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Loose cannons

@columhead = Sick "If a drug is good for people, but it doesn't make a profit for the drug company, our system has a problem." — Dr Stephen Jurd, head of drug and alcohol services at Royal North Shore Hospital in Sydney, on the unavailability

Mexican sanitation workers win 8-year struggle

By Peter Gellert MEXICO CITY — The eight-year struggle of sanitation workers from the south-east state of Tabasco ended on the evening of January 22, when an agreement was reached satisfying employee demands. The workers, initially fired for

International Women's Day — March 8

International Women's Day — March 8 The International Women's Day collective needs your help. Come along to the next meeting and find out how you can join the campaign against attacks on women. All women welcome. Adelaide — Meets Saturday Feb

Peace activists released in London

Peace activists released in London By Mark Lynas Two peace activists were given a three-month suspended prison sentence at the High Court in London on January 24, after they defied a court injunction forbidding them from carrying out protest

Russian voters throw out president's appointees

By Renfrey Clarke MOSCOW — Between September 1 and January 12, voters cast their ballots in elections for the top executive posts in more than 50 of Russia's 89 provinces, territories and ethnic republics. In slightly more than half of these

On the box

Actively Radical TV — Sydney community television's progressive current affairs producers tackle the hard issues from the activist's point of view. CTS Sydney (UHF 31), every Thursday, 10pm, and Saturday, 7pm. Access News — Melbourne

Belo supporters under attack

Throughout January, the Indonesian regime has been on a campaign of harassment in the streets of Dili in East Timor. Many locals have been shot at by thugs, and several young East Timorese have been arrested and are still missing. BEN WEBSTER was in

Queensland act 'legitimises' low wages

Queensland act 'legitimises' low wages By Bill Mason BRISBANE — Unions claimed on January 30 that the passage of the Borbidge government's industrial relations legislation that day had "legitimised" Queensland's position as the nation's

Bloody Sunday remembered

By Julia Bale Last week was the 25th anniversary of Bloody Sunday in Northern Ireland. On January 30, 1972, troops from the First Parachute Regiment of the British Army opened fire on peaceful civil rights protesters in Derry. The 10,000-strong

Population and politics

By Lisa Macdonald The debate about the impact of population, and therefore immigration, on Australia's environment is a crucial one for all progressive people. The position that we take defines on which side of the human rights divide we stand, and

Building the student movement in 1997

[This is an abridged version of a discussion paper put forward by the socialist youth organisation Resistance for discussion in the student movement.] This will be a crunch year for tertiary education in this country, one in which the student

Only one solution

Only one solution The federal government's mid-year budget review, released on January 28, will certainly be used to justify another savage budget in May. The review projects a budget deficit for 1996-97 of $8.49 billion, $2.84 billion more than