Alex Bainbridge, Hobart
Woodchipping giant Gunns Limited issued a writ against 20 environmental activists and organisations on December 13, claiming their actions had hurt its business. Two days later, up to 700 people protested in Hobart to
Issue 611
News
Nicole Hilder, Wollongong
Residential developer Stockland Development was found guilty on December 16 of disregarding planning rules after dumping thousands of tonnes of landfill on top of a sacred Aboriginal site at Sandon Point in northern
Kathy Newnan">
SYDNEY — People imprisoned in Villawood detention centre responded generously to the tsunami crisis, despite many having little money. Some have cash from their working days before they were detained. Together they raised
Alison Dellit
More than 200 people attended the 2005 Marxist Summer School held by the Democratic Socialist Perspective in Sydney on January 8-11.
Participants discussed a wide range of topics relevant to Marxists today, from an analysis of the
Chris Latham, Perth In a ballot of nurses employed in Western Australia's public health system, two-thirds voted to reject the state Labor government's offer of a non-union agreement. The clear rejection of the government's attempt to sideline the
World
GERMANY: New left party to be launched
In a ballot conducted in the now 6000-strong Electoral Alternative Work and Social Justice in December, an overwhelming 96% voted to formally launch a new left party at an extraordinary congress on January
Kim Bullimore
On January 9, Mahmoud Abbas (also known as Abu Mazen) was elected the new president of the Palestinian Authority, with 62% of the popular vote, following the death late last year of Yasser Arafat. According to the corporate media, the
Federico Fuentes
The New Year ushered in a new wave of protests and strikes that has threatened to end Bolivian President Carlos Mesa's term early. Already the latest events have completely polarised Bolivia, a country which witnessed 2000 protests
Stuart Munckton
In Havana on December 14, Cuban President Fidel Castro and Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez signed a new, far-reaching economic agreement between the two nations.
Both countries believe that the agreement fits within the framework
Stan Goff
The following is an abridged version of a speech given on December 11 at a public meeting in New York City sponsored by Veterans for Peace and Military Families Speak Out (MFSO). It first appeared in the GI Special email bulletin. Goff is
John Catalinotto, New York
Former CIA "asset" and current Iraqi "Premier" Iyad Allawi telephoned US President George Bush on January 3 to discuss problems about holding the January 30 national election in Iraq. The big question was whether the
John Roosa
On December 25, one day before Aceh was devastated by an earthquake-driven tsunami, the Indonesian military (TNI) announced that it had just killed 18 pro-independence guerrillas in the province. Such news had long since become routine.
Luisa Ara
In the early hours of the morning of January 1, in Andahuaylas, one of Peru's poorest cities, approximately 150 ex-military rebels, members of the Peruvian Nationalist Movement (MNP) headed by Antauro Humala, stormed the city headquarters
Russian academic Boris Kagarlitsky recently attended a conference in Caracas organised by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. The following is excerpted from his account of the trip.
In Venezuela, a revolution is taking place. In 1992 Colonel Hugo
Eric Ruder, Chicago
After nearly two months of a savage US offensive, the people of Fallujah are returning to their city — to find heaps of rubble and whole neighbourhoods demolished. Operation Phantom Fury, as the US called its assault,
Culture
When the policemen were olderthe postmen had whistlesand the Queen was a slip of a girlwhen the South Pole was colderand Ming had his Thistleand Mum wore a twinset and pearlswhen the menace was redand the peril was yellowand the potties all sucked up
Stasiland: Stories behind the Berlin WallBy Anna FunderThe Text Publishing Company304 pages, $24 (pb)
REVIEW BY AMANDA PEARSON
Anna Funder's Stasiland is well written, lyrical and evocative. It is journalistic in style, and does not pretend to be
NinjaBy Tamara AsmarOld Fitzroy Hotel Theatre, SydneyUntil January 22
REVIEW BY BRENDAN DOYLE
The Old Fitzroy in Sydney has been the home of much original, thought-provoking and affordable new Australian theatre. Ninja is yet another shoestring
Saul WilliamsSaul WilliamsFader LanbelUS$12Order from <http://www.saulwilliams.com>.
REVIEW BY BILL NEVINS
"This ain't hip hop no more. It's bigger than that", declares Saul Williams in an early cut on his latest, self-titled cd. The
Louise MichelEdited by Nick McClellanOcean Press, Melbourne, 2004
118 pages, $11.95Order from <http://www.oceanbooks.com.au>.
REVIEW BY OWEN RICHARDS
In 1871, for the first time in history, the working class "stormed heaven" by taking