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A smorgasbord of intellectual and spiritual nouishment

By Rose McCann A love of reading and writing plus an abiding interest in feminism proved to be an irresistible combination for the 24,000 fortunate souls who made it to Melbourne on July 27-31 to visit, participate and revel in the sixth

Canberra to override Tasmanian anti-gay laws

By Kath Gelber Both the federal Labor and the Tasmanian Liberal governments are claiming a moral mandate in the struggle over abolition of Tasmania's anti-gay laws. On August 22, federal cabinet agreed to a Human Rights (Sexual Conduct)

Mulawa women's prison campaign

By Sam Lazzaro SYDNEY — A recent investigation by the NSW Ombudsman into conditions at Mulawa Women's Prison revealed a high level of mismanagement and a lack of accountability. Mulawa has a long history of appalling conditions of confinement,

Women as they really are

Women as they really are Jigsaws By Jennifer Rogers Directed by Louise Luccarini New Theatre, Sydney Friday-Sunday until October 1 Reviewed by Betty Downey and Pip Hinman Jigsaws is about five women, belonging to three generations

Coode Island time bomb still ticking

Coode Island time bomb still ticking By Rob Miller MELBOURNE — Greenpeace and the Hazardous Materials Action Group (HAZMAG) highlighted the third anniversary of the Coode Island fires on August 22 by releasing a leaked government risk

Opening of Clearing House

Opening of Clearing House By Sue Bolton MELBOURNE — The Clearing House for Clean Information had its grand opening in Melbourne's western suburbs on August 21. The Clearing House is a new statewide toxics and urban issues group.

Phambili Books: more than a bookshop

JOHANNESBURG — South Africa has, at last, a democratically elected government. Nelson Mandela has made the three-decade journey from the rock piles of Robben Island to the President's residence in Pretoria. These are significant milestones in the

... and ain't i a woman?: Pride and courage

Pride and courage Commonwealth Games athlete Cathy Freeman won gold and set a new record in the 400 metre sprint in Victoria, Canada last week. Sporting events such as the games usually provide inspiration for sportswomen to keep at it during

Campaign launched for East Timor freedom

By Wendy Robertson Resistance, FRETILIN (Revolutionary Front for the Independence of East Timor) Youth, UDT (Timorese Democratic Union) and AKSI (Indonesia Solidarity Action) have called a National Day of Action on October 15 in preparation for

Russian nuclear workers fight for wage pay-out

By Renfrey Clarke MOSCOW — Workers in Russia's nuclear power plants appeared close to forcing important concessions from the government in mid-August following weeks of struggle for the payment of back wages and of debts owed to the industry.

SA budget: mean and petty

ADELAIDE — The state Liberal government's first formal budget on August 25 continues the strategy of generating savings through public sector job cuts and reforms previously outlined in May by the Audit Commission.

Sounds of East Timor

Sounds of East Timor By Sally Anne Watson DARWIN — During the Portuguese colonisation of East Timor, an isolated indigenous group, the Ilimanu, lived in the north-east of the island. With the Timorese revolution in 1974, Ilimanu joined