Politics
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The day after the ceasefire: Boycotts, sanctions and divestments must intensify
After 15 months of the most horrific live-streamed genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, Israel has been forced into an interim ceasefire. How long it will last is anyone’s guess but Israel’s contempt for any restraining agreements doesn’t offer much hope. Continue reading »
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URGENT: Following ceasefire, Israel’s ban on UNWRA must be stopped
The long-overdue ceasefire in Gaza may be the beginning of a new chapter, and hopefully one that heralds freedom for the people of Palestine. It certainly will provide relief and respite, but we all know that the work of true peace building is only starting and the old work towards justice and liberation continues on Continue reading »
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Joe Biden’s legacy? The Palestinian genocide
American presidents are big on talking about what they believe to be their legacy, even if there is no substance to the claims they make. With Joe Biden, it is crystal clear what he can claim as his legacy: the genocide that has resulted in close to 70,000 Palestinian lives being snuffed out. Continue reading »
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With friends like these…
Despite the decades both major parties have spent ingratiating themselves with the leaders of the United States, Australia is unlikely to receive any favours from the Trump administration. Continue reading »
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Western media believe 24 Californians matter more than 46,000 Palestinians
Last week, news headlines heralded the disaster of 24 lives lost in Californian wildfires. Yet the same media outlets petered out the news of thousands more being killed by deliberate man-made bombing, starvation and destruction of homes and hospitals by Israel in Gaza. Continue reading »
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Another victim of the United States’ obsessive anti-China strategy
The law and politics can be callous. And it certainly has been in the case of 56-year-old Dan Duggan, a former US Marines pilot, now an Australian citizen. Five days before Christmas the federal Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus announced Mr Duggan would be extradited to the United States to face charges relating to allegations, vehemently denied Continue reading »
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An Australian endangered species – Owner builders
High house prices are usually reckoned to be a product of supply, demand and the self- interests of the finance industry. This piece sets out a case for a fourth factor – post de-regulation regulatory stupidity. I have illustrated issues with examples from Gippsland in Victoria, but I suspect that the problems are nationwide. Continue reading »
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How the West destroyed Syria – Interview with Former UK Ambassador to Syria
Peter Ford served in the UK Foreign Ministry for many years including being UK Ambassador to Bahrain (1999-2003) and then Syria (2003-2006). Following that, he was representative to the Arab world for the Commissioner General of United Nations Relief and Works Agency. He was interviewed by Rick Sterling on Jan 6, 2025 Continue reading »
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Thoughts on the ceasefire deal
Israel and Hamas have reportedly agreed to a ceasefire and hostage deal, which is scheduled to take effect January 19. The deal as written is apparently virtually identical to the one Hamas agreed to last May, which Netanyahu then sabotaged with the complicity of the Biden administration. Continue reading »
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The US is upset China wants to be self-reliant in producing chips
Having denied Chinese firms access to advanced foreign semiconductors, Washington is launching probe into ‘subsidised’ domestic production. Continue reading »
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Entering the ‘Pyrocene’: Devastation in California is the harbinger of the apocalypse
Wildfires in California replicate the massive fire storms in the boreal forest in Canada and Siberia, the lungs of the earth. Our addiction to fossil fuel has ignited an age of fire. Continue reading »
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The fall of Israeli impunity: The world is starting to hold Tel Aviv accountable for the Gaza genocide
A dramatic escape was cited by Israeli media as the reason that Yuval Vagdani, a soldier in the Israeli army, managed to escape justice in Brazil. Continue reading »
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AUKUS confirms that we are mendicant clients of the US
A recalcitrant US government could turn-off Australia’s ability to defend itself within days. Continue reading »
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Seven truths on why Taiwan always will be China’s
Some Australian media recently provided a platform for false Taiwanese views about the one-China policy. Here are the reasons they are wrong. Continue reading »
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The US war on terror strikes home
Americans were shocked by two fatal events in the United States on New Year’s day 2025, and one was quickly called ‘Islamist terrorism’. Yet the US supports Muslim terrorist groups in Syria. Continue reading »
