Letters to the Editor
Rare earths and radioactive motor subs
February 26, 2025
I refer to Andrew Farran’s article. We need to remember that just as we are now being asked to put our trust in Peter Dutton, after the Paris 2+2 meeting of Dutton and Marise Payne with their French counterparts, both Dutton and Payne’s official websites assured us that the French submarine deal was going swimmingly, only for AUKUS to surface days later. Today, a “US fast-attack nuclear submarine has arrived at HMAS Stirling at Garden Island in the first of what is expected to be several visits to Australia this year”, says WAToday. Which of 11 Oz rare...
Geoff Taylor from Perth
In response to: Trump has ruled out allies, implying that too that with Aukus we have bought a p
Wake up Australia and Australians
February 26, 2025
A lot has been made of the Chinese warships off Australia’s east coast, but much less has been said about the close contact of Australian ships and planes with Chinese planes and ships in the South China Sea. The question needs to be asked: what are we/they doing so far away from our/their own backyards? Yes, international law says we/they have a right to be there, but is it necessary to be there? We should all regularly take a walk past the many war memorials dotted across our country and take time to think what percentage of the...
Bob Pearce from Adelaide SA
In response to: the-fragility-of-australias-security
What the nurses said
February 26, 2025
This article by Tony Kevin brings again into focus the unsavoury practices of the Zionist movement. However, I would like to hear from the two nurses at the centre of this affair. Maybe I've missed it, but I have seen no comments whatsoever from the two nurses themselves. Have they been silenced? Are they silent by choice? Why did they agree to the interview? What do they think now about their comments? Surely, their comments would be of great public interest?
Hans Rijsdijk from Albion Park Rail
In response to: what-the-bankstown-hospital-nurses-affair-teaches-us/
Creationism in schools
February 26, 2025
What you are suggesting is just another way of indoctrinating children with so-called, and long-debunked, theological truths. Theological truths are not factual or evidence-based, but simply ideas based on a religion Why do you select only the Bible as an example of books that greatly affect society? Why not Karl Marx, Chairman Mao, Mein Kampf, The Origin of species, etc, etc? Because they don't promote creation and other religious fantasies? Keep your religions, all of them, out of our schools and away from our children.
Jerry Cartwright from Perth
In response to: The bible, the Hawking index and the case for critical engagement
End the mass murder or it will end us
February 26, 2025
We now live in a world where rule of law is no longer even an euphemism. I am a very hardened person, having fought many morality battle issues through my seven decades, but about a month ago, now well over a year after I forwarded a video to the ICC and ICJ in the Hague, where Israeli monsters had herded Al Shifa Hospital workers to a trench and then summarily shot them all (mass execution style). I then saw a video where innocent Palestinians were blown up by more Mk-84 bombs delivered through a port city and an airbase...
Dennis Cimino from Pomeroy, WA
In response to: END THE MASS MURDER OR IT WILL END US
The new Axis of Evil
February 25, 2025
From the perspective of a polar-orbiting satellite, the new Axis Powers — Russia and America — have got poor little Canada surrounded. They own 42% of the world's weaponry and 90% of its nukes. They covet Canada's natural riches – and care not a damn for its people. All they need to complete the encirclement is Greenland. Trump's Pentagon Night of the Long Knives was the first step in a deliberate putsch to eliminate rational US military leadership and replace it with fanatics, as he is doing elsewhere in government. As Hitler did with the SA/SS and Wehrmacht....
Julian Cribb from Canberra, ACT
In response to: The MAGA challenge to Australia’s self-respect
What significance does the Old Testament have?
February 25, 2025
I was brought up in a Protestant household and attended church twice most Sundays until I left home at 19. I cannot understand how Christians can apply so much significance to the Old (largely Jewish) Testament often at the expense of the New (completely Christian) Testament. The first is about a vengeful God not unlike most mythological stories and the second is about a compassionate, all-forgiving Son of God. It is like comparing the medical practices of the Crimean war to modern day medical practices; a reference to what once the practice of sawed bones and now we...
Bob Pearce from Adelaide SA
In response to: the-bible-the-hawking-index-and-the-case-for-critical-en
A broader view of radiation issues
February 24, 2025
Thanks so much for this article. So many people are nuclear energy fans (they tend to be Dutton fans as well) and dismiss radioactive waste storage problems as not an issue, safe storage is almost with us. But happy to have it in their backyards? I haven't seen any volunteers yet. We shouldn't be surprised that radioactive dust is blowing in the wind from mining sites. Because those who live near mines complain of dust and various health issues depending on what is being mined in their locality. Nor should we be surprised that that there are increased cancers,...
Margaret Callinan from Hawthorn VIC 3122
In response to: The physical hazards of nuclear energy
AUKUS and the nuclear dumps
February 24, 2025
I don’t believe that there is any coincidence at all that this nuclear debate has resurfaced immediately after Morrison’s signing up to AUKUS without transparent Parliamentary discussion or electoral approval. I don’t believe that there was any scope left for Albanese to change the contract once elected not even any scope for the subject to be discussed at the ALP conference. I believe that a compliant media has helped cover up that temporary storage of low level waste will be stored in SA and WA shipyards adjacent to the Australian population. Already the argument that we have been...
Bob Pearce from Adelaide SA
In response to: The-physical-hazards-of-nuclear-energy;;
Two-state solution out of the question
February 24, 2025
Fine words John, but ain't going to happen. Been too long in the oven, the oven's cold. As long as Iran and its proxies (Hamas and Hezbollah) are determined to annihilate Israel there will never be a two-state realisation.
CHRIS WAITE from LAUNCESTON TAS
In response to: Servile or just vile: Australia’s pandering to US, Israel
Who are the animals?
February 24, 2025
Outrage as Hamas disrespectfully handed back coffins containing dead Israelis, killed in an Israeli air strike, not a peep when dead Palestinians gleefully squashed by Israeli tanks filmed and posted online with descriptions describing how all their guts squirted out. Hamas could have just said, We don't know where they are, probably under the rubble with all the dead and squashed Palestinians.
Jerry Cartwright from Perth
In response to: Gaza, the deafening sound of silence
2035 climate targets matter
February 24, 2025
Ken Russell is absolutely correct in stating that “the incorrect use of net zero, together with carbon offsetting and carbon capture and storage, has enabled the development of a highly successful greenwashing operation designed to ensure the ongoing use of fossil fuels”. And who benefits? Fossil fuel corporations and the big end of town. Who suffers? All life on earth. The burning of fossil fuels, no matter where they are burned, is responsible for 75% of global heating. The year 2024 was 1.6 degrees above pre-industrial temperatures. For fossil fuel CEOs to dodge and weave climate commitments, and governments...
Amy Hiller from Kew, Victoria
In response to: Net zero emissions by 2050 is great for the fossil fuel industry
Locked up in Beijing and Australia
February 24, 2025
I have no idea what happens in secret trials in China, nor do we know what happens in secret trials and imprisonment in Australia or what is the evidence even the defendant is forbidden from seeing. What sort of government can hold you incommunicado for weeks, not for committing a crime, but because they think you know something they want to know, then send you to jail for years if you tell where you've been? The Australian government. So the same or similar laws, but only evil when China does it.
