Alex Bainbridge

Prime Minister Scott Morrison is fond of saying that Australia only produces 1.3% of global greenhouse emissions. He says this to bolster his climate denialist position that his government does not need to take a lead on cutting carbon emissions. This position is fundamentally wrong.

News that the Austrian Greens made a deal with the hard-right People’s Party to form a coalition government should be a wake-up call to progressives everywhere. It reaffirms that the climate crisis can lead to eco-fascist conclusions just as much as left-wing solutions.

Uncle Wayne Wharton told Green Left that the federal Coalition government are hypocrites for spending millions of dollars marking James Cook’s 1770 landing on the east coast. He said First Nations communities are “totally insulted” by the millions of dollars being spent on the celebrations.

Louay Alzaher, a member of the Iraqi community in Brisbane, told Green Left Weekly that corruption, food shortages and high levels of unemployment have been the catalysts of the protest movement that has erupted in Iraq.

“The significance of the Iraqi movement is enormous, as it seeks to fight for the freedom of Iraq from control and influence, including the total removal of United States military bases from the country,” said Alzaher.

End toxic systems

A snap action was held on December 5 after three Extinction Rebellion activists were denied bail after they were arrested for peacefully protesting on a coal train the day before.

Anna Reynolds from Action Ready told Green Left that that denying bail is "totally unprecedented and seems to undermine fundamental aspects of the justice system".

The ongoing bushfire emergency is the reality of climate change. This was the message of the Brisbane #ThisIsClimateChange solidarity sit-down.

All the speakers - including a fire-fighter, a mother who lost her home to fire, an Aboriginal person from Gumbaynggirr country - spoke about the effects of the fires. Aunty Deb Sandy gave a passionate Welcome to Country.

An Iraq solidarity protest in Brisbane on November 23.

Millions of Iraqis are protesting an economic system that is delivering a spike in unemployment, corruption but has failed to deliver basic services, such as electricity.

 

Meanjin (Brisbane) march of around 1000 people on November 13 to campaign against Black deaths in custody, to say #JusticeForWalker and #IStandWithYuendumu.

The Refugee Action Collective organised a protest in Brisbane on November 9 to save the Medevac bill. The Medevac legislation applies to around 600 refugees in PNG and Nauru. It means that refugees who need medical care can receive it without political interference. The government plans to repeal the bill but doesn't seem to have the numbers to do so at this point.

Elections ahead

The proposed law will raise the amount of government funding political parties receive for campaigning purposes while placing tighter restrictions on individual and third-party donations.

A peaceful rally on the Gold Coast, in Queensland, in solidarity with the Rojava Revolution in northern Syria was attacked by Turkish chauvinists on November 3.

Reclaim the Night in Geelong on October 25. Photo: Sue Bull

RtN rallies are traditionally held on the last Friday of October to demand an end to violence against women.