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Behind the media beat-up: Tent Embassy protesters have nothing to apologise for

Protests celebrating the anniversary of the Aboriginal Tent Embassy have been subject to a vicious and distorting media campaign, after a snap protest directed at Tony Abbott and Julia Gillard. But this protest, and the demands of the Tent Embassy for Aboriginal rights and self-determination, remain absolutely right and should be defended.

Egyptian Revolutionary Socialists: “All power and wealth to the people”

One year from the start of the revolution that toppled Hosni Mubarak and is now challenging the power of Egypt’s military junta, Egypt’s Revolutionary Socialists analyse the dynamics of the revolution and the need to link up the revolutionaries in the squares with those fighting for economic justice in the workplace.

Hands off our education: stop the staff cuts at Sydney Uni

At the end of 2011 the Sydney University administration announced 340 job cuts (150 academic and 190 general) to be finalised by February 2012. They claim that this is because of reduced income. But they have plenty of money to spend on buildings and technology to promote Sydney University. This is about increasing the profitability of the University by slashing the quality of teaching and learning.

Egyptian trade unionists’ statement: “The factory and the square are one hand”

Egyptian trade unionists have called for demonstrations on January 25, the one year anniversary of the overthrow of Hosni Mubarak. The demands of workers and protestors have not been met by the ruling military regime.

Petrol protests win partial victory in Nigeria

Labour leaders in Nigeria called off a general strike on Monday of this week after the government agreed to partly reintroduce petrol subsidies.

Australia shares responsibility for asylum seekers’ deaths at sea: Refugee Action Coalition

Australia cannot evade its share of the responsibility for the tragic sinking of another asylum boat off Java, according to advocates from the Refugee Action Coalition. The boat is believed to have been carrying Afghan and Iranian refugees.

Australia waiting in the wings of PNG’s political crisis

The political crisis in Papua New Guinea split open in mid-December as two men both claimed the right to be the Prime Minister.

Labor conference fails to halt Gillard’s drive to the right

Labor’s national conference saw a greater challenge to the government’s right-wing policies than at the previous event in 2009, where then leader Kevin Rudd orchestrated proceedings to ensure there was no debate. But the overall result was that Julia Gillard forced through a further shift to the right—and did nothing to boost Labor’s prospects.

2.5 million strike in the UK to bring down the Tories’ cuts

It was a historic day. Britain’s biggest strike since 1926 saw the working class march firmly on to centre stage of the political arena, reports UK Socialist Worker

Egypt fights for the future of the revolution

The Egyptian revolution has reached a new turning point. People in their hundreds of thousands have returned to Tahrir square and the streets across the country, in response to a brutal crackdown by the military.

Egyptian Revolutionary Socialists statement: Workers of Egypt, rise up!

Statement from the Revolutionary Socialists, released on November 21, 2011, calling on Egyptian workers to take strike action to help bring down the military regime.

Egypt’s Revolutionary Socialists: Down with military rule, down with Mubarak’s rule!

The Egyptian Revolutionary Socialists’ statement on the crisis in Egypt

Support swells for Baiada workers’ fight (in pictures and video)

On the weekend, striking poultry workers at Baiada’s Laverton factory and their supporters defeated police attempts to break up their picket, which has now been going strong for nearly a week. Then on Sunday, the workers and their union held a successful union and community rally to support the workers’ demands for better wages, safety conditions and permanent jobs. Click here for photos and videos.

Striking Baiada workers hold the line at Laverton despite police violence

Striking poultry workers have pushed back police attacks on their picket at the Baiada factory in Laverton, Victoria. Read more for the latest news on the struggle and what you can do to get involved.

Support the Baiada chicken workers

Baiada poultry workers at Laverton, Victoria, members of the National Union of Workers (NUW), began an indefinite strike on Wednesday 9 November for better conditions, a 5 per cent pay rise a year for the next three years, better health and safety conditions and job security.

Despite threats and intimidation by the Baiada management, the poultry workers have established a 24 hour picket line. Around 292 of the 430 Baiada workers are on strike, a majority of them from migrant backgrounds.

