Red Flag Radio: Recent Episodes
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Discussion and analysis of politics, history, theory and activism from a radical revolutionary socialist perspective.
Australian politics are at a turning point. Pauline Hanson's One Nation has broken through the two-party system to become a serious electoral contender, including in the upcoming Victorian elections. We talk about Pauline Hanson's fascistic Press Club speech, the factors in Australian politics that have contributed to her rise, and how the left can understand and fight the far right.
Further Readings
"One Nation needs to be fought, not just analysed" - Red Flag
"Hanson’s shadow looms over Victoria: a serious socialist campaign can galvanise a fightback" by Omar Hassan
Stalinism equates socialism/communism with state-controlled industry and a one party dictatorship. We reckon nothing could be further from genuine socialism and Marxism. Unfortuntely, this zombie idea from the 20th century has risen from the dead in the past few years and is gaining popularity among left wing people. In this ep, we debunk neo-Stalinism's main arguments: that the left needs to support "actually existing socialism", that the enemy of my enemy is my friend, and that Western Marxists and even Western workers can't fight for socialism.
Further reading:
"The Marxist alternative to fake communism" by April Holcombe in Red Flag
"The Fraud of Stalinism" by D Taylor in Red Flag
Since Labor's budget dropped we've heard a chorus of whingers and sooks from the business class (though they call themselves 'founders' and 'entrepreneurs') about having a few of their tax dodges taken away. In this episode we explain why they should stfu, why Labor can barely defend their own measures, and how much further socialists want to go in taxing the rich (and expropriating them).
We also explain the Marxist theory of the middle classes. We thought it'd be pertinent given all this petty bourgeois whining.
Further reading:
"Business community has a big sook" by Sarah Garnham in Red Flag
"So much budget bluster" by Tom Bramble in Red Flag
Chloe and Emma discuss identity politics, the dominant framework on the left for opposing oppression. They debunk ideas like privilege theory, autonomous organising and centreing "lived experience",
Emma and Chloe discuss the appalling US-Israeli war on Iran. They explain why Trump has started this war, the Australian government's response, and the recent sordid history of US imperialism.
"Why the US is attacking Iran" by Tom Bramble in Red Flag
Emma and Chloe talk about the meaning of the Epstein files and what they say about the way the rich and powerful rule over us.
In the main segment we discuss One Nation and the intense Islamophobic atmosphere in Australia right now. We explain the realignment of the Coalition under new Liberal leader Angus Taylor and the concerningly high polls of Hanson's One Nation.
Chloe and Emma talk about the police riot in Sydney orchestrated by Chris Minns. The NSW government sent 3,500 police to bash, stampede and pepperspray a peaceful pro-Palestine demonstration of 20-30,000 people, against the rolling out of the red carpet for a war criminal who should be in the Hague.
We talk about what this event reveals about the police, the Australian Labor Party and the Australian ruling classes' commitment to Israel.
Emma and Chloe talk about Trump's ICE gestapo terrorising American cities and the inspiring working class resistance to their murderous regime in Minneapolis.
Also, an update on the continued ruling class campaign to silence pro-Palestine protests in Australia.
Links:
Marxism Conference!!
Register to protest Isaac Herzog!
"Our union leaders are unmoved by genocide and indifferent to pay cuts" by Zak Borzovoy
"Protest against war criminal Israeli President Isaac Herzog" by Shovan Bhattarai
"The burgeoning resistance to Trump's deportation regime" by Joe Allen
Chloe and Emma take down the rightwing, racist campaign against the Palestine movement since the Bondi massacre.
NB: Since we recorded this episode, the Greens have indicated they will vote down the Hate Speech bill.
Emma and Chloe give each other the combined Christmas and birthday present of a whole episode about class struggle in the Roman Empire and the rise of Christianity.
Emma and Chloe discuss their respective weekend experiences of shutting down a coal port and spying on a far right rally.
"Understanding the net zero circus" by Lily Campbell in Red Flag
"The far right is organising. We have to resist" by Anneke Demanuele in Red Flag
Chloe and Emma discuss that meeting between NYC mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani and Donald Trump. They talk about what the meeting and Mamdani's campaign reveal about the limitations of a strategy for social change that looks to the Democratic Party.
Some further reading:
"Mamdani, that meeting and why the Left needs to wake up" by Sarah Garnham for Red Flag
"After the surreal summit" by Ashley Smith for Tempest
In this episode, Chloe and Emma explain the socialist theory of the trade unions. We talk about the trade union bureaucracy and the rank-and-file socialist strategy in the unions.
Chloe and Emma discuss the protest at the Indo-Pacific arms expo in Sydney, and what it reveals about Australian imperialism. We talk about the AUKUS deal, why Australian politicians are so committed to the US alliance, and their imperialist plans for the Indo-Pacific region.
Further reading:
News.com.au article: "Pro-Palestine activist ‘surrounded’ by cops at press conference after 13 arrested at arms expo blockade"
"AUKUS deal should be scrapped" by Tom Bramble in Red Flag
Chloe and Emma talk about the major shift in world politics in 2025. The political, economic and social structures of world capitalism are being reshaped to meet the demands of a new era of instability and imperialism. From the new Trump administration and the rise of other vicious far right forces, to the ramping up of imperialist tensions. We also point to the mass struggles against the system in recent months and years: the Gen Z revolutions in Nepal, Madagascar, Indonesia, Morroco and elsewhere; the mass movement for Palestine; European struggles against austerity and genocide that have included general strikes. This is a moment of rapid transformation - socialists need to understand the situation and make the most of the opportunities to build a revolutionary socialist alternative to capitalism.
Further reading
"Are we living in a new world order?" - by Eleanor Morley in Red Flag
"A new international political situation" by Jordan Humphreys in Red Flag
Emma and Chloe critique mutual aid from a socialist perspective and discuss Dean Spade's 2020 book Mutual Aid: Building Solidarity During This Crisis (And the Next). While mutual aid might feel good, we argue that it can't meet the needs of working class people, can't challenge the capitalist state or the bosses, and won't help us build the socialist party we need.
Further Reading:
"Mutual aid is nice but it doesn't challenge capitalism" by Erin Russell in Red Flag
Emma and Chloe discuss the ceasefire in Gaza, before an interview with Josh Lees, eye witness to the historic general strikes for Palestine in Italy. Josh is a regular on the pod, a socialist activist for Palestine and leader of the historic March for Humanity across the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
Further reading:
Italy's general strike shows the way forward - by Josh Lees
Ceasefire in Gaza: relief but not enough - by Tom Bramble
Emma and Chloe review the authoritarian offensive of Trump and the far right in the US, who have used the assassination of Charlie Kirk to intensify a crackdown on left-wing speech. We discuss the far right in the UK, who just mobilised their biggest street march ever. And we discuss developments in Australia, where Andrew Hastie and Jacinta Nampijinpa Price are pushing for a hard right turn in the Liberal Party. How can we understand the simultaneous growth of the far right around the world, and what can we do about it?
Stuff to read from Red Flag:
Charlie Kirk's legacy: a bosses' war on free speech - by D. Taylor
The far right threat inside the Liberal Party - by Eleanor Morley
Workers in Europe have been rising up to fight for Palestine and against their own governments. It all began with the "bloquons touts" movement in France, which mobilised millions of workers and students to block everything to oppose their government's latest austerity bill - they shut down railway stations, blockaded city squares and went on strikes across public sector work places.
Next, something incredible happened. Up to 2 million workers in Italy went on strike and blocked everything, inspired by the French movement. Thanks to pressure from left wing unions and the radical youth Palestine movement, major unions called the first ever general strike to oppose the genocide in Gaza, to end their government's complicity, and in solidarity with the Global Sumud flotilla. This wonderful show of solidarity should serve as an inspiration for radicals across the world.
In this special episode, Emma interviews a French revolutionary socialist, Aurelien Gautreau, and an Italian leftist journalist, Francesco Zambelli, about the strikes in their countries. Aurelien is a member of the NPA-R (New anticapitalist party - revolutionaries) in France and Francesco works for Italian leftist radio station, Radio onda d'urto.
Chloe interviewed Anneke Demanuele about the anti-migrant demonstrations led by Nazis around Australia last week. Anneke is a leader in the Melbourne-based Campaign Against Racism and Fascism, which mobilised thousands of pro-Palestine, anti-fascist protestors to confront the racists in the streets. She discusses how anti-migrant racism has been whipped up by mainstream Australian politics, the organising role of open Nazis like the National Socialist Network (NSN), and how socialists in Australia can fight against the far right.
Come to the National Day of Action against Racism marches:
Melbourne: Saturday September 13, 11am Flinders St
Sydney: Saturday September 13, 12pm Belmore Park
Further reading:
When fascists march, the left must get organised, by Omar Hassan
This week Emma and Chloe discuss the disturbing world of the manosphere. They discuss leading figures like Andrew Tate and Charlie Kirk, unravel the twisted logic of their talking points, and explain how the rise of the online misogynist right has been enabled by the institutions of mainstream capitalism. Lastly they go into depth on how revolutionary socialist politics are absolutely necessary to confront this vile phenomenon.
Further Reading on the Red Flag Website:
Andrew Tate is a misogynistic monster pimp, by Sarah Garnham
University of Technology Sydney stands with boys with big feelings, by Anneke Demanuele
Capitalism can’t end women’s oppression: we need a revolution, by Louise O'Shea
This week Emma spoke to James McVicar, the National Union of Students Education Officer and convenor of the People's Inquiry into Campus Free Speech on Palestine. James launched the inquiry with other activists to document and report the many cases of censorship directed against the Palestine solidarity movement on campuses around Australia. Emma and James discuss the origins of the inquiry, the evidence it has heard, and the strategies and motives behind these attempts to shut down students' and staffs' free speech on campus.
Register for vote in the Student Referendum on Palestine
More from James on the Red Flag Website:
People’s Inquiry exposes university censorship on Palestine
Students to hold nationwide vote on Gaza
In this special bonus episode, Chloe discusses the historic March for Humanity over Sydney Harbour Bridge with its organiser - lead Palestine Action Group activist and Socialist Alternative member Josh Lees. Josh has been catapulted into the headlines by the runaway success of the protest, which drew a crowd of 300,000 in defiance of NSW government and police attempts to stop it marching. Josh explains what led up to such a massive action, why it had to happen now, and the importance of socialist politics in the struggle for a free Palestine.
Links:
Come to Socialism Conference in Sydney to see Josh speak in person.
Alternatively, get tickets to the Socialism conferences in Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide.
Read more on the Red Flag website:
Won't Somebody Think of Poor Israel?, by Josh Lees
Making history on Sydney Harbour Bridge: massive March for Humanity, by April Holcombe,
Socialist activist and tenants' rights advocate, Martin Barker, returns to the show in this episode. He and Emma bust the ugly right-wing myths that try to blame immigrants, nimbys, or Chinese investors for the housing crisis, instead of the billionaire Australian developers and their politician buddies who are really responsible. They also discuss the prospects for the socialist politics and activism that could stand up to these forces - just in time to coincide with the launch of The Socialists party around the country!
Join up to The Socialists here: https://victoriansocialists.org.au/join
And read the latest Red Flag articles on housing:
NSW Labor builds profits, not housing
Rent freeze? No. Rent, freeze: Australia’s winter housing nightmare
Chloe spoke with Rowan Cahill, radical historian and anti-war activist who refused to be drafted into the Vietnam war. They discuss the resistance to the draft in Australia, the forgotten working class resistance to the Vietnam war & its relevance for today’s fight against militarism & imperialism. Links:* Rowan’s Conscientious Objector statement * Siege of Sydney University 1968 * Blog post about Louis Christophedes * Ken Mansell archives * Timeline of the Australian anti-war movement * A people’s history of the Vietnam War - Red Flag
Red Flag Radio spoke to Tom Bramble about the atrocious imperialist aggression of Israel and the US towards Iran.
Links
"The human cost of Israel's war on Iran" by Bella Beiraghi in Red Flag
"West recycles old lies to justify attack on Iran" by Lucan Brunning-Hall in Red Flag
To join a branch of The Socialists near you: https://victoriansocialists.org.au/join
To register for launch events featuring Jordan Van den Lamb (AKA purplepingers): https://victoriansocialists.org.au/campaigns/pingers-tour
Red Flag Radio talks to Brendan Stanton, an American socialist and trade unionist living in Melbourne. Brendan organised struggles for immigrant rights and worker solidarity for 12 years in Houston, Texas. He explains what's happening in the US right now from the recent LA protests in response to Trump's anti-migrant escalation, to the origins of ICE and the history of the US-Mexico border.
After a good result in the federal election, Victorian Socialists is expanding across Australia, bringing sorely-needed socialist politics to the whole country. Emma spoke to the Secretary of Victorian Socialists, Corey Oakley, about the exciting move. Corey gave his thoughts on the federal election and talked about why it's time to expand VS.
Join the Socialists wherever you are:
https://www.socialists.org.au/about
Emma and Chloe had a live conversation about all the things that make them mad in 2025, at the Marxism conference in Melbourne. They talked about Trump, wacky Auspol, bad takes on the left, lesser-known expropriatable billionaires and more, with fantastic audience participation to boot.
We spoke to Palestine Action Group leader and socialist Josh Lees about the renewed genocide in Gaza and the disgraceful antisemitism hoax in NSW which has been used to repress pro-Palestine activism.
In a true-crime scandal for the ages, a criminal hoax in NSW was falsely reported as an antisemitic terror plot intended to cause mass casualties. Both the state and federal Labor governments knowingly lied to the public, using the hoax to ram through draconian anti-protest laws in NSW.
The NSW antisemitism hoax is just one example of the unscrupulous campaign against pro-Palestine activism worldwide.
Further reading
Josh Lees on "The great antisemitism con job" for Red Flag
On Josh Lees' constitutional challenge to NSW anti-protest laws in The Guardian
On the People's Inquiry into Campus Free Speech on Palestine in Red Flag
We sat down with trans activist April Holcombe to talk about the unrelenting war being waged against trans people. April is a socialist train driver based in Sydney and the co-convener of Community Action for Rainbow Rights. She is the author of many articles for Red Flag newspaper and the Marxist Left Review.
April describes what is happening to trans people as "political sadism". She unpacks why right-wingers are so obsessed with policing gender, why socialists say gender is socially constructed, and how we can best fight back against these heinous attacks.
Further Reading:
April Holcombe's fantastic article in the Marxist Left Review: "The Freedom to Be": Marxism, gender oppression and the struggle for trans liberation
"Trump's war on woke is a war on all the working class" - by Sarah Garnham in Red Flag
Our guest Rick Kuhn explains the results of the German election. Rick is a socialist economist and political analyst. He is the author of a biography of Marxist economist Henryk Grossman, for which he won the Deutscher Prize.
In understanding the German election, the key word is "polarisation". The fascist AfD have received their best vote yet, of over 20%. Meanwhile the anti-racist left party, Die Linke, tapped into a movement of young antifascists and picked up 9%. The centre ruling coalition has collapsed after years of economic stagnation and migrant-bashing, and has been replaced by the conservative Christian Democrats who court the far-right.
Further reading:
- "Far right surges, but left surprises, in German elections" by Sean Larson in Red Flag
- Buy Rick Kuhn's book: Labor's Conflict
- Rick Kuhn on economic crisis: https://marxistleftreview.org/articles/economic-crises-are-unavoidable-under-capitalism/
Emma and Chloe dunk on the billionaires who run the world. From Silicon Valley freaks like Peter Theil and Mark Zuckerberg, to Australia's own Gina Rinehart, to the world's richest man, Elon Musk. We explain how they accumulated their wealth (hint: they didn't "earn" it), explore the sickening conspicuous consumption of the ultra-rich, and discuss why they need to be expropriated for every cent.
