Since the start of the year, many newspapers have dedicated article after article to predictions of a looming demise of South America's so-called 鈥淧ink Tide鈥
The term 鈥淧ink Tide鈥 is used to refer to the wave of left-of-centre governments elected in South America in recent years.
Several such governments have recently been up for re-election. Pollsters and commentators alike argued that for many, their time in government was up.
Instead, on October 26, Brazilians re-elected Dilma Rousseff as president, ushering in a fourth consecutive Workers鈥 Party administration.
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Ezekiel Ox is a long-term singer-songwriter and activist for social justice. He has a reputation for energetic live performances across Australia, the United States and Britain with bands such as Full Scale, Mammal and Over Reactor.
The Gallipoli Centenary Peace Campaign (GCPC) was formed in mid-February at a meeting of the Marrickville Peace Group, Marrickville Residents for Reconciliation (now part of ANTaR Inner West), Pax Christi and the Marrickville Greens. Since then a number of local individuals have also participated in the coalition鈥檚 meetings and events.
The annual Reclaim the Night rally was held in Sydney on October 31. Hundreds rallied in Hyde Park to protest against gendered violence, rising Islamophobia and the closures of women鈥檚 refuges.
A fierce debate over women鈥檚 participation in video game culture has erupted online. Known as 鈥淕amerGate鈥, it is a battle over power and sexism in video games.
Women now represent nearly half of those who play video games, and the traditional gamer identity is being challenged. The problem of sexism in video games is part of a wider problem of misogyny in society, and in the same way misogyny is being confronted in parliament or at universities, it is also being confronted in gaming.
Bill Deller was a well-known left-wing activist in Melbourne and presenter on community radio station 3CR. He died on October 17. Below are remembrances of Bill鈥檚 life from some of his comrades.
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Lalitha Chelliah 鈥 radio co-host and a friend and comrade of 24 years
I met Bill Deller in 1990 when he employed me to work at the State Public Services Federation (SPSF).
The United Nations General Assembly voted overwhelmingly for the 23rd time on October 29 to condemn the decades-long United States economic embargo against Cuba.
Reuters said that day that many nations praised the socialist country for its response in fighting the deadly Ebola virus that is ravaging west Africa. Cuba has sent hundreds of doctors to affected countries in west Africa.
About 50 people rallied outside the Mint Bistro in Macquarie Street on October 28, carrying placards and black balloons marked CO2, to protest against Whitehaven Coal鈥檚 annual general meeting being held inside.
The protesters accused the company of ignoring the wishes of communities living near mining projects in the Leard National Forest and at Maules Creek in northern NSW.
I must admit that I don鈥檛 know one end of a soccer ball from another, but having read this book I don鈥檛 care. I鈥檓 now passionately interested in this extraordinary German football club, FC St Pauli, with its skull-and-cross-bones emblem.
One of the most striking features of the first year of Tony Abbott鈥檚 government is the sustained attacks on Centrelink clients.
These started with the federal budget and its proposed cuts to Newstart Allowance for those aged under 30, Family Tax Benefits for sole-parent and low-income families, and restricted access to Disability Support Pension.
These were followed by employment minister Eric Abetz announcing the expansion of Work for the Dole to all jobseekers under 50.
The long-term average rise of the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) wage price index is 3.6%.
In the first half of this year, it increased at an annualised rate of only 1.7%. The latest National Australia Bank quarterly business survey shows labour costs have been rising at an average annualised rate of 1.5% since the last quarter of 2012. This compares with an average of 3% a year between 1998 and 2008.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott has called for 鈥渁 mature debate鈥 on whether to raise the GST 鈥 and, make no mistake, he'll shirtfront any economic girlie-men who try to stop it.
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