Jim McIlroy & Coral Wynter, Caracas "It is not possible [to accept] the continued massacre of our campesinos [peasants]", Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez declared during the August 6 edition of Alo Presidente, his weekly TV program. "They [attack]
683
Maritime Union of Australia WA secretary Chris Cain and other MUA members were joined by members of the US International Longshore and Warehouse Union in an unprecedented protest during the 41st International Transport Workers Federation conference
Mick Bull, Melbourne On September 4, the trade union movement held a memorial service for the workers' hero John Cummins — "Cummo", as he was known. Three thousand people from all around the country and all walks of life packed the Regent Theatre,
Clive Haggar, Canberra On June 6, the ACT government budget cut 120 secondary and 15 primary teaching positions, 10 itinerant and 90 support staff positions, and has foreshadowed the closure of 39 public preschools and schools. In addition the
Peter Boyle We received this note from a reader last week: "My beloved won $100 cash and asked me to donate it to the Green Left Weekly fighting fund. That's when I noticed that there is no direct deposit details given in the terrific page two
Doug Lorimer On September 3, Iraqi national security adviser Mouwafak al Rubaie told journalists that the alleged second-in-command of the tiny al Qaeda in Iraq group, Hamed Jumaa Farid al Saeedi, had been arrested a few days earlier in north-east
Chris Williams, Wollongong As part of the campaign for peace and justice in Palestine and Lebanon, 80 people gathered in Wollongong University's Hope theatre on September 6 to discuss "Mass media, mass lies — exposing the truth about Israel's
Graham Matthews As the fifth anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks in the US approached, PM John Howard and treasurer Peter Costello launched another barrage of racist attacks on Muslims and people of Arabic background. On talk-back radio on
On September 7, Hector Navarro, the former Venezuelan minister for higher education, arrived in Australia as a presidential envoy for Venezuela's socialist president, Hugo Chavez. Navarro, who is visiting the Pacific region on behalf of Venezuela's
On August 31 Ghana's government banned an international conference for gay men and lesbians that was due to take place on September 4. Information minister Kwame Bartels said: "Unnatural carnal knowledge is illegal under our criminal code.