Sam King
ADELAIDE — "In view of the negative health, environmental, social, cultural and economic effects arising from the uranium industry, the select panel of the Public Inquiry Into Uranium recommends that the uranium industry be phased out as
Issue 301
News
By Sean Healy
MELBOURNE — Attended by more than 100 people from across Australia, a national education conference, organised jointly by the Student Unionism Network and the National Union of Students, was held here on November 29-30. In addition
This is it, the last Green Left Weekly with "1997" on its colourful cover.
While those who do the technical work on the paper each week will have a short break from production, they, and the hundreds of other Green Left Weekly distributors here and
Concert for miners' struggles
By Paul Oboohov
CANBERRA — The Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union held a fundraising concert here on November 29 for the Hunter Valley No. 1 and Gordonstone miners. The miners are in bitter struggles
Opposition to uranium in WA
By Jo Vallentine
PERTH — Anti-uranium activists are closely monitoring Perth-based Acclaim Uranium NL, a new player in the uranium market in Western Australia, which has a portfolio of 15 mines in the state. Acclaim,
Mitcham by-election
By John Nebauer
MELBOURNE — Victorian premier Jeff Kennett faces a tough test in the marginal seat of Mitcham on December 13. The by-election was forced by former Liberal minister Roger Pescott's resignation in protest
By Peter Johnston
WOLLONGONG — Illawarra residents are organising to protect what many consider to be the area's most outstanding feature: the escarpment which runs the length of the region. The most recent threat to the escarpment is the
By Marce Cameron
MELBOURNE— Forty owner-drivers sacked by the courier firm IPEC have set up a picket line at the company's Campbellfield distribution depot demanding to be reinstated. The dispute began when clerical workers at the depot, who are
Rally to defend native title
SYDNEY — Around 400 people take part in a rally to defend Native Title in First Fleet Park, Circular Quay on December 6. The protest was organised by Campaign Against Racism to condemn the Coalition's Native Title
By Nikki Ulasowski
CANBERRA — At the unveiling of the "national Christmas tree" here on December 3, activists chanted "No to the racist 10-point plan" throughout PM John Howard's speech. A red-faced Howard persisted, even though he was drowned
By Tom Flanagan
DARWIN — Aboriginal traditional owners are blocking a key aspect of the plan to mine uranium at Jabiluka. They are using the limited legal rights they now have to refuse to consent to the milling of Jabiluka uranium ore at the
SA government gives uranium company power over Aboriginal sites
By Susan Laszlo
The South Australian government is trying to push through a bill which would give the biggest uranium producer in the state, Western Mining Corporation, control over
By Sue Bolton
MELBOURNE — A meeting of 1000 delegates on December 3 voted to continue the campaign against the Kennett government's WorkCover cuts, regardless of whether the legislation is passed. Following the meeting, delegates joined with
Greenhouse day of action
By Will Williams
CANBERRA — Three hundred people rallied outside the ACT Legislative Assembly on November 30 to protest against the Australian government's stance on greenhouse gas emissions. The crowd heard speakers,
By Rob Graham
ADELAIDE — More than 500 people packed the Norwood Town Hall on December 2 to hear pro-native title pastoralist Camilla Cowley and others speak on the Howard government's Native Title Amendment bill. The meeting was organised by
By Lisa Macdonald
GEELONG — More than 400 women attended the sixth Women and Labour Conference at Deakin University on November 29-30. The 65 panel and workshop presentations crammed into a day and a half covered topics as wide ranging as women
Vigil to Protest Cuts to WorkCover
Tuesday, December 9, 10am-Thursday, December 11Outside Parliament House If you're interested in helping out with the vigil, ring the CFMEU on 9347-4766 or Trades Hall Council on 9662-3511.
By Chris Slee
MELBOURNE — The Industrial Relations Commission has granted a reprieve to a group of workers in the Individual Non-Business Taxes section of the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) threatened with compulsory redundancy. At an IRC
Union supports freedom for political prisoners
By Vannessa Hearman
MELBOURNE — Following an address from representatives of Action in Solidarity with Indonesia and East Timor (ASIET), the Victorian Australian Services Union's Victorian branch
By Jennifer Thompson
SYDNEY — The 50th anniversary of the UN General Assembly's partition of Palestine into Arab and Jewish states was marked here with a public forum on November 29 which linked the dispossession of Palestinians and Aboriginal
Last issue for 1997
This issue of Green left Weekly is the last for 1997. Publication will resume on January 14 next year. We wish all our supporters a happy summer break and thank you for your contributions and solidarity over the last year.
