Pearls and Irritations
Recent articles by Pearls and Irritations
4 October 2024
A five-minute scroll
Al Jazeera has produced a documentary of graphic war crimes, academic Seyed Mohammad Marandi receives death threats after setting Sky News straight, reports that Hezbollah had agreed to a ceasefire before Nasrallah assassination, Jayson Gillham takes a stand against the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, and more war crimes. Our five-minute scroll on X.
3 October 2024
A five-minute scroll
In our five-minute scroll on X: Julian Assange recognised as a political prisoner; shameful, divisive western media commentary; Iran strikes Israel's most secure air base; Russian carpet bombs in Volchansk; Malcolm Turnbull speaks his mind on Peter Dutton, and Hong Kong anti-China groups awash with mystery cash.
2 October 2024
A five-minute scroll
Today our five-minute scroll on X was filled with Julian Assange's first public appearance before the PACE hearing, a parliamentary hearing on his detention and conviction on 1 October 2024.
1 October 2024
A five-minute scroll
Five minutes on X reveals the outrage toward the Australian government for its response to weekend protests while Israel is bombing Beirut. The Malaysian PM calls for western leaders to put the narrative right, while Craig Mokhiber calls for the arrest warrant of Netanyahu and Netanyahu offers the people of Iran a better future.
30 September 2024
A five-minute scroll
We start the week with British journalist James Oliver giving his views on Rupert Murdoch, Jim Chalmers brings a back-to-back surplus and a picture of media reporting in the Middle East. Jordan's Foreign minister speaks about a peace plan supported by 57 Arab and Muslim countries, Australia takes to the streets in our capital cities, while in Iran protests have broken out against the President. Dilma Rousseff, receives China's highest honour for non-citizens.
27 September 2024
A five-minute scroll
We round up the week at the UN in New York where thousands have gathered to denounce Benjamin Netanyahu and demand his arrest. Groups have also called for the resignation of Antony Blinken for alleged lies to Congress, and we question why Jordan, also a US ally, can speak out against Israel. Finally, we applaud the recognition of a young journalist in Gaza on the world stage.
26 September 2024
A five-minute scroll
Penny Wong responds to Australia's questions about Israel on SBS News, a US veteran speaks to his experience in Iraq 20 years ago, Israel media displays astonishing commentary, Francesca Albanese shares a must-watch documentary. The children of Gaza suffer beyond our belief and the president of Senegal speaks about the history of Palestinian oppression at the UN General Assembly. That's our five-minutes on X.
25 September 2024
A five-minute scroll
A five-minute scroll of X uncovers abhorrent settler behaviour, questions about Peter Dutton's nuclear platform, South Africa speaking out for Palestine in the UN, Chris Sidoti on the Israeli Army, Genocide Tourism and news of Julian Assange.
24 September 2024
A five-minute scroll
As Israel bombs Lebanon a five minute scroll on X uncovers the brutality and the voices that are speaking out against it, calling out Australia's role as a puppet state.
20 September 2024
A five-minute scroll
Five minutes on X is all it takes to witness the realities of a world in turmoil and the horror that continues in Gaza. This is what we witnessed today.
18 September 2024
A five-minute scroll
Our five-minute scroll on X today uncovered Craig Murray speaking to the UN about the UK's security laws to control the narrative, Saffine Duggan speaking to ABC Radio National about life after the US seized her assets, Peter Cronau questioning if the police have crossed the line, while shop footage shows Israeli soldiers bullying a child, while pagers detonating across Lebanon and Syria injuring thousands.
17 September 2024
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.
16 September 2024
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 AUKUS, Yemen sends a missile 2000 kilometres into Israel, the Philippines speaks to peaceful coexistence with China and Miriam Margolyes speaks out about Israel to the Jewish community in Australia.
13 September 2024
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 Harris on Israel, the Middles East and Ukraine.
12 September 2024
A five-minute scroll
On September 12 our five-minute scroll of X showed us the military convention in Melbourne inviting protest and how the police are treating the activists while Richard Marles in Parliament has been espousing the questionable virtues of Jobs for Subs. Queen Rania speaks about the need for global systems we can trust, while economist Shir Gvir talking about the cost of genocide to Israel's economy.
11 September 2024
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.
10 September 2024
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.
10 September 2024
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.
9 September 2024
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....
20 August 2024
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.
12 June 2024
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.
31 May 2024
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 of the public we serve, these war crimes are again in the service of foreign powers.
31 May 2024
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.
11 May 2024
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.
7 March 2024
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 Israels genocide.
2 March 2024
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.
21 February 2024
Israeli female soldiers celebrate the death of 12,300 children
As the Palestinian death toll from Israels 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.
25 January 2024
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 .
24 January 2024
Hamas account of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood: In their own words
Western readers will be familiar with the Israeli Governments account of the attacks by Hamas on October 7th, 2023, which killed 1,200 Israelis. They will also be familiar with the Israeli governments 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 and the events that followed. It is reproduced below:
13 October 2023
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?
12 October 2023
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 life on both sides is devastating, the lack of balance in reporting the facts behind the conflict, that we watch unfold in horror, is both predictable and complicit.
15 August 2023
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 a foreign power. Our government is about to redefine us in the eyes of the world as willing backers of US militarism. - Anthony Albanese, 2003.
4 February 2022
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.
28 January 2022
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.
21 January 2022
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.
14 January 2022
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.
17 December 2021
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.
10 December 2021
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.
3 December 2021
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.
26 November 2021
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?
19 November 2021
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.
12 November 2021
From our readers: Australia's dangerous commitment to US alliance
In letters to the editor: Australia's unwavering commitment to the US alliance, China and Taiwan, and the value of independent MPs.
5 November 2021
From our readers: Can independent MPs save our system?
In letters to the editor this week, the case for more independent MPs, Gladys Berejiklian at ICAC, and generational conflict.
29 October 2021
From our readers: Labor's small-target strategy will not win votes
In letters to the editor this week: Labor's lack of passion, Australia's alliance with the US, and affordable housing.
29 October 2021
Saturday's good reading and listening guide
Ian McAuley's guide to good reading and listening for the weekend has moved.
22 October 2021
From our readers: The moral issue of Palestine 'settlements'
In our letters to the editor this week: NSW Labor's support for a controversial definition of anti-Semitism, Scott Morrison's sales pitch, negative gearing and action on climate change.
22 October 2021
Saturday's good reading and listening guide
Ian McAuley's guide to good reading and listening for the weekend has moved.
15 October 2021
From our readers: Preserving Australia's future by electing more independents
In our first letters to the editor column: electing independents to Parliament, the decimation of Australian universities, calling time on Infrastructure Australia, and reflecting on the Catholic Church.