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ACEH: With 300,000 dead: 'We must have a cease fire'

Max Lane "The death toll in Aceh from the tsunami is closer to 300,000 people", Thamrin Ananda, chairperson of the Aceh People's Democratic Struggle Front (FPDRA), told Green Left Weekly by phone from Jakarta on January 27. The FPDRA has been

Pushing back the racists in Newcastle

Ruth Ratcliffe, Newcastle When residents of several Newcastle suburbs received offensive leaflets in their letterboxes demanding "humanitarianism for local Australians, not gang-banging Sudanese" and advertising a January 22 "meeting" in Islington

Invasion Day march highlights black deaths in custody

Jim McIlroy, Brisbane Around 400 Aboriginal protesters and their supporters rallied in Roma Street Forum and marched through city streets to Musgrave Park to mark Invasion Day, January 26, the day white settlers first arrived in Australia. The

Challenges of a US labour lawyer

Which Side Are You On? Trying to Be for Labor When It's Flat on Its BackBy Thomas GeogheganThe New Press, 2004355 pages, $37 (pb) REVIEW BY PHIL SHANNON An unhappy love affair drove Thomas Geoghegan to his unexpected career as a labour lawyer.

More Murdoch cheers for war machine

Kathy Newnam, Darwin Local Murdoch rag the NT News is once again rallying the troops in support of the further militarisation of the Northern Territory. On January 20, the paper carried a report of last year's missile defence program trials just

CANADA: government moves ahead on missile defence

Jeff Shantz, Toronto A controversial report released by the Washington Post on January 23 has put a harsh spotlight back on the Canadian government's plans for involvement in the US-sponsored missile defence shield program. The report, which

'An enormous threat to civil liberties'

Chris Slee, Melbourne A meeting held by the Moreland Peace Group in Brunswick on January 24 discussed the arrest of Jack Thomas under Australia's "anti-terrorism" laws. Thomas is being held in Barwon prison near Geelong. His brother Les Thomas

Power and genocide in Rwanda

Stories from Rwanda is an historical account of how, in the space of around two months in 1994, nearly 1 million Rwandan people were killed by their compatriots.

Brigadistas to visit Venezuela

Roberto Jorquera Solidarity activists from around Australia are preparing for an international solidarity brigade to Venezuela in July-August. The Brigade will include participation in the World Federation of Youth and Students (WFDY) conference

This week in history

February 2 1912: In Brisbane, 15,000 demonstrators are confronted by armed police on Black Baton Friday. 1943: The Red Army forces Germany to surrender after the siege of Stalingrad. February 3 1912: 32,000 textile workers strike in Lawrence,

Setback for ETU in steel dispute

Stuart Martin, Melbourne Electrical Trades Union (ETU) members have received a minor setback in their fight for an enterprise agreement with BlueScope Steel at the Western Port facility in Hastings, Victoria. On January 17 the Australian Industrial

Refugee-rights activists face court

Sarah Stephen, Sydney Refugee supporters rallied on January 25 outside the Downing Centre Local Court. The rally coincided with a court appearance by refugee-rights activists who have been charged with allegedly helping escapees from the Villawood