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*Warning: This article discusses suicide and self-harm. “DON’T hold back” was the resounding theme when around 80 people from over 25 services, government-funded programs, and the wider community, attended a suicide prevention event in Coffs Harbour. Advertise with News of The Area today. It’s worth it for your business. Message us. Phone us – (02)...

The post Calls to throw ‘everything we have’ at suicide prevention appeared first on News Of The Area.

A CHANGE in Crown land management of the Coffs Harbour racecourse has left some involved in the industry questioning the future of racing in Coffs Harbour and potentially facing big financial losses. Under the change, Racing NSW has taken over the Crown land management of the site. Advertise with News of The Area today. It’s...

The post Crown Lands takeover leaves trainers, owners in limbo appeared first on News Of The Area.

Today Trump is meeting with Netanyahu and took some questions beforehand about Gaza during his daily Executive Order pageant. Once again he endorsed ethnic cleansing of Palestinians, saying that they will be happy to go in “large groups or many smaller groups” to some pieces of beautiful pieces of land where Saudi Arabia and others (not the US!) will build them some nice condos and everyone will live happily ever after. He has the mind of a child. Here is the full exchange: Trump: I’d like to see Jordan or Egypt take them. Look, the Gaza thing has not worked, it’s never worked and I feel very differently about Gaza than a lot of people. I think they should get a good fresh beautiful piece of land and we get some people to put up the money to build it and make it nice and make it habitable and enjoyable and make it a home. Palestinians say they don’t want to leave though.I don’t know how they could want to stay. It’s a demolition site. If we could find the right piece of land or numerous pieces of land and build them some really nice with plenty of money in the area that’s for sure.

José “Cha Cha” Jiménez, radical Puerto Rican activist and civil rights icon, passed away on...

I thought they’d have to take some time to build the facilities but the Gitmo plan is already in process. As tents went up in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to hold migrants, attorneys at the Department of Homeland Security and Pentagon were still trying to determine whether it was legal to take the unprecedented step of flying migrants from the US southern border to the facility, according to two US officials and a person familiar with the planning. On Tuesday, a military flight carrying migrants was headed to Guantanamo Bay, according to one of the officials. It was carrying around 10 migrants with criminal records, according to a Homeland Security official. […] The source familiar with the plan said questions like how long the migrants can legally be held there, and what their rights would be while detained, are still unanswered. It is also unclear whether the migrants will have any access to legal or social services while detained at the base. Senior Trump officials have continued to tout the plan, casting it as a facility designed for criminals. I don’t think laws really apply anymore, do they? It could get even worse than Gitmo:  U.S.

COFFS Coast residents can nominate an outstanding older person in our community for the 2025 NSW Seniors Festival Local Achievement Awards. Advertise with News of The Area today. It’s worth it for your business. Message us. Phone us – (02) 4981 8882. Email us – media@newsofthearea.com.au Member for Coffs Harbour Gurmesh Singh said the festival...

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Commenter GrimJim makes the case, using my own writing:

Ian, I am beginning to think that someone working for Trump and Musk must have read your works.

That, or they read the same books you have used as the groundworks for your own beliefs.

Particularly, on how to run a revolution:

https://www.ianwelsh.net/7-rules-for-running-a-real-left-wing-government/

and

https://www.ianwelsh.net/revolution-basics-1-who-cares-what-you-think/

And I am sure there are more. I know you’ve posted about how you have to run a purge first thing.

They are essentially following your playbook.

The Trump minion has said Jan. 6 defendants should get cash reparations and those responsible for the charges should get jail time.

The post The Capitol Rioters Are Free — But Ed Martin’s Crusade Against Jan. 6 Prosecutors Is Just Getting Started appeared first on The Intercept.

Musk is trying to shut down the agency probing his company’s equipment — and now workers are pushing back with a longstanding privacy law.

The freeze is still on, at least in some places. Republicans have learned that the courts have no power to top anything, not even a blatantly criminal president who stole classified documents and refused to give them back. So issuing a “restraining order” is a nice symbolic act but I’m not sure anyone thinks it means much anymore. Once you take a wrecking ball to every norm and law in the country you end up standing on the courthouse steps saying “Yeah? You and what army?” and the whole thing falls apart. One week after the Trump administration ordered a pause on federal grants and loans, many Head Start programs in Wisconsin are still unable to access needed funds and are facing uncertainty about whether they can stay open. While the White House publicly rescinded the memo announcing the freeze, nonprofit organizations around the state are reporting they remain locked out of the payment systems that they use to pay staff and keep operations running.

In accordance with our informal tradition of updating documents every thirty years, whether they need it or not, our university is pleased to present this updated org chart that most accurately captures our system of governance (which management scientists term “Kafkaesque bureaucracy meets Lord of the Files,” though no one understands these references since we cut our literature requirements). Please click the image to enlarge for viewing, and if you don’t find yourself represented, definitely know that the exclusion was intentional.

Click image to enlarge.

The times may be captive, but the thinking has to remain free.

In the upcoming federal election, there is no real choice. The Labor Party and the Liberal Party have become virtually indistinguishable, offering voters nothing, but well-rehearsed sound bites, nothing to believe in, nothing to fight for, and certainly nothing to get excited about. Both parties tiptoe around hard truths. Both prioritise economic appeasement over bold Continue reading »

China today is not the China of the pre-COVID age, but many commentators think it is still an economy based on cheap manufacturing. Several weeks ago, Thomas Friedman, diplomatic editor of The New York Times, travelled to China and published his impressions in a syndicated article on the country’s “staggering manufacturing muscle”. He concluded that Continue reading »

The early Quakers knew that a deep understanding of the Bible was critical to recognising when they were being fed bullshit cloaked in religious language. By knowing Scripture well, they resisted manipulation and propaganda, ensuring faith remained a force for justice rather than a tool of power. The story of the widow’s mite (Mark 12:41–44) Continue reading »

The re-election of the Albanese Government cannot be taken for granted. That is inspite of several credible achievements by Treasurer Chalmers. Recent opinion polls suggest support for the ALP Government is insufficient for even a minority government win. Given the stunning election win by Trump, a similar disaster could happen in Australia. The approach by Continue reading »

The foundation of Australia’s alliance with the US is that there is a shared commitment to the rule of law and constitutional democratic government. We are faced with the choice of waiting until there cannot be a shred of doubt that the US is committed to a dictatorship or beginning the process of cutting our Continue reading »

Intelligent and compassionate people can change the world, so let us get on with this. As I draw much closer to becoming an octogenarian early next year, I have found myself finding it more and more difficult to feel hopeful for our world going into the future. I most likely will not be here to Continue reading »