Jerry Cartwright from Perth
In response to: Locked up in Beijing, anti China media watch
A spotlight on the retirement phase of super
February 24, 2025
I applaud Andrew Podger for highlighting the need for an overhaul of the retirement phase of super in his article. The spotlight on this is overdue and should commence with an understanding of “what is” at present. From personal experience with Australian Super, communications are related to superannuation funds. Once these funds are rolled into a pension fund communications from Australian Super, related to pension funds, are non existent or not relevant to retirement phases. There is no guidance for retirees on managing the risks or free independent expert advice. A further concern is, with the rollover of monies...
Andrea Coney from Port Fairy
In response to: At last: A serious attempt to fix retirement phase of super By Andrew Podger
Is pragmatism the correct word?
February 24, 2025
I was disappointed that Jan Bruck in his positive focus on the pragmatism of former German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, could not explore her unique approach a little further than he does in his short article. Bruck does not recount one major occurrence during Merkel's chancellorship which might bring into question whether pragmatism is the appropriate descriptive word. I am referring to the Minsk Accords, two agreements made in August 2014 and February 2015, where Germany was the main negotiator (supported by the French leader, Hollande) representing Kyiv and Russia represented the breakaway Donbas republics. The agreements were...
Bruce Foskey from Blackwood, Vic
In response to: The Political Pragmatism of Angela Merkel
A considered vote vs a knee-jerk vote
February 24, 2025
The Teals’ pursuit of integrity in public service, and of major reform ... have the courage of their convictions....... can help revive honest government .... now give us hope. I heartily endorse your correspondent's assessment. Having experienced a (more properly described) community independent MP over the past almost three years, it has been a breath of fresh air. In Kooyong, Monique Ryan has enabled a new sense of building and being community. Her approach is to question: what is important to you, what issues concern you, how can I help you? And she listens to the answers, formulating her...
Margaret Callinan from Hawthorn VIC 3122
In response to: It’s Teals, not Labor, who now bring hope
Nothing for nothing
February 24, 2025
Even though it is not even at the negotiation table, Ukraine is now finding out that aid from the United States comes at a heavy price to its critical mineral resources. A debt it didn’t even know it was running up. How long before we are asked to hand over a 50% stake in Australian critical minerals to the US in exchange for them “protecting us” with Pine Gap, Nurrungar, Northwest Cape and US forces rotation under the FPA?
Geoff Taylor from Perth
In response to: Ukraine isn’t invited to its own peace talks. History is full of such examples
Vote 1 Ventriloquist Dummy Party! Really?
February 24, 2025
Encyclopaedia Brittanica: “Semite, Name given in the 19th century to a member of any people who speak one of the Semitic languages, a family of languages spoken primarily in parts of western Asia and Africa. The term therefore came to include Arabs, Akkadians, Canaanites, Hebrews, some Ethiopians (including the Amhara and the Tigrayans), and Aramaean tribes. Although Mesopotamia, the western coast of the Mediterranean, the Arabian Peninsula, and the Horn of Africa have all been proposed as possible sites for the prehistoric origins of Semitic-speaking populations,” I reference Encyclopaedia Brittanica the bastion of white supremacy. When the leader of...
Bob Pearce from Adelaide SA
In response to: peter-dutton-is-playing-with-fire
A tyrant by any other name...
February 24, 2025
Gim Teh writes chillingly of America under Trump. Surrounded by megalomaniacs and minions, with the numbers in the House and the Senate, a handpicked majority of conservative judges in the Supreme Court, and absolution from criminality while in office, he already has more power than George III. Only the 22nd Amendment stands in his way for a life tenancy of the White House. As his increasingly irrational behaviour plunges, not only his own countrymen and women, but also the whole global community into a quagmire of fear and uncertainty, doubts as to his mental state are being raised. ...
John Mosig from Kew, 3101
In response to: Trump: the wanna be king of America
7% of Americans believe chocolate comes from brown cows
February 24, 2025
After all, according to a 2017 survey, some 23 million Americans believe chocolate comes from brown cows. I looked into this statement and found it to be disingenuous. The survey was not scientific and wasn't meant to be taken as evidence of Americans' knowledge of dairy products. Also it wasn't chocolate, it was milk chocolate. This misinformation makes me question all future P&I articles now whereas I used to think it was above reproach.
Hazel Foote from Payneham
In response to: https://publish.pearlsandirritations.com/trump-the-wannabe-king-of-america/
Illegal occupation
February 24, 2025
Why isn't the world crying out about the illegal occupation of Palestine? Israel has the right to defend itself? Clearly not when it is illegally occupying Palestine and the West Bank. The Hamas attack was bad enough, but it disappears into insignificance compared to Israel's murderous attack on a foreign nation. Is the entire world cowering while the Zionists are exterminating an entire population? A Holocaust indeed.
Hans Rijsdijk from Albion Park Rail
In response to: Servile or just vile: Australia’s pandering to US, Israel
Greenhouse gas emissions from imports
February 24, 2025
Peter Sainsbury rightly draws attention to Australia’s huge exports of greenhouse gas emissions in the form of fossil fuels for combustion overseas. In addition, we must consider the emissions embodied in our imports of fossil fuels in the goods and services we purchase that are made overseas. It has been estimated that they are similar in magnitude to our official emissions, that is, greenhouse gases emitted within Australia. We can reduce our imported emissions, as individuals, by buying Australian, and, as a nation, by using renewable energy to manufacture more goods within Australia.
Mark Diesendorf from BEROWRA HEIGHTS, NSW
In response to: Environment: Australia’s exported greenhouse gas emissions are double our domest
The considerable cost of retirement living
February 24, 2025
The article by Andrew Podger fails to refer to the issue which concerns many aging retirees and that is the frightening cost of low- and high-care accommodation, starting with the initial bond. The $250,000 referred to as retained superannuation capital is in no way adequate for this task. I am sure Andrew has considered this issue and i would be interested in his solutions.
michael greer from Fitzroy
In response to: At last: A serious attempt to fix retirement phase of super
Viva Barb Dadd's revolution
February 24, 2025
Thoroughly enjoyed your article Barb, beautifully written, poignant and a call to action for all aspiring activists. Congratulations.
Peter Day from Adelaide
In response to: A fantasy: The revolution that shook the world
Shame is old hat
February 21, 2025
It seems shame is an anachronism. As Paddy Gourley amusingly, but darkly, suggests, some ghosts who should remain just that are coming back into focus, assisted by the hugely comedic and deadly Murdoch juggernaut. Mark Pezzullo for one. An independent inquiry into the latter’s conduct as secretary of home affairs found Pezzullo had breached the rules on at least 14 occasions in relation to “overarching allegations” including using his power, status or authority “to seek to gain a benefit or advantage for himself, failing to act apolitically, failing to disclose a conflict of interest and failing to maintain confidentiality...
