Green Left (Australian newspaper)

Last updated

Green Left
Green Left Weekly logo (cropped).png
Type Alternative weekly
Format Compact
Owner(s)Independent
PublisherGreen Left Association
Founded1990;34 years ago (1990)
Political alignment
Language English
Headquarters22 Mountain Street
Ultimo, Sydney
Website greenleft.org.au

Green Left, previously known as Green Left Weekly, is an Australian socialist newspaper, written by activists to "present the views excluded by the big business media". The newspaper was founded in 1990. [1] Green Left is the de facto newspaper of the Socialist Alliance.

Contents

Overview

The newspaper is a notionally independent Australian source of local, national and international news, and provides left-wing analysis and debate. In an editorial in the first issue, [2] Green Left Weekly stated:

This is a paper by and for the green and progressive movement. We would like it to reflect the movement in action and in discussion. We want to reflect the controversies and the concerns as well as the achievements and celebrations.

In 2023, the paper stated:

Green Left's aim is to both help build movements of resistance as well as an anti-capitalist political alternative. [3]

Although the newspaper was initiated by the Democratic Socialist Perspective, [4] the newspaper has been supported by a variety of groups throughout its history. In the early 1990s, Australian Democrats senators Sid Spindler and Janet Powell supported and sponsored the newspaper. [5]

Subjects of particular importance to Green Left Weekly include anti-capitalism, workers rights, refugees, women's rights, global warming, environmental destruction, Australian Aboriginal land rights, and foreign policy, especially Australia's military intervention in the Asia-Pacific region, the US led invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq and other forms of US political intervention overseas.

In 2011, Victorian Consumer Affairs Minister Michael O'Brien asked the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) to investigate whether a number of groups, including Green Left Weekly, had breached secondary boycott laws by supporting the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement pickets at the premises of the Max Brenner chain of chocolate shops. [6] The ACCC determined that the protests were not a secondary boycott. [7] [8]

The newspaper strongly supports the socialist policy of Bolivia and Ecuador and the Bolivarian Revolution in Venezuela led by Hugo Chávez, and in the past opened a bureau in Caracas to improve its coverage of events there. At the time, it claimed to be the only Australian newspaper with a bureau in Latin America. [9]

It is also the only Australian newspaper to regularly print articles by left-wing journalist John Pilger. [10] Pilger has said of Green Left Weekly: "There are few other newspapers — radical or any other kind — that draw together news and analysis that is as well informed, credible, and non-sectarian as Green Left Weekly. Its work has influenced mine and has been a beacon to those who believe the press ought to be an agent of the people." [11]

Since 2008, Green Left Weekly has published a monthly Arabic language supplement, The Flame, edited by Socialist Alliance members of the growing Sudanese Australian community. [12] In 2009, Green Left Weekly launched a new Spanish language supplement, Foro Social Latinamericano, edited by the Latin America Social Forum in Sydney, a collaboration between left-wing members and groups in the Latin American community in Australia. [13]

Green Left Weekly is routinely criticised by News Corp Australia publications in editorials and opinion pieces. The Australian accused Green Left Weekly of supporting terrorism for its criticism of Israel. [14]

In 2024 the Green Left facebook page was controversially banned twice by social media corporation Meta. The second ban is to be for ten years and reasoning is due to the page publishing content of Leila Khalid, leader of the Palestinian Liberation Front. [15]

Awards

In June 2005 Green Left weekly won an award from web-surveying company Hitwise. Hitwise ranked the website as the most popular Australian-based political site. [16] Green Left Weekly received a similar award in 2006, and in the period between June and December 2009, Green Left weekly once again ranked in the top ten, achieving 7th position. [17]

See also

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References

  1. ↑ "About Green Left - the need for alternative media". Green Left Weekly. 6 September 2016. Archived from the original on 31 March 2019. Retrieved 17 May 2019.
  2. ↑ "Green Left launched amid anti-war campaign". Green Left Weekly. 18 January 2014. Archived from the original on 1 February 2014. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
  3. ↑ "About Green Left". greenleft.org.au. Green Left. Archived from the original on 1 November 2023. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
  4. ↑ "Australia: 'Green Left Weekly' celebrates 20 years!". Links International Journal of Socialist Renewal. Archived from the original on 8 April 2019. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  5. ↑ Boyle, Peter (28 February 1996). "Democrats: still trying to keep the bastards honest". Green Left Weekly. Archived from the original on 17 July 2019. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  6. ↑ "Israeli boycotts: ACCC called in". The Australian . 8 August 2011. Archived from the original on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 11 November 2011.
  7. ↑ "'You can't sweeten apartheid!' Protests target Max Brenner in Melbourne, Sydney". Green Left Weekly. 10 September 2011. Archived from the original on 4 November 2011. Retrieved 11 November 2011.
  8. ↑ "ACCC: Recent anti-Israel protests not a secondary boycott". Australian Competition & Consumer Commission. 2 September 2011. Archived from the original on 24 March 2012. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
  9. ↑ "Bolivian indigenous people lead democracy struggle". Green Left Weekly. 10 October 2008. Archived from the original on 2 December 2008. Retrieved 21 April 2010.
  10. ↑ "John Pilger wins Sydney Peace Prize". Green Left Weekly. 9 August 2009. Archived from the original on 10 November 2009. Retrieved 21 April 2010.
  11. ↑ "Make a Donation to Green Left". Green Left Weekly. Archived from the original on 26 May 2010. Retrieved 21 April 2010.
  12. ↑ "The Flame, October 2008 - Green Left Weekly's Arabic supplement". Links International Journal of Socialist Renewal. 22 October 2008. Archived from the original on 8 July 2009. Retrieved 21 April 2010.
  13. ↑ "'Foro Social Latinamericano', Green Left Weekly's Spanish-language supplement launched". Links International Journal of Socialist Renewal. 25 November 2009. Archived from the original on 27 May 2010. Retrieved 21 April 2010.
  14. ↑ Murphy, Emma; Munckton, Stuart; Iskander, Soubhi (1 July 2009). "Proud to stand with Palestine — a response to The Australian". Green Left Weekly. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
  15. ↑ "Beat Facebook Ban - Green Left". Green Left Weekly. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
  16. ↑ "Hitwise Competitive Intelligence - Top Ten Awards - 2005". Hitwise. Archived from the original on 1 September 2006. Retrieved 23 February 2007.
  17. ↑ "GLW wins web award for popularity". Green Left Weekly. 13 March 2010. Archived from the original on 3 August 2012. Retrieved 21 April 2010.
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