Wars, like that being waged currently by the Zionist terrorist government of Netanyahu are the destructive and mindless outworking of dualism; about winners and losers. ‘We unequivocally condemn the October 7th, 2023 heinous attack on Israel by Hamas’. And it’s absolutely right that we do. The attack was evil and indefensible, although understandable in the Continue reading »
politics
I have been reading Stan Grant’s beautiful new book, Murriyang song of time (Bundyi: Sydney 2024). There is in it a sentence pertaining to the Uluru Statement of the Heart and the subsequent failed Referendum. Stan Grant says, poignantly, that ‘the Uluru Statement spoke from the afflicted to a nation that has never loved us.’ Continue reading »
“I do hold the view that the luckiest thing that happened to this country was being colonised by the British,” he said. “Not that they were perfect by any means, but they were infinitely more successful and beneficent colonisers than other European countries.” – John Howard, October 26, 2023. In confirmation of our erstwhile prime Continue reading »
At the end of this month we farewell Aran Martin, after over two years as our editor. From early February, Sam Varghese will be acting editor of Pearls and Irritations. Sam previously acted as editor when Aran Martin went on paternity leave late last year, smoothing the transition. Aran is leaving us at the end Continue reading »
The International Court of Justice heard, last month, that after reconstruction is factored in Israel’s war on Gaza will have emitted 52 million tonnes of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. A figure equivalent to the annual emissions of 126 states and territories. It seems somehow wrong to be writing about the carbon footprint of Continue reading »
To believe things can get better, we must first accept they can get worse.
The headline in the Times of Israel says it all: “For the First Time, Israel Just Lost a War.” Regardless of the reasoning behind this statement, which the article divides into fourteen points, it suggests a shattering and unprecedented event in the 76-year history of the State of Israel. The consequences of this realisation will Continue reading »
Pro-Palestine protests have been taking place all over Australia right from the time when Israel started its massacre in October 2023. But looking at the mainstream media, one would think that these marches only generate issues for the public at large and do little to educate people on the actual situation in the occupied territories. Continue reading »
Land rights now! By a strange quirk of fate, I was working in the Minister’s Office in 1976 when Parliament passed the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act. Great was our pride, and our expectations. In terms of securing title to land and sea the Act has been highly effective. But in terms of creating Continue reading »
In Asian media this week: President links China to Panama Canal face-off. Plus: Weaknesses in America’s Asian pact latticework; Government, industry behind Tokyo’s RAN frigates bid; Thai support for Myanmar scams points to corruption; Beijing pushes soft power through video games; 57 arrested over Dalit schoolgirl abuse. Donald Trump was soft on China in his Continue reading »