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Banner at the May Day

Alexis Tsipras, leader of Greece party SYRIZA and the Party of the European Left's candidate for president of the European Commission, released on May 2 in opposition to the arrest of Gerry Adams, president of the Irish republican party Sinn Fein, on April 30.

Millions of workers across the globe hit the streets on May 1 for mass rallies marking International Workers' Day. The day was chosen in 1889 as a global day to mark the struggle of the working class by representatives of socialist parties in the Second International. It was held to commemorate the Haymarket Martyrs, anarchists executed in Chicago for their role in the struggle for an eight-hour day in 1886.
Long-time Socialist Alliance member Zoltan Torrey 鈥 a gentle, thoughtful, uplifting and inspiring man 鈥 died suddenly at home on January 16. He wrote two extraordinary books. Out of Darkness is his memoir. He describes his youth in Hungary when it was occupied by Nazi Germany, and his arrival in Australia post World War II.
New documentary film Radical Wollongong, produced by 91自拍论坛 TV, will premiere in Wollongong on May 18, followed by screenings in other cities and regional centres. The film features activist participants from Wollongong's radical history of strikes and community rallies, from miners鈥 struggles to Aboriginal justice and environmental protection. Here, co-producer John Rainford describes workers鈥 campaigns in the Illawarra that defeated greedy bosses and saved jobs. ***
It is difficult to accept that NSW Premier Barry O鈥橣arrell lost his position over the alleged gift of a $3000 bottle of Grange connected with the push to award lucrative contracts to Australian Water Holdings (AWH). Conceivably, he could have stonewalled that accusation and ridden out the storm had he enjoyed the backing of cabinet and the Daily Telegraph.
More than 100 people attended a forum on the federal government鈥檚 proposed amendments to the Racial Discrimination Act. The meeting, called by the Darebin Ethnic Communities Council, was held in Northcote Town Hall on April 24. Attorney-general George Brandis was invited to attend, but did not show up. Shadow attorney-general Mark Dreyfus told the meeting the government鈥檚 planned changes amount to scrapping the existing law against racial vilification. He said this would give a 鈥済reen light for racism鈥.
A casino was a fitting venue to host Prime Minister Tony Abbott's keynote address to the 25th anniversary dinner of conservative think tank the Sydney Institute on April 28. Abbott's speech, coming two weeks before the federal budget, was full of promises of 鈥渉appiness鈥, 鈥渟ecurity鈥 and 鈥渁 better life鈥. But in reality, Australian workers, pensioners and the poor will be lucky if they are left with much more than the shirts on their backs once the government is done fleecing them.
The defection by three Aboriginal members of the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly (MLAs) to the Palmer United Party (PUP) has the potential to topple the Country Liberal Party government. The three rebel MLAs 鈥 Larisa Lee, Alison Anderson and Francis Xavier Kurrupuwu 鈥 left the CLP on March 27, saying it was failing to deliver outcomes for Aboriginal people in the NT. The three were part of the 鈥渂ush bloc鈥 that brought the CLP to power in the 2012 election, taking the necessary seats from the incumbent ALP to form government.
Gerry Adams pinch.

In a move denounced by Irish republicans as hypocritical and politically motived, Sinn Fein president and member of the Irish Dail (parliament) Gerry Adams was taken into custody by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) on April 30.

Tony Abbott in a Joint Strike Fighter.

The budget is approaching and it seems we are a bit short on cash. This isn't surprising really, seeing as we鈥檙e stumping up about $12 billion for a bunch of new fighter jets with such serious flaws they are expected to cost a further $12 billion in repairs and maintenance.

Luke Harding's The Snowden Files is a well-constructed overview of the biggest intelligence leak in history - but it is not without its flaws. The Guardian journalist tells a detailed story of Edward Snowden - from his childhood in a military, Republican family, his short education and brief, failed army career, to his meteoric rise through the intelligence services that eventually enabled him to turn whistleblower.

The world of mother nature has been overthrown From her, her garments torn Ripped away her ozone The rapist that threatens has sworn Take away her rain forests the dreaded terror ravaged her breast kissed upon the pure air smog and stench a passion of pollution has been blessed what was once an innocent pure birth now a harsh scorched earth and in the ravage and the power the scourge was once a loving flower like any mother she does what she can but she will not be defeated by her son man