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Letters to the Editor

Women's day Happy Women's Day, health minister Abbott. Just a reminder that undermining the independent choices of women has alienated nearly half the voting population. And, as a parent of an autistic child, whose expensive therapy is not

Unions back Iraq rally

Several NSW unions have decided to endorse the March 17 Sydney rally against the war in Iraq, organised by the Stop the War Coalition. They are the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA); the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union; the NSW Fire Brigade Employees Union; and the National Tertiary Education Union.

Melbourne to host international solidarity forum

The organisers of the Latin American and Asia Pacific International Solidarity Forum, “Fighting and organising globally against neoliberalism”, are calling on all activists, organisations and communities who are committed to building a better world to join together in Melbourne on October 11-14.

Uni students challenge military recruiters

Some 40 Sydney University students held a speak-out outside the army recruitment stall during orientation week on February 28, drawing attention to campus anti-war sentiment. Sydney University anti-war activists passionately poured their knowledge of the war’s criminality into the megaphone and the action was a spectacle of peaceful dissent.

Evo Morales calls for environmental justice

Commenting on the natural disaster that has left large swathes of Bolivia’s lowland east underwater after months of flooding, and much of the Andean region covered in ice, in late February Bolivian President Evo Morales called for a global debate on the effects of climate change and environmental destruction on poor nations.

Yeppoon residents oppose military exercise

During May-June this year, Queensland’s Shoalwater Bay will host tens of thousands of Australian and US troops engaged live-fire, large-scale military exercises that will pose grave risks for the environment and people’s health. The Shoalwater Military Training Area (SWMTA) is located inside the Great Barrier Reef National Park.

Pre-election tension in East Timor after killings

The situation remains tense in East Timor’s capital, Dili, in the wake of the Australian Defence Force-led operation on March 4 to capture renegade East Timorese army officer Major Alfredo Reinado.

Hicks vigil organiser undeterred by intimidation

Every week since February 3, around 60 people have gathered outside the office of federal Liberal MP Kerry Bartlett to call for Guantanamo Bay detainee David Hicks to be brought home. The initiator of the vigils, Kevin Hardwick, told Green Left Weekly that the vigils would continue until the Hicks issue is resolved.

NZ IWD marchers call for changes to rape laws

International Women’s Day (IWD) — March 8 — was marked by marches protesting the recent acquittal of former assistant police commissioner Clint Rickards and two other former police officers on charges of rape.

Tonight on TV, again: The Biggest Hypocrite

The Blue Team appeared to regain some advantage after the leader of the (mislabeled) Red Team was forced to admit he’d made an “error of judgement” in meeting up three times last year with convicted fraud and former WA premier Brian Burke (now a professional lobbyist).

Labor and the Australian oligarchy

A tiny group dominates Australian politics and Labor leader Kevin Rudd recently met them. He knows very well that the key to Labor’s electoral success later this year is an accommodation with the Australian oligarchy.

Taiwan's president changes stance on independence

After promising during his 2000 inauguration not to push for Taiwanese independence, a commitment reaffirmed after his 2004 re-election, President Chen Shuibian reversed his stance hours before China’s annual parliamentary session — the National People’s Congress — started on March 5.