Update: Fair Work terminates industrial action but Qantas workers still need our support

The ugly face of Australia’s 1 per cent was graphically on display over the weekend, when CEO Alan Joyce grounded Qantas and prepared to lock out its workforce.

As Joyce goes for anti-union lockout: Back the Qantas workers

If anyone was wondering what the 1 per cent looks like—take a look at anti-union thug and Qantas boss, Alan Joyce. A day after the Qantas CEO had his 71 per cent pay increase (to take his base pay to over $5 million) approved, he locked out the entire workforce.

Occupy! Spread the spirit of resistance

On October 15, more than a million people took to the streets around the globe. From Seoul to Santa Fe, in so many different languages, the protests expressed the anger felt by millions at the economic crisis and a political class that doesn’t represent their interests.

Occupy Australia—Build the struggles to fight the system

The Occupy Wall Street protests have struck a chord, voicing opposition to corporate power and disillusionment with the US political system. It has mushroomed into a movement that has spread to 70 other cities across the US. It also injected renewed energy into the anti-austerity movements in Europe, and has now spread throughout the world, including to Australia.

Eyewitness in Cairo: Copts were gunned down by the military

At least 23 protesters were killed in Cairo last night, Sunday, as the army and police carried out a massacre in front of the state TV building, reports Hossam el-Hamalawy from Cairo

Bolt’s humiliation is cause to celebrate

The Federal Court has condemned Andrew Bolt’s journalism as dishonest and racist, over a series of articles he wrote in the Murdoch tabloid The Herald Sun.

Spirit of Seattle is back as protesters take on Wall Street

US-based anti-capitalist activist Virginia Rodino reports on a protest at the heart of the system

Strikes deepen Egypt’s revolution

The revolution in Egypt is gaining new momentum. The strikes that began in the summer have stepped up. The hated Hosni Mubarak is on trial. And steel tycoon Ahmed Ezz was sentenced to ten years in jail on Thursday of last week for corruption.

Coal seam gas: climate disaster brought to you by the carbon tax

Solidarity produced this leaflet for today’s coal seam gas rally in Sydney.

A step backwards for climate action: The truth about the carbon tax

Solidarity has produced a factsheet outlining why the carbon tax package will not cut emissions, how the approach of pushing costs onto workers has given Tony Abbott an enormous free kick, and that there is an alternative approach—taxing the polluters to fund government investment in renewable energy

Carbon tax deal comes at too great a cost

The carbon tax deal struck between Julia Gillard and The Greens has finally been unveiled. Gillard says it will mean a “great clean energy future”. The Greens have hailed it as “historic”. But it fails the key tests.

Thai Election: A slap in the face for the Military, the Democrat Party and the royalist elites

Exiled Thai socialist Giles Ji Ungpakorn writes on the victory in Thailand’s election for Peua Thai, the party closely allied to the Red Shirt movement

Mass strike action in NSW can stop the Liberals

Just two months after taking office, Barry O’Farrell and the NSW Liberals have shown their real face, launching a savage attack on public sector workers, something they never mentioned before the election.

Time to fight the rise of sexism

The thousands taking to the streets for “slutwalk” rallies show the anger at the widespread and growing sexism in society—exemplified in the efforts to blame women for rape. Solidarity produced this statement for the demonstrations.

SAY YES—to a fight for renewables! A carbon tax won’t stop climate change

Rallies for climate action will take place Australia-wide on Sunday 5 June. Solidarity put together this statement about the rallies demand for a carbon tax and what it means for climate action and the campaign.

Vale Bob Gould

Obituary: Bob Gould
1937-2011

Bob Gould dedicated his life to defending the rights of the working class and the fight for a socialist society and his passing is a blow to the labour movement.

Message from Curtin hunger striker as protests spread

This message was conveyed to the Refugee Action Coalition by a hunger strike inside Curtin detention centre. 1500 mostly Afghan refugees are detaineed in Curtin detention centre. 300 of them are now on hunger strike, demanding that refugee activists who have bused in from Perth and elsewhere be allowed into the detention centre. Below is also a media release from RAC about their Curtin visit and the decision of Immigration officials to completely ban one activist, Jemima Mowbray, from visiting detainees.

