Issue 118

News

By Vannessa Hearman Melbourne — A leaked government report, which was suppressed by both Labor and Liberal state governments, declares Mobil's Williamstown facilities and its controversial expansion plans unsafe. The report, released on
International workers conference By Chris Slee MELBOURNE — Twenty-five international guests and 110 Australian-resident workers attended a conference entitled "Workers Change the World" between September 29 and October 3. The
By Cherie Marion and Tasha Coleman MELBOURNE — The feminist Belladonna Collective is campaigning for the establishment of a women's director position on the Swinburne University Students Union, but misogynist student politicians have been
By Ray Fulcher MELBOURNE — Some 30,000 people took to the streets of Melbourne on October 6 in what is probably the last anti-Kennett mass rally called by Trades Hall. The demonstration was the high point of Trades Hall's "week of action".
Police blasted for Aidex violence The Commonwealth ombudsman has condemned as "inexcusable" the methods used by Australian Federal Police against protesters during the Aidex demonstration in Canberra in November 1991. A report released by
Inside Indonesia turns ten The tenth anniversary of the important Australian publication Inside Indonesia was celebrated in Melbourne on October 3 with the release of issue number 36. The celebration was held together with the opening of an
Business maths "Although the details are secret, it is believed [Comalco] uses more than one-quarter of [Tasmania's] power production and provides about 12% of the state Hydro-Electric Commission's revenue." — Bulletin, October 5. Catching
Workers protest compo cuts By Alex Cooper MELBOURNE — A rally was held to protest the against changes to workers compensation introduced since last November as part of Victorian Trades Hall Council's week of action against the Kennett
By Sam Wainwright In the next few weeks Environmental Youth Alliance activists in cities around Australia will be protesting against the increasing pollution of the environment under the banner "People Against Pollution". The greenhouse
Rainforest banner a winner By Cam Walker MELBOURNE — Thirty activists from the Boycott Mitsubishi Coalition leafleted the National Basketball League's finals at Flinders Park on October 1. The action was part of the campaign at events
Good turnout for GLW dinner ADELAIDE — One hundred and seventy people packed into the Eastwood Community Centre for the annual Green Left Weekly dinner on September 24. Guests were treated to an array of Indonesian and African food, and heard
Compensation sought for wrongful jailing By Bill Mason BRISBANE — Kelvin Condren, who was jailed for seven years for murder, despite confessions by another man that he committed the crime, is claiming more than $1 million in compensation
Socialists announce candidates By Liam Mitchell ADELAIDE — The Democratic Socialists have announced two candidates for the next South Australian elections. A major point in their platform will be greater democracy and the involvement of
Adelaide rally against racism By Col Smith ADELAIDE — As a response to the racist backlash against the High Court decision on native title, a new alliance called People Against Racism (PAR) held a rally on October 1 outside the offices of
Cuban doctor speaks By Bill Mason BRISBANE — Cuba's unique and revolutionary health care system has faced the challenge of the recent polyneuropathy epidemic — affecting the eyesight of many citizens — by mobilising the country's
BRISBANE — The Boycott Mitsubishi Campaign continued on Friday, October 1, as the Rainforest Information Centre, Environmental Youth Alliance and other rainforest activists gathered at Boondal Entertainment Centre for the Mitsubishi-sponsored
ADELAIDE — Around 80 people gathered on the steps of Parliament House on October 2 to protest against Indonesia's occupation of East Timor and demand the release of resistance leader Xanana Gusmao. The demonstration was part of a weekend of

