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Paraguay: New government faces elite resistance

Barely two weeks after being sworn in on August 15, a coup plot to oust newly elected Paraguayan president Fernando Lugo was exposed on September 2.

Swings against Labor in NSW council elections

The Greens and independents appear to be the main beneficiaries of a large swing away from Labor in the September 13 NSW council elections.

Same-sex law reform blocked

On September 4, the federal Labor government introduced a bill in parliament to partially end discrimination against same-sex couples.

Palestine: Israeli water policies leave West Bank dry

Below is an abridged August 19 statement by Israeli human rights organisation B’Tselem.

Venezuela: New coup plot exposed, US ambassador expelled

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez ordered the US ambassador in Caracas, Patrick Duddy, to leave the country within 72 hours on September 11.

We can solve the water crisis!

Thirty people gathered at the Governor of Hindmarsh Hotel for the second Politics in the Pub hosted by the Socialist Alliance on September 11. The topic — “Can we solve the water crisis?” — was addressed by Peter Laffan, chair of the Save our Gulf Coalition, and Bernie Laidlaw of the Socialist Alliance.

Stop the power sell-off once and for all

The dumping or resignation of half a dozen ministers from the NSW Labor government over the last fortnight — brought on by internal warfare over the cabinet’s refusal to scrap its electricity privatisation plan — has still not convinced the new premier and ALP power-brokers to drop the plan altogether.

Strike signals broader media crisis

The Fairfax Media workers’ strike on August 28-31 signalled growing troubles in the Australian media industry.

Papua New Guinea: Australian mining companies destructive role

The below statement is from the Mineral Policy Institute, http://www.mpi.org.au.

Who's afraid of building a vanguard party?

Building The Revolutionary Party: Jim Percy Selected Writings 1980-1987
Resistance Books, 2008
212 pages, $20
Available from http://www.resistancebooks.com

Too hot for Hollywood

Hollywood’s Censor: Joseph I. Breen & The Production Code Administration
By Thomas Doherty
Columbia University Press, 2007
427 pages, $49.95 (hb)

How to crash a planet: Just follow Garnaut

On September 5, the government’s climate change adviser, Professor Ross Garnaut, released his recommendations for medium-term cuts to Australian greenhouse gas emissions.