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Dutton’s contempt for migration law and policy detail
In his unofficial election policy launch this week, Peter Dutton re-announced his promise to cut the migration program and to cap overseas students at metropolitan universities. Without a hint of embarrassment, he also said he was a strong believer in the ‘rule of law’. His record shows he has little belief in the rules embodied Continue reading »
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The great mental health experiment … and why it went so wrong
Half a century ago, governments around the world ditched their old psychiatric hospitals for something they said would work better. It didn’t. Continue reading »
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The BJP bus rolls on despite a bumpy year for Modi’s India
India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party hit a bump in the road in 2024 when it lost its majority in the Lok Sabha general elections, held between April and June. The shock jolted passengers a little, but the big orange BJP bus continues to roll down the road to Hindutva – the promised land of a Continue reading »
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Beggars as choosers
By blocking Nippon Steel’s $14.9 billion purchase of US Steel, the Biden Administration has turned international economic policy inside out. On this point, the incoming Trump Administration is in rare agreement. Like many conflict-prone moves in recent years, this action has been justified on the basis of alleged national security concerns. Yet in the end, Continue reading »
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America preying on our universities
The US is exploiting a privileged position in our society with formalised access to powerful means for shaping Australians’ attitudes to security. It purports to be ally and friend, but where’s the respect? Continue reading »
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Climate and security risks? Shhh, says the Albanese Government
The Los Angeles fires have again demonstrated the need for a steely-eyed approach by governments to climate risks, ensuring that the assessment of those risks is up-to-date, considers the plausible worst-case scenarios, and is made widely available so the public understands what we are facing. Continue reading »
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Can Korea avoid another war?
In the current edition of the prestigious publication Foreign Affairs Robert E. Kelly and Min-Hyung Kim argue a strong case for South Korea to build nuclear weapons to counter the military threat from North Korea. “Assembling even a limited arsenal would give South Korea greater strategic independence and reduce its constant anxiety over the shifts Continue reading »
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UNRWA’s expulsion from Jerusalem will seal Israel’s illegal annexation
From Arab governments to the UN Secretary General, forces must mobilise to halt Israel’s detrimental expulsion of UNRWA, writes Chris Gunness. Continue reading »
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How the Israel-Palestine narrative changed in Australia
For most of the post-war years, there was bipartisan support for Israel in Australia, with the ALP especially proud of H.V. Evatt’s role in the establishment of the Jewish state at the United Nations. And there has always been an influential pro-Israel faction within the party. The Liberals were never hostile to Israel but, for Continue reading »
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Is Australia’s anti-corruption watchdog corrupt?
It was mid-morning on a day in 2009. I was about to be put under for a medical procedure that required a general anaesthetic. From previous experience I recall that anaesthetists assigned to my medical procedures engaged me in light conversation. Continue reading »
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Child support: a ‘wicked’ public policy problem
Two generations of children have grown up since the Child Support Scheme (CSS) was introduced in June 1988 with the promise of “putting children first” when their parents’ relationship breaks down. Yet, the CSS is beset with many of the same problems that led to and surrounded its establishment. Continue reading »
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Saving Labor from a likely defeat
In an ideal world politics would focus on rational and intelligent debate between enlightened people — just like in Ancient Greece — without, of course, the exclusion of women and slaves. Albeit there are some serious doubts about the Liberal Party’s commitment to advancing women. Continue reading »
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Why Ukraine is losing ground
An instructive new article entitled, “Why is Ukraine losing ground? Mobilisation crisis and command failures exposed,” has recently been published online by Euromaidan Press. Its cogency is amplified by the fact that it is, fundamentally, a pro-Ukraine essay. Continue reading »
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What Israel should have done
Israel chose the wrong way to deal with its enemies. For a better way, it could have borrowed a leaf from China. Continue reading »
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Who can best manage Trump – Albanese or Dutton?
A week out from the presidential inauguration in Washington and what stands out is the sheer mischief and wildness of Donald Trump and Elon Musk, like two schoolboys running amok in the tuckshop of world politics. Continue reading »