Fina Colin from Melbourne
In response to: Mike Pezzullo and the Murdoch comedy company
Don't be so hasty about Ronald Reagan
February 21, 2025
They are not the same people as on whose behalf Ronald Reagan, 40 years ago, celebrated the fact that 'Americans courageously supported the struggle for liberty, self-government, and free enterprise throughout the world, and turned the tide of history away from totalitarian darkness and into the warm sunlight of human freedom'. I'm really not sure about this particular bit of saintliness. Reagan was well in the grip of neoliberal big business. High profits, low wages, kill the opposition. Whatever lofty words he might have said, Reagan was leading the US down the path that has given us Trump. ...
Margaret Callinan from Hawthorn VIC 3122
In response to: Europeans (and others) vs Trump
Past time to cut the US apron strings
February 21, 2025
We can no longer ignore the need for Australia to plan for its own defence, rather than fund a role as a compliant auxiliary of the US in the Pacific. Amen to that!! Easier said than done when we have another unpredictable superpower in East Asia. Easier said than done, getting an anti-AUKUS letter published in the MSM. Speak up people. Time to rally! Australia long since took up parroting the US' anti-China chorus. But is any of it true, including that China is unpredictable? How has China behaved? Spreading influence by building infrastructure, not dropping...
Margaret Callinan from Hawthorn VIC 3122
In response to: What if there is no way of Australia placating Trump?
Shame on governments that gave Murdoch free rein
February 21, 2025
Thank all the gods I don't read any Murdoch rag. I'm with Grace Tame! My sympathies to Paddy Gourley and all who are forced to read such garbage as part of their working life.
Margaret Callinan from Hawthorn VIC 3122
In response to: Mike Pezzullo and the Murdoch comedy company
Myopic self-indulgence
February 21, 2025
At least Saul Eslake managed a reasonably accurate description of Trump. Otherwise, this dalliance in knee-jerk journalism is perhaps the most condescending, patronising, presumptuous, and vacuous insult I've ever read on P & I. He's used election results in order to support his apparent political and social myopia, engaging in no analysis whatsoever in order to replace facts with generalities. He excoriates and vilifies a contrived homogeneous mass of humanity in the US with no effort to account for reality: the US population simply doesn't fit, even generally, into his mischaracterisations. Instead of addressing the structural faults and...
Peter Warner from Eureka, California, USA
In response to: Europeans (and others) vs Trump
The cynical pre-budget submission process
February 20, 2025
Ross Gittins is correct that governments never pay attention to pre-budget submissions from the public. This is because the process operates on the assumption that submissions will be ignored. As Gittins says, the call for submissions has just gone out, as usual. But the high-level outline of what is in or out of budget is usually pretty much settled in December the previous year. In recent years this has slipped under increasingly disorganised governments but my guess, from both my experience and the wan looks of of my ex-colleagues, is that the final touches are being put on budget...
Damian Coburn from Kambah ACT
In response to: We may be short of leaders, but we’re not short on false prophets
Who do they serve?
February 20, 2025
There has to be concern that Peter Dutton thinks well of Trump. Trump’s pronouncements on Greenland and Panama, followed by his idea of removing Palestinians from their own land, and asserting that Ukraine started the war with Russia are cause for grave concern. So much so, that those working in any capacity within the Australian public service whose sworn allegiance is to the US president should be asked to return to the US.
Geoff Taylor from Perth
In response to: If the Coalition under Dutton isn’t liberal or conservative what is it.
Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose
February 20, 2025
Refaat Ibrahim talks to one horrific issue in the never-ending repetition of the human experiment. It seems humankind is hardwired to a cycle of behavioural traits that finish in man’s inhumanity to man. As we lurch drunkenly into yet another catastrophic phase of what looks to be our destiny, some of the players have changed roles; sadly, the roles remain constant and the methods tragically familiar. In the 1930s, Hitler and Stalin divided Poland as a prelude to signing a non-aggression pact. With its eastern front buffered, the Third Reich set out to make Germany great again under Lebensraum....
John Mosig from Kew, Victoria, 3101
In response to: The displacement of Gazans: between possibility and impossibility
Alternative WTO?
February 19, 2025
The article poses that the World Trade Organisation is no longer effective and may be beyond recovery. One of the reasons for this decline seems to be the US' aberrant behaviour. One could pose the question whether an alternative WTO that excludes the US may serve as (temporary?) relief from the current problems. Well, there is an possible alternative that is being developed, namely BRICS. Joining BRICS may not please the US (and would likely produce more of the economic threats that Trump is happy to spray around), but sometimes it may be necessary to stand up to a...
Hans Rijsdijk from Albion Park Rail
In response to: Causes of peace… and war
Populist right policy – show us the evidence
February 19, 2025
There is no evidence that cutting public sector jobs saves the taxpayer money. History attests to the contrary. The point about populist right policy is that it is based not on fact but on popular misconception exploited for electoral advantage. During the years of Thatcherism, the series Yes, Minister was conceived to pillory the public sector as ridiculously bureaucratic, hopelessly inefficient, and perpetually self-serving. It thus reinforced the neoconservative ideological project of small government, public choice theory, and free-market economics. The reality is that public sector job cuts equal service cuts; and outsourcing and privatisation result more often...
Roz Averis from Adelaide, SA
In response to: Dutton's perennial stupidity of undirected public-service
Pacta sunt servanda
February 19, 2025
Well said, Saul. In our Australian bewilderment we shouldn't deny the benefit of the US connection. But our obsequious leaders, from our US ambassador, the foreign minister, (who both should have absented themselves from the inauguration of the felon-in-chief by making an appointment to meet Michelle Obama on that notorious occasion), prime minister and deputy prime minister following in that path, we have publicly failed miserably to assert our national interest and self-respect. Instead of meekly submitting the first payment of our ongoing impoverishment to the bogus nuke-submarine deal, they should have instead redirected funds to the Cambodian de-mining...
Bruce Wearne from BALLARAT CENTRAL
In response to: Europeans (and others) vs Trump
It's Teals, not Labor, who now bring hope
February 19, 2025
Labor swept into office on a wave of hope for a fresh start after nine years of Coalition inertia. Those hopes have been dashed by their lack of a sense of purpose or social justice. Anthony Albanese has not grown into the role of prime minister. He has given no sense of leadership, no impression of a vision for our future. He remains the political operator he has always been. Any sense of worthwhile government has been tarnished forever by legislation passed, in cahoots with the Coalition, in the last parliamentary sitting: muzzling charities once an election has been...
Chris Young from Surrey Hills
In response to: Teals should hammer unfinished integrity agenda
Zionism as a terrorist creed
February 18, 2025
A good place to start seems to be to label Zionism (as clearly different from Judaism) as a terrorist creed.
