I was interested to read that Senator Sarah Hanson-Young will give a speech today to the Women in Leadership summit on her decade-long battle against sexism in politics. The Guardian report on her speech said that she will touch on problems women experience in the Greens. Good on her. That’s a challenging subject. Greens parties … Continue reading Greens challenge – how to hold powerful men accountable
Reject Morrison Jerusalem plan – stand with Palestine
Morrison’s talk of recognising Jerusalem as the Israeli capital is much more than a pitch for Liberal votes in the Wentworth by-election. It is a further attack on the rights of Palestinians to live in their own country. This is a shocking development that now aligns Australia even more closely with the Israeli government. This … Continue reading Reject Morrison Jerusalem plan – stand with Palestine
Research in Arctic has implications for Williamtown residents affected by PFAS contamination
A recent Norwegian-Russian study has shown that the dangers of PFAS, the toxic group of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl chemicals, have reached the Arctic. This research has implications for the people of Williamtown where residents are living with the impacts of PFAS contamination. Chemical Watch reports that polar bears have 30-35 per cent higher concentration … Continue reading Research in Arctic has implications for Williamtown residents affected by PFAS contamination
Thompson Square protest – Rhiannon, Eggleton, Evans no convictions recorded
I was in Parramatta Court for a hearing today arising from a protest I participated in to save Thompson Square and heritage sites at Windsor. Our media release about what happened is below. A number of charges were withdrawn. There were some guilty pleas but no convictions were recorded. I was pleased that the police dropped … Continue reading Thompson Square protest – Rhiannon, Eggleton, Evans no convictions recorded
Israeli archives reveal Zionist operations to eliminate Palestinian National identity
If you have ever doubted that the objective of Zionists is the elimination of Palestinian national identity please read this article from Zochrot published by the New York Review of Books. In 2012 the Israel State Archives in Jerusalem, in line with the thirty-year rule of declassification, released material covering Israel’s 1982 war in Lebanon. The declassified … Continue reading Israeli archives reveal Zionist operations to eliminate Palestinian National identity
Does Australia Have The Courage To Challenge India’s Defiance Over Kashmir?
New Matilda published this article on my recent trip to Kashmir and Pakistan. This was their introduction “Australia has an important role to play in protecting the lives of the people in India Administered Kashmir, writes Lee Rhiannon*.” Thousands of eucalyptus trees line the motorway to Islamabad’s International Airport. As I headed home after six … Continue reading Does Australia Have The Courage To Challenge India’s Defiance Over Kashmir?
Strong support to change Lord’s Prayer opening to Senate
Just prior to leaving the Senate I put forward a motion requesting that the Senate Procedure Committee inquire into a proposal to replace the Christian prayer that is read out by the Senate President at the start of each parliamentary sitting day with a statement that invites all Senators to pray or reflect on their … Continue reading Strong support to change Lord’s Prayer opening to Senate
Kashmir – Australia’s involvement
I will visit Occupied Jammu and Kashmir shortly. In preparing for this visit I have been interested to read about Australia’s involvement. The way Britain, the former coloniser of this region, withdrew from the sub-continent in 1948 laid the basis for one of the most ruthless, long lasting and bloody occupations the world has witnessed. … Continue reading Kashmir – Australia’s involvement
Tertiary education – celebrating unionism, call for no fees
Thanks to the NTEU for their invitation to attend their Melbourne forum on “Reflections on 25 years of higher education unionism” and the celebration of NTEU General Secretary Grahame McCulloch extraordinary contribution to unionism, tertiary education and international solidarity. It was a pleasure and honour to join these events. For a few years I held … Continue reading Tertiary education – celebrating unionism, call for no fees
Smash the state – let’s be careful what we wish for
In the 1970s one of the most popular radical slogans was ‘Smash the State’. As the subsequent experience with neoliberalism has taught us, it is wise to be careful what you wish for. Incredible as it must seem now, one of the chief selling points for neoliberalism was its claim to stand for slashing the … Continue reading Smash the state – let’s be careful what we wish for
