Blue Mountains rally calls for permanent ceasefire in Gaza – 10th Dec 2023

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Photo: Blue Mountains Friends of Palestine rally in Katoomba 10th Dec 2023

Numerous rallies around the country on Human Rights Day condemned Israel’s ongoing war on the Gaza Strip and renewed the call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire.

One of these rallies on 10th December 2023 was organised by the Blue Mountains Friends of Palestine (BMFoP) that took place in Katoomba. The event attracted around 80 people who initially assembled at the town’s old library site and later marched a short distance to Carrington Park. Continue reading Blue Mountains rally calls for permanent ceasefire in Gaza – 10th Dec 2023 →

Sydney rally calls for an immediate cessation to Israel’s war on Gaza – 26th Nov 2023

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Photo: Assala Sayara, Hyde Park, Sydney, 26th Nov 2023. Click to enlarge.

Many thousands gathered in Hyde Park, Sydney on Sunday 26th November to express their solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza that have suffered from Israel’s blockade, airstrikes and ground assaults since the attacks by Hamas on 7th October 2023.

At the time of the negotiated “pause” in Israel’s war on Gaza, the reported Palestinian death toll had exceeded 14,000, with 10,000 of these deaths comprising women and children. Continue reading Sydney rally calls for an immediate cessation to Israel’s war on Gaza – 26th Nov 2023 →

Francesca Albanese’s address to the National Press Club – International community, including Australia, is failing in its response to the Israel-Gaza war

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Photo: Francesca Albanese, ABC

In her address to the National Press Club on 14th November 2023, Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur for the occupied Palestinian territories, described the international community as failing in its response to the Israel-Gaza war.

Francesca Albanese also criticised governments, including the Australian government, for having “amnesia”, “myopia” and “living in an alternative reality” when asked about its response to the war, as the death toll from the conflict exceeded 12,000 people.

She said the UN is experiencing its “most epic political and humanitarian failure since its creation”. Continue reading Francesca Albanese’s address to the National Press Club – International community, including Australia, is failing in its response to the Israel-Gaza war →

Gaza is ‘running out of time’ UN experts warn, demanding a ceasefire to prevent genocide

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In a statement issued on 2nd November 2023, seven UN Special Rapporteurs warned that time is running out to prevent genocide in Gaza and expressed deep frustration with Israel’s refusal to halt plans to decimate the besieged Gaza strip.

“We remain convinced that the Palestinian people are at grave risk of genocide,” the experts said. “The time for action is now. Israel’s allies also bear responsibility and must act now to prevent its disastrous course of action,” they said.

The experts expressed “deepening horror” about Israeli airstrikes against the Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza since the night of Tuesday 31st October, which have reportedly killed and injured hundreds of Palestinians, calling it a brazen breach of international law.

The full statement by the Special Rapporteurs can be read here.

Sydney rally calls for an end to the massacre in Gaza – 15th Oct 2023

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Photo: Palestine Action Group Sydney

Over 6,000 people attended a pro-Palestinian rally in Sydney’s Hyde Park on Sunday 15th October 2023, despite opposition from NSW Premier Chris Minns and senior police to the rally going ahead.

The rally called for an end to the intensive bombing and total blockade of Gaza by Israel following attacks by Hamas militants on 7th October 2023. Both the ongoing bombing and blockade of Gaza’s civilian population were condemned by speakers as acts of collective punishment prohibited under the Geneva Conventions.

At the time of the rally, Israeli airstrikes had flattened parts of Gaza and left at least 2,200 dead and more than 8,700 injured. Continue reading Sydney rally calls for an end to the massacre in Gaza – 15th Oct 2023 →

Federal Court rules against proposed nuclear waste facility in South Australia

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Photo: The Guardian

In a landmark decision, the Federal Court on July 18, 2023 ruled against the former Coalition government’s proposal  to establish a radioactive waste management facility at a site on the Eyre Peninsula in South Australia.

The Federal Court found in favor of the area’s traditional owners, the Barngarla people, who claimed that they were never properly consulted by the former Coalition government about the decision to choose the Eyre Peninsula site. Continue reading Federal Court rules against proposed nuclear waste facility in South Australia →

Israel’s assault on the Jenin refugee camp a violation of international law

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Source: CityNews

According to United Nations’ sources, recent Israeli air strikes and ground operations targeting the Jenin refugee camp in the occupied West Bank, may prima facie constitute a war crime.1

The Israeli attacks on 3rd and 4th July 2023 that lasted for around 48 hours, killed at least 12 Palestinians, including five children, and injured more than 100 Palestinians.  The attacks caused widespread damage to infrastructure, houses and apartment buildings and forced around 4,000 Palestinians, already refugees, to flee for their safety.