NSW Greens right to back Israel boycott

In the aftermath of the NSW election, The Australian and right-wing politicians have mounted a witch-hunt against the NSW Greens over their support for the campaign of Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) against apartheid Israel.

Union fightback can stop the Liberals in NSW

Labor’s thumping in the NSW election was hardly a surprise. Disgust with its corruption, privatisation and the run down of schools, hospitals and public transport had been building for years. But the election result is not a mandate for Liberal policies.

Statement by the Intervention Rollback Action Group in Response to ‘Action for Alice’

The Intervention Rollback Action Group condemns the racist advertising campaign being run by business owner group ‘Action for Alice’ and their calls for further incarceration of Aboriginal people.

New carbon price proposal is the CPRS version 2.0

Flanked by Greens Senators Bob Brown and Christine Milne, Julia Gillard announced at a press conference on February 24 that she wants to introduce a price on carbon (a carbon tax) that will become an emissions trading scheme in three to five years. The announcement has been welcomed by the some of the climate movement, most environment NGOs and also by the peak union body, the ACTU. But supporting this carbon price scheme is a mistake.

Zimbabweans face possible death sentence for discussing Egyptian revolution: urgent solidarity needed

A group of socialists in Zimbabwe face a possible death sentence for watching a video about the Egyptian Revolution.

Libya, Bahrain and beyond: the revolt continues to spread

A storm of revolutions, uprisings and revolts continues to thunder across the Middle East. Its speed and scale is breathtaking.

Following the overthrow of Ben Ali in Tunisia, and Hosni Mubarak in Egypt, all regimes in the region—whether considered friendly or hostile to the West—have been challenged by this growing movement.

Don’t return survivors to Christmas Island

Refugee Action Coalition media release

Refugee supporters and relatives of the survivors’ relatives again gathered at the Miowera Road gates of Villawood detention centre at 8.30am Thursday, 17 February to call on the Minister of Immigration not to return the Christmas Island disaster survivors to the island.

Egypt’s revolution that toppled the dictator

The tyrant has fallen. Mubarak has gone. Israel’s man, the US’s man, the World Bank’s man, has been deposed. Mubarak has been swept away by one of the greatest mass movements in history.

Statement of the Revolutionary Socialists Egypt

The statement was issued by revolutionary socialists in Egypt on Sunday February 6.

Live updates from unfolding revolution in Egypt

Judith Orr, editor of Socialist Worker (UK) is reporting live from the protests in Cairosee her posts here

Mass protests across Egypt threaten Mubarak’s dictatorship

Thousands of people remain on the streets of towns and cities in Egypt after a day of huge demonstrations calling for the downfall of the dictator Hosni Mubarak and his regime.

Egyptian socialist: ‘We can make Mubarak run like Ben Ali’

They said they would be there, and they were. The 25 January was declared a “Day of Anger” by democratic and socialist forces a week beforehand. The significance of the choice of date cannot be overestimated—it is “Police Day”— an occasion when the regime incessantly drums up the virtues of its patriotic police force.

IST statement: Tunisia shows that revolution is possible

A statement from the International Socialist Tendency, a global network of socialist organisations of which Solidarity is a part:

The importance of the victory of the Tunisian masses is not limited to the successful overthrow of Ben-Ali, ending 23 years of dictatorship. The Tunisian Revolution refutes the arguments that had been disseminated by many right-wing intellectuals over the past few decades that the Arab masses are incapable of achieving revolutionary change, and that the times of revolution are over.

Tunisian revolution topples tyrant - and panics Arab rulers

Revolution has ousted the corrupt Tunisian leader President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali.

This is the first time revolution has overthrown an Arab leader since the fall of the Shah of Iran in 1979. It will have an electric impact across north Africa and the Middle East.

Riots rock authoritarian regimes in Tunisia and Algeria

Uprisings are shaking the authoritarian regimes of Tunisia and Algeria in North Africa. Protests have raged for more than three weeks in Tunisia. High youth unemployment, poverty and a rising cost of living—combined with the obscene wealth of the elite and corruption—has led to fury.

