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Land rights under further threat in WA

By Sean Martin-Iverson PERTH — The WA government is pushing through its native title "reform" package, with the aim of de facto abolition of land rights. The legislation has met considerable protest from Aboriginal and social justice groups, but

Kurds begin hunger strike

Kurds begin hunger strike By Kim Bullimore CANBERRA — On November 18, members of the Australian Kurdish community began an indefinite hunger strike on the lawns of Parliament House in protest at the arrest of Kurdish independence leader

Radiation leak in Kakadu

Radiation leak in Kakadu Uranium mining operations are directly threatening the long-term integrity of Kakadu National Park, the Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) said on November 19. The statement followed news of a radioactive spill which

Activists speak out for East Timor

SYDNEY — On November 14, a demonstration was held here to remember the East Timorese killed in the Dili massacre of 1991. RYAN LIDDELL spoke to a few of the demonstrators about why they attended. LANCE GOWLAND: East Timor is the closest nation to

Land reform and food security in Vietnam

By Reihana Mohideen MANILA — The Asian economic crisis has had a massive impact on the production, availability and accessibility of basic food products, leading to serious food shortages in south-east Asia. In the Philippines, formerly an

Ships of shame

Ships of shame The International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) Australia won A$156,000 in back pay for exploited Asian crew on board two vessels in Australian ports during the first three days of its "Asia Pacific flag of convenience"

US 'free trade' push frustrated at APEC

By Eva Cheng The US government's push to open up Asian markets was dealt an embarrassing blow at the summit of the 21-member Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in Kuala Lumpur, which closed on November 18. Meeting for the sixth time — and

Write on: Letters to the editor

Write on: Letters to the editor Reform or revolution Re. "How do you change society?" (GLW, 18/11/98) by Keara Courtney about the ineffectiveness of reform: When we talk of "revolution", many people think immediately of the romanticised images

... and ain't I a woman?: What's glamourous about oppression?

... and ain't I a woman?: What's glamourous about oppression? An African-American woman with shackles on her neck and wrists, her arms chained together in a slave-like fashion. Another with the elongating neck rings that are designed to stretch

East Timorese youth fight for freedom

Resistance's EMMA MURPHY spoke to ALEX TILMAN, a member of the Timorese National Youth Resistance (RNJT) in Melbourne about the struggle for self-determination in East Timor. Question: What is the RNJT? RNJT is a Melbourne-based coalition of East

Like a common loaf of bread, they rise

Uncommon People: Resistance, Rebellion and JazzBy Eric HobsbawmWeidenfeld & Nicolson, 1998360 pp., $49.95 (hb) Review by Phil Shannon "Common" people, "ordinary" people, the "average" man and woman — these labels are not just neutral

How US big business is changing the world's weather

By Francesca Davis 1998 was a record year for hurricanes, droughts, floods and other "natural" disasters. Fifty-six countries were hit by severe flooding, and at least 45 were stricken by drought. The events displaced millions and killed thousands.