Stuart Rees
Stuart Rees AM is Professor Emeritus at the University of Sydney & recipient of the Jerusalem (Al Quds) Peace Prize.
Stuart's recent articles
26 October 2022
Principled conduct? Shaoquett Moselmane and the NSW ALP
On October 19, before a crowded public gallery and in a packed Upper House of the NSW parliament, Labor MP Shaoquett Moslemane gave his valedictory speech. He did so with dignity, with no bitterness and with gratitude to his many supporters. His standards in public life have been impressive. His treatment by powerful operatives has been disgraceful.
13 October 2022
Russia-Ukraine: For humanitys sake, turn down the heat
Its time we recognise the carnage of this war in Ukraine, and turn to dialogue with Russia.
12 October 2022
Ethiopian, Eritrean atrocities in Tigray: who cares, its an African war
Fighting and famine in Tigray is described by the London Observer as the most lethal anywhere in the world.
11 October 2022
Due process in law a deceitful farce: ask Julian Assange
Due process in the administration of justice requires respect for a defendants right to a fair trial, acknowledges a role for public scrutiny of court practices and insists that judges should be recused if they have a conflict of interest which would amount to bias. In the prosecution of Australian citizen Julian Assange, such principles have been trashed.
23 September 2022
Crafting a Republic: "Aprs Moi Le Deluge" an Elizabeth II legacy?
King Louis XV of France and Madame de Pompadour are reputed to have warned that across France after their deaths there would be life destroying floods of various kinds. By implication, these distant on-a pedestal characters were predicting that life after them could be far worse than when they reigned, so look back a little and be grateful.
1 September 2022
Pakistan floods -The wealthy pollute the world and the poor suffer
Global capitalism is a giant poverty producing machine, masterful in its methods of pitting the poor against the very poor or flinging crumbs to the wretched so that they dissipate their energy fighting one another.
31 August 2022
Terrorist-preoccupied Israel issues latest license for thuggery
While the world was distracted by brutalities in Ukraine, Yemen, Myanmar, Somalia and by a threatening US, China conflict, Israeli forces raided the offices of six Palestinian human rights organisations, and after stealing equipment and documents, soldiers welded doors shut.
23 August 2022
Peace with Justice: Lessons from the Anthropocene and for Ukraine
Imagining the arrival of peace with justice in Ukraine needs two caveats. In any peace negotiations, Ukrainian citizens judgements about the future should be a priority.
9 August 2022
Uluru Statement and Makaratta message redefine sovereignty
There is a huge contrast between the notion sovereignty depicted in the Uluru Statement from the Heart and political leaders perception of this concept as a weapon. Ulurus message forecasts hope through reciprocity and healing.
31 July 2022
A Significant Peoples Forum on Peace, not just in Ukraine
Citizens in Australia speak of peace and show how to reach that goal. They do not trust politicians stifled into thinking that security means militarism, or think tanks funded to promote the idea that national defence and arms industry interests are the same.
21 July 2022
Menace from George Brandis: how to represent state interests not Julian Assange
Appearing on last Thursdays ABC Q&A programme, George Brandis, former Attorney General and former Australian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, behaved as though Australian citizens should always be grateful for the way he would protect their interests.
13 July 2022
The human catastrophe in Yemen. What a contrast to our media focus on Ukraine
In the last five years, an estimated 377,000 people have died in Yemen mostly from hunger, lack of health care and unsafe water. In Ukraine?
10 July 2022
Superiority born from class: Lowy Institutes Michael Fullilove on Julian Assange
Beware privileged people who have learned to speak with confidence yet appear blind to the benefits of social class. Beware powerful people who claim that democratic governments, in the US, UK, Australia, administer justice always according to some time-honoured principle about rules of law.
4 July 2022
Preparations for war stifle advocacy for peace
When reporting on Russian atrocities, mainstream media have also been preoccupied with the supply of arms to Ukraine, with news of Finland and Sweden joining NATO and with fingers crossed forecasts of the defeat of Russia. In media minds and in academic circles, advocacy of peace finds little or no space.
15 June 2022
Floods, mental health & love in Lismore
A principle known for centuries by Indigenous peoples, teaches that the health of the land affects the wellbeing of people, a principle familiar to citizens of Lismore in northern NSW. After catastrophic floods submerged homes and commercial properties, one thousand citizens still live in emergency accommodation and thousands more survive in homes where walls, ceilings and windows need repair. Faced with powerlessness and uncertainty, peoples mental health is more difficult to restore than walls and windows, yet signs of love in Lismore display potential benefits for a whole country.
