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Greenhouse day of action

Greenhouse day of action By Will Williams CANBERRA — Three hundred people rallied outside the ACT Legislative Assembly on November 30 to protest against the Australian government's stance on greenhouse gas emissions. The crowd heard speakers,

Economics behind latest fighting in Afghanistan

By Rupen Savoulian Fighting has erupted once again between the Taliban militia and soldiers from the opposition northern alliance led by Ahmed Shah Masood. Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan are three former Soviet republics that share a

Mitcham by-election

Mitcham by-election By John Nebauer MELBOURNE — Victorian premier Jeff Kennett faces a tough test in the marginal seat of Mitcham on December 13. The by-election was forced by former Liberal minister Roger Pescott's resignation in protest

Progressive political parodies for parties

Mongrel Melodies — 63 Burlesque BalladsPublished by Sheep Thrills, 1997 — Send $9 per copy to 25 London St, Enmore 2042. Cheques to Greg Snook.Phone (02) 9557 5924. Review by Alex Bainbridge As the title Mongrel Melodies suggests, this is a

Battle to save escarpment

By Peter Johnston WOLLONGONG — Illawarra residents are organising to protect what many consider to be the area's most outstanding feature: the escarpment which runs the length of the region. The most recent threat to the escarpment is the

Government by lies

Government by lies The Howard government has been completely consistent on one aspect of its effort to amend the 1993 Native Title Act to restrict the land rights of indigenous Australians: whenever it has met opposition to its plans, it has tried

What's new in Labor's new platform?

What's new in Labor's new platform? By Susan Laszlo The release, two weeks ago, of Labor's draft platform coincided with polls showing Prime Minister John Howard's popularity at a record low. The Wik debate, the nursing homes fiasco, cuts to

Unionists concerned about mobile phone towers

By Shelly Collins CANBERRA — Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) members in the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs met on December 3 to hear from Telstra, Australian Communications Authority and DIMA management on the

and ain't i a woman?: Male bodies on display

Male bodies on display Have you noticed the proliferation of advertising billboards featuring glamorous young men with gleaming biceps, tight buttocks and big pecs bared, all "trim, tanned and terrific"? Whether it is selling male underwear,

Appeal launched for Dita Sari

Appeal launched for Dita Sari By James Balowski According to People's Democratic Party (PRD) sources, Dita Indah Sari, chair of the PRD-affiliated Centre for Labour Struggle, was released from hospital on November 28. Dita had been in intensive

Corporate rorts, the law and the rich

Corporate rorts, the law and the rich By John van der Velden When John Elliott was acquitted of fraud charges in August 1996, he announced to the football crowd at Optus Oval that he had "stuck it right up the NCA" [National Crime Authority],

South Africa: campaign to cancel apartheid's debt

The apartheid regime left South Africa with huge debts that are preventing real reconstruction and development. In a bizarre twist, the people who suffered at the hands of the apartheid government are now being expected to pay again for their pain