News aggregator
Bangladesh: What has changed after Rana Plaza?
In the aftermath of the April 24 Rana Plaza collapse, the plight of Bangladeshi garment workers occupied global media attention in a way it never had before.
The inconvenient thing about Rana Plaza, as far as the fashion brands that rely on outsourced sweatshop labour were concerned, was that so many workers — more than 1100 — died in one spectacular incident.
End the billionaires' rip-offs to fix the budget deficit
This statement was released by the Socialist Alliance on August 2.
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“Both Liberal and Labor governments have squandered the fruits of the mining boom,” said Peter Boyle, the Socialist Alliance candidate for Sydney, in response to the Rudd government's August 2 economic statement.
“And the only real solution lies in reversing the tax cuts given to the rich by the Howard and Gillard-Rudd governments and by nationalising the mines, banks and energy companies and put them under the democratic control of the community.
GLW issue number 976
Tunisia: Assassination throws gov't into chaos
For the second time in six months, Tunisia's government has been thrown into chaos after the killing of a left-wing leader. Mohamed Brahmi, a leader of Tunisia's Popular Front, was assassinated on July 25.
Brahmi was attacked by two men on motorbike outside his home in Ariana, a suburb of Tunis, and was shot 11 times. He was taken to Mahmoud Matri Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
His widow M'barka told radio station Mosaique FM: “He died as a martyr to his opinion and position”, Tunisia Live said. She added that “he was killed by a terrorist gang”.
Brazil: Huge ructions pose need for change
Former Brazilian president Lula, who helped found the ruling Workers’ Party (PT) and governed from 2003–2010, took his time to comment on the wave of protests that erupted in mid-June, bringing millions onto the streets.
But when he finally gave an interview, he warmly welcomed the protests: “Brazil is living an extraordinary moment in the affirmation of its democracy. We are a very young democracy ... It’s only to be expected that our society should be a walking metamorphosis, changing itself at every moment.”
Venezuela: Colombian farmers request asylum
Fearing state repression, farmers in the Cataumbo region of Colombia, on the border with Venezuela, have formally requested asylum in Venezuela.
Farmers in the Rural Workers’ Association of Catatumbo (Ascamcat) erleased a public letter on June 21 asking Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro for refuge. They have been protesting and blocking roads since June 10 in response to a campaign to forcefully eradicate coca cultivation in their area. They say they fear military reprisals.
United States: Obama plans huge fracking expansion
The Barack Obama administration has proposed new regulations for hydraulic fracturing on 756 million acres of public and tribal lands.
The rules were written by the drilling industry and will be streamlined into effect by a new intergovernmental task force, established by the president, to promote fracking ? a practice that has been linked to water poisoning, air pollution, methane emissions and, most recently, earthquakes.
Wollongong forum debates university struggles
A forum at the University of Wollongong on August 1 called "Trouble in the Edufactory: The Sydney Uni Strike and the Struggle for the University" heard from Sydney university PhD student and casual academic staff member Mark Gawne.
Gawne, a graduate of the University of Wollongong, described this year's series of strikes at Sydney as the product of years of dissatisfaction among staff and students over increasing cutbacks.
Fighting fund: FF: We are all Bradley Manning
It was a powerful moment of solidarity as more than 200 Green Left Weekly supporters who had filled Balmain Town Hall for this publication's annual Sydney fundraising dinner held up Bradley Manning masks.
Looking down from the stage it was an amazing sight. The guests at the dinner included tables of freedom fighters from all around the world: from Latin America to Asia.
ICAC scratches surface of ALP corruption
In recent years, there has been the emergence of a career path in the Labor Party that runs from the union movement to political office. Then, after office, to lobbyist and company director.
Of the 23 key lobbyists in the five mainland states in 2010, 17 had connections to the Labor Party. In a reflection of cross-party unity in NSW, 134 of the 272 officially registered individual lobbyists are former MPs or ministerial staffers.
Wind farm scare tactics blown away
Groups in Australia have claimed for several years that low-frequency noise and inaudible sound levels from wind farms have affected people’s health by causing sleep disturbance, headaches, tinnitus, dizziness, nausea, blurred vision, fast heart rate, poor concentration and episodes of panic.
In 2011, the Victorian Liberal government used these claims to place a ban on windfarms being built within two kilometres of residential areas.
Is there any basis to these claims?
Bradley Manning should be free
Support WikiLeaks and Assange Coalition released this statement on July 31.
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The conviction of US Private First Class Bradley Manning for 19 offences, including five counts of espionage, is a travesty of justice.
Manning is not a spy who betrayed his country, but a courageous whistleblower who acted on his conscience when he leaked US government documents to WikiLeaks.
He should have been commended, not prosecuted, for revealing evidence of war crimes, human rights abuses and corruption.
Bradley Manning spoke truth to power
US military lead prosecutor Major Ashden Fein summed up his case against Bradley Manning for "aiding the enemy" with these chilling words: "He was not a troubled young soul. He was a determined soldier with the knowledge, ability and desire to harm the United States in its war effort.
"Your honor, he was not a whistleblower, he was traitor."
We totally disagree.
Manning witnessed a terrible crime and he reported it to the people of the world using the most effective available news medium — WikiLeaks.
Manning verdict a broadside against democracy
The mainstream press has focused on the decision of the judge in the military courts-martial of Bradley Manning to find him not guilty of “aiding the enemy”.
However, judge Denise Lind's conviction of of the whistleblower who exposed war crimes for 20 other charges amounts to a full-scale assault on democratic rights.
The courts-martial now enters the sentencing phase. Manning faces a maximum of 136 years behind bars.
Whatever the final sentence is, it is widely believed it will be decades in the military stockade.
Perth Commemoration of Irish Hunger Strikes
1981 H Block Hunger Strike - Perth commemoration. Special guest: Bridie Higgins. Intiga/6PR Stadium, cnr Walter Rd & Eighth Ave, Inglewood.
$10 entrance
Proceeds to Irish societies in Perth.
Ph Dean 0415 534 204 to book.
Event date: Sat, 10/08/2013 - 7:30pm - 9:30pm Event time: Sat, 10/08/2013 - 7:30pmRoad to Rail Presents: Transport and Health Public Forum
Public forum featuring:
Diesel particulates Dr George Crisp (Doctors for the Environment)
Noise pollution Shane Chambers (Acoustic Physicist UWA)
Road Trauma Barry Healy (Fremantle Road2Rail)
A panel of politicians including Scott Ludlam and Sam Wainwright will respond to the speakers. Victoria Hall, 179 High St. Fremantle.
Event date: Sat, 17/08/2013 - 4:00pm - 6:00pm Event time: Sat, 17/08/2013 - 4:00pmEducation Matters: Funding Our Future
The UWA Student Guild would like to give all students an opportunity to discuss education issues and the future of higher education.
This year the government announced $2.3 billion of cuts to higher education. This will effect all students and staff, compromising the quality and diversity of our education. Arts Lecture Room 4, UWA
Event date: Tue, 13/08/2013 - 1:00pm - 2:00pm Event time: Tue, 13/08/2013 - 1:00pmPower Shift Skills Share
Join 350 Perth, AYCC and other groups as we share skills learned from Global Power Shift, Australian Power Shift, and swap them for skills you've gained over your years of campaigning. 41 Oxford Close, West Leederville.
Event date: Thu, 08/08/2013 - 6:00pm - 8:00pm Event time: Thu, 08/08/2013 - 6:00pm
