Calling Lidia Thorpe “un-Australian”, as occurred in Canberra on 22 October, is to be reminded that being “Australian” is to grovel to British royalty, to curtsy, genuflect and pay homage and allegiance to an anti-democratic institution, to a man who has wealth, position, entitlement and power due to birth, and birth only. To be “Australian” Continue reading »
politics
Early in October 2024, the Norwegian Nobel Committee announced the award of two major prizes: the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize to the Japanese grassroots peace organisation Nihon Hidankyo (Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organisations), and the literature prize to the Korean novelist, Han Kang. From both winners came messages addressed to our troubled Continue reading »
In this era of totally leader-focused election campaigning, and presidential prime ministers, it is not surprising that political biographers tend to focus almost exclusively just on those who make it to the very top. But, while it might not be a truth universally acknowledged, the reality is that whether parties actually win office, and the Continue reading »
Australia now has a government and parliament wanting timely transition to net zero. We have a government and parliament wanting to build Australia as the renewable energy superpower of the zero-carbon world economy. For the time being, we have favourable international settings for using our opportunity. The government of Australia has embraced this superpower narrative, Continue reading »
The magnitude of the crimes Israel is currently committing in the northern Gaza Strip in its campaign to empty it of however many residents are left is impossible to describe, not just because hundreds of thousands of people enduring starvation, disease without access to medical care and incessant bombardments and gunfire defies comprehension, but because Continue reading »
Israeli propaganda revealed by the BBC, AL Jazeera uncovers the UK and US supported airbridge. We witness the kindness of rescuers as they excavate a survivor. At Brics 2024 Venezuelan President Maduro says a new world is possible while the question will Trump be better for Palestine than Biden is answered. In Melbourne a Students Continue reading »
Life is changed, not ended. Diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease over two years ago, Susie Menadue died peacefully, surrounded by her family on October 24, aged 79. Life is changed, not ended. Diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease over two years ago, Susie died on October 24, aged 79. As she slipped away she was comforted Continue reading »
By the excellent Bruce Menzies, in The Fremantle Shipping News:
Dan, a former student of mine and now an academic, activist and friend, is referring to the regular rallies that are taking place across the world in response to Israel’s annihilation of Gaza. We are talking, at my instigation, about the character of those gatherings; and while in some ways it feels indecent to focus... Continue Reading →
Opposition leader, Peter Dutton, has issued a directive to all his underlings to stop talking about criminalising abortion until after they win the next election. ”Though banning abortion is very popular in America and to some elements of the base,... Read More ›