China and the Left – panel discussion/debate at the Australian National University

I was one of three panelists. I argue that China’s regime is both fascist and imperialist and that this happened after the coup in the years 1977-1980.

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Liberation in Syria Is a Victory Worth Embracing

The country is now free, yet some remain trapped in the past

This is a 9 minute read – the best I’ve come across regarding the Syrian uprising. I have requested permission from New Lines magazine to reprint it here, but have not yet heard back. It’s such an important and excellent article that I’ve decided to run it on the assumption that permission will be granted or, at least, they won’t object to me sharing it. The article – by Layla Maghribi – was published at New Lines magazine on 10 December 2024.

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Tunnels under hospitals

I had an interesting encounter two days ago with a bloke who had worked for 37 years in hospital administration at a major hospital in an Australian city. He said he was puzzled by all the fuss about the tunnels under the al-Shifa hospital in Gaza. 

He explained that all major hospitals in Australia have elaborate and extensive tunnel systems and networks under their buildings. I asked him why they had these tunnels and he explained in some detail the various roles they played that were essential to a large hospital’s functioning. You can hear his explanation in the ten minute audio clip below.

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