Spain next in line for a tough battle against austerity

The debt crisis is extending and deepening across Europe. As European governments force working people to pay for the costs of the crisis through austerity measures, more and more are standing up in opposition.

Government to blame for Christmas Island tragedy

Refugee Action Coalition media release 15 December 2010:

“Government anti-refugee policy is responsible for the tragedy on Christmas Island,” said Ian Rintoul, spokesperson for the Refugee Action Coalition.

“Our heart goes out to the people and their families of the asylum seekers who have lost their lives, so close to the possibility of protection.”

Wikileaks exposes an empire built on lies

The avalanche of secret US diplomatic cables has raised the rage of world leaders against Julian Assange and Wikileaks to fever pitch. They have launched a concerted international campaign to shut Assange and Wikileaks down—seemingly by whatever means at their disposal.

Truth is a crime in an empire of lies: defend Wikileaks

Sign the open letter initiated by Sydney Stop the War Coalition.

Another suicide at Villawood demands full inquiry into detention

Refugee Action Coalition media release 16 Nov 2010

An Iraqi asylum seeker, Ahmad, is believed to have committed suicide at Villawood detention centre around midnight Monday night.

Victory in Cairns abortion case, now it’s time to change the law

It took a Cairns jury less than an hour to find Tegan Leach and Sergie Brennan not guilty on charges of procuring an abortion. It was a cause for celebration for the couple, as well as the many abortion rights activists crammed into the courtroom and chanting outside.

Villawood refugees stage rooftop protests and hunger strikes

Updates on the situation are available at Refugee Action Coalition Sydney’s website

Unions can’t afford three more years of waiting for Labor

In 2007, the mass union mobilisations through the Your Rights at Work campaign were the central force driving John Howard from office. It beggars belief that only three years later, we came so close to having a Coalition government led by Howard’s clone, Tony Abbott.

New carbon price committee will get us nowhere

Julia Gillard’s deal with The Greens to establish a parliamentary committee on a carbon price has been hailed as a new chance for serious action on climate change. The Greens have led the charge for a carbon tax; new MP Adam Bandt has called it “the key to dealing with the climate change challenge.”

Labor slumps but there’s no mandate for Abbott

As she lost the seat of Bennelong, Maxine McKew summed up Labor’s crisis: compared to 2007, she said, Labor stood for nothing.

Stop the Intervention—how we built the campaign through the election

The struggles against the NT Intervention and the expansion of the nuclear industry in the NT continued to build during the election period - through the Greens campaign and the Intervention Rollback Action Group’s (IRAG) grassroots mobilisation.

Greens breakthrough shows potential for the left

“Together we have made history today”, Adam Bandt declared, as he became the first Green to win a lower house seat in a general election. The surge to The Greens shows that, despite Gillard’s effort to race Abbott to the right, larger numbers than ever want a left-wing alternative.

Brumby climate promises only look good next to federal government failure

Victorian Premier John Brumby’s recently announced climate policies have seen him hailed as the first Australian politician to get serious about climate change. But his promises on climate have fallen though in the past, and so far the details of how large-scale solar power would be boosted under his new plan are not available. His announcements contain no new funding for large-scale renewable energy.

NSW teacher conference pledges action if league tables produced again

The Federal Australian Education Union (AEU) held a National Symposium to highlight issues regarding NAPLAN and school rankings in Sydney on July 21.

Gillard caves in to the mining bosses

Julia Gillard has capitulated to the mining companies to end their campaign against Labor’s mining tax. The speedy acceptance of her compromise deal by the wealthiest mining companies BHP Billiton, Xstrata and Rio Tinto shows the extent of the government’s retreat.

Media release: Racial discrimination entrenched in new NT Intervention laws

The Alice Springs Based Intervention Rollback Action group (IRAG) and STICS (Stop the
Intervention Collective Sydney) have condemned the Social Security and Other Legislation
Amendment (Welfare Reform and Reinstatement of Racial Discrimination Act) Bill, expected to pass
through the Senate this week.

