Issue 105

News

Help for FMLN

Help for FMLN By Paul Ingwersen The Canberra-based Committee to Defend Human Rights in El Salvador is coordinating an effort to send material to assist the Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front (FMLN) in its election campaign.

Brisbane march launches Pride Festival

Brisbane march launches Pride Festival By Nick Everett BRISBANE — Five hundred people participated on Saturday, June 26, in a march and rally organised by the Lesbian and Gay Pride collective as a commemoration of Stonewall and as the

Koalas invade Boral office

Koalas invade Boral office SYDNEY — Supporters of the Wingham Forest Action Group wielding chainsaws an dressed in koala suits stormed the offices of the Boral Corporation on June 24 to protest against logging of NSW old growth forests.

Opposition to new reactor

Opposition to new reactor Greenpeace, the Greens (WA) and the Sutherland Shire Council last week announced their united opposition to a new nuclear reactor anywhere in Australia. The move follows recent suggestions that a new reactor,

Anti-gay violence in NSW schools

Anti-gay violence in NSW schools By Karen Fredericks SYDNEY — The NSW Gay and Lesbian Teachers and Students Association (GaLTaS) has welcomed the introduction of state legislation prohibiting vilification of homosexuals, but says that

Women rally for justice

By Lyndall Barnett MELBOURNE — About 600 women and men marched here on June 19 to demand justice for women. Organised by the recently formed Justice for Women Action Collective, the rally protested against the lack of commitment to women's

Timor vigil

Timor vigil MELBOURNE — Supporters of East Timor are holding weekly vigils outside the Garuda Airlines office to protest against the imprisonment of Xanana Gusmao and other leaders of the East Timorese struggle for independence. The

PSU action blocks unfair sacking

PSU action blocks unfair sacking By Dan Riley MELBOURNE — Public Sector Union members in Department of Social Security (Area West) who took industrial action in support of a sacked temporary employee have won his reinstatement for the

Wildlife smuggling book defeats 'ban'

By Karen Fredericks SYDNEY — An attempt by the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) to prevent distribution of a book on wildlife smuggling has been defeated. The book details involvement of NPWS officers in the illegal

Community health hits back

Community health hits back By Jeremy Smith MELBOURNE — Chanting "Save our community centre" and "Fuck Kennett, not health", a spirited rally of 150 people marched through the streets of Collingwood on June 16. Proposals by the

Squatters take on Sydney University

Squatters take on Sydney University By Carla Gorton SYDNEY — Squatters reoccupied houses owned by Sydney University in Katherine Street, Forest Lodge on June 21. The action was part of a campaign by Direct Action Against Homelessness

Environment seminar planned

Environment seminar planned By David Lasscock ADELAIDE — The Better Environment for West Torrens (BEWT) group is celebrating its third birthday with a major seminar, "Inventing the future — Tandanya Bioregion". BEWT operates

More Victorian school closures imminent

By Norrian Rundle MELBOURNE — The second round of Kennett government state school closures is under way. In May the Directorate of School Education issued a paper misleadingly called "Quality Provision of Education in Victoria" which set

Protesters stop woodchip train

Protesters stop woodchip train By Francesca Alice PERTH — A group of 200 south-west residents and protesters peacefully stopped a woodchip train at Balingup, 200 km south of here, on the afternoon of June 19. The train was on its way

New unity among building unions

By Di Quin MELBOURNE — Recent elections of the Building Workers Industrial Union division of the Construction, Forestry and Energy Workers' Union (CFMEU) in Victoria are seen as an important step towards creating a united union within the

Ecopolitics VII at Griffith

Ecopolitics VII at Griffith Ecopolitics VII, to be held at Griffith University July 2-4, will have a strong emphasis on global environmental issues and on the links between the environmental, peace, women's and indigenous movements. The

World

Coalition formed in Cambodia

By Nick Johnson PHNOM PENH — A new interim coalition government finally emerged on June 18, nearly three weeks after the end of Cambodia's UN-run elections. The agreement promises an element of stability and the chance to begin desperately

Timorese students seek political asylum

Seven young East Timorese entered the Swedish and Finnish embassies in Jakarta on June 23 to ask for political asylum. After being told that the Finish embassy would not help, the four Timorese in that embassy left after receiving "guarantees"