Hans Rijsdijk from Albion Park Rail
In response to: Sourcing antisemitism: ‘Paid actors’ and urgent questions to be asked
The separation between capitalism and state
February 18, 2025
The problem as I see it is there never was a separation between capitalism and state. When anything goes as long as you're elected, the lies are ignored or go unnoticed and every election becomes about If you elect them they will put taxes up”. “No we won’t“. In our current election cycle, we have no mention of the billions of dollars wasted by the previous LNP govt on car parks, AUKUS etc , no mention of why we have a housing crisis, an education crisis, high inflation, no mention of the achievements of the present government, just constant...
Bob Pearce from Adelaide SA
In response to: the-costs-of-impatience-a-psychic-disorder-of-modern-cap
No logic from God
February 18, 2025
While respecting Allan Patience’s academic achievements, I wonder about his logic. He asks, if I prefer to believe in science rather than believe in God, “why did I post about God in the first place?” Why not? Isn’t it critical to consider both sides of an issue in any intelligent commentary? Dr Patience also says that so-called philosophical “positivism” limits scientific research and theorising “to what is observable and measurable”. Sounds impressive, but hardly explains the value of science as the gathering of reliable information from all sources, experimenting and testing it before drawing conclusions that can be verified...
Eric Hunter from COOK
In response to: The problem of God, Dr Allan Patience, February 17
Breaking the cycle
February 18, 2025
Somewhere after my childhood and early adulthood the sense of responsibility seems to have been lost. We have charters of rights, but no charter of responsibilitities that I've ever heard of. We have freedom of speech without any compulsion to use that right responsibly. For years, wage theft has been an unashamed oops, not a crime. Teachers regularly complain that talking to parents about a child's persistent problematic behaviour brings the response that their child can do no wrong. In my own backyard, the federal Opposition can flood my electorate with a flyer of lies and distortions about the sitting...
Margaret Callinan from Hawthorn VIC 3122
In response to: Who should take responsibility for youth crime?
Views on new world order
February 17, 2025
Lavrov's views, published a few days ago, on the changing world order as The UN Charter Should Become the Legal Foundation of a Multipolar World should be read, considered, and critiqued by all pondering the rapidly changing nature of international relationships.
Bob Aikenhead from Victoria
In response to: Appeasement in the 21st century
COVID facts
February 17, 2025
The failure of the ABC to acknowledge or describe most of the disputes, uncertainties, errors and misrepresentations related to the mainstream of COVID narrative, policies and events is another regrettable issue. Australia is way behind the US, the UK and several other countries in exposing some of the alternate facts through broad scale inquiries, and with the commitment to transparency declared by the US' new Health and Human Services secretary, much more material will soon appear. I hoped that Pearls and Irritations might welcome broader discussion, but have seen little of it. Perhaps we could open this discussion...
Wendy Hoy from Kenmore Hills, Brisbane, Queensland
In response to: ABC's sycophancy erodes our democracy
AUKUS joke
February 17, 2025
How will the future (if ever) AUKUS vassals be branded? Fiat! Boom boom!
Alan Wilson from Adelaide
In response to: First AUKUS meeting of Trump 2.0: Business as usual
A1+ for Kym Davey
February 17, 2025
Kym Davey's article shoud be sent to every politician and every ABC board member. It is impeccable in its truth and superb in the summation of much (though sadly, not by any means all) that is a cancer eating the soul of the ABC. And (as with Alison Broinowski’s recent letter) it highlights the very, very important point that it is the ABC that implicitly, and by its charter explicitly, is supposed to provide truth on matters of import to Australians' understanding of events, developments etc. critical to building an intelligent nation. The current and immediate past ABC...
Richard Llewellyn from Colo Vale NSW 2575
In response to: ABC sycophancy erodes our democracy
What democracy?
February 17, 2025
No mention of the non-existent US democracy largely based on the non-thinkers voting and the thinking voters non-voting, all by design with the latest system of bribes (AUKUS) paid by compliant countries for protection which history tells will always be on its way unless further bribes are paid to the US arms industry
Bob Pearce from Adelaide SA
In response to: caligulas-horse-and-washington
Electoral targeting and the wealth divide
February 17, 2025
The economic indicators may have improved, but the wealth extremities have widened. Economic distribution is consolidating the fortunes of the super-rich and obscenely wealthy, at the expense of the already impoverished, disenfranchised, or at risk (employed or not). Here is the battleground for the contest of ideas, and emotions. Climate action, refugees or minority groups (however named, shamed and denigrated, including welfare recipients and people with a disability) are not driving extremes of inequality. The wealthy can as yet weather the storms (literally and figuratively) caused by climate change and economic instability. Others cannot. The appeal to the...
Roz Averis from Adelaise
In response to: The politics of fear - how belief and emotion drive electoral outcomes
Balfour Declaration tried to protect Palestinians
February 17, 2025
Thanks for a good article. Balfour’s 1917 letter, aka the Balfour Declaration (text below) stipulated: “ … nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine ..” . This promise was not honoured by the British administration or by the Zionists . Balfour Declaration 1917 November 2nd, 1917 Dear Lord Rothschild, I have much pleasure in conveying to you, on behalf of His Majesty's Government, the following declaration of sympathy with Jewish Zionist aspirations which has been submitted to, and approved by, the Cabinet. His...
Tony Kevin from Canberra
In response to: Israel and the dark legacy of Sir Mark SykesBy Susan GloverFeb 13, 2025
Trump’s Gaza diplomacy
February 17, 2025
Astonishing as the Trump announcement re seizure of Gaza was, perhaps more telling was that the only leader even hinting at agreement was Netanyahu. Not even neighbours like Egypt or Jordan were consulted in advance, nor did regional client states in the region agree. Perhaps Trump's Inept Isolationism would be a better descriptor.
Don Hird from Hobart 7009
In response to: Trump’s Gaza grab shows America is no better than China
International law vs RBO
February 17, 2025
Is there any way that I can persuade Pearls and Irritations to stop supporting the US' International Rules-Based Order and to, instead, support International Law? The two are not the same. The International Rules-Based Order is the US' attempt to supplant International Law with something meaningless and inconsistent that they can manipulate to say whatever they want from time to time. The relationship between International Law and the Rules-Based Order is examined here.
Susan Nolan from Sydney, NSW Australia
In response to: Paging the lady and the lamp
Start with bringing our ships and planes home
February 14, 2025
We could explain to the Australian public why our ships and planes are surveilling in international waters/airspace off the coast of China. Would we tolerate it in international waters off our coast?
Bob Pearce from Adelaide SA
In response to: the-need-for-australia-to-act-independently-and-be-freed
Do we read the documents we talk about?
February 13, 2025
Of all historical documents, The Balfour Declaration must hold the record for being the most often referred to and the least often read. The document reads: His Majesty's Government views with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people . . . it being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine, or the rights and political status enjoyed by Jews in any other country. The Declaration talks about a national home, in Palestine, for the Jews, while the...
