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ZIMBABWE: Unionists deported

Brian Stephens, Harare A delegation of 13 unionists from the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) was deported from Zimbabwe under armed escort on October 26. The delegation was investigating the situation in the lead up to national

Outdoing the Coalition on refugees?

Sarah Stephen &Roberto Jorquera, Sydney Labor's newly appointed shadow immigration minister, Laurie Ferguson, told the October 28 Melbourne Age that he was a "bit sick of being lectured to by people". He claimed that refugee advocates were "usually

Loose cannons

Capitalist justice "US Airways Group, in its second journey through Chapter 11 [bankruptcy], had requested that a bankruptcy court impose a 23% pay cut on nearly all of its union workers. A bankruptcy judge on Friday granted the carrier authority

New 'super ministry' threat to jobs

Jim McIlroy, Brisbane The Coalition government's plans to create a new federal "super-ministry" — the Department of Human Services (DHS) — has been met with concern by public sector workers worried that it will involve outsourcing or

In brief

IRAQ: US bombing kills 100,000 civilians About 100,000 Iraqi civilians — half of them women and children — have died since the US-led invasion in March 2003, most of them as a result of air strikes by the US-led occupation forces. The

The Conch [For survivors of Suharto's dictatorship]

I spent fifteen years in a single cellThe cold could be predicted, food not soMy body languished, my spirit fed well. I shivered with the ghosts of those who fellTwo tiny holes let in a concrete glowI spent fifteen years in a single cell. My

Dodging responsibility

Kathy Newnam, Darwin Support for the One Mile Dam Aboriginal community, just outside Darwin's CBD, has been growing since the launch of the Kumbutjil Association in early 2004. But this support has not been matched by action from the NT

On the Box

On the Box Message Stick: Thancoupie — Profiles Australia's most famous Indigenous potter renowned for creating stunning spherical forms with Indigenous designs. ABC, Friday November 5, 6pm. Transamazonian Highway — Includes footage of the

News briefs #2

#2 Green groups slam SE Qld regional plan BRISBANE — Conservation organisations have criticised the Queensland government's draft south-east Queensland regional plan, released for public comment on October 27, labelling it a sham and a threat

News briefs #3

#3 UWA NTEU supports jailed unionist PERTH — On October 27, the University of Western Australia branch committee of the National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) passed a motion expressing concern at the jailing of Victorian trade unionist

BOLIVIA: Mass movement on ascendancy again

Frederico Fuentes Facing extradition proceedings to stand trial in Bolivia for the deaths of 67 people during the October 2003 popular uprising that forced his resignation, former Bolivian president Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada told the October 22

'Sandonistas' fight on

Nicole Hilder, Wollongong Refusing to be intimidated by the September 19 fire-bombing of the Sandon Point Aboriginal Tent Embassy, the "Sandonistas" — Save Sandon Point activists — continue to take on the NSW government, Wollongong Council and