World

PNG agrees to Bougainville peace talks By Pip Hinman A military stalemate on Bougainville and mounting international pressure have forced the Papua New Guinea government to announce that it will open Bougainville to independent observers
By Jabulane Matsebula The government of Swaziland is reported to be using drought relief aid to lure voters to register under a widely rejected system of elections. Swaziland has had a democracy drought for 20 years after the traditionalist
By Sean Malloy The United States is deploying further troops and armour to Somalia after 12 US troops were killed, and at least one captured, in its October 3-4 attack on Hawiye clan leader, Mohammed Aideed. The attack killed an estimated 500
By Norm Dixon JOHANNESBURG — "Anglo American are telling the outside world that there is no apartheid in their company, and that they are opposed to the apartheid system. That is not true. There is a lot of apartheid in this company."
By Chris Slee Sri Lankan workers are suffering badly under the free market policies of the United National Party government, which has ruled the country since 1977. Anton Marcus, joint secretary of the Industrial, Transport and General Workers
Egyptian trials a travesty, says Amnesty Mass trials of civilians in military courts in Egypt are grossly unfair, and many of those being tried have reportedly been tortured to extract confessions, said Amnesty International on September
Plot to assassinate ANC youth leader By Norm Dixon South African police have uncovered a plot by white right-wingers to murder the president of the African National Congress Youth League, Peter Mokaba. The police, however, have refused to
A convoy of trucks from Britain carrying tonnes of goods and spreading a message of international solidarity has passed through Slovenia on its way to Tuzla in Bosnia. The convoy left the Timex factory in Dundee on August 9. The trucks were sent
The war against the majority This statement was issued by the "North-South Dialogue" sponsored by the World Federation of Democratic Youth in New Delhi, September 22-23. Although the cold war between the USA and the USSR may have finished,
By Max Lane Several Philippine left groups are holding exploratory talks aimed at assessing the possibility of establishing an ongoing united front formation. The talks, which began on September 28, involve the components of Peoples Challenge,
Solidarity theme of North-South dialogue By Sean Healy NEW DELHI — A round-table discussion on "North-South dialogue: youth perspectives" was held here September 22-23. Organised by the World Federation of Democratic Youth (WFDY), the

Culture

Youth Cultural Dissent By Taryne Laffar PERTH — For a young person, trying to escape the mainstream culture thrust upon us, is difficult. Now Cultural Dissent has given us a chance to express our own music, literature, poetry, film and
Ethan Frome Directed by John Madden At the Kino, Melbourne, from late October Reviewed by Peter Boyle Forbidden passion seems to be a sexy topic among independent and art house cinemas these days — or perhaps it always was. John
After the Fall By Arthur Miller Directed by Elin O'Connell New Theatre, Newtown (Sydney) Friday-Sunday until November 13 Reviewed by Allen Myers It's hard to find words sufficiently superlative to describe the New Theatre's After the
Breaking the norms By Sabina Nowak ADELAIDE — Two short plays by David Paul Jobling, The grip and Grown-up's playroom, were performed together at the Space Theatre from September 21 to 25. The grip, previously performed at the South
The view from Tralfamadore Fates Worse Than Death — An Autobiographical Collage of the 1980s By Kurt Vonnegut Vintage, 1992. 240 pp. $12.95 Reviewed by Dave Riley Once upon a time artists were people; that is, they were for the
Seizing the night By Lynda Hansen BRISBANE — Green it Up! presented a special event on September 16. Nineteen women performers demonstrated their talents for an audience of more than 100 people. A mixture of poetry, storytelling and
Shooting at the Moon Shooting at the Moon: Peace Workers in Cambodia Tell Their Stories A photographic exhibition at the Sydney Town Hall October 9-16 and from October 18 in Canberra at Old Parliament House. Heide Smith's photographs
Emotions so powerful you can taste them Like Water for Chocolate A film by Alfonso Arau Reviewed by Elle Morrell In Mexico, hot chocolate is made with water, not milk. One brings the water to a boil and then adds the cocoa. When someone
The Wisdom of the Elders By Peter Knudtson and David Suzuki Sydney: Allen and Unwin. 232pp. $19.95. Reviewed by Dave Riley Human history is part of natural history. Human beings arose via their interactions with nature. Human society
How Australia won the Olympics By John Tomlinson At 4.20 a.m. on September 24, the secretary of the International Olympic Committee announced that Australia had won the right to host the year 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney. It can now be
By Bergen O'Brien SYDNEY — "When I paint I am free. My heart bonds with my mind which gives me an eye so keen and a hand so steady — paints a true statement of beauty so totally free", writes Bud Lansdale, an Aboriginal artist, from Long Bay
Mabo made understandable Mabo — its meaning for Australia A Community Aid Abroad Background Report 30 pp. $8 (plus $2 for postage and packaging) Reviewed by Lachlan Anderson Community Aid Abroad recently released a compilation of

Editorial

Ho-hum for the republic Ignoring calls from Prime Minister Paul Keating for an unemotional and non-inflammatory debate on the prospects for a republic as the findings of the government's Republic Advisory Committee were handing down on October