By Sarah Peart
During Indonesian President Suharto's recent visit to South Africa and Canada, he faced hundreds of activists protesting against the human rights abuses in both Indonesia and East Timor. These types of actions help maintain
World
As of November 24, an estimated 4500-6000 indigenous people had fled their homes in Chenalho municipality, in the highland region of the south-eastern Mexican state of Chiapas, as a result of paramilitary violence that began the week before. As many
By Michael Karadjis
Dimitris Desyllas of the New Left Current (NAR) and Yannis Banias, from Communist and Ecological Left Renewal (AKOA), spoke to Green Left in Athens in November. A major issue confronting the left is the European capitalist
The apartheid regime left South Africa with huge debts that are preventing real reconstruction and development. In a bizarre twist, the people who suffered at the hands of the apartheid government are now being expected to pay again for their pain
General strike called as Basque leaders are jailed
By Norm Dixon
The left-wing Basque pro-independence party, Herri Batasuna (HB), has called a general strike across the four Spanish-ruled Basque provinces for December 15 in response to the
By Adam Hanieh
Events in recent weeks have demonstrated that the Oslo process is not contingent on the wishes of particular Israeli political parties, but central to imperialism's designs for the Middle East. On November 30, Prime Minister Benyamin
Israeli workers strike 'until further notice'
Some 700,000 Israeli workers walked off the job on December 3 in a general strike that will continue "until further notice". Among the wide range of sectors hit by the strike are oil refineries, gas
By Renfrey Clarke
MOSCOW — On November 17, teachers in the Altai District in southern Siberia expanded a one-day protest stoppage into an indefinite strike. Almost 5000 teachers from 176 schools were taking part, the Moscow daily Trud reported,
Alliance readies for next election
By Max Lane
AUCKLAND — Two hundred and twenty-five delegates from more than 60 branches of the New Zealand Alliance and more than 75 observers packed a conference hall over November 28-29 to prepare for the
By Rupen Savoulian
Fighting has erupted once again between the Taliban militia and soldiers from the opposition northern alliance led by Ahmed Shah Masood. Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan are three former Soviet republics that share a
Appeal launched for Dita Sari
By James Balowski
According to People's Democratic Party (PRD) sources, Dita Indah Sari, chair of the PRD-affiliated Centre for Labour Struggle, was released from hospital on November 28. Dita had been in intensive
By Jennifer Thompson
While the world has been watching the conflict between Iraq and the US over the last two months, Turkey has quietly established a "security zone" as a permanent buffer against the militant Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) on Iraqi
Culture
Disconsolate
Ascending the skyscrapersin the top end of townto offices where each daythe monopoly deeds are done.Where dwells the state's powerto plan, punish, pollute and persecutemaking misery global.
Here the compliant take their orders,push
SYDNEY — One of the more pleasant things about Sydney during the summer holidays (apart from the fact that one-third of Sydneysiders evacuate the place) is the Sydney Festival in January and February. Despite attempts to turn the 1998 festival into
details = The Sacred Balance: Rediscovering our Place in NatureBy David Suzuki and Amanda McConnellAllen and Unwin, 1997250 pp., $24.95 (pb)
Review by Dot Tumney
Any other author's name under this title would have ensured this book stayed in the
Understanding Multiculturalism and Australian IdentityBy Andrew C. TheophanousElikia Books1995, 466 pp., $16.95 (pb) James Vassilopoulos
Theophanous attempts to write the definitive book on multiculturalism. Instead, he drowns in his own rhetoric.
Ups and downs of scaffolding
Over the last few months, scaffolder and rigger John Tognolini and ABC Radio National's Radio-eye show have made what is probably the first radio documentary about scaffolding. In The Up and Downs of the Scaff Game,
One Million StrongVarious artistsThrough Shock Records Review by James Vassilopoulos
This hip hop CD was released on the second anniversary of the Million Man March in Washington DC in October 1995. The mobilisation, initiated by Nation of Islam
A New Australia: Citizenship, Radicalism and the First RepublicBy Bruce ScatesCambridge University Press, 1997261 pp., $29.95 (pb) Review by Phil Shannon
Have you been lashed into a coma by the debate over the Constitutional Convention and whether
Shopping and F***ingBy Mark RavenhillSydney Theatre Company, Wharf 2 — Until December ?? Review by Brendan Doyle
The theatre was full, and the audience mainly gay and male for this London production by the Out Of Joint theatre company. Were they
Mongrel Melodies — 63 Burlesque BalladsPublished by Sheep Thrills, 1997 — Send $9 per copy to 25 London St, Enmore 2042. Cheques to Greg Snook.Phone (02) 9557 5924. Review by Alex Bainbridge
As the title Mongrel Melodies suggests, this is a
The Larry Sanders ShowChannel 1011.55pm, Wednesdays Reviewed by Al McCall
It's not that I find gullibility objectionable in itself. A certain simple credulousness goes a long way. Without it, reality may be just too coarse for the constitution and,
Jabiluka: the struggle of the Mirrar people against the Jabiluka uranium mineFrontline Film FoundationProduced and directed by David BradburyChauvel Cinema, Sydney on December 12-13, 7pm and Dec 14, 5pm. State Film Centre, Melbourne on December
Canto Coro in December
By Bronwen Beechey
MELBOURNE—Canto Coro, which last year performed the acclaimed Little City to audiences around Australia, is performing a new program of choral works this month. The 50-voice mixed choir was formed five
Green Left Weekly plays a unique role in providing Australians with a true picture of what's happening here and abroad, as our media becomes increasingly controlled by fewer people and the ABC buckles under subtle and not so subtle political
Editorial
Government by lies
The Howard government has been completely consistent on one aspect of its effort to amend the 1993 Native Title Act to restrict the land rights of indigenous Australians: whenever it has met opposition to its plans, it has tried