The statement below was released by the general command of the People's Protection Units (PYG) on October 19.
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To the media and the general public,
It has been 33 days that the city of Kobane has been fighting terrorism, in eventful days of resistance, redemption, and enormous sacrifices in combating the terrorist attacks of ISIS and its evils.
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Cairns Woolworths caused outrage recently by stocking a singlet with the Australian flag and the phrase 鈥淚f you don't love it, leave...鈥 But let no one be confused by such a slogan, which, at first glance would seem a little reminiscent of 鈥淔uck off, we're full鈥 stickers or even the infamous 鈥淚 grew here, you flew here鈥 slogan that raised its head during the 2005 Cronulla race riots.
With his harsh budget in tatters and his popularity in decline, Prime Minister Tony Abbott and outgoing head of ASIO David Irvine raised the terror alert from medium to high on September 13.
It was justified, they claimed, by the threat of those returning from fighting in the Middle East 鈥 all 70 or so of them 鈥 posing an increased risk to Australia鈥檚 way of life.
A local man was arrested on October 23 after locking himself to the access gate to four coal seam gas (CSG) pilot wells in Gloucester, New South Wales.
Hydraulic fracturing (fracking) of the wells, owned by AGL, was approved in August by NSW Minister for Resources and Energy Anthony Roberts.
But residents in Gloucester stand opposed to any CSG drilling in the area.
A resident of 25 years, Brett Jacobs, said: "AGL has a battle on its hands if it thinks it can turn our valley into a coal seam gasfield. This is our home and we are not giving up or going away.鈥
The controversial issue of where to dump dredge spoil from the Abbot Point coal port expansion was the focus for hundreds of North Queenslanders who want to protect the Great Barrier Reef from the environmental impacts the dredging will cause.
On October 19, boats and kayaks formed a flotilla at the beach as others rallied onshore. After progressing a couple of hundred metres, the flotilla and the marchers were surprised to be joined by a group of scuba divers who emerged from under the water and made their way to the beach to join the rally on land.
Across the political and media elite in Australia, a silence has descended on the memory of the great, reforming prime minister Gough Whitlam, who has died.
His achievements are recognised, if grudgingly, his mistakes noted in false sorrow. But a critical reason for his extraordinary political demise will, they hope, be buried with him.
Koby聽Bunney will stand as an independent in the Victorian state election for the marginal Labor seat of Buninyong, formerly Ballarat East. This is his platform for the November election.
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I believe that all Victorians should have access to safe, stable accommodation that is suitable for the needs of each individual. This will enable them to participate in society and will benefit their health, wellbeing and sense of belonging as well as the economy and community as a whole.
In Problems of Greater Britain, the English politician Sir Charles Wentworth Dilke concluded that high wages, cheap food and the time available for sporting and cultural activities made Australia a workers鈥 paradise.
If Dilke鈥檚 observation in 1890 ever had any truth to it, it was a paradise soon lost. The average weekly wage did not recover from its fall in the 1891 depression until 20 years later. For the less skilled in the labour force, the 20% wage loss in the depression wasn鈥檛 clawed back until 1921.
The Wilderness Society released this statement on October 23.
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The standards of the world's leading timber certifying body, the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), are being questioned after one of its British auditors gave an environmental tick of approval to log forests containing 600-year-old trees in Western Australia.
When New South Wales Minister for Resources and Energy Anthony Roberts cancelled the three coal seam gas (CSG) exploration licences held by Leichardt Resources near Kandos, Nowra and Moree on October 14, he said it was because the company had failed to fulfil its licence conditions. The alleged compliance breaches included failure to engage with the community.
Roberts had earlier complained that it was the previous Labor government that made it easy for 鈥渟peculators and cowboys鈥 to be granted licences without proper regulatory oversight.
Kamala Emanuel gave this speech at a rally against Islamophobia in Perth on October 18.
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Like many of you here, I remember when the world鈥檚 biggest anti-war demonstrations took place in many cities in 2003. Millions of people rallied around the world and came together to say no to the West鈥檚 intervention in Iraq.
I think it is important that once again we build up the kind of movement that says no to Western aggression in the Middle East.
Doctors have spoken out for refugees in unprecedented numbers, as an open letter to the government signed by more than 62,000 Australians was handed to parliament on October 20.
The letter, signed by more than 240 health professionals, legal experts and academics, accuses the government of 鈥渨illfully and deliberately鈥 harming refugees.
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