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Networker: Modernising

Networker: Modernising Today ships are criss-crossing the oceans of the world, laying fibre-optic cables to meet the expected gigantic demand for communication services in the early decades of this century. New networks in the United States and

Unions to fight hospital privatisation

Unions to fight hospital privatisation By Troy Saxby NEWCASTLE — The Newcastle Trades Hall Council voted unanimously on January 18 to launch a campaign against the privatisation of any part of the Mater Hospital. The Sisters of Mercy, who run

West Papuans occupy embassy in Jakarta

West Papuans occupy embassy in Jakarta By Tim Murphy Students from West Papua occupied the Dutch embassy in Jakarta on January 17. They are demanding that Holland fulfil its promises to help West Papua achieve independence from Indonesia. West

Taliban are still brutal 'villains'

Taliban are still brutal 'villains' By Lynette Dumble Since its seizure of Afghanistan in 1996, the Islamic fundamentalist Taliban has rapidly become the world's most despised regime. In August, a United Nations investigation revealed that the

Stormont returns

By John Meehan DUBLIN — In early June 1998, the Good Friday agreement (GFA) was endorsed by huge majorities in parallel referendums on both sides of the border dividing Ireland. One month later elections to a new devolved Northern Ireland

Eradicating the cult of thinness

Am I Thin Enough Yet? The Cult of Commercialization of IdentityBy Sharlene Hesse-BiberOxford University Press, 1996, 190 pp. Review by Rachel Evans This book is a worthy successor to The Beauty Myth (1991) by Naomi Wolf. While Am I Thin Enough Yet?

Indonesian generals stir communal unrest

By Max Lane The commander-in-chief of the Indonesian armed forces (TNI), Admiral Widodo, has met President Abdurrahman Wahid to assure him that the TNI is not planning a coup. Other key generals have given the same assurances in the wake of strong

Olympic plan targets homeless

Olympic plan targets homeless By Sean Healy The NSW government plans to get homeless people off Sydney's streets during the September Olympic Games. Dossiers are being drawn up on individual homeless people and unused government buildings are

Racism in Australia: 1788 to today

By Kim Bullimore In 1996, Pauline Hanson was catapulted onto the national stage when she was elected as the federal member for Oxley in Queensland. For the next two and half years, Hanson became the public face of racism in Australia. Hanson vowed

Indonesian union condemns politicians' pay increase

Indonesia's militant trade union, the Indonesian National Front for Labour Struggle (FNPBI), on January 20 condemned the minister of finance Bambang Sudibyo's proposal to increase the salaries of senior politicians. The increases are contained in the

'Liberal' Herald backs Labor's attacks on migrants

'Liberal' Herald backs Labor's attacks on migrants By Sue Boland The Sydney Morning Herald prides itself on being the capitalist media's "liberal" voice; in 1998 its editorials denounced the crude racism of One Nation and called on Australians to

Statement by the Campaign to Stop the War in Chechnya

Statement by the Campaign to Stop the War in Chechnya We, the undersigned, condemn the Russian invasion of Chechnya. We call for the immediate withdrawal of all Russian forces, and for the recognition of the Chechens' right to self-determination.