We also discuss Trump's outrageous call for the ethnic cleansing of Gaza.
An interview with socialist journalist Omar Hassan, editor of and contributor to the Marxist Left Review. Omar spent two weeks reporting on the ground from Syria for Red Flag. He visited cities and towns devastated by regime repression, and he spent time with and interviewed left-wing activists. The result of his travels has been some incredible coverage in English of post-Assad Syria.
This recording was part of a live zoom forum with Omar in January 2025.
Read Omar's reports on Syria at Red Flag: https://redflag.org.au/category/syria-after-assad
We're back for 2025! And we're talking about the fucked new mirror world we have stepped into with the second inauguration of Trump.
Emma and Chloe talk through Trump's new cabinet, his executive orders and his big special inauguration day and try to explain what the hell is going on. Why have Silicon Valley ex-liberal billionaires binned their corporate wokeness and lined up to kiss the ring? Why is Trump trying to fight Denmark, Canada and Panama? Why is Australia's Penny Wong so "honoured" to have been invited to the inauguration? We answer these questions and more.
Chloe and Emma cap off a terrible year by compiling some of the chattering classes' worst takes. We hand out prestigious awards for Australian journalism, including "Most Tone-Deaf Commentary on the Cost of Living Crisis" and "Most Hapless Middle-Class Guardian Writer." We survey the ups and (mainly) downs of 2024 and discuss reasons to be hopeful about 2025.
Workers at Woolworths distribution centres are on strike! For the past 2 weeks, workers have been picketing Woolies warehouses across the country to demand a pay increase and to stop a new performance management program, referred to by Woolworths as the “framework”, which is designed to monitor workers’ every move and increase the pace of work. In an already-dangerous industry where injuries are common, Woolworths is attempting to enforce 100% pick rates on workers. This is the same Woolworths that have seen their profits (and board member bonuses) soar over the past few years through price-gouging. Emma spoke to two working-class legends about the strike: Ryan Stanton and Jerome Small. Ryan Stanton is an electrician and ETU member based in Melbourne. He worked in warehousing for 5 years where he led a victorious strike at Polar Fresh back in 2016. He’s a socialist and contributor to Red Flag.
Jerome Small is an industrial organiser of Socialist Alternative. He worked in construction for around 17 years and has been a socialist and union activist since the 80s. He has been covering the Woolworths strike for Red Flag newspaper.
Picket addresses at the end of this article:Support striking Woolworths warehouse workers this week (and next) (19 Nov)
https://redflag.org.au/article/support-striking-woolworths-warehouse-workers-this-week-and-next
Jerome's latest article on the strike:
https://redflag.org.au/article/hope-on-the-picket-line Check Red Flag website for more coverage of the current strike:https://redflag.org.au/ Read about the recent history of class struggle in the logistics industry:
The 2015 Melbourne Liquor Distribution Centre strike:Inside a Melbourne warehouse strike:https://redflag.org.au/article/inside-melbourne-warehouse-strike The 2016 Polar Fresh strike:'Thirty bucks, no trucks!' Warehouse workers strike back against Coleshttps://redflag.org.au/node/5410 Coles still rattled by Polar Fresh strike, one year onhttps://redflag.org.au/node/5933
We chatted with two wonderful socialists: Jordan Van den Lamb, A.K.A. PurplePingers, and Roz Ward, the original host of Red Flag Radio. Jordan will be a senate candidate with the Victorian Socialists in the upcoming federal elections, and Roz is his campaign manager. Jordan has amassed a serious following on Tiktok and Intagram thanks to his unflinching honesty about the housing crisis and his advocacy for tenants' rights. We chatted about the housing crisis, the elections, why private schools are shit and much more.
Check out the Pingers4Parliament campaign here: https://pingers4parliament.com/
Pleast volunteer, share and donate!
Check out the Shit Rentals website, created by Jordan: https://www.shitrentals.org/
We spoke to Lance Selfa, a long-time socialist based in Chicago, about Trump's re-election. Lance explains how this could have happened, again, and what lessons socialists can learn from the election.
Lance is the author of The Democrats: A Critical History. He is a member of the International Socialism Project, whose website has published Lance's election coverage and analysis. He has also been covering the election for Red Flag newspaper.
Further reading
"It's the economy stupid!" - By Lance Selfa and Sharon Smith
"Return of the Beast" - by Red Flag editors
A collection of Lance Selfa's articles in Red Flag
"Why is the US election so close" - by Lance Selfa
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the leader of India's far-right Hindu nationalist or "Hindutva" movement. Sagar Sanyal, socialist and regular on the pod, delves into the roots of Hidutva in both European fascism and the Indian caste system. He explains how, over the course of 100 years, Indian fascism moved from the margins of Indian politics to the centre of government.
Further Reading
Sagar's previous guest appearance on Red Flag Radio discussing the GFC
"Modi and the Threat to Indian Democracy" by Sagar Sanyal
"India's Farmer Protests: What you need to know" by Sagar Sanyal
The Murdoch press has been on a tear against the Palestine movement and particularly "serial protestor" Josh Lees, a leading member of the Palestine Action Group (PAG) and Socialist Alternative, and our guest for this episode. NSW Premier Chris Minns accused Josh of costing tax-payers $5 million to police the protests. The attacks on Josh and PAG are part of a fresh wave of repression and censorship against the Palestine movement in Australia. These attacks are happening on campuses and in the streets, they are coming from the media, Labor governments, the Liberals and university vice-chancellors. Emma spoke to Josh about the nature of that repression and the way charges of anti-semitism have been weaponised against anti-war campaigners protesting a genocide.
Relevant articles:
"Zionist groups are falsifying antisemitism statistics and the media are playing along" - by Joel Schneider
"NSW police fail to ban pro-Palestine protests" by Emma Norton
"Fighting for Palestine, one year on" - by Josh Lees
"Slander won't stop students from resisting genocide" - by Jack Mansell
Israel’s invasion of Lebanon with Omar Hassan
After a year of genocidal war in Gaza, Israel has now begun a ground invasion of Lebanon. In less than a week Israel has killed over 2000 people in Lebanon through massive bombardment of civilians in the capital of Beirut and a renewed offensive against the already devastated South. Israeli aggression and repeated military strikes on Yemen, Iraq, Syria and Iran have led the Middle East to the brink of all-out regional war.
This episode Chloe spoke to Omar Hassan, a Lebanese-Australian socialist and editor of the Marxist Left Review about the invasion of Lebanon, the threat of regional war and the history of Israeli aggression.
Omar touched on the role Israel has played as attack dog for US imperialism from the Suez Crisis invasion of Egypt in 1956 to the 18 year long Israeli occupation of Southern Lebanon from 1982 to 2000.
This week the Australian Government, the NSW Police and the capitalist media have engaged in a massive smear campaign against the pro-Palestine anti-war movement. The NSW police unsuccessfully attempted to ban the rallies commemorating the 1 year anniversary of the genocide. Omar spoke about the hypocrisy and cynicism of the media as well as the role of Labor in supporting Israeli aggression and US imperialism.
Further reading:
https://redflag.org.au/article/by-attacking-lebanon-israel-seeks-to-expand-its-genocidal-war
https://redflag.org.au/article/israels-history-of-aggression-against-lebanon
Get involved with Victorian Socialists
https://victoriansocialists.org.au/candidates/omar-hassan
In one of the worst attacks on a union in Australian history, the Labor government has imposed a dictatorial administrator on the construction union, the CFMEU. This move has disenfranchised the union's entire membership. Chloe spoke to Jerome Small, ex-construction worker and reporter for Red Flag, about the causes and consequences of this unprecedented anti-union attack.
Further reading
"Labor set to impose dictatorial powers over construction union" by Jerome Small in Red Flag
"Strike shows stakes for Queensland CFMEU" by Duncan Hart in Red Flag
The Land Forces weapons expo is Australia's largest get-together and money-making opportunity for the booming business of war. When it came to Melbourne in September, activists from Students for Palestine and Disrupt Wars protested the orgy of militarism and violence. In response, the Victorian police unleashed hell, firing rubber bullets and torrents of pepper spray at protestors. The media followed up with a barrage of lies about protestors, presenting anti-war peace activists as the violent thugs while cheering on extreme police violence.
Emma spoke to Bella Beiraghi, one of the protest organisers, to get an insider's perspective on the protest and its aftermath.
Further reading:
"Guardian fake news helps cops mobilise against anti-war activists" - by Anneke Demanuele in Red Flag
"Inside the Land Forces protest" - by Jerome Small in Red Flag
For over 60 days, Tamil and Iranian refugees have maintained a protest camp outside the Department of Home Affairs in Melbourne. Similar protest camps have spread across Australia's major cities. Their demands are permanent protection and justice for almost 10,000 refugees left in limbo by the federal Labor government.
Emma spoke to Aran Mylvaganam, a staunch refugee activist and socialist who has been heavily involved in protests for refugee rights for years.
Aran describes the incredible bravery of refugees who have stood up to racists and neo-Nazis on the streets of Melbourne. They plan to maintain their protest against the Labor government until victory.
Our deepest condolences to the family, friends and comrades of Mano Logalingam, a Tamil refugee activist from the encampment who died. We honour Mano in this episode and call for full rights for all refugees.
Produced by Jack Morrison and Daniel Kenny
Music by Daniel Kenny
Further reading:
-
Amid tragedy, refugee protest encampment continues - by Renee Nayef for Red Flag
-
Refugees fighting for permanent protection in Sydney - by Annabel Petit for Red Flag
-
Aran Mylvaganam on the Tamil genocide, 15 years on
Emma and Chloe talk about the cops! We analyse their role in capitalist society, their origins, and the case for their abolition.
A big thanks to our producers: Daniel Kenny and Jack Morris.
Further reading:
-
"Defunding, disarming, defeating and abolishing the police" - Daniel Taylor in Red Flag
-
"The police serve the system" - Shirley Killen in Red Flag
We interviewed Ravibha Jeyanathan about the political situation in India under Narendra Modi, and the task of rebuilding a revolutionary Marxist current. Ravibha is from Tamil Nadu in southern India, having sought refuge there from the Sri Lankan genocide. She completed her PhD research in London, researching post-war asylum experiences among Eelam Tamils in the UK. She is a member of Pothuvudamai Iyakkam (Socialist Movement). Ravibha was a guest speaker at this year's Marxism Conference in Melbourne.
The US presidential elections are coming up, promising a showdown between Donald Trump and newly-anointed Democratic Party candidate Kamala Harris. Chloe chatted to Ben Hillier to get his analysis of the US political situation. Ben is an editor of Red Flag newspaper and recently visited the US to report for Red Flag on the Gaza Solidarity Camps at American universities. They discuss the Trumpian takeover of the Republican Party and why Trump has a good chance of winning the election. They dig into Kamala Harris' background and what another Democrat in the white house would mean. Importantly, they critique the "lesser-evilism" argument that is building in left circles: the idea that this is the most important election in a generation, and that left-wingers have to get behind Harris to stop the re-election of Trump.
Historic protests across Kenya in the past week have mobilised a disenfranchised youth enraged at the Government’s attempt to raise taxes on the working class and poor to pay government debt to the IMF and other international creditors. The 2024 Finance Bill has sparked hatred at a political class who flaunt their opulent lifestyles while hiking the price of bread, cooking oil, and many other essentials. Protesters refused to back down in the face of intense repression in which many people have been killed protest — with police using live ammunition and disappearing high profile figures in the protest.
This episode Chloe spoke with Ezra Otieno, a leading member of the Revolutionary Socialist League of Kenya about the protest movement in Kenya.
Emma and Chloe take on Yanis Varoufakis' new book, Technofeudalism.
Varoufakis argues that capitalism is dead, ushering in a new mode of production he calls technofeudalism. He claims that the system we live under today is more like the feudal system which predated capitalism: the main economic activity today is the collection of rent by big tech "cloudalists". These tech giants, like Amazon and Google, are now our feudal overlords, while the rest of the capitalist class has been reduced to mere "cloud vassals". Workers are disempowered, a minority of us are "cloud proles", while the majority of the population are "cloud serfs", unwittingly creating value for the cloudalists through our clicks, likes, purchases and posts.
Chloe and Emma offer a critique of this theory, arguing that Varoufakis' "cloudalists" are just monopolies, which have been a stable feature of capitalist markets for centuries. We defend the idea that the modern working class is a powerful force because they create the profits, not rent, of the capitalist class. We also offer our own theories for why Varoufakis and others like him are so keen on proclaiming the death of capitalism every few years.
Support the Red Flag cloud media empire:
Subscribe to Red Flag newspaper
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Like Socialist Alternative - Red Flag on Facebook
Check us out on Tiktok
More links!! Our link tree: https://linktr.ee/redflag.sa
"Society as a whole is more and more splitting up into two great hostile camps, into two great classes directly facing each other — Bourgeoisie and Proletariat."
Chloe and Emma explain the Marxist theory of social class. We go through the Marxist definition of class, and explain the nature and behaviour of the capitalists, the working class, the middle classes and more!
Further reading:
https://redflag.org.au/article/what-social-class
https://redflag.org.au/article/node-7284
At the 2024 Marxism Conference, Red Flag Radio spoke to Argentinian socialist Cesar Latorre, union militant and leading member of the Movimiento Socialista Los de Trabajadores (MST). Chloe asked Cesar about the role of the revolutionary left in the struggle against far right Argentine President Javier Milei.
Milei came to power promising radical free market policies, massive cuts to the public sector and a confrontational approach to the unions and the left. Since taking office he has unleashed a wave of attacks on workers, students and the poor -- announcing plans to sack 70,000 public sector workers, lower pensions, defund education and crackdown on dissent with attempts to outlaw forms of protest. Milei’s attacks and rampant inflation mean that working class living standards are in free fall.
But Milei has been met with significant resistance. He has faced mass protests in January, two general strikes since taking office and an emerging student resistance to education cuts. The revolutionary left in Argentina has played a significant role in these mobilisations. Alongside the dangers of the moment, opportunities have emerged in the course of struggle for the socialist left to grow.
Further reading:Red Flag on class struggle in Argentina:
https://redflag.org.au/article/fight-continues-argentina
https://redflag.org.au/article/left-argentinas-general-strike
https://redflag.org.au/article/shock-therapy-argentina
https://mst.org.ar/2024/05/15/panorama-politico-luchas-sociales-tensiones-y-crisis-en-el-horizonte/
Janey Stone is an anti-Zionist Jewish author and activist. She is the coauthor with Donny Gluckstein of a new book, "The Radical Jewish Tradition: Revolutionaries, Resistance Fighters and Firebrands".
The claim of Israel and its apologists to represent Jews everywhere and the growth of the antisemitic far right, make understanding and celebrating the long history of left-wing and working class Jewish activism essential for leftists today.
Chloe sat down to talk to Janey about her book and the relevance of its arguments for activsts and socialists today.
Janey's work has done much to uncover the radical Jewish tradition. Before the Second World War the majority of Jews were working class and part of a wider struggle alongside their non-Jewish comrades on the left. The book celebrates Jewish radicalism from the Tsarist Empire to Poland and Germany, from London to New York. Far from the Zionist stereotype of the ultimate victims, Jews were revolutionaries, resistance fighters and firebrands.
