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Was Einstein wrong?

Bill Uren using Einstein's phrase subtle is the Lord to not so subtly introduce a message retelling the absurd and incoherent claims of Christianity, is not something Einstein would have approved of. Einstein believed the foundations of faith (Jewish and Christian) were built on myth rather than truth. He dismissed the idea of an anthropomorphic God as well as the Bible, as human creations and strongly rejected the idea of a chosen (Jewish) people. He was right about the bending of the rays of a star. Was he wrong about the Feast of Christmas?

Communication, not conflict...

I would like to convey my appreciation to Refaat Ibrahim for the sentiments expressed in the biography attached to his piece published on Christmas morning. At a time when so many leaders prefer bombs to diplomacy, his faith in the power of the written word is heartening. Thanks Refaat!

The Earth is sick, humanity is the disease

Earth’s health is declining. Its seas are over-fished, and filling with plastic; its forests are shrinking as they are cleared for farming and development. Its soils are dying from the effects of fertilisers and pesticides used to feed more people than the planet can sustain. Its atmosphere is polluted with ever-increasing carbon dioxide and methane, which is heating the planet and destabilising the climate. Consequently our icecaps are melting, the Gulf Stream is slowing, and our forests’ capacity to absorb carbon is shrinking as forests shrink. As the icecaps melt, arctic permafrost is melting allowing trapped methane to escape....

Einstein used the concept of god objectively

Einstein used god in a culture-speak manner. He never referred to a higher being as His God. This article is totally out of order. I guess that's what hardline Christians do best. . .manipulate the words from eminent people and grasp at verbal straws and inflate them, in order to prove a nonsensical claim.

ABC coverage of the Gaza war

Richard Bean’s article summarises well the bias in the ABC’s presentation of the continuing genocide in Gaza and ethnic cleansing on the West Bank and Golan Heights. In addition, the obliteration of the people of Gaza is no longer as newsworthy as it once was as the mainstream media move on to Syria and Christmas time trivia, again failing to give proper coverage to Israeli bombardment of Lebanon and Syria and the appropriation of Syrian territory. I no longer watch ABC discussion and news reporting of Palestine as it invariably involves no hard-hitting critique of the slaughter of innocent...

Spare us this

What an appalling ramble from Bill Kelty. I'll mention only four points. 1. The environment, climate change and Indigenous rights are big issues for the future. No. They were issues decades and more ago. If they're not issues for now, there will be no future. 2. No mention of excess salaries and rapidly rising company profits. These come at the expense of workers. A fair day's pay comes before excessive executive salaries and dividends. Tax reform is essential. We need to check our greed. 3. AUKUS – what about Australia's lack of sovereignty? We must examine...

Converting us to a better world

Three cheers for John Frew!!! Is there anything in our troubled world that hasn't got some form of greed at its base? Why are Gina Rinehart and Rupert Murdoch never satisfied? (How sad are they?!) You really can't pay tax on the balance above $3m (or whatever it is) on your super? So someone can eat? How long do you think you're going to live that you need all that? You need how many toilets for a family of four? I could go on and on and on and on and ..... People say...

Opportunity cost of AUKUS

AUKUS at $368 billion (and like all military projects it will probably double) has then an opportunity cost of around one million houses, or 12,000 primary schools or 4000 secondary schools, or 400,000 hospital beds. Puts it into sharp perspective. All for a phantom threat.

Trashing of reputation of institutions

Well-regarded independent institutions, which provide medical services and food aid at risk to themselves, have had their reputations trashed and labelled as antisemitic for reporting what they are dealing with. Anyone with the most basic knowledge of data collection must have some Idea of how one-sided the conflict is and make some comparison to the evil regimes that have been in the past.

Climate change: who really cares ?

Climate change. Just another headline, just another diversionary rant for our politicians, just another look at me moment at some overseas climate convention. When there were still borders in Europe, I was stopped to get my passport stamped and the border guard asked me to turn off my car because of the pollution. Here we are years later driving bigger petrol guzzling resource wasting monster twin cab/cars than ever, we park by the side of the road with motors running for the air conditioning, texting on our phones. The sale of EVs are at best stagnant, no tax advantage...

No man is an Island

Dr Geoff Davies asks “What are the five most precious things in my life?” Whatever the answers, all hinge on our willingness to see ourselves not as atomised, self-sufficient (and possibly selfish) entities, but part of a society. Sixteenth century poet John Donne, in ‘No Man is an Island’, wrote: “If a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less”. The poet could not have foreseen 21st century sea level rise but the principle holds: some may prefer to think we are insulated from the consequences of climate change. However, the prospect of, say, vastly increasing...

