Green Left Weekly

PHOTOS: Sydney marks al-Nakba with defiant rally and march

peter_b — Wed, 16 May 2012 08:46:31 +0000

Wed, 16/05/2012

By Pip Hinman, Sydney

Above: Photos by Kiz Janicke and Pip Hinman.

Sudan: Journalists protest attacks on press freedom

Mat Ward — Tue, 15 May 2012 16:34:28 +0000

Sun, 13/05/2012

By Reem Abbas

As the world marked World Press Freedom Day on May 3, an annual day declared by the UN General Assembly, Sudanese journalists had no reason to celebrate.

They spent the day just like many before it, fighting against censorship and calling for press freedom.

Journalists working for Al-Jareeda, an independent daily based in Khartoum, headed to the Sudanese Journalist’s Union to stage a silent sit-in.

On May 1 and 2, Al-Jareeda was taken over by the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) of Sudan.

Book gives insight into roots of Arab Spring

stuart_m — Tue, 15 May 2012 10:11:25 +0000

Tue, 15/05/2012

By Barry Healy

The Honoured Dead
By Joseph Braude
Scribe Publications, 2011
336pp, $32.95

This fascinating documentary book gives insights into the roots of the Arab Spring that is sweeping dictatorships away across the Middle East and North Africa.

Written as a first person narrative by US reporter Joseph Braude, The Honoured takes the reader into the lived experience of the poor in Morocco, explaining a good deal about the country’s history and culture in the process.

SYRIZA leader Alexis Tsipras's message to Europe

peter_b — Tue, 15 May 2012 10:03:55 +0000

Mon, 14/05/2012

Greece will hold new elections in June if last-ditch negotiations on forming a coalition government fail once again.

In May 6 elections, the country's two main parties — the conservative New Democracy and the center-left PASOK — suffered catastrophic losses and the Coalition of the Radical Left (SYRIZA), was catapulted from minor-party status into second place.

Beastie Boys Adam Yauch — maker of music that broke the rules

stuart_m — Tue, 15 May 2012 10:02:21 +0000

Mon, 14/05/2012

By Alexander Billet

Adam Yauch (best known as MCA from the US hip hop group the Beastie Boys) wasn't larger than life. Beneath the dynamic stage presence, over-the-top rhymes and highly stylised videos was someone who was quite humble and even soft-spoken in interviews.

One almost gets the feeling that Yauch and his MCA alter-ego were two separate people. The hole that both leave in modern music, however, is immense.

Socialist Alliance releases 'Towards a Socialist Australia' draft for debate

stuart_m — Tue, 15 May 2012 07:42:17 +0000

Tue, 15/05/2012

Towards a Socialist Australia was adopted as a draft by the 8th National Conference of the Socialist Alliance, held in Sydney, over January 20-22, 2012.

Socialist Alliance also voted to consult with members, supporters and allies in the social movements over the coming months to improve this draft and deepen our collective understanding of the current political climate and the nature of the economic and environmental crises.

PHOTOS: Obama statement fires up Sydney march for equal marriage rights

simon_b — Tue, 15 May 2012 05:33:58 +0000

Tue, 15/05/2012

By Peter Boyle, Sydney

Greece: Voters revolt against cuts

stuart_m — Mon, 14 May 2012 13:33:14 +0000

Sun, 13/05/2012

The results of the May 6 elections in Greece sent a message that has been heard around the world: Working people want an end to the austerity agenda that has plunged Greece's economy into depression and slashed living standards everywhere.

The highlight of the vote was the result for the Coalition of the Radical Left (SYRIZA), a broad left party. SYRIZA came second with 17%, ahead of the social democratic PASOK (13%) and just behind the conservative New Democracy (ND ― 19%).

See also

Gripping introduction to Anonymous

stuart_m — Mon, 14 May 2012 04:14:33 +0000

Mon, 14/05/2012

By Mat Ward

Unmasked
By Nate Anderson
Ars Technica, 107 pages

What kind of a jerk would want to bring down WikiLeaks? The kind of socially inept and morally bankrupt arsehole that is Aaron Barr, CEO of internet security firm HBGary Federal.

This book documents Barr's WikiLeaks-whacking work, apparently for the US government, that brought him into contact with the Julian Assange-supporting hacktivist group Anonymous. It eventually led to Barr's downfall.

The celebrity money-spinning machine detailed

stuart_m — Mon, 14 May 2012 04:12:14 +0000

Mon, 14/05/2012

By Phil Shannon

Celebrity Inc. ― How Famous People Make Money
By Jo Piazza
Open Road, 2011
231 pages

Celebrity is just like printing your own money, says Jo Piazza in Celebrity Inc.

Two rich, spoilt, talentless celebrity brats ― Paris Hilton and Kim Kardashian ― are experts at the fame game. Kickstarted by family wealth, and propelled to fame through a steamy sex tape and reality TV, Hilton “earns” around US$10 million a year. The Kardashian family franchise raked in $65 million last year.