This inspiring radical tradition was ultimately checked by the callous indifference of capitalist governments to refugees and the horror of Auschwitz. However, its lessons must be passed on to inform working class and anti-imperialist struggles in a world in crisis.
Buy Janey Stone's book:
"The Radical Jewish Tradition: Revolutionaries, Resistance Fighters and Firebrands"
Available online at Red Flag Books
We were lucky enough to interview the inimitable Dr Gary Foley at the 2024 Marxism Conference where he was a guest speaker. Gary is a living legend of the Aboriginal rights movement: he was a founding member of the Sydney Black Power movement and the Aboriginal tent embassy in Canberra in the 1970s.
Gary is a staunch supporter of Palestine, speaking at almost every Palestine demonstration in Melbourne since Israel’s war began, making the case for solidarity and resistance to colonialism, racism and capitalism.
As well as being an inspiring activist, Foley is an educator of the next generation through his writings and his archive of Aboriginal history, set to be the largest of its kind.
Emma asked Gary about his life, about the importance of standing up to Gaza and the importance of conferences like Marxism as gatherings of the radical left.
Further readings
Check out Gary's website here: https://www.gooriweb.org/
Gary Foley: ‘a direct and fiercely intellectual man’ by Tony Birch in Red Flag
The 1971 Springbok tour protests- an interview with Gary Foley in Red Flag
Don't miss out on the next radical conference near you:
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Sydney Socialism Conference: 16-18 Aug
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Brisbane Socialism Conference: 23 Aug
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Perth Socialism Conference: 10-11 Aug
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Adelaide Socialism Conference: 14-15 Aug
Inspired by the encampment at Columbia University in New York, students at the University of Sydney this week occupied their campus to stand with the people of Gaza. They're condemning the complicity of their university and the Australian government in the invasion of Gaza, and calling to cut ties with the Israeli state and arms manufacturing corporations.
In this episode Emma interviews the student demonstrators and their supporters about what inspired them to take action, the role of Australian institutions in facilitating genocide, and where the campaign can go from here.
Links
-
If you want to support the students or get involved, get in touch with Students For Palestine USyd on Instagram
-
Read the coverage in Red Flag
We interviewed Damian Ridgwell, a veteran socialist activist and leading light in Australia's pro-Palestine movement for almost 20 years. Damian talked about the recent history of the movement and why it's so important to take a stand for Palestine here in Australia.
Chloe and Emma also talked about the new data which reveals that the majority of Australian corporations have significant internal gender pay gaps. We expose some of the problems with the report and the government's approach, and explain the nature of the deep gender inequality in the Australian economy.
Further Reading
-
"Why the global movement for Palestine matters" - https://redflag.org.au/article/why-global-movement-palestine-matters
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"To end sexism we need to destroy capitalism" - https://redflag.org.au/article/end-sexism-we-need-destroy-capitalism
For this special episode we interviewed one of our favourite return guests Diane Fieldes. Diane is a socialist activist and writer who participated in the campaign against police repression after the first Sydney Mardi Gras in 1978. She talks about the homophobia of those years, the violence of the police, and the triumph of the Gay Liberation activists who fought for their rights - including the right to protest.
Further reading:
- https://redflag.org.au/article/mardi-gras-was-riot
https://redflag.org.au/node/6233
The fight is on in Argentina! Javier Milei, the newly-elected President and self-described anarcho-capitalist has announced a slew of attacks on working class living conditions and democratic rights. But workers are fighting back. We spoke to Jasmine Duff, a socialist activist who visited Argentina and participated in the resistance to Milei's attacks. Jasmine roamed around Buenos Aires interviewing activists and reporting for Red Flag newspaper.
But first up, Chloe and Emma dissect the latest news from Gaza and the Middle East, including the ICJ decision, the Western defunding of UNRWA and the US bombing campaign against the Houthis.
Further reading:
Argentina:
- "The Left in Argentina's general strike" by Jasmine Duff in Red Flag (Feb '24)
- "'We're not going to take it!' - Mass protests in Argentina" by Jasmine Duff in Red Flag (Dec '23)
Palestine and the Middle East:
- "Hypocrisy about the Houthis" by Mick Armstrong in Red Flag (Jan '24)
- "‘A small, arrogant, violent, wicked nation’: Israel’s permanent war on the people of the Middle East" by Omar Hassan in Red Flag (Jan '24)
A special episode on the fall of South African apartheid! Chloe interviews Tom Bramble, socialist author and witness to working class struggles in South Africa. Tom spent time in South Africa in the years following the overthrow of the racist apartheid system, and he wrote a book and numerous articles about South Africa. He tells us about how the racist apartheid system was finally destroyed, and how the workers' movement played a crucial role in its destruction.
Further reading
Rethinking the Labour Movement in the 'New South Africa' - edited by Tom Bramble and Franco Barchiesi
- How South African Apartheid was Ended by Emma Norton in Red Flag (2023)
- Lessons from the South African anti-apartheid struggle by Deaglan Godwin (2023)
- South Africa in crisis by Tom Bramble in Red Flag (2016)
- Hypocrisy in West's reponse to Desmond Tutu's passing by Tom Bramble in Red Flag (2021)
- Nelson Mandela (1918-2013) by Tom Bramble in Red Flag (2013)
What is the state? An overgrown behemoth, a neutral arbiter, a tool of the ruling class? In our first episode for 2024, Chloe and Emma explain the Marxist theory of the state. We also chat about what we read over the break.
Further reading on the capitalist state:
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"What is the Australian State" - by David Peterson in Red Flag
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"Marxism vs. the State" - by Sadia Schneider in Red Flag
Emma and Chloe's summer reading:
Here are the books we talked about at the start of the episode:
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"The State and Revolution" by V.I. Lenin: https://shop.redflag.org.au/products/state-and-revolution?_pos=2&_psq=state%20and%20&_ss=e&_v=1.0&variant=34797667581997
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"Demon Copperhead" by Barbara Kingsolver
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"Holding the Line: Women in the Great Arizona Mine Strike" by Barbara Kingsolver
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Georgy Plekhanov on Marxism and Philosophy: "The Development of the Monist View of History" https://www.marxists.org/archive/plekhanov/1895/monist/index.htm
Our main segment in this episode is an interview with Daniel Taylor, an anti-Zionist Jewish socialist and regular contributor to Red Flag newspaper.
Daniel and Emma talk about why the mainstream media are so aggressively pro-Israel. From the Murdoch press to the state-run ABC, the mainstream media dehumanises the Palestinians and helps cover up Israeli war crimes. We go through all their tricks, double standards and hypocrisies, and try to explain why the media landscape is so homogenous when it comes to Israel.
But first up, Chloe and Emma discuss the recent resurgence of anti-refugee rhetoric in Australia. With the High Court overturning a decade-old legal precedent which held that refugees could be detained indefinitely - Australian politics has once more descended into a hysterical anti-refugee race to the bottom.
Further reading
"The mainstream media are pro-Israel propaganda" by Daniel Taylor in Red Flag
"Why journalists must speak out about Gaza" in Red Flag
We spoke to high schoolers from Melbourne and Sydney who went on strike for Palestine, defying intimidation from the media, politicians and their own schools.
The Melbourne school strike for Palestine was the biggest of its kind in the world! But students faced a barrage of condemnation in the lead up to the strikes. Journalists said that students were too stupid to understand such a complex issue, and many prinicipals threatened students with disciplinary action. But thousands of kids remained defiant and showed up in numbers to demand that our government cut diplomatic, economic and military ties with the genocidal state of Israel.
Also in this episode, Emma and Chloe talk about the worrying rise of far right governments around the world, most recently the victories of Geert Wilders in the Netherlands and Javier Milei in Argentina.
Note: we recorded this episode during Israel's propagandistic "pause" in its bombardment of Gaza - since then they have only escalated their campaign of ethnic cleansing. Our fight for Palestinian liberation goes on. Get involved in Palestine solidarity organising near you!
Further reading
Red Flag articles:
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"We won't be silenced": Why high-school students are walking out for Palestine
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Far right victory in Argentina
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Marxist Left Review article - "Dark clouds over Europe - facing the new far right"
Get involved in Palestine activism!
High school groups:
- Melbourne School Students 4 Palestine
- Sydney High Schoolers for Palestine
Uni student groups
(look up your own university and "Students for Palestine" on insta to find campus-based clubs!)
- Students for Palestine Victoria
- Students for Palestine Canberra
- Students for Palestine WA
- Adelaide Students for Palestine
- Students for Palestine Sydney Uni
Main campaign groups for each city:
Sydney - Palestine Action Group
Melbourne - Free Palestine Melbourne
Brisbane - Justice for Palestine Meanjin - Brisbane
Perth - Friends of Palestine WA
Adelaide - Campaign against Racism and Fascism
Canberra - Palestine Action Group - Canberra
Hobart -
In the middle of a new anti-war movement against the genocide in Gaza, we thought it would be timely to release an episode about the movement that helped end the Vietnam War. At Socialism Conference 2023, Emma interviewed two seasoned anti-war activists about their role in the movement that swept the world in the 1960s and 70s America (and Australia's!) brutal war. Allen Myers was a socialist GI, drafted into the American military, who spent years agitating against the war among fellow soldiers. Diane Fieldes was a student in Australia who got involved in the movement while at high school and became a lifelong socialist. We have a lot to learn from their experiences as we stand up against the horrors of war and occupation today.
Further reading:
Red Flag Articles:
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A People's History of the Vietnam War - by Lily Campbell
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Students in the Anti-Vietnam War Movement by Grace Hill
Our guest is Josh Lees, one of the leading organisers of Sydney's massive Palestine solidarity rallies. Josh critiques the so-called "two-state solution", explaining why it provides no real solution for the Palestinians and how the slogan has been used and abused by Western governments to cover up Israel's crimes.
Earlier in the episode, Emma and Chloe talk about the current situation in Gaza and get stuck into the UN for its historic role in greenlighting the ethnic cleansing of Palestine.
We interviewed Vashti Fox, author of "The Story of Palestine: Empire, Repression and Resistance". We talk about how Israel has been a racist, imperialist project from the very beginning, and Vashti explains why ruling classes around the world still offer their full-throated support for Israeli war crimes.
Emma and Chloe discuss the situation in Gaza and expose many of the media devices that cast Israel as the victim with a "right to defend itself", while Palestinians are consistently dehumanised to justify Israeli war crimes.
Further Reading
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Vashti Fox's book The Story of Palestine: Empire, Repression and Resistance, available at Red Flag Books
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Map of "Disappearing Palestine" as of 2014 https://www.palestinecampaign.org/wp-content/uploads/disappearing-palestine-A3-poster-PRINT-Jan-2014.pdf
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for coverage of the genocide in Gaza, follow Red Flag
Find a Palestine solidarity rally in your city this weekend!
NB- We recorded our discussion on 22nd October, and a lot has happened in a little over a week. The death toll in Gaza has doubled since then, to over 8000, and we are seeing increased ground offensives in northern Gaza. Western politicians have doubled down on their pro-Israel rhetoric, and only a trickle of aid is being allowed into the besieged Gaza strip. The humanitarian crisis there is dire.
In response to these horrors we have seen continued resistance around the world. The past weekend saw the biggest pro-Palestine protests in Australian history, including 50,000 people who marched in Sydney.
It's been just over a week since Australia went to the polls and returned a resounding 60% majority "No" vote against an Indigenous Voice to Parliament. What do socialists make of the result? Emma spoke to Red Flag Radio regular Jordan Humphreys, author of Indigenous Liberation and Socialism, about the significance of the defeat. Jordan explains how the "No" camp tapped into a well of anti-Aboriginal racism in this country. We discuss the tepid "Yes" campaign, and why Labor should be held accountable for its decades-long role in pushing racist ideas and policies. Jordan also offers some reflections on the fight for Indigenous rights going forward.
Further reading
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Jordan Humphreys' article in Red Flag: Voice Defeated - Fight against racism continues
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Indigenous Liberation and Socialism by Jordan Humphreys, available at Red Flag Books
A note on the ongoing genocide in Gaza
We are living through a historic moment. In the space of two weeks, Israel has slaughtered over 5000 Palestinians and destroyed almost half of the building in the Gaza. Millions of people have been protesting across the world against this atrocity, with demonstrations planned for the future.
- Check out this episode, where Chloe interviews Omar Hassan about the issue: Why socialists support a free palestine
- Get yourself to a Palestine solidarity protest in your city this weekend!
We are working hard to get you more Palestine-related content in the coming weeks. Look out for our next episode which will include an interview with Vashti Fox, author of The Story of Palestine, about the racist and imperialist origins of the Israeli state.
- Buy Vashti's book The Story of Palestine: Empire, Repression and Resistance, available at Red Flag Books
Right now, Israel is mobilising for a full-scale war in response to an offensive by Hamas. Netanyahu has vowed to turn Gaza, with its population of 2.3 million people, into a deserted island, and Israeli politicians are openly calling for another Nakba — referring to the genocidal massacres in 1948 which marked the beginning of Israel’s occupation of Palestine.
Western politicians are lining up to pledge their support for Israel’s “right to defend itself”. The US has sent an aircraft carrier to aid Israel, and Biden has taken this opportunity to rally support for Western imperialism & funding for the Israeli Defence Forces.
Chloe spoke to Omar Hassan about the history of military occupation and genocide from 1948 to today, and why the left must stand with Palestine. Omar is a socialist from Melbourne, a long-time Palestine solidarity activist and editor of the Marxist Left Review.
Join the solidarity protests:
- Sydney
Sunday Oct 15, 1PM Hyde Park
https://facebook.com/events/s/stop-the-war-on-gaza-free-pale/237050879370266/ - Melbourne
Sunday Oct 15, 12PM State Library
https://facebook.com/events/s/palestine-rally-end-the-siege-/621858313442265/ - Canberra
Friday Oct 13, 5:30PM Garema Place
https://facebook.com/events/s/stand-with-palestine-no-war-on/2258919267638772/ - Adelaide
Sunday Oct 15, 2:00pm SA Parliament House
https://facebook.com/events/s/solidarity-with-palestine-no-w/7143090389076667/ - Brisbane
Friday Oct 13, 6:00pm King George Square
https://facebook.com/events/s/no-war-on-gaza-solidarity-with/884972343033190/ - Perth
Friday Oct 13, 5:30pm Murray St Mall
https://facebook.com/events/s/rally-for-palestine-no-war-on-/1046067476425215/ - Wollongong
Sat Oct 14, 1:00pm MacCabe Park
https://facebook.com/events/s/wollongong-rally-free-palestin/1951351455251789/
Further readings:
Check out the War on Palestine section of the Red Flag website: https://redflag.org.au/category/palestine
In this episode, Emma and Chloe take a deep dive into the system behind sexism. Why has women's oppression persisted long after the Women's Liberation Movement won formal equality? Why is the gender pay gap actually widening? We also tackle some of the major debates between feminists and socialists, like who benefits from sexism: men in general or the capitalist class?
Further reading
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"Why Sexism Persists" by Diane Fieldes
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"The System Behind Sexism" by RFR's own Roz Ward
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And check out this collection of books for sale on gender and sexual oppression at Red Flag books: https://shop.redflag.org.au/collections/women-lgbtia
NOTE: We recorded this episode before the recent events in Palestine began. We are hurrying to record and release an episode explaining Israel's already catastrophic war on Gaza and the West Bank, defending the right of Palestinians to resist their oppression. Look for that towards the end of this week.