Ian Bruce from Darlinghurst, NSW 2010
In response to: Israel and the dark legacy of Sir Mark Sykes
God and gender duality
February 13, 2025
One consideration to add to Eric Hunter’s excellent article on ‘Why doesn’t God save the day?’ is the apparent automatic assumption it is a male figure. No doubt it originates from ancient days when domination relied more on direct physical prowess rather than projectiles delivered from a distance. Any deity is likely to be a figurehead to all and not defined by gender. Perhaps there is a message in the recent amplified status by transgender people which may lead the faithful beyond the confines of conflict.
Tony McLean from Springwood, Blue Mountains
In response to: Why doesn't God Save the Day
Ita, a dose of integrity?
February 12, 2025
Perhaps Cold Chisel should alter the lyrics to their song Ita. or maybe they were just being sarcastic all along? Is her integrity the reason that another person of integrity, Scomo, picked her?
Jerry Cartwright from Perth
In response to: ABC cowardice vs Zionist blitzkrieg
Why only now see the reality?
February 12, 2025
Peter Varghese has finally recognised that the US has become a selfish bully and that its capacity to champion “our great strategic project” against China is in doubt. He says that while we should continue to enjoy the security from hanging out with the bully, it would be wise given US unpredictability “to recognise what we should have known all along” that we can’t leave our defence to others”. (Is this an apology for inability to advance this view when he was DFAT secretary?) What brings Varghese to his realisation are Trump’s statements about expanding US territory and...
John Wallace from Melbourne
In response to: Trump’s Gaza grab shows America is no better than China
Taiwan and Gaza
February 11, 2025
The situation with Taiwan and Gaza is not comparable. A total of 146 countries recognise Palestine (including Gaza) as a sovereign state that has never belonged to America or Israel. Almost every country recognises Taiwan as part of China (12 don't). Even America does. Those running Taiwan are not the original inhabitants, but forcibly overran it after losing a civil war. I believe that provoking China over Taiwan has more to do with China's massive economic growth than spreading freedom and democracy and mythical fairy stories of the rules-based order. Ask the previous inhabitants of Diego...
Jerry Cartwright from Perth
In response to: Trumps Gaza grab shows America is no better than China.
From the river to the sea
February 11, 2025
From the river to the sea is condemned as a racist and hateful policy. Given that it should be banned from Likud's founding documents, campaigns, and policies.
Jerry Cartwright from Perth
In response to: The future from the river to the sea remains bleak
Our future is in our hands
February 11, 2025
Peter Sainsbury illustrates a frightening truth. Australia, and for that matter, the rest of the world, is chasing its tail trying to reach net zero targets. The reason is multifaceted, but the underlying solution is simple; take the ominous consequences of global warming seriously and act accordingly. The question then becomes: is Australia capable of curbing its consumeristic lifestyle to haul in what is fast becoming runaway atmospheric warming? At this stage, we’ve shown no inclination to do so. Our business leaders and politicians seem yoked to population growth, which only compounds greenhouse gas emissions, but to be honest,...
John Mosig from Kew, Victoria 3101
In response to: Environment: Australia unlikely to play its proper part in keeping warming under
A golden opportunity for a determined government
February 11, 2025
Peter Sainsbury shocked me with his heading Environment Australia unlikely to play its proper part in keeping warming under 1.5 degrees C. Our PM and team should stick boldly to the decarbonising science; and try harder to explain to MPs and voters that this is the only true, effective path for a livable future on Earth. That path would also likely beat Dutton's nuclear energy as far too late, costly and with forever deadly radioactive waste. I consider that our government has a golden opportunity to make a strong stand now for doing the right thing for...
Barbara Fraser from Burwood, Vic
In response to: Environment: Australia unlikely to play its proper part in keeping warming under
Trump’s Gaza grab: America is no better than China
February 11, 2025
Peter Varghese's article has a number of factual inaccuracies which I would like to point out. 1. The so-called rules-based order crafted by the US mentioned in his essay is nothing but a self-serving way of relating to the world solely in its interests. The US never signed up to the United Nations' international Charter of Law. 2. Taiwan has been recognised internationally — even by the US — as being part of mainland China. This is not the case as far as Panama, Greenland, nor for that matter, Gaza. Thus the comparison is invalid.
Pamela Rothfield from Edithvale, Victoria
In response to: Trump’s Gaza grab shows America is no better than China
Peter Varghese's swipe at China
February 11, 2025
Peter Varghese's article takes a totally unneccesary swipe at China. China may be a one-party state, but it has managed to lift its population out of the depths of poverty into a modern welfare state. He may not like China's authoritarian regime (neither do I, by the way), but a huge majority of Chinese citizens elected it and it has the respect of most of its population. On the other side, America is rapidly evolving into a rogue state where might is right and money is king are the only criteria that matter. I am not a military expert,...
Hans Rijsdijk from Albion Park Rail
In response to: Trump's Gaza grab shows America .....
What’s really on the nose is politics
February 11, 2025
Forget about Musk or any other of the small, medium or large businesses; what is really on the nose is politics. The job of business is to make a profit and everything they do or say is, and should be, about making a profit. No matter how big or small they are, if it isn’t about making a profit they will not survive/prosper. The problem is that our politicians and our politics have lost sight of their job which is to govern without fear or favour for the good/betterment of all Australians without fear of not being re-elected....
Bob Pearce from Adelaide SA
In response to: musk-a-perfume-on-the-nose
Right-wing Advance and our elections
February 11, 2025
The right-wing lobby group Advance played a not insignificant role against the Voice, and it mounted a concerted campaign to defeat the sitting Greens candidate in Prahran’s recent by-election in Victoria. Advance is partly funded by a Liberal Party investment group which donated $500,000 in the last financial year. It was disturbing to read that the Victorian Electoral Commission felt obliged to seek a Supreme Court injunction against Advance for repeatedly defying election campaign rules. Disturbing not because of the actions of the VEC, but the response from Advance, who accused the VEC of “heavy-handed overreaction to Australians participating...
Fiona Colin from Melbourne
In response to: Australian electoral prospects
Tell 'im 'e's dreamin'
February 11, 2025
Bob McMullan's piece reads like he's trying to convince himself that Labor isn't doing as badly as it is. Whatever else is happening in the world, however bad the opposition is, by any measure Labor is a disappointment, at best. On climate and the environment it has performed particularly poorly, the backdown on gambling reform was pathetic, and not subjecting the whole AUKUS deal to thorough scrutiny was an abdication of responsibility. The list goes on. Talk to anyone vaguely interested in politics and the refrain is the same. Albanese is an inadequate prime minister, timid, spineless, lacking...
Margaret Callinan from Hawthorn VIC 3122
In response to: Australian electoral prospects
Well-written report
February 11, 2025
Congratulations on a well-written article. I am a 62-year-old white Australian and have to agree with all aspects of the article. Particularly with the outside influences aggravating the Australian public who are not very smart or introspective in the first place. The problem is how do you make a politician who is left- or right-wing and probably being paid in some manner by the perpetrators to see clearly the falsity that is obvious? A great article.
