Letters to the Editor
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Enough is enough. Free Julian Assange.
Over the past years I have become increasingly concerned that the Australian Government has allowed the Assange case to drift in the hope, presumably, that the Australian electorate will tire of the subject of Julian Assange, the way most news bites vanish into the ether.
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Expenditure priorities: AUKUS subs versus climate
Does the secret ONI climate report indicate Labor cannot afford to pay for both AUKUS and climate mitigation?
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Why Labor is hiding the ONI climate report
Why Labor is hiding the ONI climate report
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It’s time for urgent lifestyle changes
The Boomers generation established enjoyable, but unsustainable, lifestyles. These need to change. Now.
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Ending native forest logging is a trump card
Tanya Plibersek could put an end to native forest logging. If she did, Australia would achieve it's 2030 emissions target almost overnight.
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A BIG THANK YOU to Gregory Andrews.
Pearls & Irritations is a TRULY INDEPENDENT Media Platform. THANK YOU! Please help save Australia's international standing and reputation.
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WHAT A NATION!
IS THIS WHAT THEY CALL 'A BULL IN A CHINA SHOP'?
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“Fascist” Politics?
It is entirely understandable that we should be concerned both about the effects of politicising and socially constraining gender identity and roles upon the people affected, and about the risk of government and elements of society being corrupted by what we somewhat superficially characterise as "fascist" - or reactionary conservative - ideologies. What is absent here, however, is any deeper analysis of why such tendencies hold such embedded importance in some of our societies, why some societies are more vulnerable here than others, and what the underlying appeal is? Why those people are not disposed towards other visions of society?
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The Voice: my perspective
I agree with Abul Rizvi, in that the Dog Whistle politics are far too involved.
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Missing the Point
The problem is the political system; the politicians are just the result.
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Why we need an Earth System Treaty
There are many daily challenges that keep us from thinking about the really, really big challenges now facing us, future generations and our planet. We need to create a small space where these big challenges and their solutions can be discussed, digested and hopefully acted on.
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Forest policy missing in action
Like Peter Sainsbury, I am deeply frustrated by the distinct lack of action to protect our forests and prevent bushfires.
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It’s simple mathematics
Simple mathematics shows how the government's obsession with growth underlies its failure to adequately tackle climate change.
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Avoiding scandalous commitments of “Forceposture”
Submarine argument, a straw man, to avoid Public discussion of "The Force Posture" agreement, and concomitant loss of Australian Sovereignty.
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If the Democrats had principles
It's the Same Old, Same Old. If a principled newer party wins enough votes to worry an unprincipled Old Party and bucks the status quo, the good-ole party calls the real democrats traitors or trolls. Not really as simple as that, though, is it, Bob? In the US, the undemocratic first-past-the-post electoral system denies smaller players a chance. Green v, progressive voters sign up to only vote for Greens and progressive independents. Otherwise, they don't sign up or vote at all. Hard for the ALP to grasp this but we're different in Australia.
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Myanmar: No basis for armed Western intervention
I was initially shocked to read an article on Pearls and Irrationals which is asking for a Ukraine type intervention in Myanmar. The authors to me seem to me to be essentially Neo-conservatives. I assume that the article only included as there so little published about Myanmar and there needs to be more discussion. The situation is in fact not really like Ukraine. The West is funding and supporting a violent insurgency, but Myanmar has not been invaded nor is part of NATO.
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Concentrate on the people, not the Opposition
Anthony Albanese should concentrate on what his supporters want, not try to outwit or outmaneuver the opposition.
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“Their minds are not clear” – the late Evan Whitton
“Their minds are not clear” – the late great Evan Whitton!
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Australians be aware
I have been for some time reading Pearls and irritations and alarmed at what I read and how unaware my fellow Australians are .
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Aukus suffers badly from the democratic deficit
Marcus Strom’s article ties in with a key issue I have just raised with the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties.
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The Language of War
According to today's news media PM Anthony Albanese is doubling down on the AUKUS pact at the ALP's National Conference. He's reported to be fighting off an attempt to have references to nuclear-powered submarines struck from Labor's platform. Many hope the democratic voice and power of the ALP membership prevails. AUKUS was a deal with the U.S. and Britain made by Morrison's Liberals but the Federal Labor Government has taken it as its own, promoting the language of war for months - especially in public statements by Minister for Defence, Richard Marles, and Minister for Defence Industry, Pat Conroy.
