The good, the bad and the stupid
Kosmos Samaras

The good, the bad and the stupid

When Sergio Leone made The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, he showed how flawed characters chasing the same prize could blunder their way into folly and missed opportunities.

Greta Thunberg 'disgusted' by global silence on Gaza genocide
Brad Reed

Greta Thunberg 'disgusted' by global silence on Gaza genocide

I am ashamed as a human being, said the Swedish human rights and climate activist.

Environment: Australian Government misleading people about our emissions reductions
Peter Sainsbury

Environment: Australian Government misleading people about our emissions reductions

Ignore the government rhetoric, Australia’s actual emissions are not falling. NSW Forestry Corporation facing 29 charges of illegal logging. Swift parrot habitat continues to be logged in three states. Trump swimming against the energy tide.

Donate

Support our  independent media

Pearls and Irritations is funded by our readers through flexible payment options. Choose to make a monthly or one off payment to support our informed commentary

Donate
Health workers in the US are demanding the resignation of Robert Kennedy Jr
John Dwyer

Health workers in the US are demanding the resignation of Robert Kennedy Jr

When I worked in the US, I visited the Centre for Disease Control on a number of occasions. The faculty members were extraordinarily competent and influential, because of the universal and deserved respect for the CDC.

When Australia defied US nuclear plans. Part 2: Sovereignty at stake
Vince Scappatura,  Richard Tanter

When Australia defied US nuclear plans. Part 2: Sovereignty at stake

Declassified US. Pacific Command Histories, which provide much of what is now known about the Australian B-52 terrain avoidance and maritime surveillance missions, reveal that the Fraser Government was far from transparent with the public about the true stakes of the B-52 deployments to Australia – and perhaps not fully cognisant itself.

People dumping in the Pacific
Frank Brennan

People dumping in the Pacific

Australian governments of all stripes have long maintained a commitment to secure borders and an orderly migration program.

Palestinian memory: Between ink and blood
Refaat Ibrahim

Palestinian memory: Between ink and blood

Imagine if every pen in Gaza stopped moving, every victim's voice faded into silence, and every image was erased from collective memory.

'Let her voice echo': Hind Rajab film receives record-breaking standing ovation at Venice Festival
Rachel Fink

'Let her voice echo': Hind Rajab film receives record-breaking standing ovation at Venice Festival

Tunisian filmmaker Kaouther Ben Hania's harrowing drama The Voice of Hind Rajab left not a dry eye in the house on Wednesday night, earning over 20 minutes of standing ovation after its premiere at the Venice Film Festival.

Southeast Asia pragmatic on China's rise
Bob Carr

Southeast Asia pragmatic on China's rise

In China this week, the former Australian foreign minister on the global power shifts changing the world, and regional responses.

What’s behind the rioting in Indonesia? And will the much-loathed political elite back down?
Tim Lindsey

What’s behind the rioting in Indonesia? And will the much-loathed political elite back down?

For many Indonesians, the violent riots currently wracking Jakarta and other cities across the archipelago are eerily reminiscent of the riots of 1998 that accompanied the fall of former dictator Soeharto and his New Order regime after three decades in power.

Kathleen Folbigg and the failures of the justice system
Robyn Read

Kathleen Folbigg and the failures of the justice system

Two remarkable women, Kathleen Folbigg and Tracy Chapman were applauded in a room so crowded that only a little standing room was left at the back.

Latest on Palestine and Israel

Greta Thunberg 'disgusted' by global silence on Gaza genocide
Brad Reed

Greta Thunberg 'disgusted' by global silence on Gaza genocide

I am ashamed as a human being, said the Swedish human rights and climate activist.

Palestinian memory: Between ink and blood
Refaat Ibrahim

Palestinian memory: Between ink and blood

Imagine if every pen in Gaza stopped moving, every victim's voice faded into silence, and every image was erased from collective memory.

'Let her voice echo': Hind Rajab film receives record-breaking standing ovation at Venice Festival
Rachel Fink

'Let her voice echo': Hind Rajab film receives record-breaking standing ovation at Venice Festival

Tunisian filmmaker Kaouther Ben Hania's harrowing drama The Voice of Hind Rajab left not a dry eye in the house on Wednesday night, earning over 20 minutes of standing ovation after its premiere at the Venice Film Festival.

