Issue 1375

News

A protest听outside PM Anthony Albanese's electorate office was one of several protests around the country demanding that the AUKUS nuclear submarine deal be scrapped. Video by Peter Boyle.

Anti-war protests outside MPs鈥 offices听demanded that AUKUS be scrapped and the $170 billion allocated to听nuclear-powered submarines be instead spent on human need, reports听Pip Hinman.

Members of the听Ukrainian community joined anti-war Russians to protest the one-year anniversary of Russia鈥檚 invasion of Ukraine at a rally in Martin Place. Federico Fuentes reports.

The Socialist Alliance is calling for a two-year rent freeze in its platform for the coming NSW state election, according to Rachel Evans,听the party's candidate for the seat of Heffron.

Federal environment minister Tanya Plibersek has just quietly approved another Santos fracking project听in Queensland鈥檚 Surat Basin, writes听Callum Foote.

NSW Police arrested a housing activist at midnight on February 18 after a housing protest the day before. Kerry Smith reports.

Community groups will host a candidate forum in the Balmain electorate in the lead-up to the New South Wales elections with a听focus on how local democracy is best served. Peter Boyle reports.

An exhibition of photographs in the Stirrup Gallery at听the Addison Road Community Centre听will raise听funds for earthquake relief in Rojava. Peter Boyle reports.

Neo-Nazi extremist Desmond听Liddington has been听sentenced for his part in an attack on the home of anti-racists. Kerry Smith reports.

Residents of Mudgee听and farmers protested outside the Independent Planning Commission against听Bowdens Silver's plan to mine silver, lead and zinc, near the village of Lue. Jim McIlroy reports.

91自拍论坛 News podcast Ep 2

Episode 2, February 20, 2023. 91自拍论坛 journalists Ben Radford and Isaac Nellist take you through the latest news from Australia and around the world.

The practice of stealing Aboriginal children from their families听has continued since Kevin听Rudd's apology and it needs to stop, a Sorry Day protest was told. Rachel Evans reports.

The Asylum Seeker Resource Centre is facing the terrible prospect of having to close its doors in six weeks听due to funding shortages caused by cost-of-living pressures impacting on donors. Sue Bolton reports.

Under pressure from transgender activists and allies, nearly all states have adopted progressive gender recognition laws. But, as听Nova Sobieralski听reports, more needs to be done.

An in-car camera which some rideshare drivers are installing for safety

The Rideshare Drivers Network called for action on safety听after Uber driver Scott Cabrie was allegedly killed by a passenger in Queensland. Isaac Nellist reports.

Auntie Gail Hickey, her family and supporters marched听through Redfern听to demand justice for TJ Hickey, 19听years after the 17-year-old Kamilaroi youth died while being pursued by NSW Police.听Peter Boyle reports.

Analysis

Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong with background of soldiers

Those who thought the federal Labor Party supported reforming the antiquated war powers would be startled to hear Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong make it clear the government does not. Pip Hinman reports.

Livestream of the forum on Treaty, Sovereignty and First Nations justice with Lidia Thorpe, Uncle Gary Murray and Sue Bolton.

Labor's safeguard mechanism should be scrapped and replaced with听a policy designed to reduce emissions, argues Alex Bainbridge.

The Reserve Bank of Australia claims it is 鈥渇ighting inflation鈥 by hiking up interest rates. But, as Zane Alcorn argues, it听has never been independent of the capitalist class and is dutifully carrying out its interests.

Residents of the defect-plagued听Mascot听Towers听building say solutions proposed by the major parties do not go far enough.听Jim McIlroy听reports.

As wages stagnate and the cost-of-living crisis worsens, it鈥檚 time to re-evaluate the role of work in our lives听and the economic system,听argues Isaac Nellist.

The policies of successive NSW听governments听to not build new public housing听and sell off old stock is worsening the听housing crisis, writes Paul Gregoire.

A young indigenous child carrying an Aboriginal flag at a demonstration

Senator Lidia Thorpe should be congratulated for putting a Treaty with First Nations people on the political agenda. Progressives need to support that campaign, argue Jacob Andrewartha and听Sue Bolton.

Foreign affairs minister Penny Wong and Greens spokesperson David Shoebridge

Foreign affairs minister Penny听Wong told听Senate estimates that she was happy to defer to Washington on whether or not the B52s stationed in Australia would carry nuclear听weapons. Binoy Kampmark reports.

