Alex Bainbridge

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.

Capitalism is Killing us - Extinction Rebellion Action 11 October 2019 Brisbane

Hundreds of people took part in a mass blockade of the William Jolly Bridge — a major river crossing in Brisbane — on the final day of the #SpringRebellion week on October 11.

I was one of the hundreds of people who took part in the action by Extinction Rebellion calling for genuine climate action. Approximately 50 of us were arrested.

The global #ClimateStrike movement is more than just a call for genuine climate action. It is also a recognition that governments have failed to take the action that was both possible and necessary to avert catastrophe.