Issue 1419

News

People's Blockade participants explain why they attended, what they think about the NSW government's attempts to suppress the protest and why we need to end coal and gas.

The Labor-majority Inner West Council has rammed through a controversial plan to begin the creeping commercialisation of Camperdown Memorial Rest Park in Sydneyā€™s inner west. Pip Hinman reports.

Since its enterprise agreement expired six months ago, the Rail Tram and Bus Union has been pushing for new, fair contract with the NSW Labor government and private operators. Pip Hinman reports.

Protesters on the road outside Parliament House

The Rising Tide ā€œPeopleā€™s Blockadeā€ of the worldā€™s biggest coal port has begun, with thousands expected to join throughout the week.ĢżAlex Bainbridge ²¹²Ō»åĢżIsaac NellistĢż°ł±š±č“Ē°ł³Ł.

Environs Kimberley, Environment Centre of the Northern Territory and the Conservation Council of Western Australia are asking for help to stop the expansion of gas projects in WA and the NT. Coral Wynter reports.

Socialist Alliance is proud of its six-month campaign in the City of Greater Geelong wards of Corio and Hamlyn Heights. Sue Bull reports on SAā€™s increased vote and the challenges that progressives now face.Ģż

Thousands protested their opposition to Laborā€™s refusal to sanction Israel for its genocide in Gaza in the 58th consecutive week of rallies. Caltex service stations also became targets, as parent company Chevron continues to supply Israel.ĢżPip Hinman, Isaac Nellist and Alex BainbridgeĢżreport.

Refugees took their protest for permanent visas to the streets, walking 10 kilometres from Prime Minister Anthony Albaneseā€™s electorate office in Marrickville to immigration minister Tony Burkeā€™s office in Punchbowl. Zebedee Parkes reports.

Isaac Nellist and Riley Breen talk to Tim Gooden about the attacks on the CFMEU and to Jordan Armaou-Massoud about the arrests of anti-war protesters in Victoria.

National vigils and rallies organised by What Were You Wearing called on Labor to do more to stop violence against women. Rachel Evans reports.

Woolworths packing workers voted to take indefinite strike action over safety concerns with a new tracking system called ā€˜the frameworkā€™. Isaac Nellist reports.

The NSWĢżgovernment has made a last-ditch attempt to stop the Peopleā€™s Blockade of the worldā€™s largest coal port by designating Muloobinba/Newcastle Harbour an ā€˜exclusion zoneā€™, reports Isaac Nellist.Ģż

An open letter to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, initiated by Jews Against the Occupation ā€™48, demands Labor act in accordance with international law. Kerry Smith reports.

More than 10,000 nurses and midwives went on strike and marched on NSW Parliament to demand a fair pay deal and better conditions.ĢżIsaac Nellist reports.Ģż

Despite threats from the Construction Forestry Mining and Employees Union administrator and the Master Builders Association, thousands of building workers marched on NSW Parliament in defence of the CFMEU and against Laborā€™s new anti-union law. Peter Boyle reports.

picket at Bisalloy Steel in September

A community-organised picket of the Bisalloy Steel factory in Tharawal/Wollongong on November 15 plans to stop work at the site ā€œfor as long as possibleā€. Isaac Nellist reports.Ģż

The newly electedĢżNorthern Territory Country Liberal Party has set to work on itsĢżā€œtough on crimeā€ agenda by demonising incarcerated young people.ĢżStephen W Enciso reports.

Marching to end genocide in Gaza, Magan-djin/Brisbane, November 10

The 400th day of Israelā€™s genocide against the people of Gaza was marked by large protest rallies across Australia, reportsĢżAlex Bainbridge.

Refugees and supporters are continuing their campaign for permanent visas for more than 9000 people, whose refugee claims were rejected under the flawed Fast Track system. Chris Slee reports.

Isaac Nellist and Riley Breen discuss the election of Donald Trump in the 2024 United States election and the repression and censorship of activists in Singapore.

Analysis

Donald Trumpā€™s victory has sent a wave of depression around the world, especially after the right-wing advances in Europe and the anti-immigrant race riots in England. Peter Boyle argues that the challenge for progressive movements has never been greater.Ģż

If ā€œjournalism is the first draft of historyā€,Ģżthe billionaire-owned establishment mediaā€™s ā€œfirst draftā€ is often full of gaslighting and lies. Alex Bainbridge argues that coverage of the racist violence of Israeli soccer fans in Amsterdam is one glaring example.

Former NSW Director of Public ProsecutionsĢżNicholasĢżCowdery maintains that the decriminalisation of cannabis would benefit the community, including byĢżremoving criminal profiteering in the drug market. Paul Gregoire reports.

While the government commits billions of dollars to the black hole of AUKUS, universities are underfunded, allowing aĢżmanagement culture,Ģżwhich now pervades universities, to look for course and job cuts. Rowan Cahill reports.

Remembrance Day has become a form of vulgar conditioning, used by the military-minded to ready the public for the next conflict, argues Binoy Kampmark.