Michael Hagen from PROSERPINE
In response to: Australian society has never really been a cohesive entity, it may be unravellin
Trump saves the subs
February 10, 2025
What Australia needs: Another Trump light bulb moment where he decides that Biden/Morrison did a dumb deal (he may well take our money and tell us to p*** off but in the long run thatwill be cheaper). A hung parliament in which Dutton won’t work with the independents. Richard Marles to lose his seat. The Future made in Australia to kick in. It is standard Trump/defence business practice to quote low and once the build reaches critical mass the customer has no choice but to hold on and pay up and go along for...
Bob Pearce from Adelaide SA
In response to: aukus-ssn-a-flawed-plan-heading-for-the-wrong-destinatio
ABC cowardice vs Zionist blitzkreig
February 10, 2025
The Lattouff court case exposes, once again, the craven subservience of Australian Government, its instrumentalities, and of course, the mainstream media (aka the Murdochracy). So much dissembling, so much obfuscation, so much plain BS. So much genuflection to the obscene demands of the Zionist lobby. Ita Buttrose, a person of (questionably, but let that pass) veneration, reduced to the status of a messenger of the gods of the Zionist Lobby industry. Since when has it been a personal opinion, attacking Israel to quote, with attribution, the stated finding of a respected international organisation? Since when has it been...
Richard Llewellyn from Colo Vale 2575 NSW
In response to: Arab organisations slam ABC over refusal to acknowledge Lebanese race
Rough road to a sustainable future
February 10, 2025
Hope in a crisis is the drowning man’s straw: people grasp it, however unlikely it may seem, and cling to it. So it is with the climate crisis. We have scientists arguing powerfully, passionately, for the urgent action that we still need to preserve a liveable Earth. This gives hope, in the face of ever-worsening expectations. Trainer argues that those hopes are doomed, unable to overcome the greed of capitalism before capitalism itself collapses under its own internal contradictions. He pins his hopes, instead, on small, self-sufficient, co-operative groups. The approach he advocates for — he calls it The...
Chris Young from Surrey Hills, VIC
In response to: The situation – and why we can’t fix it
Comcare prosecution over Robodebt turned down
February 10, 2025
Comcare referred a case about Robodebt under S.19.2 of the Commonwealth Occupational Health and Safety Act to the CDPP. That section covers the duty of care to those affected by the work of a person (natural or corporate) in control of a business or undertaking, and includes the Commonwealth government. Comcare says the CDPP declined to prosecute because it saw little chance of a conviction.
Geoff Taylor from Perth
In response to: ‘Before, during and after’: Deception at the heart of Australia’s anti-corruptio
Escalators and headlines
February 10, 2025
Ever since Donald Trump took that elevator ride in 2015, he has made an art form of generating headlines. He says something outrageous and then watches as the world's media and assorted pundits put him on the front page. They buy into it time after time after time. They're doing it now. Own Gaza? With neither US military nor US money being used? How will that work? The Palestinians have resisted Israel. Why would they not resist the Yanks? Also, no Arab or Muslim nation has indicated any willingness to accept two million disgruntled migrants. And why would...
Hal Duell from ALICE SPRINGS
In response to: Trumps plan for Gaza heralds an age of naked fascism/
Weasel word BS is alive and well in universities
February 10, 2025
I just thought I'd let you know that I stopped reading this article as soon as I got to the bit where it says McKay wants secretary and senior-level public service remuneration to be 'well calibrated to the correct private sector analogues'. What is it with academics that they must twist language into some sort of contortions to make a point? Why couldn't this bloke McKay, who is obviously an idiot, just say he wants senior-level public servant pay to mirror the private sector, or to be similar to the private sector? Well calibrated to the correct...
Wes Mason from Gisborne
In response to: Public Servant's Pay
It's time for a balanced parliament
February 10, 2025
The mystery will always remain: Why did Albanese appease his Coalition opponents while haemorrhaging votes from his supporters? Moving on, I suggest Dutton and the LNP would be infinitely worse. The Trump playbook, divisiveness, lack of policies and policy detail, lack of transparency, lies and personal attacks on opponents at both federal and electorate level - no good lies down that path. So the big question is: What are we going to do about it? Please... vote deliberately for a hung/balanced parliament. Community independents have already shown teeth and backbone in calling the major parties to account....
Margaret Callinan from Hawthorn VIC 3122
In response to: ‘Before, during and after’: Deception at the heart of Australia’s anti-corruptio
Disappointed with our leaders
February 10, 2025
Thoroughly enjoyed this article and share Barb's disappointment in our political leaders. Australia seems to be going off course. The tragedy is that in a recent election, Bill Shorten tried to offer solutions to many of her concerns, but was unsuccessful with many short-sighted Australians. When Murdoch controls 80% of the media and has other ideas, many of his readers are misled about the precarious situation. Murdoch's minions and lackeys are pushing a separate dangerous and backward agenda. The legacy media meekly wades in the swamp. The other tragedy is that our political system is broken and not...
Tim Reeve from 52 Bungaloe Ave Balgowlah 2093
In response to: Comment re Barb Dadd's article " Where is the real choice"
The collapse of the capitalism model
February 7, 2025
Ted Trainer's article provides a timely warning that the current model of greed encased in capitalism is nearing its logical end. I have been involved in the recycling and zero waste movements and their refinement over the last 35 years. Despite highlighting the urgent need for change little happens. Every time a move is made to minimise the harm to the environment, such as plastics recycling, container recovery, alternate energy or safer and improved quality food production, the current capital model steals the concept and incorporates it into the greed structure to generate more income for the current investment...
Gerry Gillespie from Queanbeyan NSW
In response to: The situation - and why we can't fix it
Trump's diaspora
February 6, 2025
Reading P&I on Trump's latest mad plan to resettle the inhabitants of Gaza somewhere else so he can build hotels and golf courses, I was struck by an historic parallel. The last chap to try this was Sargon II, boss of Assyria, who came down on the local inhabitants like a wolf on the fold, his cohorts gleaming in purple and gold and scattered them to the four winds, an event known in Jewish history as the diaspora. That was 2750 years ago and led directly to the present mess that is Israel/Palestine. So if Trump has his...
Julian Cribb from Canberra, ACT
In response to: Trump’s plan for Gaza heralds an age of naked fascism
Yes Minister 2
February 6, 2025
For some time, my teacher mate sang the virtues of the US system where the president got to tap into the expertise of highly credentialled people from all around the country when appointing heads of departments and I must admit that I didn’t disagree with him. Then came Trump who unashamedly appointed mates. So much for that idea. In Australia, with its ongoing war against anything old that works, we too started to appoint highly paid (unlike with workers where qualifications and capability are not portional to the amount you're paid) experts as heads of departments on contract....
