Right Now’s Most Read Stories in 2020
By Angus SmithOur three most-read stories this year encapsulate the adage ‘the personal is political,’ exploring wider issues in the world through lived experiences. Look out for these writers in 2021.
Free speech
Music is A Weapon for West Papuan Liberation
By Ronny KareniTo commemorate Human Rights Day on 10 December 2020, the role of music as a right, and as an expression, is celebrated, writes West Papuan musician and activist Ronny Kareni.
COVID-19 must not normalise digital surveillance
By David ParisAfter a huge campaign to encourage every smartphone user in Australia to install and use the ‘COVIDSafe’ app, the effectiveness of the app has been negligible. But the impact of the app is much more significant, writes David Paris.
Drop the Prosecutions: Statement on Bernard Collaery, Witness K
By Coalition of Supporters of Bernard Collaery and Witness KThe Coalition of Supporters of Bernard Collaery and Witness K are calling for the prosecutions to be dropped, issuing a statement signed by leading public figures.
The Legacy of the Asylum Seeker Phone Ban
By Sangeetha PillaiA proposed law that recently went before the Australian Federal Parliament would have given the Department of Home Affairs the power to ban access to mobile phones and other communication devices for some of the most vulnerable and isolated people in Australia: the refugees, asylum seekers and other non-citizens who are held in immigration detention.
The Trials of Portnoy: a review
By Caitlin CassidyPatrick Mullins’ latest is the first full account of the publishing industry players that helped bring the end of literary censorship in Australia
City on Fire: a review
By Heath ChamerskiIn 2019, a leaderless protest movement may have changed Hong Kong forever. Antony Dapiran’s latest provides a detailed analysis of the movement and the city
Julian Assange’s extradition case has grave implications for all Australians
Sarah Jacob in conversation with Andrew WilkieThe Wikileaks founder’s extradition case could set a dangerous precedent that strengthens government overreach and limits freedom of the press.
From the ‘rule of law’ to ‘rule by fear’: Hong Kong’s National Security Law
By Eva PilsHong Kong’s new National Security Law must be understood as a transnational, as well as a local mechanism for repression.
The right to protest during the pandemic
By Chris BreenTo protest or not to protest, what is deemed essential when we can’t afford to wait for change?
The Personal is Political is Speculative
By Claire G. ColemanClaire G Coleman blurs the lines between the personal, political and speculative, asking us to reconsider where it is our stories come from.