Newcastle dockworkers strike
For the first time in many years, workers employed by Forgacs at the Hexham Engineering Works and at the Carrington Dry Dock have made common cause around negotiations for a new agreement. In the past, the workers,
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BRISBANE — Three of the 10 One Nation MPs in the Queensland parliament resigned on February 5, citing undemocratic control of the party by founder Pauline Hanson and party directors David Ettridge and David Oldfield. Two other
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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. Ph 9565 5522. Access News —
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Scores of people in the northern province of Aceh have been killed and wounded in what appears to be an unprovoked attack by the Indonesian military on a peaceful crowd. According to a preliminary report by the chair of the
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Last year, hundreds of 91×ÔÅÄÂÛ̳ Weekly supporters generously donated to the fighting fund. Contributions came in all sizes — ranging from $5 to $5000. 91×ÔÅÄÂÛ̳ Weekly would like to extend a big "thank you" to all of those who donated money,
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No more dandruff' By Brandon Astor Jones "pso.ri.a.sis n. A chronic, noncontagious skin disease characterized by inflammation and white, scaly patches." — American Heritage Dictionary The condition that the dictionary defines above is a
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After the fall of Indonesian dictator Suharto in May, the independence struggle in East Timor entered a new phase; a major obstacle to freedom was removed. In Australia, the Howard government and the Labor opposition welcomed Suharto's
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... and ain't I a woman?: Sex work and the law On November 10, Lisa Jane Brown, a young Perth sex worker, went missing. Three months later, an extensive search was eventually launched but has turned up few clues. WA police and the West
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How progressive is multiculturalism? Does multiculturalism defend migrant rights?In spite of a quarter century of multiculturalism as ideology and official policy, the conditions of life for most non-English-speaking immigrants
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When it pleases me Chair! Chair! Get a chair! Yes, Sir. What's happening? I'll just check. Well? There are no chairs. "Sir!" How dare you address me without calling me "Sir"? Yes, Sir! There are no chairs, Sir! No chairs! This
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Write on: Letters to the editor Non-competitive games I've been reading and watching the news and there have been stories about possible corruption in the Olympic Games movement and another story about steroids use by sports people. There are
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The Olympic greenwashSYDNEY — Greenpeace's recent campaign against the use of ozone-depleting chemicals at Homebush Bay, the site of the Sydney Olympics, highlights what a sham the "green games" label is. The latest row concerns
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Since the announcement on January 27 by the Indonesian regime that it might allow East Timor to become independent, the military has stepped up its recruitment of thugs for paramilitary "pro-integration" militias. Armed and paid by the
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Newcastle union leader quits Australian Manufacturing Workers Union organiser Mary McGill has refused to comment publicly on her reasons for resigning as president of Newcastle Trades Hall Council. McGill was elected president in 1997. According
News
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NEWCASTLE — On January 23-24, more than 50 student activists from Queensland, NSW, Victoria and South Australia participated in the Environment Activist Weekend organised by the Student Environment Activist Network (SEAN) and the
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By Emma Murphyand Virginia Brown MELBOURNE — On February 22, the Network Of Women Students Australia collective (NOWSA) decided that the plenary sessions for the July conference would be: Women and capitalism; Exploring different feminisms;
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At its last meeting, the National Union of Students (NUS) national executive decided it would not call a nationally coordinated day of action against the proposed introduction of voluntary student unionism (VSU) until May 6,
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Victory at Australian Dyeing CompanyMELBOURNE — After 67 days on the picket line, 80 locked-out workers at the Australian Dyeing Company won a major victory on February 5. ADC management agreed to a 10% wage rise over two
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BRISBANE — On January 14, an anti-voluntary student unionism (VSU) meeting here was dominated by office-bearers from the National Union of Students' Queensland branch (NUSQ), the Queensland University of Technology (QUT), the
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Drugs: high time for decriminalisationLast week, the establishment media in Sydney went into a frenzy after the Sun Herald printed a photo of a 16-year-old boy (initially described by the media as 12 years old) shooting up heroin.
