GLW issue 789, published 2009-04-01.

Venezuela: Government takes over air and sea ports

President Hugo Chavez announced on March 21 the takeover of all national and international seaports and airports, returning them to the direct control of the national government.

Canada bans pro-Palestinian politician

Canada’s Conservative government has extended its attacks on the right to free speech.

'End the Tamil genocide!'

More than 6000 people rallied against the Sri Lankan government’s war on the Tamil people in Sydney on March 28.

More public sector job cuts

The Australian Bureau of Statistics has announced plans on March 20 to cut 180 jobs over the next 18 months. Meanwhile GeoScience Australia management have told 150 staff, about 20% of the agency’s workforce, that their contracts will not be renewed when they expire in June this year.

Further

Australian News

Finding solutions to capitalism's crises

Hundreds of progressive activists and socialists from around the globe will descend on Sydney over Easter, for this year’s most important discussion on capitalism’s crises and the socialist solutions.

Scrap the CPRS — we need a plan for a safe climate!

Dozens of actions were held outside the offices of MPs nationwide on March 27 to protest the Rudd government’s proposed Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS).

Further Australian News

International News

From Melbourne to Gaza

It took Kamahl Mashni six minutes to decide to join the Viva Palestina aid convoy headed to Gaza from Britain on Valentine’s Day.

Israel's dirty laundry

Israel is a deeply militarised apartheid society.

Further International News

Comment and Analysis

Rudd promises to stay in Afghanistan for 'long haul'

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, in Washington last week to meet US President Barack Obama, made clear the ALP government’s support for the US’s wars overseas. The Australia-US war alliance is as strong as ever, he declared.

PSA pioneer farewelled

One hundred people gathered on March 17 at the Wollongong City Diggers Club to celebrate the life of NSW Public Service Association (PSA) activist Anne Meehan who passed away on March 12 after a long illness.

Further Comment and Analysis

Letters

Write On: Letters to the Editor

Taxi industry not driven by community needs Protesting cab drivers have been told by Victorian premier John Brumby to "get over it". According to the Brumby government, Victoria needs more cabs, another 630 this year, to address the needs of

General

Afghanistan and the value of a life

Christine, a stalwart of the anti-war movement in Australia, shakes her head at the gross double standards of the mainstream media in Australia when it reports the casualties in the war on Afghanistan. She shakes her fists in anger and then gets on with organising the next anti-war protest.

Resistance!

Racists fighting racism?

A new student group, backed by the National Union of Students (NUS), that promises to eradicate racism and hatred has been hailed by those that promote ideas based on both racism and hatred.

Radical conclusions from Powershift

I attended Powershift 2009, which brought 10,000 young people together in Washington DC to demand serious action on climate change, and have a few observations to make about the North American youth climate movement.

Cultural Dissent

Abolish the secret police

ASIO: The Enemy Within
Written & published by Michael Tubbs, 2008
275 pages,$25
Available from the Search Foundation, lvl 3, suite 3B, 110 Kippax St, Surry Hills, NSW
Ph 9211 4164, fax 9211 1407

Tinariwen — resistance of the Sahara

Tinariwen, who are touring Australia in April, first became known abroad at the initial Festival of the Desert in Mali in 2001, now an annual event. This was also the year it started travelling to Europe. Until then its music was for Tuaregs across the Sahara, an outlet during their resistance struggle, when forced by drought into exile in Libya or south-eastern Algeria in the 1970s.

Further Cultural Dissent

FEATURED CONTENT

Billionaire Rinehart's media control bid reveals corporate influence

Above: GetUp! released video showing professional climate change denier "Lord" Christopher Monkton advising a room full of mining executives on how the industry must gain control of Australia's media. This week mining billionaire Gina Rinehart became the largest shareholder in the Fairfax media conglomerate, having already bought a stake in Channel Ten.