WL Aus 31

International justice for janitors

Submitted on 9 April, 2004 - 22:18

Everyone deserves a chance at a decent life no matter where they live. That is why on International Justice for Janitors Day, June 15th, janitors united across the world in a show of solidarity.

Janitors united to send a message to the company behind the Westfield shopping malls in the USA, Australia, New Zealand, the UK and Canada. They are demanding that Westfield mall cleaners be treated with fairness, dignity and respect. For more information go to:

Don't trust the "roadmap"

Submitted on 9 April, 2004 - 22:16

The Palestine Liberation Organisation has, since the beginning of the second intifada in September 2000, called for international intervention in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Usually they have talked of the deployment of United Nations peacekeeping troops. This has reflected their understanding that the Palestinians could not hope alone to prevail against the militarily superior Israelis.

Bosswatch

Submitted on 9 April, 2004 - 22:15

By Lynn Smith

So cheating is standard practice with the big telcos?

Remember the Worldcom debacle of a few months back? It was the largest corporate crash in US history. Well three new directors of the now resuscitated company hired William Lucas (ex director of enforcement for the US Securities and Exchange Commission) to conduct an internal investigation into why Worldcom got itself into trouble.

An invitation to terror

Submitted on 9 April, 2004 - 22:11

Five generals took the decision to assassinate Hamas leader Abd-al-Aziz al-Rantissi: the Prime Minister, the Minister of Defense, the Chief-of-Staff and the chiefs of the Mossad and the Security Service.

Iraq war: dollar vs euro?

Submitted on 9 April, 2004 - 22:01

By Colin Foster

What were the real reasons behind the USA's drive for war in Iraq? Two polar-opposite explanations have been discussed on the left.

International notes: Aceh

Submitted on 9 April, 2004 - 21:59

By Bryan Sketchley

Foreign Minister Alexander Downer has proclaimed that the Australian government fully supports the Indonesian military launching a war on the people of Aceh.

After a week of incursions into the province, reports started reaching Australia that unarmed villagers were being detained, tortured and shot, whole villages have been emptied and the general population is living in fear.

International notes: China

Submitted on 9 April, 2004 - 21:56

7 years prison for being a trade unionist

Seven years -- that's the prison sentence imposed upon Yao Fuxin last month by a Chinese court. His colleague Xiao Yunliang didn't fare much better; he got four years in jail.

International notes: Brazil

Submitted on 9 April, 2004 - 21:55

The Workers' Party (PT) in Brazil has taken the first steps towards expelling socialists within the party who oppose government reforms.

NSW Public Service - Fight to save jobs!

Submitted on 9 April, 2004 - 21:53

By Janet Burstall

New South Wales Minister for Education and Training, Andrew Refshauge, announced a restructure of public education under the mendacious title of "Lifelong Learning". It is in the fine tradition of many job-cutting programs in the Australian public sector, pretending to be a restructure that will improve services - increase "frontline staff" and reduce the number of "bureaucrats".

Socialist Alliance - Towards a class struggle party?

Submitted on 9 April, 2004 - 21:51

By Riki Lane SA national co-convenor

The second National Conference of the Socialist Alliance in May voted to move towards a united multi-tendency socialist party. Most SA members expected a different situation and a different tempo for Socialist Alliance as a result. In fact, there has been more continuity than dramatic change in the two months since the Conference.