In his essay "Politics and the English Language", George Orwell wrote: "Political speech and writing are largely the defence of the indefensible. Thus political language has to consist largely of euphemism, question-begging and
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People with HIV, community AIDS organisations and international health bodies are agreed that human rights and public health go hand in hand in fighting AIDS. Countries with widely accessible health systems as well as greater
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As recently as 100 years ago, white people in America committed diabolically criminal acts — and still do — against humanity in general, and against people of colour in particular, routinely. Often, on mere whims, white men, women and even
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Charles Dickens writing during and of early industrial Britain (those glorious days extolled by Margaret Thatcher et al), relates that entry to public parks in the industrial towns was prohibitively expensive, except on Sunday
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If you are considering taking up leisure as a career move, try this exercise: go home, put your feet up and rest. As each wave of relaxation wafts over you — as the days and then the weeks wear on — your enjoyment of such
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White ribbons The small contingent of Men Against Sexual Assault (MASA) who stood beside the route of the Sydney Reclaim the Night march with their banner this year, received a warm very welcome, at least from the women marching near me. It was
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With their neatly strapped backpacks and boots good enough to tackle mountains, the two young women sitting opposite me in a crowded tram radiated health, intelligence and independence. Prague in summertime was laid out before
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Based on highly reliably international contacts, leaked documents and horoscopes from several TV magazines, Nostradamus' Media Watch presents a highly accurate forecast of political events across the globe. Copulating
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By Edward W. Said The "historic breakthrough" by the PLO and the Israeli government signals a new phase of reconciliation between two enemies. But it also leaves Palestinians very much the subordinates, with Israel still in charge of East
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The Late Show — Newcastle public radio 2NUR-FM presents a series on ABC TV's The Late Show. Presenter Wayne Hindson talks to D-Generation cast member Rob Sitch about life, the universe and humour. Tuesday, December 14 and 28, 9 p.m. The
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The apparent breakthrough agreement between Israel and the PLO on an initial self-governing Palestinian authority in Jericho and Gaza has generated much excitement, but also scepticism and opposition in both Israeli and Arab
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HIV in Australia At June 30, 1993, there had been: 17,475 diagnoses of HIV of whom 4258 had developed AIDS of whom 2786 had died. Between April 1 and June 30, 1993: 253 people were newly diagnosed with HIV of whom 42 were
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Jamaica? Thanks for you article about race relations in Cuba, by Edwin and Jo Hoffman (GLW #124). I would like at this point to bring in little Jamaica, only 90 miles south of Cuba, where I lived for many years. In both Haiti and Jamaica
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This issue will be the last 91̳ Weekly produced in 1993. The first issue in 1994 will be dated January 19. Issue 126 marks the successful publication of 91̳ Weekly for three years. And without doubt, the third year has been the
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AIDS in Australia is a particular threat to stigmatised minority groups such as homosexuals, drug addicts and prostitutes. The spread of AIDS amongst people in these groups occurs largely as a result of acts occurring in private,
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"The mid-'90s herald the beginning of a new period in Australian politics", Democratic Socialist Party (DSP) national secretary John Percy told 91̳ Weekly. "Never before has the rejection of traditional politics been so
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SAN FRANCISCO — Of Greenpeace's 5 million supporters worldwide, 1.5 million live in the US, says Greenpeace media coordinator Bill Walker. These supporters "quite frankly still tend to be white and middle-class people scared
News
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By Jana D.K. JAKARTA — Worker activists and representatives of non-government organisations have met ACTU president Martin Ferguson and told him of their opposition to the ACTU's decision to provide $2 million to, and strengthen cooperation
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Last issue for 1993 This is the last issue of 91̳ Weekly for the year. We have included a larger than usual number of feature articles to provide interesting reading throughout the holidays. Our thanks and best holiday wishes to the
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CANBERRA — Defeat of the incumbents in the ACT branch Public Sector Union elections has sent a shiver down the spine of the local ALP officialdom. With around 21,000 members, the PSU is the largest union in the ACT. It is not
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A (very) low-impact tripSYDNEY — Like to visit Asia but can't afford it? One fascinating trip available to Sydneysiders for the cost of a metropolitan train ride is to Cabramatta in the city's south-west. While the
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BRISBANE — The Criminal Justice Commission's public inquiry into the death in police custody of Aboriginal dancer Daniel Yock, 18, began here on November 24. The original police account was that they
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Power brokers stunned John Wilson, former president of the ACT Trades and Labor Council, individually black banned in his workplace by the PSU leadership and the TLC in an act of ALP factional hooliganism: "The election result has tipped the
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As long as the economic rationalist ethos prevails in the major parties, the needs of the majority will continue to be sidelined for the interests of big business. Here is a brief guide to the alternative candidates standing in the SA state
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Alliance to campaign for democracyHOBART — The Tasmanian Community Alliance was formed at a meeting on December 2 to oppose undemocratic legislation introduced by the Groom Liberal government. In addition to giving
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Douglas Bruce Scott died in Berrimah jail in Darwin early in the morning of July 5, 1985. A police inquest and the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody both ruled it was suicide. But Doug's widow, Lettie Scott,
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Queen Street Mall threatBRISBANE — City mall management renewed attacks on democratic rights in the Queen Street Mall on November 30 by trying to force removal of a display board which was part of a stall supporting
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WOLLONGONG — The trial of two South Coast trade union officials on criminal charges, arising from a picket line at a Kiama construction site, has been adjourned to February. South Coast Labour Council (SCLC) secretary Paul
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Strange, that "The image has not been a good or helpful one. It's all about spooks and reds under the bed and that kind of thing." — ASIO head David Sadleir on public perceptions of his organisation. Rushed "Frankly speaking, we just don't
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Canberra — Liberal and independent members of the House of Assembly on November 25 amended the ACT budget to block the cutting of 80 teacher positions. This victory was a response to the public campaign run by
Analysis
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Did they run or were they driven? Last week US State Department officials announced — with glee — that Cuba's future is "a prolonged, slow decline waiting for a catastrophe". They remained coy about their commitment to ensuring this becomes
World
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DENNIS HOWLETT is a founding member and Steering Committee member of the Action Canada Network and co-chair of the Network's Education and Communication Committee. During a recent visit to Sydney, he was interviewed by LISA MACDONALD for 91̳.
