Issue 1385

News

Protesters urged Japanese import/export conglomerate Itochu Corporation against investing in Whitehaven Coal. Coral Wynter reports.

A crowd rallied outside federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek’s office demanding an end to Labor's support for the Middle Arm gas project in the NT. Jim McIlroy reports.

In acase brought by Iranian Kurdish refugee Mostafa Azimitabar (“Moz”), Federal Court judge Bernard Murphy ruledthat whilehotel detention is inhumane, it is stilllegal. Chris Slee reports.

Against the backdrop of AUKUS, this year’s biennial Talisman Sabre war rehearsals in the Northern Territory, Queensland, Western Australia and New South Wales will involve the biggest number of countries yet. Pip Hinman reports.

Thousands took partin the annual NAIDOC march for land rights and justice for First Nations. ChrisPeterson and Chloe DSreports

First Nations activists and supporters protested outsideTanya Plibersek’s office to urge her protectBinybara,near Garramilla/Darwin, from being destroyed by Defence Housing Australia. Jim McIlroy reports.

Civil and legal rights groups say New South Wales Labor'samendments to the Anti-Discrimination Act are too broad and couldharm other fundamental rights. RachelEvans reports.

Community group REDWatch asked a couple of government departments to give residents a briefing on rezoning plans, which would eliminate public housing. Andrew Chuter reports.

Addressing a demonstration against Israel's military attack on the Jenin Palestinian refugee camp, Greens Senator David Shoebridge called on Laborto condemn the attack and to ban all military exports to Israel. Peter Boyle reports.

Ecosocialism 2023: A World Beyond Capitalism conference, hosted by 鶹ý and co-sponsored by Socialist Alliance, provided a platform for the voices of peace, justice and ecological sustainabilityfrom across the region. Sue Bull reports.

Members of the Korean community and supporters gathered outside the Japanese Consulate to protest the planto release radioactive waste from the Fukushima nuclear reactor into the Pacific Ocean. Coral Wynter reports.

Fifty people protested outside the Melbourne Immigration Transit Accommodationin support of Dixtan ​Arulruban, a Tamil refugee threatened with deportation to Sri Lanka. Chris Slee reports.

The $368 billion for AUKUS nuclear submarines could be better spent on funding education. Graphic: G

The New South Wales Teachers Federation has decided to deepen its stand against the AUKUS military pact. Pip Hinman reports.

鶹ý News Podcast Ep 14, July 7, 2023

鶹ý journalists Isaac Nellist and Leo Earlego through the latest news from across the continent and around the world.

Dr Liz Boulton, a former Australian Defence Force major, said climate targets would not be met while the military-industrial establishment continues to pursue their ‘forever wars’. John Quelch reports.

Suzanne Jameslooks at the latest in a long line of attempts to once again legalise the personal use of marijuana.

Results will soon be in for theCommunications Workers Union election, in whichan activist team is challenging for the leadership. Felix Dance reports.

Public housing residents, political parties and community groups met at Middle Park Library and Community Centre to plan vigils at the Barak Beacon site in Port Melbourne.Alex Bainbridge andJordan AK report.

An anti-nuclear submarine forum organised by the No AUKUS Coalition Vicdrew up to 200 people on World Whistleblower Day. Elizabeth Bantas reports.

Analysis

Boat turn-backs. Offshore Detention. Refusal to settle groups of refugees in Australia. This triad is the 10-year-long contemporary White Australia policy of governments, Labor and Coalition. Jonathan Straussargues for the need to stepup the pressure.

We need to get our land back, get every kid out of the prison system andendBlack deaths in custody. Don’t you think I’d be saying “Yes” if this powerless body had a say in any of those things?Djab Wurrung Gunnai Gunditjmara Senator Lidia Thorpe explains her opposition to the Voice to Parliament.

While the Royal Commission report into Robodebt did notrecommend systemic compensation to the victims, it didsuggestlifting the rate for social security benefits. Alex Bainbridge reports.

Cruel government policies lead to suicides and other misery within detention centres

The death of a refugee at Villawood Detention Centre is the latest indictment of the bipartsian cruelty towards refugees in Australia. Pip Hinman reports.

While the ICACfound that former NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian had “engaged in serious corrupt conduct”, it is not going to pursue a prosecution. Jim McIlroy reports.

If ever there was an instance of hideous failing in government policy, the cruel, inept and vicious Robodebt program would have to be one of them. Binoy Kampmark reports.

