Letters to the Editor
Universal Basic Income, Rental Affordability Crisis
August 16, 2024
I've been a keen advocate of UBI for years (https://publish.pearlsandirritations.com/tim-woodruff-basic-income-guarantee-this-is-a-health-issue/) and am delighted to see it being pursued. Clearly the tax system requires adjusting to implement this policy. The other area that is of concern is the possibility that in the current rental and housing affordability crisis, the only people who will benefit will be the homeless, who will be able to enter rentals at the bottom of the market, and the landlords, who will increase rent because they can.
Tim Woodruff from richmond, victoria
In response to: How to fix poverty? Universal basic income
Labor swallows Coalition defence and foreign policy holus-bolus
August 16, 2024
Ex Prime Minister Keating joins the growing list of informed commentators who is worried by, or opposes the AUKUS agreement. Having rejoiced at the departure of the Morrison government, I was shocked to see Labor swallow Coalition defence and foreign policy holus-bolus. The idea that a Labor government would take us down the path of nuclear powered submarines costing an estimated $368 billion and tie us in with the United States' military-industrial machine seemed unthinkable but here we are! Richard Marles is like a school cadet, flattered by the big boys at the Pentagon and eager to please....
Graeme McLeay from Torrens Park SA 5062
In response to: Paul Keating: Military control of Australia
Anthony Albanese
August 16, 2024
Here we go again. It is unrelenting. This time Paddy Gourley has a go at Anthony Albanese, again without also listing any of the considerable achievements of this government, especially compared to its recent predecessors, a low bar I admit. Four people were initially advised of AUKUS, it then went to cabinet and then to the Labor caucus before being supported. In the more than two years since, there has been plenty of opportunity for full advice and to pause and review. On balance AUKUS is proceeding and with a high level of community support. Albanese improved the...
David Hind from Neutral Bay
In response to: A Timid PM, Frozen in the glare of the Keating headlights
The unsustainable lifestyles of the wealthy West
August 16, 2024
The numbers in Peter Sainsbury's report of the finding of a colossal new copper deposit a mile underground in Zambia are mind-boggling. But the most stunning statistic is the statement that although this mine is expected to produce at least 300,000 tons of copper per annum - enough for 50 million EV batteries - the world will need up to six new copper mines of similar size to open every year out to 2050! In other words, if, miraculously, we transition to a low carbon economy quickly enough to avoid climate catastrophe, we will still destroy the planet in...
Richard Barnes from Melbourne
In response to: Environment: Zambia has lots of copper but will Zambians benefit?
The Bonfire of the Verities
August 9, 2024
Compare and contrast, with reference to claims by our government of even-handed, just and fair treatment of the two protagonists in the Gaza conflict: Iran’s ambassador to Australia given diplomatic rebuke after ‘abhorrent’ comments on Israel (Anthony Albanese condemns antisemitic social media post by Ahmad Sadeghi as tensions grow in Middle East after death of Hamas political leader). The response?: Anthony Albanese: “There’s no place for the sort of comments that were made … by the Iranian ambassador,” Albanese told reporters in Sydney on Tuesday. “They’re abhorrent, they are hateful, they are antisemitic and they have...
Richard Llewellyn from Colo Vale NSW
In response to: Rape and genocide: the Israeli war machine we support
We must reverse bipartisan support for oil and gas
August 9, 2024
As Ken Russell observes, Labor and the Coalition offer bipartisan support to the fossil fuel industry, authorising new gas and oil projects, and maintaining substantial industry subsidies. Russell calls for climate experts to step up their public advocacy to bring change. During covid people listened to experts because we were afraid: an incurable virus was spreading freely among us, we were desperate for information. Most people do not yet feel this intensity of fear about our changing climate. Governments and experts downplay the risks lest they be accused of fear-mongering. Labor holds their climate security review in secret. Experts...
Chris Young from Surrey Hills, Vic
In response to: Climate change – government and media failure
The need for large scale degrowth
August 9, 2024
Mearsheimer’s analyses are of great value and in my view correct, but I do not think his account of US support for Israel is right. Of course the power of the lobby is central but the core factor is that Israel is the empire’s forward base in the essential effort to secure Western access to oil, and keeping the Arabs down, divided and harassed is the central element in this. In Nasser’s time “Arab Nationalism” was rising, but it has long gone. Biden et al. are in a good position, able to tut-tut about Israeli “excesses” while watching...
Ted Trainer from Australia
In response to: The awesome power of the Israel lobby
NOTHING TO SEE HERE
August 2, 2024
40 odd years ago my brother in law was in an officer in training in the ADF and He Told me our defence thinking was about Indonesia. Learning Indonesian was encouraged in schools. That was before we outsourced our thinking, any thinking to the USA. A small boat sail to the North is a Nation (don’t mention religion) of nearly 300 million people who live on smallish islands that are soon to be to varying degrees flooded by rising seas and smashed by storms. To the north of them are some of the most densely populate...
Bob Pearce from Adelaide SA
In response to: War in a hot climate: the luxury of AUKUS in a time of global overheating
Small acts of sedition
August 2, 2024
Small acts of sedition. Yes, that we can all do, even one such act a day carried out by each of us would make an enormous difference. Today I liked a feisty post on social media, and some else liked my like. Small things like that. Joanna Macy, she of Active Hope, wrote “Of all the dangers we face, from climate chaos to nuclear war, none is so great as the deadening of our response.” I agree Caitlin, we need to wake up, all of us, one by one.
Janet Grevillea from New South Wales
In response to: US presidential races hide the criminality of the US empire
When a white flag no longer counts
August 2, 2024
Where would Ireland be today if an IRA leader involved in the peace negotiations some thirty years ago had been assassinated?
Geoff Taylor from Perth
In response to: Fears of full-scale war with Lebanon rise after Israel bombs Beirut, assassinates Ismail Haniyeh
Pearls and Irritations Journal Limited
August 2, 2024
Dear John, Please accept my appreciation of the daily articles published daily in Pearls and Irritations Journal, and a big thank you for your service running it. It’s a great journal that respects the public’s right to know, holds the powerful to account and has spoken truth to power. In order to help release the great burden that you and wife, Susie, have carried for years, I congratulate you for deciding to establishing a not for profit company Pearls and Irritations Journal Limited to continue the unrivaled journalistic publication. I wish you and wife Susie can enjoy...
Robert Chong from Melbourne, Victoria
In response to: New Governance arrangements for Pearls and Irritations
Thank you
August 2, 2024
Dear Mr Menadue Thank you so much for making arrangements for continuation of your P&I project. I have been a regular reader for a few years now. I continue to be encouraged by the number of contributors that so coherently oppose the partisan US bias in reporting by the main stream media - including the creeping change at the ABC under the pretence of providing balanced coverage of news and current affairs. Yours in sincere appreciation, Stephen Webber
Stephen Webber from Brisbane
In response to: New Governance arrangements for Pearls and Irritations
Well said.
August 2, 2024
Well said Mr Keating. Well said. Would that it were enough to sink AUKUS. Sadly, there are none so deaf as those who will not hear. And there is way too much selective deafness in Australian politics at present.