Part two of an interview with Jordan Humphreys about his new book Indigenous Liberation and Socialism. Emma and Jordan chat about the inspiring history of Indigenous struggle in Australia. This one's not to be missed! Jordan shares his fascinating research on on how the early workers' movement fought for Indigenous rights - from Aboriginal shearers who joined a militant union to Communists who led strikes for Indigenous liberation. We talk about Australia's own civil rights movement, and how Black Power came to Australian cities in the 1970s.
Links:
-
Grab a copy of Jordan's book at Red Flag Books and join us for the third and final part of this interview in a few weeks.
-
Check out Jordan's latest offering in Red Flag newspaper about why you should vote yes in the Voice referendum!
-
Jordan's article in the Marxist Left Review on How Australian Communists fought for Indigenous Liberation
Get involved in a Socialist Alternative branch near you
Leave your details here if you want to get active in building the socialist movement: https://redflag.org.au/getinvolved
Louisa and her workmates have had enough. They work at Mint My Desk stationery stores across Brisbane and are illegally paid below the minimum wage, cash-in-hand. Last week, after more than a year of trying to get their bosses to pay the legal minimum, Mint My Desk workers walked off the job. They have now had two strikes and have stared down intimidation and threats of sacking. In this special episode, Emma talked to Louisa, the socialist and unionist at the heart of this campaign, about how retail workers can stand up for their rights.
Further reading:
Latest article on the strike from Red Flag
Original coverage from Red Flag
Mint My Desk Workers United on TikTok
This is part one of our interview with author Jordan Humphreys.
We talked about Jordan's new book, Indigenous Liberation and Socialism.
Indigenous Liberation & Socialism delves into the history and politics of Indigenous struggle, exploring the forgotten legacy of the workers’ movement and the socialist left in the fight for justice against Indigenous oppression. It presents a compelling argument that the liberation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples will only be won if we build a multi-racial anti-capitalist movement which can smash all systems of oppression.
Jordan is a socialist activist in Sydney and a member of the editorial board of the Marxist Left Review. He has been researching and writing about Indigenous issues since 2019.
Get yourself a copy of his book from Red Flag Books.
Keep an eye out for parts 2 and 3 of Emma's interviews with Jordan.
Producer: Jack Morris Host: Emma Norton Music: Daniel Kenny
Karl Marx has a reputation for being a stuffy old guy, tucked away in a library writing impenetrable tomes. But he was a revolutionary in practice as well as in theory! With his buddy Engels, he was involved in many of the great revolts of the 19th century: from the 1848 revolutions to the Paris Commune, from the American Civil War to the Irish rebellions against Britain.
Seeing as this is a Marxist podcast, we thought we'd dive into the life and times of Marxism's founder. Chloe and Emma spoke to Rick Kuhn; activist, author and winner of the Deutscher Prize (for great Marxist works!) about Karl Marx.
Further readings
Find out more about what Marx learnt from the struggles of his era:
What Marx discovered in the woods What Marx learned from the Paris Commune Marx's battle against 'state socialism'
Read more from Rick Kuhn: Rick Kuhn writes about understanding economic crises
Part two of our two-parter on the housing crisis!
Emma and Chloe chatted to Martin about how capitalism shaped our cities, and how, under socialism, we could rebuild them to meet human need. We also waxed lyrical about the campaigns to defend public housing in the 1970s in Sydney, pioneered by the Builders' Labourers' Federation.
Further reading
- Reclaim the city - by April
- The politics of cities - by Steph Price
Get involved in a housing campaign near you:
- Victorian Socialists, if you're in Melbourne: https://www.facebook.com/vicsocialists https://www.instagram.com/vic_socialists/ Video from a recent forum hosted by Victorian Socialists
- Get a Room - Students for affordable housing (National Union of Students) https://www.facebook.com/fixtherentalcrisis https://www.instagram.com/fixtherentalcrisis/
Socialist Alternative and Red Flag are hosting radical conferences all over the country in the coming months. If you're in Perth, Brisbane, Sydney, or Adelaide, grab your ticket today!
- Sydney Socialism Conference: https://www.socialismsydney.com/
- Brisbane Revolution Conference: https://revolutionconference.org/index.html
- Perth Socialism Conference: http://socialismperth.com/
- Socialism Adelaide: https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1076642
Workers and young people in Australia are experiencing a severe housing crisis, with rent and mortgage repayments skyrocketing, homelessness on the rise, and constant attacks on public housing. We talked to Martin Barker, socialist and tenant advocate, about what's going on and who's to blame.
Chloe and Emma also got a bit journalistic for this episode. We sought out activists at the front line of the fight for public housing and renters' rights. We asked students from the Get a Room campaign what it's like dealing with Sydney's rental market, and we spoke to public housing tenant Caroline Ienna about how NSW Labor is helping developers kick her out of her home. We also heard some spicy retorts to Phillip Lowe's recent "helpful advice" to young people.
Stay tuned for part 2 on the housing crisis, where we get into the meat of how capitalism has shaped housing and our cities, and how a socialist society would organise things differently.
Further reading:
Articles by Martin Barker on the housing crisis:
-
Property profiteers: Who benefits from the housing crisis?
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Solutions to the rental crisis
This is a bumper episode about the class struggle across the higher education sector, with a focus on Australia and the US.
First, we talked to Jerome Small, RFR regular and Socialist Alternative's industrial organiser, to set the scene. He covered some fascinating topics; from the US university strikes to the fight within the Australian higher ed union, the NTEU, over the leadership's covid-era proposal to take a wage cut in exchange for supposed "job security".
Next, we spoke to Alma Torlakovic, a socialist and NTEU union member from Sydney University, about the two-year-long campaign there. Alma and her comrades in NTEU Fightback, a rank-and-file group, are fighting hard against their union accepting a disastrous deal from management. She was full of insights and lessons for other unionists, no matter their industry.
If you enjoy this episode, please become a subscriber at our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/redflagradiopodcast/membership
Production and music by Daniel Kenny. Hosted by Emma Norton and Chloe Rafferty.
Further reading
-
Alma Torlakovic in Red Flag, on why she's voting no to Sydney University's new Enterprise Agreement: https://redflag.org.au/article/sydney-university-enterprise-agreement-why-im-voting-no
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Jerome Small in Red Flag, "Lessons from the NTEU Sydney University industrial campaign": https://redflag.org.au/article/lessons-nteu-sydney-university-industrial-campaign
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Alexis Vassiley in Red Flag, "Historic US university strike wins big", on the campaign at Rutgers University: https://redflag.org.au/article/historic-us-university-strike-wins-big
Think revolutions are a thing of the past? Think again! In this episode, we explore the many revolutions and revolts of the 21st century. We also caught up with Egyptian socialist Hossam el Hamalawy to talk about the Arab Spring of 2011. Hossam was an active participant in the Egyptian revolution and is full of stories and lessons for socialists everywhere.
Hosted by Chloe Rafferty and Emma Norton
Production and music by Dan Kenny
Show notes:
- Hossam el Hamalawy's writings on Egyptian and world politics
- "The Arab Spring: revolution and counter-revolution" - MLR Oct 2011, by Sandra Bloodworth
- The Art of Rebellion: Dispatches from Hong Kong by Ben Hillier
- "The return of the Arab revolution" - Red Flag Dec 2019, by Corey Oakley
- "Welcome to the new Algerian revolution: interview with Hamza Hamouchene" - Red Flag April 2019, by Omar Hassan
- "Massacre and uprising in Sudan"
- "Crisis of Sri Lankan capitalism provokes a popular uprising" - Red Flag 2022, by Eleanor Morley
In the worst cost of living crisis in several generations, Labor are cutting taxes for the rich, spending $368 Billion on nuclear subs and signalling the need for tougher “fiscal restraint” in the future. Yet the ALP's second budget has been touted as “responsible but compassionate” for delivering a surplus while throwing a few insulting crumbs to the poorest welfare recipients.
We spoke to Red Flag editor Ben Hillier about why Labor’s budget continues the class war against workers and the poor. We take a look at some of the budget's false promises, the arguments around inflation, and why the liberal media are suckers for the ALP's social neoliberalism.
Check out the Red Flag coverage of the budget and related issues:
- Labor's budget for the rich
- Welfare recipients remain in poverty under Labor
- Report reveals inequality on steroids
Note - We recorded this episode before Dutton had made his budget reply, so we didn't talk about the Liberals or their new racist campaign to link cost-of-living woes with immigration. But expect future episodes to address this and other budget adjacent issues!
We’re Chloe and Emma, and we’re so excited to deliver our first episode as the new co-hosts of Red Flag Radio! This episode celebrates May Day, the international day of working-class struggle. We talk about the history of May Day, from Australia to America to the Russian Revolution. We also ask some socialist historians to tell us about three of the greatest strikes in Australian history: the 1917 General Strike, the Pilbara Strike, and the Clarrie O’Shea Strike.
Further readings:
- Rosa Luxemburg on the origins of May Day - https://www.marxists.org/archive/luxemburg/1894/02/may-day.htm
- Origins of May Day - https://redflag.org.au/article/origins-may-day
- May Day 1946 - Pilbara strike https://redflag.org.au/article/may-day-1946-pilbara-aboriginal-workers-strike
- Understanding the 1917 General Strike https://redflag.org.au/node/5992
- Beating anti-union laws - the Clarrie O’Shea strike https://redflag.org.au/node/6080
Upcoming May Day rallies in Australia
-
Sydney - https://www.facebook.com/events/1212625096051321
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Melbourne https://www.facebook.com/events/6059904107456640
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Wollongong - https://www.facebook.com/events/162261140063412
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Fremantle, Perth - https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=655428436589171&set=a.437367835061900
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Brisbane - https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=599659355525905&set=pcb.599660352192472
Hosted by Chloe Rafferty and Emma Norton. Produced by Jack Morris.
Music by Dan Kenny.
Subscribe to Red Flag newspaper: https://subscribe.redflag.org.au/
Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/redflagradiopodcast
Contact us on redflagradiopodcast@gmail.com
Millions of workers and students have taken part in strikes and protests across France in response to President Macron's push to increase the retirement age to 64. As a result of the resistance, Macron has been forced to pass the law by Presidential decree, sparking more anger on the streets. Revolutionary socialist John Mullen joins us to discuss the historical significance of this movement and the political questions it raises for those who want to see the defeat of the pensions law as a path to more radical change.
Read more in Red Flag
France in Revolt by Christopher Di Pasquale - https://redflag.org.au/article/france-revolt
Come to Marxism 2023 - April 6th - 9th - https://www.marxismconference.org/
Hosted by Roz Ward and Emma Norton. Produced by Liam Ward.
Music by Dan Kenny.
Subscribe to Red Flag newspaper: https://subscribe.redflag.org.au/
Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/redflagradiopodcast
Contact us on redflagradiopodcast@gmail.com
Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull, also known as Posie Parker, is a British transphobic activist who campaigns alongside Neo-Nazi groups. Parker is bringing her speaking tour to Australia. After record numbers of transphobic laws were passed in the US in 2022, Grace Hill, the new National Union of Students (NUS) LGBTI Officer joins us to discuss why we should protest Parker and figures like her wherever they organise. How do mainstream politicians open up space for far right organising? And does feminism really have anything to do with transphobia?
Read about Posie Parker’s anti-trans rally attended by Holocaust deniers and anti-abortion activists - https://www.thepinknews.com/2023/02/12/posie-parker-let-women-speak-glasgow-rally-fascists/
Protest information:MELB - Fight the Right: protest the speaking tour of right-wing UK transphobe Kellie-Jay Keen CBR: Fight the Right: protest the speaking tour of right-wing UK transphobe Kellie-Jay Keen PERTH - Fight the Right: protest the speaking tour of right-wing UK transphobe Kellie-Jay Keen BRIS - Fight the Right: protest the speaking tour of right-wing UK transphobe Kellie-Jay Keen ADL: Fight the Right: protest the speaking tour of right-wing UK transphobe Kellie-Jay Keen
In the early 1970s, the Builders Labourers Federation (BLF) in Australia provided a case study in workers' power and concern for the conservation of the natural environment. BLF green bans preserved dozens of working class areas and historic buildings, ranging from Aboriginal housing in Redfern to historic National Trust-listed mansions. In this episode we speak to Jerome Small about how the BLF became a union that fought for environmental and social justice, and the lessons we can draw to re-build the left in Australia today.
Read more
When Sydney was touched by workers democracy by Jerome Small - https://redflag.org.au/node/6774
‘I’m part of the union!’ How the Builders Labourers Federation set the benchmark by Liz Ross - https://redflag.org.au/node/6510
Watch Rocking the Foundations here.
A live recording of the final election rally for the Victorian Socialists before we try to make history by electing the first socialists to parliament in decades.
Featuring speeches by lead candidates for Northern Metro and Western Metro, Jerome Small and Liz Walsh.
For more information on how you can help volunteer for Victorian Socialists on election day, or to donate to the campaign go to - https://victoriansocialists.org.au/.
Music by Dan Kenny.
Subscribe to Red Flag newspaper: https://subscribe.redflag.org.au/
A special live episode recorded at the launch of our campaign to elect socialist, union organiser and long-term environmental and anti-racist campaigner Jerome Small to Victoria's upper house. Jerome's stories include high school walkouts against the nuclear arms race, civil disobedience with the climate movement, picketing the South African embassy in the Apartheid years, and organising blockades of mining companies in solidarity with the Mirrar Aboriginal people in the successful fight to stop the Jabiluka uranium mine in the Northern Territory. More recently, Jerome has supported workers in aged care, warehouses, call centres and other workplaces in battles over pay, dignity and job security.
Follow Jerome's campaign and get involved in the Victorian Socialists here;
https://victoriansocialists.org.au/
https://www.facebook.com/JeromeSmallVicSoc
The healthcare system in Australia is in crisis. Politicians talk about the 'pressure' that COVID-19 has put on the system but fail to acknowledge systemic under funding of hospitals and other services. On this episode we discuss what workers would do to fix the crisis in healthcare with NSW nurse Deaglan, allied health worker Cecilia, and socialist activist Jerome Small.
Labor’s pandemic - https://redflag.org.au/article/labors-pandemic
Nurses’ union raises pay claim under pressure from rank and file - https://redflag.org.au/article/nurses-union-raises-pay-claim-under-pressure-rank-and-file
NSW nurses and midwives strike again - https://redflag.org.au/article/nsw-nurses-and-midwives-strike-again
Hosted by Roz Ward. Produced by Liam Ward.
Music by Dan Kenny.
Subscribe to Red Flag newspaper: https://subscribe.redflag.org.au/
Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/redflagradiopodcast
Contact us on redflagradiopodcast@gmail.com
What can we expect from the return of an Australian Labor Party (ALP) government? Are there any reasons to hope for progressive change? On this episode we're joined by Liz Walsh and Josh Lees to discuss the first three weeks of Labor in power, and what we can learn from previous Labor governments in Australia. How does a Marxist analysis of the ALP help to prepare us for the struggles ahead?
ALP stands idle while capitalists trash living standards
Albanese continues Labor’s rotten imperialist record
Hosted by Roz Ward. Produced by Liam Ward.
Music by Dan Kenny.
Subscribe to Red Flag newspaper: https://subscribe.redflag.org.au/
Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/redflagradiopodcast
Contact us on redflagradiopodcast@gmail.com
With the Supreme Court set to overturn Roe v. Wade, the battle for abortion rights in the US is at a critical turning point. On this episode Roz talks to socialist activist Emma Norton about the history of abortion rights, the limitations of looking to the Democrats to protect the right to choose, and the struggles that are needed to win.
