The deadly Israel-Palestine paradox
The modern history of Israel and Palestine has well-documented beginnings in the not so long ago. Of course, if you go back to the Ottoman Empire, the current responsibilities fade. And before then, biblical times. The greatest paradox is perhaps that, if people have the power to get something they really want, and can defend it, ultimately they own it, but they also own the consequences.
Battle against corporate colonialism in the Honduras
On 20 December 2022, US corporation Honduras Próspera Inc. announced a $10.7 billion international legal claim against the Honduran government. Próspera’s investors want to be compensated by the Honduran people for their democratic decision to overturn a 2013 law enabling the creation of special economic zones known as ‘ZEDEs’.
IPAN VOICE No 85, November, 2023: Gaza and what you can do? Peace activities and coming events
No 85 November, 2023
Please share VOICE with organisational members and on your social media platforms
In this Edition:
IPAN Actions for Peace
* IPAN Media Release "Stop the siege and stop the genocide in Gaza"
* Kathryn Kelly on Gaza on 8CCC radio
* Sending letter to your MP regarding Gaza
* IPAN e-petition to parliament calling for termination of the FPA
Frankston's battle continues. Rally Monday 6th November 12 noon outside WAVES
Frankston Beach Association: "The fight to save our coastal amenity from high rise buildings along Kananook Creek is not yet over despite the Minister overturning the decision to impose 3 storey mandatory height limits along the precinct.
We are asking that you join with STGW supporters in solidarity at
Noon on Monday 6 November 2023 outside Waves café/restaurant at Frankston Lifesaving Club, I Long Island Drive Frankston.
Councillors demoted for political views in Waverley NSW - Excerpt from article by Vivienne Porzsolt
Waverley Council in Sydney recently voted to remove Greens councillors from their positions as Deputy Mayor and Committee members due to their position on the Israel/Palestine conflict. I was terrified of the deep irrationality and over-powering hatred and anger on display at the meeting.
Video: Stop Destroying The Housing Market - The Referendum We Deserve - by Biko Konstantinos
Funny and interesting delivery. "Australia has spent several months promoting and holding a referendum on the Voice for Indigenous Australians - all the while the Housing Crisis is destroying millions of Australians' Lives. This video highlights the critical issues that are destroying the Australian Housing Market which must be voted on now (with a referendum.)" (Bikos Konstantinos)
Staff, Students and Alumni of The University of Melbourne call on VC to stand in solidarity with Palestine
On Thursday 2 November, staff, students and alumni of The University of Melbourne published an open letter in Overland Literary Journal addressed to Vice-Chancellor of The University of Melbourne, Duncan Maskell.
Ione Belarra calls for the International Criminal Court to prosecute war criminal Netanyahu for the premeditated murder of Palestinians
(Update: Ione Bellara's further appeal, 30 October) Ione Bellara, the Spanish Minister of Social Rights has called upon the countries to act to end Israel's murderous war against 2.6 million Palestinians in the Gaza strip. The transcript of her short speech is:
From Israel's own news services: IDF tanks, helicopters, Special Forces - not Hamas - killed 260 civilians at the Supernova Music festival
Even many of those who are currently protesting against Israel's destruction of Gaza and murder of more than 8,000 Palestinian civilians, so far, have condemned the Palestine resistance movement Hamas for supposedly having massacred 260 civilians at the Supernova Music Festival on 7 October. However, even Israeli news services have revealed that IDF tanks and Helicopters killed the 260 Israeli civilians together with most of their Hamas captors, when they were ordered "to eliminate the terrorists along with their hostages."
Young Israeli woman condemns Netanyahu's mass murder of Gaza Palestinians
The video from Twitter, which is embedded below, shows a young Israeli woman express her opinion that Israel's past and present treatment of Palestinians is unjust and how Prime Minister Netanyahu's current attempt, through mass murder by aerial bombardment, to ethnically cleanse the Gaza strip of its Palestinians, is morally repugnant.
More uplifting speeches on Assange, free speech and democracy from Sydney Town Hall protests 204th week
Port Melbourne Israeli weapons manufacturer, Elbit Systems, has been occupied by activists for 2nd time in one week.
This morning, an alliance of Naarm/Melbourne activists entered the Port Melbourne building of Israeli weapons manufacturer Elbit Systems, with signs reading: ‘ELBIT DRONES KILL KIDS’ 'FREE PALESTINE’ as so-called Australia wakes to the news that another 700 Palestinians being killed overnight by Israeli bombs
Open Letter from Palestinian Christians to Western Church Leaders
"Words fail to express our shock and horror with regard to the ongoing war in our land. We deeply mourn the death and suffering of all people because it is our firm conviction that all humans are made in God’s image. We are also profoundly troubled when the name of God is invoked to promote violence and religious national ideologies. Further, we watch with horror the way many Western Christians are offering unwavering support to Israel’s war against the people of Palestine."
Housing End Game - What Happens When No One Can Afford a Home - Biko Konstantinos video
"The housing market is facing the worst housing affordability ever - yet house prices continue to show extreme strength. So what's the housing end game when the majority of people can't afford a home - what's the future for house prices. This video features sections from the video: "If Nobody Can Afford A Home...
