By John Gowland, Socialist Party Perth

It is said that certain Amazon Indian tribes have developed a wonderfully simple technique of capturing monkeys, high in protein and highly prized. The cage is constructed with a nut inside but designed so that when the monkey grabs the nut its clench fist will be too large to be pulled out of the cage. The hunters simply pick the monkey up and the hunt could not be easier. The point is that despite imminent capture the monkeys cannot let go of the nut. (more…)

It is the US presidential election campaign which is governing US policy half a world away in Iraq. (more…)

By Chris McFerran, Socialist Party Melbourne
I’ve never been much of a one for doing the right thing, usually because it doesn’t occur to me at the time. I consider myself the Crown Prince of what I call ‘wit delay’, the ability to think of a highly amusing retort several hours after it matters. (more…)

Ronald Reagan, the B-movie actor who became the 40th president of the USA (1981-88) has died aged 93. Wall Street will stay closed for Reagan?s state funeral, a salute to the godfather of today?s stock market bubble.

By Laurence Coates, Sweden, writing in Offensiv (10 June 2004), the weekly paper of Rättvisepartiet Socialisterna (CWI Sweden) (more…)

In the run-up to Joe Higgins visit to Australia see the Irish Socialist Party’s Election Broadcast, which went out on on television on Monday 31 May.
See also as on Monday 31 May, Joe Higgins appeared with other candidates for the Euopean Elections on RTE’s political debate show Questions & Answers. Plus more information on the Irish Socialist Party’s election challenge and the ‘citizenship referendum’


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Australia is getting its payback for sending troops to East Timor in 1999…
In 1999 John Howard sent Australian troops to East Timor, allegedly to protect the masses from the murderous Indonesian-backed militia. This invasion was also supported by the Labor Opposition, the ACTU, the mass media and even leftwing groups like the DSP. (more…)

A socialist analysis of the gangland wars and police corruption in Victoria

The Victorian Labor Premier and Police Minister told the media last month that crime is down in their State in all categories bar one…murder. It’s like the doctor explaining that your flu, tooth ache and ingrown toenail have all improved…but you’ve now got terminal cancer.

By SP reporters Melbourne

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Borders workers and Unite have beaten Borders management today!!
After weeks of intense campaigning by Unite and Borders staff, management today announced that they would not oppose the introduction of the Retail Award when the issue returns before the Industrial Relations Commission in Melbourne this week. (more…)

On Friday the 21st of May, former Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU) Victorian State Secretary, Craig Johnston was sentenced to jail for 12 months, (the sentence was suspended for three years). Whilst he will not have to serve jail time he was fined $10 000 and ordered to pay $44 560 in damages.

By Anthony Main, AMWU and Workers First member (more…)

The occupation of Iraq has developed into a deepening crisis for US imperialism and President Bush. The present headache concerns the new Iraqi government due to take office from 30 June - an attempted fig leaf to cover Bush?s responsibility for the catastrophic developments.

By Per-Ã…ke Westerlund, CWI Sweden (more…)