Posts Tagged ‘Iraq’

Episode 68: #HeyASIO

Posted: October 5, 2014 in Uncategorized
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
3

Listen to this episode and subscribe to our podcast on iTunes. You can also listen to this episode on Stitcher, Cyber Ears or download it on Archive.org (37MB). 

On this episode we take on the new counter terror laws introduced by the Australian government, the National Security Amendment Bill (No.1). We raise civil liberties concerns, mention that the laws had bipartisan support – there was no opposition from the “opposition”, and also highlight the impact the laws will have on the media (even mainstream journalist Laurie Oakes has gone rogue and criticised the laws!). To further the discussion on the effect the laws will have on the media, we play an interview with journalist Tony Serve. This interview is from Indymedia on RTR92.1FM and Tony is interviewed by Karun Cowper and Caroline Smith. We encourage people to follow Tony on Twitter @perthtones, as well as following Karun @karun777 and Caroline @Cas_Flaneuse.

We also discuss Australian troops entering Iraq (you can hear Antony Loewenstein on Australian troops returning to Iraq on episode 67). There has also been direct action against this – anti-war protesters recently entered a military base in Victoria to disrupt this invasion. These activists faced brutality from the soldiers there. To find out more about this action, go to the website swanislandpeace.org and follow #SIPC14. We mention that Abbott is up in the polls as hysteria about terrorism provides a distraction from the budget and other important issues, such as domestic violence. We finish the episode by talking about the hashtags #HeyASIO and #stopdataretention, as well as the role of social media generally in putting forward alternative ideas to those promoted by the mainstream media and the government. Shout outs to Critical Transit podcast, Antony Loewenstein and the Melbourne Street Medic Collective.

This episode is brought to you by “Comrade Clare”. You can hear Clare on episode 8 discussing refugees and episode 26 talking about vegan cats. Thanks a lot to Clare for becoming a member of our show – you can become a member and sponsor an episode too.

Clips:

1984 audiobook, Sneaky Sound System ‘1984’, Robert’s Productions ‘Censor Beep’, Mad as Hell ‘Series 4, Episode 2’, Interview with journalist Tony Serve from Indymedia on RTR92.1FM – by Karun Cowper and Caroline Smith, Austin Powers, Mad as Hell ‘Series 4, Episode 2’, Mad as Hell ‘Series 4, Episode 1’, The Office (UK) ‘Series 1, Episode 2’, Colour Me Wednesday ‘Shut’.

You can listen to a short (6 minute) version of this episode, which features our discussion on the hashtag #HeyASIO and the role of social media generally in challenging the new counter terror laws introduced by the Australian government, here: Hey ASIO. You can subscribe to these short versions of our episodes through Omny.

Episode 67: Antony Loewenstein on Australian Troops in Iraq – Wait, Haven’t We Seen This Before?

Posted: September 28, 2014 in Uncategorized
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
2

Listen to this episode and subscribe to our podcast on iTunes. You can also listen to this episode on Stitcher, Cyber Ears or download it on Archive.org (31MB). 

We’re joined by awesome independent journalist Antony Loewenstein (@antloewenstein). He discusses Australian troops set to enter Iraq and Syria, his article ‘Of course Australia is going back to Iraq: That’s how a US client is expected to behave’, hysteria about terrorism in Australia and the poor state of (most of) the Australian media. You can hear more from Antony Loewenstein on our 41st episode.

We also draw on The Hunger Games to question whether this truly is a “humanitarian” mission, especially after Australia recently cut all foreign aid to Iraq. We discuss the reactions to the military intervention from different states at the UN security council and the need for UN reform. We also analyse whether the proposed air strikes are terrorism, according to s1 of the UK Terrorism Act.

Other issues covered on the episode are: Thai people read George Orwell’s book 1984 in public (as a form of protest against the dictatorship), “biological” sex as a social construct, and another direct action in Melbourne – this time activists take on Lockheed Martin. You can hear more about direct action on our 65th episode.

This episode is brought to you by “Timothyyy!!”. Thanks a lot to “Timothyyy!!” for becoming a member of our show – you can become a member and sponsor an episode too.

Clips:

Nerina Pallot ‘Everybody’s Gone to War’, The Hunger Games ‘Catching Fire’, Interview with Antony Loewenstein, Lowkey ‘Terrorist’, Peep Show ‘Series 7, Episode 2’, Lowkey ‘Cradle of Civilisation’.

You can listen to a short (10 minute) version of this episode, which features a shortened version of our interview with Antony Loewenstein, here: Antony Loewenstein On Australian Troops Back In The Middle East. You can subscribe to these short versions of our episodes through Omny.