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Child-care under the hammer

By Susan Laszlo The push to privatise child-care, in private centres or in the home, is starting to take effect. Since the fee increase in July — the result of the federal government's withdrawal of operational subsidies to community based

Suharto moves to silence critic

Suharto moves to silence critic By James Balowski On August 5, the private secretary of one of Indonesia's best known statespersons was brought to trial for "insulting" President Suharto. Thirty-four-year-old Buyung Rachmat Buchori is being

Nurses continue fight for pay and conditions

Nurses continue fight for pay and conditions By Bronwen Beechey MELBOURNE— Victorian nurses voted on August 6 to close 20% of hospital beds as part of their long-running dispute with the state government over pay and staffing. All public

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

India: 50 years of 'independence'

By Sujatha Fernandes On August 15, 1947, India won its independence from Britain. With independence came not only the promise of freedom from servitude to the British masters, but also the hope of an end to grinding poverty, hard labour and

Crackdown continues in East Timor

By James Balowski While attention has been focused on South African President Nelson Mandela's recent meeting with jailed Fretilin leader Xanana Gusmao, and Mandela's offer to "contribute" to UN-sponsored negotiations between Portugal and

Looking out: All in pieces

All in piecesAll in pieces By Brandon Astor Jones and Sarah Connor "First there [is] the children's house of make believe,Some shattered dishes underneath a pine,THe playthings in the playhouse of the children,Weep for what little

Save Our Services rally

Save Our Services rally By Bronwyn Richards and Sharon Callahan WOLLONGONG — On July 19, the Save Our Services Warrawong Community Committee held a successful public rally against the withdrawal of Commonwealth government services from

Citipower workers: 13 weeks and still fighting

By Bronwen Beechey MELBOURNE — The dispute between electricity supplier Citipower and the Electrical Trades Union has entered its 13th week. ETU members voted on August 5 to stay out until the issue of job security has been resolved. The

Arguments for socialism: Socialists and free speech

Socialists and free speech By Sean Healy One of the main controversies in the growing movement against Pauline Hanson's racism surrounds the issue of whether or not the movement should call for restrictions on her legal right to free

Fela finally silenced

By Norm Dixon Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, one of Africa's most popular, courageous and politically outspoken musicians, has finally been silenced, much to the relief of Nigeria's corrupt political and military elite. Despite having suffered decades of

Wild words and free jazz

Wild words and free jazz Song of BaobabVernon Frazer with Thomas ChapinVFCISend US$20 to Echolaia Press, 132 Woodycrest Drive, East Hartford, CT 06118, USA Review by Norm Dixon Song of Baobab is a challenging CD that combines Vernon