UN Relief Head: Scale & speed of unfolding Gaza crisis bone-chilling, flouts laws of war
The Head of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), Philippe Lazzarini, said, "the call of the Israeli forces to move more than 1 million civilians living in northern Gaza within 24 hours is horrendous" and will lead to "an unprecedented level of misery."
Letter from the Chief Executive Officers of Oxfam and 11 humanitarian agencies
We are alarmed by Israel’s call for over a million Palestinians to leave northern Gaza in less than 24 hours. Israel must rescind this order immediately. Demands for the population in its entirety to relocate in such an immediate manner put at risk the lives of those forced to flee. The Government of Israel has not provided any assurances for their safety while in transit or for the safety of civilians remaining in the Gaza Strip as fighting continues.
Oxfam reaction to Israel's order for northern Gaza to evacuate
Oxfam Australia: “The world can see that this evacuation order is both utterly inhumane and impossible; the Israeli government must rescind it immediately. We implore the international community to use its utmost influence to intervene – there are hospitals full of patients, women, children and elderly people who cannot move. Even for those who could move, there is no food, no water, and little shelter. This must be stopped."
Responding to the Israeli government’s order for northern Gaza to evacuate, Amitabh Behar, Oxfam International interim Executive Director said:
Julian Assange goes to the footy. Article by Lorese Vera MA
Saturday morning September 30th 2023 started out innocently and happily for Lorine of Assange Vigil Melbourne Australia, but within the hour she was injured, bruised and traumatised by Melbourne police.
PM Albanese has Australia on course for 150m within life-time of a child born today
Australia’s population of 26.5m grew at the rate of 2.2% (year ending March 2023.) At 2.2% growth rate our current population would increase to 30m within 10 years and double in 31.85 yrs and would reach 150m by 2103, within the life-expectancy of a child born today. Less than 25% of that 2.2 rate of population growth was due to natural increase. Without the 454,361 migration, we would have grown at about 0.55%.
Register for IPAN Forum Vision for an alternative defence policy for an independent Australia
28 September at 6pm via zoom. A Q&A will follow the three speakers, who are: Richard Tanter, Kathryn Kelly, and Alison Broinowsky. See details about speakers and venue etc below.
Auntie ABC comforts learned helplessness on demography, not democracy - Article by Sally Pepper
Every time I turn on ABC Melbourne radio I am confronted with problems about which I can do nothing. A friend of mine visiting from Thailand described this radio station as “a problem a day,” which resonated loudly with me. The latest problem which gets non-stop air time is “the housing crisis.” Then there is the problem of Melbourne's newer suburbs with only one way in and one way out, keeping cars waiting in long queues to exit on the way to work.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, end the illegal torture and imprisonment of Julian Assange or step aside
The following article has been adapted from the attached leaflet (modified, 29/9/23 - previous version
Liveable Victoria Manifesto Launch Invitation - 24 September 2023 - East Melbourne
Planning Democracy, and the Green Wedges Coalition Inc., are pleased to invite you to the launch of the Liveable Victoria Manifesto.
The Manifesto is intended to protect Victoria from overdevelopment at the hands of increasingly aggressive and greedy property developer interests. It seeks to safeguard our
residential and enviromental amenity, heritage, tree canopy cover, Green Wedges, and open space.
Urgent: Save Ukrainian Peace Activist from Persecution via Prosecution
David Swanson, World BEYOND War writes, "We’ve just learned that the office of the prosecutor and the “security service” of Ukraine have published press releases claiming to have put a stop to the activities of the “vicious Russian propagandist Yurii Sheliazhenko. This is, of course, very strange because Yurii, a Board Member of World BEYOND War, has —
SPA: Annual growth of well over half a million undemocratic and unacceptable
Australia’s annual growth of 2.2 per cent (563,200 people) is undemocratic and unacceptable according to Sustainable Population Australia (SPA).
Today the ABS released its figures to the year ending 31 March 2023 showing the growth comprised Net Overseas Migration (NOM) of 454,400 and natural increase of 108,800.
Syria Support Movement Statement
Syria is in significant difficulties at present with pressure on all sides from the U.S.
Appeal for Australian support as floods devastate Libya with 10,000 missing - UNHCR
Australia for UNHCR is calling for urgent Australian support for people in Libya devastated by flooding in recent days. At least 5,300 people have been killed and more than 10,000 remain missing after floods burst two dams, swept away buildings and wiped out entire neighbourhoods in the city of Derna.
US Senator denounces Azerbaijan's efforts to starve Armenians in Artsakh
On 12 September, speaking in the US Senate, Democrats Senator Bob Menendez (pictured right) described the efforts by the government of Azerbaijan to prevent food and medical aid from reaching 100,000-120,000 Armenians who have been besieged in the enclave of Artsakh which lies within Azerbaijan (pictured left). He also describes Azerabiajan's atrocieties: the murder of Armenian prisoners of war and the rape of Armenian women.
Jacob Greber's "Why Australia needs millions more people - and is getting there fast," essay in dystopia
Jacob Greber’s Fin Rev article, “Why Australia needs millions more people – and is getting there fast,”[1] seriously proposes a shocking dystopia where a constant stream of imported people continuously boosts a so-called working age cohort. In the scenario he promotes, very soon the incumben
Recent comments