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NZ government rushes to sell forests

On August 19, it was disclosed that the New Zealand National Party government was planning to proceed with the privatisation of the Forestry Corporation, despite the fact that the government could well be turned out in national elections on October

Gun control and social revolution

By Brian Martin Gun control is typically presented as a measure to reduce the dangers of murder, suicide and accident. But it can also be interpreted as "disarming the people". After all, "gun control" takes weapons out of the hands of ordinary

Canberra, August 19: how the tap came off in their hands

Canberra, August 19: how the tap came off in their hands By Peter Boyle The August 19 rallies called by the ACTU were meant to be a controlled demonstration of union and community support for the ALP's plan to amend the Howard government's

'Violence was directed by police'

'Violence was directed by police' By Nikki Ulasowski WOLLONGONG — Since the rally in Canberra on August 19, there have been many accusations about who caused the violence outside Parliament House. Paul Matters, secretary of the South Coast

Resistance runs for Tasmania Uni SRC

By Iggy Kim HOBART — The University of Tasmania is currently plastered with posters of candidates for the Student Representative Council elections. Faced with a range of election tickets appealing for votes with slogans such as "make a

Distilling laughs

The AlchemistBy Ben JonsonDirected by Neil ArmfieldBelvoir Theatre until September 29Reviewed by Jonathan Strauss Why should an end-of-the-20th-century audience greet with guffaws and hearty applause a 385-year-old black comedy, focused on our

Indonesian ambassador's reception sets new standards in chic

By "Michael", "Jonathon" and "Rupert" CANBERRA — The Indonesian ambassador's August 19 reception (commemorating the proclamation of the Republic of Indonesia) was shaping up to be just one more ho-hum event on the diplomatic cocktail circuit —

Irish nationalists address meeting by phone

Irish Nationalists address meeting by phone By Tyrion Perkins BRISBANE — A meeting of about 100 people here on August 24 spoke directly to Irish activists in Ireland and the US. Australian Aid for Ireland organised an amplified telephone, and

Political battle inside WA CFMEU

By Jorge Jorquera PERTH — The leadership of the WA branch of the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union is facing a challenge in the union's September elections. Since May Day, the opposition ticket has run a dirty campaign against the

The chemistry of desire

Ecstasy: Three Tales of Chemical RomanceBy Irvine WelshRandom House, 1996. 276 pp., $20 (pb)Reviewed by Nick Fredman Irvine Welsh is the young Scottish writer who shot to fame in 1993 when his first novel, Trainspotting, a gritty tale of 1980s

Indonesia: the land of a million political prisoners

Indonesia: the land of a million political prisoners By James Balowski Political trials have become regular events in Indonesia. Thousands of the regime's opponents — communists, radical nationalists, students, Muslims and labour activists

Russian defeat brings hope for peace in Chechnya

Russian defeat brings hope for peace in Chechnya By Renfrey Clarke MOSCOW — August 1996 seems destined to be remembered as the point when Russians came to accept that their armed forces had lost the war in Chechnya, and when the regime of