The Greens (WA) have three seats in the state Legislative Council. GIZ WATSON, MLC for the North Metropolitan region, was elected in December along with Christine Sharp in South-West. Jim Scott, in South Metropolitan, was re-elected. Watson