Bob Pearce from Adelaide SA
In response to: public-servants-pay-lambies-on-the-money
Understanding intent in genocide
February 6, 2025
Gerard Gill's statement: intent being determined by multiple statements from officials is legal fantasy. Intent is established by acts or omissions, not by words. If a reasonable person would understand that there was a strongly probable, indeed, near certain consequence of an act or omission, that establishes intent. She who deliberately puts death cap mushrooms in the beef Wellington commits murder, (allegedly). The act proves intent. If a reasonable person would understand that a near certain consequence of Israel's obliteration of Gaza, cutting off water, food, medical supplies, the use of starvation as a means of warfare, the...
Rick Pass from Glen Iris, Victoria
In response to: Lone soldiers, lone wolves: Are IDF returnees a security threat?
The X factor
February 6, 2025
I have been banned from X and am unable to peruse any five-minute scroll items. X claims I have sent prohibited comment to it for which I am banned. I have never used X. I responded to their ban email by saying I have never wanted to be treated as a user of X and am happy to be excluded by them. However, if the five-minute scroll continues to use them as material, I will not be able in future to be able to access it. I have been a user of P&I for over 10 years...
William Bradley from SOUTH MELBOURNE
In response to: five minute scroll
Trump removal of support for climate action and aid
February 6, 2025
What if China decided to fund the organisations (humanitarian aid, climate change support) from which Trump has withdrawn support? What a coup this would be! How would Trump react? I feel the Chinese are now rich enough to take this up. If they did so, how would the Western powers react? It would really change the world's perception of China.
Doug Foskey from Tregeagle
In response to: https://publish.pearlsandirritations.com/strong-leaders-versus-inspiring-leaders-australias-curre
There is a real choice at this election
February 6, 2025
Contrary to Barb Dadd's pessimism, I believe there is a real choice at the coming federal election and that is the Australian Greens. The Greens have policies which address all the issues that concern the author and I encourage your readers to check the Australian Greens website for a thorough summary of Greens' policies. The Greens have been criticised by many commentators for blocking Labor-initiated legislation in the Parliament, but in all cases they have been trying to improve that legislation so that it is more effective and delivers greater benefits to the community as a whole and particularly...
Les Mitchell from Port Macquarie NSW
In response to: Where is the real choice when it comes to the election?
Unhinged proposals for Gaza
February 6, 2025
Like Larry Stillman, most of us don't want to see a rise in hate towards any group of people here. But for Donald Trump to reiterate a plan during Netanyahu's visit that Palestinians should just vacate Southwest Palestine is unhinged. What can that do but create even greater tensions, with their spillover in Australia and elsewhere? What then will he propose for Northeast Palestine? Hitler's plans for Poland to provide Lebensraum have an eerie echo in Trump's statements. Jewish organisations in Australia, which are hopefully fundamentally driven by moral imperatives, would be best served by proposing a much...
Geoff Taylor from Perth
In response to: No community can be blamed for the actions of a few individuals
DeepSeek
February 6, 2025
The response to DeepSeek was predictable. It is stolen, it is untrue, it is expensive, it is a psyops exercise and, if not any of these, then it is a threat to Western civilisation that deserves to be blocked immediately. And in a typical response, the CIA promptly did a massive DDoS attack on it using Vault 7, its cyberwar weapon.
Andrew Nichols from Otepoti Dunedin, Aotearoa NZ
In response to: Western commentators still unable to see the advances in China
How the Chinese system deals with the next phase
February 6, 2025
I watch as the US rushes towards the abyss, taking the Western world and the planet and democracy with it. With limited news coverage, I admire what China and the Chinese system of government has achieved. The world cheered at the fall of the Soviets and their communist system, not realising that the US and its ongoing worldwide wars and capitalism was in decline. Some thought that a benevolent dictatorship was the ideal government; the US is racing towards dictatorship without benevolence. I have no doubt that the rise of Chinese manufacturing and technology has had a positive...
Bob Pearce from Adelaide SA
In response to: Western-commentators-still-unable-to-see-the-advances-in
They didn't come to pillage
February 6, 2025
They didn't come to pillage, claims the woman who pillaged thousands of taxpayers' dollars.
Jerry Cartwright from Perth
In response to: coalition mindlessness and the colonising of Australia
Significant differences between Labor govt and Dutton LNP
February 6, 2025
It is inaccurate to use the popular and populist formulation all politicians — or parties — are the same. Labor may have been disappointing on international matters – continued AUKUS expensive folly, failure to stand up to the ruling Israeli false narrative etc. Yet it has achieved many reforms: prescription costs, improved bulk billing support, after-hours medical centres, childcare costs, childcare training, apprentice training, numerous industrial relations reforms, housing developments (after a long Greens delay), support for renewables, moves towards Gonski levels in public education, reducing HECS debt, WFH right to disconnect etc etc Populist anti-political thought fosters...
Stephen Alomes from Melbourne
In response to: Where is the real choice when it comes to the election?
Is the Old Testament Christianity?
February 6, 2025
Growing up in a Protestant Christian household, I have been unable to understand the emphasis/equal billing given to the Old Testament teachings at church. Christian teachings such as those mentioned get barely a mention in and out of churches while the vengeful god of the Old Testament is often quoted. “Eye for an eye”etc I see the big players in the Old Testament as the “Who do you think you are“ class. So often the real Christian, caring, sharing, non-judgmental people remain working hard, at the bottom, caring for the needy, wearing their old suits and dresses, never qualifying...
Bob Pearce from Adelaide SA
In response to: The-widows-mite-a-call-to-justice-not-sacrifice/
Limitation of 'physics emulating' economics
February 5, 2025
In connection with Ross Gittins important article Want more economics students? Drop the obsession with maths the more fundamental question is the utility of this approach in the social sciences to ape the gold standard for being a science — assumed to be physics — by describing the area under study via mathematical relationships. The blog of Real World Economics Review, as well as posting items on current economics matters, also has those that address the weaknesses in mainstream economic mathematical modes. Lars Syll is a regular and pertinent contributor on this issue; most recently How evidence is...
Bob Aikenhead from Victoria
In response to: Want more economics students? Drop the obsession with maths
Exposing the IDF's AI-enabled barbarity
February 5, 2025
As background to Keith Mitchelson's timely alert about the recent NYT article, P&I readers will find a report from April 2024 by Yuval Abraham in +972 magazine (online) of great interest. Interviews with IDF members who had served in Gaza detailed the use of two software systems used to murder Palestinians. Lavender collated data from numerous sources to provide target lists, while Where's Daddy? provided location detail for the actual attack. As with the NYT report the full article should be read by all.
Bob Aikenhead from Victoria
In response to: Why did the IDF reveal all to The New York Times?
The elephant in the nuclear room
February 4, 2025
The fate of nuclear energy in a hung parliament is just one more article that fails to address the forever problem of nuclear waste. Until such time as nuclear proponents can 100% guarantee safe and forever disposal of nuclear waste, they shouldn't bother to leave their drawing boards.
Margaret Callinan from Hawthorn VIC 3122
In response to: The fate of nuclear energy in a hung parliament
Do economists know anything about economics?