Flotilla slaughter exposes Israel as a terrorist state

In the early hours of Monday morning, Israeli naval ships and helicopters descended upon an international aid flotilla headed toward the Gaza strip. The trained killers of the Israeli armed forces opened fire on the activists aboard six of the boats, mostly from Turkey and Greece. Nine people were murdered. Even more are wounded.

Refugee groups condemn re-opening ‘worst of the worst’ detention centres

MEDIA RELEASE

Refugee groups today condemned the Immigration Minster’s decision to re-open Curtin detention centre to house detainees whose visa applications have been suspended.

Racist bashings of African youth…by Victoria Police

Victoria Police routinely racially target, taunt and bash African youths across Melbourne, according to a Legal Services report released in March.

Thailand: hundreds of thousands take to the streets to demand democracy

Update: After Democrat politicians bring weapons into Parliament and their officials throw CS gas cannisters into peaceful Red Shirt protestors outside, the Government then declared a state of emergency in Bangkok. This gives them the power to shut down all opposition media and use force against the pro-democracy demonstrators. There are reports that soldiers are massing at the international airport in order to attack the peaceful demonstrators.

Video of Clive Spash on why carbon trading will fail

Censored CSIRO economist Clive Spash, whose controversial paper on carbon trading was censored by CSIRO management, spoke in Sydney and Melbourne on “Why Carbon Trading Will Fail” in March.

Why the climate movement shouldn’t support the Green’s carbon tax proposal

 The Greens’ Proposal
The Greens have proposed an interim 2 year carbon tax, as a transition to
carbon trading. Starting at $23 per tonne this year, rising to $24 the
following year.

Teachers union right to ban NAPLAN tests

Teaching unions around the country have pledged to ban upcoming national testing after newspapers in Canberra, Sydney and Melbourne used information from the “My School” website to publish damaging and misleading league tables late in January.

Woodside Pluto workers defy Rudd’s IR laws

Up to 1600 workers have defied court orders and calls by the Rudd government to end strike action at Woodside Petroleum’s Pluto gas site in Western Australia.

Workers hit back with strike action at Australia Post

Up to 20,000 union members have taken strike action at Australia Post, part of a pre-Xmas rush of strikes that also hit Sydney buses, Telstra and Qantas.

Xmas strikes can be the start of new year of struggle

The run of pre-Xmas strikes are a welcome start in reversing years of management bullying, privatisation and job cuts. The limited revival of industrial struggle by workers marks a shift in the terrain for the Labor government.

Censored CSIRO carbon trading paper - compulsory reading for climate movement

Solidarity is making Clive Spash’s paper available because we believe it should be compulsory reading for every environmental activist.

NASA climate scientist James Hansen shocked many climate activists when he declared that it would be better if the Copenhagen talks collapsed. Spash’s paper will tell you why carbon trading schemes are fundamentally flawed and why Copehagen will not deliver meaningful action that can stop climate change.

Chris Harman 1942-2009

Solidarity (Australia) joins other socialists around the world to mourn the passing of Chris Harman. International socialism has sadly lost one of its greatest thinkers.

Refugee Action Coalition - media release

GOVERNMENT STANCE ON ASYLUM SEEKERS IS UNSUSTAINABLE
JULIA GILLARD BRINGS SHAMEFUL REMINDER OF TAMPA

Rudd panders to terrorism hysteria

Massive “counter-terrorism” raids in Melbourne last week have further stirred up racism against Muslims and immigrants. More than 400 police were involved in the raids, including paramilitary squads armed with sub-machine guns. Five men are being charged under draconian “anti-terror” legislation with making unspecified preparations to carry out a terrorist attack.

NSW teachers ban school league tables

Five hundred and fifty New South Wales Teachers Federation union delegates have unanimously voted for a series of actions to stop the publication of school league tables at their annual conference.