Hosted by Roz Ward. Produced by Liam Ward.
Music by Dan Kenny.
Subscribe to Red Flag newspaper: https://subscribe.redflag.org.au/
Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/redflagradiopodcast
The federal election campaign, with the notable exception of the Victorian Socialists, is a showcase of the worst aspects of Australian politics. On this episode we put a revolutionary perspective on some of the biggest issues the politicians are talking about and not talking about as they tour the country touting for votes. Roz is joined by Red Flag contributing editors Louise O'Shea and Eleanor Morley for a lively discussion.
Why would anyone care about the election?
Fix the cost of living crisis by Ben Hillier
Get involved - https://www.victoriansocialists.org.au/
Donate to the Victorian Socialists - https://www.victoriansocialists.org.au/donate
Hosted by Roz Ward. Produced by Liam Ward.
Music by Dan Kenny.
Subscribe to Red Flag newspaper: https://subscribe.redflag.org.au/
Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/redflagradiopodcast
The Victorian Socialists are taking on the billionaires and parties that represent them in the upcoming Australian federal election. Running on a platform that calls for a radical reorganisation of society and a redistribution of wealth and power, we talk to three Victorian Socialists candidates - Kath Larkin, Jerome Small, and Belle Gibson. How does their campaign compare to their rivals? What have their experiences of running in a federal election have taught them about politics? What inspires them as socialists to run in a parliamentary election?
Introducing Aran Mylvaganam for the Senate
Back the Victorian Socialists by Corey Oakley
Morrison is appalling and so is Labor by Mick Armstrong
How should revolutionaries view parliamentary elections? by Jerome Small
Get involved - https://www.victoriansocialists.org.au/
Donate to the Victorian Socialists - https://www.victoriansocialists.org.au/donate
Hosted by Roz Ward. Produced by Liam Ward.
Music by Dan Kenny.
Subscribe to Red Flag newspaper: https://subscribe.redflag.org.au/
Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/redflagradiopodcast
How do socialists understand the Russian invasion of Ukraine? What does this conflict uncover about imperialist tensions today? What is so hypocritical about the response of western political leaders? Socialist activist and author Tom Bramble answers these questions and more in discussion with Roz Ward.
Further coverage of the war can be found at https://redflag.org.au/
Tom's books can be purchased at https://shop.redflag.org.au/
Hosted by Roz Ward. Produced by Liam Ward.
Music by Dan Kenny.
Subscribe to Red Flag newspaper: https://subscribe.redflag.org.au/
Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/redflagradiopodcast
In Australia at the beginning of 2022 the COVID crisis is reaching new deadly milestones. The healthcare system is collapsing under the strain. A mainstream political consensus has been reached about 'living' and dying with the pandemic while the far right have taken the crisis as an opportunity to mobilise. At the same time, climate change continues to create international and local catastrophes. On this episode Roz and Liam are joined by activists Jess Lenehan and Nahui Jimenez to discuss the many reasons to be a socialist today.
Freedom Fridays Protest for Refugees in Melbourne - https://www.facebook.com/events/6793879187348723/
Hosted by Roz Ward. Produced by Liam Ward.
Music by Dan Kenny.
Subscribe to Red Flag newspaper: https://subscribe.redflag.org.au/
Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/redflagradiopodcast
World leaders are gathering to discuss their plans to tackle climate change at the COP26 in Glasgow. Will their commitments make any difference? What are the alternatives to global summits? On this episode we discuss the politics of climate crisis internationally and in Australia, and how we should respond with activists Anneke and Cormac.
Follow the coverage of COP26 in Red Flag - https://redflag.org.au/category/climate
Join the global day of action on November 6 in your city - details below.
Melbourne: https://fb.me/e/KgHsDV1t Sydney: https://fb.me/e/1uTFnYSFw Canberra: https://fb.me/e/14yae7A3r Brisbane: https://fb.me/e/6HHyV6kxS Adelaide: https://fb.me/e/2CrDfujfM Perth: https://fb.me/e/Lxenn5fx Wollongong: https://fb.me/e/DdG2mfPT Hosted by Roz Ward. Produced by Liam Ward.
Music by Dan Kenny.
Subscribe to Red Flag newspaper: https://subscribe.redflag.org.au/
Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/redflagradiopodcast
On this episode we discuss the hidden class history of the suffragettes and the role of working class mass struggle in winning the vote. Too often the official histories of the suffrage movement brush over the bitter splits and divisions within both the campaign and the Pankhurst family. Roz is joined in discussion by veteran socialist Moira Leahy to uncover these important debates and discuss the politics of challenging sexism and fighting for socialism.
Reading
How working class women won the vote by Judy Cox http://isj.org.uk/how-working-class-women-won-the-vote/ Sylvia Pankhurst - a rebel in the fight for votes by Isabel Ringrose - https://socialistworker.co.uk/art/50653/Sylvia+Pankhurst+++a+rebel+in+the+fight+for+votes
Hosted by Roz Ward. Produced by Liam Ward.
Music by Dan Kenny.
Subscribe to Red Flag newspaper - https://subscribe.redflag.org.au/
Support us on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/redflagradiopodcast
On this episode we talk to an education worker, a nurse, and a construction worker about why they are campaigning for health before profits and safer workplaces in Australia. Health before Profits is a national campaign group that includes workers, academics, activists and students who are organising in opposition to Scott Morrison's reckless, unsafe national plan for re-opening and 'living with COVID'.
Find out more and get involved in the campaign here -
https://www.facebook.com/HealthbeforeProfitAus
Public meeting on the school reopening plan in Victoria - Sun 24 October 5pm -
https://www.facebook.com/events/175070548108545/
OzSAGE is a multi-disciplinary network of Australian experts from a broad range of sectors relevant to the well-being of the Australian population during and after the COVID-19 pandemic - https://ozsage.org/
Support Red Flag Radio on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/redflagradiopodcast
Subscribe to Red Flag newspaper https://subscribe.redflag.org.au
Hosted by Roz Ward. Produced by Liam Ward.
Music by Dan Kenny.
The 250 richest people in Australia increased their wealth by $93 billion during the first year of the pandemic while millions of essential workers have seen no increase in their wages. In this episode we talk to activist Shirley Killen about drastic inequality, the political failures of mainstream politics, and what socialists can learn from the drive for profits in a crisis.
Reading
How Australia’s richest have profited in the pandemic by Shirley Killen - https://redflag.org.au/article/how-australias-richest-have-profited-pandemic
Why is nobody in prison over robodebt? by April Holcombe - https://redflag.org.au/node/7483
How the rich are cashing in on pandemic pain by Tyler Ray (Nov 2020) - https://redflag.org.au/node/7470
Support Red Flag Radio on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/redflagradiopodcast
Subscribe to Red Flag newspaper https://subscribe.redflag.org.au
Hosted by Roz Ward. Produced by Liam Ward.
Music by Dan Kenny.
The 'Robert Menzies Institute' is set to open at Melbourne University in November. The founders claim the Institute will be a museum dedicated to 'Australia's greatest Prime Minister' but the real project appears to be establishing a conservative think-tank with a board of right wing ideologues including Peta Credlin and Georgina Downer. On this episode we talk to student activists and Graduate Student Association officers Monica Sestito and Brendan Laws about the campaign to stop the Institute and the question of free speech on campus.
Stop the Menzies Institute campaign page - https://stopmenziesinstitute.wordpress.com/
Socialists Debate the Young Liberals - Was Menzies a Great Australian or Right-wing Scumbag? Weds 15 Sept 6pm -https://www.facebook.com/events/1692974661093120
Book your tickets for Socialism 2021 (17-19 September) here http://www.socialismsydney.com/
Support Red Flag Radio on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/redflagradiopodcast
Subscribe to Red Flag newspaper - https://subscribe.redflag.org.au/
Hosted by Roz Ward. Produced by Liam Ward.
Music by Dan Kenny.
The situation unfolding in Afghanistan is a humanitarian disaster resulting from decades of imperialist interventions and war. On this episode we discuss the political history of the invasion in 2001 and how the occupation resulted in the Taliban asserting control over the country today. Our guest Simone White is a socialist activist who was part of the Stop the War Coalition in Australia and has written and presented extensively on the politics and history of the middle east.
Public meeting - Tues 24 August 18:30 (Melb time) - Bloodshed and war crimes: how the west destroyed Afghanistan - https://www.facebook.com/events/370684171388989
Book your tickets for Socialism 2021 here - http://www.socialismsydney.com/
Further Reading
'The US occupation of Afghanistan is over. But the disaster goes on' by Omar Hassan - https://redflag.org.au/article/us-occupation-afghanistan-over-disaster-goes
From 2008 - 'Afghanistan: the case against the “good war”' by Jonathan Neal https://isj.org.uk/afghanistan-the-case-against-the-good-war/
Support Red Flag Radio on Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/redflagradiopodcast
Subscribe to Red Flag newspaper - https://subscribe.redflag.org.au/
Hosted by Roz Ward. Produced by Liam Ward.
Music by Dan Kenny.
In this episode we discuss the debates around lockdown and the political response to the pandemic in Australia with Sydney based socialist activists Eleanor Morley and Josh Lees. Lockdowns continue in large parts of the country and the vaccine rollout is the slowest in the OECD. How can we understand the political priorities of the government? What is the significance of the anti-lockdown protests? Is there an alternative to lockdown?
Anti-lockdown lunacy: from the elites to the streets - https://redflag.org.au/index.php/article/anti-lockdown-lunacy-elites-streets
Join Sydney socialists for an online Forum: Fascism and anti-Fascism in 1930s Australia - Sunday 8 August at 3pm - https://www.facebook.com/events/1304459746639353
Support Red Flag Radio on Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/redflagradiopodcast
Subscribe to Red Flag newspaper - https://subscribe.redflag.org.au/
Hosted by Roz Ward. Produced by Liam Ward.
Music by Dan Kenny.
In this episode we reveal the forgotten history of Aboriginal unionists in the 1890s shearers' strikes. The participation of Aboriginal workers, including strike camp leaders like Andrew Stuart Stepney, challenges historical accounts that note the racism of the shearers’ unions and subsequently ignore the role that Aboriginal workers played within the shearers’ unions. We discuss the importance of revealing this history and draw out the lessons for unionists and socialists today.
A quote from an article in the Worker (Brisbane), 16 July 1892, that Roz reads during the episode:
I've yet to learn, don't you know, that the immortal British Empire or any other speck of country owns by sheer right divine all the land it can get its clutches on. There's no more natural sense in a bleary-eyed officer with gold lace and a taste for rum, sticking a few feet of stick, with a few square inches of painted calico attached, into the ground and saying 'I annex this 'ere country,' than there is in you or me taking a trip across to Europe and going through the same pantomime at Brighton or Monte Carlo. You or I've got exactly the same 'right ' as the gold laced gentleman who appreciates rum. The only thing is that he has a title deed in the shape of a few thousand tons of men of war, with guns enough to blow the unfortunate natives to little small bits if they object. Wonderful justice, isn't it?... The aboriginals had more right to be in Australia than we had, looking at things justly.’
Marxist Left Review - https://marxistleftreview.org/
Red Flag Books - https://shop.redflag.org.au/
Support Red Flag Radio on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/redflagradiopodcast
Subscribe to Red Flag newspaper:
https://subscribe.redflag.org.au/
Hosted by Roz Ward. Produced by Liam Ward.
Music by Dan Kenny.
On this episode we preview The Fight for Workers’ Power: Revolution and Counter-Revolution in the 20th Century with author Tom Bramble. The book recounts key periods of international class struggle from 1914 to 1956 with the aim of bringing the lessons from these struggles to a new generation of socialists. Tom has studied, written about, and taken part in the labour movement in Australia and internationally. His books include a history of the trade union movement and the Labor Party in Australia, and Introducing Marxism: A Theory for Social Change, published in 2015.
Red Flag Books - https://shop.redflag.org.au/
Read more on Russia here - https://redflag.org.au/russia/
Come to the Melbourne book launch on Thursday 15 July - https://www.facebook.com/events/313896660248031
Support Red Flag Radio on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/redflagradiopodcast
Subscribe to Red Flag newspaper:
https://subscribe.redflag.org.au/
Hosted by Roz Ward. Produced by Liam Ward.
Music by Dan Kenny.
The recent hospitalisation of 4 year old Tharunicaa and the story of her family Priya, Nades, and Kopika is a perfect illustration of the brutality of the Australian government's treatment of refugees. On this episode we discuss the campaign to bring this family back to Biloela with full residency rights and what their experience has revealed about the politics of the Australian refugee torture regime. Aran Mylvaganam, a refugee who was detained as a child when he arrived in Australia in 1997 and who later founded the Tamil Refugee Council, discusses the history of Tamil persecution in Sri Lanka. Liz Walsh, socialist and veteran refugee activist, argues that the campaign for this family should be the basis for building a new movement to fight for all refugees.
Actions Saturday 19th June: Brisbane: https://www.facebook.com/events/1744718179059352 Sydney: https://www.facebook.com/events/4109741382397300 Canberra: https://www.facebook.com/events/940855446757098 Melbourne: https://www.facebook.com/events/2892815967657930 https://www.facebook.com/events/955419475236819 Hobart: https://www.facebook.com/events/392745478741981 Adelaide: https://www.facebook.com/events/2930566300488268 Darwin: https://www.facebook.com/events/170376411644516 Perth: https://www.facebook.com/events/398182648083729 Join the Perth campaign - https://www.facebook.com/tamilrefugeecounciloz and https://www.facebook.com/curtinuwasar
Aran will be speaking at Socialism in Sydney - http://www.socialismsydney.com/program/2154/
Red Flag coverage of the story of the 'Biloela family' - https://redflag.org.au/article/relief-one-biloela-family-fight-isnt-over
Profile of Kokilapathmapriya (Priya) Nadesalingam by Ben Hillier - https://redflag.org.au/article/freedom-fighter-celebrate-international-womens-day
Support Red Flag Radio on Patreon:
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Subscribe to Red Flag newspaper:
https://subscribe.redflag.org.au/
Hosted by Roz Ward. Produced by Liam Ward.
Music by Dan Kenny.
What are the differences between a socialist approach to fighting for liberation from oppression and the ideas that dominate what has become known as 'identity politics'? How can we genuinely combat oppression based on attributes of identity? What are the strengths of a politics of solidarity rather than 'allyship'? How important is it to experience oppression in order to understand it? On this episode we're joined by socialist activist Sarah Garnham to answer these questions and more.
Further reading on this topic:
The problem with identity politics by Louise O'Shea - https://redflag.org.au/node/5900
Against reductionism: Marxism and oppression by Sarah Garnham - https://marxistleftreview.org/articles/against-reductionism-marxism-and-oppression/
Support Red Flag Radio on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/redflagradiopodcast
Subscribe to Red Flag newspaper:
https://subscribe.redflag.org.au/
Hosted by Roz Ward. Produced by Liam Ward.
Music by Dan Kenny.
For more than 100 years, Palestinians have never given up the fight for their homeland and national independence. Their struggles have inspired international solidarity as a result of their courage and determination in the face of violent occupation and oppression. On this episode we are joined again by Vashti Fox, author of The Story of Palestine: Empire, Repression and Resistance, for a discussion of the history and important political lessons socialists can learn from the Palestinian struggle.