Peter Hehir from Rozelle. Sydney
In response to: AUKUS servility just one facet of poor governance
There is an alternative political narrative
August 2, 2024
I commend Caitlin Johnstone's critique of the US electoral system and that neither Presidential candidate will adequately address the pressing social and environmental problems both the US and the world face. But Caitlin, there is an organisation and movement both here and in the US which is addressing the issues at a grassroots level that you say are so desperately needed to bring about real change to people's lives and a resolution to international conflict. I commend the Greens as such an entity which is trying to address these issues through mobilising communities to be more active in bringing...
Les Mitchell from Port Macquarie NSW
In response to: US presidential races hide the criminality of the US empire By Caitlin Johnstone
July 26
August 2, 2024
You wrote your article on July 26, a powerful date in the fight against US imperialism that should be commemorated by all citizens concerned about the fate of the world. In 1953 on that date Fidel Castro and his fellow fighters attacked the Moncada Barracks in Santiago de Cuba, thus commencing the war against the murderous US backed dictatorship of Fulgencia Batista in Cuba. So my regular small acts of sabotage are to study and understand the Cuban revolution of 1 January 1959 and talk about the many achievements, domestic and international, of that revolution and the many ways...
Rob Parnell from Narrabundah
In response to: US presidential races hide the criminality of the US empire
Not my Labor
August 2, 2024
I'm a 71 year old who would be described as rusted on Labor. I come from a family of rusted on Labor voters. My dad was still handing out Labor how to vote cards in his nineties and I was driving him to the polling booth in his nineties. I have been disappointed in the Albanese govt since it failed to shut down AuKuS during his acceptance speech. Last Sunday I decided to write to the PM to list my dissatisfaction including AuKUS, Climate, Gaza, Defence wasting etc. I don’t believe I was abusive. I did however...
Bob Pearce from Adelaide SA
In response to: US presidential races hide the criminality of the US empire
Albanese's Timidity
August 2, 2024
I wholeheartedly support Paul Begley's expose (July 30, 2024) of the shortcomings of Anthony Albanese's leadership of the Federal Parliamentary Labor Party in his role as Prime Minister. He is clearly out of his depth with his no risk timid approach and it's even more damning that he hasn't supported his Ministers following pressure from the Opposition, when he needs to get on the front foot and show loyalty by defending them. My biggest gripe is with his unquestioning acceptance of Morrison's AUKUS (USUKA) without proper due diligence. Deputy PM and Defence Minister Marles, who is also out of...
Ray Laverack from Sydney
In response to: Anthony Albanese: the weak link in the Albanese Government
Albanese is providing genuine Leadership
August 2, 2024
It is frustrating and indeed tiring to read a stream of P and I pundits doing the job of and plagiarising the Opposition leader in criticising Anthony Albanese who is running a highly effective government. Would they rather see a return of mediocre Coalition outfits? Albanese promised to be different and he has broadly kept this promise. He refused to make undeliverable promises and has made good on most of the promises he did make. He refuses to play many of the tired old games advocated by some of these pundits. He runs a proper Cabinet process. We are...
David Hind from Kurraba Point NSW2089
In response to: Anthony Albanese: the weak link in the Albanese Government
Why not apply the extradition treaty provisions?
August 2, 2024
One of the federal review agencies told me recently that sometimes public servants confuse policy with the law, the notorious example being Robodebt. In Dan Duggan's case, the law is contained in the Australia-US extradition treaty. Firstly this specifies a range of extraditable offences, none of which apply to Dan. Then it provides for extradition if Australian law has a similar offence to the alleged US offence. At the time of the alleged offences, we had no offences matching the two directly pilot-training related offences. However, as to alleged money laundering, we do have a cognate offence. But...
Geoff Taylor from Perth
In response to: Aussie ‘Top Gun’ Dan Duggan submits final appeal for Australian justice
PM's reshuffle no sign of weakness
August 2, 2024
Paul Begley appears to judge the Prime Minister's strength or weakness using the same criterion as Peter Dutton. What if, amazingly, he actually decided that Home Affairs is not as important as Housing? Clare O'Neill is a fine minister and her talents were wasted in Peter Dutton's self-aggrandising super ministery of Home Affairs. Labor had to deal with the legacy Morrison et al left but is now able to quietly unpack Home Affairs, taking ASIO away from it and giving it to reknown head kicker Tony Burke along with Immigration - the two hot button (for the Liberals) areas. This...
DARYL DELLORA from VICTORIA
In response to: Anthony Albanese: the weak link in the Albanese Government
Lacking moral fibre
August 2, 2024
The lack of moral integrity which allows the Labor Government to take its lead on Israel from the US also allows it to... - fail to undertake the desperately needed critique of the AUKUS deal - cave in to the fossil fuel industry to the detriment of positive action on climate change - ignore urgently needed tax reform in favour of tinkering at the edges with the Stage 3 tax cuts - continue to underfund public schools and hospitals (and I would add tertiary education) - force those not in paid employment - the aged, the physically and mentally...
Margaret Callinan from Hawthorn, VIC 3122
In response to: The World Court has cleared the fog hiding western support for Israel’s crimes
I call on the government to resign.
August 2, 2024
During the war in Kosovo, after a massacre that Dutch troops failed to intervene in, and more recently when the Dutch government was found to have harassed and defrauded parents using government provided childcare, the Dutch government resigned in order to take responsibility. Note the contrast with the Australian government which was recently found to have stolen more than a billion dollars from the poorest people in Australia, which resulted in many deaths. The government came into possession of evidence for theft, mass murder, and conspiracy to obtain benefit by deceit, and instead of passing the information to...
Noel Quinn from Cobargo
In response to: Time to step up Albo, or step away
Not walking the walk, barely talking the talk
August 2, 2024
Thank you David Spratt and Ian Dunlop for staying calm enough to talk sense about the way governments at every level seem to believe they have enough time to keep placating big fossil fuel corporations for just that bit longer. I find it almost impossible to understand how people in power, who have children, and who think of themselves as leaders, do not have sufficient respect for themselves, let alone the rest of us, to face up to the fact that the Planetary Climate Crisis requires urgent action right now. Real leaders would take responsibility for making sure we...
Penny Lee from Perth
In response to: The Albanese government has created a climate vacuum, and we will pay the price
Envoys or no envoys
August 2, 2024
Magaret Reynold’s expose of Social Cohesion is interesting and, for most Australians, something that needs to be discussed. But true to form, most whitefellas don’t want to talk about something that is controversial and an impediment to their way of life. Envoys for some and not others, is just another spineless cop-out by a Government that is throwing buckets of water on a bonfire! As Margaret says we need Political Leadership not cowardice. However, the sorry state of Australians politics rules this our at all levels. The referendum with its built-in designed to fail legislation, it was a...
John Bentley from Tongala
In response to: Who is responsible for social cohesion in Australia?
Party Solidarity?
August 2, 2024
It seems that the rules and solidarity to the Labor Party over rides humanity and social conscious. The rules grew from the union movement when members could not vary from a direction so preventing strike breaking. But, hey, we live in a different world now. The Labor party is not now the party of the unions. Its supporters come from those who are socially aware. Just as TEALs came from disaffected Liberals, the time is looking right for a break away from the hard liners of Sussex Street. J Davies
John Davies from Mullumbimby, NSW
In response to: Australian Leadership to end the war on Gaza: open letter to the Prime Minister
Thank you John
August 2, 2024
Thank you so much to you John, and to your staff.
