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China and the global economic crisis

As the US, Japan and Europe slide into recession, the leaders of many smaller countries are desperately hoping that continued strong growth in the Chinese economy, which has contributed about 15% of world economic growth in recent years, might save them from this meltdown.

Habib's shocking tale

NEWCASTLE — On November 9, 40 people attended the launch of My Story by Mamdouh Habib and co-author Julia Collingwood.

The woman who tried to save Lake Peddar

Whatever happened to Brenda Hean?
Directed by Scott Millwood
Written by Scott Millwood & Mira Robertson
Distributed by Gill Scrine & Little Films Whatever happened to Brenda Hean?
By Scott Millwood
Allen & Unwin, 2008
256 pages, $26.95 (pb)

Climate change: Maldives seek new homeland

According to a November 11 article in the British Guardian, the Maldives government is investigating the possibility of purchasing land in order to move its citizens to escape the disappearance of the Indian Ocean archipelago due to climate change.

Kmart locks out workers

SYDNEY — Workers at Kmart’s Huntingwood distribution centre in Sydney’s west were locked out by the company for two days from November 10. The workers — members of the National Union of Workers (NUW) — had just completed a four-day strike in pursuit of a new enterprise bargain.

South Africa's ANC: things fall apart

At some point in the not-too-distant future, we might just look back at 2008 as the year in which things really started to fall apart for the African National Congress (ANC).

Corrections

Due to a sub-editing error, the article "'No VSU-lite', say students" (GLW #774) contained an error. The article implied that the new levy introduced by the Rudd Labor government is non-compulsory. In fact, the changes allow the universities to

Sandgate feels the power of community

BRISBANE — More than 30 people attended a November 8 Green Left Weekly screening of The Power of Community — How Cuba Survived Peak Oil, at Sandgate Community Centre.

Malaysia: Socialists building global struggles

“Socialism 2008 — Malaysia”, a conference hosted by the Socialist Party of Malaysia (PSM) in Kajang, Selangor, over November 7-9, brought together more than 500 activists from around Malaysia, as well as from Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, Singapore, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Hong Kong, Australia, Britain, Sweden and Taiwan.

Preference deal a joke

MELBOURNE — The ALP have done a preference deal with the “joke” candidate for the Maribyrnong council elections. Former mayor and ALP incumbent Michael Clarke has preferenced Garth Bray, an independent.

Philippines: 'Rollback' labour export policy

The article below is an October 27 statement by the Partido ng Manggagawa (Labor Party Philippines). It has been reprinted from the socialist e-journal, Links.

Trial of the Goulburn Nine

The Goulburn Nine were arrested in November 2005 in Sydney, as were the Barwon 13 in Melbourne. A big deal was made about them being the first local terrorist groups in Australia to face trial under the draconian new “anti-terror” laws.