The Story of Palestine: Empire, Repression and Resistance by Vashti Fox (2020) available at https://shop.redflag.org.au/collections/palestine/products/the-story-of-palestine-empire-repression-and-resistance
For protests in Melbourne go to: https://www.facebook.com/FreePalestineMelbourne
Palestine Action Group Sydney: https://www.facebook.com/syd.bmbc
Support Red Flag Radio on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/redflagradiopodcast
Subscribe to Red Flag newspaper:
https://subscribe.redflag.org.au/
Hosted by Roz Ward. Produced by Liam Ward.
Music by Dan Kenny.
Israel's latest offensive against the Palestinians began with evictions in the neighbourhood of Sheik Jarrah and continues with a massive aerial bombardment of Gaza. On this episode, author of The Story of Palestine: Empire, Repression and Resistance Vashti Fox discusses the background to the current wave of aggression and the historical and contemporary importance of Israel to global and regional capitalist powers.
Palestinians are fighting back and they need our solidarity by Vashti Fox https://redflag.org.au/article/palestinians-are-fighting-back-and-they-need-our-solidarity
Why the Australian state supports Israel so stridently by Vashti Fox https://marxistleftreview.org/articles/why-the-australian-state-supports-israel-so-stridently/
Nakba: understanding the Palestinian catastrophe by Kim Bullimore https://redflag.org.au/article/nakba-understanding-palestinian-catastrophe
The Story of Palestine: Empire, Repression and Resistance by Vashti Fox (2020) available at https://shop.redflag.org.au/collections/palestine/products/the-story-of-palestine-empire-repression-and-resistance
For protests in Melbourne go to: https://www.facebook.com/FreePalestineMelbourne
Palestine Action Group Sydney: https://www.facebook.com/syd.bmbc
Wood for cremation fires is running out across India. While bodies continue to fill the streets the Modi regime has pushed a political agenda of self promotion and ignored a rapidly growing health catastrophe. On this episode we are joined by Sagar Sanyal to discuss how this crisis happened, what the Indian ruling class could have done to prevent it, and why capitalism is responsible for mass murder.
Reading:
Turning a profit from death: on Modi’s pandemic response in neoliberal India by Tithi Bhattacharya
https://redflag.org.au/article/turning-profit-death-modis-pandemic-response-neoliberal-india
India’s government has blood on its hands by Ravibhahini
https://redflag.org.au/article/indias-government-has-blood-its-hands
Support Red Flag Radio on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/redflagradiopodcast
Subscribe to Red Flag newspaper:
https://subscribe.redflag.org.au/
Hosted by Roz Ward. Produced by Liam Ward.
Music by Dan Kenny.
Scott Morrison's response to multiple allegations of sexual assault within his party has been an abject failure and a demonstration of the ongoing commitment of the government to oppression and exploitation. In this episode we welcome back Red Flag newspaper editor Louise O'Shea to discuss what has happened since accusations against attorney-general Christian Porter were made public last month, including the The Good Society resources aimed at educating students about consent and respectful relationships.
Previous episode:
https://redflag.podbean.com/e/power-politics-and-sexual-assault-with-louise-oshea/
Support Red Flag Radio on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/redflagradiopodcast
Subscribe to Red Flag newspaper:
https://subscribe.redflag.org.au/
Hosted by Roz Ward. Produced by Liam Ward.
Music by Dan Kenny.
We have a world to win, but are we too late to avoid the 'tipping points' that trigger irreversible environmental catastrophe? There are still reasons to hope that we can save the planet, but what are the politics that can win the world? In this discussion with socialist teacher and environmental activist Jamiel Deeb, we examine the failures of reformist environmentalism and the crimes of capitalism as well as the possibilities for socialism in a hothouse earth.
Further reading:
'Net zero by 2050' means disaster' by Jack Crawford in Red Flag
'Without a revolution, we'll have climate catastrophe' by James Plested in Red Flag
Marxism and the natural world by Michael Kandelaars in Marxist Left Review
Support Red Flag Radio on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/redflagradiopodcast
Subscribe to Red Flag newspaper:
https://subscribe.redflag.org.au/
Hosted by Roz Ward. Produced by Liam Ward.
Music by Dan Kenny.
Special recording of the opening night of Marxism 2021 in Melbourne featuring Aran Mylvaganam, Liz Walsh, and Omar Hassan.
Marxism Conference - www.marxismconference.org
Instagram @marxism_conference
Facebook /MarxismConference
Support Red Flag Radio on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/redflagradiopodcast
Subscribe to Red Flag newspaper:
https://subscribe.redflag.org.au/
Hosted by Roz Ward. Produced by Liam Ward.
Music by Dan Kenny.
Rebellion and resistance continues in Myanmar after the Tatmadaw (Myanmar’s military) arrested State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and seized government on 1 February. Young workers and students have been at the centre of an uprising that has included mass strikes, street protests, and creative acts of civil disobedience. On this episode Burmese-Australian youth activist Ye Yint Aung and socialist Robert Narai share their perspectives and stories on the eruption of popular anger and the challenges ahead.
Further readings:
Myanmar coup: ‘The people are more united, armed with past lessons’ by Ye Yint Aung
https://amp.theage.com.au/national/myanmar-coup-the-people-are-more-united-armed-with-past-lessons-20210302-p57747.html
Myanmar’s spring revolution by Robert Narai:
https://redflag.org.au/article/myanmars-spring-revolution
Myanmar Workers and Unions on the Front Lines in Fight Against Coup by Kevin Lin:
https://labornotes.org/2021/02/myanmar-workers-and-unions-front-lines-fight-against-coup
If the Military Leaders Win, There Will Be No Unions': Myanmar Garment Workers on the Strikes Against the Coup, interview with Ma Moe Sandar Myint, Ma Ei Ei Phyu, Ma Tin Tin Wai
https://labornotes.org/2021/03/if-military-leaders-win-there-will-be-no-unions-myanmar-garment-workers-strikes-against-coup
Join us for a special panel at Marxism 2021
https://marxismconference.org/program/monday/myanmar-thailand-hong-kong-mass-movements-for-democracy-across-asia
Follow Victorian Myanmar Youth on Facebook and Instagram for events and updates: facebook.com/vicmmyouth
Support Red Flag Radio on Patreon:
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Subscribe to Red Flag newspaper:
https://subscribe.redflag.org.au/
Hosted by Roz Ward. Produced by Liam Ward.
Music by Dan Kenny.
Allegations of a rape that took place in parliament house made by former Liberal party staffer Brittany Higgens have opened up a broader discussion on the vile sexist behaviour of federal politicians and why such a culture thrives at the highest levels of Australian politics. On this episode Red Flag newspaper contributing editor Louise O'Shea argues that these examples of sexual assault, and the inadequate responses they generate, can only be understood as part of a system of class domination, power, and gendered oppression.
Read: Right-wing culture warriors and rape
From the archive: Celebrating International Working Women’s Day with Liz Walsh and Louisa Bassini
Support Red Flag Radio on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/redflagradiopodcast
Subscribe to Red Flag newspaper:
https://subscribe.redflag.org.au/
Hosted by Roz Ward. Produced by Liam Ward.
Music by Dan Kenny.
In the second of our two part special, we explore the history and practice of anarchism with socialist activists Emma and Khyl. What was the debate between Marx and Bakunin really about? How did anarchists respond to the Russian revolution? What can we learn about anarchism from the period of the Spanish Civil War? How is the history of anarchism reflected in the current priorities of anarchist activists? Why does any of this matter?
Longer read - Marxism and anarchism
Support Red Flag Radio on Patreon:
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Hosted by Roz Ward. Produced by Liam Ward.
Music by Dan Kenny.
In the first of a two part special, we discuss some of the key theoretical differences between Anarchism and Marxism with socialist activists Emma and Khyl. What does it mean to be against all forms of authority? Why does understanding the role and nature of the state matter? How does anarchism view the revolutionary potential of the working class? What is the role of democracy and the party in revolutionary socialist organising compared to anarchism? In part two we will taker look at the history of anarchism in practice.
Deep reading - Marx and the state
Further listening - A history of Anarchism: A marxist critique
Support Red Flag Radio on Patreon:
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Subscribe to Red Flag newspaper:
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Hosted by Roz Ward. Produced by Liam Ward.
Music by Dan Kenny.
Our final summer episode featuring highlights from the audio archives of the annual Marxism Conference in Melbourne. Roz's choice is presented by Dougal McNeill, Senior Lecturer in the English Programme at Victoria University of Wellington and President of the local branch of the Tertiary Education Union. In the introduction, Dougal explores the politics and work of the anti-war poets of World War One.
Read more on The Poetry of Revolution by Diane Fieldes
Marxism 2021 tickets and program information:
http://marxismconference.org/
Support Red Flag Radio on Patreon:
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Subscribe to Red Flag newspaper:
https://subscribe.redflag.org.au/
Hosted by Roz Ward. Produced by Liam Ward.
Music by Dan Kenny.
A special listener request from the Marxism Conference archives. The Russian Revolution is one of the most hotly contested events in human history. In this episode Omar Hassan presents a revolutionary socialist perspective on these world changing events.
Russia 1917: When the People Rose by Sandra Bloodworth
Marxism 2021 tickets and program information:
http://marxismconference.org/
Support Red Flag Radio on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/redflagradiopodcast
Subscribe to Red Flag newspaper:
https://subscribe.redflag.org.au/
Hosted by Roz Ward. Produced by Liam Ward.
Music by Dan Kenny.
In 2010, Malalai Joya was named as one of Time magazine's 100 most influential people in the world. Malalai first made worldwide news when she publicly denounced the Taliban and corrupt warlords in Afghanistan who she claimed took power with American backing. In 2005, she was elected to the Afghan parliament, but two years later was banished for her fierce criticisms of corrupt elements in the Afghan government and the US occupation. Malalai was forced to live semi-underground and continues to tour the world speaking against the Taliban, corruption and misogyny in Afghanistan. Often referred to as "the bravest woman in Afghanistan" she is a writer, feminist and anti-war activist. This episode features highlights from her presentation at Marxism 2012.
Marxism 2021 tickets and program information:
http://marxismconference.org/
Support Red Flag Radio on Patreon:
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Subscribe to Red Flag newspaper:
https://subscribe.redflag.org.au/
Hosted by Roz Ward. Produced by Liam Ward.
Music by Dan Kenny.
Another summer special edition featuring highlights from the Marxism conference archives. On this episode we hear from two Palestinian activists. Huwaida Arraf, special guest at Marxism 2018, is a Palestinian American activist and lawyer who co-founded the International Solidarity Movement (ISM). We also hear from Remi Kanazi, a poet, writer, and organiser based in New York City. He is the author of Before the Next Bomb Drops: Rising Up from Brooklyn to Palestine and Poetic Injustice: Writings on Resistance and Palestine.
Marxism 2021 tickets and program information:
http://marxismconference.org/
Support Red Flag Radio on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/redflagradiopodcast
Subscribe to Red Flag newspaper:
https://subscribe.redflag.org.au/
Hosted by Roz Ward. Produced by Liam Ward.
Music by Dan Kenny.
A summer special edition featuring highlights from the Marxism conference archives. On this episode we hear from Billy X Jennings a Black Panther Party veteran member, activist, educator and archivist speaking at Marxism 2013. Billy X Jennings acted as the personal aid to BPP leaders Huey Newton and David Hilliard.
We also hear from Eamonn McCann, a journalist, socialist activist and former People Before Profit MLA member from Derry, Ireland. Eamonn is recorded as part of a panel at Marxism 2015 on the subject ‘why you should be a socialist’.
Marxism 2021 tickets and program information:
http://marxismconference.org/
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Hosted by Roz Ward. Produced by Liam Ward.
Music by Dan Kenny.
The Brereton report exposed the horrific war crimes of Australian soldiers in Afghanistan. Less is known about the activities of the Australian military in the Pacific region. On this episode we explore the bloody history of Australia as an imperialist power and how socialists today understand the dynamics of imperialism in the region with Vinil Kumar.
Owning up to Australia’s slave labour past by Hersha Kadkol
Backyard bully: Australia's imperialism in the Pacific by Vinil Kumar
The forging of Australian imperialism by Tom O'Lincoln
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Hosted by Roz Ward. Produced by Liam Ward.
Music by Dan Kenny.
The Labor government in Victoria announced that it will spend $5.3 billion as part of the 'Big Housing Build' over the next four years. The initiative has been described as the 'largest ever investment' by a state government in housing but the spin covers the fact that the majority of the money will not be spent on public housing. In this episode we explore the privatisation of social housing in Australia and investigate the reality of the housing crisis with activists Louisa Bassini and Steph Price.
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Hosted by Roz Ward. Produced by Liam Ward.
Music by Dan Kenny.
Celebrating our first year of podcasting from Melbourne, Australia. Roz and Liam discuss reasons to be a revolutionary socialist in 2020 and reflect on our favourite episodes with special guests Louise O'Shea, Jerome Small, Emma Norton, and Sagar Sanyal.
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Hosted by Roz Ward. Produced by Liam Ward.
Music by Dan Kenny.
Victorian Socialists member and friend of Red Flag Radio Jorge Jorquera has just won a seat on Maribyrnong Council in the west of Melbourne. Jorge talks to Roz and Liam about why he decided to run as a candidate for council and how the Victorian Socialists organised a campaign during a pandemic. We explore the challenge of connecting local issues with global politics and what it might mean to be a revolutionary socialist and councillor.
Follow Jorge on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/jorgevicsoc
Find out more about the Victorian Socialists - https://www.victoriansocialists.org.au/
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Hosted by Roz Ward. Produced by Liam Ward.
Music by Dan Kenny.
Staff and students across Australia are facing the challenge of organising during a pandemic to respond a massive crisis in higher education. Vice Chancellors are claiming that universities need to cut jobs in order to save money that has been wiped from their projected profits. The Liberal government has taken the opportunity to push through a ‘Job-ready Graduates Package’ - a major restructure that aims to make staff and students pay for the crisis. NTEU Fightback activists Katie Wood (Melbourne University) and Jack Hynes (Victoria University) join student activist Grace Hill (ANU) in discussion with Liam and Roz.
NTEU Fightback - https://www.facebook.com/NTEUfightback
Resources - https://nteufightback.site/resources
Student Fightback - https://www.facebook.com/StudentFightback
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Hosted by Roz Ward. Produced by Liam Ward.
Music by Dan Kenny.
The police crackdown on protests in New South Wales is a serious attempt to erode democratic rights and curtail political expression under the cover of the pandemic. On this episode we discuss why democracy should be defended at the same time as serious health measures are put in place to deal with the health crisis. Our guests Vinil Kumar and Eleanor Morely are founding members of the campaign 'Democracy is Essential - Restore the right to protest in NSW'.
Campaign Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/DemocracyNSW
Sign up to the campaign - here
Donate to help pay the fines - here
Civil rights, profits and the lockdown by Louise O'Shea
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Hosted by Roz Ward. Produced by Liam Ward.
Music by Dan Kenny.
Twenty years ago, the 11-13 September blockade of the World Economic Forum’s Asia-Pacific Economic Summit, held at Melbourne’s Crown Casino complex, was disrupted by an estimated 20,000 protesters. James Plested and James Vigus are revolutionary socialists who were active participants at S11. On this episode we discuss the political context, debates, actions, and legacy of S11 and the 'battle of Melbourne'.
20 years on from S11: looking back at the battle of Melbourne by James Plested
S11 on the barricades video
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In 2014, the Hazelwood mine fire burned out of control for 45 days causing one of Australia's biggest environmental and health disasters. Millions of square metres of exposed, highly flammable brown coal sent toxic ash and smoke billowing through the Latrobe Valley. The corporate owners of the mine dodged responsibility and focused on keeping the power station operating. The government covered up the health impacts and offered slow and grossly inadequate support measures. In the face of indifference for their lives and health, local residents got organised and fought back.
