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DSP congress resolves to 'take the initiative'

BY SUE BOLAND  “The rise of a new radical international movement against neo-liberal globalisation could lay the foundations for a major turn in the class struggle by tapping the pent-up dissent against the capitalists' attacks” — that

$27 million for Hewitt, violence for workers

BY GEORGINA DAVIES MELBOURNE — Australian tennis ace Lleyton Hewitt has reportedly signed a five-year sponsorship deal with Nike valued at a cool $27 million. The contract reportedly also includes a bonus clause that could double the figure if

Rorts fill universities' funding hole

BY VIV MILEY Universities are lowering academic standards in order to pass a greater number of full fee-paying domestic and international students, the preliminary results of a new study of academic freedom has revealed. The soon to be released

On the box

Actively Radical TV — Sydney community television's progressive current affairs producers tackle the hard issues from the activist's point of view. CTS Sydney (UHF 31), every Sunday, 9-11pm. Ph 9565 5522. Access News — Melbourne community TV,

Unions 'need to get rid of dog eat dog mentality'

BY TIM STEWART Since the election of the federal Liberal-National Coalition government in 1996, very few unions have been prepared to adopt an attitude of struggle at all costs. Instead of employing tactics aimed at winning gains against the bosses

Philip Ruddock: minister for racism

BY ALISON DELLIT "When I see Mr Ruddock talking on television about [refugees], he looks and sounds like somebody from One Nation" — David Oldfield, One Nation member of the New South Wales upper house. Prime Minister John Howard's December 19

BANGLADESH: Farm labourers win 'great victory'

BY SEAN HEALY Bangladesh's 22.3 million landless farmers secured a major win on December 18 when the government agreed to an 11-point charter of demands which labourers' organisations have been fighting for since 1978. The agriculture ministry's

100-day lockout of Qenos workers

BY BEN COURTICE MELBOURNE — Members of the National Union of Workers at the Qenos refinery in Altona have reached the 100th day of a management lockout. The workers are holding out against management's attempt to impose large reductions in an

Acehnese supporters target defence force

BY JOHN GAUCI SYDNEY — One hundred and fifty people rallied outside the Australian Defence Force headquarters here on January 20 to support self-determination for the Indonesian province of Aceh. The action coincided with a self-determination

Refugee Rights Action Network launched in Perth

BY ANA KAILIS PERTH — Supporters of refugee rights here have formed a new Refugee Rights Action Network to demand the immediate release from detention of all asylum seekers and a complete overhaul of Australia's border policy. The January 16

LATIN AMERICA: Trend toward dollarisation accelerates

BY SEAN HEALY Two shockwaves have hit the Central American country of El Salvador in the first weeks of January. One, a massive earthquake which measured 7.6 on the Richter scale, struck on January 13 and killed more than 600 people, devastating

Palestine and the Jewish diaspora: Acid test failed

BY ISRAEL SHAMIR Among the colourful revellers of Allenby street, in crowded restaurants of merry-making Tel Aviv nights, a vision came to me, a vision of an angel in battle-dress, chalking up on a wall three words: Mene, Tekel, ufarsin. My