The real death toll in Gaza
John Menadue

The real death toll in Gaza

The widely “accepted” figure for Palestinian deaths in Gaza is more than 63,000. That is horrific enough , but the number is more likely nearer 300,000. And our media don’t care.

Gaza’s Christians refuse to abandon churches before Israeli attack
Moataz al-Hallaq

Gaza’s Christians refuse to abandon churches before Israeli attack

Two of Gaza City’s churches are in areas where Israel has ordered Palestinians to leave before a planned attack.

The betrayal of Palestinian journalists
Chris Hedges

The betrayal of Palestinian journalists

Western reporters are full partners in the genocide. They amplify Israeli lies, which they know are lies, betraying Palestinian colleagues who are slandered, targeted and killed by Israel.

How to stop Israel from starving Gaza
Jeffrey D. Sachs,  Sybil Fares

How to stop Israel from starving Gaza

Israel has crossed the clear line into the darkest crimes.

Canberra and Gaza
Gregory Clark

Canberra and Gaza

It’s time to stop just talking about the Gaza atrocities. It is time to do something about them.

John Menadue's book on Israel's war against Gaza

Israel's war against Gaza

Media coverage of the war in Gaza since October 2023 has spread a series of lies propagated by Israel and the United States. This publication presents information, analysis, clarification, views and perspectives largely unavailable in mainstream media in Australia and elsewhere.

Download the PDF

Latest on China

Southeast Asia pragmatic on China's rise
Bob Carr

Southeast Asia pragmatic on China's rise

In China this week, the former Australian foreign minister on the global power shifts changing the world, and regional responses.

Miners want to go green, then we hear News Corp's 'China!' scream
Fred Zhang

Anti-China Media Watch

Miners want to go green, then we hear News Corp's 'China!' scream

Another week, another national security threat, cooked freshly with local ingredients, News Corp’s signature technique, a lot of aged China-threat cliché, and a hint of unprofessional typo.

A tale of two lists: How geopolitics shaped the attendance of China’s parade
Wanning Sun

A tale of two lists: How geopolitics shaped the attendance of China’s parade

On 3 September 2025, a large-scale parade will be held in Tiananmen Square to mark the 80th anniversary of what has been dubbed by Beijing the Victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.

John Menadue

Support our independent media with your donation

Pearls and Irritations leads the way in raising and analysing vital issues often neglected in mainstream media. Your contribution supports our independence and quality commentary on matters importance to Australia and our region.

Donate

More from Pearls and Irritations

Speaking terrorism Part 2: Evading reality, atrocities and self-image
Michael McKinley

Speaking terrorism Part 2: Evading reality, atrocities and self-image

Australian writers shocked and ‘disgusted’ by closure of 85-year-old literary journal Meanjin
Alexander Howard

Australian writers shocked and ‘disgusted’ by closure of 85-year-old literary journal Meanjin

Australian writers shocked and ‘disgusted’ by closure of 85-year-old literary journal Meanjin
Alexander Howard

Australian writers shocked and ‘disgusted’ by closure of 85-year-old literary journal Meanjin

SSN AUKUS – Heading for a quagmire (Part II)
Peter Briggs

SSN AUKUS – Heading for a quagmire (Part II)

When Australia defied US nuclear plans. Part 1: B-52s over Australia in the 1980s
Vince Scappatura,  Richard Tanter

When Australia defied US nuclear plans. Part 1: B-52s over Australia in the 1980s

The real death toll in Gaza
John Menadue

The real death toll in Gaza

Neo-Nazis and racist rallies: why it’s important the Australian media call them for what they are
Denis Muller

Neo-Nazis and racist rallies: why it’s important the Australian media call them for what they are

Miners want to go green, then we hear News Corp's 'China!' scream
Fred Zhang

Anti-China Media Watch

Miners want to go green, then we hear News Corp's 'China!' scream

Speaking terrorism Part 1: The things we forget
Michael McKinley

Speaking terrorism Part 1: The things we forget

Give Asia a break
Teow Loon Ti

Give Asia a break

'Greatest corruption in presidential history': Trump family reaps US$5b more in crypto profits
Stephen Prager