Inquiry needed into government response to distressed asylum seekers

Refugee Action Coalition MEDIA RELEASE
 
- GOVERNMENT POLICIES ARE FORCING ASYLUM SEEKERS TO USE PEOPLE SMUGGERS

The drama and uncertainty that still surrounds the fate of many of the
asylum seekers

Some distressed boat people make it to land, but not all may be safe

Refugee Action Coalition MEDIA RELEASE
 
Some of the 74 Afghan asylum seekers feared lost at sea Indonesian waters
fours days ago have made it to land.

Rudd’s anti-people smuggling crusade is threatening asylum seekers lives

Refugee Action Coalition MEDIA RELEASE

In the aftermath of the rescue of a 74 asylum seekers’ boat yesterday, the refugee advocate who alerted Australian border protection authorities to the distressed boat has called on the Rudd government to end the crack down on asylum seekers and people smugglers in Indonesia.

G20 trials begin–defend the arrestees

An update from the Sydney G20 Solidarity Collective

Iran’s new fight for freedom

IRAN IS being rocked by massive people power demonstrations-the biggest since the 1979 revolution that overthrew the hated Shah.  Night after night, hundreds of thousands of people have poured into the streets of Tehran and other cities to join protests against the rigged election win of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Thousands rally nationally for renewable energy, & against CPRS

Thousands have rallied around the country calling for funding renewable energy as an alternative to the governments polluter friendly emissions trading scheme, there were climate protests in Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Cairns, Hobart, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney and Wollongong. 

People Power Rocks Iran

There is a new popular power sweeping Iran. In one of the biggest mass demonstrations since the toppling of the US-backed Shah in 1979, some one million people descended onto the streets of the capital Tehran to protest at an election widely seen as rigged.

150,000 remember Tianamen massacre in Hong Kong

One hundred and fifty thousand people attended the Hong Kong candlelight vigil in Victoria Park to commemorate those killed in Tiananmen Square on June 4 1989. They came to pay tribute to the bravery of those who stared down the soldiers and tanks.

Thousands rally against racist attacks (photos & report)

Thousands of people have marched in Melbourne today (Sunday May 31) against racist attacks on people of Indian origin living in Melbourne.  There have also been attacks in Sydney, last week Indian student, Rajesh Kumar, was left with burns to 30% of his body after a petrol bomb was thrown into his apartment.

Strike hits six universities

Workers at five universities in Melbourne — Melbourne, Monash, Swinburne, RMIT and Deakin, plus a Hawthorn college — struck on Thursday, May 21.

Speech by Verity Burgmann at NTEU strike rally

I acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which we meet.

I have been an academic for over three decades. I used to like my job but not the last few years.

NTEU strike leaflet

Howard’s long gone – so why are uni managements still acting like Liberals?

Labor was elected amid talk of an education revolution. But uni managements continue to act as if nothing has changed.

Statement on CPRS (emissions trading)

*No compromise with Rudd’s flawed scheme. More than ever the CPRS is worse than useless*

Recent developments around the Rudd government’s Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS) highlight the need for the climate movement to clearly oppose and mobilise against the scheme in its entirety.

Open Letter to the Greens to vote against the CPRS

Scrap the CPRS
A Call for Green Senators to Vote NO

Kevin Rudd’s Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS), the government’s main mechanism for reducing Australia’s carbon emissions, fails every test. 

Refugee Action Coalition - media release

 MEDIA RELEASE

Refugee groups wants the government to come clean on asylum boat interceptions. Government policy is creating the conditions for more tragedies

Support Pacific Brands workers—defend every job

Support from Hong Kong Trade Unions for Pacific Brands workers 

Workers across the country are disgusted and outraged with the announcement that Pacific Brands bosses plan to sack 1850 workers. The bosses’ greed is astounding. A fight to save the jobs would win widespread support.

Charles Darwin’s discovery

This year marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin. It is also 150 years since the publication of the book that made him world famous, indeed notorious – On The Origin Of Species By Means Of Natural Selection.

NSW teachers’ deal could have gone further

NSW teachers have won a pay increase and the reinstatement of a state-wide staffing plan as part of a new 3-year-award.

