Peace, Social Justice
Suppression Of The Right To Protest
This paper formed part of the Green Institute Report ‘Rebalancing Rights: Communities, Corporatations and Nature’. 25 years jail for peaceful protest. That is the potential outcome from the Espionage and Foreign Interference Bill (EFI) that was introduced by the Liberals and rubber stamped by Labor in 2018. It was slammed through with such speed that the cross-benches had one hour... Read More
Economy, Social Justice
Property Rights, Corporate Personhood And Nature
This paper formed part of the Green Institute Report ‘Rebalancing Rights: Communities, Corporatations and Nature’. Property rights are a social construction, embodied in law and enforced by the coercive power of the state, represented by police, courts and prisons. This fact is so obvious that it ought to go without saying, but it is routinely denied by many on the... Read More
Democracy, Social Justice
The Right To Advocate And Protest Is At The Core Of Our Democracy
This paper formed part of the Green Institute Report ‘Rebalancing Rights: Communities, Corporations and Nature’. As an Australian, I am proud that my country was central to both the writing and the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948. The head of the Australian delegation and later President of the UN General Assembly was Australia’s Dr H.... Read More
Democracy, Environment
Rights Of Nature, Earth Democracy And The Future Of Environmental Governance
This paper formed part of the Green Institute Report ‘Rebalancing Rights: Communities, Corporatations and Nature’. Around the world, people are working hard to protect their local communities and local ecosystems from the destructive impacts of excessive industrial developments. One strategy that is receiving growing attention is changing the legal status of nature from being human property or, at best, a... Read More
Social Justice
What If We Stopped Punishing Drug Users?
Let me repeat a phrase that has been used so often it is almost a cliché: the war on drugs has failed. Existing drug policies have increased drug-related harm, punished the vulnerable and the addicted and bolstered organised criminal networks. Health professionals, lawyers and policy experts have all made the case against current drug policies. Such is the overwhelming expert opinion against our current approach... Read More