More听privatisations of public assets are听in store for听New South Wales as听Premier Dominic Perrottet refuses听to rule out more sell-offs. Jim McIlroy reports.

Is听ChatGPT听a challenge to humanity? For听Aleks Wansbrough, ultimately, it is听the product of human beings, reflecting and refracting current social relations.

Public housing is only 12% of all housing in Waterloo. But听the NSW government wants to reduce that by selling off听the Waterloo estate. Karyn Brown says it should be ashamed.

A B-52 bomber superimposed over a camouflage pattern, with a red No symbol

Anti-war and peace networks are organising a听national protest听outside federal MPs鈥 offices, demanding听an end to AUKUS and the billions being wasted on a new arms race.听Pip Hinman听reports.

There is a disconnect of time scales between the听relatively short-lived exploitative mining and听Traditional Owners鈥 ancient connection to Country.听Susan Norrie writes about her and听artist colleagues'听approach to a commission.

The Robodebt royal commission has revealed that lower level Centrelink workers were telling their bosses that the system was wrong and cruel. They were not listened to, writes Sue Bolton.

NSW is heading听towards an election听and听communities are听wondering if a future Labor government will make听the necessary changes.听Socialist Alliance听candidate Rachel Evans听talks about housing justice and her campaign.

Public school funding has been on the decline for years. No wonder older, experienced teachers are so angry, writes Sue Bull.

The terrible earthquake disaster in Turkey and Syria should make us听ponder听the meaning of community and nation as well as security and sovereignty, writes Stuart Rees.听

World

Ukraine peace symbol

Two controversial German figures, Sarah Wagenknecht and Alice Schwarzer, released a Peace Manifesto on February 10, which gathered close to half a million of signatures in less than a week, reports Sibylle Kaczorek.

Don't Gas Africa

Don't Gas Africa believes 鈥淎frica has a monumental opportunity to pursue sustainable socioeconomic development without relying on fossil fuels鈥, reports Jessica Corbett.

Colombia rally 2023

Tens of thousands of Colombians took to the streets to support progressive social and economic reforms proposed by President Gustavo Petro, reports Ana Zorita.

Water rights meeting in Mexico

Movements, organisations and Indigenous communities听gathered in the Assembly for Water and For Life over February 18鈥19, reports Tamara Pearson.

HDP relief centre

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdo臒an is weaponising the triple earthquake disaster in south-eastern Turkey and north-eastern Syria against the Kurdish population by blocking and delaying emergency responses, reports Peter Boyle.

Nord Stream gas leaks 2022

Seymour Hersch's allegations of United States Navy involvement in the sabotage of the Nord Stream pipelines has been denied by US officialdom, but questions still remain, writes Binoy Kampmark.

Leonidas Iza Salazar

Progressive forces swept Ecuador鈥檚 local elections on February 5 as opposition grows to the right-wing Guillermo Lasso government, reports Ana Zorita.

Billboard in Gaza reads "We salute you Barcelona"

Barcelona has suspended official ties with Israel over its violation of Palestinian rights, reports听Dick Nichols.听

Turkish dictator President Recep Tayyip Erdo臒an is using the earthquake disaster as a weapon in his ongoing war on the Kurdish people听according to Zerebar Karimi.

Goto go gama

Seven months on from the Sri Lankan popular uprising, Janaka Biyanwila looks at听how government spin, backed up with state violence, is attempting to keep a lid on popular discontent.

Strike in France Feb 11, 2023

The dynamism of the movement to defend pensions is inspiring, but even many strikers think that the government will never back down. John Mullen asks, can Macron be beaten, and if so, how?

Culture

Protest albums from February 2023

Mat Ward looks back at February's political news and the best new music that related to it.

We Are Cuba!

If there is one theme to Helen Yaffe鈥檚 book We Are Cuba!, it is survival, writes Ian Ellis-Jones.

Ecosocialist Bookshelf

Ian Angus presents seven new books on how the world works, from cells to imperialism.

Crash Course by H Bruce Franklin

Bill Nevins reviews Crash Course, H Bruce Franklin's memoir of lifelong anti-war resistance, which cuts through the fog of myth and propaganda to make sense of modern history.