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Learning nothing from Chernobyl

Learning nothing from Chernobyl By Renfrey Clarke MOSCOW — Ten years after the disaster at Chernobyl, the governments in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus have clearly learned little about the dangers of nuclear power. In Russia and Ukraine, plans

... and ain't i a woman? Adios, Patroncito

Adios, Patroncito "In the Chiapas highlands, on the sides of roads that are almost always laced with fog, the campesino families walk: the head of the family in the lead, his wife following, holding a few chickens by their feet, a bundle of

ALP future debated

By Bill Mason BRISBANE — "The future of the ALP and the unions" was the opening topic for the inaugural Politics at the Club forum, held at the Paddington Workers' Club on April 24. Guest speakers were Senator Kim Carr, ALP Victoria, a convener

Life of Riley: Getting to know the problem

Getting to know the problem A self-titled ordinary bloke was chatting to a mate the other day and the conversation went so: "If you have been wondering what ails us, you need look no further. Forget your studies in political economy. Stop your

The export of human beings

By Reihana Mohideen MANILA — March 19 was the first anniversary of the death of Flor Contemplacion, the Filipina migrant worker who was hanged on fraudulent murder charges by the Singapore government. Just a few days before the anniversary, the

Letter from the US: Two-party system under strain

Two-party system under strain The two-party system is showing signs of strain. Polls indicate a growing distrust of both Democratic and Republican politicians. Fuelling this unease is the fact that in the past two decades, real wages have fallen

Poem: The things I see

The things I see are not part of the constructed collective consciousness. The things I see are terrifying. They haunt me in nightmares. They fill me with anguish. They make me cry and want to scream my desolation with big

Learning from Howard's forerunners

Altered States: the regional impact of free market policies on the Australian statesEdited by John Spoehr and Ray BroomhillCLS Research Paper Series No 4, December 1995In association with the Social Justice Research FoundationReviewed by Melanie

Scab driver runs down picketer

By Geoff Spencer GEELONG — On April 23, one of the locked-out workers at E.P. Robinson Pty Ltd was run down by a car driven by a scab crossing the picket line. Steve Baker suffered severe bruising in one leg as a result of this hit and run. The

SA unions begin discussing fight back

By Melanie Sjoberg ADELAIDE — More than 60 union officials and rank and file gathered for a seminar on April 16 to discuss strategies for fighting the Brown Liberal government's economic rationalist agenda and the need for renewing the labour

News briefs

Move to ban marijuana cards BRISBANE — Queensland Attorney-General Denver Beanland has launched an investigation into the sale of "marijuana swap cards" from vending machines at shopping centres, after complaints from a Townsville parent.

Write on: letters to the editor

The almighty car While the battle between pedestrians, cyclists and skaters drags on, the Almighty Car drives on its merry polluting way and consumes more space than all three. As per capita Greenhouse emissions are an international disgrace