Perth Indymedia

Rikki Dank - Fracking The Beetaloo Basin & COP 27 by Perth Indymedia Collective

On the eve of Palestinian Independence Day, and in the wake of Benjamin Netanyahu's return to Prime Ministerial office, Alex Whisson spoke to Palestinian writer and commentator, Jafar Ramini, who has recently moved to Perth from the UK.

In the wake of Ethiopia’s government brokering a deal to permanently halt hostilities with the Tigray People's Liberation Front, we speak to Amhara Ethiopian man Mesfin Tadesse and his partner and longtime advocate for peace in Ethiopia Janet Bastyan.

The State Government is considering potential future land use and zoning opportunities for the western section of the land corridor originally reserved for the Roe Highway extension proposal. The East- West corridor which runs from the Beeliar wetlands to Clontarf hill is a deeply loved and an environmentally essential path for not only our wildlife and biodiversity but, for its mental and physiological benefits for those that utilise them. While the space is now free of a highway, those who fought to protect it did not do so for the sole purpose of preventing Roe 8/9. Christine outlines what exactly the Green corridor (also known as the Cockburn wildlife corridor) is, the ecological value it provides and why its preservation is so important.

The DPLH are currently conducting a study to explore potential land uses for the Cockburn Wildlife corridor - originally reserved for the Roe 8/9 Highway. The corridor crosses 7 distinct ecological zones, including wetlands, paperbark forests and banksia woodlands as well as 3 dune systems. This environment not only houses hundreds of reptiles and small marsupial species, native to WA but it is also the home to our beloved black cockatoos which face extinction threats. Paddy Cullen, a prominent environmental activist who has dedicated much of his life to raising awareness for the preservation of these endangered majestic creatures, spoke to Zoe about what threat any development would have on our endangered Black Cockatoos.

While news of Georgia Meloni's neo-fascist party, Brothers Of Italy, rising to power in Italy has caused much concern for people of conscience everywhere, there are also signs of hope from the Mediterranean Basin. The GKN Factory Collective, an organisation born from a workers struggle and general strike in florence and occupation of the Campi Bisenzio GKN plant, have joined forces with the Fridays For Future student climate justice movement. This new movement "Insorgiamo" translated as "we rise up" has brought together a coalition of ecological, economic and social justice movements to confront the crisis of Italian Capitalism. On Saturday an estimated 15 thousand people gathered in Bologna in the latest manifestation of this movement, marching and dancing through the streets and occupying a highway. Indymedia's Raymond Grenfell was there to speak to some of the participants of this new movement.

Co-editor of Brasilwire, and Brazil correspondent for the Telesur news service, Brian Mier, joins Alex Whisson to discuss the outcome of the first round of the Presidential elections, and the prospects for the second and decisive round.

Candidate for the Northern Metro region of the upper house in the upcoming Victorian State elections, Jerome Small, spoke to Alex Whisson about plasterboard giant Knauf's lockout of workers, the prospects for a revival of working class struggle, and the challenges of standing as a socialist for parliament.

After the victory of Georgia Meloni's Brothers Of Italy party in Italy we speak to local Italian historian and activist Dr Fausto Butta about what the election victory means for the country, and what hope their may be for resistance.

Thousands of Iranians have taken to the streets in protest since last week saw the tragic death in custody of 22-year old Mahsa Amini, who was apprehended in Tehran, beaten and later taken to a re-education centre for women. Sahar Gholizadeh, Iranian Australian community planner, political and human rights activist and demonstration organiser speaks to Indymedia about what is happening in Iran and internationally, following the killing of Mahsa Amini.

Amid a nauseating period of what seems like mandatory mourning, not to mention sycophantic praise for Queen Elizabeth II, lawyer, social commentator, activist and author, David Renton, joins Alex Whisson to discuss the future of British society. What next for a country reeling from crisis to crisis on multiple fronts, from record high inflation, a chaotic, corrupt Tory government, to the possible breakup of the United Kingdom? And what fate is in store for the monarchy itself? David began by recalling his first reactions upon hearing of the death of the Queen, and the collective mood of hysteria and obsequiousness the media has since tried to impose upon the British people.

Independent journalist and activist Andy Paine spoke to Alex Whisson about plans to disrupt the biennial Land Forces arms trade expo, set to be held at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre from October 4th to 6th.

Staff at Sydney University have very much been leading the charge in recent times in the campaign for better wages and conditions in the higher education sector. On the back of several days of strike action that have taken place since May, workers there have voted for another 48-hour strike later this semester. Alex Whisson spoke to National Tertiary Education Union Sydney Uni Branch President, Nick Riemer.

We speak to Sam Wainwright from Scarborough Gas Action Alliance about a recent federal government decision to allow Perdaman to build another fertilizer plant in the Burrup, as well as the implications of Burrup industry expansion for climate.

Sarah Newbold - a senior counsellor from Perth Holistic Counselling, speaks to Indymedia regarding the current lack of financial and mental health support available when seeking an abortion. During our interview, Sarah outlines what she as a senior counsellor to be the most alarming and how both financial support and physical access to these services could impact the mental health of not only cis- women but gender-diverse and marginalised persons.

Indymedia's Jessie Noakes reports from the historic Save Our Songlines demonstration on the Burrup Peninsula where traditional owners and their supporters gathered to oppose the expansion of industry on sacred Murujuga country. Jessie spoke to Mardudhunera woman Josie Alec and Ngarlama Yindjibarndi man Patrick Churnside. We also hear from Mardudhunera woman Raelene Cooper who spoke at the rally.

After the EPA's decision to extend Woodside's North West Shelf Gas project to 2070 we speak to Gerrard Mazza from Scarborough Gas Action Alliance about the campaign to protect Murujuga country (the Burrup Peninsula).

In response to the state government's decision to move 20 children into a maximum security prison in WA Indymedia's Raymond Grenfell speaks to Megan Krakouer, Project Director of the National Suicide Prevention and Trauma Recovery Project. He started by asking Megan what the significance of this proposed transfer is.

According to UNICEF, the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund, at least 13 Palestinian children have been killed by Israeli forces so far this year. Dozens more Palestinian civilians have also been killed, including the revered Al Jazeera journalist, Shireen Abu Akleh. Yet you won't see blazing headlines in the Western press about the need to support the fight against Israeli oppression, let alone announcements of Bushmaster armoured vehicles being sent to the Palestinian resistance, for Palestinian voices are rarely heard, rarely respected, their messages calling for solidarity rarely heeded. Alex Whisson sought to make a modest contribution to correcting that gross imbalance by speaking to three members of the Palestinian Community of WA, Amer, Samya and Ayman.

Working class people in this country are currently facing the worst cost of living crisis for a generation. With inflation higher than it's been in decades, and an energy crisis in the eastern states seeing electricity prices skyrocketing, it's difficult enough for those of us employed to make ends meet. Spare a thought then for the unemployed and the poor, drowning in debt and struggling to pay their bills. Alex Whisson spoke to Pas Forgione, co-coordinator of the Anti-Poverty Network South Australia.