2 June 2022
Opportunity for Albanese intervention to free Julian Assange. Its time.
Across Australia, a hopeful Australian public are praising the Albanese government for showing a sense of justice in permitting the persecuted yet dignified Murugappan family to return to Biloela albeit only on bridging visas. It is rumoured that deliberations are underway to end the mind-boggling prosecution of Bernard Collaery. If thats the case, Prime Minister Albanese could achieve a moral trifecta by asking his British counterpart to cease the incarceration of Julian Assange and allow this worthy, significant Australian citizen to walk free. Its time.
29 May 2022
Scared to mention Palestinians lives and Israel brutalities: A challenge for new MPs
In six weeks of electioneering, and despite the election result, Australian politicians did not dare and appear unlikely to dare to condemn the Israeli governments continued abuse of Palestinians. An Israeli sniper murdered the distinguished Palestinian journalist Shireen Abu Akleh. Israeli police attacked mourners at her funeral, but such brutalities make little impression on the Australian establishment. Regarding Palestine, their indifference and cowardice still runs deep.
16 May 2022
Peace scenarios for Ukraine via peoples tribunals
In November 1966, regarding the conduct of the Vietnam war, the philosopher, anti-war activist Bertrand Russell founded a Peoples Tribunal to inform public opinion and arouse opposition to war.
4 May 2022
Election absentee: Who dares to mention socialism?
An election campaign in an apparently democratic society is affected by fear to mention the goals and benefits of socialism. Commentators censor themselves. The agenda offered to voters is controlled by a media obsessed with the image of two leaders. In addition, derision by a right wing press, bullying by shock jocks, basic ignorance of socialisms principles makes Labor feel that if they mention the s word, theyll ruin their election chances.
1 May 2022
Colonisation stifles Indigenous leaders: now Victor Yeimo in West Papua
Victor Yeimo, leader of the West Papuans struggles for freedom has been in prison since May 2021. The world needs to know. To argue for his interests, Australia needs to summon a touch of courage. Without persistent pressure on the Indonesian government to provide urgently needed medical treatment for Victor, he is likely to die in prison, another casualty in the histories of colonial administration.
19 April 2022
Reporting about Ukraine: peace difficult, war easy
In the grinding weeks of an Australian Federal election, something needs to happen to change the language, to prompt debate, to craft vision, and even generate excitement. That something could be the goal of peace with justice.
14 April 2022
A sociology of Q&A: what is addressed, what is missed?
Branded as the occasion when the public asks questions and a panel of experts give answers, ABC televisions Q&A misses an opportunity to inform let alone inspire their audience.
3 April 2022
To end war, a language of peace, for Ukraine and for Russia
Despite hatreds generated by aggression and slaughter, a ceasefire in Ukraine depends on respect for the dignity of all parties and on their potential to recognise a common humanity.
22 March 2022
Truths lost in the lying pandemic
Cooperation to achieve peace depends on trust created by parties believing what is said, relying on assurances given and on promises made. Instead of trust bolstered by a search for truth, lying has become a political art, and conned citizens become become enthusiastic imitators.
17 March 2022
Julian Assange v. Legal - political cruelty and cowardice
The UK High Courts decision to not allow Julian Assanges appeal against his extradition to the US is the latest chapter in years of powerful governments fascination with cruelty, each act contrived through legal antics labelled justice.
8 March 2022
Searching for peace in Ukraine
Instead of searching for peace in Ukraine, western leaders and western news media have promoted US/European solidarity in opposition to Russian violence, a trend nurtured by enthusiasm for ways to arm Ukraine and punish Putin.
1 March 2022
To challenge Putin avoid Australian aggression
Scott Morrison frothing about Putin can be replaced by some acknowledgement of our part in a world order gone wrong.
24 February 2022
Dogmatists shouting freedom: significant lessons from John Stuart Mill
Democracy is eroded by selfish, untruthful, often violent individualism.
16 February 2022
Election predictions: Mismatch between polls and pundits
Before voting in a May election, the public must expect commentator confusion, as in the contrast between predictions from polls and and the judgements of pundits.
8 February 2022
Forget warfare obsession, give peace a chance in Ukraine
Australian election candidates should remind themselves that preparations for war contribute nothing to people's mental or physical health.
