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FRANCE: Students, workers revolt against labour law

Murray Smith, Paris The movement of French students and workers against the right-wing French government's new First Employment Contract (CPE) law is entering a decisive phase. The law was approved by parliament on March 10, and allows employers to

Loose Cannons

Just like the 'evidence' for WMD "I think we are going to succeed in Iraq, I think the evidence is overwhelming." — Lord Darth Cheney, March 19. Lord Darth Cheney every morning "The situation on the ground remains tense. In the face of

Write On: Letters to the Editor

Marriage Is it just me and Jimmy Somerville that feel this way, but is there something missing from the campaign for same-sex marriage? Where is the broader campaign for the recognition of the rights of all couples (regardless of sexuality) not to

Rise in HIV infections in Australia

Rachel Evans The March 16 edition of the gay and lesbian newspaper SX quoted from the Australian Federation of Aids Organisations (AFAO): "Since 2000 the rate of diagnoses of HIV in Australia have risen from 656 a year to 912 last financial year.

Community action against Work Choices

Liam Mitchell, Sydney Around 150 people marched through inner-city Glebe on March 25 to protest against the Howard government's Work Choices legislation. The rally was organised by Inner West Your Rights at Work (IWYRaW). Rally speakers included

IRAN: Bus drivers released, protests continue

Five bus drivers from the executive board of the Tehran bus drivers' union and metalworker Sattar Amini were released from jail on March 18 and 19. Yet the union's leader Mansoor Ossanlou, as well as auto worker Afshin Bahrami, are still being

Privatisation plan threatens Snowy River

Zoe Kenny The Snowy River Hydroelectric Scheme (SRHS) is once again in the spotlight following Victorian Premier Steve Bracks' announcement that his government will follow the example of the NSW and federal governments in selling off its share of

Rap & hip hop artists release CD for SSP

Fight the Power: Defend SocialismVarious artists including Emmanuel featuring K, Braintax, Kam, Rodney P, Benjamin ZephaniahSingle Cell PressOrder at <http://www.socialistproductions.org> REVIEW BY EDDIE TRUMAN Some of the leading rap

ECUADOR: Protests grow stronger

Duroyan Fertl Protests by unionists, students and indigenous activists against a free trade agreement (FTA) between Ecuador and the US have strengthened, forcing the government to declare a state of emergency in several states around the capital

West Papuan refugees win visa victory

Sarah Stephen On March 23, the immigration department announced that 42 of the 43 West Papuan asylum seekers who arrived in Australia on January 18 and have been held on Christmas Island since then, had been granted refugee status. They will be

NSW childcare workers win pay equity wage rise

Farida Iqbal, Sydney On March 7, the NSW Industrial Relations Commission (IRC) granted the state's childcare workers a 16% pay rise over two years. Childcare workers will be paid between $70 and $166 more a week, following the IRC's ruling in

BOLIVIA: Has Morales sold out?

Federico Fuentes Even before the January 22 inauguration of Evo Morales as Bolivia's first indigenous president, commentators from all sides of the political spectrum, particularly on the left internationally, have begun to speculate about what