Issue 1369

News

Activists are set to protest Labor’s cruel immigration policy of keeping refugees in limbo. Kerry Smith reports.

The Australia Nursing Federation Western Australia is conducting yet another online poll on an inadequate government pay offer. Chris Jenkins reports.

Andrew Chuter (top left), Niko Leka (top right), Rachel Evans (bottom right), Paula Sanchez

Socialist Alliance will contest the NSW election in March, with a campaign focused on housing justice, cost of living pressures, health care and public transport. Jim McIlroy reports.

Svitzer tugboat

Danish multinational tugboat company Svitzer has threatened to lock out workers at 17 Australian ports, rather than negotiate an enterprise agreement with the Maritime Union of Australia. Pip Hinman reports.

Union and solidarity activists protested outside the annual general meeting of Ansell because of its anti-union policies. Chris Slee reports.

A group of Iranian refugees are continuing their round-the-clock sit-in outside the Immigration Department. Chris Slee reports.

Workplace delegates with the Retail and Fast Food Workers Union just finished the union’s first ever conference. Isaac Nellist reports.

The Federal Court has ruled in favour of former lecturer Tim Anderson in an appeal over his termination of employment. Ellie Stephenson and Swapnik Sanagavarapu report.

The jury has been dismissed after a three-week trial of a New South Wales prison officer accused of murdering Wiradjuri man Dwayne Johnstone. Rachel Evans reports.

A climate protest calling on Labor to stop expanding fossil fuels attracted more than 400 people. Rachel Evans reports.

As an army band played the Last Post, peace activists stood silently, wearing small placards, warning of militarism and war. Jim McIlroy reports.

A new empty facility offers a perfect opportunity to provide a temporary home for women escaping domestic violence. Darren Saffin reports.

Members of the Australian Nursing Federation WA are set to start day-long work stoppages as part of their enterprise bargaining agreement negotiations with the state Labor government. Chris Jenkins reports.

Rising Tide organised a well attended protest outside the Newcastle office of Sharon Claydon MP, calling on Labor to stop mining and exporting coal. Theodore L Catt  reports.

Analysis

NSW Civil Liberties Council president Josh Pallas gave a presentation on anti-protest laws and the right to protest at Ecosocialism 2022.

Historian and Kurdish solidarity activist John Tully gave the inaugural Sydney Kobane Day Lecture at New South Wales Parliament House.

Protester holds sign reading ‘Time to be Renew-Albo’

“Australia is back as a constructive, positive and willing climate collaborator,” climate change minister Chris Bowen told COP27. But how true is this, asks Pip Hinman.

After years of bellicose anti-China rhetoric from Australian and US elites, the fact that Xi Jinping, Joe Biden and Anthony Albanese did actually meet does seem positive. Alex Bainbridge looks at what it really represents.

Residents of the Inner West Sydney community, and many suburbs beyond to Penrith, lost a great activist for social and environmental justice, write Adrienne Shilling and Peter Hehir.

Failure born of neoliberal greed is apparent at the COP27 Climate Change Conference in Egypt. Gideon Polya reports.

Labor has done very little to reverse the Kennett-era health and education privatisation spree, the consequences of which have led to a overloaded health system and a crisis-ridden education system. Arie Huybregts reports.

“In our negotiations with Labor, I’ve asked for their evidence that the Voice will not cede our sovereignty. To date, no one has responded to this request,” Senator Lidia Thorpe told Paul Gregoire.

Socialist Alliance supports the current inspiring uprising across Iran, led by young women. Jacob Andrewartha argues Australia can do more to help. 

World

Turkish airstrikes November 20

The Kurdistan National Congress (KNK) released the following statement condemning Turkey's air strikes on cities in North and East Syria and Northern Iraq, which began on November 20.

The Iranian and Turkish governments have deported more than 240,000 Afghan refugees this year, in violation of international law, reports Ben Radford.

West Papuan activist George Dimara and Indonesian Human Rights lawyer and West Papua solidarity activist Veronica Koman spoke as part of Ecosocialism 2022.

Nilüfer Koç, spokesperson for the Commission on Foreign Relations of the Kurdistan National Congress, spoke at the Brisbane session of Ecosocialism 2022. In the Q&A after her presentation, she answered questions on Ukraine, Iran and Rojava.

Demonstrators rally in Sydney on October 8 in solidarity with the Iran uprising. Inset: Nilüfer Koç

Nilüfer Koç from the Kurdish National Congress spoke at the Ecosocialism 2022 conference about the popular uprising in Iran, war in Ukraine and Rojava Revolution. Alex Bainbridge and Susan Price report.

Ukrainian and Polish trade unions are calling on the International Trade Union Confederation to expel the pro-war Russian Federation of Trade Unions, reports Federico Fuentes.

Ontario strike 2022

Ontario’s Conservative government has officially repealed its anti-worker, anti-union legislation, reports Jeff Shantz

US army soldier with US flag in the background.

Since its inception, the United States has schemed to spread its power, often unbeknownst to its own citizens, writes Binoy Kampmark.

A Sydney climate protest

Latin American leaders use COP27 in Egypt to highlight the global capitalist system as the cause of the climate crisis and demand that rich countries take meaningful action, reports Ben Radford.

Hanna Perekhoda

Ukrainian socialist Hanna Perekhoda discusses Russia’s relationship with Ukraine, the role of language in the conflict and the realities of the Donbas.

Hasdeo forest protectors. Image credit: Alok Shukla/downtoearth.org.in

A prominent protest by Adivasi Indigenous communities is taking place in central India’s Hasdeo forests, where new coal mines are being pushed without consent, writes Ruchira Talukdar.

Pro-govt mobilisation in Bolivia on August 25

Trade unions across Latin America have expressed solidarity with Bolivia in the face of right-wing destabilisation attempts in Santa Cruz, reports Ana Zorita.

Children

The number of malnourished children in North East Syria has increased by 150% in the past six months, and poverty rates have increased by 90%, reports Medya News.

Culture

Joe Biden and Roch Marc Christian Kaboré

The whole world knows about the recent US midterm elections, but how many people in the global north are aware of other country’s elections, or the recent coup in Burkina Faso, asks Tamara Pearson.

Ecosocialist Bookshelf

Climate and Capitalism editor Ian Angus presents six new books for reds and greens.

Soldier

The latest screen adaptation of Erich Maria Remarque’s novel All Quiet on the Western Front, exposes the brutality, bloodshed and chaos of World War I trench warfare. Alex Salmon reviews.

Oil Black Swan Theatre

Oil is a sprawling and epic play, spanning 160 years, which traces the petroleum industry’s problematic history and future. Barry Healy reviews.

Maree F Roberts reviews The Stasi Poetry Circle — a thought-provoking approach to the Cold War's culture wars in the former German Democratic Republic.