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Union leader calls for safe passage for Assange

Maritime Union of Australia national secretary Paddy Crumlin released the following statement on the one-year anniversary of Julian Assange entering the Ecuadorean embassy in London on June 19, 2012, to seek political asylum. *** Throughout the MUA鈥檚 long history, our union has been at the forefront of a global human rights movement seeking justice and transparency. 聽 We continue that long tradition today as we mark the one-year anniversary of Julian Assange entering the Ecuadorean embassy in London. 聽

My experience as a single mum on Newstart

This June marks a four-year anniversary for my little family, made up of one parent and one little boy. I named him Ariel, which in Hebrew means 鈥淟ion of God鈥. I named him that because I knew our lives would be tough and he would need to be strong. 聽 When I found out I was pregnant in August 2008 I decided instantly that I would be a mother. In the next 24 hours the father informed me he did not wish to be a father and would have no involvement in the child鈥檚 life 鈥 and so began my new life as a single mother. 聽

Dave Zirin: Brazil's poor rise up against World Cup austerity

I travelled to Brazil last September to investigate preparations for the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympics. It was painfully evident that the social disruption of hosting two mega-events in rapid succession would be profound. Everyone with whom I spoke in the community of social movements agreed that these sports extravaganzas were going to leave major collateral damage. Everyone agreed that the spending priorities for stadiums, security, and all attendant infrastructure were monstrous given the health and education needs of the Brazilian people.

Venezuela: Historic popular assembly discusses revolutionary alliance

Representatives of more than 30,000 groups held a historic Popular Assembly in Caracas on June 9 to reinvigorate the Great Patriotic Pole (GPP), which united the governing United Socialist Party of venezuela (PSUV) with pro-revolution political parties and socioal movement groups. The assembly was held to discuss the future of the revolutionary alliance, and specifically the question of unified candidates for the upcoming municipal elections in December.

Carr calls solidarity with West Papua 'cruel', backs Indonesian violence

Greens Senator Richard Di Natale questioned foreign minister Bob Carr on June 5 during a .

Australian unions support Greek broadcast workers occupying station

The statement below was released by the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance on June 12 in solidarity with the more than 2600 workers at Greece's public broadcaster ERT who are fighting the governmkent's decision to close the station. Underneath it is from the Andrew Dettmer, national president of the Australian Manufactoring Workers Union.