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SYDNEY — Despite decades of attempts to convince governments of the public's will to save our remaining forests and wilderness areas, and the need to preserve biodiversity, the dollar has won the debate. Woodchips are evidently more
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Imagine this: you wake up in the morning and you're feeling terrible. You have a headache and a sore throat. You ask your mother if you can stay home from school and, on feeling your temperature, she agrees. You
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IWD on NSW north coast IWD on NSW north coast By Kath O'Driscoll LISMORE — Organising is under way for a march and rally for International Women's Day on March 6. A collective of campus and high school students, community workers and other
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SYDNEY — Faruque Ahmed, president of the Taxi Drivers Section of the NSW Transport Workers Union (TWU) and a taxi driver for 14 years, is leading a campaign for an independent inquiry into the NSW taxi industry. "The industry is
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The letter "A" breaking out of the confines of a circle symbolises everything anarchism aims to achieve: rebellion, uprising against authority, a revolutionary change in society. Both anarchists and socialists aim to
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Resistance magazine's Sarah Peart spoke to Rodney Molseworthy, publicity officer of the Federation of Parents and Citizens Association (P&C) about the proposed truancy law in NSW. Question: What exactly is the government proposing? The
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Tough if you're not in business "Addressing a conference of all Labor candidates and campaign directors ... [NSW Labor Premier Bob] Carr painted the Labor Government as a tough law enforcer ... and a keen promoter of business interests." — Sydney
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The federal government has launched a new measure aimed at teaching young people their "A B C". The $143-million scheme will link the payment of unemployment benefits for 18 to 24 year olds to their literacy and numeracy levels. From
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MUA ex-official attacks 'character assassination'BRISBANE — Jeff Langdon, former organiser with the Maritime Union of Australia's (MUA) south Queensland branch and well known for his work during the Patrick dispute, has
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ACTEW privatisation victoryUnions scored an important victory on February 2, when the Legislative Assembly voted down the government's proposal to privatise the Australian Capital Territory Electricity and Water (ACTEW).
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Help needed to overcome arson attackPERTH — In October, the home of well-known Aboriginal activist Clarrie Isaacs was severely burnt in a suspected arson attack. The fire melted light fittings and electrical wiring throughout the
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Suspension of needle exchange increases HIV riskSYDNEY — "Redfern is surely one of the most urgent and obvious places in NSW for a government-funded injecting room. It is not the place to suspend a needle exchange program",
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SYDNEY — Guided tours of the Opera House by the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, a part of the annual Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, have been cancelled after objections from the Catholic Church. The gay male "nuns" are an annual
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Hemp is one of the world's most useful plants. Its uses range from paper to fuel, and it could replace many environmentally destructive products.
Analysis
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You can't leave it to parliament @box text int = When the Kennett government was first elected in Victoria, it announced a series of cutbacks and attacks in rapid succession, hoping that any potential opposition would be stunned into inaction.
World
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New patents for terminator seeds The Rural Advancement Foundation International (RAFI) has announced that it has uncovered 36 new patents describing a wide range of techniques that can be used for genetic sterilisation of plants and seeds. The
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Nigerian newspapers reported on February 1 that as many as 19 young people opposed to the operations of western oil companies in the Niger River delta, in Nigeria's south, were killed by federal troops in the preceding days. Troops
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Scotland's new socialist party ALAN McCOMBES is editor of Scottish Socialist Voice and an executive committee member of the Scottish Socialist Party (SSP). He spoke to 91×ÔÅÄÂÛ̳ Weekly about Scottish politics and the formation of the SSP.
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A report in the Journal of the American Medical Association in April 1998 estimated that adverse reactions to prescription drugs kill about 106,000 people in the USA each year — roughly three times as many as are killed by
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MOSCOW — For the head of administration in the Bykovsky region of Volgograd province on January 28, there could be no doubt that local teachers were angry at having been denied their pay since August. The teachers barricaded him
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DEDE OETOMO is coordinator of Gaya Nusantara, a national gay rights group in Indonesia. He is currently visiting Australia and will address the Indonesian Solidarity Dinner at the Resistance Centre in Sydney on February 19 (details below). Last
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Critical new evidence in Mumia Abu-Jamal caseSAN FRANCISCO — Speaking at a January 23 national leadership conference in New York City, held to prepare the April 24 mass demonstrations demanding a new trial for Mumia Abu-Jamal,
Culture
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Questioning the Millennium: A Rationalist's Guide to a Precisely Arbitrary CountdownBy Stephen Jay GouldVintage, 1998190 pp., $17.95 (pb) Review by Phil Shannon This may be the only occasion in the history of 91×ÔÅÄÂÛ̳ Weekly when the following
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I Protest!By Phil Thornton, Liam Phelan and Bill McKeownPluto Press Australia, 1997224 pp., $19.95 (pb) Review by Jonathan Strauss I Protest!, written by three journalists, Phil Thornton, Liam Phelan and Bill McKeown, is subtitled "Fighting for
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The Global Trap: Globalization and the assault on prosperity and democracyBy Hans-Peter Martin and Harald SchumannZed Press, 1997 (reprinted 1998)269 pp., $24.95 (pb) Review by Eva Cheng One of the biggest issues confronting working people today is
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Betrayed by a kiss Judas KissBy David HareDirected by Neil ArmfieldBelvoir Street Theatre, SydneyUntil February 14 Review by Wendy Robertsonand Cassandra Pomroy Judas Kiss is a potent mix of Oscar Wilde's life and love. Hedonistic, luxurious
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Bands defy 'cop killer' hysteriaThe popular band Rage Against the Machine was forced to live up to its name when it confronted hysteria following its decision to play a benefit concert for US death row political prisoner Mumia
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12 months of Australian political cartoonsCANBERRA — The last 12 months have generated some of the most heated debates in recent Australian political history. Events such as Patrick's sacking of its entire work force, the