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Chatting with Jakarta taxi drivers

Chatting with Jakarta taxi drivers By Edmund Thompson JAKARTA — "This traffic jam is caused by the stupidity and corruption of the government! They can't even do simple things like fix up the traffic, let alone respond to the people's

Tasmanians take on racism

Tasmanians take on racism By Iggy Kim HOBART — The newly formed Tasmanians Against Racism (TAR) has been meeting since January 14. Its members come from a variety of organisations, including Women's International League for Peace and Freedom,

Revolt against austerity topples Ecuador's president

By Shane Hopkinson Last August, President Abdala Bucaram netted 54% of the vote. In office, the populist president recorded an album and gave concerts, auctioned his moustache in a benefit for the poor and launched a subsidised powdered milk

Tasmanian teachers restart wage claim

By Ben Courtice HOBART — The Tasmanian branch of the Australian Education Union, having spent more than a year campaigning for a wage rise, has restarted negotiations under the new federal industrial relations legislation for a 22.26% rise.

Poem: Let us Rise

Let us Rise On Lygon Street a building stands a house of dreams, each stone a vision. A little tattered and worse, or should I say, better for wear this Parliament of workers. But solid, dignified and proud. I climb the steps so

Looking out: Starved soul

Starved soulStarved soul By Brandon Astor "George Washington Carver, it is said, used to get up and go out into the woods every day just before sun-up and sit on his favorite tree stump. While there, during his daily meditations, he would

Indonesian activist tours

By Martin Iltis and Russel Pickering Indonesian solidarity campaigners in Canberra, Wollongong and Sydney heard Robbie Hartono from the Indonesian People's Democratic Party (PRD) speak at public meetings between February 11-15. The meetings were

Indonesian military admits hundreds killed in West Kalimantan

Indonesian military admits hundreds killed in West Kalimantan By James Balowski Recent reports on the death toll following more than a month of unrest in West Kalimantan suggest that many more have been killed that the authorities first admitted.

Arguments for socialism: Winners and losers

Winners and losers By Peter Boyle According to the Daily Telegraph, media mogul Kerry Packer won $7.5 million dollars in 20 hands of baccarat in a Las Vegas casino recently. While Packer plays with millions, every year 17 million people die from

and ain't i a woman?: Office of the status of (one) woman?

Office of the status of (one) woman?Office of the status of (one) woman? On December 5, the Howard government abolished the Office of the Status of Women's $1 million grants scheme and cut its funding by 46%. The cut, which will affect more

Poem: A Black Armbanded History

A Black Armbanded History Roll Up! Roll up and see the show, armbanded historians in a row, spreading revisionism as they go, weaving distortion to and fro. Saying Robert Menzies was the greatest — greatest liar: that he never set the

Action updates

Circular Quay protest rally SYDNEY — A February 14 rally to oppose the development of East Circular Quay drew 2000 people to the steps of the Opera House. The rally called for the demolition of a building currently under construction at Circular