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I am a feminist because...

Women still only get on average two-thirds the average wage of men. — Susan Austin, Brisbane. It's always women who bear the brunt of capitalism's attacks. Feminism is about getting out there and doing something about it, whether you're a man or

Rural Australians for Refugees defies 'rural conservatism' myth

BY BRONWYN JENNINGS Since its formation in October, Rural Australians for Refugees (RAR) has organised hundreds of people to campaign in defence of refugees. With 16 RAR groups having been formed, the network has boosted the fight to close refugee

UNITED STATES: 'They are all Enron, we are all Argentina'

BY ROHAN PEARCE Predictions made by mainstream media commentators and spokespeople for the ruling elite that the movement against corporate tyranny would die in the wake of the September 11 terror attacks were disproved by the successful protests

BRITAIN: Socialist Alliance targeted as press sees red

BY PHIL HEARSE LONDON — On January 28-29, 2500 workers at South West Trains, which daily brings 250,000 commuters to Central London, struck over pay and against the demotion of local union leader Greg Tucker. Over the same two-day period,

Crossin condemns refugee policies

BY GARY MEYERHOFF DARWIN — "It is time both parties stopped playing the game — who can be tougher on refugees?", ALP Senator Trish Crossin told a public meeting on February 5, becoming the latest ALP politician to speak out against inhumane

PAPUA NEW GUINEA: Government shields BHP-Billiton

BY BOB BURTON In an extraordinary move the Papua New Guinea government has passed legislation that prevents any government agency from taking or supporting "in any way" proceedings against BHP-Billiton "in respect of an environmental claim" over

Spying after the 'end of history'

Spy GameDirected by Tony ScottWith Robert Redford, Brad Pitt, Catherine McCormack and Marianne Jean-BaptisteAt major cinemas REVIEW BY ZANNY BEGG Tony Scott's new film, Spy Game, is an intriguing investigation into how to construct a spy film

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 Sunday, 9pm. Ph 9565 5522. Visit <http://www.channel31.org> for

Pressure grows for change on refugee detention policy

BY SARAH STEPHEN Immigration minister Philip Ruddock lied when he said that processing of Woomera detainees' asylum claims was halted due to changed conditions in Afghanistan. On February 4, Marc Purcell, the executive director of the Catholic

Trades Hall backs refugees

BY TIM GOODEN GEELONG — At its February 5 meeting, the executive of Geelong's Trades Hall Council recommended to affiliated unions that they call for a more humane approach to the treatment of refugees than that pursued by the federal Coalition

Students to protest for refugees' rights

BY MARIA VOUKELATOS BRISBANE — Young people will vote with their feet against the Coalition government's racist and inhumane policy of mandatory detention of refugees. In Brisbane, Geelong and Sydney high school students from the socialist youth

Socialists condemn proposed curfew

BY GARY MEYERHOFF DARWIN — Socialists, youth workers and human rights activists are alarmed at proposals by Northern Territory police and businesspeople for curfews to be placed on young people aged under 16 in Darwin. Proponents of "zero