GLW issue number 917

PHOTOS: Darwin rally for refugee rights

Photos from refugee rights rally, April 6, 2012 in Darwin. Read the full report here.

PHOTOS: Refugee rights convergence returns to Darwin Airport Lodge

Australian News

Protest condemns Israel’s drive for war on Iran

Anti-war activists gathered outside a VIP breakfast briefing of visiting Israeli military advisor, Yaakov Katz, on March 28 to condemn his support for an Israeli strike on Iran. The breakfast, which included a lot of Israeli security people with cameras, was organised by the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies. Katz, a former commando in the Israeli Defence force, has written extensively on Iran and is in Sydney to promote the Israeli government’s view that a military strike on Iran would be a “viable military option”.

Forum defends people smuggling

Photos by Ali Bakhtiavandi

Further Australian News

International News

Syria: Violence grows despite peace plan

Syria has been rocked by fresh violence despite the agreement of all five permanent United Nations Security Council members and the Syrian government to a six-point peace plan. The plan calls for a “Syrian-led political process to address the aspirations and concerns of the Syrian people”. Unlike previous Western-backed initiatives, the proposal does not call for the resignation of Syrian President Bashar Assad. It calls on the regime to release arbitrarily detained people, ensure freedom of movement for journalists and to respect freedom of association.

Bahrain revolution defies repression

On March 14 last year, four days before the NATO intervention in Libya, there was a less publicised Western-supported military intervention. A Saudi-led force invaded Bahrain to put down democracy protests against that country’s absolute monarchy. Despite the repression, fresh protests have broken out. Press TV said on March 27 that thousands of Bahrainis rallied calling for the overthrow of King Hamad bin Isa and his Al Khalifa dynasty.

Further International News

This article was originally posted at Left Flank on March 26. * * * When watching the last few episodes of US cable TV series The Walking Dead, it struck me that the title has a double meaning, that Sheriff Rick and the other survivors of the zombie apocalypse are also among the dead who roam the planet’s surface.

GreenLeftTV: Interview on why Perth Esplanade should be saved

University of Western Australia history professor Jenny Gregory explains her concerns with the Barnett government plan to redevelop the Perth foreshore. This interview was given to GreenLeftTV after the rally of up to 800 people on February 26, 2012 based on the talk she gave to the rally. Subscribe to GreenLeftTV YouTube channel.

Further Comment and Analysis

Cultural Dissent

'Bring on your wrecking ball' — Springsteen back and angry as hell

Wrecking Ball Bruce Springsteen Columbia www.brucespringsteeen.net Bruce Springsteen is back. And according to fan and detractor alike, he's angry as hell. Given the times in which we find ourselves, this should be unsurprising. What is surprising, however, is the musical method he's chosen to express this anger: a sound and structure that is at once vintage Springsteen and new territory for the Boss.

Balance sheet of 'Arab Spring' one year on

More than a year after the start of the “Arab Spring”, it is possible to draw up a provisional balance sheet. Since January last year, popular rebellions have deposed a number of hated dictators across the region. It began with popular rebellions in Egypt and Tunisia, which spread to Yemen and Bahrain and through to the conflicts in Libya and Syria. All of these rebellions, to varying degrees, reflected the emergence of powerful mass movements causing concern for imperialism and its regional allies — principally Israel, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

Further Cultural Dissent

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