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Pakistan's role in Afghan tragedy

By Asger Strodl Afghanistan has been at war with itself for over six years now. The internal conflict has destroyed much of what was left after the Soviet withdrawal in 1989. More than a million civilians have been killed since 1978. More than 5

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

Letter from the US: Half a million votes for Nader

Half a million votes for Nader By Barry Sheppard Ralph Nader, who ran for president on the Green Party ticket, received more than half a million votes, with more than 200,000 in California. This represented the most votes cast for a

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

Thai military back in the driving seat

By Chris Beale In Thailand's November 17 election the military, briefly sidelined by the May 1992 people's power uprising, was returned to power. Thailand has suffered 17 coups since 1932, when a weak, city-based bourgeois uprising to overthrow the

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

Zimbabwe health workers' strike enters fourth week

Zimbabwe health workers' strike enters fourth week By Norm Dixon A strike by Zimbabwe's nurses and junior doctors entered its fourth week on November 18. More than 10,000 health workers are demanding a pay increase of 30%, the restoration of the

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.

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.

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

Write on: Letters to the editor

Write on: Letters to the editor Rape trials I am writing about the article "Courts and injustice" by Jennifer Thompson (GLW #255). It concerns me that her criticism of rape trials (based on a government report) attacks the right to cross-examine