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HANOI — The introduction of private enterprises has adversely affected women here. Of some 700,000 people who have lost their jobs in the state sector, two-thirds are women. Creches and kindergartens have deteriorated
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Usually municipal elections don't capture much international attention. However, after the three-year Italian corruption scandal in which more than 2000 politicians and industrialists are under investigation, there was some
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Some 110,000 people rallied in Manila on November 30, sending a clear message to the Ramos government that the progressive moment is ready and able to launch a new campaign for political and economic reforms. The unity statement of
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HANOI — The village of Co Nhue is north of the city. Some four kilometres long, it stretches along the highway to the airport. I visited Co Nhue to meet with representatives from the Peasants Association in the village.
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Indonesian student activist arrestedJAKARTA — A leading student activist, Nuku Suleiman, was arrested in the early hours of Friday, November 26 in the office of Yayasan Pijar, a Jakarta student organisation. He has been
Culture
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Dragons in Distress: Asia's miracle economies in crisis By Walden Bello and Stephanie Rosenfeld Penguin, 1992. 346 pp. Reviewed by Sean Healy Few modern myths have been so pervasive, and yet so oppressive, as that of the "Asian tigers",
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A short story by Craig Cormick There is a child from Somalia, with an old man's face, sitting in the corner of the lounge room. He must have come out of the television set at some time this evening. It's New Year's Eve, and all the stations have
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Salvadoran band tours Lara Pullin Erupo Nacascol was born out of the ruins of Colonia Dolores, a community in San Salvador hard hit by the earthquake of October 1986. Members of the group discovered their common love of music while
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Out of the ShadowsBy Jo Fisher Latin America Bureau, 1993. $23.95. Reviewed by Mara Ochoa. Out of the Shadows looks at the important role women have played in struggles against military dictatorships in four countries: Chile, Uruguay, Paraguay
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Oh Africa Oh Africa By John Queripel Reviewed by Simone Fraser John Queripel has been active for human rights for many years. His recent recording continues to explore this concern. Many of the songs narrate the lives of activists,
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Challenging Faith By John A. McKenzie Fremantle Arts Centre Press. 166 pp. $16.95 Reviewed by Catherine Brown Challenging Faith is a personal account from one of the thousands of people who joined the Communist Party of Australia in the
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Natural Relations: Ecology, Animal Rights & Social Justice By Ted Benton Verso, 1993. 246 pp., $34.95 Reviewed by Dave Riley Dare I say it: I'm a speciesist and proud of it. I like to look upon myself as into humans in a big way. Other
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SYDNEY — Greg Friend (King O'Malley) and Brett Ahern (Billy Hughes) argue about conscription in The Legend of King O'Malley at the New Theatre in Newtown. Written by Michael Boddy and Bob Ellis, directed by Matthew Samuel, The Legend is a
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Chiselled in Stone Papalote Larrikin Entertainment Reviewed by Jorge Jorquera This is a fantastic mix of Latin tunes and rhythms, in songs both original and traditional. Papalote takes its name from a song about a kite-maker by the
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Hurtling to international success with the hit single "Treaty", Yothu Yindi have become the cultural ambassadors for traditional Australian music. After representing Australia at the UN launch of the International Year for the
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All Hearts on Deck: A Personal Account of the 1981-82 Campaigns of the Sea Shepherd By Frankie Seymour Canberra: Boris Books, 1993. 180 pp., $19.95 (pb) Reviewed by Phil Shannon "Stop ship and prepare for boarding", ordered the captain of
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Fire with fire: The new female power and how it will change the 21st century By Naomi Wolf Random House. 378 pp. $19.95 Reviewed by Karen Fredericks Naomi Wolf says "power feminism" is the ultimate answer to women's problems and, to
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As in previous festivals, the latest Jewish film festival in Sydney covered the usual preoccupations of Jewish film with identity, the Holocaust, Israel and the pains of adolescence. With a couple of exceptions, it lacked