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Students fight for the right to be heard

BY STELLA REITHMULLER BRISBANE — On February 15, 30 people attended a high school action demanding freedom for refugees. Although the action was small, it was an important show of defiance for students who have faced intense harassment at

PHILIPPINES: Manila's 'anti-terrorist' war targets MILF

BY NICK SOUDAKOFF On February 9, "terms of reference" for the "Balikatan" US-Philippines war "exercises" were agreed on by US and Philippines military officials. The 660 US troops, including 120 US special forces commandos, will be allowed to

ARGENTINA: People's power v the IMF

BY ROHAN PEARCE Argentina is undergoing a transformation, into something rare in Latin America — a beacon of hope that offers a different choice to the only one normally offered by corporate globalisation: submit. Argentina isn't an "ordinary"

Students walk-out for refugees

BY KAROL FLOREK SYDNEY — More than 100 high school students walked out of classrooms on February 15 to voice their opposition to the Coalition government's inhumane treatment of refugees. The Resistance-organised protest commenced in Hyde Park to

Socialist Alliance hunger strike for refugees

BY JAMES VASSILOPOULOS CANBERRA — Socialist Alliance members held a 30-hour hunger strike, beginning on February 11, to publicise the February 12 refugees' rights convergence at Parliament House. The action was reported by the local WIN and ABC

ZIMBABWE: Mugabe targets socialists

BY TAFADZWA CHOTO HARARE — The Zimbabwe government's repression against the opposition Movement for Democratic Change and other activists continues as the March 9-10 presidential election nears. Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe and his ruling

The 'Great Game'

BY URI AVNERY JERUSALEM — Some weeks ago, something curious happened: Israel discovered that Iran is the Great Satan. It happened quite suddenly. There was no prior sensational news, no new discovery. As if by the order of a drill-sergeant, the

BRAZIL: Mayor's murder indicates political polarisation

BY BEN REID PORTO ALEGRE — The second World Social Forum occurred at an important time in Brazilian politics. On January 19 Celso Daniel, mayor of Santo Andre in Sao Paulo state, was found murdered. Daniel is the second mayor belonging to the

Black Hawk Down a hit in Mogadishu

BY BUSTER SOUTHERLY Black Hawk Down, the first of the wave of patriotic US war and action movies being rushed to the screens following the September 11 incidents, opens across Australia on February 21. The film's Pentagon advisers hope that Black

Hospitality workers get organised

BY KIM LINDEN& KATHY NEWNAM NEWCASTLE — When you're on your next holiday, spare a thought for the people cleaning your hotel room. Chances are that their pay and conditions are below those set out in the award, they are being bullied and harassed

'I feel ashamed to be Australian'

BY SARAH STEPHEN "I feel ashamed to be Australian", is the most frequently appearing comment on the online petition calling for a royal commission into the Australian government's treatment of refugees. More than 7000 people have signed on to the

Godfrey Hirst workers win trust fund

BY GRAHAM WILLIAMS GEELONG — Production workers at the Godfrey Hirst carpet factory are one of the first groups of workers in the country to win a trust fund that guarantees all their entitlements if the company goes bankrupt. The Manusafe