As causes go, the right to chop down native trees is not a particularly inspiring one but there is an important issue behind Peter Spencer’s protest, writes Charles Richardson.
January, 2010
Letter from...: Letter from Havana: a Kool new year in Cuba
Cubans are as proud of their national independence as they are of their health and education and social security, writes Aron Koh from Cuba.
GFM claims success in flying the flag for Gaza
1400 people from 43 countries descended on Cairo on December 27 and aimed to travel into Gaza to “break the siege”. Antony Loewenstein was there.
Political snippets: Push comes to shove for Liberal ladies
A few items from over the holidays that are worth catching up on if you missed them, from why climate naysayers are failing to if SBS will be getting even more uppity about its Soccer™?
Why is the TGA supporting pseudoscience?
Despite many products — from a “penile rigidity device” to fat and cellute reduction machines — having TGA’s approvals, there is no evidence to support any of their claims, writes Loretta Marron, a former Australian Sceptic of the Year.
While not a Rann-away win, Labor looks safe in SA
Despite Premier Mike Rann’s recent sex scandal, the odds remain stacked in Labor’s favour in the next South Australian election, reports William Bowe.
Mungo MacCallum: Rudd must fire in the whaling war
If Japan’s whaling doesn’t end soon, Kevin Rudd will have to take the risk of legal action against the Japanese government, if only to maintain his own political credibility.
Tips and rumours: Tips and rumours: No Christmas spirit in the public service
Which was the tight-arsed government department that docked everyone’s pay (or forced them to make up the time!) because of some employees leaving five minutes early on Christmas Eve?
Video of the Day: Video of the Day: Avatar: the bootleg cut
Avatar: the most expensive and technologically advanced film ever pirated. How did the bootleggers manage to create a 3D glory feast for your eyes?
Why don’t teachers send their kids to public schools?
Studies have found that Sydney school teachers are less likely to send their children to government schools than the average parent, reports Andrew Leigh. Is hope fading for the public system when even educators won’t support it?
Australian hate-groups, viral expansion loops and Facebook
Will groups like “Speak English or Piss Off”, “F-ck Off We’re Full” and “Mate speak English, you’re in Australia now” continue to grow like virtual weeds across the internet?
Sea Shepherd Captain: Japan is re-enacting WWII
In an interview with the Observer, Sea Shepherd Captain Paul Watson defends his and fellow activists’ actions in the name of anti-whaling, claiming they are following a “martial code”, while the Japanese are simply “re-enacting the Second World War”.
Akerman: The government is fully beached, bro
Kevin Rudd has done nothing about Japan’s whaling for the last two years, and now this issue has once again risen from the deep, the Federal Government has been left floundering, says Piers Akerman.
Japan cuts the crap on whaling
Japan has a new government, and unlike the previous administration, this one isn’t pulling any punches on the country’s love of whale meat, says Peter Alford.
Shut up iPhone snobs, Nexus One has landed
Thank god a new toy has arrived in the form of Google’s Nexus One, hopefully ending some of the superiority iPhone zealots hold dear. Apple’s dribbling devotees are a boring dime a dozen, writes Helen Razer.
‘Tower of Hope’ becomes fort of frustration
It’s day 50 of Peter Spencer’s hunger strike and it doesn’t look the government is any closer to changing the native vegetation and land clearing laws that he’s protesting against, or offering compo. What now? asks Brian Bahnisch.
Let us charge you to tell you how good we are
Taxpayers give politicians a blank cheque and they cash it to promote themselves back to us. Why doesn’t any pollie have the balls to stand up to this blatant misuse of public funds? asks Tom Ormonde.
CIA chief: We’re proud to be getting blown up in Afghanistan
CIA director Leon Panetta pens an op-ed for the Washington Post in the wake of news that eight of his employees were killed by an Afghan suicide bomber: that’s the price of war.
Throw ‘em a bone: why pollies must love dogs
Forget a wife and 2.5 smiling children, the best political weapon is a dog. Just ask Nixon, Churchill, Clinton or Rudd, says Paul Daley. Plus, an exclusive preview of Abigail and Jasper’s children’s book. They are as troublesome as expected.
Why the Jetstar-Air Asia deal won’t save you any money
Jetstar’s much-hyped new alliance with AirAsia will deliver better customer service and a more efficient and effective business model — but it won’t make your next holiday any cheaper, explains Richard Webb.
The view from Vietnam 
Hanoi calling Jetstar: “Get lost!”
Hanoi wants Jetstar out of Vietnam, and the “country arrest” of its two Australian executives is nothing more than crude bargaining, says Ben Sandilands.