Solidarity Discussion Paper for 2009 Climate Summit

Only a few years ago mainstream debate on climate change was still focused on debates with climate skeptics about whether the threat was real. Today climate change is a mainstream issue—it was one of the key issues in bringing Kevin Rudd to power in late 2007 and tackling it has moved to the center of the new government’s agenda. But this shift also means the climate movements needs to reorient itself to deal with the new situation.

Stop Israel’s massacre in Gaza

Israel has expanded its murderous air attack on Gaza into a full ground assault. With all borders sealed, 1.5 million Palestinians are trapped—with little electricity or fuel and severe shortages of food, clean water and medicines. Download Solidarity pdf Broadsheet

Gaza and the US war for control of the Middle East

The assault on Gaza is part of the wider US-backed “war on terror” across the Middle East. Ending the Australian government’s continued backing for US wars in Iraq and Afghanistan is part of building the kind of struggle needed to free Palestine.

Hamas and the struggle to liberate Palestine

The US has blamed Hamas for causing Israel’s assault. Kevin Rudd has called them a “terrorist organisation”. In fact Hamas are the legitimate elected leaders of the Palestinians.

Stop the siege! Protests demand justice for Gaza

THOUSANDS of people have rallied across Australia in the last week to protest Israel’s recent military bombardment and siege of the Gaza strip. 

Thailand: The Cockroaches take over

by Giles Ji Ungpakorn,

from Turn Left Thailand

The appointment of “Democrat” Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva as the new Thai Prime Minister is the final stage of the second coup against an elected government.  **Update Giles Ji Ungpakorn has been charged with “Lese Majeste” for publication of his book “A Coup For The Rich” Press Statement - Open Letter/Petition

Close Christmas Island detention centre, demand refugee groups

Refugee groups today called for the permanent closure of the high security immigration detention facility on Christmas Island.

Mass movement hits Greece after police killing

Panos Garganas from Greece reports on the mass movement sparked by the police killing of 15-year old, which has detonated wider anger against the government over cutbacks in response to the economic crisis

Greek mass movement rises up against the state

The following is an article from Workers Solidarity the paper of our sister organisation in Greece (translated from Greek)

Moreland rallies for action on ABC childcare centres

About 40 people rallied in the Coburg mall in Melbourne on Saturday December 6 for government intervention to save ABC childcare centres.

Turnbull’s refugee bashing condemned

Turnbull’s call for the re-introduction of temporary protection visas shows how much the Liberal opposition is in thrawl to the failed policies of the Howard era, according to refugee groups.

Campaign forces university into negotiations on student housing

Eviction notices given to student occupiers in the Student Housing Action Collective (SHAC) at Melbourne University have been withdrawn, with the university re-entering negotiations with the students.

Jeff Goldhar: socialist whose legacy continues

When life long socialist Jeff Goldhar died in 1997, he left a bequest. Set up at the end of 1998, the Jeff Goldhar Project is now celebrating 10 years of activities.

Thailand: a second “Coup for the Rich”

By Giles Ji Ungpakorn in Bangkok

Today the Constitutional Court dissolved the democratically elected governing party in Thailand for the second time, forcing the government to resign. This follows the refusal of the armed forces and the police to follow government instructions to clear the two international airports blocked by armed PAD fascists.

NSW teachers plan 48 hour strike in January 09

20,000 teachers at meetings around the state have voted to take 48 hours of industrial action from the start of the 2009 school year, in the event of the NSW government not abandoning its attacks on wages, conditions and the staffing of public schools.

It’s as easy as ABC Julia!

Solidarity believes the federal government should take over ABC Learning Centres, CFK Childcare and any other “unprofitable” centres.

Hunger strike at Villawood detention centre suspended

Immigration detainees at Villawood detention centre in Sydney have suspended their hunger strike after three days. The Refugee Action Coalition has been releasing daily updates on the hunger strike, which we republish here.

US activists interviewed on Obama’s victory

Socialist Worker in the US interviewed activists following Obama’s victory for their understanding of the importance of his win

Free Lex Wotton - National Protests Nov 1 & 7

National protests have been called in response to the guilty verdict in the trial of Lex Wotton, announced this week.

It’s their crisis–why should we pay?

