Paul Oboohov, Canberra
On September 23, candidates for the October 9 federal election addressed a forum at the Australian National University organised by the National Tertiary Education Union.
The Liberal candidate for the seat of Fraser, Adam
Issue 600
News
#2
Sydney Social Forum a success
SYDNEY — More than 300 people attended the third Sydney Social Forum on September 17 19 at the University of Technology, Sydney. The forum was launched with a public forum titled "Keeping it common", which
Jim McIlroy, Brisbane
"Let's have regime change here in Australia, for ourselves as well as the people of Iraq", Donna Mulhearn, peace activist and former human shield in Iraq, told a rally of up to 1000 people on September 26. The protest took
Greg McFarlane, Sydney
More than 100 people attended a colourful rally outside Tony Abbott's Manly office on September 25 to express their anger at the dishonesty of the Howard government.
Representatives of the Socialist Alliance, the Stop the
Kath O'Driscoll, Lismore
On September 23, 100 people attended a "Karaoke against the cuts" protest against the NSW Labor government's "reforms" to disability services. The action was part of a state-wide protest, which included rallies on September
Kerryn Williams, Sydney
On September 24, Redfern police Aboriginal liaison officer Paul Wilkinson told the NSW parliamentary inquiry into Redfern that the young Aboriginal man who died after he was impaled on a fence in Waterloo on February 14, had
Dale Mills
The Queensland Labor government has dismissed recommendations that adult survivors of child abuse be financially compensated. At the moment there is a legal limitation period, meaning that someone cannot normally bring an action beyond
Alex Bainbridge, Hobart
On September 18, 50 people rallied on the Parliament Lawns to launch the Socialist Alliance's election campaigns for the federal seats of Denison and Franklin.
Denison candidate Kamala Emanuel said that "socialism
#1
Socialist candidates protest Kodak closure
MELBOURNE — On September 21, two Socialist Alliance candidates in the October 9 federal election — David Glanz (standing in Wills) and Sue Bolton (standing for the Senate) — participated in a
Tent embassy burnt down
Nicole Hilder, Wollongong
In pre-dawn hours of September 19 the Sandon Point Aboriginal Tent Embassy (SPATE) was destroyed by fire while five occupants were asleep inside. The tent embassy had stood on the site for more
Nicole Hilder, Wollongong
On September 24, 200 people attended a feisty meet-the-candidates forum on "family values", held in the Wollongong mall.
Referred to by its critics as "the big day out for homophobes", the event was organised by Jeff
Marcus Pabian, Melbourne
On September 22, the Socialist Alliance held an election launch at the Trades Hall for its nine Victorian federal election candidates.
"Is Australia a free democracy? Not while Craig Johnston remains a political
Dave Munroe, Wollongong
On September 18, a meet-the-candidates public forum on lowering the voting age to 16 was organised by Resistance and the Socialist Alliance.
Candidates for the seat of Cunningham addressed the meeting, including Chris
#3
NTEU strikes at two universities
MELBOURNE — Members of the National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) held 24-hour strikes at RMIT and the Victoria University of Technology on September 23. Staff at both universities are in the midst of
World
Holiday, EducateHoliday, Liberate
While you're on your holidayTake some time to educateOccupation is no lifeThere are no basic human rights
Everybody plays a partWhat you see is under occupationThe ghettos and the wallA fascist situation
Check
David Bacon, Oakland, California
If you listen to President George Bush, the only way Mexicans can avoid the deadly and illegal trip across the US border is to come as "guest" workers — temporary contract labourers for US industry and
Roj Shuhe, Toronto
During the last year, the larger protests against the war in Iraq here have featured sizeable and militant contingents from the Kurdish community. At the time of the invasion, the Kurdish population was deeply and evenly divided
UNITED STATES: Bush lifts Libya trade sanctions
US President George Bush lifted his country's trade embargo on Libya on September 20. Most of the sanctions were suspended in April, following Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Qadhafi's December
A debate is raging in British trade unions about what sort of relationship they should have with the Labour Party. Key figures took up the debate at a September 15 fringe meeting held during the annual conference of the Trades Union Congress
Doug Lorimer
"Almost every day, in campaign speeches, [US President George] Bush speaks with bravado about how he is 'winning' in Iraq... But, according to the US military's leading strategists and prominent retired generals, Bush's war is already
Kim Bullimore, West Bank
As you pass through the West Bank, you can't help but notice the illegal Israeli settlements dotted high up on the hills. They are easily identifiable: red tiled roofs, Western-style houses, barbed wire, checkpoints and
Doug Lorimer
With blatant disregard for Iran's legal rights under the nuclear non-proliferation treaty (NPT), the board of governors of the UN's International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) unanimously adopted a resolution on September 18 demanding
Leading Italian revolutionary socialist Livio Maitan died in Rome on September 16, at the age of 81.
Livio was born in Venice on April 1, 1923. He graduated in classics from the University of Padua. He became politically active in the socialist
Kim Bullimore, Tel Aviv
As Israeli and international peace activists gathered outside of the David Intercontinental Hotel on Sunday night, the tune of Madonna's hit Holiday blared from the speakers, only the words had been changed.
"Holiday,
Max Lane
Former Suharto-era general Bambang Susilo Yudhoyono and former Golkar official Yusuf Kalla have been elected as president and vice-president in the second round of Indonesia's first direct presidential election. Yudhoyono won 61% of the
Culture
BY BUSTER SOUTHERLY
Former Rio Rancho High School humanities and poetry teacher/coach Bill Nevins of Albuquerque, New Mexico, was given a 2004 Courageous Resister Award by the Artists Network of Refuse and Resist, a national organisation, in a
John Howard's Lament
Won't you come back MS Tampa,won't you come back to our shore.Bring us the old and the hungry,your crippled and troubled what's more.
Won't you come back MS Tampa,won't you come back to our shore.Bring us the old and the
Letters to AliDirected by Clara LawWritten by Eddie L.C. Fong and Clara LawNow showing at the Palace in Sydney and the Nova in Melbourne
REVIEWED BY LACHLAN MALLOCH & SARAH STEPHEN
Letters to Ali is a sensitively made, restrained yet powerful,
BY RACHEL EVANS
Ngara is an Eora Indigenous word meaning "listening". At Ngara: the Fourth Australian Poetry Festival on September 3-5, 450 people collectively listened to readings, workshops and performances.
The 500-member-strong Poets Union,
To the 5 BurroughsBeastie BoysCapitol Records$29.95
REVIEW BY NICK FREDMAN
The Beastie Boys, three weedy-looking Jewish guys with whining voices, were never the most obvious candidates for hip hop superstardom. However for over two decades
A group of filmmakers attending the Melbourne International Film Festival earlier this year found themselves lamenting the absence of Australian documentaries comparable with Michael Moore's Fahrenheit 9/11. With the forthcoming federal election in
Editorial
On October 9, it's time to go Johnny.
After more than eight years of neoliberal attacks against working people and the poor; after sending Australian troops to fight unjust wars; after locking up thousands of refugees who came here seeking asylum;