Australia has refused the United Nations Human Rights Committeeā€™sĢżorder to provide ā€œan effective and enforceable remedyā€Ģżto the Wunna Nyiyaparli people of Western Australiaā€™s eastern Pilbara region. Paul Gregoire reports.

The new report by United Nations Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese suggestsĢżthat Israelā€™s genocidal violence on Palestinians in the Gaza Strip is integral to the Zionist regimeā€™s goal of colonising Palestine. Paul Gregoire reports.

World

protest and inset picture of VenĆ¢ncio Mondlane

Mozambique is at a critical juncture, with post-election discontent revealing deep-rooted flaws in its political system, writes Boaventura Monjane.

person speaking to media

Federico Fuentes speaks to constitutional lawyer and human rights activist MarĆ­a Alejandra DĆ­az about why, as she puts it, the rule of law in Venezuela is ā€œin frank deteriorationā€ since the July 28 presidential elections.

person riding a bicycle in San Juan

Gubernatorial elections were held on November 5 in the United States colony of Puerto Rico, with pro-independence candidate Juan Dalmau only narrowly defeated by pro-Trump candidate Jenniffer GonzĆ”lez-ColĆ³n, reports Barry Sheppard.

NPP election rally in Sri Lanka

The working-class party, Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna ā€” part of the National Peopleā€™s Power coalition ā€” gained an outright majority in the countryā€™s 225-seat parliament, reports Janaka Biyanwila.

Venezuelan flag and woman voting

Communist Party of Venezuela leader Neirlay Andrade discusses the July 28 election with Federico Fuentes and argues that by refusing to publish results from the July 28 presidential election, the NicolĆ”s Maduro government ā€œis crossing a line of no returnā€.

While disease, hunger and death continue to stalk the Gaza Strip and the West Bank remains occupied, Binoy Kampmark reports on United Nations committee resolutions that increase Israelā€™sĢżisolation.

Satellite image of Typhoon Carina (Gaemi) before it made landfall over Taiwan

A new report argues that progressively taxing the worldā€™s seven biggest oil and gas companies would raise significant funds to pay for the losses and damages caused by climate disasters, reports Ben Radford.

Donald Trump and US flag in background

Cyn Huang and Daniil Sapunkov, members of the Young Democratic Socialists of America, unpacked the United States elections with Ā鶹“«Ć½ā€™sĢżIsaac Nellist and Jacob Andrewartha.

Donald Trump mural

Malik Miah and Barry Sheppard look behind the Republican Partyā€™s victory in the United States election, why the Democratic Party lost and the challenges ahead.

Venezuelan oil well and former president Hugo Chavez

Federico Fuentes sat down with sociologist Malfred GerigĢżfrom the Central University of Venezuela to discuss the United Statesā€™ sanctions on Venezuela in the context of the countryā€™s ā€œLong Depressionā€.

Participants in the Hikoi

A controversial and divisive bill that aims to undermine the rights of Aotearoa New Zealandā€™s Māori people had its first reading and brought parliament to a halt, reports Zara Lomas.

Protesting during Peru's national strike

About 1 million workers across Peru went on strike to demand that the government act against rising violence and extortion at the hands of organised criminal groups, reports Ben Radford.

protesting the Ibero American Summit in Cuenca

Several hundred people marched through the southern Ecuadorean city of Cuenca to protest the Ibero-American Summit, reports Ben Radford.

striking workers at a meeting

Boeing workers in the United States voted to accept a deal and end their seven-week-long strike, reports Malik Miah.

electric cars in traffic

While electric cars are often touted as the future of transport and a crucial part of the effort to reach ā€œnet zeroā€ greenhouse gas emissions, in reality they are not a meaningful solution, argues Ben Radford.

Tuvalu Prime Minister Feleti Teo has described rich countriesā€™ plansĢżto expand fossil fuels as a ā€œdeath sentenceā€ for his country. Zara Lomas looks at Pacific Island statesā€™ push for aĢżinternational treaty to phase out fossil fuels.

Culture

Forgotten Pacific poster

The Forgotten Pacific sheds light on how island communities are weaving indigenous knowledge with modern solutions to adapt, rebuild and protect their homelands from the devastating impacts of climate change, write Coral Wynter and Jim McIlroy.

book cover and Cuban doctors in Italy

Noam Chomsky and Vijay Prashadā€™s On Cuba will inspire new readers about the achievements of this small country standing up to United States imperialism and providing a beacon of internationalism and solidarity, writes Stephen Langford.

Book cover and protest for Palestine

As Israelā€™s genocidal war on Gaza grinds on, threatening to engulf part of Lebanon and provoking Iran, Pip Hinman writes that anti-war activists will find Joseph Daherā€™s Palestine and Marxism an informative class-based background.

Book cover and soccer stadium

Gary Neville argues that beneath the glamourous sheen of English Premier League football, the game is rotten, and the growing influence of the biggest teams is leaving fans out of pocket and smaller clubs clinging to survival. Alex Salmon reviews.

books and shelf

Climate and Capitalism editor Ian Angus presents five new books on capitalism and the climate crisis, restoring forests, waters in revolt and a dangerous billionaire.