Norfolk Island's problems are its alone

While there are lingering colonial problems on both the Cocos (Keeling) Islands and Christmas Island, please do not put these two into the same basket as the fractious Norfolk Island situation! I visited Norfolk Island exactly one year ago, and I am somewhat familiar with its issues. I can only speak about the Cocos Islands, having lived there, having learned Cocos Malay and having written a book about the islands, their history and culture. It is so very, very different from Norfolk Island! Cocos' major issue is the lack of a vote at state level. Almost all...

Racism, Australian style

It is all very well to pass anti-racism laws, but until they apply to politicians' impact on their place in the parliament and their pay packets, there is not much point to the laws as it is often senior politicians who are stirring up the racist violence with their racist biases.

Top questions Angela

Top questions Angela! But just as importantly, the legacy media need to put the puppet-master, the US, under the microscope. It is well worth looking up Brown University’s record of US “interventions”.

A new, secular flag for Israel?

One step to eliminating the problem of equating anti-Zionism with antisemitism and Judaism with Zionism would be to change the Israeli flag. Give up the religious symbol it bears and choose something without religious reference. I have no doubt that there are anti-Semites about. But equally, given the general ignorance and/or disinterest in all things political in Australia, I have no doubt that there are people who know nothing of Israel's 20th C history in Palestine. Thanks to sparse and selective reporting in the long term and sometimes even now, all such people know is Israel = persecution and...

Nothing inadvertent about Dutton

Your correspondent Fiona Colin says (19 Dec. 2024): The Coalition, either deliberately or inadvertently, is creating another cost: uncertainty, a commodity investors do not want. Ms Colin is too kind. The Dutton led team does nothing that is inadvertent. With the only 'policy' in the coalition's kitbag being the flakiest of all takes on nuclear energy, sowing Uncertainty and its stablemate Doubt is their path to winning the next election. Anything but a firm foundation for the future. Anyone experiencing uncertainty or doubt needs to question everything. For objective, factual answers, the further they look away from Dutton...

Costs of uncertainty

Michael Keating provides a useful summary of the relative costs of renewables and nuclear energy. The Coalition, either deliberately or inadvertently, is creating another cost: uncertainty, a commodity investors do not want. Last July, eighteen industry and environmental organisations, including AI Group, the National Farmers Federation, the Australian Steel Council, and the Investor Group on Climate Change, issued a joint statement: “Australia’s existing national emissions and energy targets for 2030 are critical foundations for the investment we need to deliver reliable, affordable, and clean energy. Achieving them and the deeper targets that must follow on the road to net...

Economic Truth v's Personal Opinion

Okay! this IS my personal opinion, but it would have been hoped that as Economics Editor for the Sydney Morning Herald, Mr Gittins article criticizing members of his profession was more balanced. From my understanding ALL that economists can do is provide their opinion based on both facts obtained and views that they hold as to the likely outcome of recommendations provided. It is solely a political decision as to the course that is to be taken. We all know that no matter what political party is in power, the course of action will be to obtain the...

Teals can break the vested interests’ stranglehold

We have carbon polluting the atmosphere, plastic polluting the seas, healthy soil being killed by pesticides and fertilisers, forests shrinking to make way for further development. These pressures are growing exponentially as people in both the developing and developed worlds seek ever-higher standards of living. Successive governments have failed to address these crises effectively because they have been, and remain, held in thrall by powerful vested interests. Mark Diesendorf cites five key areas through which vested interests achieve state capture: political donations, election expenditure, revolving door jobs, concentrated media ownership, and neoliberalism. All, he says, are vulnerable to attack. ...

Our global climate future may depend on China

‘Aggressive activist and journalist’ Patrick Mazza expresses his view that ‘China holds the world's climate future in its hands’. China is the world's biggest economy and emitter of greenhouse gases, and so is factually responsible for keeping the world close to the Paris agreed 1.5 or 2.0 degrees C limit. They continue developing coal but are now the world's fastest in growing solar and wind. Mazza concludes optimistically that ‘China has its own fate in its hands as well as the rest of the world. We hope it will take the needed action that will give us a fighting chance...

Our language about Dutton needs to change

Personally, I thought Labor should have gone for generational change after Bill Shorten's defeat in 2019. But that didn't happen. Now we're at the point where Kym Davey's article summarises so succinctly why Albanese, along with Marles and Wong, should go now, especially, but not only, with regards to Palestine and AUKUS . My gripe with Davey's article is, however, his description of Dutton. ... Dutton has proven himself an effective Opposition leader. Not any sort of Opposition that I want. We need to change that language. Dutton has been an effective wrecker of parliament and trasher...

