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* Dam pollutes the blue Danube

By Bla Liptk As the melting snow runs down the slopes of the Alps, it is collected into the mighty Danube. As the river reaches the Hungarian plains, it slows down, spreads out into hundreds of rivulets and deposits its detrital material into

New evidence on dioxin's health effects

New evidence of dioxin's ability to cause cancer in humans has come to light just as environmental justice activists across the US are planning a major campaign to attack dioxin at its sources.

A rare one for the kids

The Indian in the CupboardStarring Litefoot and Hal ScardinoAt Hoyts cinemas from AprilReviewed by Natasha Simons Politically progressive children's films are hard to come by, in particular ones produced by the Hollywood film industry. In this

ACF accuses Borbidge of scare tactics

By Bill Mason BRISBANE — The Australian Conservation Foundation has accused Queensland Premier Rob Borbidge of using "scare tactics" to frighten people into believing the controversial Tully Millstream hydro-electric power scheme should go

Public transport workers strike in SA

By Robert Houghton ADELAIDE — The Public Transport Union (PTU) held a 24-hour combined bus, tram and train strike here on March 20. The action followed minister for transport Diana Laidlaw's refusal to discuss the impact of competitive

Cuba approves national budget for 1996

By Roberto Jorquera Whilst the United States escalates its economic blockade of Cuba, the Cuban government's national budget for 1996 continues to prioritise the needs of the population. Though 1995 was another extremely difficult year for

Can Russian Communists topple Yeltsin?

Since supporters of President Boris Yeltsin were routed in parliamentary elections in December, Russians have been faced with the prospect that their next president may be Gennady Zyuganov, leader of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (KPRF).

Pumpkins head for Europe

By Jen Crothers Once again the Wild Pumpkins at Midnight are off to Europe, leaving Australian fans with a snatch of gigs and a new album. According to Dan Tuffy, singer, writer and bassist for the band, the Pumpkins feel lucky to be able to

Lively agenda for conferences

By Bill Mason BRISBANE — The Democratic Socialism '96 conferences are shaping up as "lively discussions of the key issues facing the progressive movement", according to Brisbane conference organiser John Nebauer. Guest speakers at the Brisbane

Tas Greens: 'A new era in Tasmanian politics'

By Iggy Kim In the face of a propaganda offensive by the major parties, the Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the establishment media for the election of a "stable" government, the Tasmanian Greens lost of one of their five seats

Perth bus drivers oppose privatisation

By Justin Randell PERTH — On March 21, Metrobus drivers here refused to collect fares in protest against the Court government's unfair treatment of the public carrier in the competitive tendering process for the metropolitan bus service.

Mordecai Richler in Jerusalem

This Year in JerusalemBy Mordecai RichlerNew York: Knopf, 1994. $25Reviewed by Vivienne Porzsolt Canadian Jewish writer Mordecai Richler's rich account interweaves his boyhood in Montreal in the 1930s and '40s — poor, orthodox Jewish, filled with