Melbourne has an asset that many of the world’s great cities must envy. It’s Port Phillip Bay, a 2000 square kilometre inlet teeming with marine life, despite 170 years of urban pollution. Fishing, tourism and recreation mean that the bay is one of Australia’s most economically productive bodies of water. Directly and indirectly, it generates… Read more »
environment
Save the forests and fight the bosses!
In bed with the enemy. Without a doubt, the ugliest sight of the Federal election was members of the forestry division of the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union cheering John Howard. When workers — especially those organised in unions — put their hopes in the re-election of a viciously anti-worker Prime Minister, something has… Read more »
Your Say
Capitalist education disgusting As a young queer woman of color in America, I wanted to express my deepest gratitude for your article on Helen Keller (FS Bulletin # 31), but also my outrage at the public school education I received, which misrepresented Helen Keller as only “a famous blind woman who overcame adversity.” Capitalist education… Read more »
Responding to the Tragedy in the Indian Ocean
Catastrophic. This is the only way to describe the deaths, injuries, disease and destruction resulting from the terrible earthquake and subsequent tsunamis in the Indian Ocean. Many communities have been obliterated. In an outpouring of grief and solidarity, people around the world are donating with a passionate desire to help in some small way. No… Read more »
Genetic Engineering and the Patenting of Life
Basmati rice, potatoes that glow when “thirsty” and a highland man from Papua New Guinea would seem, on the face of it, to have little in common. In fact, they form part of a rapidly growing group of organisms whose very essence — their DNA — has been patented by corporations seeking to claim private… Read more »
Life on the Line: Residents and unionists unite to stop Stonehaven Power Station
An unusual campsite sits 8 kilometres from Geelong in the middle of golden fields and beside a yellow dirt road. The campers — set up with a caravan and tents — are here for the long haul. The protesters recently celebrated the 200th day of their community picket, which was established in December 2001. The… Read more »
Why Greens need to be Reds
If there was one heartening thing about the disgraceful race/khaki election of 2001 it was the number of people who didn’t vote for the so-called “war on terrorism” and the racist, inhumane treatment of refugees. The cacophony of vilification of refugees, cynical appeals to xenophobia and outright warmongering was meant to win a majority of… Read more »
Salt water people versus corporate fishing giants: Unite to back their sea rights fight.
In March this year, a summit of Torres Strait Islanders resolved to ban commercial fishing in their “sea country” and this ban could soon extend across northern Australia. While not legally enforceable, it is an assertion by the traditional owners of their rights over the waters they’ve fished and looked after for thousands of years…. Read more »
Finish the fight to stop Jabiluka!
The fight to stop the Jabiluka uranium mine is close to victory. Rio Tinto, the new owner which took over North Limited, has announced that the mine will not be developed without the consent of the Aboriginal owners. The Mirrar people, led by feisty senior custodian Yvonne Margarula and activist Jacquie Katona, are rock solid… Read more »
Bitter Harvest: The Legacy of the Snowy Mountains Scheme
Politics and water are intimately related in Australia, the driest inhabited continent. For example, after a close election, Victoria now has a minority ALP government, supported by rural independents. One of these, Craig Ingram, gained his seat on the basis of a single issue — restoring some of the flow of the Snowy River. Steve… Read more »