AUKUS AS A PROBLEM?

The problem with this approach is that if deterrence fails the next step is war. It invites war. Following this doctrine puts us on a war footing and in a state of heightened readiness. Everyone is deterring one another at huge expense and no benefit to the societies involved, enriching weapons manufacturers and politicians while the people live in constant danger... And the problem with that approach is that it is an argument for total unilateral disarmament. Deterrence is achieved only when a potential aggressor or invader becomes convinced that the cost to themselves of any action they take...

Albanese government must join the dots - and win!

Certainly, David Spratt's title is apt and true,Climate policy is on a collision course with physical reality, (P&I, Dec 3, 2024). Spratt does an excellent job with joining the dots between fossil fuel emissions mainly causing the planet's increasing heat and climate extremes, and the lack of a strong urgent global response. He concludes that the world needs climate relevant goals and prioritising of all countries' economics and politics. The Australian federal government must act accordingly and end new fossil fuel projects and exports, plus faster transition here to solar and wind energy, storage and grid. Also, we...

Antisemitism claims obscenely manipulated

It goes without question that the firebombing of the Adass synagogue is a foul stain on the values of fair play that Australians hold sacrosanct. However the pontification of our political leaders - especially Dutton and Albanese - suggests that there has been wholesale lobotomising of all sides of our political spectrum. Yaakov Aharon's article should be required reading before any of these 'leaders' are allowed out of bed to spruik their abysmal BS. The article lays out clearly that the Adass Jewish community does NOT support the genocide that the Zionists are conducting, and that in fact the...

Faking "social cohesion"

Several times Jeff Sparrow's article reminded me of an emerging 'concern' about “social cohesion” that attempts to silence discussion of genocide in Palestine to keep things 'peaceful' in Australia. A false peace, I suggest. Locally, various groups gather to support preferred theories. Hidden away, without moderation to determine true from false, disharmony festers unseen, unheard. For how long? In Canberra, I don't doubt Sen. Payman (P&I Podcast, Courage in public office..., 6/12/2024): Labor's caucus doesn't welcome divergent views. Without meaningful debate in parliament, outside that refereed space Labor mostly follows the US on Palestine, recent slight deviations...

War criminal Netanyahu and his many illegal acts

War criminal Netanyahu has form in meddling in other country's politics. It is very disappointing that the Dutton opposition is equally opportunistic and totally uncritical of Netanyahu's devastation of Gaza and promotion of illegal settlements in the West Bank. Netanyahu and most of his predecessors have manipulated US politics for years. In the last year he has tried to goad Iran. He was heavily involved with the Iraq and Syrian catastrophes.

Politics and religion don't mix

One can only condemn the arson attack on the Ripponlea synagogue. The worshipping congregation there, as elsewhere, is hampered by the government of Israel hijacking their faith for political purposes: a religious symbol (Star of David) on the national flag; the declaration of Israel as a Jewish state. Plus the definition of anti-semitism that includes criticism of Israel - a nonsense since no state is perfect. Then there are those ignorant of history, not knowing that the century old trouble in Palestine is about land, not religion. And those who are rabidly anti any religion. It's a heady mix...

Government Policy

Policy, policy, policy!!! As Australia continues to wallow in an economic morass of its own making, the howling of the Banshees for the Reserve Bank to do something is deafening. Howl as they might, however, it will make not one iota of difference!! Governments make policies, the Reserve does not! The Federal Government of Australia has been making poor decisions for many years (about 50) when it comes to economics and with the rum lot in power at present there is more to come. The raising and/or lowering of interest rates is an extremely poor substitute for poor...

Pre-industrial levels are not 'safe levels'

David Spratt and Ian Dunlop proceed on the basis of 'Drawing atmospheric carbon dioxide levels back to safe, near pre-industrial levels'. Unfortunately this level, vaguely denoted as 'near pre-industrial' is not safe. At this level, GHGs will still increase in the atmosphere as they have done for some 6-7 thousand years. Reducing emissions to pre-industrial levels reduces global warming but does not eliminate it. All land ice will still melt but at a slower rate. We still, eventually, destroy our ecological niche.

Who does Australia "need", not deserve, as our PM?

Jack Waterford sums up Albanese's failings comprehensively. Dutton is his own walking advertisement of awfulness. So ….Questions to ask before voting: What's behind each leader? Policies, values, talent? How long have current politicians been in office? Time for generational change, new ideas, new perspectives? The National Party? Enough said for the P&I audience! Would Labor or LNP work better in a hung parliament? How pragmatic, consultative, flexible are The Greens? The community independents? The remaining odds and sods? Have these various cross-benchers been cooperative or obstructionist during the current parliament? What have they contributed?...