'Greatest corruption in presidential history': Trump family reaps US$5b more in crypto profits

Gaza’s Christians refuse to abandon churches before Israeli attack
Moataz al-Hallaq

Gaza’s Christians refuse to abandon churches before Israeli attack

Latest letters to the editor

Leaders who have lost their moral compass

Les Macdonald — Balmain NSW 2041

It is hard, if not impossible, to any longer believe that the vast bulk of our leaders in the West are fit for their leadership positions. When they not only turn away from the grotesque, genocidal activities of the Israeli Government, but participate in, and publicly support them, knowing the truth of what that support enables. The truth about this vast criminal enterprise, and those without the moral courage to condemn it, are a rebuke to the view of Hanna Arendt about the banality of evil. This evil is not banal. It is contemptible and abhorrent. It will...
MSM under-count indigenous deaths in US wars

Gideon Polya — Macleod, Melbourne, Victoria

This is an extremely important article by John Menadue demanding total trade sanctions against Israel because of hundreds of thousands of Gaza deaths. Dr Zeina Jamaluddine and colleagues estimated that 64,260 Gazans died violently by day 269 of the Gaza massacre (30 June 2024) (The Lancet) and hence 136,000 Gazans died violently by day 569 (25 April 2025) with a “conservatively estimated” four times that number (544,000) dying from imposed deprivation for a shocking total of 680,000 deaths from violence and deprivation by 25 April 2025. That is 28% of the pre-war Gaza population of 2.4 million, and 11...
Labor’s de-democratisation of Australian politics

Geoff Taylor — Borlu (Perth)

Gregory Clark writes well on the Palestine issue. As a result of FOI applications, I now know that up till about six weeks ago, Albo had had about 65,000 pieces of correspondence on Palestine since the Israel-Palestine war broke out, and had answered none. Penny Wong had had about 52,500, and had answered about 17% of them. It is clear that governments of both persuasions largely believe that foreign affairs is not a suitable policy area for democratic control resulting from widely encouraged public debate. It has taken more than 22 months of weekly marches just to get Labor...
Urgent action required to stave off collapse

Jenny Goldie — Cooma NSW

The latest report by the Australian Security Leaders Climate Group warns that climate change may lead to widespread food insecurity, economic destabilisation, large-scale people displacement, war, failed states and social collapse. If ever there were a better collection of people to make the connections between climate and security, it is the ASLCG led by Retired Admiral Chris Barrie. We must heed their warnings and pull out all stops to mitigate climate change. Possibly the most worrying, apart from widespread food insecurity, is large-scale people displacement. Some suggest a billion displaced by 2050. How on earth will the world cope...

Catch up on other sections

Arts 126 China 1180 Climate 1391 Commendations 19 Defence 2440 Economy 2785 Education 697
Employment 34 Finance 2 Health 1514 History 53 Immigration 957 Indigenous Affairs 380 Israel Palestine 1284
Media 1826 Podcast 43 Policy 194 Politics 17938 Racism 16 Religion 1229 Review 22
The Human Future 56 Our Top Five Each Week 2116 USA 513 World 1339

Latest from Al Jazeera

Afghan survivors struggle in the wake of deadly earthquake
More than 2,200 deaths as southeast Afghanistan grapples with aftermath of a powerful magnitude 6.0 earthquake.
‘God’s influencer’ Carlo Acutis to become first millennial saint
Italian cyber-apostle, who showed kindness to less fortunate, hailed for using precocious tech talent to spread word.
Israel bombs more Gaza City high-rises after forced evacuation orders
The Israeli army is systematically destroying remaining infrastructure as it moves to seize Gaza's largest urban centre.
Cancelled concert shows political, social rifts in Iran amid war tensions
The government's push for a public music event generates heated political interpretations over its intentions.
Tunisia flotilla eager to join Global Sumud mission to break Gaza siege
Activists want to end Israel's blockade of Gaza and expect to set sail on Sunday when flotilla from Spain arrives.
Thailand’s PM-elect names veterans to cabinet in bid to ‘bring confidence’
Economist Ekniti Nitithanprapas, executive Auttapol Rerkpiboon and diplomat Sihasak Phuangketkeow selected as ministers.