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Canada's growing gap between rich and poor

CANADA — Canada has topped the United Nations' Human Development Index for the past five years. However, a new report, released by the UN on December 4, condemns Canada's federal and provincial governments for exacerbating poverty and homelessness

Resistance condemns racist jailings

Resistance condemns racist jailings By Andy Gianniotis BRISBANE — Resistance, the socialist youth group, has spoken out against the jailing of a 14-year-old Aboriginal woman in the Mackay watch-house. The woman is the sister of an 11-year-old

Shell head office occupied

Shell head office occupied LONDON — On January 4, environmental and human rights protesters began occupying Shell-Mex House in the Strand. The activists barricaded themselves into the offices in solidarity with indigenous resistance to oil giant

Public servants strike for job security

Public servants strike for job security By Stuart Martin CANBERRA — On December 17, 2000 members of the Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) employed in the ACT public service went on strike for 24 hours in protest against the Liberal

Loose cannons

Low on cholesterol "The Olympic games in Sydney has to be one of the easiest products in the world to sell. It's a lot easier than margarine." — Advertising executive Ian Elliot on a $30 million campaign to revive flagging interest in the 2000

Gas commission highlights safety problems

Gas commission highlights safety problems By Chris Spindler MELBOURNE — Witnesses at the royal commission to investigate the Longford gas disaster, in which two workers were killed and eight injured, have reported maintenance delays, poor

As schools decay, Russian teachers protest

As schools decay, Russian teachers protest By Renfrey Clarke MOSCOW — When Russian authorities learned on December 15 that striking teachers had blocked an important rail line, it may finally have dawned on them that the situation in the

New findings on Agent Orange and dioxin in Vietnam

A report released last month by the Canadian firm Hatfield Consultants calls for urgent international attention to problems created by United States spraying of Agent Orange during the Vietnam War. The study found that the spraying has resulted in

McLibel goes global

By Kim Bullimore More than 100 screenings of a controversial documentary on the British "McLibel" case occurred around the world on January 12, to coincide with the beginning of the McLibel court appeal in Britain. The film was screened in

Historic houses threatened

Historic houses threatened By Emma Murphy MELBOURNE — The planners for Melbourne University Private — an annexe of Melbourne University reserved the rich — have announced the demolition of 18 National Trust-listed terrace houses in Carlton.

For 'reconciliation', read 'surrender'

For 'reconciliation', read 'surrender' Visiting Uluru on January 13, Deputy Prime Minister Tim Fischer performed what amounts to an allegory for the government's plan to achieve "reconciliation" with Aboriginal people by the centenary of

Greek secondary students in revolt

Greek secondary students in revolt By James Vassilopoulos School occupations, mass demonstrations, mass school assemblies and roadblocks are tactics Greek secondary students have used in their militant campaign against the social democratic PASOK