In a win for those opposed to inappropriate development, Merri-bek council has rejected a proposed apartment building that would have blocked a neighbour’s access to sunlight. Darren Saffin reports.
Issue 1378
News
Thousands of workers took to the streets in a national day of action to demand wage rises and protest anti-union laws, report Jacob Andrewartha, Sue Bolton, Alex Bainbridge and Jim McIlroy.
Construction workers demanding protection from silicosis and calling on Labor governments to keep their promises to remove anti-union laws took to Sydney streets in their thousands. Peter Boyle reports.
About 100 people protested in North Wollongong against the federal government’s plans for a nuclear submarine base in Port Kembla, NSW. Jim McIlroy reports.
Despite heavy rain, hundreds marched for peace and refugee rights as part of the 2023 Sydney Palm Sunday march, reports Peter Boyle.
A powerful and defiant Trans Visibility Day action was organised in Newtown after weeks of escalating vilification violence against the trans and gay community from right-wing groups. Peter Boyle and Isaac Nellist report.
Isaac Nellist and Ben Radford take you through the latest news from Australia and around the world.
Climate activists protested outside the National Australia Bank’s Corporate Tower Branch as part of Move Beyond Coal's national focus against greenwashing. Carine Visschers reports.
Climate activists gathered outside the Newtown branch of the National Australia Bank to demand the bank stop funding Whitehaven Coal. Jim McIlroy reports.
Vigils and protests for Aubrey Donahue are being held in Western Australia and Queensland following the police killing of the 27-year-old man from Mareeba, east of Cairns. Kerry Smith reports.
Federal Labor has reneged on its pre-election promise to end compulsory income management by introducing the new Indue SmartCard. Isaac Nellist reports.
Labor and the Coalition voted together to block a bill that would mandate parliament to vote on whether or not to go to war, reports Pip Hinman.
The Australian Council of Trade Unions and the NSW Teachers' Federation are concerned about the rise in militarism linked with the AUKUS nuclear submarine deal. Pip Hinman reports.
At the biggest National Tertiary Education Union meeting ever held at Sydney University, union members voted for two days of strikes to be held on March 31 and April 5. Markela Panegyres reports.
Climate activists rallied outside the Sydney Hilton Hotel to tell a Bank Summit to leave coal and gas in the ground. Jim McIlroy reports.
In a significant development in justice and accountability, the first soldier to face war crimes charges for their alleged actions in Afghanistan is set to face court. Pip Hinman reports.
There was a good turn-out for the annual Geelong Pride March and Festival, organised by Geelong Rainbow. Sarah Hathway reports.
A protest was organised against the AUKUS nuclear submarine deal outside the office of Minister for Defence Richard Marles. John Quelsh reports.
Peace campaigners argue that engineering firms should instead be awarded grants to manufacture components for the climate transition. Pip Hinman reports.
Analysis
David Brophy argues we have an obligation to resist the forces that are pushing Australia towards a disastrous war with China.
The following open letter about trans rights was initiated by Community Action for Rainbow Rights and Pride in Protest.
As with all matters regarding United States policy, Australia will, if not agree outright with Washington, adopt a non-committal position — “quiet diplomacy”. Binoy Kampmark reports.
Indigenous communities have deep histories of gender nonconforming and trans mobs, argues Ethan Lyons.
Norrie argues it is embarrassing that NSW is now behind much of the world, and other Australian states, in making gender self-identification legal.
Susan Price reports that Labor is weighing up 116 new coal, oil and gas projects — the equivalent of starting up 215 new coal-fired power stations.
Far from a groundswell, NSW Labor government received only a 3.6% swing, after 12 years of Coalition neoliberalism. James Wyner reports.
A parliamentary inquiry into the Australian Securities and Investments Commission has revealed startling evidence about some of its operations. Suzanne James reports.
World
Israeli police invaded Al Aqsa Mosque for the second day in a row, shooting tear gas and stun grenades at Palestinian worshippers inside, reports Susan Price.
Peru withdrew its ambassador from Colombia following statements from Colombian President Gustavo Petro in support of ousted Peruvian President Pedro Castillo, reports Peoples Dispatch.
Colonial-era laws are still used to oppress LGBTQ+ Africans, writes Efemia Chela, but the struggle to organise grassroots mutual aid and for legal rights continues.
Activists are stepping up their pressure on the United States to impose sanctions on North American oil and gas companies financing the Myanmar military's war against the people, reports Peter Boyle.
The British Labour Party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) has voted to bar former leader Jeremy Corbyn from standing as a Labour candidate in the 2024 general election, reports Alex Salmon.
Despite the region’s steep topography and vulnerability to earthquakes, companies are seeking to exploit Ecuador’s Chimborazo province for large-scale copper and gold mining, reports Ana Zorita.
Franziska Heinisch and Julia Kaiser explain how climate activists and public transport workers in Germany are coordinating their efforts to take joint strike action.
Democratic Congressperson Rashida Tlaib has urged fellow Congress members to sign a letter to US Attorney-General Merrick Garland urging him to drop the charges against Julian Assange, reports Binoy Kampmark.
The Spanish far-right's latest attempt to censure prime minister Pedro Sanchez' government — with the help of a former leader of the Communist Party of Spain — has backfired, writes Dick Nichols.
A peaceful protest in Bali calling for a referendum on West Papuan independence was targeted by Indonesian nationalists, reports Susan Price.
The recent takeover of Credit Suisse by UBS, with the Swiss state stepping in to cover losses, highlights the need to socialise the financial sector, says Movement for Socialism.
John Mullen looks behind the huge movement against Macron’s attack on pensions, which has brought millions onto the streets, and seen ongoing blockades and strikes.
Police officers from Canada's secretive unit known as the C-IRG arrested five land defenders, most of them Indigenous women, in a raid at a camp on unceded Wet'suwet'en territory, reports Jeff Shantz.
A West Papuan university student was charged with treason for raising the Morning Star flag and calling for a referendum on West Papuan independence at a rally last November, reports Susan Price.
The United States is hoping to stave off a general collapse of the currency system, writes Barry Sheppard. This threat gives the capitalist class extortion power to insist that the government bail out the big banks.
Indian farmers held a successful march to demand crop price guarantees, land ownership rights for tribal farmers, immediate financial relief and loan waivers, reports Peoples Dispatch.
The Indian Patent Office rejected pharmaceutical company Janssen’s application for an extension of its patent on a drug used in the treatment of tuberculosis, reports Peoples Dispatch.
At least 41 migrants and refugees died in a fire in a migrant prison in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, near the United States border, reports Tamara Pearson.
Workers and unions led strikes in Uruguay against the right-wing government’s proposed pension reforms, which include raising the retirement age from 60 to 65, reports Ana Zorita.
Thousands of community health workers held a huge protest in Patna, in Bihar state, calling for higher pay, recognition as workers and access to employment benefits, reports Kerry Smith.
Britain has revealed it will supply Ukraine with armour-piercing depleted uranium shells, despite the health and environmental harms associated with the materiel, reports Binoy Kampmark.
Huge crowds have flooded Israel’s streets for another round of demonstrations against the far-right Benjamin Netanyahu government, reports Jessica Corbett.
Allan Todd discusses the urgent need to address climate change and the upcoming Extinction Rebellion protest in London calling for system change to tackle the climate, social and economic crises.
Culture
Climate and Capitalism editor Ian Angus presents eight new books on science, society and socialism.
Nova Sobieralski reviews Michael Oliver's The Politics of Disablement — considered a paradigm defining work for the sociological study of disability.
Do you think there's no good protest music these days? So did Mat Ward, until they started looking for it.