Young forest activists

The problems with native forest logging go beyond the unviable economics: the injustice of the destruction of First Nations countryand the levelling of crucial habitat for koalas are some more. Leo Earle reports.

The Demerge NSW Alliance is asking Labor to amend the LocalGovernment Act to give residents in forcibly merged councils more say. Pip Hinmanspoke toBrian Halstead from Save Our Councils and DNAabout why the changes are important.

While concrete details remain patchy,job security is not the only troubling aspect of Premier Peter Malinauskas'decision to mergethe University of Adelaide and UniSA. Binoy Kampmark reports.

Outsourcing its responsibility to protect citizens and shield vulnerable arrivals from harm has become a matter of dark habit for Australian governments. Binoy Kampmark reports.

World

ILWU

The strike by nearly 7500 dock workers in British Columbia may have come to an end after nearly two weeks, as the union and shipping bosses announced a tentative agreement, reports Jeff Shantz.

West Papua

Indonesian security forces violently cracked down on a peaceful West Papuan National Congress (KNPB) demonstration on July 12, called to show support for West Papua's application to become a full member of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG), reports Susan Price.

Crawford Lake

In a major step towards formal recognition of the Anthropocene as a new stage in Earth System history, scientists have identified a small lake near Toronto as the best marker of epochal change, writes Climate & Capitalism editor Ian Angus.

BC dockworkers strike

More than 10 days into the mass strike by Canadian dockworkers in British Columbia, dockworkers on the West Coast of the United States declared their refusal to handle containers rerouted from the struck Port of Vancouver, reports Jeff Shantz.

West Papua arrests

Ten activists— members of the West Papua National Committee (KNPB)— were arrested by Indonesian authorities on July 11 in Jayapura, while handing out leaflets to promote a protest, reports Susan Price.

Greenland uranium ban

Perth-based mining company Energy Transition Minerals Ltd will challenge Greenland government over its rejection of an application to mine uranium and rare earths at Kuannersuit/Kvanefjeld, reports Peter Boyle.

Kurds and their supporters in France, Germany, and Switzerland protested on July 8 over new death threats against Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Öcalan who has been imprisoned by the Turkish state for the past 24 years, reports Peter Boyle.

British Columbia port strikes

About 7400 Canadian port workers, members of the ILWU (International Longshore and Warehouse Union), have been on strike at more than 30 ports across British Columbia since July 1, reports Jeff Shantz.

Prigozhin Putin

The recent rebellion by the Wagner Private Military Company and its subsequent deal for amnesty has initiated a new dynamic in Russia's war on Ukraine and the opening of a crisis on Russia’s domestic front; write Israel Dutra and Federico Fuentes.

US Supreme Court

The United States Supreme Court curtailed LGBTQ rights and struck down debt relief for students on June 30, reports Barry Sheppard.

US Supreme Court

The United States Supreme Court upheld, on June 30, a century-old Mississippi law used during the “Jim Crow” segregationist era to deny Black people in the state the right to vote, reports Malik Miah.

Unite unionists campaigning for fair pay. Photo: Unite Union/Facebook

Socialist activist Mike Treen, a founder of Aotearoa/New Zealand (NZ) Unite Union, spoke to Jackie Kriz about union struggle. Treen was a guest at Ecosocialism 2023.

US civil_rights_march_on_washington

A ruling by the far-right super majority on the US Supreme Court hasfalsely asserted that the United States is and has always been a “colour-blind” country, writes Malik Miah.

Prigozhin

Russian socialist Ilya Matveev discusses the fallout of the recent armed rebellion led by Russian oligarch Yevgeny Prigozhin with Federico Fuentes.

Jenin raid

The July 2 attack on Jenin refugee camp in the West Bank was driven by the Israeli government’s need to satisfy the bloodlust of its settlers and to mete out revenge against Palestinians for resisting the theft of their land, writes Ali Abunimah.

Hugo Blanco

Derek Wall pays tribute to Peruvian revolutionary leader and pioneering ecosocialist Hugo Blanco, who died in London on June 25.

Nahel Merzouk

Rioting broke out in more than a dozen towns around France, following the police murder of teenager Nahel Merzouk, throwing President Emmanuel Macron's government into crisis, reports John Mullen.

Culture

FIre Weather

John Vaillant — who may be the contemporary Hunter S Thompson of environmental journalists — has seen our Earth’s future up close and personal, and it is a fearsome, firey “beast”, writes Bill Nevins.

A striking new mural by Iranian activist collective Feminista Melbournepays tribute to Jina Amini and stands in solidarity with the Women, Life, Freedom movement.Ruth Heymannreports.