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Devastating reef reality
Although it was sobering reading, I thank Imogen Zethoven for outlining the Great Barrier Reef’s devastating reality.
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The PRC suffers from homelessness too
The PRC is currently suffering from homelessness, making it hard to grasp the point of this article.
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Let us not forget Julian Assange
Along with AUKUS and Palestine, Julian Assange seems to also be a silent topic.
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Mythical Nazification of Ukraine
Chris Hermann (Letters, Aug 3) is disturbed that I referred in my article on Crimea (3 August) to Russian propaganda banging on about “mythical Nazis in Kyiv”.
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Richard Marles’ repeated use of “seamless”
Richard Marles' seamless transfer of sovereignty.
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‘No’ supporters not all white supremacists
While the moral imperatives for the Yes case are strong, and the No case morally bankrupt, we cannot conclude that most Australians are necessarily white supremacists.
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Pearls and Irritations articles are a STANDOUT
Pearls & Irritations articles are a standout and brings uniquely unparalleled journalistic information to the public domain. P&I has contributed immensely to presenting independent and honest journalism otherwise dominated by some malign MSM. May I wish P&I great success in bringing educative and pragmatic insight / knowledge to the mainstream population.
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There is nothing “mythical” about Nazis in Ukraine
Past Russian crimes in Crimea are not an excuse for what one would hope is unintentional but subtle Ukrainian Nazi apologia.
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Wen Wei Po: A reply to Jonathan Leung
Jonathan Leung’s letter of July 30 asking me to amend my earlier Tiananmen article highlights a key point about Tiananmen events.
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An Earth Systems Treaty
We all need to become planetary citizens.
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The tragedy of Palestine
I endorse Jafar Ramini's latest article.
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Miscarriages of justice
Personal experience of police error leading to a wrongful conviction.
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Not just Robodebt
It is not just wrongful decisions by DHS and DSS which have had a major impact on people’s lives, but also cruelly poor administration by what is now Home Affairs.
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Nuclear subs deal sunk
Submarines are not required, not wanted
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WHOSE FAULT IS IT
Where does the responsibility fall? The former LNP gov. I suggest. Bad Timetable changes. Wrong Sized Trains from Spain. Failure to maintain manufacturing at Newcastle. Underfunding maintenance with a reliance on outside contractors. Labour has been in Gov since may. If this was May 2026 the situation would be very different.
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Six hundred years of reform?
Catholics are missing the point when talking about the failure of the Catholic Church. If it has failed and is irrelevant - get rid of it.
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Confusing the evidence
Advocates for both sides in the school funding debate need to check their evidence.
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Julian Cribb and Saul Griffith must be heard
Two prominent Australian writers have very recently highlighted the critical urgency of action to preserve our human future. Science writer, Julian Cribb put it succinctly in “Pearls and Irritations” this week. “While much of humanity was glued to the unfolding drama over one tiny submarine, the Earth we all inhabit, is slowly, steadily and impeccably imploding around us.”The evidence shows that humanity is heading towards collapse of our civilization, that could be avoided if we were not largely ignoring a series of remediable interconnected catastrophic threats of our own making.
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There is a plan for human survival
There is a plan for human survival, it is just being ignored.
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Retired US Admiral confirms Australian subservience
A retired US Admiral's chilling account of Australia's subservience to the US military.
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Ordering women into silence
I feel more than a shiver of apprehension over the Bruce Lehrmann case, I feel outraged, bruised and ultimately shamed for not joining with other women feeling the same way. I've been a rape survivor, worked for women in rape crisis centres and helped women to find safe refuge away from their violators. Every time this happens to a woman and the court system shames and humiliates her, it brings back how powerless I was made and how it returns more than 50 years later.
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China – Is it Really a Threat
I would like to endorse Michael Keatings Assessment (P&I June 15, 2023) that China has overtaken the United States as the world’s largest economy. PPP or Purchasing Power Parity is indeed the measure used by international organizations including the World Bank.
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Wen Wei Po NOT an anti Beijing newspaper
Wen Wei Po was a pro-Beijing newspaper. It has always been
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Relations with China
Mike Lyons is bang on the money. Both Labor and the LNP seem unable to articulate even a half-sensible approach to China.
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An Answer to Neoliberalism
Cooperating for a Better World