Geoff Taylor from Perth
In response to: Twenty thousand articles in Pearls and Irritations and counting
Albanese government must present climate truth
August 2, 2024
David Spratt and Ian Dunlop warn us that the Albanese government is presenting the brighter side of our transition to renewables. They should and must present both the positive aspect plus the worsening deadly reality of climate change. They must reveal the security-related climate risks still not revealed to our public. They also must stop approving various new fossil fuel projects, and relying on minimal carbon capture and storage of emissions. In the next few months they must do better with climate education and genuine decarbonising, or risk losing the federal election. Fortunately, several positive meetings will help...
Barbara Fraser from Burwood, Vic
In response to: The Albanese government has created a climate vacuum, and we will pay the price
The Greens and the CPRS - still!
July 29, 2024
As an example of a party failing to cooperate when it should have done so, Carolynne Fitzwarryne adduces the Greens voting with the Coalition against a Carbon Tax, which put back climate change initiatives for years. Indeed, it has become part of Australian political folklore that when the Greens helped defeat the Rudd CPRS legislation in 2009, they “ruined everything”; that by rejecting the good with a futile demand for the perfect, they ushered in 15 years of climate inaction. In fact, the CPRS was not less than perfect. It was a terrible policy, which would have achieved...
Richard Barnes from Melbourne
In response to: Beware the Big C – Consensus
Time to step up, Albo, or step away
July 26, 2024
The defining characteristic of Anthony Albanese’s government has been the leadership void at the top. This first became apparent during the tragedy of the Voice referendum. The PM declared that his government’s first priority would be the full implementation of the Uluru Statement From The Heart. He then let this matter be carried by others; he himself was barely seen or heard. And now we have the same issue with climate risk. Addressing climate change was a big issue in the election, but since then we have heard little from our PM. There is no sense of driving vision;...
Chris Young from Surrey Hills, Vic
In response to: The Albanese government has created a climate vacuum, and we will pay the price
Actions, not words: Unpublished letter to The Age
July 26, 2024
The Editor Hamas kills innocent Israelis to promote terror. It is listed by the Australian Government as a terrorist organisation. It is an offence ‘to provide support to a terrorist organisation.’ The Israeli Defence Force kills innocent Palestinians to promote terror (19/7 Wong deplores Palestinian killings). It should be listed as a terrorist organisation. All that is required is that the Attorney General is satisfied that it ‘is preparing, planning, assisting or fostering the doing of a terrorist act.’ The Attorney General would then need to consider advising the laying of charges against companies in Australia which...
Tim Woodruff from Richmond, Victoria
In response to: The insignificant seven
What are our defence strategies without AKUS?
July 26, 2024
I value Nick Dean's detailed concerns in his article, which concludes with an assessment of the various players' ego states. I key phrase that sticks out for me is: With AUKUS, the pride of politicians has thus become an obstacle to reaching the best solution to the ‘national security’ conundrum. I appreciate that Mr Dean's important field of expertise is sociology, which is the essential thrust of his argument, and that he is not a security guru. Hence, my suggestion to enable this movement forward is to commission an expert research panel to present the defence strategy...
Peter Heath from Sydney, NSW
In response to: AUKUS and the pride of politicians By Nick Deane
China brokers national unity government
July 26, 2024
Excellent comments by these leading Australians. The role envisaged for Bob Carr is a great idea. This will be assisted by the national unity government for Palestine just announced in Beijing.
Geoff Taylor from Perth
In response to: Australian Leadership to end the war on Gaza: open letter to the Prime Minister
Ignorance about China
July 26, 2024
At last someone has written and article about the real China. I have visited China many times over about forty years and I trade with China. I am tired of the negative press that has turned the nation against China. I have found the Chinese people in general welcoming and trustworthy people. China has changed so much over the years I have been visiting and is now so far ahead of the world in looking after its people and developing a society that cares. Even with all the negativity they get China patiently keeps trying to spread the...
Dianne Russell from Taree, NSW
In response to: Not what you might expect – close encounters in China By Meg Hart
Oslo is dead
July 26, 2024
Oslo is dead - through its 68 to 9 vote to reject any creation of a Palestinian state west of the Jordan river (17 July), Israel has said so. The rule of law must now replace the discredited fiction that was Oslo. The ICJ has spoken (19 July): Israel must bring to an end its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including east Jerusalem, as rapidly as possible. Yours sincerely James Schofield Barrister
James Schofield from United Kingdom
In response to: The unlawful presence of the State of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory must cease immediately
IT Outages
July 26, 2024
The Optus outage was Australia-based. The Crowdstrike event was international (minus Russia, China, DPRK, Iran etc {who must have been laughing themselves stupid at 'the West'}). Therefore, unless the rules are worldwide, there is little to be gained. It has been said that Crowdstrike's market share is 17% but I wonder whether the economic impact was considerably more.
Leigh Bunting from Adelaide
In response to: What have we learned from last year’s Optus outage?
Evading a US “iron dome”
July 26, 2024
Paul Budde’s article reminds us of the fragility of our digital society and economy. If it had been a malicious actor instead of CrowdStrike sending out wrong code, it would entirely bypass the “iron dome” promised by Donald Trump in his acceptance speech only a day or so before. Particularly if an outage ran for weeks not days, the economy and society for most people in most parts of the world would grind to a halt with effects which might well surpass those from penetration of the iron dome by hypersonic missiles. The iron dome, if it...
Geoff Taylor from Perth
In response to: What have we learned from last year’s Optus outage?
What an unshackled Oz could do
July 26, 2024
My hope is that the possible outcome postulated by the writer is right. I'm optimistic about the pragmatism of China and most Chinese and that a new, more balanced world order will emerge. I believe the Oz Gov is completely wrong with its commitment to AUKUS, just as we were with our belief that the Mother Country would help defend us in World War Two. We are allowing ourselves to be taken for a ride by the US and the UK in their blatant self interest of attempting to keep a lid on China. Our action in doing...
Brett Martin from Greenwith, South Australia
In response to: Crisis in the West, Opportunity for the Rest
A very informative and timely article
July 26, 2024
Dear Meg Hart- A very informative and timely article. The Yale Forum on Religion and Ecology is making great strides to engage with Chinese scholars through the Confucian Institute, holding conferences in China with attendances probably in the thousands - as well as US-linked interactions. Thank you.
Len Puglisi Puglisi from Burwood East
In response to: Not what you might expect - close encounters in China
The Summit of the Future offers hope for us all
July 19, 2024
Excellent news that UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has called for a Summit of the Future at the UN on Sunday 22 and Monday 23 September 2024. Thanks to Jeffrey D. Sachs, Professor of Sustainable Development at Columbia University, who tells us more about it. The Summit is needed urgently as the path for the world to cooperate scientifically and fairly in solving the worsening deadly challenges. The Summit will be presented as five topics, for each of which I have selected just one example: Sustainable development- funding for poorer countries. Peace- sensible solutions instead of war. Control of...