Be bold, Michael Keating

Come on Michael Keating, be bold. Instead of the cost-of-living is the dominant political issue, how about growing inequality is the dominant political issue! Instead of maybe we will need to adapt to a society ... less demanding that productivity and living standards should always continue to increase, how about the planet simply cannot sustain current Western living standards Look at the facts you discuss Michael, and spell it out: - GDP is a catastrophic measure of societal well-being, and increasing GDP is the antithesis of what we need - increased productivity might be useful,...

Australia does not need a Trump Government

The media ran an advertising campaign comparing Peter Dutton to Donald Trump which saw Climate 200’s donations surge by $380,000. Supporters were asked if they ‘want to feel different on our election night’ in an advertisement with half of Trump’s face and half of Dutton’s. The last thing we need in this country is a government anything like that of a Trump Government. Australia is very different to America. We have a different political structure and a different political history. People in Australia are better educated than they are in the US, especially compared with the US Southern...

Refugee status determination - the key issue

Having worked closely with Asylum Seekers for 14 years I must highlight a key problem with the recent Migration Bill changes - the uncritical assumption that the refugee status determination process is professional and fair and sensitive to changing realities. That assumption is simply not true. There are hundreds of innocent victims of the demonstrably flawed process, and many of these will be vulnerable to further unspeakable suffering if these changes are implemented. For example ASF17 whose case was recently determined by the High Court is an Iranian citizen who was held in immigration detention for a decade. He...

We miss the obvious on productivity growth

Our continuing belief that the comparatively small percentage of the world's population that is constituted by the West is the only relevant point for comparison can often obscure the obvious. If we extend those comparisons to countries outside the West which are achieving significantly greater rates of productivity growth we might see causes more clearly . China is an example. Productivity growth in a relatively mature and advanced economy is intimately related to the percentage of GDP that is constituted by Capital Investment. The Western economies generally hover around 20 to 25 percent of GDP in recent years being...

Move over, career politicians

In a setting reminiscent of Monopoly, but dealing in real lives and real money, Binoy Kampmark describes our politicians as insecure little boys paying for the empty promise of useless AUKUS baubles in order to maintain the friendship of a narcissist incapable of unfailing loyalty to another. It's time to get rid of career politicians, feathering their nests now while also having an eye to greater future prizes. The forthcoming election gives us the chance to elect even more community independent MPs. Those we now have show what ordinary people with a wealth of experience in the real world...

Winners and losers

We are losers under the current system. Once the students leave school they will be expected to function in our society - they will be mixing with people from all walks of life. One of the benefits of a desegrated school system is that students can experience our diversity in a supportive environment. This in turn will enable them to be more tolerant and appreciative of diversity. Creating social silos undermines the ability of students to fully appreciate the value of diversity.

Stephen Downes replies: "ABC delighted to be trivial"

I’m delighted that Sally Jackson, communications ‘lead’ at ABC NEWS, has corroborated indirectly my revealing (ABC News’ death rattle) the trashy triviality of the revamped broadcaster’s online front page. She’s clearly pleased that in September and October ABC NEWS ‘overtook’ that bastion of digital unimportance, news.com.au. In October, she says, 11.7 million read ABC NEWS online for an average of 31 minutes. Unfortunately, she doesn’t say what pieces were most read. Was it an article like the ones I cited in my piece, the one about hoof-like shoes, the hot news about a priest who lost his job...

Redesigned ABC website overtakes News.com.au as top online news publisher

Hi John, Someone shared with me the link to Stephen Downes' column on the ABC NEWS website: https://publish.pearlsandirritations.com/abc-news-death-rattle/ Some relevant data it might be worth noting for readers: Since the redesigned ABC NEWS website launched in August it overtook news.com.au to be the top Australian online news publisher in September and again in October. In October the audience was 11.7 million people and the average read time across the month was a very high 31 minutes. Regards, Sally Jackson Communications Lead, ABC NEWS

ABC Blues?

I heartily enjoyed Stephen Downes review of the re-vamped ABC News website as it generally reflected my reaction to it. What dreck is this? The point I made directly to the ABC (through their feedback section) was that i hope the level of journalism won't degrade to News.com.au levels since they are making the website look a whole lot like News.com.au. I too find the For You section condescending and patronising. I don't read the ABC because they cover my interests; I read the ABC (less and less) to get news and current information. And this move to...

