Web Week

Veterans campaign

As an official announcement about war with Iraq looms, US war veterans are still campaigning against a war, alternative news sites online such as AlterNet continue to argue against the case for war, there are now artists against the war (Not In Our Name) and there was a worldwide anti-war theatre event this week (The Lysistrata Project). The official US line is updated at Defense Link and The Whitehouse site and for a pro-Bush news line "without the liberal spin" go to Newsmax, Bushcountry.org, Right Wing News and US talk host Rush Limbaugh's site

Instant messaging

Microsoft, keen to be more hip and cool, is launching a new instant messaging product for 13 to 24-year-olds to hang out online. You can check it out at Threedegrees.com Presumably the name of the product tries to move the goalposts to suggest there are now three degrees of separation between us.

Fat controversy

Health officials and advertisers had trouble getting around the table this week to discuss the growing controversy over whether fast food advertising is contributing to obesity among Kiwi children. The debate is well advanced in the fat-drenched US. Public service broadcaster PBS has a backgrounder on the debate.

Cultural differences

Despite Australian Prime Minister John Howard getting cosy to US President Bush, there remain cultural differences between the two countries. Australian expat Anne details differences she has discovered at An Aussie in America.

Veterans against the Iraq war

AlterNet

Not In Our Name

The Lysistrata Project

Defense Link

The Whitehouse

Newsmax

Bushcountry.org

Right Wing News

Rush Limbaugh

Threedegrees.com

PBS Fast Food Nation

An Aussie in America