Barbara Fraser from Burwood, Vic
In response to: The Summit of the Future
Violence and solving political problems
July 19, 2024
I don’t in any way condone the violence against Donald Trump. But it is a bit rich for Joe Biden to then decry violence as a means of solving political problems. After all, he has just approved resumption of supply of 500lb bombs to Israel, presumably to solve the political problem involving Israel and Palestine.
Geoff Taylor from Perth
In response to: A descent into violence? Political polarisation in the US
Maintain the rage
July 19, 2024
As an eco-peace educator, I always like reading Caitlin's articles. She has a perfect balance between rationality and rage. I'm not going to settle down into my comfortable socialist's armchair while Caitlin continues to pinpoint why the Israeli Zionists are cold, nasty and lying killers, am I? Caitlin maintains her rage - and so will I. Palestine will be free - from the river to the sea!
Diana Rickard from Tumbling Waters NT
In response to: Non-stop news stories proving Palestine supporters right about everything
BEWARE OF A LEOPARD TRYING TO CHANGE HIS SPOTS PARTICULARLY IF HE IS OUR OPPOSITION
July 19, 2024
It goes without saying that we must be wary of a Leopard who seeks to change his spots; especially if that Leopard is the Honourable Peter Dutton. He may fool Ray Hadley on 2BG, but is unlikely to sway Teal voters in the leafy suburbs that the Coalition must win and or many seats with big Australian Chinese populations and or women fearing their children's futures threatened by Climate Change. It is true that when he says ....I am no Morrison... we should beware. Dutton is far worse than Morrison not only on China, but many other issues....
jon jovanovic from HOBART
In response to: ‘When a weasel makes a courtesy call on a hen’: a ‘pro-China’ Dutton and Chinese
We're almost in a supertropical world now
July 12, 2024
Adrian Glikson reports how climate scientists have become increasingly cautious about what they report for fear of having their credibility undermined by climate change deniers. Many climate scientists consider the climate risks that we face to be far more serious than anyone is prepared to publicly acknowledge. Glikson’s 'supertropical' world is close. We need urgent action to cut global fossil fuel emissions. We must do this in the face of the fossil fuel industry’s, and other climate deniers’, resistance. Those in positions to implement this urgent action this are mostly populist politicians, swaying with the breeze of public opinion,...
Chris Young from Surrey Hills, Vic
In response to: The predicament of climate scientists on the road to a supertropical earth
EV chargers - Australia
July 12, 2024
Tariffs by other countries on Chinese EVs will absolutely be good for Australia. I am more than happy for Australia to be a dumping ground for excess Chinese EVs. Australia needs to pass a law that requires every service station to have EV chargers. Service stations in Australia make 95 percent of their profits from everything else they sell beside oil.
Louise OBrien from Sydney
In response to: Europe’s tariffs on Chinese EVs could be a boon for Australia
The Two Envoys - a comment
July 12, 2024
“The two envoys - pearls and irritations “ is a brilliant and deeply moral essay on Gaza and antisemitism by George Browning. I only take issue with one sentence - his superfluous and gratuitous statement that “we expect atrocities from [Putin’s] Russia. I do not, and I challenge George to name one? People need to stop trying to use Russia as a whipping boy comparison if they want to be taken more seriously on Zionist Israel’s ongoing atrocities in Gaza. Tony Kevin
Tony Kevin from Canberra
In response to: The Two Envoys
Joe Biden is no mere bystander
July 12, 2024
George Browning says: “Mr Biden has clearly had a gutful of Mr Netanyahu, but he will not give sway to his sense of justice emanating from his Catholic faith because he knows if he did so, he would have even less chance of winning the November election.” This is to understate his role. If Joe Biden is as compos as he claims he is, then he deserves to stand accused of being fully complicit in the war crimes in Gaza, heading the US as the principal perpetrator by proxy of the pogrom in Palestine. The White House is...
Geoff Taylor from Perth
In response to: The two envoys
Religion has never had anything to do with it
July 12, 2024
While the statement The genocide in Gaza is not a Muslim, Jewish or Christian issue. ... It is about justice, not religion. is correct, it should be said that it was 'never' about religion. For many people, blaming religion, in all sorts of conflicts, is a lazy argument that saves them from having to examine the facts. The conflict in Gaza is about a land grab. It stems from British capitulation to pressure, starting with Theodor Herzl, a secular Jew, in the 19th century, for a home in Palestine for Jewish people. It was formalised in theory by the...
Margaret Callinan from Hawthorn VIC 3122
In response to: A win is a win, but clear lessons on Gaza from the UK
Expert advice for a sustainable Australia
July 12, 2024
Australians are fortunate in having definite advice on clean energy and sustainability from expert Mark Diesendorf. He refutes six myths. The first is that Renewables cannot supply 100% electricity. He insists that they can and will because We do not need expensive, dangerous nuclear power, or expensive, polluting gas. During the next pre-election months, the Australian government must educate the public with such truths. Plus they must practice what they preach, that is, speed ending our own fossil fuel consumption, and commence ending our huge fossil fuel exports. We need a clear mandate on these steps for the election.
Barbara Fraser from Burwood, Vic
In response to: Refuting myths about nuclear and renewable energy
Is Julian Assange beyond all criticism?
July 12, 2024
Mr Barns wrote recently in P&I; I have spoken with (Peter) Greste and met with him, along with my Australian Campaign colleagues. He is not, these days, fixated on whether Assange is a journalist or publisher and told us as much in an online meeting held on 6 February 2023. In an interview on the ABC on 26 June 2024, Greste said he was not convinced that what Wikileaks did was journalism, that it met the professional and ethical standards that go with someone being designated a journalist, as Greste sees it. Further, Greste wrote in The Conversation on...
james Potts from Emu Plains
In response to: Assange- The Aftermath July 2. Greg Barns
Jeffrey D. Sachs and the independent state.
July 12, 2024
According to Sachs, Ukrainians and their supporters insist that Ukraine has the “right” to join NATO. The U.S. also says so repeatedly. NATO’s policy says that NATO enlargement is an issue between NATO and the candidate country, and that it is no business of Russia or any other non-NATO country. This is preposterous. So writes Mr Sachs. If Mr Sachs is correct, that Ukraine is not independent, that Ukraine is subject to and must accept in full, the rule by Russia, then no country is independent. This begs the question as to why be a member of the UN....
Peter Sheehy from Blackheath NSW
In response to: Save Ukraine from American meddling
Faithlessness-Based Politics
July 12, 2024
“....Payman hadn’t contradicted Labor’s policy platform, written in 2023,.... She had done the opposite... tried to get the government to implement its own policy platform, recognition of the state of Palestine.... the Labor caucus unanimously agreed to Albanese’s decision to indefinitely suspend Payman from caucus, Albanese pontificating that he showed “strength in compassion” in not expelling Payman from the ALP.” A Labor PM has power to expel a member from the ALP? Truly? Pontificating is surely the right term, and just when Mr. A comes out as an opponent of “faith-based politics.” Labor now extends the Turnbull...
Bruce Wearne from Ballarat
In response to: Why does Albanese pander to his enemies and neglect his friends?
Albanese and AUKUS and relations with China
July 12, 2024
It is very easy to be a critic. The AUKUS pact is a chance to get technology transfer from the UK and the USA and skill up a generation of Australians. At the same time relations with China are much healthier and trade has resumed. Albanese is doing much that is right as prime minister.