February 4, 2025
Watching a variety of economists on a variety of TV shows, I have my doubts if economists know anything about the economy or if any two economists or politicians agree on anything. None of them seem to understand even the most basic concept that if you don’t have an income you can’t build / do / supply / repair anything. Take it as a given that nobody wants to pay taxes and everybody wants services . No matter how you dress it up, whatever you promise has to be paid for either by taxes, loans or substandard services....
Bob Pearce from Adelaide SA
In response to: want-more-economics-students-drop-the-obsession-with-mat
NYT were not the first
February 4, 2025
Like almost all your articles, this one deserves a much wider readership than it will probably get. However I'd like to mention that it is in error in its claim that the NYT were the first to report this. It may be true they were the first to interview those particular anonymous IDF soldiers but the claims made have been reported in a number of independent media outlets. In particular, I remember reading such reports in +972 magazine [www.972mag.com], an Israeli publication run as a co-operative with both Jewish and Palestinian staff and contributors, who were also the first...
Terry Constanti from Annandale NSW
In response to: Why did the IDF reveal all to The New York Times?
What about Robodebt?
February 3, 2025
Your correspondent from Gladstone Park informs us that hackers got into his Centrelink account and stole his pension. He postulates that this would not have happened under a conservative government. We all sympathise with him and lament the stress this crime has caused him; but, has he forgotten Robodebt where the Conservative government itself did the stealing, leading to the suicides of far too many?
Paul Fergus from Croydon 2132
In response to: Mainstream media fails to mention positive labor policies
The biggest hoax of all is democracy
February 3, 2025
We don’t live in a democracy, we live in a capitalist society and have done since the beginning of the illusion of democracy. There have been short-lived periods of democratic waves of revolution barely tolerated by the old money. The climate revolution is drawing to a close as the oligarchs take back control to defend their mega money income streams. The old money media and mining moguls of the past have integrated the modern day Internet and tech moguls. We are yet to see which tech billionaires will survive . The rapidly emerging Trump dictatorship is all part...
Bob Pearce from Adelaide SA
In response to: hoaxes-that-gush-for-winners-and-trickle-down-for-losers
Our human footprint
February 3, 2025
In 1969, those who watched the “one giant leap for mankind” witnessed the end product of America’s determination to outsmart the Russians. Exactly how did “mankind” benefit from making that eternal shoe print on the moon? It was a huge engineering undertaking, but as Peter Sainsbury points out, nothing like the feat we must pull off to keep Earth habitable. With no adversary to compete against except our greed, Rupert Murdoch suggests those living in areas of coastal erosion and rising seas simply retreat. Musk has given up on Earth and is going to live on Mars. Trump promises...
Fiona Colin from Melbourne
In response to: Environment: one giant leap for mankind was nothing
Are the right questions being asked?
February 3, 2025
It is politically expedient to argue children should be punished for their crimes. But more needs to be studied on the reasons those children behaved they way they did. Too often those studies are dismissed for being soft on those kids – that more discipline is needed. But the environment in which they begin life may hinder social development and the acquisition of goals (not gaols). More studies could gain knowledge on their family life, community life, education that reaches out to them, inclusively, and health services that also ensures they eat well. Were any of the children belted...
Ian Bowrey from Hamilton South
In response to: Youth Justice - punishment or prevention
Labor government achievements
February 3, 2025
Reading Jenny Hocking’s article about positive achievements of the Labor government, I couldn’t help but think that perhaps one of its positive achievements has been to make it easier for criminals to hack into the my.gov.au site and steal the money of pensioners. Last year on 7 November, my Centrelink account was hacked and my aged pension was stolen. By contrast if I were to take an extra dollar from Centrelink that I was not entitled to, I could be certain that I would be caught. But the hacker can be sure that he will never be caught ....
Vikein Mouradian from Gladstone Park
In response to: Mainstream media fails to mention positive labor policies
Time for compassionate change
February 3, 2025
I agree with Sue Barrett's article. I have felt for some time that we seem to be approaching an apocalypse such as was seen in the Great Depression: a tiny majority controlling the world's wealth (spoken a a whitey who is comfortable!). I have been saying for years that there needs to be another compassionate change in society such as was seen during the ´Flower Power´ revolution of the 1970s. During that time, we established Medicare, free tertiary education, and many other social reforms that since seem to be openly derided (whilst the commentors still accept the largess of...
Doug Foskey from Tregeagle
In response to: Humanity’s operating system has been infected By Sue Barrett
DeepSeek challenges US capitalism
February 2, 2025
In their article on DeepSeek, Wanning Sun and Marina Yue Zhang fail to understand the most important aspect of DeepSeek – it is open source. They repeat the irrelevant criticism that as it stands, politically sensitive words and questions seem to be no-go areas. As it is open source, its source code is available for anyone and the updated versions will simply remove this problem. What terrifies the American elite most is that DeepSeek yet again shows that the Chinese economic model can out-perform the American proprietary form of capitalism. DeepSeek is the latest example but the writing...
Paul Malone from Ocean Grove
In response to: DeepSeek’s success challenges assumptions about Chinese tech companies – and the
Let's all agree to survive
February 2, 2025
I just read Sustainable Population Australia's latest newsletter which aptly included a repeat of Julian Cribb's climate information in P&I, on 30 December 2024. Cribb's list of 10 catastrophic risks ranged from forest loss to misinformation. He summarised the list essentially as too many humans wanting too much from our planet Earth. He also urged us to specifically agree to survive; and to consider updates on the Earth System Treaty which will be issued in P&I during 2025. How wonderful to have such help; it may be our very salvation.
Barbara Fraser from Burwood, Vic
In response to: 2024 – a dire year for Human Survival
The impact of colonisation: A couple of not so minor points
January 31, 2025
1. The author says: ... the taking of [Aboriginal] children from their parents by governments [continued] into the 1970s.] If only that were true. It continues to this day. 2. Jacinta Price (for so she called herself when she sent me a text during the referendum) proves that every group has fools in its midst. How she can think British colonisation has had no lasting negative effects. is beyond me. I'd have thought the numbers of Indigenous children in out of home care and jail and having a shorter life expectancy than their non-Indigenous counterparts might have...
Margaret Callinan from Hawthorn VIC 3122
In response to: John Howard and British colonisation of Australia
The Trump way?
January 31, 2025
This analysis by Brian Lawrence puts Labor's position on the lowest paid workers in a clear light. They don't seem to care about them. This is disturbing for 2 reasons. Firstly, Labor seems to have abolished roots, i.e. the low paid workers for the more lucrative middle class. I suppose: Labor no more. Secondly, this looks exactly why the Democrats got such a flogging in the USA. Apart from being immoral it also seems to be utterly stupid. With an attitude to its former base like this Labor doesn't deserve to win.
Hans Rijsdijk from Albion Park Rail
In response to: Labor has unfinished business on tax – Its 2024 tax cuts have failed low-paid workers