After years in a top security British jail, Julian Assange has been freed provided he pleads guilty under an US Espionage Act to unlawfully obtaining and disseminating US defence information. That should be the last and long overdue chapter in a cruel, revengeful persecution of an Australian citizen, a whistleblower, journalist and publisher. Recording the Continue reading »
Human Rights
Julian Assange is expected to be in Australia late tomorrow, a free man. Footage tweeted by Wikileaks hours ago showed Assange walking up the stairs onto an aircraft bound for Saipan in the US-administered Mariana Islands, Monday afternoon UK time. Sources have told Pearls and Irritations Assange is accompanied on the flight by Australian High Continue reading »
Since when did PEACE become a political statement?? On Easter Friday, 28th March 2024 at 5.30 am, Sydney artists Justine Muller (me) and Raymond Lalotoa hung a 5-metre hand-painted banner with the words PEACE NOW and a white dove off the Kings Cross walkway, facing oncoming traffic from the Eastern Suburbs towards the CBD. (documented by Continue reading »
“I didn’t tell my husband that our child is a transgender person who likes girls, until months later. His smile froze after hearing what I said.” Good evening! Today’s piece delves into the emotional journey of a Chinese mother coming to terms with her child being transgender. GRR has remained dedicated to issues of self-exploration Continue reading »
Such a move would support the peace efforts, not undermine them, as some have argued. Over the last eight months, we have witnessed the mass killing and displacement of Palestinians and the devastation and destruction of Gaza carried out by Israel under the guise of “self-defence”. As the Israeli government continues to disregard its obligations under Continue reading »
The dead children don’t affect me like they used to. The images. The videos. They still disturb and horrify, but not like they did in the beginning. Not anywhere close. And, honestly, I hate it. I hate that that part of me has been stolen. As much as I hated having my heart kicked around Continue reading »
"The pace and pathway for an amicable resolution of Kanaky-New Caledonia’s decolonisation challenges cannot, and must not continue to be dictated in Paris."
Meet a young family of gentle Palestinians living in Gaza. The family has subsisted on tinned food from aid organisations. They cook with wood and iron posts over a besser block fireplace. Prior to October 2023, the family worked in information technology and accounting for an animal welfare charity. They are all degree holders (architects Continue reading »
Since October 7th last year more than 9,500 Palestinians including 635 minors from the West Bank and Occupied Jerusalem have been held in Israeli jails. More than 3,400 Palestinian detainees, including women and children, have also been placed in administrative detention under the pretext of secret evidence. All prisoners and detainees have been subjected to Continue reading »
One of my closest friends was recently diagnosed with early stages of dementia. She is 80 years old and believed that the problems she experienced with her memory, were due to normal age-related forgetfulness. She has a science background, and after receiving her diagnosis she started to research the topic in great detail. She read Continue reading »