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Water giant threatens opponents

By Norm Dixon Biwater, the huge British-owned corporation that has been named the "preferred bidder" for the Nelspruit's water and waste services, in South Africa's Mpumalanga province, is threatening legal action against opponents of privatisation

'Nationalise the banks', say socialists

'Nationalise the banks', say socialists By Bill Mason BRISBANE — "The answer to Pauline Hanson's right-wing populist policies is not to reaffirm the failed 'economic rationalist' program of the major parties, but to launch a socialist

Conference discusses strategies for Palestine

By Phil Stanford and Stan Thompson RAMALLAH — An international conference in Jerusalem on June 7-10 commemorated 50 years of dispossession of the Palestinian people. The conference overwhelmingly rejected the Oslo accords and discussed the

Building workers strike against award stripping

Building workers strike against award stripping By Shane Bentley The construction industry was halted by a 24-hour national strike on June 15 to protest against the award stripping provisions of the Workplace Relations Act. The strike went ahead

US agency bows to pressure on organic standards

US agency bows to pressure on organic standards After receiving more than 200,000 comments from farmers, environmentalists, consumers and others, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that it is backing down on proposed national organic

Benefit gig for Indonesian prisoners

Benefit gig for Indonesian prisoners BRISBANE — The fall of Suharto and his replacement by B.J. Habibie, while not representing fundamental democratic change in Indonesia, have led to the release of a small number of political prisoners. Despite

Contracting dirty business on NSW railways

Contracting dirty business on NSW railways By Peter Perkins In January, the NSW branch of the Public Transport Union distributed a bulletin warning that the state rail system was under threat from privatisation. Under the “Hilmer

Seeking the truth about the Vietnam War

Cultural Battles: the meaning of the Viet Nam-USA warBy Peter McGregorScam Publications — 1998, 214 pp., $16.95 (pb) Review by Brendan Doyle As a contemporary of Peter McGregor who, like him, was first politicised by the Vietnam War, I welcome

Borbidge seeks deal with Hanson

Borbidge seeks deal with Hanson By Bill Mason BRISBANE — The National-Liberal Coalition is desperately seeking to cling to power in Queensland, despite almost universal condemnation from every direction. Even the head of the Queensland

Nigerian union leaders released

By Norm Dixon Oil workers' union leaders Milton Dabibi and Frank Kokori were among nine prominent political prisoners ordered released by the new Nigerian military strongman, General Abdulsalam Abubakar, on June 16. Others to be released include

Protest against Burnie mill closure

Protest against Burnie mill closure ROSEBERY — On the morning of June 15, around 1000 people gathered in Civic Square to protest against the proposed closure of the Burnie pulp mill, which will mean up to 280 job losses. The march, led by four

ASIET forum

ASIET forum CANBERRA — On June 17, 50 people attended a forum organised by Action in Solidarity with Indonesia and East Timor at the Australian National University. ASIET national secretary Max Lane, recently returned from Indonesia, spoke on the