Hot on the heels of the Sydney protests against US Vice-President Dick Cheney, more than 100 people attended the Sydney Socialist Alliance’s ‘Stand Up for Your Rights’ concert and election launch on February 24 at the Newtown Neighbourhood Centre. Many performers gave their time to the event including Uncle Arthur Ridgeway from Newcastle and Munkimuk from Sydney.
700
Green Left Weekly is celebrating its 700th issue! Thanks to everyone who sent messages of solidarity from across Australia and around the globe. Green Left Weekly couldn't have made it to 700 without our readers, subscribers, writers, sellers and all
The invasion and occupation of Iraq has never been popular. With more than 650,000 Iraqis, mostly civilians, having been killed since the March 2003 US-British-Australian invasion, it is not surprising that three quarters of Iraqis want the US and other foreign troops out, with 61% supporting armed attacks on US troops. The war is also opposed by a majority in the West, including those countries that are involved in the US-led occupation.
Seven hundred issues ago the first copy of Green Left Weekly hit the streets in the midst of the first US-led invasion of Iraq. Just say no to the war, was the cry on our multi-coloured cover, and the issue was snapped up eagerly at the anti-war protests.
New Mardi Gras organisers called police to Community Action Against Homophobias (CAAH) peaceful banner action at Fair Day on February 18. Fair Day is the annual lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) picnic in Sydneys massive Mardi Gras calendar.
Gippsland power industry unionists met on February 20 to discuss a plan for rescuing the industrys occupational health and safety (OHS) standards after two deaths and one serious injury in the power industry late last year.
I was very saddened to hear about the death of Neville Curtis at his home in White Beach, Tasmania, on February 15. He was 60 years old.
On February 24, the Refugee Council of Australia called on PM John Howards government to grant full and fair hearing in Australia to any claims for asylum by a group of 83 Sri Lankans rescued off Christmas Island by an Australian naval ship.
At 8am on February 16, police served writs citing a court injunction from Forestry Tasmania on three Huon Valley Environment Centre (HVEC) office-bearers, according to the February 17 Hobart Mercury. The court order was to stop a walk-in planned for the following day in the Weld Valley exclusion zone to highlight the ongoing logging of old-growth forests.
The people in Baghdad don't count
"I concluded that to step back from the fight in Baghdad would have disastrous consequences for people in America." — Emperor George Bush II, February 14, defending his decision to send an extra 21,500 US combat