Wow. This year in politics has had an explosive start.
While many of us were still recovering from New Year’s celebrations, Donald Trump launched a military assault on Venezuela, kidnapping President Nicolas Maduro and National Assembly deputy Cilia Flores.
This led to snap protests across Australia and around the world opposing the United States’ attack, which killed more than 100 people.
Closer to home, the Anthony Albanese Labor government announced its so-called Hate Speech laws, threatening freedom of speech and the right to protest, despite vocal opposition from civil rights groups, constitutional lawyers and community groups.
New South Wales Labor Premier Chris Minns’ own anti-protest laws, launched in the wake of the Bondi beach terror attacks, have been hotly contested, with protesters taking to the streets in solidarity with the people of Palestine, Venezuela, Iran and Rojava despite restrictions.
Invasion Day protests across the country had a massive turn-out, particularly from young people, who are rejecting the racist White Australia narrative being pushed by the billionaire class.
Another huge round of protests is expected on February 9, when Israeli President Isaac Herzog arrives in Australia at Albanese’s invitation, amid calls from Amnesty International and civil society groups for him to be investigated for genocide.
It can be hard to keep up with these rapidly developing events and the grassroots protest movements standing for justice and against the billionaire war-mongers.
That’s why Green Left has launched a new weekly podcast, On the Streets, which will provide listeners with protest news and information, including upcoming rallies and short reports on recent actions.
This will be packaged in short, 5–10 minute episodes you can listen to on your way to or from work, while doing the chores at home or on the bus back from a demonstration.
The podcast is produced by GL journalists Isaac Nellist and Ben Radford, alongside musician and sound editor Sean Valenzuela, aka Little Archer Beats.
In Episode 1 you’ll hear reports from the huge Invasion/Survival Day protests. Episode 2 discusses protests for Palestine and promotes the upcoming February 9 actions against Herzog’s visit.
You can listen to the podcast at greenleft.org.au/podcasts, on your favourite streaming platform, and on GL’s YouTube channel.
New episodes of On the Streets will appear on the feed that also brings you the Green Left Show and Green Left Radio, so make sure you subscribe to get all of GL’s podcasts in your ears. Share them with your friends and workmates, too!
[Green Left relies on your support. This year, we need to raise $180,000 to keep producing the grassroots content the corporate media won’t. Become a GL supporter here.]