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South Africa: campaign to cancel apartheid's debt

The apartheid regime left South Africa with huge debts that are preventing real reconstruction and development. In a bizarre twist, the people who suffered at the hands of the apartheid government are now being expected to pay again for their pain

Battle to save escarpment

By Peter Johnston WOLLONGONG — Illawarra residents are organising to protect what many consider to be the area's most outstanding feature: the escarpment which runs the length of the region. The most recent threat to the escarpment is the

What's new in Labor's new platform?

What's new in Labor's new platform? By Susan Laszlo The release, two weeks ago, of Labor's draft platform coincided with polls showing Prime Minister John Howard's popularity at a record low. The Wik debate, the nursing homes fiasco, cuts to

Unionists concerned about mobile phone towers

By Shelly Collins CANBERRA — Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) members in the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs met on December 3 to hear from Telstra, Australian Communications Authority and DIMA management on the

and ain't i a woman?: Male bodies on display

Male bodies on display Have you noticed the proliferation of advertising billboards featuring glamorous young men with gleaming biceps, tight buttocks and big pecs bared, all "trim, tanned and terrific"? Whether it is selling male underwear,

Appeal launched for Dita Sari

Appeal launched for Dita Sari By James Balowski According to People's Democratic Party (PRD) sources, Dita Indah Sari, chair of the PRD-affiliated Centre for Labour Struggle, was released from hospital on November 28. Dita had been in intensive

Stakes raised in Jabiluka uranium battle

By Tom Flanagan DARWIN — Aboriginal traditional owners are blocking a key aspect of the plan to mine uranium at Jabiluka. They are using the limited legal rights they now have to refuse to consent to the milling of Jabiluka uranium ore at the

Corporate rorts, the law and the rich

Corporate rorts, the law and the rich By John van der Velden When John Elliott was acquitted of fraud charges in August 1996, he announced to the football crowd at Optus Oval that he had "stuck it right up the NCA" [National Crime Authority],

ETU leader: 'Rank and file involvement is critical'

ETU leader: 'Rank and file involvement is critical' By Sue Bolton MELBOURNE — The Victorian branch of the Electrical Trades Union (ETU) has been involved in some long and hard-fought struggles recently — ACI, Mobil, Citipower — that

Vigil to Protest Cuts to WorkCover

Vigil to Protest Cuts to WorkCover Tuesday, December 9, 10am-Thursday, December 11Outside Parliament House If you're interested in helping out with the vigil, ring the CFMEU on 9347-4766 or Trades Hall Council on 9662-3511.

General strike called as Basque leaders are jailed

General strike called as Basque leaders are jailed By Norm Dixon The left-wing Basque pro-independence party, Herri Batasuna (HB), has called a general strike across the four Spanish-ruled Basque provinces for December 15 in response to the

21 years of the Workers Health Centre

21 years of the Workers Health Centre By Ben Bartlett [The following is excerpted from a speech delivered at the 21st anniversary celebration of the Workers Health Centre.] The '70s was an exciting time. The Whitlam Labor government had been