Issue 1370

News

Climate activists talked to customers going into the Newtown branch of the National Australia Bank about helping stop the bank funding Whitehaven Coal's expansion. Jim McIlroy reports.

Activist holding sign that reads ‘No Narrabri gasfield’ at a November 12 climate rally in Sydney

Climate Coalition Sydney organised a forum that heard from four union and environmental activists fighting against the Australian government’s fossil fuel expansionism. David Killingly reports.

This December 1, for the twelfth year in a row, there was a West Papua flag-raising on the historic Leichhardt Town Hall, courtesy of the Inner West Council, reports Peter Boyle.

Iranian refugees are continuing their 24/7 protest demanding permanent visas outside the Immigration department. Chris Slee reports.

The so-called China threat was discussed at a webinar on November 30 of around 150 people. Jim McIlroy reports.

Refugees and their supporters converged on Parliament to demand the federal government act on its promise to give 19,000 refugees permanent visas. Kerry Smith reports.

The Independent and Peaceful Australia Network's annual conference criticised federal Labor for failing to pursue an independent foreign policy. Paul Oboohov reports. 

Giant flag drop for the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People

The International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People was marked by Justice for Palestine Meanjin — Brisbane with a giant flag drop from the Goodwill Bridge. Alex Bainbridge reports.

In the first contested election in the New South Wales Nurses and Midwives Union since 2003, John-Paul Marx, who ran on “A Smarter Union” ticket, received 38.7% of the vote. Niko Leka reports.

ncle Geoffrey speaks at the protest outside Deep Yellow's AGM.

Protesters outside Deep Yellow’s annual general meeting said the company must end its plans to mine uranium at Mulga Rock on the land of the Upurli Upurli people. Sam Wainwright reports.

Pressure is growing on the NSW government not to allow police to conduct an internal investigation over their alleged assault of Sydney identity Danny Lim. Sonia Hickey reports.

Three thousand nurses and midwives rallied outside the Western Australian parliament as part of a state-wide strike for better wages and conditions. Chris Jenkins reports.

Australian Greens foreign affairs spokesperson Senator Jordon Steele-John has condemned Turkey’s latest aggression against Kurds in north and east Syria and in northern Iraq. Peter Boyle reports.

“We are heroes, but we are treated as zeros,” a NSW Nurses and Midwives Association nurse said at their fourth strike this year. Kerry Smith reports.

Santos is “fighting tooth and nail” to argue it should not have to consult Traditional Owners of the Sea Country it wants to drill in. Pip Hinman reports.

The Freedom Movement of Iran – Queensland has been organising weekly protests in Brisbane calling on the federal government to do to help the democracy movement win in Iran. Kerry Smith reports.

Petrina Harley, one of three members of Scarborough Gas Action Alliance arrested last November for stopping Woodside’s operations on Murujuga, is facing court, Alex Bainbridge reports.

The Kurdish community held an emergency rally outside the State Library of Victoria in solidarity with the people of Rojava, in northern Syria, who are under attack from Turkey. Jim McIlroy reports.

Peter Boyle reports that Sydney's Kurdish community and their supporters held a snap protest against Turkish air attacks against towns and villages in north-east Syria and northern Iraq/South Kurdistan.

About 60 people took part in a funeral for trees, forests and animals lost due to destruction caused by the North East Link project. Mary Merkenich reports.

The WA government has taken the Australian Nursing Federation to the Industrial Relations Commission in a bid to stop the union from voting on its latest enterprise bargaining agreement offer. Chris Jenkins reports.

At least 6000 people gathered to show solidarity with the ongoing protests in Iran, sparked by the murder of Jina Masa Amini. Alex Salmon reports.

The Iranian community is still standing strong in solidarity several months on from the Iran protests sparked by the murder of Jina Mahsa Amini in Iran. Petrina Harley reports.

Analysis

Jews against the Occupation sent this open letter to the Mayor and councillors at Randwick City Council, requesting it revisit its decision to fly the flag of Israel on April 26.

A sticker reading #FreeAssange

Anthony Albanese publicly revealed that he had been lobbying the Joseph Biden administration to stop proceedings against Julian Assange, reports Binoy Kampmark.

Claims the new IR laws will close the gender pay gap and strengthen equal pay laws are welcome. But, as Mary Merkenich and Sarah Hathway argue, the laws will divide workers and weaken the Better Off Overall Test.

Reserve Bank governor Philip Lowe apologised to those who took out home loans on the basis of his promise not to raise interest rates. But he had no apology for wage earners trying to make ends meet amid sharply rising prices. Peter Boyle reports.