Dr Jennifer Grant from The Entrance
In response to: Why AUKUS fails us – leaving us defenceless
Our Government Making Every Post a Loser
July 12, 2024
Alison Broinowski's excellent article includes the message that the Government may be considering appointing an 'Anti-Semitism Envoy', being a past president of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry. Such a move would compound the disaster created by the unremittingly partisan and resolutely uncritical support of the Israeli government exhibited by our Government since October 7. Most fair-minded Australians including a very significant number of Jews have been repeatedly horrified and dismayed by the unending lack of equitable support for a people identified to receive the support of the ALP by its stated policy. The daily stream of news...
Richard Llewellyn from Colo Vale NSW
In response to: Labor’s fall: fast forward to disaster
The public service has no memory
July 12, 2024
In about one month 100 years of operational experience left the Department I worked for when 3 people retired. They have been unable to replace them. Just prior to that the department was concerned about the age profile of the department (another consultant report with KPIs ) So they recruited University graduates who expected to rapidly rise through the rank because they had a Degree and they expected to be payed according to their degree. One of the many problems with the old public service was that it took time to rise through the ranks. While the criticism...
Bob Pearce from Adelaide SA
In response to: rodents-in-the-ranks
Casting doubt is part of the propaganda
July 10, 2024
Sam Varghese, is simply adding to the propaganda wars around Israel's war against Hamas. The casting of doubt about this or that atrocity serves the purpose of discrediting the enemy to bolster one's own narrative. That a massacre of Israeli citizens occurred on 7 October is not in question. The killing of some 240 young people at a music festival in southern Israel is not in question. That rapes occurred is not in question. But Varghese wants to analyse the veracity of the reporting without lending some words to the events themselves and the very real...
Harold Zwier from Melbourne, Victoria
In response to: The Age hits a low pursuing discredited narratives about Oct. 7 attack
ISRAEL AND THE JEWISH PEOPLE
July 8, 2024
I have long been a reader and an enthusiastic supporter of Pearls & Irritations which I have almost always regarded as a brilliant and valued journal. However, things began to change for me as a Jew after 7 October 2023. I became so disillusioned by your one-sided, and unbalanced reporting about the tragedies taking place in Israel/Gaza that I unsubscribed but eventually, realizing my own loss in doing so and missing so many of your other deeply thoughtful articles that I thought better and decided to resubscribe and even recently published once more on your site. To be...
Mike Lyons from Sydney
In response to: ISRAEL, BORN ILLEGITIMATE, SEIZES MORE ILLEGAL LAND IN THE WEST BANK
Peter Henning gets Gaza & Labor right
July 6, 2024
Thank you Peter Henning. We needed such a detailed timeline of how the Labor elite is trying to destroy Senator Fatima Payman’s determined drive to recall Labor to its principles on Gaza. This has been a sad and disillusioning week. Labour is doing itself immense damage and losing its voter base in seats with large immigrant-based populations. The power over the Labor Party of the alliance of Australian Zionism and the old white political power elites has been challenged by Payman’s idealism and courage. The result will be very damaging to Labor at the next election: it will face...
Tony Kevin from Canberra
In response to: Payman shatters the shackles of political amorality
Prof Hocking's article on caucus
July 5, 2024
Thank you Professor Hocking for your interesting and informative article regarding Senator Payman's stance and Labor caucus solidarity. I found it illuminating, and appreciated the detail you provided to support your argument. I also appreciated the examination of social media as a mechanism that supports the spread of incorrect history. I did want to question why you included the quotation from Patrick Gorman, Labor member for Perth. I didn't feel it added anything to the argument you were presenting, and I can think of many examples in the past of an international war [being used] as a domestic political...
Tim Shaw from Dernancourt
In response to: Senator Payman, Palestine, and caucus solidarity
Labor vs Payman on Palestine
July 5, 2024
Professor Hocking appears to argue that the position adopted by Senator Payman on recognition of Palestine was contrary to the policy of the Australian Labor Party. In doing so she claims that the wording of Labor’s amendment to the Greens’ motion, “to recognise the state of Palestine ‘as part of a peace process in support of a two-state solution and a just and enduring peace’”, “replicated the party platform and therefore the caucus position”. The relevant portion of the 2023 ALP National Platform states: “The National Conference: * Supports the recognition and right of Israel and Palestine to...
Peter Albion from Toowoomba
In response to: Senator Payman, Palestine, and caucus solidarity
Accepting a two-State solution
July 5, 2024
I suspect Jenny Hocking misrepresents the positions of both the Greens and Senator Payman. Their opposition to the Government motion correctly recognises it for what it is – an attempt to delay as long as possible the recognition of Palestine. If the Government were truly even handed, they would also propose a motion along the lines that ‘the House of Representatives support the recognition of the State of Israel, as part of a peace process, in support of a two-state solution and a just and enduring peace’. Ie, set similar pre-conditions on the recognition of Israel. I doubt the...
Brian Bycroft from Evans Head NSW
In response to: Senator Payman, Palestine, and caucus solidarity
Caucus scores own goal
July 5, 2024
Spot on Stuart. The Labor caucus dumping Senator Payman for voting for the Palestine policy in the party platform is an absolute own goal. Labor’s weak Palestine stance has now given rise to a new religious-based election grouping, resulting in less of the social cohesion the PM uses to justify that stance.
Geoff Taylor from Perth
In response to: For Labor, Payman breaching caucus rules is worse than Israel committing genocid
Our China knowledge deficit
July 5, 2024
Thank you, Jocelyn- a very helpful filling out of some much needed developments with/in China. And you may be pleased to add to your comments the multiple interactions that take place between the Confucius Institute and the Yale Forum on Religion and Ecology, the latter being a locus for discussions with Chinese scholars - including in China of 'ecological civilization' a term adopted by the Chinese in their Constitution. This action by the Chinese puts us to shame, being well beyond our limiting notion of Western Civilization'! 'Ecological Civilization' where humans and the rest of nature live...
Len Puglisi Puglisi from Burwood East
In response to: Does China matter any more?
We Boomers won the environmental lottery
July 5, 2024
We all see the myopic folly of the person who wins big on the lottery and squanders the proceeds – discarding the possibility of a lifetime’s comfort and security for a few months or years of absurd extravagance. Why then can so few recognise that we Boomers won the environmental lottery? In our lifetimes we have been able to achieve levels of health and education unimaginable to earlier generations, we have enjoyed unprecedented lifestyles, and yet we have done so at a pace which consumes and destroys the environment which sustains us. Unlike the spendthrift lottery winner, we may...
Chris Young from Surrey Hills, VIC
In response to: Let’s not forget our obligations to future generations
The Antisemitism definition missing from the public record
July 5, 2024
In all the discussions on social, print and other media concerning antisemitism’s definition, there is almost a complete lack of acknowledgement of the existence of the Jerusalem Declaration on Antisemitism (JDA). Specifically there is no discussion about the differences between JDA’s definition of antisemitism in relation to criticism of Israel/Palestine, and the definition espoused by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA). I believe that such a comparison is long overdue in the media and isn’t just an academic exercise in terminology or semantics. As clearly outlined in your article, the IHRA’s antisemitism’s definition is one of the...
