This week in history
November 12, 1927: Trotsky expelled from Soviet Communist Party
Identifying a bureaucratic degeneration of the Soviet Union led by Stalin, Leon Trotsky began organising an opposition in 1926. Stalin deprived Trotsky of his
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East Timor: Habibie stalls as pressure mountsThe Indonesian government is under increasing pressure to resolve the growing political crisis it is caught in as a consequence of its 23-year illegal occupation of East Timor. President
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Fire in the skyOn the morning of November 18, the Earth will pass through the debris left over from the comet Tempel-Tuttle. At first this may seem of no political interest, but that is not entirely correct. The event occurs in
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Debate over Jabiluka campaign directionIn Melbourne on November 2, Jacqui Katona of the Gundjehmi Aboriginal Corporation (GAC) met with representatives of the national Jabiluka Action Group Network to discuss the campaign against
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Actively Radical TV — Sydney community television's progressive current affairs producers tackle the hard issues from the activist's point of view. CTS Sydney (UHF 31), every Thursday, 10pm and Saturday, 7pm. Ph 9565 5522. Access News —
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Multiculturalism and its discontentsWhen one peruses the newspapers and the air waves, one is struck by most people's lack of knowledge on the issue of multiculturalism, whatever their political persuasion.
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Is Hansonism finished?The sudden resignation of a Queensland MP is the latest of a string of setbacks for the far-right Pauline Hanson's One Nation, but it is too early to write off this party. Ever since the mid-1970s, the
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... and ain't I a woman?: The police and domestic violence Workers in domestic violence services in NSW are appalled by a proposal for the police to fund and pilot a project that would respond to incidents of domestic violence by holding
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Can Australian nationalism be progressive?Patrick Stevedores was described by many trade unionists as "un-Australian" for using security guards and dogs to drive waterside workers from their jobs earlier this year. "Un-Australian"
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NSW union forms anti-racism committee SYDNEY — A recent rise in workplace racism has led Asian construction and furniture workers to form an anti-racism committee. Sixty members of the NSW Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union formed
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Out of sight, out of mind I have deep and abiding convictions concerning social action. Indeed, I am certain that I can perhaps do something to alleviate the world's misery. I cannot abide those who would act cowardly in the face of social
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NSW forest decision The Carr government this week is making a final decision on the future of the forests of NE NSW. This government is at a cusp, it will be remembered for what it does now either as the first truly environmentally visionary
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The future before it happens "In this day of mini-marts and fast food outlets, quick lubes and fast traffic, the small cabin ... is a thing of pure beauty ..." — Rheta Grimsley Johnson Lying next to this legal pad, as I write, is a
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Labor's East Timor policy: how much has changed? Labor's East Timor policy: how much has changed? By Jon Land In the period immediately leading up to the October 3 federal election and in the weeks since, the Labor Party has made various
News
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Reclaiming the night in rural Queensland ROCKHAMPTON — The Reclaim the Night march this year was a big success in this provincial central Queensland town. The march was supported by 250 people, an increase of 100 from last year. The growing
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Following the public endorsement by telecommunications industry union officials of a Telstra enterprise agreement many workplace delegates consider rotten, union militants are preparing a "Vote No" campaign for the staff ballot on the
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School is oppressive. There are no two ways about it. For one, school (and students) are supposed to be "apolitical" — and school authorities try to keep it that way. Political repression tries to keep us quiet whenever we do take a
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NATIONAL — In a triumph for truth and justice, on November 2 the ABC's Media Watch program gave its "Lizard of the Year" award to 2UE's Stan Zamanek for his rabid, foaming-at-the-mouth coverage of Resistance's high school walkouts against racism.
