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New book gives inspiring account of Rojava’s revolutionary bid for autonomy and women’s liberation

Revolution in Rojava: Democratic Autonomy & Women’s Liberation in Syrian Kurdistan
By Michael Knapp, Anja Flack & Ercan Ayboga (translated by Janet Biehl)
Pluto, 2016
285 pp., $38.95

Rojava, which is Kurdish for the “west”, is to be found in Northern Syria. In the middle of a conflict zone, marked by the war against the Assad regime, a Turkish invasion and ongoing conflict with the brutal jihadists of ISIS and al-Nusra, the Kurds and their allies are creating a new kind of democratic system.

WA meatworkers strengthen leadership

WA meatworkers strengthen leadership By Stephen Robson PERTH — Elections in the meatworkers union here have consolidated the team around branch secretary Glenn Ferguson. Ferguson originally won his position 18 months earlier, but

'Education is the key' in SAIT campaign

'Education is the key' in SAIT campaign By Chris Spindler Adelaide — South Australian Institute of Teachers (SAIT) president Clare McCarty on November 14 publicly launched her bid to be elected to the Legislative Council. About 150

Picket to protect Hindmarsh Island

By Melanie Sjoberg ADELAIDE — Hindmarsh Island is a picturesque spot near Goolwa on the Fleurieu Peninsula south of Adelaide. Still home to some of the indigenous people, it is also a popular holiday area for boating, fishing, swimming and

Residents slam Lang Park takeover

Residents slam Lang Park takeover By Bill Mason BRISBANE — Milton and Paddington residents outraged at the state government decision to fast-track redevelopment of the Lang Park rugby league stadium met on November 19 and called on the

Race relating in Cuba

Is Cuba a racist country, denying equality to the considerable black portion of its population? Yes, say the New York Times and many books and articles appearing in the United States. But wait. The US is still fighting a cold war against Cuba, and such accusations are surely suspect. We spent 10 days in Cuba earlier this year to learn for ourselves.

A thin covering for fascism

Denying the Holocaust: The Growing Assault on Truth and Memory By Deborah Lipstadt. New York: The Free Press, 1993. 278 pp., $39.95 (hb) Reviewed by Phil Shannon Did the Holocaust — the systematic annihilation of 4-6 million Jews under

... and ain't i a woman?: 50% of the spoils?

50% of the spoils? No doubt the 40 serving and former women Labor MPs who met in Perth on the weekend of November 13-14 to plot their campaign for 50% of state and federal Labor parliamentarians to be women by the year 2000, will be expecting

ACOSS aims wide

ACOSS aims wide "At least initially, someone will have to reduce their disposable incomes if job opportunities and working hours are to be shared more widely and the needed expenditure measures financed." That sounds familiar: is it another

Wait for the surprises

Wait for the surprises Red Rock West A film By John Dahl At Melbourne's Cinema Nova and Valhalla Reviewed by Alex Cooper Red Rock West, the latest offering from John Dahl and his brother Rick, centres on Michael (played by Nicholas

Doubts over Mt Lofty Ranges strategy

Doubts over Mt Lofty Ranges strategy ADELAIDE — The Mt Lofty Ranges, the hills face zone surrounding Adelaide and providing its water catchment, was the subject of a multimillion-dollar review begun in 1987 and completed in October. Attempts

Spooks at work

Writers Defiled: Security Surveillance of Australian Authors and Intellectuals 1920-1960 By Fiona Capp McPhee Gribble, 1993. 239 pp., $19.95 (pb) Reviewed by Phil Shannon Intelligence organisations are in the business of "security", which,