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One more week of capitalist economic squalor

Last week one big economic news story and two small stories exposed the mad squalor of the profit system under which we live.

ILO slams Rudd

In its latest Report of the Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations, released in 2009, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) has called on the federal government to suspend the operations of the Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC) and comply with ILO recommendations.

Canada: Capitalist crisis, socialist challenges

The article below is abridged from Socialist Voice, http://www.socialistvoice.ca>. It is by the editors of SV, Roger Annis and John Riddell. Annis is among the international guests attending the World at a Crossroads conference, Sydney, April 10-12. For more information, or to register, visit http://www.worldatacrossroads.org.

No to Zionist violence

Below is speech delivered by Gaza Defense Committee activist Ophelia Haragli, at a March 2 protest in Sydney against former Israeli ambassador to the United Nations, Dan Gillerman, who was on a speaking tour of Australia. Gillerman told the Sydney Morning Herald on February 16 that “Israeli troops should get a medal” for their massacre of 1300 civilians in Gaza earlier this year. The protest was organised by the Gaza Defence Committee http://www.gazadefencecommittee.org

Rudd promises to stay in Afghanistan for 'long haul'

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, in Washington last week to meet US President Barack Obama, made clear the ALP government’s support for the US’s wars overseas. The Australia-US war alliance is as strong as ever, he declared.

Superheros or super-villains?

Watchmen
Directed by Zack Snyder
Written by David Hayter and Alex Tse
With Jackie Earle Haley, Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Billy Crudup

Malaysian socialists warn of return of Mahathir-style repression

“As present deputy PM Najib Razak plans to takeover the prime ministership on April 2, there seems to be a pattern of growing repression”, warned Socialist Party of Malaysia (PSM) secretary general S. Arutchelvan.

Greens call for emissions trading rethink

The Australian Greens’ March 21-22 national council meeting in Perth discussed the party’s climate change policy. The council called on the Rudd government to adopt stronger emissions reduction targets.

From Melbourne to Gaza

It took Kamahl Mashni six minutes to decide to join the Viva Palestina aid convoy headed to Gaza from Britain on Valentine’s Day.

Israel's dirty laundry

Israel is a deeply militarised apartheid society.

Bolivia: National revolution and 'communitarian socialism'

The historic enactment of Bolivia’s new constitution that grants unprecedented rights to the country’s indigenous majority, approved by over 61% of the vote on January 25, represented the beginning of “communitarian socialism”, according to President Evo Morales.

France: Besancenot in top 50 to 'frame' future of capitalism

French revolutionary socialist and leader of the New Anti-capitalist Party, Olivier Besancenot, was listed among the 50 people who will “frame the debate” on the future of capitalism in an article in the British Financial Times on March 10. Besancenot is part of a list dominated by capitalist politicians, central bankers, financial investors and mainstream economists.