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UNITED NATIONS: Human Development Report praises Vietnam

The UN's Human Development Report 2005, released in New York on September 9, has praised the Socialist Republic of Vietnam as "an example of a country that has converted high [economic] growth into rapid human development". The report adds that

IRAQ: Who was behind the tragedy at Aaimah bridge?

Louay Alzaher Iraq was plunged into mourning on August 31 after some 1130 Shiite Muslims lost their lives in a stampede in the Kadhimiya district of Baghdad the previous day. The stampede was caused by rumours that there were suicide bombers in a

Young workers oppose IR reforms

SYDNEY — On September 16, the socialist youth organisation Resistance initiated a speak-out against PM John Howard's proposed industrial relations reforms. Speakers at the protest, outside McDonald's at Circular Quay, highlighted the damaging

New ACT peace coalition

CANBERRA — On September 8, a new peace coalition was formed in the ACT. Attending the meeting were representatives from the Greens, the left caucus of the Labor Party, the ACT Council of Churches, the Quakers, the Socialist Alliance, Unions ACT,

Statewatch: keeping an eye on them

Dale Mills Victoria The Terrorism (Community Protection) Act 2003 was passed in Victoria because the government and police said it was needed to combat terrorism. However, a year later, none of its provisions had been used. The law allows police

Hoping for change

Home Among the Gum TreesArtwork by Gabrielle AlexanderThe Artery Fitzroy87-89 Moor St, FitzroyOpening September 21, 6pmExhibition September 20-October 2Phone Zola on (03) 9415 9200 or email <info@theartery.com.au> BY GABRIELLE ALEXANDER

Leonard Peltier in his own words

My Life is My Sun Dance: Prison Writings of Leonard PeltierRead by Harvey Arden, music by Reverend Goat and New Orleans LightMi Abuelo RecordsOrder at <http://cdbaby.com/cd/harveyarden> REVIEW BY NORM DIXON Leonard Peltier is one of the

Protests against war, attacks on civil liberties

Jim McIlroy, Brisbane A vigil on the steps of King George Square on September 11, called in support of Cindy Sheehan, mother of a US combat soldier killed in Iraq, led off several protest actions in Brisbane against the Iraq war and in defence of

Protest Rice and Rumsfeld

Rice-Rumsfeld Reception Committee, Adelaide The following call to action was issued by the Rice-Rumsfeld Reception Committee. Come to Adelaide in November and protest against the presence of Condoleezza Rice and Donald Rumsfeld, two central

PALESTINE: UN assembly applauds Israeli war criminal

Jamal Juma, Jerusalem Twenty-three years ago, on September 17-19, 1982, at least 2000 Palestinians in the Beruit refugee camps of Sabra and Shatila were brutally massacred under the guidance of then Israeli defence minister Ariel Sharon. Today this

UNITED STATES: Barbarism and socialism

Marce Cameron "How could this be happening in the United States?", asked the headline of a September 3 Washington Post article in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. "People around the world cannot believe what they're seeing", the Post reported. "From

A cheeky little (global) wine

MondovinoWritten & directed by Jonathan Nossiter Opens in Sydney and Melbourne on September 15 REVIEW BY BRENDAN DOYLE Don't know your Beaujolais from your bubbly? You can still enjoy Mondovino in moderation. Corporate crooks, carping critics,