On 6 Aug, 1945, approximately 200,000 people in the hitherto untouched town of Hiroshima perished in the worlds first use of a nuclear weapon in anger. On 9th Aug, a somewhat smaller number in Nagasaki likewise perished. Only the authority of secretary of state Stimson, who had visited the city of Kyoto, famous for its Continue reading »
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Pearls and Irritations has been a source of enlightenment since its foundation in 2013. It has progressively increased in importance. What began as an interesting addition to the Australian media landscape has become an irreplaceable source of ideas and distinctive interpretations provided by a large collection of authoritative experts few of whom have access to Continue reading »
Pearls and Irritations has long been Australia’s best public policy site and it is now even more important. Pearls and Irritations has long been Australia’s best public policy site and it is now even more important as the regular media have replaced policy analysis with pontification and point-scoring. P&I presents the knowledge and expertise of Continue reading »
“Another world is not only possible, she’s on her way… On a quiet day, if I listen carefully, I can hear her breathing” – Arundhati Roy. Sitting on a beautiful Australian beach with his partner, my friend Graeme was reading St. Augustine. Not a usual beach practice but seemingly providential. Reading a section in which Continue reading »
It was quite a surprise when I noticed last week that we had posted so many articles over 13 years. The 20,000 articles (listed here) include over 700 of my own. A selection of these, about 100, is now published in an eBook, ‘Summing Up’. When we launched Pearls and Irritations I wrote all the Continue reading »
The recent report by the Community Security Group (CSG) detailing 91 Jewish community incidents on university campuses until May 31, 2024, warrants a closer examination, particularly considering its implications and the nuances it omits. Of these incidents, 84 were classified as containing hostile or hateful rhetoric, while the remaining were deemed suspicious activity, including individuals Continue reading »
When I asked Jocelyn Chey about her experience at the lunch in Parliament House in honour of Chinese Premier Li Qiang, she said, “I thought the best part of the lunch was Dutton’s speech through gritted teeth about how everyone wants relations with China to improve.” Also, speaking to 2GB, Dutton said, “I’m pro-China and Continue reading »
In today's BCTV Daily Dispatch: IWTV, Community, Rick and Morty, Bosch/Ballard, Star Trek: Prodigy, Superman, The Boys, Doctor Who, and more!
“I want my tenderness back…Give me back that soft, sacred part of myself that weeps at the corpses of children, so I can Behold the world gently again…” – Caitlin Johnstone Even in difficult times, Compassion is the sustaining ethic for all major faith traditions and underpins civilised living in our democracy. Our various forms Continue reading »
The Jewish Council of Australia, according to reports by Al Jazeera, is deeply concerned that the Australian Jewish Association is promoting the far-right Israeli politician Moshe Feiglin as a speaker at an Australian Zoom event, apparently held on 19 June, notwithstanding that Feiglin has recently quoted Adolf Hitler in reference to the wiping out of Continue reading »