Robert Stainsby

Developer of iPad & iPhone apps. Activist in No Nuclear Subs SA & socialist group Solidarity. Proud to be gay. They/them or he/him. @[email protected]

[Robert Stainsby @rjsdev]

6 pm South Australian time this Thu 4/6, join @soli_aus online to discuss how Australian unions helped aid the fight for Indonesian independence through a boycott, or black ban, on Dutch shipping. Message 0447 362 417 for the Zoom link. Flyer shows next week’s meeting as well.

[Solidarity @soli_aus]

Madison Lee outlines how Western imperialism has made continual efforts to control Iran but has been confronted with revolt and revolution.

https://t.co/wmJ88hOiUt

[Robert Stainsby @rjsdev]

Mobilising everyone outraged by One Nation’s gains in South Australia, not recruiting to one party, is the key to beating the racists.
#auspol https://t.co/2FENGYTC8M

[Robert Stainsby @rjsdev]

I've written a preview of tomorrow's South Australian election for @soli_aus magazine. There is a link to the article in this blog post, along with some further thoughts from me. https://t.co/CAOmc1wHBT

[Robert Stainsby @rjsdev]

"Why the rich wanted Whitlam sacked—and how workers fought back". Lifelong socialist & witness to these events Phil Griffiths will speak via Zoom this Thu 13 Nov 6 pm SA time.
Meeting hosted by Solidarity.
Contact 0447 362 417 for Zoom link. #dismissal1975 #whitlam
#TheDismissal

[Jewish Council of Australia @jewishcouncilAU]

Statement on use of Star of David and Nazi imagery in protest materials

We are aware of certain incidents where the Star of David alone has been used in protest posters and stickers as a symbol of Israel and the political ideology of Zionism. These include depictions of the Star of David being placed in a bin, with a cross through it, and being stomped on by a boot.

We are also aware of some protest posters and stickers which use Nazi imagery, such as swastikas, in posters, equating the Star of David with a Swastika.

The Star of David, or Magen David, is a symbol of religious and cultural significance for many Jewish people. Although this symbol appears on the Israeli flag, its significance for Jewish people long predates the State of Israel.

Palestinians, Jews and others within the Palestine solidarity movement have consistently discouraged use of the Star of David alone as a symbol of the violence of the State of Israel or the political ideology of Zionism.

Using the symbol of the Star of David in protest materials can be seen as being a protest against Jewish people as a whole, rather than against the State of Israel. This fuels antisemitism by associating all Jews with Israel’s human rights abuses.

Nazi symbols are recognised symbols of hatred, and hold particular harm for Jewish people, as well as other groups who were, and continue to be, the victims of Nazi ideology.

As stated by Free Palestine Melbourne: “Nazi symbols are universally recognised as symbols of hate and racism. The appropriation of Nazi symbolism to make an ideological point against Zionism inadvertently promotes these ideologies and has them re-enter the public space.

The use of such symbols, that are alien to the Palestinian culture, people and cause, can undermine the movement for Palestine and overshadow the legitimate grievances and aims of the movement. The Palestinian cause is an anti-racist cause and stands against all forms of bigotry.”

One social media tile, briefly used to advertise the counter-protest against the pro-Israel Never Again is Now rally in Melbourne, depicted the Star of David as being crushed by a boot and stated ‘crush Zionism’.

We understand that those making this tile were not aware of the potential harm and offence the image could cause to Jewish people, who see the Star as a symbol of Jewish identity, and the tile as an attack on Jews. Once they were alerted to this, the tile was quickly taken down.

It cannot be ignored that the Israeli military has misappropriated the Star of David in grotesque ways which makes it difficult for people to distinguish between the Israeli State and Jewish symbols. Israel’s soldiers have been documented emblazoning the Star of David on Palestinian prisoners, graffitiing it on the walls of houses they loot in Gaza, and using tanks to sear it into the rubble of what used to be recreation parks for families. These actions place all Jewish people at risk by tarnishing us with these egregious human rights abuses.

It is important for all of us who are advocating for Palestinian freedom, justice and liberation to continue to distinguish between the State of Israel and Jewish people as a whole.

[Hanan Ashrawi @DrHananAshrawi]

To all those governments who issue statements of denunciation, condemnation, horror, & even grief at the ongoing Israeli genocide in Gaza, & who “appeal” to the perpetrator to allow some aid into Gaza—please stop. You’re compounding the suffering with your hand-wringing even while you maintain your “special” relationship & complicity with Israel. Only SANCTIONS will produce results. NOW!

[Robert Stainsby @rjsdev]

This Tue & Sun, Kaurna Yerta/Adelaide:
We’ll discuss why the West hates Iran and US/Israeli bombing can’t help democracy in Iran.
The meeting will be run twice:
• 6 pm Tue 22 July: inner south west
• 3:30 pm Sun 27 July: State Library of SA
Contact 0447 362 417 for more info.

[Robert Stainsby @rjsdev]

'Marxism-Leninism' is neither, as a new book and this podcast from @soli_aus explain. "To make the case for socialism from below, we talk to David Camfield, author of 'Red Flags: A reckoning with Communism for the future of the left'." https://t.co/xu7K0DSEhX

[Robert Stainsby @rjsdev]

These discussion meetings are this Sunday and Tuesday. See link for background reading https://t.co/kvah1FZphz

[Robert Stainsby @rjsdev]

AUKUS nuclear subs and Australia's US alliance make the world more dangerous and are a colossal waste of money. The Greens advocate arms to ‘defend Australia�� as the alternative. Join this discussion on Kaurna Yerta/Adelaide about why socialists reject this nationalist solution.

[Robert Stainsby @rjsdev]

AUKUS nuclear subs and Australia's US alliance make the world more dangerous and are a colossal waste of money. The Greens advocate arms to ‘defend Australia’ as the alternative. Join this discussion on Kaurna Yerta/Adelaide about why socialists reject this nationalist solution.

[. @samlutd]

Based Senator McKim

[Strewth! 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈 @StrewthQueen]

"Australia rejected Trumpism" we have been running our own El Salvador-style offshore immigrant prisons for decades

[Robert Stainsby @rjsdev]

Onto the second part then #auspol

[Solidarity @soli_aus]

David Shoebridge from the Greens is arguing for a $4 billion strategy to defend Australia.

We argue why this is mistaken. Workers have nothing to gain from buying into the global arms race.

https://t.co/SXro4SL8K7

[Robert Stainsby @rjsdev]

If you’re on on Kaurna Yerta/Adelaide, please join me at these informal discussions for @soli_aus. Donald Trump is causing chaos and pain in the US and abroad. What's his relationship to fascism? How can he be fought? Join us to discuss these and other pressing questions.

[Resolute Reader @resolutereader]

Listen to the podcast with me about my book. But also, Australian listeners can also have a chance to win a signed copy!

[Robert Stainsby @rjsdev]

@EvComrade Differences, but “Worldwide, defence officials approved the sale of an estimated $5 billion worth of military equipment in 2019-20—more than the typical yearly export value of Australian wine, wool or wheat.” https://t.co/EjzBbTd6Gh

[Robert Stainsby @rjsdev]

A response to those supporting the Greens’ plan to give $4b of taxpayers’ money to arms companies, or otherwise supporting defence of Australia. https://t.co/BYZ3sTu92k

[Robert Stainsby @rjsdev]

@EvComrade Not that different from fossil fuels, since there is already plenty of arms mfg here. The key is winning the confidence of the workers involved that their personal economic security is assured as they move to socially useful work. The details of how that’s done can be flexible.