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Loose cannons

Offensive? "I certainly won't be going to any of those discussions in any kind of defensive, anxious mode on that particular subject, far from it." — Prime Menzies John Howard, asked if the race "debate" in Australia made it necessary for him

Environment: Why cutting immigration won't help

By Lisa Macdonald Two weeks ago, the well-known environmentalist and spokesperson for Australians for an Ecologically Sustainable Population (AESP), Tim Flannery, won the prestigious Eureka award for his contribution to science's understanding

Victorian teachers vote for industrial action

By Mary Merkenich and Norrian Rundle MELBOURNE — Four thousand angry teachers defeated the Australian Education Union leadership's attempt to exclude industrial action from a campaign to stop school closures at a stop-work meeting on November 21.

Paving the way for a Blair government

By Neil Murray Currently the opinion polls put Labour 18 points above the Tories. With the Tories beset by allegations of corruption and deeply divided over Europe, it is difficult to see them being able to turn this situation around by the time of

Left On-line

Rainforests on the Web — The international Rainforest Action Network (http://www.ran.org/ran/info_center/aa/aa118.html) pools the most comprehensive information about the struggles to save the world's rainforest. Also check out the Gaia Forest

Villagers ban 'outsiders' from oil project

Villagers ban 'outsiders' from oil project Land-holders of the Gobe oil fields in PNG's Southern Highlands on October 24 banned "outsiders" from entering the area and threatened to "attack" anyone who did. It is proposed that oil deposits on the

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 Thursday, 10pm, and Saturday, 7pm. Access News — Melbourne

Democrats 'breach faith' on industrial relations bill

By Lisa Macdonald On November 19, the Australian Democrats gave up all pretence of being a progressive alternative in Australian parliaments by voting with the Howard government to allow the passage of the draconian Workplace Relations Bill.

Hindmarsh Island 'untold story' public meeting

By Carla Gorton Liberal and Labor politicians who have backed private developers Tom and Wendy Chapman's project to build a bridge to Kumarangk (Hindmarsh Island) should think twice after a capacity crowd filled the Maughan Church in Adelaide on

Intervention 'over our dead bodies', say Zaire rebels

Intervention 'over our dead bodies', say Zaire rebels By Norm Dixon While the western powers were busy attempting to cobble together a military force to serve their contradictory interests in Africa, anti-Mobutu rebels in one fell swoop removed

Album created by the Weipa struggle

Union is strength: Songs for the Weipa heroesVarious artistsConstruction, Forestry, Mining and Energy UnionReviewed by Jennifer Thompson The spark for this album — a tribute to the 75 Weipa unionists who stood up for their right to be in a union

Belonging to two campfires

ThumbulWritten by Tom E. Lewis and Mac GudgeonPerformed by Tom E. LewisDirected by John BoltonGasworks Theatre, Melbourne, until November 30Reviewed by Bronwen Beechey Outside the theatre it was an unseasonably cold and wet night, with howling wind