Pearls and Irritations

Terrorism: let’s call it out

Enculturated from birth into a patriarchal system, most see gender politics as simply ‘how it is’ or may not perceive it at all.

Every morning I wake early, Gaza is my first thought

Thank you for publishing this piece-it’s perfect and I am weeping.

Future Made In Australia (Michael Keating article)

Like so many democracies, Australia is struggling with the “Guns, Butter, Future Growth” dilemma

In a parallel universe

According to some physicists there exists a multitude of parallel universes. In one of these: Palestine is recognised, but Israel is not.

US Demands China stop Supplying Russia in Ukraine

I wonder how it would be reported If the Chinese Secretary of state went to the USA and demanded that the US stop supply Israel weapons for use in the Palestine genocide?

An eminence grise in his own lunchtime

Jack Waterford treated Pezullo more kindly than he deserves

Measures That Matter, Matter

Chelsea Hunnicutt’s call to remind the Treasurer about his promised Measures That Matter is welcome.

Israel’s historical mythology and Arab Jews

I must take you up on an aspect of Israel's historical Mythology

Corals warn humanity to speed energy transition

It is now the world's choice between life or death for everyone .... Surely a minority of humans cannot make the wrong choice for the sake of money.

Cautious Terrorism

'Cautious' is not the word I would use for the shameful conduct of Australia in condoning genocide by the Israeli government and IDF top brass.

SEZs are the answer

The elephant on the page is China which is by far the most relevant and current example of how industrial development can happen successfully led by Government.

Labor has left the building

It's galling that Labor seems to think it can move so far to the right and we just have to suck it up.

Palestinian state

Logic would suggest we should immediately refuse to recognise the State of Israel.

We trust truth over ‘news as entertainment’

Ranald McDonald’s selectivity is confounding.

Be both alert and alarmed

Anthony Albanese may be hoping that the meek will inherit the earth; they may, but the earth they inherit may no longer support life.

Recognising Palestine

Larry Stillman's argument for recognising Palestine as a first step to peace in the region, with which I largely agree, includes one possible scenario involving a condominium.

Gender theory exists

'Gender theory' exists. It is taught in universities and in schools.

We ARE part of the problem!

We must stop mining fossil fuels.

Dr David Shearman concludes that fossil fuel mining in Australia and exports to the world are deadly and must urgently end.

Fossil fuel users can pollute in secret

Even before the attacks on the right to protest well documented by Lucy Hamilton, large users of fossil fuels in Australia have been given the right to pollute in secret. We are not allowed to know which fuels they use, or how much - if they claim “commercial confidentiality”.

The real battle to save NDIS is about people

The NDIS amendment Bill will not be the rosy panacea this article proposes. The Bill has potential to be more unfair at best, and cause serious harm at worst. Outcomes for people hardly rate a mention. Disability advocates, lawyers, barristers, those with human rights and disability discrimination background did not miss the Bill and will be sending submissions to the Senate Inquiry. The Bill fails the United Nations Convention on the Rights of People with Disability that Australia is signatory too. As such it fails Australians with the most serious need.

We need to see what lobbyists do

Lobbying is a service to vested interests that thrives in the shadows. It must be brought into the light.

The only planet

Thanks, Michael Leunig.

Nuclear Smoke and Fossil Fuel Mirrors

Do the Liberals really want nuclear power? Why go down this rabbit hole?

The whisper of an eternity beyond

Yes, Mr Leunig I am officially and often sadly on the ‘Wrong Planet’, entrapped in my mortal coil, a prisoner of time and entropy

Shame on Labor

The Australian Labor Party needs to have a serious look at their moral compass.

Infinite growth equals infinite stupidity

As a human with a brain I’ve long been amused and shocked by the way most other humans mindlessly embrace the concept of infinite and exponential growth while living on a finite planet. The selling of this idea and the greedy and mindless pursuit of it is likely to lead to a less successful and happy future for the children of those grasping and grabbing. Ironically, many of them do so in the belief they are creating a better life for their offspring.

Albanese and killing of Zomi Frankcom

While I agree with the sentiments expressed by Reb Halabi, Albanese’s situation is not so simple.

One State: The Only Future for Palestine – Israel

Sandra Kanck (P&I, April 7) has done a fine job of exposing the idiocy of a two state solution to the question of Palestine/Israel. The thought of two distinct peoples with very different views as to who was/is the rightful occupier of Palestine operating two distinct states with all that that entails on a parcel of land scarcely larger than the greater Brisbane area was always naïve.

First they came for Palestine

First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist.Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a trade unionist.Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew.Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.—Martin NiemöllerRecent reported actions by the IDF in Jerusalem over Ramadan made me think of the relevance of Martin Niemollar, poem