Archive for February, 2016
Thomas Wales, traditional landowner, says let them stay
Posted by John, February 19th, 2016 - under Let them stay.
Tags: Aborigines, Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders
Comments: none
Today our good mate Thomas Wales came to the Refugee Art Project studio in Parramatta. Thomas is a traditional landowner and spokesperson for the Thanakwith people in the Weipa area of far north Queensland. #LetThemStay
The failure of COP21 – climate versus capitalism
Posted by John, February 17th, 2016 - under Uncategorised.
Tags: Climate change, Cop21
Comments: 2
Joe Sabatini explains the neoliberal mindset behind the UN climate talks in Paris last year–officially called the 21st Congress of the Parties for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, or COP 21–and what the resulting agreement really means for saving the planet, in an article originally written for the January 2016 issue of the revolutionary socialism in the 21st century magazine and published at the rs21 website and republished in Socialist Worker US.
CLIMATE VS CAPITALISM: why we need system change
Posted by John, February 16th, 2016 - under Revolution.
Tags: Capitalism, Climate change
Comments: 5
The globe continues to warm. The recent Paris conference agreement was a sham. We are heading towards 3 – 4 degrees C warming. Why can’t world leaders end their fossil fuel addiction? If you are in Canberra come to this meeting to discuss why we have to change the system, before the system destroys the planet. It is on at 1 pm on Wednesday 17 February in room G 039 in Copland Building at the Australian National University.
Fiddling with negative gearing isn’t revolutionary tax reform
Posted by John, February 15th, 2016 - under Negative gearing, Rent, Tax, Tax policy, Tax reform.
Tags: Capital gains, capital gains tax, Housing
Comments: 2
If Labor were serious about addressing the high price of housing and the impact this is having on both first home buyers and renters it would begin a program of state housing that addressed the needs of working class Australians. Such a program could be funded by taxing the rich capitalist class who benefit from having a well housed, rested working class. Labor won’t do that since it is wedded to the market and market ‘solutions’. That marriage explains its mickey mouse negative gearing proposals.
Me and Justice Scalia
Posted by John, February 15th, 2016 - under Justice Scalia.
Comments: 2
I remember when US Supreme Court Justice Scalia spoke at the Australian National University Law School (early 1990s? ) to law school staff (of which I was one) about originalism. This is the idea that the constitution should be interpreted in the context of the time it was introduced. I asked him if the fact that all […]
David Gulpilil says Let Them Stay
Posted by John, February 15th, 2016 - under Let them stay, Refugees.
Tags: Asylum seekers
Comments: none
National Treasure David Gulpilil in Darwin yesterday sending his support. #LetThemStay ❤❤❤
Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital – what next for the refugee movement?
Posted by John, February 14th, 2016 - under Labor Party, Lady Cilento Hospital, Refugees.
Tags: Asylum seekers
Comments: none
Given the intransigence of this Australian government on baby Asha and all asylum seekers, Turnbull and Dutton will only be moved by mass action in the streets and industrial action to protect her. That mass action, like all mass movements for justice, must include a debate at least about civil disobedience. Shut down Melbourne to shut down Manus. It must include discussion of workers banning any action that might involve deporting Asha, recognising such action would be ‘illegal’ under current bipartisan industrial laws. The call by the Queensland Council of Unions for people to join the vigil and circulating a roster is especially important in this context. Unions are beginning to get involved. Now our task must be to try and harness the power workers have, to save Asha.
Lady Cilento Hospital staff lead the way with direct action to Let The Refugees Stay
Posted by John, February 13th, 2016 - under Lady Cilento Hospital, Manus Island, Nauru, Refugees.
Tags: Asylum seekers, Concentration camps
Comments: 1
The Refugee Action Committee in Queensland has called a solidarity protest in support of the brave staff at Lady Cilento Hospital for 12 pm on Saturday. If you are in Brisbane get along to this most important protest to let the 267 men, women, children and babies under threat of deportation to Australia’s concentration camps on Manus Island and Nauru stay and to begin the campaign to close down Manus and Nauru. Let’s spread the protests and build a people’s movement for the refugees. Make sanctuary a reality.
The genius of refugees
Posted by John, February 12th, 2016 - under Uncategorized.
Comments: none
Sanders’ New Hampshire victory shows establishment politics in the US is cracking up
Posted by John, February 12th, 2016 - under Socialism, Socialism from above, Socialism from below, Socialist.
Tags: Bernie Sanders, Democratic Party, Hillary Clinton
Comments: none
Charlie Kimber in Socialist Worker UK looks at the rise of self-proclaimed socialist Bernie Sanders and argues that ‘the old politics is under extreme strain, and millions of people are looking for an alternative.’ However Sanders is not that alternative because ‘he is prepared to stay within the limits of the thoroughly capitalist Democratic Party.’
Charlie Kimber in Socialist Worker UK looks at the rise of self-proclaimed socialist Bernie Sanders and argues that ‘the old politics is under extreme strain, and millions of people are looking for an alternative.’ However his support for Clinton in the end means ‘he is prepared to stay within the limits of the thoroughly capitalist Democratic Party.’