As the cost-of-living and housing crises hit hard, Labor was re-elected in Victoria, despite a 5.8% negative swing which went both to the right and left. The socialist vote was encouraging, reports Jacob Andrewartha

The IMF has debunked the myth that heightened inflation means workers should accept below-inflation wage rises — real wage cuts. Neville Spencer reports.

Turkish forces near the Syrian border

The Socialist Alliance (Australia) released the following statement in response to Turkey's genocidal attacks on North East Syria and Northern Iraq and attacks on Kurdish populations inside Iran.

David McBride

Calls are growing louder for charges to be dropped against ADF whistleblower David McBride, who will face a criminal court next year, reports Pip Hinman.

Gregory Moore, former Senior Lecturer in Plant Science and Arboriculture, gave the following eulogy for the trees at a protest against the Victorian government's North East Link Project.

World

West Papua Morning Star flag

While Jakarta is busy tearing West Papua apart, Papuans raised the banned Morning Star flag on December 1, to commemorate its independence — which was stolen in May 1963, writes Yamin Kagoya.

Image showing an island in Tuvalu, with matrix-style figures in background

In response to the existential threat of climate change, the Tuvaluan government has announced it will become the world’s first “digital nation”. Binoy Kampmark reports.

Campaigners hold sign saying "Let the people decide!"

The British Supreme Court has ruled that the Scottish parliament does not have the power to legislate for an independence referendum. Dick Nichols reports.

Anwar Ibrahim

Dr Jeyakumar Devaraj from the Socialist Party of Malaysia discusses the recent election result and the challenges facing the new government.

Lula da Silva with Indigenous leaders at COP27. Photo: Ricardo Stuckert @LulaOficial/Twitter

Pablo Stefanoni, editor of the progressive Latin American magazine Nueva Sociedad discusses the situation in South America after the left’s victory in Brazil.

Peter Boyle spoke about the new wave of protests sparked by harsh anti-COVID-19 restrictions with Choo Chon Kai, who is working with the movement for democracy in China.

deep sea

Mining companies argue that deep-sea mining is necessary to achieve the global transition to renewables, reports Ben Radford, but this is a lie.

Dr Jeyakumar Devaraj from the Socialist Party of Malaysia (PSM) discusses the challenges for Malaysia’s newly formed "government of national unity", headed by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim from the Pakatan Harapan (Alliance of Hope).

Rojava

Turkey has struck more than 90 villages and towns in North East Syria since November 19, reports Susan Price. Meanwhile, international voices of condemnation are growing.

Women defend Rojava

Journalists, political parties and movements from Latin American and African countries condemned the invading Turkish state's attacks on North and East Syria (Rojava) and called for action, reports ANF English.

Parties from across the Asia-Pacific have issued the following joint statement in response to the attacks by Turkey and Iran on Kurdish communities.

Peoples Democratic Party - HDP

The pro-Kurdish People’s Democratic Party (HDP) in Turkey has called for immediate action against Turkey’s cross-border attacks on North East Syria and Northern Iraq to prevent another humanitarian catastrophe, reports Susan Price.

Tim Gooden and Nataliya Levytska

Nataliya Levytska, deputy chairperson of the Independent Mineworkers Union of Ukraine, discusses the situation of Ukrainian trade unions.

Firat News Agency reports that after Turkey carried out intense air strikes on North and East Syria and Northern Iraq in the early hours of November 20, protests took place in several different European cities.

Culture

'My Father's Brother' by Nyaparu (William) Gardiner

Barry Healy reviews two Perth art exhibitions exploring the Australian landscape as seen through the eyes of invading capitalism and surviving Aboriginality.

Protest music albums from November 2022

Mat Ward looks back at November's political news and the best new music that related to it.

magic mushrooms

Can psychedelic drugs help people who are facing death cope with their fears and emotions? That question is examined in Dosed 2: the trip of a lifetime, a new Canadian documentary. Barry Healy reviews.

Capitalism by Dave Riley

In his new self-published e-book, long-time Australian ecoanarchist Ted Trainer argues for a Simpler Way, where people shift from competition to cooperation, individualism to collectivism, and acquisitiveness to gaining life satisfaction from non-material pursuits. Hans A Baer reviews.

Inequality Boulevard

Fremantle singer/songwriter Dave Johnson has produced an album full of big themes, heart and musicality, writes Bill Lawrie.

margrete_queen_of_the_north

With classy production values, consummate acting and tasteful direction, Margrete: Queen of the North is a very humane couple of hours of cinema. Barry Healy reviews.

New Theatre

A new collection of essays chronicles Australia’s radical New Theatre, writes Maree F Roberts, where women took on prominent roles, including as creative and production directors, and playwrights.