Murdoch will not win

I, too, made a futile complaint to the ABC about its lower primary school level news presentation and, on my phone at least, swipe right to try again for better news. It's a pity that when younger people need to know, on current evidence, the ABC will not be there to inform them. But Murdoch and his LNP puppets will not win. Alternative media are thriving with quality rising to the top. It's where quality journalism and expert commentators go when Murdoch thinks he has killed them off. Yes, Murdoch has undeniable influence. But when anyone starts to think,...

Government must commit to renewable energy shift

PM Albanese is refusing to commit to a strong emissions reduction target before our federal election in February or May. Regardless, Australia's new target is due by the end of February. So Superpower Institute director Ross Garnaut is urging Labor to develop our renewable energy economy for far greater profits than fossil fuels. And Sophie Vorrath is also urging Australia to help the world shift to renewable energy. Really, it is more than time for these actions.

Let's indeed "play peace"

I hope many P&I readers will pay close attention to this excellent article. It has a lightness of touch but its truths couldn't be more weighty. We should be - and could be - a remarkable center for PEACE in the Asia/Pacific area, taking a far less subservient posture in relation to the corrupt and fast-fading war empires beloved on the LNP and of R Marles (to Labor's shame). We should be - could be - learning FROM Indonesia, encouraging our best and brightest to do many job swaps, to include knowledge of Indonesia in their professional education, and to...

Contempt of the LNP and Dutton in particular

I have no idea if this letter will ever be published, but I can only refer to the LNP and Dutton in particular as the contemptible scum of Australia. They have no shame what so ever and are proud to place politics above human life and dignity. It is as if they are proud of the hate they generate. I could add more, much more but it would not add any more clarity than what I have already said. I just wonder what sewer does Dutton want to drag this country into just to satisfy his own political agenda.

The US political system: An American plutocracy

America has been a plutocracy for some time. As Warren Buffet said he pays less tax than his secretary which shows that the tax regime has been corrupted. Congressmen spend 70% of their time fund raising so that they are compromised by lobbyists and vested interests. The health sector costs twice that of Australia. Big Pharma, Insurers and the medical profession have caused major distortions with a much worse outcome for patients.

"Local" ABC radio encourages law and orders fear

ABC TV news has it's failings but the push to localise radio is leading to local law and order panic. Melbourne Radio news now leads and often contains little else than the daily police briefings - burglaries and home invasions, gang violence and brawls, car accidents and chases, stabbings, suspicious fires, and deaths. There is no context or comparison with other times, months or years, leading to possibly misplaced fear and loathing. The ABC must do better.

Israel bashing almost every week

I am fed up to the back teeth seeing relentless journalism about what Israel is doing to its neighbours. I have a more realistic appraisal. Like in the Middle Ages in Catholic Europe, Iran controls its citizens with religion, fear and scapegoats, mostly Jews. Their influence and control is so strong that Muslims in Sydney are wont to proclaim similar hatred. What we rarely hear is that Jews in all Middle Eastern and North African countries have been forced to flee for their own safety. Israel (and to a small extent USA) is the only country that will...

Even the Guardian bows to the Zionist Lobby

With deep regret and very considerable disgust, I need to point out that The Guardian Australia - despite its protestations of 'Independence' - peddles the very same disinformation as permeates the Zionist Lobby propaganda. Since the ABC on-line news has become on a par with a second-rate in-flight magazine or perhaps The Open Road for decent content and accurate investigative reporting, I have regarded TGA as the only viable option for widespread content news. However, look at most articles about the Israel vs. Palestine/Lebanon/Iran situation and you will find, more often than not in the first few paragraphs,...

Our Malthusian demise is only deferred

Julian Cribb puts our global environmental crisis into an eloquent historical perspective. His portrait of humanity’s evolution over thousands of years captures the short-sighted, selfish culture which now dominates our world. Thomas Malthus foretold, in his 1798 ‘Essay on the Principle of Population’, how our population would inevitably outgrow our food supply. Population would be naturally limited by plague, famine, and war. We have, for the past 226 years, held Malthus’ prediction at bay through medical science, agricultural science, and the UN, but our Malthusian demise has been deferred rather than defeated. Humanity’s numbers continually increase, and our lifestyle...

Carbon dumping should be called out

Carbon capture and storage, or carbon dumping, is absolutely a con trick. As Peter Sainsbury rightly acknowledges, despite decades of trying, according to the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis “not one single CCS project has ever reached its target CO2 capture rate”. And carbon dumping accounts for just 0.1 per cent of carbon pollution that enters the atmosphere each year. Pumping carbon dioxide back underground is hardly a planet stabilising proposition. How about we stop digging the fossil fuels up in the first place? Multinational corporations and the governments that subsidise and support them to...

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