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Write on: Letters to the editor

Iraq I In the United States, free speech is guaranteed under the Constitution, but that hasn't prevented the US Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq from banning Arab broadcasting networks in Iraq that don't push a US line. In September, Al

Patrick dispute ends in compromise

BY SHANE BENTLEY A five-day dispute between Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) maintenance staff employed by Patrick Stevedores at Port Botany in Sydney and Fisherman's Island in Brisbane ended on the afternoon of November 21 after union members

Yaluritja Clarrie Isaacs passes away

BY FEDERICO FUENTES PERTH — The fight for Aboriginal rights, and for a better world, received a blow on November 26, with the passing away of Yaluritja Clarrie Isaacs. Clarrie, an Aboriginal activist, trade unionist, artist and fighter for

UNITED STATES: FBI targets anti-war movement

BY DALE MILLS US civil liberties groups have reacted with alarm to a leaked FBI memo which equates demonstrations in the USA with terrorist activity. The memo, released by the New York Times on November 23, was dated October 15. Its purpose is to

AFGHANISTAN: US occupiers face sea of hostility

BY LESLIE FEINBERG General John Abizaid, top gun in charge of Pentagon forces in the Middle East, summoned his senior commanders to a meeting the week of November 18 at Central Command headquarters in Tampa, Florida, to discuss strategy for

John Loh: A principled unionist

BY MICK BULL Former Builders Labourers Federation (BLF) activist and Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) organiser Johnny Loh has died after a long battle with illness. Born in 1953, "Lohie", as he became known, grew up in the

I know when Blair and Bush are lying - their lips move

BY JOHN PILGER Shortly before the disastrous visit to Britain by US President George Bush on November 19-21, British Prime Minister Tony Blair was at the Cenotaph on November 11 to mark Remembrance Day. It was an unusual glimpse of a state killer

Labor's deckchair shift cannot hide its bankruptcy

BY PETER BOYLE Simon Crean has gone, but is his replacement any better? The answer was a foregone conclusion even before the December 2 Labor caucus vote. The main options delivered by ALP powerbrokers are: Kim "Bomber" Beazley, Mark

WA public servants strike

BY CHRIS LATHAM PERTH — On November 27, public servants escalated their campaign for a new certified agreement (CA) with a 24-hour stoppage. The government attempted to put off the strike by making a late offer on November 25. Community and

March protests land clearing

BY JIM MCILROY BRISBANE — On November 27, 200 people marched through city streets demanding an end to uncontrolled land clearing in Queensland. The marchers rallied outside the state parliament on the last day of sitting for the year. At the

MEXICO: Campaign against GM contamination

BY EVA CHENG An international campaign was launched on November 20 to stop the contamination of Mexican corn (maize) with the DNA from genetically modified (GM) corn produced by multinational food corporations. Corn is the Mexican population's

Socialist Alliance condemns violence and smear campaign

BY LISA MACDONALD The November 18 assault on Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU) national secretary Doug Cameron has generated a torrent of speculation in the corporate media about who committed the assault and why. Despite there being