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Great Barrier Reef threatened by giant oil project Great Barrier Reef threatened by giant oil project By Francesca Davis On October 29, Greenpeace activists entered the Stuart shale oil production plant in Queensland, immobilised key areas of
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Very clear "What I am announcing this morning is a very, very clear message to the people of Australia: that until this matter [criminal charges over alleged misuse of parliamentary perks] is cleared up, we are not going to accept Senator Colston's
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WA tries to restrict injured workers' rightsAt the behest of insurance companies and employers, the WA Liberal government is attempting to curtail severely injured workers' rights to sue their employers for negligence. The move has
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CANBERRA — The Chief Minister's Department (CMD) is the first department under the Carnell Liberal government to use the new industrial laws introduced by the Howard government. ACT public servants who are already on agency
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SA government stalls on extra staff in schools SA government stalls on extra staff in schools By Melanie Sjoberg Adelaide — City workers were bemused by the appearance of 700 cardboard cutouts on the lawns of Victoria Square, outside the
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Move defeated for public service campaign against sackings Move defeated for public service campaign against sackings By Chris Slee The tax section council of the Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) met in Sydney from October 23 to 26.
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Protests target Howard, ERA SYDNEY — About 150 protesters gathered outside the Town Hall here on November 6 to express their anger at the Jabiluka uranium mine. The rally and march through the city centre to the offices of Energy Resources of
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The founders of Resistance were part of the youth rebellion of the '60s. Inspired by the Cuban and Vietnamese people's fight for freedom, Australian activists formed a revolutionary youth organisation in 1967. From a small group of determined
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Surprises in Newcastle poll By Steve O'Brien NEWCASTLE — One Nation is casting a shadow over the November 21 Newcastle federal by-election. The Liberal candidate, Clive Jensen, bowed out of the contest and announced that he voted for Labor in a
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You're looking at it. This is our latest initiative — four pages (and the back cover) in Green Left each week specifically covering issues and features of concern to young people, by and for young people. Here's what you can expect: features and
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1. Because the mine is racist. The traditional owners of the land, the Mirrar people, are totally opposed to the Jabiluka mine. They were pressured into agreeing to the Ranger uranium mine lease in 1979 by
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The two high school walkouts against racism in July and August showed just how far some school authorities are prepared to go to repress students' activism: At Mt Clear Secondary College in Ballarat, after students had spent weeks raising money to
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SYDNEY — In the midst of negotiations for a new enterprise agreement between the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) and P&O's Container Terminals Australia Ltd (CTAL), management at Port Botany has abolished 34 crane chaser
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The Howard government is talking tough in a bid to exert maximum pressure on the senators with the softest positions on the GST — independents Mal Colston and Brian Harradine and the Australian Democrats — to try to get its tax
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Carr, cops and media bash ethnic community By Srini SYDNEY — The "drive-by shooting" of Lakemba police station in the city's south-west has led to a racist backlash against sections of Sydney's ethnic population. Tension has been rising since
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Action needed against Centrelink job threat, say workersBRISBANE — Staff and community leaders have expressed outrage over reported plans by the federal government's social welfare delivery agency, Centrelink, to slash up to
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ADELAIDE — As the South Australian Liberal government pushes ahead with its plan to privatise the Electricity Trust (ETSA), power industry workers are gearing up to ensure that they will not suffer. On October 27, 1000 ETSA
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This issue of Green Left Weekly is a little bit different. It contains the first issue of Resistance magazine, published by the socialist youth organisation, Resistance. The launch of Resistance as a regular feature in Green Left Weekly will
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New BHP boss bad news for workersNEWCASTLE — The appointment of Paul Anderson as the new face at the top of Australia's largest company adds a new element of insecurity for BHP's workers. Anderson says he wants to "increase
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Departing One Nation MP praises Labor's native title bill Departing One Nation MP praises Labor's native title bill By Graham Matthews BRISBANE — One Nation state MP Charles Rappolt resigned from parliament and One Nation on November 4.