George Nossar from Mulgoa
In response to: Who can make the call on anti-semitism?
Who is a real Nazi
July 5, 2024
I read this article in total amazement. It reads like a statement issued by a combination of the US State Department and the Ukrainian Propaganda Ministry. Yours in shock, Dieter Barkhoff
dieter barkhoff from Box Hill North
In response to: Ukraine: where are the real fascists?
Speaking truth to power
July 5, 2024
Dr Helen McCue has well expressed the problem of Senator Fatima Payman and how the Gazan people suffer. Our Prime Minister and his Foreign Minister are missing the mark. They are paid by Australian taxpayers and expect that in this day and age, compassion should be the foremost issue in their work, and at times party lines need to be set aside. It is not Fatima Payman's problem. The Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister should look at themselves: they are making a statement about themselves. I am sure that Fatima Payman must have discussed her views in their party...
Therese Saladin-Davies from Emu Plains, NSW
In response to: Speaking truth to power
Sidelining Senator Payman
July 5, 2024
On the ABC Minister Mark Butler said, “…they get the privilege of putting themselves forward for election to public office with the Labor party next to their name on the ballot paper.” The corollary is that Labor gets to include a Muslim woman on the ticket, cynically attesting to its diversity credentials. Apparently the inconvenient fact that she has a different perspective to the white male lawyer majority in parliament is intolerable, even if a two state solution is Labor policy. By barring Senator Payman from the Caucus, Labor has effectively barred all the voters who hold the...
John Forrest from Great Southern, WA
In response to: Will Senator Payman influence Australian Government decision makers?
Patrick Gourley writing on Pezzulo
July 5, 2024
Patrick Gourley writes a superb dumper on this cretinous product of Oz Federal public service. What an insult it must be for good people in that excellent profession to suffer arrogant fools such as he. I am not the least surprised that the LNP chose to elevate this turd to 'greatness'. Well done Patrick.
Kevin Childs from Queensland
In response to: Mike Pezzullo: Colossus of ever-failing policy and political embarrassment
We need proactive governments to save our climate
June 28, 2024
As Julian Cribb observes, we have, for 9,000 years, been living in a uniquely stable climate. Within current lifetimes urban consumers in developed economies have lost all awareness of the risk to them of famine. But this risk is real: the UN Food Program is calling a global food crisis. This situation will exacerbate as the changing climate reduces crop yields further. As Cribb reports, irreversible tipping points are already being crossed with permafrost melting, seabed methane dissolving, and more. Developed-world governments seem to assume that they can trim their climate policy sails to the changing political wind, but...
Chris Young from Surrey Hills, Vic
In response to: Stoking the climate furnace…
Critics of Zionist values are not anti-Semitic
June 28, 2024
Moshe Feiglin is quoted as saying “but the land of Israel belongs only to the people of Israel because God gave it to us”. Generations of those like myself who had a Christian education have been brought up on this, the flight from Egypt, the crossing of the Jordan and the subsequent domination or elimination of the existing peoples living in Canaan. How young David, later to become king, and Jesus’ purported ancestor, was a hero for killing a man who opposed the brutal takeover of land described in the Book of Joshua. Now a modern Israeli leader channels a...
Geoff Taylor from Perth
In response to: Israel’s Moshe Feiglin repeats Hitler quote at AJA event
Disappointed by Henry's call for an Apology
June 28, 2024
It's disappointed to read Mr Reynolds call for an Apology rather than accept that the True Sovereigns of these lands remain the Sovereign First Nations. Charlie should return Sovereignty, not apologise for stealing it. Perhaps Mr Reynolds would be well advised to look into the findings of the Beauchamp Committee of 1785. It was set up to locate where to send those sentenced to Transportation. The King had already announced such a return to Transportation, and this committee recommended, thus; “that Convicts will need strict supervision wherever they are sent, and that the destination to...
Graeme Taylor from Cockatoo, Victoria
In response to: Another royal tour: should we expect a formal apology to our First Nations?
Geoffrey Watson SC and the NACC
June 28, 2024
Geoffrey Watson SC persuasively argues that 1) NACC is supine and 2) this resulted in six Robodebt people getting off scot-free. I agree with his first point, but disagree with his second point. In my opinion, blame should be divided between Cmr Holmes failure to report them to the AFP and the AFP itself. I believe the NACC is right when it says the investigation phase is over. Now it is time to enter the prosecution and trial & sentencing phases. This phase is not the NACC's job. If someone - anyone - you, me, or...
Peter LANDER from Guildford NSW 2161
In response to: A supine integrity agency is worse than useless; it is dangerous
Palestine
June 28, 2024
Palestine Palestine. Oh! Palestine Should not be left to wither on the vine Our love for you does entwine Love and Peace for all is on the line Palestine. Oh! Palestine Your heart stolen By those whose lies do shine So long ago, over 100 years Your lands stolen, so many fears Hearts broken amid a lake tears All to the harsh sound of Zionist jeers Palestine. Oh! Palestine Your soul destroyed By those pretentious and divine Much forsaken by western eyes Downtrodden by British lies Whose manipulations so unwise All under your clear blue skies...
John Bentley from Tongala
In response to: UN Human Rights Commission: Israel’s is among the most criminal armies in the world. Chris Sidoti
‘I’m permanently pissed off’
June 28, 2024
I read this article, next to it was an ad for another article with a title asking why the US doesn't negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine. It is disappointing to constantly read that people prefer immediate, temporary peace over the victory of established states against aggression, violence and barbarism. What do you think would happen next if a peace deal was established with a victorious Russia and Hamas? Really, what does that world look like to you? To me, it looks like it is in each countries, terrorist group's or individual's interest to be as...
michael plit from Macquarie Park
In response to: ‘I’m permanently pissed off’- just one feature of a Gaza malaise
LGBTQ+ people and Religious Organisations
June 28, 2024
Dear Editor Yvonne Patterson is unfortunately correct when she suggests that Australian governments are prejudiced towards LGBTIQ people because there has been no movement by any government to strengthen the laws against discriminating against LGBTIQ people in religious worklpaces and schools. Today the prime Minister has announced that the government will not attempt to bring in a religious discrimination law because he can't get bipartisan support. Yvonne also suggests we need an inquiry into these issues. Perhaps she is not aware of the very detailed report by Equality Australia in March 2024, entitled Dismissed, Denied and Demeaned: A National...
Eleanor Flynn from Melbourne
In response to: Exemptions in discrimination law: ‘safe spaces’ to act out prejudice towards LGBTIQ people
In response to your article
June 28, 2024
Dear Sir, Thank you for your article. It was interesting to see how this situation is perceived. I would like to bring a correction. Falun Dafa is not anti China. We peacefully denounce the unjustified persecution started in July 1999 by Jiang Zemin.
