The Union of South American States (Unasur), a regional body uniting all South American nations, passed a motion opposing Arizona鈥檚 racist anti-immigrant law at its May 4 summit, reported the next day.
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The number of cars using Brisbane鈥檚 first road tunnel, which opened on March 18, has remained far below the target projected by the Brisbane City Council. After an initial toll-free period, when 65,000 vehicles used the tunnel daily, the usage plunged to a daily average of only 21,178 vehicles after a discounted toll was introduced. The drop in patronage has forced the tunnel operators, River City Motorways, to extend the discounted toll period by another seven weeks in an attempt to boost vehicle numbers.
A secret review of Australia鈥檚 intelligence services has proposed giving them new powers to spy on Australians, carry weapons and conduct secretive paramilitary operations in other countries.
Powers to carry weapons are proposed for employees of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO), which has already received a vast expansion of legal powers since 2001, extra personnel and a new purpose-built Canberra headquarters.
It would be a sick joke, if it weren't actually true. On April 30, a 23-year-old Sydney man was acquitted of rape because the jury decided he couldn't have ripped off a young woman's skinny jeans without 鈥渁ny sort of collaboration鈥, the May 1 Sydney Morning Herald said.
In late April, activists from the Intervention Rollback Action Group (IRAG) toured several communities affected by the NT intervention. In particular, they looked at how employment patterns had changed.
The results were the same everywhere they went: This is as bad as it has ever been.
It has been almost three years since the former federal Coalition government announced the intervention into remote Aboriginal communities (which has continued under Labor). It has been three years of broken promises and declining living conditions for those the intervention was supposed to help.
The tensions between staff and management in (TWS) have been building for years. Beginning as a small activist organisation that battled to save the Franklin Dam and won, it has evolved into a large, professional organisation with 45,000 financial members, campaign centres in most capital cities, and 150 paid staff.
Queensland ALP deputy premier Paul Lucas and other ALP leaders faced hostile chants and heckling from workers at the annual Labour Day march in Brisbane on May 3.
The main message from the union contingents, numbering 10,000, was opposition to the sale of state assets 鈥 including railways, ports, forests and motorways 鈥 by the Bligh Labor government. Premier Anna Bligh herself was overseas to promote the sell-off to North American investors.
On May 3, students protested at the entrance to the University of Wollongong to call for 100% renewable energy on campus. The action was a part of nationwide events calling for renewable energy across Australia.
More than 2000 students have signed a petition calling upon the university to increase its purchase of renewable energy from the current 15% to 50% by the end of 2010, and then to 100% by the end of 2015.
On March 13, five women, the oldest aged 69, began walking 1400km from Brisbane to Canberra to take a message to the prime minister that we should take steps towards a nuclear-free future.
The women will arrive at the Aboriginal Tent Embassy in Canberra on May 24. They proudly carry a message stick presented to them by elders of the Turrabul and Yuggera people of Brisbane, which conveys a story of sustainability and will be presented to Prime Minister Kevin Rudd on May 25.
As has become the tradition in recent years, Bolivian President Evo Morales celebrated May Day (May 1, the international workers鈥 day) by announcing the nationalisation of foreign-owned firms.
Morales announced the state take-over of four power companies, as part of his government鈥檚 drive to strengthen the state sector to help reverse centuries of foreign exploitation of Bolivian resources.
Venezuelans staged a big demonstration in Caracas on May one to mark the international workers鈥 day, Venezuelanalysis.com said. President Hugo Chavez also announced a 15% wage increase and broader social security entitlements.
鈥淲hile there were no official or police estimates, various participants in the march told Venezuelanalysis they estimated that 鈥榟undreds of thousands鈥 of people turned out, celebrating the achievements of the Bolivarian revolution and its promotion of ... better life conditions for the poor majority.鈥
鈥淚n a stunning demonstration all over the island鈥, Prensa Latina said on May 1, 鈥淐ubans showed the power of unity to face the media campaign launched against the country by United States and its European allies.
鈥淢illions of men, women and even children packed in the main squares, marched along central avenues all over the provinces and municipalities of the nation declaring their support to the revolutionary process they have freely chosen.鈥
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