Published on 23 February 2014, Naomi Farmer's article on the crisis, Disaster in the Valley crashed the Red Flag website and triggered the beginning of serious resistance from local communities. Veteran socialist Diane Fieldes joins Naomi for discussion of a disaster that captures both the inhumanity of capitalism and the potential for a different world.
Tom Doig's new book Hazelwood is reviewed by Diane in the next issue of Red Flag.
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Hosted by Roz Ward. Produced by Liam Ward.
Music by Dan Kenny.
A two part special edition with Sagar Sanyal on how Marxists understand economic crisis. In part two we discuss how the legacy of the GFC and underlying structural weakness in the economy form the context of the current crisis. Sagar offers a critique of non-Marxist theoretical and practical responses to the economic challenges of 2020. This episode is suitable for listeners who are new to thinking about economics or those looking to develop their understanding of Marxist economics.
If the neoliberal order is over, what comes next? -https://redflag.org.au/node/7184
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A two part special edition with Sagar Sanyal on how Marxists understand economic crisis. In part one we discuss how mainstream interpretations of the causes of the Global Financial Crisis (GFC) of 2008 fail to take account of the inherent instability of capitalist competition and production. Why do crises happen and what is the legacy of 2008 for today? This episode is suitable for listeners who are new to thinking about economics or those looking to develop their understanding of Marxist economics.
Recommended reading: Chris Harman (2009) Zombie Capitalism: Global Crisis and the Relevance of Marx (Bookmarks) - available at https://shop.redflag.org.au/
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Hosted by Roz Ward. Produced by Liam Ward.
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Led by students and young people, a new wave of pro-democracy protest has broken out in Thailand. Liam is joined by Giles Ji Ungpakorn, an exiled socialist and Thai dissident living in the United Kingdom, to discuss what has been happening to re-energise the movement.
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Hosted by Roz Ward. Produced by Liam Ward.
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The logic of neoliberalism has defined the response to COVID-19 internationally. In Australia, decades of privatisation have degraded health services and made sub-contracting endemic in employment. This means that political decisions continue to be made on all sides that put profit and business before health and life. In this episode we discuss how neoliberalism has shaped the pandemic with Red Flag contributing editor Louise O'Shea.
Neoliberalism's pandemic - https://redflag.org.au/node/7303
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Hosted by Roz Ward. Produced by Liam Ward.
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The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the structural weakness and lack of resources in Australia's hospitals. On this special episode we speak to healthcare workers Cecilia and Eric about their experiences during the current crisis, how the neoliberal priorities of hospital management are impacting workers and patients, and explore the possibilities for resistance and change.
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Hosted by Roz Ward. Produced by Liam Ward.
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For socialists, the Russian Revolution of 1917 is the most important event in history. For a century since the October uprising, debates have taken place about what happened in the aftermath of the revolution. What shaped the events that led ultimately to the defeat of the revolution? Could the outcome have been different? What role did the Bolsheviks play at this time? Understanding this history is critical to understanding revolutionary socialist politics in opposition to Stalinism and contemporary capitalism. Sandra Bloodworth is a veteran socialist activist, historian, writer, and an editor of the Marxist Left Review.
Russia 1917 when the people rose by Sandra Bloodworth - https://redflag.org.au/russia/
New edition of Marxist Left Review now available - https://marxistleftreview.org/
Sandra's book on Russia is available here.
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Hosted by Roz Ward. Produced by Liam Ward.
Music by Dan Kenny.
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Malcolm X is a legend of Black liberation movements in the US. His unique force and uncompromising approach in denouncing racial segregation and inequality built a historic movement. A fierce critic of US imperialism, he tried to build links with anti-colonial movements and struggles the world over and offered a critique of capitalism. Today, millions in the United States and across the world are asking how we can fight for racial justice and confront the violence of the state. Anti-racist and socialist activist Kerri Parke discusses what we we can learn about the struggle against racism and capitalism from Malcolm X's life and work.
The revolutionary legacy of Malcom X https://redflag.org.au/article/revolutionary-legacy-malcolm-x
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Hosted by Roz Ward. Produced by Liam Ward. Music by Dan Kenny.
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The Anti Nazi League was launched in Britain in 1977 after 5,000 local people united with 5,000 trade unionists, Black and Asian activist and community groups and Labour Party members, led by the revolutionary left, to stop the fascist thugs of the National Front from marching through Lewisham in London. This new wave of anti-fascist politics offered hope and unity in the face of division and bitter racism. The success of the ANL in building a mass movement against racism has given confidence to subsequent movements against fascism in Britain and around the world. On this episode veteran socialist and anti-racist activist Moira Leahy discusses the important history and lessons of the ANL.
British Anti-Nazi League: how fascists can be beaten - https://redflag.org.au/node/6669
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Hosted by Roz Ward. Produced by Liam Ward.
Music by Dan Kenny.
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The recent investigation into the Victorian branches of the Australian Labour Party (ALP) revealed branch stacking and corruption at an 'industrial scale'. In this episode we discuss the history of the ALP and analyse what has changed, and what has remained the same. Why is it that the ALP are so decrepit? Rick Kuhn is a Marxist economist, political analyst and honorary associate professor at the Australian National University in Canberra. Rick is also the co-author of Labor’s Conflict: Big Business, Workers and the Politics of Class (2010). Kath is a rail worker and activist in the Rail Tram and Bus Union and has just been preselected as the Victorian Socialists' candidate for Lord Mayor of Melbourne.
Labor's leaders don't deserve true believers https://redflag.org.au/node/7235
The ALP: What class of party? https://marxistleftreview.org/articles/the-alp-what-class-of-party/
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Hosted by Roz Ward. Produced by Liam Ward.
Music by Dan Kenny.
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The police were never meant to protect and serve ordinary people. In this episode we discuss the history of the police and their development alongside the establishment of capitalist relations. Why are the police so racist? What is their real role in society? Can we abolish the police? Roz is joined in discussions to address these questions and more by socialist activists Emma Norton and Luca Tavan.
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Defunding, disarming, defeating and abolishing the police -https://redflag.org.au/node/7233
Follow our coverage of the uprising in Red Flag - https://redflag.org.au/
Hosted by Roz Ward. Produced by Liam Ward.
Music by Dan Kenny.
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The popular rebellion against racism and police violence continues to unfold on a mass scale in the United States. Uprisings have emerged in every major city making this the most significant event of its kind since the urban revolts of the 1960s. Indigenous socialist activist Gavin Stanbrook and NUS Anti-Racist Officer Vinil Kumar join the discussion on these incredible events, the political and international response, and how solidarity is the only way to build resistance to capitalism and oppression.
Join the protests in Australia this weekend
Saturday 6 June
Sydney (3PM 20 Lee Street, Sydney CBD) https://www.facebook.com/events/246881229969044/
Melbourne (2PM Parliament House) https://www.facebook.com/events/2523873747926996/
Brisbane (1PM King George Square) https://www.facebook.com/events/648549595874359/
Adelaide (12PM Tarndanyangga) https://www.facebook.com/events/252815505938946/
Newcastle (2PM Civic Park) https://www.facebook.com/events/249335203063836/
Sunday 7 June
Wollongong (2PM Crown St Mall Amphitheatre) https://www.facebook.com/events/2651315805127698/
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Follow our coverage of the uprising in Red Flag - https://redflag.org.au/
Hosted by Roz Ward. Produced by Liam Ward.
Music by Dan Kenny.
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Marx was to develop his major ecological critique in the volumes of Capital. In Volume 3 he wrote that there was an “irreparable rift in the interdependent process of social metabolism, a metabolism prescribed by the natural laws of life itself”. This has become known as the theory of the 'metabolic rift'. The current interconnected health and global ecological crises are now increasingly understood in relation to industrialisation, production, and the human-metabolic relation to nature at the expense of the world’s ecosystems. So what does the metabolic rift help to explain about the crisis today? Can the metabolic rift be repaired by technical solutions within capitalism? Friend of the podcast, Sagar Sanyal joins Roz and Liam for discussion.
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Hosted by Roz Ward. Produced by Liam Ward.
Music by Dan Kenny.
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The COVID-19 pandemic has halted the lucrative international student 'market' in Australian universities. As a result, university executives around the country moved to immediately sack or stand down hundreds of casuals and threaten to attack the conditions and pay of all workers in the sector. In response, the leadership of the National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) have entered into negotiations that offer to 'sacrifice' hard-won conditions in a misguided attempt to save jobs. Rank and file unionists are organising and campaigning to resist any concessions and amendments to existing enterprise agreements through NTEU Fightback - Vote No - No Concessions. Roz and Liam are joined in a discussion of the issues by leading activists Alma Torlakovic and Katie Wood.
For more on the campaign - https://www.facebook.com/NTEUfightback
Coverage in Red Flag - https://redflag.org.au/node/7170
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Hosted by Roz Ward. Produced by Liam Ward.
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Trotsky is a controversial historical figure whose legacy continues to generate interest and debate around the left internationally. In this discussion with socialist activists Emma Norton and Luca Tavan, we investigate Trotsky's life, legacy, and how Trotskyism continues to impact politics today.
Who's afraid of Leon Trotsky? https://redflag.org.au/node/5456
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Under the ALP-ACTU Prices and Incomes Accord (1983-1996) union leaders in Australia agreed to abandon striking and struggle in return for having their wages indexed by the Arbitration Commission and the promises of the Labor government for a few social reforms. While the Accord is generally portrayed as being welcomed by workers, many workers angrily resisted the attacks on their wages, conditions, jobs, and unions. Veteran socialist activist and historian Liz Ross' latest book Stuff the Accord! Pay up! Workers Resistance to the ALP-ACTU Accord tells the hidden stories of how these workers fought back. Liz shares stories from this period with Roz and Liam in a discussion that has many ramifications on the struggles we face today.
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Hosted by Roz Ward. Produced by Liam Ward.
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Remembering has been replaced with remembrance as the Australian ruling class promote nationalism and war at the annual ANZAC day events on April 25. Mainstream histories of World War I in Australia have been deliberately overshadowed by the events that took place in Gallipoli. On this episode, Roz and Liam are joined by historian Robert Bollard to uncover the history of ANZAC day from a working-class perspective. Robert is widely published on the labour movement in Australia during World War I and author of the book In the shadow of Gallipoli available through Red Flag books.
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Hosted by Roz Ward. Produced by Liam Ward.
Music by Dan Kenny.
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The major crises developing from the COVID-19 pandemic are leading many people to think seriously about alternatives to capitalism. As governments around the world spend billions more than usual on welfare and bailouts, questions are being raised about what socialism actually looks like. On this episode, we discuss how to understand socialism from a revolutionary perspective and how we can fight for it with guests Sarah Garnham and Moira Leahy.
We're still working on our sound quality (it gets better through the episode!) Please support us on Patreon -https://www.patreon.com/redflagradiopodcast
Livestream on Sunday 19th April - https://www.facebook.com/events/2640038589652374/
Follow our coverage of the crisis in Red Flag - https://redflag.org.au/
Hosted by Roz Ward. Produced by Liam Ward.
Music by Dan Kenny.
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The 'Spanish Flu' pandemic of 1918-1920 killed millions of people around the world. Many comparisons are being made to the current crisis, but little attention has been paid to the militant working class rebellion and resistance that broke out in a number of countries, including Australia. Socialist activist and historian Mick Armstrong joins Roz and Liam to uncover stories of struggle in India, Ireland, South Africa, and Australia.
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Hosted by Roz Ward. Produced by Liam Ward.
Music by Dan Kenny.
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Right wing and far-right responses to the COVID-19 pandemic have included outright denial, racist conspiracy theories, extreme nationalism, and anti-democratic authoritarianism. In Australia, incidents of anti-Asian racism have increased and the police are already using the new conditions to crack down on marginal communities. In the long term, this crisis has the potential to build and strengthen the far-right unless there is organised left wing opposition. Roz and Liam are joined in discussion by Vashti Fox, a socialist activist and writer who is currently researching the history of anti-fascism in Australia since the 1970s.*
*we're working on our remote recording quality - please support the podcast on Patreon to help us get better equipment to record outside our usual home studio space. https://www.patreon.com/redflagradiopodcast
Follow our coverage of the crisis in Red Flag online - https://redflag.org.au/
Hosted by Roz Ward. Produced by Liam Ward.
Music by Dan Kenny.
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The economic impact of the COVID-19 virus is only just beginning to hit as tens of thousands of workers lose their jobs in Australia and trillions of dollars are spent by governments internationally to bailout business. Analysts are already predicting an economic crisis on a scale potentially bigger than the Great Depression of the 1930s. On this episode, Roz is joined by Rick Kuhn, a Marxist economist, writer, political activist, and honorary Associate Professor at the Australian National University to discuss how we can understand the economic situation.*
*we're working on our remote recording quality - please support the podcast on Patreon to help us get better equipment to record outside our usual home studio space. https://www.patreon.com/redflagradiopodcast
Follow our coverage of the crisis in Red Flag online - https://redflag.org.au/
Hosted by Roz Ward. Produced by Liam Ward.
Music by Dan Kenny.
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Educators, parents and students are fighting to shut down schools and childcare centres in Australia to keep all workers and families safe. They are demanding full pay for all workers impacted by closures, and safe provision of care for health workers and other essential service workers. While the government has banned gatherings of more than 10 people they still refuse to shut down schools nationwide. In response, ordinary people are organising resistance. Roz is joined by parents Cathy and Anita alongside year-six student Maya for a discussion of what has been happening, and why it is so important to keep fighting*.
*we're working on our remote recording quality - please support the podcast on Patreon to help us get better equipment to record outside our usual home studio space. https://www.patreon.com/redflagradiopodcast
Follow Workers Organising Resistance in the Pandemic
https://www.facebook.com/WorkersOrganisingResistance
National School Boycott M23 #ShutTheSchoolsNow
https://www.facebook.com/events/538206863490269/
Livestream event Weds 25th 7pm (Melb time)
https://www.facebook.com/events/586894028580228/
Follow our coverage of the crisis in Red Flag online - https://redflag.org.au/
Hosted by Roz Ward. Produced by Liam Ward.
Music by Dan Kenny.
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The impact of the COVID-19 crisis on workers around the world is on a scale unprecedented in living memory. In Australia, hundreds of thousands of workers have already lost their jobs, many others are working in hazardous conditions, and almost all have inadequate sick leave allowances. In the face of this, Australian-based workers and unionists are already organising resistance in their workplaces. Roz and Liam are joined by union activists Kath Larkin and Jerome Small for an urgent discussion*.
*we're working on our remote recording quality - please support the podcast on Patreon to help us get better equipment to record outside our usual home studio - https://www.patreon.com/redflagradiopodcast
Follow Workers Organising Resistance in the Pandemic https://www.facebook.com/WorkersOrganisingResistance
National School Boycott M23 #ShutTheSchoolsNow
https://www.facebook.com/events/538206863490269/
Follow our coverage of the crisis in Red Flag online - https://redflag.org.au/
Hosted by Roz Ward. Produced by Liam Ward.
Music by Dan Kenny.
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Contact the show - redflagradiopodcast@gmail.com
With the prospect of a rapid escalation in the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Australia, the risk of hundreds if not thousands of deaths, and a growing international economic crisis the brutal reality of capitalism is being revealed more each day. Private profits have been prioritised over public health and workers rights. Roz and Liam are joined in discussion by Red Flag editor Louise O'Shea and veteran activist, historian and writer Sandra Bloodworth.
