Moving piece by Jamal Mahjoub in Guernica about his visit to Gaza with the PalFest literary bandwagon: The Islamic University is the best funded of the four universities in Gaza. It is also the only one that is not secular. Our first day, we are given a tour of the segregated campus, our male guides…
Who is afraid of #pussyriot?
Many American media organisations, apparently (via the Guardian): The… conviction of three members of the punk band Pussy Riot… has caused consternation throughout the world – and a dilemma for prudish news organizations. Major media groups have been furiously editing headlines, tweets and stories to avoid using the word “pussy”. The… Washington Post… has taken the most conservative stance…
Classic corporate journalism on Papua New Guinea; what environmental concerns over mining?
The following piece by Brian Robins in the Sydney Morning Herald Business section is classic mainstream media myopia. After decades of exploitation and environmental disasters due to mining, the possible re-opening of the mine on Bougainville in Papua New Guinea is discussed without once acknowledging the huge vandalism and violence perpetrated by Rio Tinto back…
Understanding apartheid South Africa and why it’s relevant today with Israel
I just watched this remarkable documentary, Under African Skies, about Paul Simon and the recording of his legendary Graceland album. It tackles apartheid, Simon’s refusal to abide by the cultural boycott against South Africa and the politics around the issue. It’s highly relevant today – and Simon clearly understands little more today playing in Israel…
Australian Greens leadership ignores Israeli car company’s troubling record
Following last week’s open letter and petition to the Australian Greens informing them that a serious party dedicated to human rights wouldn’t work with Israeli-government backed electric car companies in the name of being green, Greens leader Christine Milne has responded: Sadly, this letter is totally unacceptable and completely misses the point. Every major…
America Jew tells world that IDF doesn’t torture Palestinians (he’s really, really, really sure)
Here’s a curious line in a New York Times piece about this week’s arrival from America of young Jews who’ll be joining the IDF to, well, defend Israel from the evils of (insert Muslim threat here). But doesn’t this seemingly unprovoked quote seem to suggest that this man is trying to challenge the correct notion…
Overland Journal tackles “After Zionism”
The following review of After Zionism by Jeff Sparrow appears in Overland Journal: After Zionism: One State for Israel and Palestine Antony Loewenstein and Ahmed Moor (eds) SAQI In the media, particularly in Australia, the ”˜two-state solution’ to the Palestine/Israel crisis – that is to say, the proposition that peace depends upon the creation of…
Australian Zionist lobby keen to brain-wash young student leaders in Israel
My following investigation appears in New Matilda today: An all-expenses paid trip to Israel? Why not? The Zionist lobby has been taking student leaders to Israel for ‘political education’. Antony Loewenstein reports on the effort to recruit young allies Zionist lobby trips to Israel, taking politicians, journalists and trade union leaders, have been occurring from…