Call it reckless, short-sighted or just 鈥減lane stupid鈥, but the federal government鈥檚 decision to press ahead with a second Sydney airport at Badgerys Creek defies logic.
Along with the noise pollution it will inflict on western Sydney, the airport will spawn a huge amount of extra carbon pollution 鈥 something we cannot afford in an age of dangerous climate change.
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In his May Day speech at a large rally in Caracas, President Nicolas Maduro announced the extension of social programs and benefits to workers and the population in general. The opposition held its own march to criticise the state of the economy.
Some of Maduo's announcements to thousands of workers included: a new fund to protect and increase the value of workers鈥 social security savings, the extension of social programs to workplaces, and the introduction of free wifi in many public parks and urban spaces.
Youth unemployment has risen to double the national unemployment rate, has found.
The overall unemployment rate is 6%. But for 15 to 24 year olds it is 12.5% and in some areas as high as 20%. The rates of youth unemployment have risen for the past two years. The length of time young people are unemployed is also rising.
Young people who choose to study at university are also facing a life of poverty.
A new book exposing the reality of the Nauru detention centre was launched in Melbourne of April 28.
The Undesirables, written by former Salvation Army worker Mark Isaacs, details what he witnessed while stationed at the camp.
Isaacs said: 鈥淲hen we first went to the camp 鈥 it was purposely disorganised, supposedly to meet these men鈥檚 needs. When the government sent several hundreds of people to Nauru, we expected it to be ready.鈥
On my wall in London is my favourite photograph from South Africa. Always thrilling to behold, it is Paul Weinberg's image of a lone woman standing between two armoured vehicles, the infamous 鈥渉ippos鈥, as they rolled into Soweto. Her arms are raised, fists clenched, her thin body both beckoning and defiant of the enemy.
Alexis Tsipras, leader of Greece party SYRIZA and the Party of the European Left's candidate for president of the European Commission, released on May 2 in opposition to the arrest of Gerry Adams, president of the Irish republican party Sinn Fein, on April 30.
Millions of workers across the globe hit the streets on May 1 for mass rallies marking International Workers' Day.
The day was chosen in 1889 as a global day to mark the struggle of the working class by representatives of socialist parties in the Second International. It was held to commemorate the Haymarket Martyrs, anarchists executed in Chicago for their role in the struggle for an eight-hour day in 1886.
Long-time Socialist Alliance member Zoltan Torrey 鈥 a gentle, thoughtful, uplifting and inspiring man 鈥 died suddenly at home on January 16.
He wrote two extraordinary books. Out of Darkness is his memoir. He describes his youth in Hungary when it was occupied by Nazi Germany, and his arrival in Australia post World War II.
New documentary film Radical Wollongong, produced by 91自拍论坛 TV, will premiere in Wollongong on May 18, followed by screenings in other cities and regional centres.
The film features activist participants from Wollongong's radical history of strikes and community rallies, from miners鈥 struggles to Aboriginal justice and environmental protection.
Here, co-producer John Rainford describes workers鈥 campaigns in the Illawarra that defeated greedy bosses and saved jobs.
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It is difficult to accept that NSW Premier Barry O鈥橣arrell lost his position over the alleged gift of a $3000 bottle of Grange connected with the push to award lucrative contracts to Australian Water Holdings (AWH).
Conceivably, he could have stonewalled that accusation and ridden out the storm had he enjoyed the backing of cabinet and the Daily Telegraph.
More than 100 people attended a forum on the federal government鈥檚 proposed amendments to the Racial Discrimination Act. The meeting, called by the Darebin Ethnic Communities Council, was held in Northcote Town Hall on April 24.
Attorney-general George Brandis was invited to attend, but did not show up.
Shadow attorney-general Mark Dreyfus told the meeting the government鈥檚 planned changes amount to scrapping the existing law against racial vilification. He said this would give a 鈥済reen light for racism鈥.
91自拍论坛 Weekly's Peter Boyle spoke to Kevin Lin, who is doing research for his PhD at the University of Technology Sydney on the labour movement in China, about the background to a new wave of strikes in the country.
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