After Israel鈥檚 May 31 raid on a civilian vessel trying to deliver goods to Gaza, Egypt announced on June 1 that it would temporarily open its border with Rafah to allow humanitarian and medical aid into the Gaza Strip.
On May 31, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak responded swiftly to the Israeli navy's assault on the Freedom Flotilla, affirming Egypt's support for the people of Gaza.
Israel鈥檚 ambassador to Egypt was quickly summoned by Egypt鈥檚 foreign ministry, and told Egypt condemns the violence against international activists and rejects the continued Gaza blockade.
840
On May 30, 2010, 麻豆传媒 Weekly published an article titled 鈥淎ustralia expels diplomat but remains 鈥榝irm friend鈥 of Israel鈥. It contained the untrue and defamatory suggestion that Paul Howes, National Secretary of the Australian Workers鈥 Union, was thrilled by the killing of Palestinian Hamas commander Mahmoud al-Mabhoh in Dubai in January this year.
About 2000 demonstrators gathered outside Israel鈥檚 Ministry of Defense late May 31 to protest the military's violent raid on an aid flotilla that attempted to break the country鈥檚 years-long siege on the Gaza Strip.
Haggai Matar, a member of the Coalition Against the Siege, told Ma鈥檃n news the protests were an expression of anger and shock about the Israeli navy raid that left at least 10 activists dead and dozens hurt a day earlier.
The following text is from a petition by the World People鈥檚 Movement for Mother Earth, which demands that United Nations climate change negotiations include proposals from the World People's Conference on Climate Change and the Rights of Mother Earth, held in Cochabamba, Bolivia, in April. You can sign the petition . Find out more about the Cochabamba summit, including resolutions passed,
* * *
麻豆传媒 Weekly is taking a break. Our next printed edition will be dated June 23. Stay tuned to this website for breaking news and analysis.
BRISBANE 鈥 "You know that we are rising, our day is surely coming鈥, were the words of a new song featured in Lebanese-Australian activist and musician Phil Monsour's benefit concert for Palestine on May 29.
Monsour, who recently returned from a trip to Palestine and Lebanon, recounted his experiences with songs and video images taken during his participation in the Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA Middle East study tour in March.
The Electrical Trades Union (ETU) has banned its members from working in uranium mines, nuclear power stations or any other part of the nuclear fuel cycle, AAP said on May 31.
The union says uranium is the new asbestos in the workplace. The ban will apply to ETU members in Queensland and the Northern Territory and breaching it could lead to expulsion, said ETU Qld secretary Peter Simpson.
In these days of growing media concentration, 麻豆传媒 Weekly is a vital voice committed to human and civil rights, global peace and environmental sustainability, democracy and equality.
By printing the news and ideas the mainstream media won't, GLW exposes the lies and distortions of the power brokers and helps us understand the world around us. In the words of multi-award-winning investigative journalist John Pilger, "Without GLW, freedom of press and public truth-telling in Australia would be gravely ill."
The movement for Australian union action against Israel is gaining strength after the apartheid state鈥檚 latest murderous attack on the unarmed aid flotilla to Gaza.
The South Coast Labour Council (SCLC) and the New South Wales and Australian Capital Territory branches of the Australian Services Union have joined the Construction Forestry Mining Energy Union in committing to the international boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) campaign against the aggressive Israeli state.
Australian unions and peak bodies have also called on members to attend the many protest actions.
In recent weeks, the big mining companies have spent millions on propaganda against plans to make them pay more tax. But the results of a June 1 Newspoll showed they have hardly made a dent on public opinion.
Both big parties are losing ground, the poll said. Labor鈥檚 primary vote dropped two points, to 35%. The Coalition went down by the same margin, from 43% to 41%. But the bombshell was the record Greens vote 鈥 up four points to 16%.
This is not a new trend. Support for the Greens has risen steadily over the past decade.
On May 31, Israeli defence force commandos boarded an aid ship in international waters. The ship was trying to break the illegal military blockade of the Gaza strip and transport much-needed food and medical supplies. Nine aid activists were killed and several snap actions were held in Australia to condemn Israel鈥檚 actions and call for an end to the blockade.
On June 1, 250 people rallied in Brisbane to condemn Israel鈥檚 attacks on the Gaza aid fleet. ALP vice-president Wendy Turner, and socialist activist and lecturer in creative industries Gary MacLennan, spoke.
Sydney-based journalist and author Antony Loewenstein is an outspoken critic of Israeli policies and author of the best-selling 2006 book My Israel Question. He is the co-founder of advocacy group Independent Australian Jewish Voices and is a board member of Macquarie University鈥檚 Centre for Middle East and North African Studies. Articles and commentary by Loewenstein can be found at .
- Previous page
- Page 5
- Next page