2005 is not the first time the student movement will have faced the attack of VSU and it is also by no means the first time it has been fought and defeated. Throughout the 90?s students have been forced to struggle against anti-student governments. By Yorran Pelekanakis, 2nd year student at Melbourne University

If the proposed changes to VSU are to be defeated the students from campuses across the country will have to participate and unite in a campaign of education and direct action. Students simply can?t rely on the National Union of Students to do all the agitating on their behalf.
By Andrew Calleja, 2nd year student [...]

From July 1st the Howard Government will hold a majority in both Houses of Parliament, giving the Liberals an unhindered position to implement their right-wing policy agenda. Brendan Nelson, the Federal Education Minister who brought us tertiary fee increases of up to 35% last year, is looking to complete his plan of neoliberalising universities and [...]

Imperialism?s continuing bloodshed threatens sectarian break-up
By Tony Saunois, CWI
After only a few days, the sham of the Iraqi ?elections? became evident as Iraq was shaken by a renewed wave of bombings and violent attacks on government officials and the occupation forces. As each day passes, it becomes clearer that the elections have resolved [...]

A speech by Leon Trotsky
This is a speech made by Leon Trotsky on 26 December 1925 and reproduced in the Soviet newspaper, Pravda, on 8 January 1926 under the title, ?Cherez Dvadtsat Let 1905? (Twenty Years After 1905). The speech was made at the Second Congress of the Society of Political Prisoners and Deportees. [...]

Prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra (pronounced ?Chin-a-what?) and his Thai Rak Thai (TRT) party are on course for a crushing parliamentary majority following the elections in Thailand on Sunday 6 February.
By Laurence Coates, Rättvisepartiet Socialisterna, Stockholm (CWI party in Sweden)

From the Socialist Party Councillor at Yarra City Council, Stephen Jolly
Comrades and Yarra Residents,
The first Council meeting of 2005 was held on Tuesday with a packed gallery and media present. It was the ?the most exciting Council meeting in 10 years? according to one onlooker.

The Life and Legacy of Malcom X
Today Malcom X is still an inspiration to millions of class fighters around the world and February marks the 40th anniversary of his assassination.
Here the Socialist Party reprints a CWI / Militant pamphlet, written in 1993 by Andrea Enisuoh, to commemorate this anniversary.

Robert Bechert, CWI statement
Deep emotions were aroused by January?s week-long ceremonies to mark the 60th anniversary of the Red Army liberating the Auschwitz extermination camp complex. For survivors of all the Nazi extermination and concentration camps the terrible memories came back of death, torture, starvation and, particularly for those who were children then, suddenly losing [...]