3 February 2022
Australia's structural cruelty goes beyond refugee policy
Australia's reprehensible treatment of refugees now goes beyond cruelty, and instead could be described as evil.
20 January 2022
Sydney Festival boycott justified, despite repetitive protests of Israel lobby
Opposition to such a boycott depends on lies about a movement that rejects racism and violence and is based on principles of international law.
11 January 2022
Bully boy tactics-Refugees, Christine Holgate and now Novak Djokovic.
Outsiders might think the accounts of long-term detainees refer to policies and conditions in Kazakhstan and Belarus not in alleged fair-go Australia.
9 January 2022
Lessons on policy from a visionary public servant, and a thoughtful MP
The beginning of 2022 sees an urgent need for long-term thoughtfulness which diagnoses current threats to existence and creative ways to respond.
30 December 2021
A man of substance, and joyful to the last: the Desmond Tutu I knew
Armed with inclusive views of humanity, the Arch'' crossed borders, challenged nationalism and advocated justice, not least for the Palestinians.
13 December 2021
Christmas spirit missing in Israeli variants of cruelty
In the spirit of Christmas and with a touch of courage, the Israel lobby should be shunned and the malicious treatment of Palestinians condemned.
12 December 2021
No justice for Julian Assange, but plenty of cruelty
Julian Assange's pending extradition to the US allowed the Australian government a chance to show some ticker by demanding his freedom.
22 November 2021
'Can do capitalism': An outdated, selfish narrative
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has been promoting 'can do capitalism', when what Australia needs is policies that treat all citizens equally.
16 November 2021
Scott Morrison's cruel indifference to pleas for climate action
Too much is at stake to be timid in critiques of the Morrison government's outrageous 'Australian Way' of addressing climate change.
9 November 2021
Selfishness emerges as the planet's greatest existential threat
Global policymakers' selfishness could prove terminal, driving the relentless exploitation of the planet's natural resources.
27 October 2021
The moral morass behind Australia's arms exports to Africa
The Defence Department and Australian arms manufacturers appear to have no qualms about selling weapons to countries where conflict and human rights abuses are prevalent.
19 October 2021
The sneaky deal to have NSW Labor adopt controversial anti-Semitism definition
In a surprise move, the NSW Labor Party recently adopted a controversial definition of anti-Semitism without open debate after some last-minute changes to the agenda.
12 October 2021
Nobel Peace Prize recipients Maria Ressa and Dmitry Muratov have some lessons for Australia
Australian journalists should try imitating the extreme courage of Nobel Peace Price winners Maria Ressa and Dmitry Muratov justice needs to be done on many issues.
10 October 2021
Maria Kalesnikova: Amazing courage for Belarus and beyond
In democracies, there are few risks in challenging abusive policies, though courage to do so is often missing. Yet in a brutal, dangerous country, young Belarusian leader Maria Kalesnikova is displaying that indispensable quality.
6 October 2021
Adoption of anti-Semitism definition is absurd and abusive
Anti-Semitism is racist, bigoted and should never be tolerated. Yet in arguing for the IHRA definition of anti-Semitism, Australian politicians' rationale has been thoughtless, often absurd and usually abusive of the rights of Palestinians.
21 September 2021
An Australian Story of Cruelty: the Biloela family
On Monday, former immigration minister Amanda Vanstone was wringing her hands on ABC TV. Not on behalf of the persecuted Biloela family, though. She was crying crocodile tears to defend a powerful, inflexible government.
14 September 2021
Anti-Palestinianism is as damnable as anti-Semitism: a statement is long overdue
Before endorsing the International Holocaust Remembrance Association's definition of anti-Semitism, politicians in Australia and other western countries should consider the implications for the rights of Palestinians.
22 August 2021
Morrison shows selfishness and cruelty towards Afghans.
At press conferences about the Afghan tragedy, Prime Minister Morrison boasts that Australia is rescuing Afghans, and to resettle refugees will implement humanitarian programmes. Each claim displays selfishness and cruelty, as in policy statements which are cover for cowardice and devoid of generosity.
18 August 2021
Biloela and Assange: compliance with governments, not justice
In Australia, to utter the words High Court assumes a sense of justice. In the UK, claims about British justice imply adherence to principled conducted influenced by law. But in both countries, judges and lawyers have been displaying not passion for justice but compliance with revengeful governments.