Green Left (Australian newspaper) explained

Green Left
Type:Alternative weekly
Format:Compact
Owners:Independent
Publisher:Green Left Association
Language:English
Headquarters:22 Mountain Street
Ultimo, Sydney

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.

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:

In 2023, the paper stated:

Although the newspaper was initiated by the Democratic Socialist Perspective,[3] 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.[4]

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.[5] The ACCC determined that the protests were not a secondary boycott.[6] [7]

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.[8]

It is also the only Australian newspaper to regularly print articles by left-wing journalist John Pilger.[9] 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."[10]

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.[11] 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.[12]

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.[13]

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.[14]

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.[15] 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.[16]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: About Green Left - the need for alternative media . Green Left Weekly . 17 May 2019 . en . 6 September 2016 . 31 March 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190331140603/https://www.greenleft.org.au/about . live .
  2. News: Green Left launched amid anti-war campaign . Green Left Weekly . 18 January 2014 . 21 January 2014 . 1 February 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140201175654/https://www.greenleft.org.au/node/55625 . live .
  3. Web site: Australia: 'Green Left Weekly' celebrates 20 years! . Links International Journal of Socialist Renewal . 17 July 2019 . 8 April 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190408113243/http://links.org.au/node/2168 . live .
  4. News: Boyle . Peter . Democrats: still trying to keep the bastards honest . 17 July 2019 . Green Left Weekly . 28 February 1996 . en . 17 July 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190717130917/https://www.greenleft.org.au/content/democrats-still-trying-keep-bastards-honest . live .
  5. News: Israeli boycotts: ACCC called in . . 8 August 2011 . 11 November 2011 . 27 September 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110927171828/http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/israeli-boycotts-accc-called-in/story-fn59niix-1226110465124 . live .
  6. News: 'You can't sweeten apartheid!' Protests target Max Brenner in Melbourne, Sydney . Green Left Weekly . 10 September 2011 . 11 November 2011 . 4 November 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20111104212733/http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/48800 . live .
  7. Web site: ACCC: Recent anti-Israel protests not a secondary boycott . Australian Competition & Consumer Commission . 22 September 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120324102736/http://www.accc.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/1005794/fromItemId/142 . 24 March 2012 . 2 September 2011.
  8. News: Bolivian indigenous people lead democracy struggle . Green Left Weekly . 10 October 2008 . 21 April 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20081202103715/http://www.greenleft.org.au/2008/770/39707 . 2 December 2008 . dead .
  9. News: John Pilger wins Sydney Peace Prize . Green Left Weekly . 9 August 2009 . 21 April 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20091110165538/http://www.greenleft.org.au/2009/806/41485 . 10 November 2009 . dead .
  10. News: Make a Donation to Green Left . Green Left Weekly . 21 April 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100526171032/http://www.greenleft.org.au/donate.php . 26 May 2010 . dead .
  11. News: The Flame, October 2008 - Green Left Weekly's Arabic supplement . Links International Journal of Socialist Renewal . 22 October 2008 . 21 April 2010 . 8 July 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090708202923/http://links.org.au/node/699 . live .
  12. News: 'Foro Social Latinamericano', Green Left Weekly's Spanish-language supplement launched . Links International Journal of Socialist Renewal . 25 November 2009 . 21 April 2010 . 27 May 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100527155850/http://links.org.au/node/1370 . live .
  13. News: Proud to stand with Palestine — a response to The Australian. Murphy. Emma. Munckton. Stuart. Iskander. Soubhi. 1 July 2009. Green Left Weekly. 8 August 2022.
  14. News: Beat Facebook Ban - Green Left . Green Left Weekly. 4 May 2024.
  15. Web site: Hitwise Competitive Intelligence - Top Ten Awards - 2005 . 23 February 2007 . . https://web.archive.org/web/20060901183056/http://www.hitwise.com.au/info/awards/popup.html?sDomain=www.greenleft.org.au&iDate=200502&iCatnum=295&Cal= . 1 September 2006 . dead.
  16. News: GLW wins web award for popularity . Green Left Weekly . 13 March 2010 . 21 April 2010 . https://archive.today/20120803044822/http://www.greenleft.org.au/2010/830/42693 . 3 August 2012 . dead .