Leaflet distributed by Solidarity students at Sydney University seminar on the financial crisis

Robbo goes to parliament

What does it do for the union movement’s credibility when its elected leader joins the government?

International socialist tendency statement on the global economic crisis

The extraordinary waves of panic that have swept through global financial markets in the past few weeks have filled ordinary working people around the world with a mixture of anger, bewilderment, and fear.

Market Meltdown – The crisis at the heart of the system

The era of neo-liberal market madness has crashed. It is not the end of capitalism by a long shot, but it is the end of capitalism as we have known it

Explaining the toxic crisis of capitalism - questions and answers

Socialist Worker - our sister publication in Britain - answers the crucial questions raised by the collapse of leading investment banks and the recent turmoil in glabal markets

Rights on sites

Join the campaign to abolish the Australian Building and Construction Commission.

Fairfax staff fight back

Solidarity speaks to Marcus Strom, a member of the Fairfax union house committee, about the ongoing dispute at Fairfax.

Right-wing attacks on government in Bolivia

Paula Pfoeffer in Cochabamba, Bolivia, reports that the Morales government in Bolivia has been under attack by right-wing forces.

The Thai circus continues

The Thai political crisis took another farcical turn today when the courts ruled that Prime Minister Samak must resign because he appears on a TV cooking programme.

2000 Union Delegates Meet To Defend Noel Washington

2000 union delegates attended a mass meeting to defend Noel Washington, CFMEU official facing 6 months jail for refusing to be interrogated by the Howard era Australian Building & Construction Commission (ABCC). The ABCC wanted to question him about what was said at a union meeting that took place outside of work hours.

Refugee Action Coalition: Immigration changes don’t go far enough, summit to address outstanding issues needed

“We are puzzled that the Minister seems to have pre-empted his Parliamentary Enquiry, but the changes to immigration detention announced today by the Minister for Immigration are a welcome move in the right direction”, according to Ian Rintoul, spokesperson for the Refugee Action Coalition.

APEC conviction overturned in right to protest victory

In another victory for the right to protest, one of the few court
convictions over the APEC demonstration was overturned on appeal yesterday in
the District Court.

Newcastle Climate Camp fosters national debate and planning on climate change

Climate Camp, a protest against the coal industry in Newcastle NSW, was a success and an important step forward in continuing to build a movement for real solutions to stop global warming. It brought hundreds of activists together for a week of discussion and protest, and the main protest on Sunday drew 1000 people with the goal of shutting down a coal train line for the day. This direct action was a breath of fresh air, compared to the mainstream environment movement’s focus on individual action and lobbying politicians.

Student activists reinvigorate campaign for queer rights

Over two hundred students from across Australia converged on Melbourne University last week for the annual Queer Collaborations conference, this year themed ‘Freedoms are Won, Not Given’.

Unions act to defend Noel Washington and scrap the construction commission

Unions in Victoria are set to escalate their campaign against the anti-union Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC), a WorkChoices-era relic. For the first time since Howard introduced the ABCC a unionist, Noel Washington, will face court for refusing to attend an interrogation by the commission.

Leadership of NSW nurses’ union undermines public sector-wide pay fight

NURSES IN NSW have accepted a pay deal in exchange for a raft of “trade offs” that strip back work conditions. The nurses’ is the latest in a string of public sector disputes where unions are battling state Labor governments’ below-inflation pay caps.

Melbourne Climate Emergency Rally

About 4000 people rallied in central Melbourne on Saturday July 5, addressed by Greens Senator Bob Brown, among others.

One year on, rallies demand an end to NT intervention

On June 21, people from ten cities around Australia took to the streets to protest the ongoing NT Intervention. One year since John Howard and Mal Brough announced the Intervention in the NT the vast majority of it continues to be rolled out, full steam ahead, by Kevin Rudd.

Building a Movement Against Climate Change

Solidarity has produced a climate change position paper to coincide with the Climate Camp in Newcastle in July. It runs through, in some detail, our critique of the climate camp’s focus on coal exports, the myth of the individual carbon footprint, and what sorts of demands and organisation are needed to constitute a movement post-climate camp.