Letters to the Editor
-
Why Israel envies the Palestinians so much.
Marwan Bishara (Aug 17, 2022) mounts a compelling case that Israel hates the Palestinians, and that this hatred is driven by three basic sentiments, fear, envy and anger. Having little knowledge of the region until October 7 this year, I have since read more widely to attempt to fill my information gap.
-
US/Israeli strategy for the Middle East
It is important to realise the US and Israeli strategy for the Middle East. The US has stopped the rebuilding of Syria and has its military illegally in the country so that it can 1) steal the country's resources, further reducing the ability of the government to rebuild, 2) overthrow the government and install a puppet government, and 3) so that it can orchestrate the transfer of Syrian land to Israel along with parts of Iraq and Jordan.
-
Media bias
Among the media bias regards the current war/massacre in Gaza, that of a supposedly enlightened SBS is particularly egregious.
-
So called “private” schools
There’s an urgent need to restore some justice to education funding by the federal government.
-
Theological reform . . . an oxymoron?
The question Mr. Morwood poses on the need for theological reform misses the point.
-
The new Holocaust – Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza
Alison Caddick identifies the right subject, but with the wrong target
-
More than theology
Great article - but don't just look to theological discussion
-
A new study may have strengthened the COP28 text
The findings of a recent Australian study about temperature rise and the West Antarctic ice shelf vindicate the concerns of the Pacific Island nations and may well have led to a more realistic final text at COP28 if read to the delegates.
-
Do Australians want a bigger or better Australia?
Australia’s population will pass 27 million during January 2024, a rise of 8 million or 42% since Sydney held the world’s best every Olympic Games in 2000. Is Australia a better place for this growth? Is accommodation more affordable and easier to find than in 2000? Have we solved perceived skills shortages over the past 23 years, or does there seem to be more demand for skills than ever? Finally, is the biophysical environment that we leave for future generations of Australians in better or worse shape than it was in 2000?
-
Vale Mark Valencia
Thank you for publishing this brief obituary notice for Mark Valencia.
-
Criminal conviction review
Does the need for public justice to be seen to be always right lest public confidence is reduced overshadow the need for fairness?
-
On calls for genocide.
Reminder
-
Knowing China – Australia must learn how to engage
If Australia is to fruitfully engage with China it must be by diplomatic mechanisms, not militaristic confrontation. Despite our formal international alliances the time has now come for Australia to seek security within Asia, not from Asia. This will be a lengthy process but first Australia needs to confront its historic relations with China in order to fully understand how and why our foreign policy has been influenced and also to understand China's perceptions of Australia.
-
Israel’s Transition to Tyranny
The Balfour Declaration of 1917 provided the imprimatur for English Zionists to "create" Israel. Despite the proviso that "...it being clearly understood that nothing shall be done that would prejudice the civil and religious rights of non-Jewish communities in Palestine...", successive Jewish and Zionist authorities have blatantly ignored this requirement and have constantly sought to eliminate the Palestinian community that has existed in this region since time immemorial. The vast majority of the population of Israeli Jews are of European Jewish heritage - not Palestinian.
-
Ending the Revolutions – Historical Errors
Dr Jeff Kildea claims in this article that Northern Ireland was engaged in a civil war in the 1960's to 1990's. This is wholly untrue.
-
CIS was not created by Atlas
We are surprised that John Menadue would publish a piece like this https://johnmenadue.com/secrecy-and-the-climate-disinformation-industry/ relying on mere innuendo and false statements.
-
Addressing intergenerational injustice
As David Shearman explains, Australia’s young people are burdened with air pollution from burning fossil fuels, and a climate and environment that is in a state of severe decline. I therefore support Senator David Pocock’s Climate Change Amendment Bill which calls for a duty of care to young people to be considered in all policy decisions. The intergenerational injustice we are inflicting on young people is completely unacceptable and must be addressed.
-
Pathway to Paris
Messrs Dunlop and Spratt (“The Paris Agreement is dead. Australia must change its strategic priorities”, 6/12 ) must set us thinking. They see a need for “principled leaders” and an “Opposition prepared to accept the science”. If such there be and candidates of such stature are set to emerge on the floor of the House, then we are saved.
-
If Tony Abbott thinks, few care about what
Noel Turnbull wonders what Tony Abbott thinks of the monarchy after the strong address by King Charles to COP28 on climate change. One thing is for sure, Abbott is out of touch on climate change and few give a toss about what he thinks.
-
Humanitarian crisis in Gaza
Would a Berlin-style air lift solve the humanitarian crisis in Gaza?
-
PLEASE TELL ME IT ISN’T TRUE
I have always accepted that Bob Hawke was the "loveable larriken" of Australian politics. He also was key part of Labor's return to power after the catastrophic dismissal of the Whitlam government. But Paul Keating for me was the more substantial politician and leader. As a new reader of Pearls and Irritations it has been terrific to get articles which dont appear anywhere in the mainstream media. John Menadue' s distinguished record of public service and commerce also gives the publication some weight.
-
“Homo Moronicus” and the climate heating crisis
CSIRO have known about the results of continuous burning of fossil fuels for over 60 years, yet we are still burning them here and abroad at increasing rates. (Vale Peter Funk, PhD in meteorological physics).
-
Voice referendum lite
Analysis of the bifurcation of votes of indigenous and non-indigenous peoples at the Voice referendum misses the legacies of colonial history lurking beneath the surface. The NO campaign exploited the fear that informed the Australian character and alienation against peoples of the First Nations. More by accident, than design.
-
Spineless Cowards and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
Indigenous peoples status in the colonies
-
We need an Earth Systems Treaty for our children
Our comfortable way of life will be a poisoned chalice for our children without an Earth Systems Treaty
-
BDS campaign against Israel
Paul Heywood-Smith’s valuable contribution to public understanding of international law applying to the Israel treatment of Palestinians, and his most recent article on the Boycott, Divest and Sanction campaign, could well be extended to support Australia’s superannuation members raising these matters with their funds in the coming AGM season.
-
An observation on misidentifying women of colour
Continually making simple mistakes about individuals identification points to a deeper issue.
-
Unconscionable profits funding universal wellbeing
A self-financing tax incentive could allocate "Unconscionable profits" to fund a universal well-being dividend to all citizens to replace welfare, and compulsory superannuation. The incentive would introduce "boomerang" share ownership to "buy back the farm". It would raise domestic incomes, savings, and investments by eliminating the "unlimited, unknown, and uncontrolled foreign liability" of foreign investment described by Professor Penrose.
-
Keating on Kissinger
The former PM's statement is understandable comment given his ongoing relationship with Kissinger.
-
A question of counting?
Numerous examples of selective reporting are clear evidence but the latest ABC updates appear to have included a mysterious reset.