Campus clash in Jakarta

Campus clash in Jakarta Troops and police have attacked protesting students, injuring several and wrecking various parts of the National Science and Technology Institute campus in the capital. According to a statement issued by the

650 attend New Zealand peace conference

650 attend New Zealand peace conference By Ciaron O'Reilly Some 650 New Zealand activists gathered in Wellington for the "Peace, Power and Politics" conference on the queen's birthday long weekend. The conference was held on the 25th

Somali community, aid groups protest US/UN attacks

By Peter Boyle MELBOURNE — Leaders of the Somali community in Australia, the Somali Relief Association and Community Aid Abroad have protested against the recent military actions by United States and United Nations forces in Somalia. The

Urge UN to act on blockade of Cuba

Urge UN to act on blockade of Cuba By Pat Brewer Last November the United Nations General Assembly sharply rebuffed the United States for its economic blockade of Cuba by passing a Cuban-sponsored resolution calling for repeal of the

Filipinos fight Australian power plant

Filipinos fight Australian power plant An Australian company, Arch Print Pty Ltd, is about to start building a power plant only 150 metres from houses in the village of Tanza on Manila Bay. The plant will be diesel for at least the first

Nicaraguans rally to Cuba's aid

By Stephen Marks MANAGUA — Nicaraguans have contributed more than 20 tons of powdered milk, food, medicines and school materials to Cuba in response to the "pound of milk for the children of Cuba" campaign. One of the organisers of

Indian villagers evicted for dam

Indian villagers evicted for dam Police have begun evicting villagers opposed to the giant dam on the Narmada River in central India. More than 22,000 villagers have vowed to drown in the rising waters rather than leave their homes. On

The return of the Cossacks

By Irina Glushchenko MOSCOW — Late at night in a town in southern Russia, two youths are breaking into a car. Suddenly they are disturbed. They take to their heels, but are run down; they gasp with fear, because the squad of men in peaked

Ukrainian miners' struggle spreads

By Renfrey Clarke MOSCOW — On June 19 a massive 12-day strike wave in the Ukraine, centred on the country's coal miners, began drawing to an uneasy close. But the fight had already spread; on June 21 Russian coal unionists began a picket

Culture

Very political tones

Very political tones Sing Out for Ireland Wolfe Tones Distributed by Larrikin Reviewed by Bernie Brian The Dublin-based Wolfe Tones have probably been around as long as the Chieftains but are not as well known. Could it have

Brothers in resistance

Blood Brothers Four-part series on SBS Television Screening weekly starting Tuesday, July 6, 8.30 p.m. (8.00 Adelaide) Reviewed by Ignatius Kim Over the last 15 years or so, we have seen the rise of a strong cultural activity by

Between lunacy and lucidity

Leolo A film by Jean-Claude Lauzon From late June at Kino, Melbourne Reviewed by Mario Giorgetti Canadian writer-director Jean-Claude Lauzon, whose first film, Night Zoo (1987), was well awarded but left many critics unconvinced,

Big-hearted baboon

Big-hearted baboon Untamed Heart Directed by Tony Bill Starring Christian Slater, Marisa Tomei, Rosie Perez Rated M. At Village and Hoyts Reviewed by Ulrike Erhardt A love story in the old-fashioned sense of devotion — a

A messy business, murder

Benny's Video Directed by Michael Haneke (Austria, 1992) With Arno Frisch, Angela Winkler Premiered in Australia at the 42nd Melbourne International Film Festival Reviewed by Margarita Windisch Benny's Video is the second part of a

Fulani Groove

Fulani Groove By Margarita Windisch Combine seven talented and enthusiastic musicians with a spicy mix of afro-funk, reggae, ska and rap, and you get Fulani Groove. The name of this Melbourne-based band is a tribute to the great

Sparking up the revolution

33 Revolutions Per Minute Marxman Phonogram records Reviewed by Zanny Begg Emerging out of the Bristol rap scene, Marxman are cool in style and uncompromising in politics. Their debut album is called 33 Revolutions Per Minute, and by

Beyond the dismal decade

Surviving the Blues: Growing up in the Thatcher Decade Edited by Joan Scanlon Virago, 1990. 198 pp. $19.95 Reviewed by Vannessa Hearman This book is not new, but it's so good that it would be a pity to ignore it. It consists of essays