Continue reading Israel’s assault on the Jenin refugee camp a violation of international law →

Julian Assange “dangerously close” to being extradited to the US

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Source: International Federation of Journalists.

In a three-page judgment handed down on Tuesday June 6, 2023, UK High Court judge Justice Jonathan Swift rejected Julian Assange’s latest appeal against the US’s extradition order, signed by then UK Home Secretary Priti Patel in June 2022.

As a result, Assange is “dangerously close” to being extradited to the US, according to family members and observers.

Justice Swift’s rejection of all eight grounds of Assange’s appeal leaves one final step in the UK legal system open to his legal team. They have just five working days to submit an appeal to a panel of two judges who will determine the matter in a public hearing.

Continue reading Julian Assange “dangerously close” to being extradited to the US →

Protests against AUKUS and Labor’s Defence Strategy

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Source: Pearls and Irritations. Click to enlarge.

The area outside Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s office in Marrickville, Sydney is rapidly becoming a regular meeting place for people wanting to express their concerns about key aspects of the Labor government’s policies.

Supporters of Julian Assange gather there every Thursday between 11.00am and 12.00pm.

On Saturday May 27, 2023 the Marrickville Peace Group (MPG) held its first ‘Peace Vigil’ outside the PM’s office which is scheduled to become a monthly event. Continue reading Protests against AUKUS and Labor’s Defence Strategy →

War Powers Inquiry Report – A failure of democratic will

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The Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade (the Committee) commenced its review of how Australia makes decisions to send service personnel into international armed conflict in September 2022.

The Committee held only one public hearing in Canberra and received a modest 113 public submissions. Its report was tabled in the Federal parliament on March 31, 2023.

Australians for War Powers Reform (AWPR) which has championed genuine reform of war powers for many years, declared the outcome of the Committee’s review disappointing. While the Labor dominated Committee recommended some changes by promising better transparency and accountability, AWPR criticised the report for refusing to adopt a fully democratic system where MPs are able to vote before Australia joins an overseas war.

Compared to many European parliamentary democracies, Australia can still be classified  as having weak powers related to parliamentary action required for the deployment of military force. Refer to the typology of European parliamentary war powers here.

Continue reading War Powers Inquiry Report – A failure of democratic will →

“War or Peace?” Town Hall Meeting – 19th March 2023

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Photo: Jon Atkins. Audience at anti-AUKUS meeting in Marrickville Town Hall, 19th March 2023.

In sweltering conditions, around 320 community members packed the Marrickville Town Hall on Sunday 19th March 2023, to hear a number of speakers discuss the AUKUS (Australia, UK and US) security pact and the current trajectory of Australia’s foreign and defence policies.

Mary Kostakidis, who facilitated the meeting organised by MPG, conducted a revealing interview with retired Col. Lawrence Wikerson (former Chief of Staff to Secretary of State Colin Powell). Col. Wilkerson joined the meeting via a video link from Virginia in the U.S. Continue reading “War or Peace?” Town Hall Meeting – 19th March 2023 →

AUKUS and the encirclement of China

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Photo: Michael West Media. Click to enlarge.

In the United States, the Biden administration, like the Trump administration that preceded it, is hellbent on preventing China from achieving parity with the US on the global stage. In fact, to protect its hegemony, the US is prepared to use every means, including military might, to prevent this from occurring. Continue reading AUKUS and the encirclement of China →

IPAN’s National Conference: Speeches and Presentations – 22 to 24 November 2022

Defence Issues, Promoting Peace

The Independent and Peaceful Australia Network (IPAN) held its National Conference in Canberra from 22nd to 24th November, 2022.

Tuesday 22nd November

The conference began with an public meeting and launch of David Bradbury’s new documentary The Road to War. After the launch, the meeting was addressed by a number of speakers including Tjanara Goreng Goreng, Emma Shortis, David Brophy and Richard Broinowski.

Wednesday 23rd November

The second day included a series of sessions consisting of various talks, panel discussions and reports. Continue reading IPAN’s National Conference: Speeches and Presentations – 22 to 24 November 2022 →

Albanese Government announces War Powers Inquiry – What powers should Australia adopt?

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AWPR booklet cover page. Click to enlarge.

The Labor Party has kept its pre-election promise and announced a parliamentary inquiry into international armed conflict decision making or war powers in Australia on Friday, September 30, 2022.

The 2021 ALP national conference pledged to refer the issue to the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade.

That commitment has now been implemented and the Committee will be accepting submissions until Friday, 18 November 2022. Submissions can be lodged via the Committee’s webpage. Continue reading Albanese Government announces War Powers Inquiry – What powers should Australia adopt? →