*we're working on our remote recording quality - please support the podcast on Patreon to help us get better equipment to record outside our usual home studio - https://www.patreon.com/redflagradiopodcast
Follow our coverage of the crisis in Red Flag online - https://redflag.org.au/
Hosted by Roz Ward. Produced by Liam Ward.
Music by Dan Kenny.
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Contact the show - redflagradiopodcast@gmail.com
As capitalism lurches from crisis to crisis, the question of revolutionary change has become increasingly important. But what do Marxists mean by revolution? Can revolutions actually happen? What does a revolution look like? Roz Ward is joined in conversation with Tess Dimos and Omar Hassan for an introduction to one of the key concepts of Marxism.
Please note this episode was recorded on 15 January 2020
For more reading on this and other topics check out Red Flag's new Introduction to Socialism section.
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Red Flag Radio is a revolutionary socialist podcast.
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Subscribe to Red Flag newspaper. Australia's leading socialist publication.
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International Working Women's Day has a socialist history. On this episode, we discuss the rebellious and revolutionary women who have been at the forefront of working class struggles from 1917 to today. From the legacy of the women's liberation in the 1970s to the global struggles erupting in 2019, there is much to celebrate and so much more to win. Roz is joined by Melbourne socialist activists Liz Walsh and Louisa Bassini to discuss how we fight sexism, and where we have the power to achieve genuine liberation.
Read more of the history of IWWD in Red Flag here and explore our coverage of gender and sexuality.
For more discussions like this one (with you in them!) come to Australia's biggest socialist conference Marxism 2020.
Please support the podcast on Patreon to help us keep making the show.
https://www.patreon.com/redflagradiopodcast
Hosted by Roz Ward. Produced by Liam Ward.
Music by Dan Kenny.
Subscribe to Red Flag newspaper - https://subscribe.redflag.org.au/
Contact the show - redflagradiopodcast@gmail.com
The agriculture industry is responsible for huge volumes of greenhouse gas emissions and is a key driver of mass deforestation. Crops are sprayed with millions of tonnes of toxic pesticides and fertilizers which ruin the soil and run into the waterways. Despite all this, 9 million people a year will starve to death. On this episode, we explore the production of food in recent human history and uncover the reasons why sustainable food production is not possible in a capitalist system. With special guest scientist Roxanne Kelly.
For more discussions like this one (with you in them!) come to Australia's biggest socialist conference Marxism 2020.
Please support the podcast on Patreon to help us keep making the show.
https://www.patreon.com/redflagradiopodcast
Hosted by Roz Ward. Produced by Liam Ward.
Music by Dan Kenny.
Subscribe to Red Flag newspaper - https://subscribe.redflag.org.au/
Contact the show - redflagradiopodcast@gmail.com
The second of our series of beginners guide episodes offers an introduction to Marxist economics. What is the difference between mainstream economics and Marxist economics? What are the relationships of economic production that shape life within capitalism? What is the labour theory of value? What does knowing anything about economics have to do with trying to change the world? Host Roz Ward discusses the answers to these questions and more with activists Sarah Garnham and Luca Tavan.
For more reading on this and other topics check out Red Flag's new Introduction to Socialism section.
For more discussions like this one (in real life!) come to Australia's biggest socialist conference Marxism 2020.
Please support the podcast on Patreon to help us keep making the show.
https://www.patreon.com/redflagradiopodcast
Red Flag Radio is a revolutionary socialist podcast.
Hosted by Roz Ward. Produced by Liam Ward.
Music by Dan Kenny.
Subscribe to Red Flag newspaper. Australia's leading socialist publication.
Contact the show: redflagradiopodcast@gmail.com
The Jabiluka uranium deposit in the Northern Territory is one of the richest in the world. In 1998, work was scheduled to begin on a mine that would have extracted 19 million tonnes of ore. Led by the traditional owners of the land - the Mirarr people - a campaign was built that successfully stopped the construction of the mine. Fleur and Jerome were activists in the Jabiluka Action Group in Melbourne that organised solidarity protests and blockades in the city. On this episode, they share the story of how a campaign of (extra)ordinary people managed to force a massive mining company to keep it in the ground.
Read Fleur's full story in Red Flag here.
For more discussions like this one (in real life!) come to Australia's biggest socialist conference Marxism 2020.
Please support the podcast on Patreon to help us keep making the show.
https://www.patreon.com/redflagradiopodcast
Hosted by Roz Ward. Produced by Liam Ward.
Music by Dan Kenny.
Subscribe to Red Flag newspaper - https://subscribe.redflag.org.au/
Contact the show - redflagradiopodcast@gmail.com
As a follow up from our previous episode, Red Flag editor Ben Hillier reports directly from the ground in Hong Kong on how the democracy movement has been impacted by the Coronavirus outbreak. We also discuss the impact of changes in police tactics and the development of union organisations as the protesters vow to continue the struggle.
Ben's latest piece in Red Flag is here.
For more discussions like this one (in real life!) come to Australia's biggest socialist conference Marxism 2020.
Please support the podcast on Patreon to help us keep making the show.
https://www.patreon.com/redflagradiopodcast
Hosted by Roz Ward. Produced by Liam Ward.
Music by Dan Kenny.
Subscribe to Red Flag newspaper - https://subscribe.redflag.org.au/
Contact the show - redflagradiopodcast@gmail.com
The first in a new series of 'beginners guide' episodes aimed at people who are new to socialist politics or those who want to refresh their interest! This show focuses on capitalism and asks: What is capitalism? Where did capitalism come from? Why is it such a shit system? It is possible to change capitalism for the better? Can we really get rid of capitalism? Host Roz Ward is joined by activists Anneke Demanuele and Emma Black in the discussion.
For more reading on this and other topics check out Red Flag's new Introduction to Socialism section.
For more discussions like this one (in real life!) come to Australia's biggest socialist conference Marxism 2020.
Please support the podcast on Patreon to help us keep making the show.
https://www.patreon.com/redflagradiopodcast
Red Flag Radio is a revolutionary socialist podcast.
Hosted by Roz Ward. Produced by Liam Ward.
Music by Dan Kenny.
Subscribe to Red Flag newspaper. Australia's leading socialist publication.
Contact the show: redflagradiopodcast@gmail.com
On this special episode we talk to Australian comedian Tom Ballard. Tom is a former triple j presenter, host of ABC tv show Tonightly, writer, podcaster, and stand-up comedian. Tom asks us some big questions about revolution and socialism. Roz and Liam are joined by Sarah Garnham for a lively and serious discussion about how to change the world.
For more discussions like this come to Marxism 2020 - Australia's biggest socialist conference. Tom already bought his ticket!
Please support the podcast on Patreon to help us keep making the show.
https://www.patreon.com/redflagradiopodcast
Tom Ballard's podcast is here -http://tomballard.com.au/podcast/
Red Flag Radio is a revolutionary socialist podcast.
Hosted by Roz Ward. Produced by Liam Ward.
Music by Dan Kenny.
Subscribe to Red Flag newspaper. Australia's leading socialist publication.
Contact the show: redflagradiopodcast@gmail.com
The Liberal government's proposed 'Religious Discrimination' Bills would enshrine the right for individuals to express bigoted views and for organisations to discriminate in employment and the provision of services. The laws would restrict access to healthcare for LGBTI+ people and reproductive rights as well as increasing prejudice against other minorities. On this episode, we talk to activists Ali Hogg and April Holcombe about what lessons to take from the marriage equality campaign, how we can beat the bigots, and why Scomo has to go.
Join the protests in Melbourne on Sunday 9th Feb or Sydney on Saturday 8th Feb.
Come to Marxism 2020, Australia's biggest socialist conference.
Support the podcast on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/redflagradiopodcast
Red Flag Radio is a revolutionary socialist podcast.
Hosted by Roz Ward. Produced by Liam Ward.
Music by Dan Kenny.
Subscribe to Red Flag newspaper. Australia's leading socialist publication.
Contact the show: redflagradiopodcast@gmail.com
On this episode, we speak to Sagar Sanyal about the political situation in India and the ongoing resistance to the new islamophobic citizenship law. Since the law passed in December last year, millions have taken part in demonstrations and occupations across the country. Women and students have played a particularly important role in pushing back against Modi's increasing authoritarianism in the face of police violence and political repression.
Come to Marxism 2020, Australia's biggest socialist conference.
Support the podcast on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/redflagradiopodcast
Red Flag Radio is a revolutionary socialist podcast.
Hosted by Roz Ward. Produced by Liam Ward.
Music by Dan Kenny.
Subscribe to Red Flag newspaper. Australia's leading socialist publication.
Contact the show: redflagradiopodcast@gmail.com
The response to the unprecedented bushfire crisis in Australia has highlighted the inequality and injustice at the heart of the system. Prime Minister Scott Morrison has been heavily criticised for the government's slow and woefully inadequate measures to deal with the both the fires and the devastating aftermath. On this episode we speak to Sydney based socialist activist Eleanor Morley who has visited fire affected areas in NSW and been part of Uni Students for Climate Justice, the group that has organised protests demanding climate justice and for Scott Morrison to be sacked.
Read Eleanor's reporting in Red Flag here.
For details of upcoming demonstrations nationally follow Uni Students for Climate Justice here.
You can now support the show! https://www.patreon.com/redflagradiopodcast
Red Flag Radio is a revolutionary socialist podcast.
Hosted by Roz Ward. Produced by Liam Ward.
Music by Dan Kenny.
Subscribe to Red Flag newspaper. Australia's leading socialist publication.
Contact the show: redflagradiopodcast@gmail.com
On this episode, we're joined by Red Flag editor Louise O'Shea to discuss the ongoing attacks on civil liberties in Australia. This increasing authoritarianism includes the criminalisation of journalists and whistleblowers, an expansion of police powers, denial of free speech, growing prison populations, and secret trials. A 2019 CIVICUS report found that in the Pacific region, “the most alarming deterioration in civic space is occurring in Australia” with the country downgraded from a classification of an “open” society to one which is “narrowed”.
Red Flag Radio is a revolutionary socialist podcast.
Hosted by Roz Ward. Produced by Liam Ward.
Music by Dan Kenny.
Subscribe to Red Flag newspaper. Australia's leading socialist publication.
Contact the show>> redflagradiopodcast@gmail.com
French workers have entered a new phase of struggle sparked by President Macron's proposed cuts to the current pension and welfare system. Massive street protests and strikes have taken place as the gilet jaunes (yellow vests) join rail workers, teachers, and other unionists in actions that have continued for fifteen days. On this episode, we are joined by socialist activist Chris di Pasquale to discuss the context, history and politics of the current wave of rebellion in France.
France's general strike: uniting society's anger by Léon Crémieux article in Red Flag here.
Red Flag Radio is a revolutionary socialist podcast.
Hosted by Roz Ward. Produced by Liam Ward.
Music by Dan Kenny - more information in this episode!
Subscribe to Red Flag newspaper. Australia's leading socialist publication.
Contact the show>> redflagradiopodcast@gmail.com
Bushfires continue to burn across Australia and the outlook is for a drier and hotter summer than average. In Sydney, smoke from the fires has been declared a public health emergency with air quality reaching 12 times higher than hazardous levels. On this episode we are joined by two socialist activists from Sydney to discuss the crisis and response. Simone White is an ASU delegate and Chloe Rafferty is part of Uni Students for Climate Justice who led a protest of thousands in response to government inaction on December 11.
For details of upcoming demonstrations nationally follow Uni Students for Climate Justice here.
Red Flag Radio is a revolutionary socialist podcast.
Hosted by Roz Ward. Produced by Liam Ward.
Music by Dan Kenny.
Red Flag newspaper is Australia's leading socialist publication.
Contact the show>> redflagradiopodcast@gmail.com
Australia's unions are in a profound state of crisis, facing declining membership rates and the deepest slump in strike action in the history of the movement. On this episode, we're joined by veteran unionist and socialist Jerome Small to discuss how the unions have reached this point and what can be done to turn the situation around.
Red Flag Radio is a revolutionary socialist podcast.
Hosted by Roz Ward. Produced by Liam Ward.
Music by Dan Kenny.
Red Flag newspaper is Australia's leading socialist publication.
Contact the show>> redflagradiopodcast@gmail.com
Students and young people have been central to recent international rebellions. We talk to socialist student activist Natalie Acreman and Red Flag editor Daniel Taylor about the role of students in struggle today and their role historically and theoretically.
Red Flag Radio is a revolutionary socialist podcast.
Hosted by Roz Ward. Produced by Liam Ward.
Music by Dan Kenny.
Red Flag newspaper is Australia's leading socialist publication.
Contact the show>> redflagradiopodcast@gmail.com
In 1989 a massive student-led uprising against the Communist regime in China was brutally crushed in Tiananmen Square, the heart of the capital Beijing. Fleur Taylor was an 18-year-old student on an Australian government program who witnessed the historic events first hand. We discuss what she saw, and how to understand the politics of the events as a socialist today.
Archive audio from ABC documentary Tiananmen Square 30 Years On
We also mention the documentary The Gate of Heavenly Peace
Hosted by Roz Ward. Produced by Liam Ward.
Music by Dan Kenny.
Red Flag is Australia's leading socialist publication.
Contact the show - redflagradiopodcast@gmail.com
We talk to Gavin Stanbrook about black deaths in custody, the recent events in Yuendumu, and resistance to racism in Australia.
Gavin is a descendant of the Gumbaynggirr Nation in the Mid North Coast of New South Wales and the Yuin Nation from Wallaga Lake on the South East Coast of New South Wales.
Gavin's writing in Red Flag can be found here. And in the Guardian here.
Donate to Justice for Yuendumu here.
Hosted by Roz Ward. Produced by Liam Ward.
Music by Dan Kenny.
Read Red Flag newspaper.
In this special edition, Red Flag editor Ben Hillier reports from the ground in Hong Kong on the dramatic battle for the streets and the struggle for democracy. Ben is currently in Hong Kong reporting for Red Flag newspaper - coverage here: https://redflag.org.au/hongkong
Hosted by Roz Ward. Produced by Liam Ward.
Music by Dan Kenny.
Subscribe to Red Flag newspaper - https://subscribe.redflag.org.au/
Contact the show - redflagradiopodcast@gmail.com
Jorge Jorquera, a Chilean revolutionary socialist activist based in Australia, discusses the situation in Chile and the history that led to the current uprising. Beginning with the coup in 1973, and giving an account of the left in the period after the dictatorship, Jorge combines political analysis with stories from on the ground in Chile today.
Hosted by Roz Ward. Produced by Liam Ward.
Music by Dan Kenny.
Red Flag Radio is a revolutionary socialist podcast.
Red Flag is Australia's leading socialist publication.
A wave of international revolt and rebellion is spreading around the globe. Join our discussion with special guest, Lebanese Australian socialist Omar Hassan.
Hosted by Roz Ward. Produced by Liam Ward.
Music by Dan Kenny.
Red Flag Radio is a revolutionary socialist podcast.
Red Flag is Australia's leading socialist publication.
A discussion about the new wave of climate struggle in Australia, the rise of Extinction Rebellion, and what happened at the blockade of the International Mining and Resources Conference (IMARC) in Melbourne. With local socialist activist Sarah Garnham.
Hosted by Roz Ward. Produced by Liam Ward.
Music by Dan Kenny.
Red Flag Radio is a revolutionary socialist podcast.
Red Flag is Australia's leading socialist publication.