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NICARAGUA: Constitutional crisis threatens

The scheduled beginning of the school year in Nicaragua came and went without schools opening. The strike begun on February 2 by 80% of Nicaragua's 35,000 teachers is just one example of a growing political crisis. The teachers were demanding the

Reclaim the streets

SYDNEY — One-thousand people reclaimed a main street of inner-city Sydney to dance to music and have fun on January 29. Speakers on the open mike discussed the war in Iraq. A prominent banner announced "Welcome Mamdouh" Habib. Photo by Norman

The Habib injustice - a threat to us all

Sarah Stephen &Aaron Benedek, Sydney Consider this scenario: an Australian citizen travels to another country, is kidnapped by the military of a third country, receives absolutely no assistance from the Australian government, is imprisoned for

Black sisters singing up a storm

The SapphiresBy Tony BriggsBelvoir Street Theatre, SydneyUntil February 20 REVIEW BY BRENDAN DOYLE Was it because of the tsunami and the sombre mood we've all had to get used to lately? In any case, the Sunday afternoon audience was really pumped

PALESTINE: Sharon forced to resume negotiations

Kim Bullimore After being elected president of the Palestinian Authority (PA) with 62% of the popular vote on January 9, Mahmoud Abbas was due to be sworn in on January 15. However, on January 14, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon announced that

Checkpoint: a statement against censorship

BY LISA SARAMEL Checkpoint is a series of life-sized depictions of armed soldiers, which were to be placed at various locations in Blacktown in November 2004. The "checkpoints for weapons of mass distraction" were intended to confront people with

This week in history

January 10 1879: Ned Kelly's Jerilderie letter recounting his reasons for revolt is published. 2000: Blockades temporarily halt logging on the Errinundra Plateau, Gippsland. 1932: CNT general strike in Spain leads to insurrection. 1990: 800

Stop stealing East Timor's oil

Jon Lamb A 30-second television advertisement screened on January 26 during the Australian Open tennis tournament has returned to the limelight the theft of East Timor's oil and gas resources by PM John Howard's Coalition government. At prime time

SHOCKFACTS: Rising household debt

The average Australian household spends 2.3% more than it earns each week. In 2002 household debt, at $431 billion, represented almost 60% of economic activity in Australia. Current average household debt represents around 1.3 years of household

ACEH: PRD activist: reconstruction, not carpetbagging!

Zely Ariane has been the secretary-general of the Peoples Democratic Party (PRD) since 2003. Indonesia's only openly operating socialist party, It played a central role in the movement to overthrow Suharto between 1994 and 1998 and has been at the

TAHITI: Taui at the crossroads

Lorenz Gonschor, Honolulu On February 13, voters in Tahiti will once more go to the polls, less than a year after the last general elections on May 23, 2004. Even though this upcoming assembly election is only called a "by-election", it will be

The bombing of Dresden

Jon Lamb Sixty years ago, on the evening of February 13, 1945, 234 British bombers set off for the German city of Dresden. They were followed a few hours later by an additional 538 and the next day by a wave of 311 US bombers. Laden with high