This story seems unbelievable. Leading Australian Zionist politician and occupation defender Michael Danby wanting to highlight Israel’s blatant racism? Mmm: MK Danny Danon (Likud) requested from Australian MP Michael Danby on Wednesday to propose sending African migrants from Israel to Australia in parliament. Danon and Danby discussed the issue during the Australian politician’s recent visit…
Showing all posts tagged Australia
Fighting for rights, from indigenous Australians to Palestinians
As the Gaza Flotilla 2 is soon to sail – despite attempts to sabotage the boats and other delays – what makes the attempt so moving are the personal stories of people who speak up for Palestine, despite the (almost) comical moves to smear them. Amira Hass profiles two Australians, both of whom I know…
The deep reach of Zionist lobby in the Australian Parliament and society
One of the new Australian leaders of the Israel-first brigade is millionaire Albert Dadon, who founded the Australia-Israel Leadership Forum. What’s that? Taking journalists and politicians to Zionist Israel and making them realise that uncritical praise for its glorious democracy is the way it must be, now and always. Being wined and dined clearly helps…
Is there any space where Serco won’t go?
Clearly not (and the Australian government is so desperate to “manage” asylum seekers, any multinational will do): Australia’s newest immigration detention centre could open near Brisbane within months as the Federal Government negotiates to take over the Borallon jail. The Courier-Mail understands the Federal Government plans to convert the high-security jail, 50km west of Brisbane,…
ABCTV News24 on climate change and Gaza flotilla 2
Last night I was on ABCTV News24’s The Drum (video here) talking climate change policy and the Gaza flotilla. I argued that dwindling public support for real action on climate change was because too many of its backers refused to seriously engage with the general public and denigrated opponents. Labeling “deniers” akin to Holocaust deniers…
The threat of internal critics over war and conflict
Now we know the Bush administration wanted personal information on leading Iraq war critic Juan Cole (who knew that writing a popular blog was such a threat to the US government?) The former CIA agent who revealed this information, Glenn Carle, tells Democracy Now! why he was deeply concerned by the White House request and…
Standing up against Chinese repression; release Ai Weiwei
I’m proud to have signed the following statement, just released publicly, that asks the Chinese regime to release famed artist Ai Weiwei: This is an open letter from members of the Australian creative community to the Chinese Ambassador in Australia about the disappearance of artist and activist Ai Weiwei To Chen Yuming, Chinese Ambassador to… Australia,…
Praising Sri Lanka for murdering countless Tamils
Oh what a glorious war. After killing up to 40,000 Tamils civilians during the end of the country’s civil war, Colombo recently organised a conference to show the world the wonderful techniques used to silence, intimidate and destroy Tamil hopes for a homeland. Naturally, many other countries were keen to hear such wise words, including…
Some question and answers about responsibility of writers
Following my essay in the latest edition of literary journal Overland on cultural boycotts, politics, Palestine and Sri Lanka, the magazine interviewed me on various matters: Passionate and outspoken about Israel/Palestine, among other things, Antony Loewenstein is a freelance independent journalist based in Sydney. Author of My Israel Question and The Blogging Revolution, he is…
How Canberra imprisons children with rapists
Welcome to Australia, human rights abuser: Three boys snatched from an impoverished Indonesian village by people smugglers have been held for months in an Australian jail with paedophiles, rapists and murderers. Federal police have ignored Immigration Department assessments and extracts of birth certificates showing the boys are under 18, contravening federal government policy to return…