GLW issue 822, published 2010-01-20.

Haiti: International petition to cancel foreign debt

An international petition has been circulated for the dropping of Haiti’s foreign debt. For an explanation of why this is a crucial move at this time, and why the debt is illegitimate and part of the exploitation of Haiti for decades, read this article by Eric Toussaint and Sophie Perchellet entitled: Haiti’s odious debt

Steve Jenkins — 1966-2009: 'You might call it zealotry, but I call it commitment'

Steve Jenkins (March 10, 1956 — December 13, 2009) was one of the 47 elected Liverpool City Councillors who fought a titanic battle against the right-wing Thatcher government in the 1980s.

Australian News

Labor, Greens weaken ACT civil unions bill

When the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Legislative Assembly passed a civil unions bill, on November 11, 2009, granting same-sex couples the right to legally binding ceremonies, speculation abounded about how long it would last.

Fast to demand Guantanamo's closure

More than 150 people are on a liquid-only fast to demand the closure of the United States-run prison camp at Guantanamo Bay. The fast also demands an end to the practice of torture and for all detainees held by the US to be granted full protection under US law.

Further Australian News

International News

An urgent appeal from the Haiti Emergency Relief Fund

Thousands may have been killed and tens of thousands left homeless. This is a moment in which your solidarity is of critical importance.

Haiti: more articles on the crisis

The terrible devastation caused earthquake in Haiti, the worst to hit the Caribbean half-island in 200 years, is a combination of natural and human-made catastrophes. The series of articles listed below explain the history of how Haiti, which won its independence from France in 1804 through a revolution by the island’s slaves, has become the poorest nation in the hemisphere.

Further International News

Comment and Analysis

Merak eyewitness: Tamil refugees face death, deportation

Indonesia plans to force the 240 Tamil refugees, moored on a boat in Merak, into detention at the end of this week, “at gunpoint if necessary”, the January 14 Australian reported.

Suffering in the 'lucky country'

My name is Sue Gilbey. I live in an urban eco-village located on the land of the Kaurna people, in what is now Adelaide. I say that to acknowledge the people who lived here first and to boldly state that I will endeavour to be as good a custodian of my little bit of land as they were.

Further Comment and Analysis

Editorial

If the climate were a bank, they'd have saved it by now

The formal outcome of the Copenhagen climate summit was a huge fiasco. It confirmed the world’s corporate rulers were simply unwilling to act in defence of people and the planet.

Letters

Write on

Congratulations To start the year I would like to give some congratulations. First of all, to the Green Left Weekly people to get it together every week. What really strikes me is the empty punditry of the "commentators" in the big papers, and

General

Green Left Weekly $300,000 appeal launched

In a rally organised by the Socialist Alliance during its January 2-5 national conference, pledges totalling $125,057 were made to support the Green Left Weekly 2010 fighting fund.

Cultural Dissent

'Fuck you, we didn't do what you told us'

British reality TV show The X Factor, which presents itself as a singing competition, has succeeded from 2005-08 in securing the number one Christmas single in the British charts for the winner of the competition. The X Factor has been repeatedly criticised for being rigged and for its shallow commercialism.

Rudd's apology and the long struggle for justice

The Sins of the Nation & the Ritual of ApologiesBy Danielle CelermajerCambridge University Press 2009283pp, $150 (hardback)

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.