Issue 1298

News

Geelong Sustainability says the city can be a renewable energy hub because it has the infrastructure, skilled workforce and proud manufacturing heritage, reports Kerry Smith.

Vote for the Socialist Alliance in the WA elections and send a message to the big parties that you support the creation of a social power in our communities, on the streets and in our workplaces. Chloe de Silva reports.

About 500 members of the Indian community and supporters held a protest in solidarity with Indian farmers on February 21, reports Susan Price.

Big Mac sauce and Aeroplane Jelly are off the menu for now while the workers who make them are denied a pay rise. Kerry Smith reports.

Kurdish community in Sydney calling on the United Nations to prosecute Turkish dictator Recep Tayyip Erdoğan for crimes against women in the occupied canton of Afrin, reports Peter Boyle

Peter Boyle accompanied activists from Jews Against the Occupation to present a petition to Facebook calling on the social media platform not to ban criticism of Zionism on alleged anti-Semitism grounds.

The Transport Workers Union is calling on the federal government to regulate the gig economy, after a British court ruling that Uber drivers should be considered workers not contractors, reports Jim McIlroy. 

The government intends to remove the pandemic supplement at the end of March as Jobseekers struggle to meet their basic needs, reports Kerry Smith

The Darwin Asylum Seeker Support and Advocacy Network is organising daily vigils outside a compound where 15 refugees are being held indefinitely, reports Justine Darwin. 

International Women's Day will be marked with a variety of events in different cities across Australia, writes Kerry Smith.

March 5 will mark three years since a Tamil family were snatched from their home in Biloela, Queensland, and imprisoned on Christmas Island. They, and all other refugees, must be released, writes Kerry Smith.

Don Khan, a Rohingya refugee who was brought to Australia under the defunct Medevac law, told a rally that he had still not been given specialist treatment, reports Chris Slee.

Jim McIlroy reports on a climate rally demanding justice for First Nations' peoples.

Susan Price reports that 100s of residents showed their love for the historic Willow Grove villa in Parramatta.

Analysis

Crown Sydney

Everybody knows the gambling industry feeds on misery. We need to hold the individual fat cats accountable. But we also have to shine a spotlight on the pathway out of this systemic mess, argues Alex Bainbridge.

Facebook's “Zucker” punch successfully forced the federal government's hand. It is another reason why we need to fight for real public interest journalism, argues Zebedee Parkes.

Western imperialism is waging a cold war against China. Dave Holmes argues we must strongly oppose the US-led campaign — notwithstanding the repressive capitalist nature of the Chinese regime.

Babkir Omda, a Medevac refugee who is detained in the Park Hotel prison in Melbourne, speaks to Green Left.

The government is crowing about the economic recovery. But when the pandemic supplement is cut at the end of March, people will be trying to survive on $43 a day. Graham Mathews reports.

The government's media bargaining code bill aims to help in the transfer of profits from one section of big capital to another. It will make public interest journalism even more precarious, argues Zebedee Parkes.

Episode 4 of the Green Left Show features David Spratt, Pip Hinman and Kamala Emanuel discussing the climate targets we need today.

World

The recent avalanche and flash flood in the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand was a result of climate change and the rapid development of hydro-electric power plants, writes Sarosh Bana.

Despite mounting arrests and new threats, Turkish students continue to mobilise against the regime's violence, sexism and homophobia, writes Kerry Smith.

Protests continue against Modi’s three new farm laws amidst a deadlock between farmers’ unions and the government. Indian socialist and feminist Kavita Krishnan discussed the situation with Green Left.

Responding to escalating protests in Myanmar/Burma against the military coup, left groups from the Asia-Pacific region have issued a joint statement, reports Peter Boyle.

The severe Arctic blast and storms that hit the central part of the United States are another example of extreme weather due to climate change, writes Barry Sheppard.

Kavita Krishnan speaks with Green Left on the current situation regarding the Indian farmers protests.

Currency battles are a symptom of the race towards global inter-imperialist war, write Graham Drew and Kelvin McQueen

Civil rights activists are engaging an 1871 law against Ku Klux Klan terrorism to try to bring former president Donald Trump to account for the January 6 attack on the US Capitol, writes Malik Miah.

The Texas electricity grid breakdown, and the confluence of disastrous consequences, is a window into a climate-change future, writes Rupen Savoulian.

Culture

Daniel Kaluuya burning up the screen as Fred Hampton in Judas and the Black Messiah

The magnificence of the Black Panther Party and its martyed leader, Fred Hampton, are brought to life in Judas and the Black Messiah, a film with a few defects, writes Barry Healy.

February 2021 political albums artwork

Mat Ward takes a look back at February's political news and the best new music that related to it.

Isabelle Huppert peddling giant bags of hash in The Godmother

Isabelle Huppert comes to rule the Parisian hashish trade in this comedy/drama that demonstrates the casual violence of the French police, writes Barry Healy.

Nicolas Marie, Virginie Efira and Albert Dupontel in Bye Bye Morons

Bye Bye Morons is a sweet French comedy with a satirical bite, writes Barry Healy.

Ben Mortley burns down the house with Hayley McElhinney in The Cherry Orchard. Photo Daniel J Grant

Broad Australian humour in a beautiful outdoor venue combined with a great 1980s soundtrack brings new life to Chekhov's The Cherry Orchard, in this Black Swan Theatre production, writes Barry Healy.

Climate Leviathan warns that a worldwide imperial state is on the agenda, but provides no credible arguments or evidence, writes Simon Butler.

Hans Baer reviews a new book by Michael E Mann, a world-renowned climate scientist, the principal inventor of the hockey stick hypothesis and a central figure in the “Climategate” affair,