Oct 16, 2019

Solidarity with the Rojava Revolution

[Green Left Weekly, #1241, October 22, 2019.]

Turkish forces have invaded Rojava — the Kurdish-majority multi-ethnic territory of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AA). In a telephone call to Turkey's authoritarian president Recep Tayyip Erdogan, US president Donald Trump gave the invasion a green light.

The 2018 Turkish invasion and occupation of Afrin, the geographically isolated, westernmost canton of Rojava, shows exactly what will happen — death and destruction; looting, torture and kidnappings; eviction of Kurdish residents in favour of Arabs; and ethnic cleansing of Kurds and forced demographic change.

Oct 7, 2019

Climate action: Only the most radical approach will work

[Links, October 11, 2019.]

The current climate crisis — global warming — is the greatest threat ever faced by humanity. The survival of the human race is at stake. The reality of the heating of the planet can’t rationally be denied.

Sep 14, 2019

Rojava Revolution: What does 'safe zone' deal mean?

[Speech at public meeting on Rojava Revolution, Melbourne, September 13, 2019]

July 19 marked seven years of the Rojava Revolution. In 2012 the newly formed Kurdish self-defence forces took control of the town of KobanĂȘ from the forces for the Assad regime.

Despite all the immense challenges facing it, the revolution has survived. It has provided tremendous inspiration to people around the world. It thus has a global meaning and relevance.

Sep 7, 2019

Turkey must reinstate the sacked Kurdish mayors

[Speech at protest rally in Melbourne, September 7, 2019]

Australians for Kurdistan joins with you in condemning the August 19 sacking by the Turkish government of the elected Kurdish mayors of Diyarbakir, Mardin and Van. Government appointed “administrators” have replaced the mayors. The new rulers have dissolved the elected city councils and dismissed officials and workers.