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Britain lets Indonesia off the hook

By Jon Land At the United Nations Human Rights Commission (UNHRC) in Geneva, the British government — backed by the Australian and other governments — has been manoeuvring to prevent a strong resolution on East Timor from being adopted. On

Action updates

Anti-poisons campaign HOBART — A campaign is underway in Tasmania against the use of the chemicals 1080 and the triazines. These chemicals are used by logging corporations after clear-felling native forest and planting pine or eucalypt trees

Iraqi Communists assassinated

Iraqi Communists assassinated Two leaders of the Worker-Communist Party of Iraq (WCPI) — Shapoor Abdul-Kadir, a politburo member, and Kabil Adil, a member of the leadership committee of the party's Kurdistan organisation — were assassinated on

Loose cannons

Could say that "I guess we still have some bugs to work out." — Microsoft chairperson Bill Gates, after the company's new Windows 98 system crashed during a demonstration at the Comdex Spring Computer Show in Chicago. Prefers secrecy "The

Students defy police ban

By Zanny Begg BRISBANE — The Brisbane Magistrates Court on April 22 banned a march by university students to Camp Solidarity and the MUA picket line at Fisherman Island. Although students agreed to 20 conditions set by the police, the magistrate

Kazak leader on hunger strike

Kazak leader on hunger strike By Stephen Dye In the last seven years in Kazakhstan, thousands of factories and state-owned enterprises have been closed, and unemployment has reached unprecedented levels. Those who are lucky enough to have a job

Truck drivers support wharfies

By Bill Mason BRISBANE — Support for the sacked maritime workers and the MUA has grown stronger here over the last week with unionists and other members of the community mobilising at different events to protest against the government's and

Why bother with Brecht?

By Dave Riley We should thank Eric Singh (GLW #313) for reminding us that this year is the 100th anniversary of the birth of the German playwright Bertolt Brecht. No doubt, as the drama industry cranks up, we are sure to be treated to a fact feast

Left on-line

Left on-line WWWW (Wharfies on the World Wide Web) — The hottest topic on the web at the moment is the courageous struggle of the Maritime Union of Australia to defend its right to organise. Sites devoted to labour issues throughout the world

On the box

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 —

Jobs for all sacked wharfies is key demand

By Alex Bainbridge HOBART — Hundreds of Maritime Union of Australia members and supporters marched through the streets of Hobart on April 23, then held a victory celebration as the news of the Federal Court's rejection of Patrick's appeal came

MUA's court victories a setback for Howard

MUA's court victories a setback for Howard By James Vassilopoulos Taking advantage of a seemingly unlimited legal fund — legal expenses are a deduction from taxable income under Australian corporate law — Patrick Stevedores has appealed to