Writer
Pearls and Irritations
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A five-minute scroll
Pulling children out of rubble, witnessing ill-treatment of Palestinian civilians by Israeli soldiers, witnessing the displaced Gazan population work its way through destroyed streets. In Australia, the Senate debate on housing. These are the items we found on our five-minute scroll on X. Continue reading »
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Five-minute scroll
We start the week with our five-minute scroll on X to bring you a sample of the world and local issues that may not be found in our mainstream media. Today the first posts we saw include the plea to educate yourself on the history of Israel’s actions in Gaza, Malcolm Turnbull talks reality regarding Continue reading »
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A five-minute scroll
On X today: US Politicians launch a bill against China’s world leading genomics team and Andrew Wilkie addresses arms trade with Israel. Witness the devastation for a 13-year old in Palestine while Palestine takes its permanent seat in the UN General Assembly. Finally, a moment from the US presidential debate – Donald Trump and Kamala Continue reading »
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A five-minute scroll
The stories we witnessed on a five-minute scroll on X this morning include Julian Assange, Pope Francis, author Ilan Pappé, the Tent Massacre in Gaza and the IDF leaked footage of October 7. Continue reading »
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A five-minute scroll
Taking just five minutes to scroll through X, these are the first five posts we witness, the stories often not picked up in our mainstream media. Continue reading »
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Media censorship or incompetence by the ABC and others?
Last week the ABC carried a story about the death of many Israelis on 7 October 2023 as a result of firing by Israeli tanks and helicopter gunships. Continue reading »
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A five-minute scroll
We took a five-minute scroll through X this morning and this is what we saw in relation to issues impacting the world today, in Gaza…. Continue reading »
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Melbourne Symphony Orchestra strikes the wrong note on Gaza
A well-known Australian band, The Cat Empire, has decided not to perform three shows scheduled with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra over the treatment meted out to Australian-British classical pianist Jayson Gillham. Continue reading »
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The hanging body of 7-year old Sidra Hassunah
This is what a genocide looks like. Continue reading »
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Australia and the Israeli-Hamas War
We, the undersigned, urge the Australian Government to pursue a policy towards the Israeli-Hamas war which is more transparent, consistent and principled than currently is the case. Continue reading »
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Over 800 public servants condemn Australian Government complicity in Palestinian genocide
As public servants whose work is to serve our communities, it is our obligation to voice our deep concern that you are leading Australia to be complicit in an additional genocide, an additional colonial project, staining this nation with more war crimes – even more than it lays claim to already – and, in negligence Continue reading »
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Will Australia proceed with the recognition of a Palestinian state? No visible progress
Australia’s foreign minister Penny Wong has recently said that Canberra would consider recognition of a Palestinian state. However, there is no visible progress towards that recognition. Continue reading »
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South Africa asks ICJ to order halt to Rafah massacre as 110,000 Gazans flee advancing Israeli troops
The move comes as Australia, in a significant break from Israeli and US policy, voted yes in the UN General Assembly to upgrading Palestine’s UN membership status. The resolution passed with 143 countries voting in favour, nine voting against, and 25 abstentions. Continue reading »
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South Africa requests ICJ emergency orders to halt “unspeakable” Gazan genocide
“Israel is now massacring desperate, starving Palestinians seeking to obtain food for their slowly-dying children.” The situation in Gaza is now so terrifying as to be unspeakable, writes South Africa in an urgent request for the International Court of Justice to issue additional provisional measures to stop Israel’s genocide. Continue reading »
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Nicaragua institutes ICJ proceedings against Germany for complicity in Gaza genocide
The Republic of Nicaragua yesterday instituted proceedings against the Federal Republic of Germany in the International Court of Justice for “facilitating the commission of genocide and… [failing] in its obligation to do everything possible to prevent the commission of genocide” by providing political, financial and military support to Israel and by defunding the UNRWA. Continue reading »
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Israeli female soldiers celebrate the death of 12,300 children
As the Palestinian death toll from Israel’s attack on Gaza approaches 30,000, including the death of 12,300 children and 8,400 women, a group of Israeli female soldiers posed for a photo on a position on the Gaza Strip border in Southern Israel, February 19, 2024. Continue reading »
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NAIDOC Invasion Day Dawn Service livestream
Each year, the Victorian branch of NAIDOC live streams a powerful Invasion Day Dawn Service at 6:15 AM AEDT . Continue reading »
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Hamas’ account of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood: In their own words
Western readers will be familiar with the Israeli Government’s account of the attacks by Hamas on October 7th, 2023, which killed 1,200 Israelis. They will also be familiar with the Israeli government’s response that has now killed over 25,000 Palestinians in Gaza. On January 19th, 2024, Hamas released their public account of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood Continue reading »
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Voice to Parliament: An Australian test of character
Will Australia today say Yes and agree to alter the Constitution to recognise the First Peoples of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice? Or will we reject the request made to us by representatives of First Nations communities in the Uluru Statement from the Heart? Continue reading »
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Israeli forces have killed 2400 Palestinian children since year 2000
While mainstream media and our own and other Western government’s cup runneth over in support of Israel, a deeper story of occupation, ethnic cleansing and apartheid underpins the decades-long suffering of the people of Palestine from successive Israeli governments that have been supported and funded by the US Government. While the bloodshed and loss of Continue reading »
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“Our government is about to redefine us as willing backers of US militarism” – Anthony Albanese in earlier days
“At the height of the Cold War, Prime Minister Menzies agreed to the British request for a permanent site to test nuclear weapons… This was a political decision by a government that was subservient to the British government, and today there are parallels, with the Australian government being once again subservient to the decisions of Continue reading »
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From our readers: Australia’s heartbreaking ‘let it rip’ mentality
In letters to the editor: what letting Covid rip says about Australia’s leaders and its policies on climate change and Indigenous affairs. Continue reading »
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From our readers: A more inclusive date to celebrate Australia
In letters to the editor, an alternative to January 26 as Australia Day, Labor’s election strategy, and the environmental cost of selfishness. Continue reading »
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From our readers: how to restore our damaged health systems
In letters to the editor: why we should have a Covid royal commission, supporting our inundated health systems, and the problem with SBS’s ads. Continue reading »
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From our readers: Gearing up for a climate change election
In letters to the editor: making climate change an election issue, government secrecy and protecting our children’s future. Continue reading »
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From our readers: Labor needs the right leaders
In letters to the editor: the case for Tanya Plibersek as Labor deputy leader, the dishonesty of our Parliament, and the climate crisis. Continue reading »
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From our readers: Defining the Morrison government
In letters to the editor this week: the parlous state of our Parliament, adding reason to the ‘capitalism’ conversation, and our flawed universities. Continue reading »
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From our readers: Labor isn’t offering voters even a ‘small target’
In letters to the editor this week: Labor’s policy vacuum, how Australia is (not) handling climate change, the value of independent political candidates. Continue reading »
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From our readers: Collaery trial an affront to democracy
In letters to the editor: Australia and East Timor, climate action, and do we really need our own military? Continue reading »
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From our readers: We must fight for the common good
In letters to the editor this week: the need to work for the common good, avoiding war over Taiwan, and some advice for Labor ahead of the election. Continue reading »
