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Permanent war for permanent peace

Star Wars: Episode III — Revenge of the SithDirected by George LucasStarring Natalie Portman, Hayden Christensen & Ewan McGregor REVIEW BY DAVE RILEY Just when you thought you'd had enough of the throbbing fluroescence of light sabres hovering

TURKEY: Conscientious objector arrested

On April 8, Mehmet Tarhan was arrested for "insubordination" after failing to serve his compulsory military service. Tarhan had declared himself a conscientious objector in 2001, but such status is not recognised under Turkish law. Tarhan fears he

Vikings pillage NSW

SYDNEY — "More than 3700 police from four regions arrested more than 800 people following Operation Supervikings", stated a NSW Police press release issued on May 29. The three-day operation ending May 29 targeted people in Sydney, Newcastle and

Venezuela 'a model for the world'

BRISBANE — The radical changes in Venezuela are a "strong example for Latin America, and the entire world", renowned writer Tariq Ali told an audience of 400 people at the University of Queensland on May 30. Ali is touring Australia on the topic

BANGLADESH: Workers protest deaths

On May 27, hundreds of garment workers protested on the site of their collapsed workplace, demanding compensation for the injured, and families of workers killed or missing. The nine-storey Spectrum garments factory caved in the dead of night on

Traditional owners speak out

ADELAIDE — On May 28, elders and traditional owners from the Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara lands addressed a public meeting to express their concerns about the review of the 1981 Pitjantjatjara Land Rights Act. Organised by ANTaR SA and the

'Sink Howard and his ship of fools!'

Ron Perkins, Perth The Perth Convention Centre was filled on June 1 with one of the largest assemblies of trade union delegates since the fight-back against repressive industrial relations legislation in the mid-1990s under then-Coalition Premier

On the box

Viva: Santiago De Cuba — Explores a "treasure trove of music", which reflects the multiple influences that have made Cuban music famous worldwide. SBS, Saturday, June 11, 4pm. Living Black — Indigenous news and current affairs program. SBS,

The Cuban Five - heroes fighting terrorism

John Percy For all the hypocritical crusading rhetoric of US President George Bush about his "war on terror", in practice he is promoting and sheltering real terrorists — the right-wing Cuban emigres who have been waging a terror war on

ACT MPs to sign refugee rights charter

CANBERRA — On June 16, a majority of the members of the ACT Legislative Assembly from all major parties, as well as church and community leaders, will sign on to a Refugee Rights Charter and a call for the national capital to become a "refugee

Darwin Harbour under threat

DARWIN — The Northern Territory Labor government's pre-election trumpeting of the "waterfront development" in the Darwin Harbour has failed to take into account the associated environmental risks. The project is the jewel in the crown of Chief

Students occupy Liberal Party offices

MELBOURNE — Students occupied the Liberal Party's Victoria headquarters on June 2 in response to the federal government's proposed "voluntary student unionism" (VSU) legislation. One of the protesters, Julia Dehm, said: "The Coalition has made it