U.N. General Assembly supports symbolic move to allow Palestine full membership

Israel & Occupied Territories, United Nations

Source: Politico

On Friday 10th May 2024, the U.N. General Assembly overwhelmingly passed a resolution which upgrades Palestine’s rights and privileges as an Observer State and calls on the Security Council to favourably reconsider Palestine’s request for full membership.

The 193-member world body approved the Arab and Palestinian-sponsored resolution by 143 votes for, 9 against (including the United States and Israel) and 25 abstentions. Australia decided to join the vast majority of member states by voting in favour of this resolution.1 Continue reading U.N. General Assembly supports symbolic move to allow Palestine full membership →

Anzac Day Reflection – 25th April 2024

Anzac Day, War Commemoration,
Local choir at Anzac Day Reflection 2024 in Marrickville

This year’s Anzac Day Reflection was held at the traditional site of Richardson’s Lookout – Marrickville Peace Park on Thursday 25th April. Organised by the Marrickville Peace Group (MPG), it attracted over 100 people.  In addition, a combined choir, assembled from three local choirs and comprising around 40 singers, sang a number of peace songs during the event.  Continue reading Anzac Day Reflection – 25th April 2024 →

Blue Mountains Peace Collective: Picnic for Peace – 21st April 2024

AUKUS Security Pact, Impacts of War, , ,

An Earth Day Picnic for Peace was organised by the Blue Mountains Peace Collective on Sunday 21st April 2024.

Held at Wilson Park in Wentworth Falls, the event attracted around 50 people and featured a teach-in and launch of a brochure entitled ‘War Costs the Climate’.

Confronting the threats of war and ending the AUKUS security pact were identified as essential to combating the climate emergency.

Additional topics highlighted during the event included:

– the high greenhouse gas emissions generated by the world’s militaries with Australia and its AUKUS partners, the U.K. and the U.S., being among the worse polluters  Continue reading Blue Mountains Peace Collective: Picnic for Peace – 21st April 2024 →

Julian Assange extradition: U.S. fails to guarantee First Amendment protection

Julian Assange, , ,
Photo: Getty images, London, Feb 21, 2024

At the conclusion of Julian Assange’s extradition appeal hearing in London’s High Court in February 2024, the two judges presiding reserved their decision pending the submission of certain assurances by the U.S. administration.  Continue reading Julian Assange extradition: U.S. fails to guarantee First Amendment protection →

Biden “considering” request to drop Julian Assange’s indictment

Julian Assange, , ,

President Joe Biden has said that he is considering a request from the Australian government to drop the decade-long U.S. drive to prosecute Wikileaks founder Julian Assange.

Assange has been indicted on 17 charges under the U.S. Espionage Act of 1917, plus one charge of computer misuse, as a result of publishing classified U.S. military records and diplomatic cables on the WikiLeaks website almost 15 years ago. These documents exposed war crimes committed by U.S. forces in Iraq and Afghanistan, among other matters of public interest. If convicted, Assange faces a sentence of up to 175 years in a U.S. maximum security or supermax prison.  Continue reading Biden “considering” request to drop Julian Assange’s indictment →

Daniel Duggan loses bid to delay U.S. extradition trial

Daniel Duggan, ,

Daniel Duggan, a former US marine pilot who obtained Australian citizenship in 2012, is currently fighting extradition to the U.S.

At the request of U.S. authorities, Duggan was arrested by the Australian Federal Police on an extradition warrant on 21st October 2022. He is currently being held in solitary confinement in Lithgow’s maximum security prison.  Continue reading Daniel Duggan loses bid to delay U.S. extradition trial →