Martial Bachoffner from Vancouver
In response to: Criminal probe shines light on anti-China group’s wide links
Biden's Floating Aid Fails as Expected
June 28, 2024
March 15 this year, I wrote: Biden’s plan for sea-borne aid to Gaza is incredibly stupid - Pearls and Irritations (publish.pearlsandirritations.com) I feel the need to update that gloomy premise, as the current summary of the results of the floating jetty are far worse than I had foreshadowed: ‘They miscalculated’: Gaza’s floating aid pier failing to deliver in rough seas | Israel-Gaza war | The Guardian Fact: ‘Over the entire course of the pier’s operation so far, however, only about 250 truckloads of food and other humanitarian assistance (4,100 tonnes) have arrived by the planned maritime...
Richard Llewellyn from Colo Vale NSW
In response to: ‘They miscalculated’: Gaza’s floating aid pier failing to deliver in rough seas
Common sense Wisdom
June 28, 2024
May I congratulate Geoff Davies on a common sense logical article on renewable energy, it makes absolute sense, especially with all the massively deep/ wide holes in the ground left over from years coal mining, which I believe some are already underway with feasibility studies with anticipation to go ahead with ORPH . I cannot believe that Peter Dutton is going to try and divide the nation once again just like with the voice referendum, using the most critical and important task that the nations of this planet need to deal with in the shortest time possible that we...
John Evans from Raymond Terrace
In response to: The cut-through message: wind, solar and pumped hydro are all we need, and cheaper
The Power Options Debate (A Professionals View)
June 21, 2024
As a hydropower engineer, responsible for the economic justification of aa of my projects I suppose I should weigh in on the power options debate. I agree with Geoff Davies assessment (P&I June 26, 2014) which coincidentally is the same as that of the CSIRO and the Australian Energy Market Operator. Nuclear Power has never been an economical option even for systems larger than those existing in the interconnected system of the eastern states of Australia. China has nuclear power providing a small proportion of their total installed capacity but State Power acknowledge that this is not the...
Barry Trembath from Australia
In response to: The cut-through message: wind, solar and pumped hydro are all we need, and cheaper
A startling admission from a former insider
June 21, 2024
In amongst a blather of pseudo-intellectual posturing, Mike Pezzullo’s recent long essay in ASPI’s The Strategist makes a startling revelation. As someone recently removed from Australia’s security centre it’s disturbing when Pezzullo writes; “[Australia’s] actual grand strategy is being conducted, thankfully, at variance with our declared policy—through contributing to the building of a US-centred system of integrated deterrence in the Indo-Pacific, the hardening of Australia as a bastion for allied war-fighting operations, and the continuing integration of certain strategic functions undertaken on Australian territory into global US war-fighting systems”. Taken at face value this is an admission that the...
Mike Scrafton from Ireland
In response to: Across the US Empire, deranged shrieks drown out talk of peace
Nuclear power and weapons linked
June 21, 2024
Any nation that has nuclear power stations has access to making nuclear weapons and there are no effective international sanctions to prevent this. In fact one of the reasons Sir Phillip Baxter gave for building a nuclear power station at Jervis bay was to have access to nuclear weapons.
John Coulter from Bradbury S.A.
In response to: How Dutton’s HALEU nuclear power could lead to nuclear weapons
Robo-Debt fall-out
June 21, 2024
The question is, are our governments accountable. The answer appears to be a very clear no. I was not part of or included in Robo-Debt, I was just another citizen looking at a slow motion train crash. So much has already being said about Robo-Debt that I cannot offer a new insight. But I can note the complete lack of accountability from those who developed and implemented the Robo-Debt policy. Such lack of accountability translates into contempt for the very people that vote politicians into government in the first place. Robo-Debt is not the only time such contempt...
Peter Sheehy from Blackheath NSW
In response to: The National Anti-Corruption Commission: a damp squib
Graduates not 'job-ready' without the humanities
June 21, 2024
University graduates will never be ready for any jobs without a knowledge of history and the skills to analyse critically the social contexts in which they work. Any deficits in these regards will seriously impact their performance, increasingly so as they assume leadership roles in later life. Humanities-based contextual studies should be required subjects in every professional degree course in Australia. Taught well, they will enable graduates to contribute more effectively to the improvement of their organisations and the well-being of our democracy. Certainly this has been my experience after four decades of teaching courses in the...
Gary Werskey from Blackheath
In response to: In the face of disinformation and democratic decay, humanities graduates are more important than ever
The capitulation of Ukraine
June 17, 2024
I found this article by Geoffrey Roberts, insulting, offensive and misleading using misinformation in order to achieve the writers political agenda. I find what Roberts says in much in line with what Jeffrey D. Sachs has to say, which is that the war in Ukraine is a proxy war between the US and Russia and therefore independent Ukraine has no say. So the sooner Ukraine's learn to live on their knees and bow down to Putin the sooner the war will end. Except just prior to the war, a day, a week or a month prior, Ukraine was...
Peter Sheehy from Blackheath NSW
In response to: Negotiate now, or capitulate later: ten incentives for Ukraine to make peace with Russia
The legal black hole of nuclear
June 17, 2024
Ernst Willheim (17/6) asks the legal questions about nuclear: State rights, liability, safeguards and insurance. He concludes: “It is not clear that the Opposition has addressed any of these issues”. Shadow energy minister Ted O’Brien has travelled to Canada and Britain to check out small modular reactors, but appears to have spoken only to nuclear unnamed “nuclear experts” - promoters, not lawyers. Given the exceptional regulatory requirements for nuclear, can the Coalition detail its legally-binding ‘road map’ for the planning, building, maintenance, decommissioning and waste storage of nuclear plants? Technological innovation can be expected over the next decades,...
Fiona Colin from Melbourne
In response to: Superficial coverage of Dutton’s nuclear policy does Australia a disservice
Julian Cribb offers government a climate plan
June 17, 2024
It is great to see a photo of highly honoured world issues analyst Australian Julian Cribb as well and relaxed, and to hear his clear and logical voice (How to stop climate change, Podcast, June 14, 2024). He argues that world agriculture is not sustainable in quantity or quality for a human population of over 8 billion; and it will result in mass refugees. He considers most humans have rotten diets and die from related conditions such as cancer. He therefore recommends sustainable methods of natural regeneration, local urban production, and deep ocean production of nutritious fish and seaweed....
Barbara Fraser from Burwood, Vic
In response to: How to stop climate change
Australians would support non-alignment
June 17, 2024
Australia is part of The Global South. We would be wise to acknowledge (and embrace) the fact that we are fortuitously positioned between the Pacific and Indian Oceans. We have the potential to become a major player in a world where everything is changing rapidly and too often catastrophically. Why are we hanging on to increasingly anachronous allegiances to has-been imperial powers? Should we not urgently and seriously consider becoming a geopolitically non-aligned nation? Respectful friends of our neighbours and trading partners? We would be safer, I believe, without phantasmagoric protectors. I agree that the ballot box...
Penny Lee from Perth
In response to: Walking into war with China: an American trap hidden in plain sight
Journalists could bone up on nuclear information
June 14, 2024
It’s true, the Canberra Press Gallery is not homogeneous (Who prepared Dutton’s report on nuclear power?, 13/6). But presumably most journalists are not scientists. The same can be said of politicians, economists and commentators of a certain persuasion, who have gone in to bat against the CSIRO’s latest costings of renewables, fossil fuels and nuclear energy. They say science should not inform our decision as to whether we go nuclear (eg John Kehoe, AFR, 13/6). He, and the Coalition, advocates “letting the market decide”, as if the economics of such a hugely complicated technology can be divorced from...
