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VENEZUELA: US arms embargo 'imperial abuse'

On May 15, the US announced that it would halt weapons sales to Venezuela due to its alleged lack of cooperation in the US "war on terrorism". In response, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez told the BBC during a recent London visit: "If it's true that

Iraqi doctor speaks at peace forum

PERTH — On May 14, 80 people heard Iraqi doctor Salam Ismael describe the situation in war-torn Iraq at the Australian Islamic College in Kewdale. Organised by the Perth Peace Group, the forum was also addressed by UnionsWA secretary Dave Robinson,

IRAQ: War causes Bush's approval rating to plummet

Doug Lorimer "People like this president. They're just sour right now on the [Iraq] war." This was the assessment made by Karl Rove, US President George Bush's top political adviser, of an opinion poll showing that Bush's approval rating had fallen

UNITED STATES: Bush's racist immigration plan

Deirdre Griswold President George Bush's speech on immigration, carried live by the media on May 15, was full of demagogy. He said, "The United States is not going to militarise the southern border". But he laid out a plan to send up to 6000

NSW delegates approve June 28 rallies

Liam Mitchell A series of delegates' meetings across Sydney approved a Unions NSW resolution calling for a rally in Blacktown, in western Sydney, on June 28, the national day of action called by the Australian Council of Trade Unions. The

EGYPT: Crackdown continues

On May 11, 10,000 riot police attempted to prevent a pro-democracy demonstration in Cairo in support of two judges facing disciplinary hearings for exposing corruption in the November elections. Dozens of protesters, as well as media reporters, were

Geelong union solidarity meeting

GEELONG — On May 9, 25 members of the Geelong Community and Union Solidarity Group (GCUSG) met to discuss the fight against the Howard government's Work Choices laws. Joan Doyle, Victorian branch secretary of the communications workers' union,

VENEZUELA: The threat of a decent society

John Pilger I have spent the past three weeks filming in the hillside barrios of Caracas, in streets and breeze-block houses that defy gravity and torrential rain and emerge at night like fireflies in the fog. Caracas is said to be one of the

SUDAN: Darfur agreement a 'US business deal'

Abohoraira Ali On May 5, a leader of one of the main factions of the largest rebel group in Darfur, the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army (SLM), signed a peace deal with the Sudanese government to end the bloody three-year conflict that has killed

Cindy Sheehan on Iraq: 'Howard's a fool for supporting Bush'

Pip Hinman John Howard is a "fool" for supporting US President George Bush's war on Iraq, the courageous and outspoken anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan told a Mother's Day anti-war protest outside the White House on May 13-14. Sheehan was at the

NEW ZEALAND: Echoes of France in 'work probation' bill

Grant Morgan, Auckland Slap workers in the face and call it a helping hand. That's the strategy behind a "work probation" bill sponsored by National Party MP Wayne Mapp. Ross Wilson, president of the NZ Council of Trade Unions (CTU), wrote in an

Livable city or urban nightmare? Free public transport!

Dave Holmes For the past two months Melbourne's Age newspaper, owned by the Fairfax media group, has been energetically campaigning for free public transport in the city. Former Victorian Liberal premier Jeff Kennett — who privatised public