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Native title rally

Native title rally SYDNEY — Up to 5000 unionists marched on October 1 to protest against the Liberal government's attacks on trade union rights. Thousands of CFMEU building workers walked off sites across Sydney, and a large contingent of coal

Dodging lunatics with black moustaches

The Absurd Machine: A Cartoon History of the WorldBy Bruce PettyPenguin, 1997, $29.95 (pb) Review by Phil Shannon Global 2000 is in trouble. About to enter the next millennium with five billion passengers on board, it crashes, breaking off its

Telstra dismisses union delegate

Telstra dismisses union delegate By Leo Wellin In a test case against unlawful dismissal, union militant Mervyn Vogt is appealing to the Federal Court against Telstra's sacking of him for producing a rank and file newsletter. Vogt, a

Azapo to form left-wing party

By Norm Dixon A section of the Azanian Peoples Organisation (Azapo), followers of murdered Black Consciousness leader Steve Biko, announced on September 14 it would form a socialist party to contest the 1999 elections. The decision followed a

Large turnout for vote on fees

By Marcel Cameron MELBOURNE — Activists are celebrating an encouraging turnout of students and staff for the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) referendum on up-front fees. More than 10,000 students and staff voted on whether they

Victories for multi-ethnic candidates in Bosnian elections

By Michael Karadjis TUZLA — The recent municipal elections throughout Bosnia-Hercegovina reveal a polarisation between the three ethnic-based parties on the one hand, and multi-ethnic or anti-nationalist forces on the other. The victories of

Sydney student elections go to the right

By Jo Brown SYDNEY — The election of right-wing candidate Adair Durie as the new president of the University of Sydney Student Representative Council two weeks ago ended 10 years of left-wing presidents. Adair "the Bear" Durie ran on a ticket

The making of a socialist 'saint'

Lenin Lives! The Lenin Cult in Soviet RussiaBy Nina TumarkinHarvard University Press, 1997337 pp., $31.95 (pb) Review by Phil Shannon Cults come in all shapes and sizes. The Elvis cult is tacky but harmless. The Princess Diana cult is schmalzy

The perils of Pauline

By Justin Harman When Pauline Hanson wants something done, the Howard government is usually soon there doing it for her. Cuts to ATSIC, the immigration intake: all her wishes are being fulfilled — all, according to a recent New Idea article,

Congo denies UN 'smears' over human rights

By Norm Dixon Leaders of the Democratic Republic of Congo have angrily denied claims by the United Nations and western governments that investigations into rumours of human rights violations (during the uprising that deposed the Mobutu

Chiapas rebels declare autonomous county

Chiapas rebels declare autonomous county Unwilling to await the outcome of negotiations with the Mexican government, Zapatista rebels on September 28 declared an autonomous county in southern Chiapas. The government opposes the traditional

Solidarity with striking Gordonstone miners

By Paul Glenning EMERALD — Miners have entered their second week of picketing the giant underground Gordonstone coalmine in central Queensland. US mining company ARCO has closed the mine and issued dismissal notices to 312 mining and