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Resistance has mapped out its plans for growing and strengthening after a very successful year. Resistance's National Council, meeting in Sydney on October 19, spent a full day planning the future, how it would make the most of its
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SYDNEY — Ever since the Lakemba police station was shot up on November 1, the city's media have bombarded residents with about the "lethal cocktail" of "migrant crime". RANDA KATTAN, executive director of the Australian Arabic
Analysis
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An encouraging development This issue of Green Left Weekly contains an important and encouraging development: Resistance magazine, a new publication that will be incorporated in each issue of Green Left. Resistance magazine will be designed,
World
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Climate change conference opens in Buenos AiresOn November 2, the fourth meeting on climate change since the Kyoto conference began in Buenos Aires, with more than 160 countries attending. The conference looks set to be
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Cuba updates Trade fair opened Cuban President Fidel Castro inaugurated Havana's 16th International Trade Fair on November 1, calling on the International Monetary Fund to adjust its economic policies toward the Third World. The Cuban leader said
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Truth Commission report shakes up politicsThe final report of the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), released on October 29 by chairperson Archbishop Desmond Tutu, has presented a damning indictment of the
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Mumia Abu-Jamal's appeal denied Death row political prisoner Mumia Abu-Jamal's appeal for a new trial, which was before the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, was denied on October 30. The order was signed by Justice Ronald Castillo, who as district
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During the recent 21-day public sector strike in Colombia, eight trade unionists were assassinated. The murderers were paramilitary units possibly linked to the conservative government of Andres Pastrana, elected in August.
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Spain considers Basque talks The British Financial Times reported on November 4 that Spain's conservative Prime Minister José Maria Aznar had bent to pressure following the Basque regional elections, and given approval to government
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US farm children at risk from pesticides Children living on or near farms in the United States face disproportionately high exposure to dangerous pesticides, putting them at serious risk for adverse health effects, according to a new report by the
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MANAGUA — November 2 is the Day of the Dead in Nicaragua, when the cemeteries fill with family members decorating the graves of their loved ones. The day could not have begun with more disturbing scenes of death. The worst
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MOSCOW — The defence of human rights and the environment in Russia scored an important victory on October 29, when a St Petersburg judge rejected treason charges brought by security police against nuclear safety campaigner
Culture
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The Bonnie and Clyde of Cork Disco PigsWritten by Enda WalshDirected by Brian KiernanPerformed by Kevin O'Leary and Orla FitzgeraldTouring Australia Review by Bronwen Beechey Described by a British critic as "like something dreamed up by Quentin
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Double dose of modern opera Trouble in TahitiBy Leonard BernsteinDirected by Lindy HumeLove BurnsBy Graeme KoehneLibretto by Louis NowraDirected by Neil ArmfieldCompany B Belvoir and OzOperaBelvoir St Theatre, SyndeyUntil December 13 Review by
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Musical revolutionary Loving VibrationRas Midas and the BridgeJML Music ProductionSend US$18 to PO Box 7504, Santa Cruz, CA 95061, USAE-mail <voiceluv@cruzio.com> Review by Norm Dixon Contrary to popular myth, left-wing reggae — in
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Flickerfest casts an eye on PNG SYDNEY — Flickerfest, Australia's international short film festival, is to host "Ways of Seeing — the Camera Eye and Papua New Guinea", a documentary festival and forum night. It will take place at the Bondi
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The male psyche, warts and all The Odd CoupleWritten by Neil SimonWith Ted Chicoteau and Peter CranitchNew Farm Nash Theatre, Brisbane Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, 8pmUntil November 28 Review by Lynda Hansen The Odd Couple explores the
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The Brandon Teena StoryDirected by Susan Muska and Greta OlafsdotterPride DivideDirected by Paris PoirierDistributed by Queer Screen, phone (02) 9332 4938 Review by Bronwen Beechey These recently made documentaries from the US, screened at the
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Art will not wank Preview by Natalie Woodlock ADELAIDE — On November 14, artists and activists will come together in a unique exploration of art as an agent for social change. This exhibition and performance night, titled Art for Social Change,
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Get Another GripBy Kaz CookeMelbourne: Text Publishing, 1998. 258 pp., $17.95 (pb) Review by Phil Shannon Earth scientists' monitoring instruments have been reporting a sudden increase in rumblings and disturbances in the Australian political
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No more an object Women of SubstanceBy Sue Jackson and Gael WallacePhotographs by Ponch HawkesAllen & Unwin, 1998. 232 pp., $24.95 Review by Mary Merkenich This is a delightful book — informative, inspiring and entertaining. Sue Jackson and