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Action updates

MELBOURNE — A public meeting held on May 2 resolved to support, in principle, the setting up of a People's Action Centre in shopfront premises in Footscray. The centre will function as a drop-in centre and coffee shop, as well as providing a range

The CIA and the military in Latin America

Human rights violators and influential members of the armies of various Latin American countries have earned sizeable sums of money for passing information to the CIA. This is shaping up as a major scandal. It all began with the claim that

On the box

Actively Radical TV — Community television's progressive current affairs program tackles the hard issues from the activist's point of view. CTS Sydney (UHF 31), every Friday, 10.30pm. The Quiz Show Scandal — For the first time in 30 years,

Kennett slashes public housing

Kennett slashes public housing By David Mizon and April Bragg MELBOURNE — Fifty people rallied in Port Melbourne on May 1 to defend the Public Tenants Union (PTU), which is being closed down by the Kennett government. The closure is

Latin American states discuss nuclear issues

The 14th general conference of the Organisation to Ban Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean, held in Vina del Mar, Chile, for the first time with the participation of the 33 nations of the subcontinent, pledged to help strengthen the

Burma pipeline being built with slave labour

By Richard Horsey French and US oil companies face allegations that slave labour is being used on a massive scale to build a gas pipeline from Burma to Thailand. The project is a joint venture between French company Total, US company Unocal and

HECS and study in the public service

By Dave Rodda In 1988, having been unemployed for more than a year, I decided that, rather than remain on unemployment benefit forever, I should enrol in a university course. Although this would not necessarily be a magic solution, it would at

An eloquent defence of Aboriginal self-determination

Aboriginal Autonomy: Issues and Strategies By H.C. Coombs Cambridge University Press, 1994. 251 pp., $25 (pb) Reviewed by Chris Martin Perhaps the most influential and eloquent white advocate of Aboriginal self-determination, H.C. "Nugget"

Nuclear testing

Nuclear testing The lives of the people of Moruroa and Fangataufa in the South Pacific are in more danger following the election of the new French president. Jacques Chirac has signalled his intention to break the 1992 moratorium and resume

Junee: 'Disaster is the best description'

In its 1990-91 annual report, the NSW Department of Corrective Services reported its keenness to identify areas "suitable for contracting out". In April 1993, the Junee Correctional Centre, the first private prison in NSW, was opened. It is run by

The super scam

By Eva Cheng Changes to workers' superannuation announced in the federal budget last week amount to a new tax levied on lower income workers and foreshadow the eventual abolition of the age pension. Under the scheme, workers will pay 1%, 2%

Large May Day march in WA

Large May Day march in WA By Rjurik Davidson PERTH — The May Day march and rally, held in Fremantle on May 7, was the biggest in recent years. Almost 5000 people participated. The theme of the day was "Back to Basics" unionism,