October Newsletter: Burning down real estate agencies, reflections on activism successes, Labor copying Greens policies, and the youth crime scare campaign

Hi everyone,

Here's a quick update to share some of my recent writing with ya. I haven't published quite as many pieces in the past few weeks, partly cos my old laptop died and partly because in the lead-up to the state election I've found myself putting more time into... shall we say... 'less polished' (but still constructive) political commentary and debates on social media.

I've also been working on some longer pieces about the limits of social democracy and how the Greens orient towards the nation-state. Hopefully they'll be ready to share in a couple weeks.

After a couple months travelling out of town, it was good to get back to Brisbane this weekend in time for the massive Justice for Palestine rally. It's been a year now since Israel's direct invasion of Gaza began, but it's important to remember that the oppressive colonial occupation of Palestine has lasted for decades longer than that. Australia's continued support of Israel is morally indefensible, and we all have a responsibility to continue to speak out and stand up against the ongoing genocide. Hopefully I'll see you at the next rally.

I'll be spending a lot of time over the next week and a bit handing out flyers for the Greens at various polling booths around South-East Queensland (come say hi if you happen to be volunteering or voting early). I'm assuming most people who are subscribed to this newsletter are already voting Greens, but if you're not, I'd be interested to hear what the main barriers for you are.

Anyway, here's some reading material!

First up is a 150-word creative piece about radical resistance to evictions and rent hikes...

Notice to Leave (Form 12)

This is my first published attempt at flash fiction, sticking to a strict limit of 150 words. Given the subject matter, and the increasing tendency of Queensland police to try to charge activists for incitement, I should probably emphasise that this is definitely a fictional piece intended to reflect the

Jonathan SriranganathanJonathan Sriranganathan

Here's a series of local case studies demonstrating that grassroots activism gets the goods – hopefully a handy piece to share with anyone who tries to claim that protesting never achieves anything...

“What’s the point of protesting? You’re not gonna win!” Recent activism successes in Brisbane

Yes, activism does work. Here’s a bunch of Brissie-based campaigns that achieved at least some of their goals despite initial opposition from the major parties

Jonathan SriranganathanJonathan Sriranganathan

With the Queensland election upon us, I've also just churned out this exploration of Labor adopting Greens campaign initiatives, noting that most of the concessions are relatively small, modest reforms...

Queensland Labor is adopting watered-down Greens policies at record speed, while resisting deeper change

Labor is copying some of the Greens’ more modest reforms while stubbornly opposing the bigger, more important ideas

Jonathan SriranganathanJonathan Sriranganathan

Here's a longer Facebook post about the LNP's 'tough on crime' rhetoric that I've copied over as a blog post for those who aren't on social media...

Queensland’s ‘Youth Crime Crisis’ is a scare campaign

Crime rates are dropping, so why is everyone acting like they’re rising?

Jonathan SriranganathanJonathan Sriranganathan

(The ABC has also picked up on this critique – their article is worth a read too)

And if you want something to listen to rather than reading, check out this Radio Reversal episode I co-hosted back in September, where Anna and I think deeply about eco-copaganda – the stories we tell ourselves about how we 'need' coercive policing in order to protect the environment.

Eco-copaganda: 4ZZZ discussion about police greenwashing (Radio Reversal show)

A couple weeks ago, I had the great pleasure of chatting on-air with Anna Carlson on 4ZZZ 102.1 FM’s show Radio Reversal about what we’re calling ‘eco-copaganda’ – the normalisation of using punitive and carceral tools to protect the environment, and the phenomenon of police periodically making a big public

Jonathan SriranganathanJonathan Sriranganathan

Oh and given that the LNP still haven't ruled out building stadiums in Barrambin/Victoria Park, for anyone who hasn't read it yet, here (again) is that article I published back in July, explaining how the stadiums proposal would reduce public green space, and arguing instead for the park to be restored as wildlife habitat.

The future of Barrambin/Victoria Park: Stadiums or koalas?

What if we re-imagined Barrambin as a space of ecological restoration, rather than cramming more stuff into it?

Jonathan SriranganathanJonathan Sriranganathan

Thanks as always for reading, and thanks in particular to the paying subscribers whose generosity helps me find a few hours a week to write (and think) about what's going on in the world.

I'll leave you with this 2014 song from my band Rivermouth – 'Propaganda (You can't trust the LNP'...

Catch ya round!