Fiona Colin from Melbourne
In response to: Who prepared Dutton’s report on nuclear power?
Capitalism and democracy are different things
June 14, 2024
In the very excellent When Confucius meets Machiavelli, Teow Loon Ti states, “It implies whether these countries comprise people of European origin, profess an adherence to the idea of democracy and common values with the core, is endowed with valuable natural resources and willing to make them available to the Empire and its supporters on terms agreeable to them…” This sentence proves the lie contained within it. The lie that the US Empire is devoted to protecting the ideal of democracy. The US Empire has only ever been interested in defending Capitalism, not democracy. Millions of victims of...
John Donegan from Nathalia
In response to: When Confucius meets Machiavelli
Most certainly, we hold no sympathy for Hamas....
June 14, 2024
Please, please, there is no need to highlight the so-called atrocities Hamas is accused of committing on October 7th - very, very few of them are proven or substantiated. If 1200 died, there is now ample evidence via Al Jazeera and the Electronic Intifada, Haaretz, and various other Israeli sources that many, if not most were murdered by Israeli fire. The Hamas incursion is a pimple on Mount Everest in comparison to the thousands of such incursions and slaughters committed by Israel since 1948. To single out Hamas is a classic case of blaming the victim for...
Dieter Barkhoff from Box Hill North
In response to: Australia and the Israeli-Hamas War
Poor policy results in poor outcomes
June 14, 2024
There has been much ado about the so-called Reserve Bank of Australia’s modus operandi, but most of all, it overlooks the fact that the RBA is an instrument of the Federal Government, independent or otherwise. The Feds make policy, the RBA doesn’t, and it’s this policy which governs the fortunes of Australia and the RBA. Policy governs everything we do whether we like it or not and 30 years of poor policy has created mounting inequality and poverty. We are now reaping what we have sown! As we have seen with the pandemic, we can afford to do...
John Bentley from Tongala
In response to: Reserve Bank has squeezed us like a lemon........
Why is the US waiting for Hamas?
June 14, 2024
That is a good call by a very distinguished body of us Australians. After all, twice in five weeks Hamas has accepted a ceasefire proposal guaranteed by the US, Egypt and Qatar. Yet Biden and Blinken keep saying they are waiting for Hamas to accept? Why? Isn’t the onus on Israel to accept the deal?
Geoff Taylor from Perth
In response to: Australia and the Israeli-Hamas War
Stigmatising dementia
June 14, 2024
Dear editor, I too have a close friend diagnosed with younger onset Alzheimer's disease. She is in an excellent care facility, and every day I see photos of her smiling face, despite her advanced memory loss, and inability to walk or talk. To describe her life as one of 'intolerable suffering' is completely untrue. Dementia is an umbrella term for many diseases, including Alzheimer's, so it is inaccurate to say dementia or Alzheimer's. Whilst I understand the viewpoint of the author, and do not necessarily disagree with euthanasia in general, I think unfortunately the focus is on...
Helen Jones from Sydney
In response to: Time to change the law
The Hypocrisy on Gaza is widespread indeed
June 14, 2024
As most Australians are reviled by the Gaza war, seeing, as always, it is the innocent civilians who suffer in war, not the politicians or generals, it is interesting to compare the expressed Australian outrage over Gaza, the horror over Australian support for Israel, in articles such as this one, with the complete lack of interest expressed in what is happening, has happened, in other war zones around the world, where the international community watched and did nothing. Sudan, 150,000 murdered, 10 million displaced. Egypt, 35,000 illegal arrests and ‘disappearances’, 15,000 homes destroyed Syria, 500,000 gassed & murdered, 6...
Marcus May from Ocean Grove
In response to: Hypocrisy and deceit Down Under: Australia is a Zionist stronghold
Russia’s nuclear threat
June 14, 2024
I generally like Caitlin’s take on things especially criticism of the US for just about everything but regarding Russia she has, to my mind, a blind spot. Whatever justifications Putin uses, NATO expansionism or whatever, the fact is Russia, led by a dictator, invaded the Ukraine led by a democratically elected president (quibble about that but it’s a fact) . Putin complains about weapons from the US and other countries being used against Russia but I see no equivalence about him using weaponry from China and Iran to wreak havoc on the Ukraine and it’s people. I...
Richard Creswick from Northern territory
In response to: The reckless brinkmanship with Russia keeps on escalating
Religion and the Census
June 14, 2024
Paul Collins, the problem with your position is that the ABS HAS BEEN LISTENING to people of faith for far too long. Given that in all statistical probability there are closer to 50% of 'non faith people' rather than the reported 39%, it seems very reasonable to me that we try to get this accurate. So much feather bedding for 'people of faith', exemplified by Scott Morrison, goes on that it is about time we tried to demonstrate its irrelevance to modern Aust society.
Max Bourke AM from Campbell, ACT
In response to: Religion and the census
Labor's climate failures
June 14, 2024
Ketan Joshi concludes that over the past two years Australia’s total emissions have all but stopped falling and we won’t reach zero emissions until 2207 (“Environment: Government delivers climate rhetoric but not emissions reductions” Pearls and Irritations, 2/6). As climate impacts swirl around us, this is a shameful truth and bitter pill for future generations. Like many, I had hoped that the 2022 change of government would result in policy that would actually shift the pollution dial. But since native forest logging continues, environmental law reform has been deferred, coal mine expansions are still being approved, and Labor announced...
Amy Hiller from Kew
In response to: Environment: Government delivers climate rhetoric but not emissions reductions
Political hypocracy
June 14, 2024
So, those United States Study Centres are pushing political policy support for AUKUS, amongst others past, present and future, I'm sure. And crickets from those who object to interference in our political system. But, if it was a similar event from a Confucius Institute or other Chinese bodies supported by the United Front Work Dept, the media would be all over it, shouting from the roof tops. I don't want to see ANY political interference by any nation, but the hypocracy shown here is just appalling. AUKUS needs to be killed off as any manned sub, in...
Leigh Bunting from Adelaide
In response to: Serious concerns about the AUKUS submarine deal are not going away
Critical thought - Culturally Determined Mediation
June 14, 2024
The deep complexity of the considerable issues facing the Human Species over the coming years, will not be solved by thinking that adheres to the confines of 'acceptable' - culturally determined mediations. Characterizations of 'independence', that appear on the surface to sit outside of them, included. The Author of this article, the Authors linked within it, and P&I as a publication, are yet to cross this Rubicon.
Andrew Stretton from Tasmania
In response to: Raising the Bar
Can the Albanese Govt be trusted with Australia?
June 14, 2024
Since the loss of the 2019 Election the Labor party has been shell shocked , a rabbit caught in the head lights . It has been dealing with the mess left behind by the ONE minister Morrison Govt, unable to even get the Dutton chickens (refugees and immigration) home to roost. Albanese should have in his victory speach announced a review of the Public Service and of the AuKuSA submarine deal as the beginning of his bold agenda to fix the Morrison mess . Instead he has been wasting time and energy ensuring the Morrison/ Dutton mud doesnt...
Bob Pearce from Adelaide SĄ
In response to: Can Scott Morrison be trusted in America?