The scale of the impending climate crisis [Content Warning: climate crisis, mass deaths and suffering]

We have known for quite some time that the climate crisis is existential. Now some scientists have had a go at estimating the scale of deaths, and predict around one billion or so over the next century. 

See https://www.sciencealert.com/scientists-warn-1-billion-people-on-track-to-die-from-climate-change.

I think they’re low - far too low.

Nevertheless, we should think about this, including how to respond, and one suggestion can be found at https://eand.co/the-old-world-just-died-heres-how-to-build-a-new-one-2556e907a80d.  

PS - some additional articles that are worth reading when thinking about this: 

• "cultural security in the Pacific: Why it matters for regional security. Of all the complex and evolving threats to the region’s cultural heritage, climate change remains the most calamitous"; 
• "What is Albanese hiding? Maybe it’s the experts’ vision of the climate hell ahead" - which is a very strongly worded opinion piece.
  

 

If they are of any use of interest, the activism information links from my former news posts are available in this post. 

 

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A little more on trans (TGD) and LGBTQIASB+ issues ...

The head of a neochristian organisation has been trying to get his followers to back off on the violent hate shown towards LGBTQIASB+ people. These comments apply especially to that bed of rabid hate: conservative USA - which is encouraging, but tends to emphasise the influence that the rhetoric of the powerful has ... which also emphasises the problems of reversing that influence from a direction of violent hate to a less problematic direction - something also shown by the ongoing support and limited legal consequences facing despot djt, despite his ongoing threats of retaliation (and not doing that was a condition of bail ... ). 

(See also here, here, here, here, and here.)

Going back to anti-LGBTQIASB+ rhetoric, which I have written about recently here, here, and here, there can be a benefit in having good evidence to rely on, which I touched on in this post at my main blog. In the context of trans and gender diverse (nonbinary, gender fluid, etc) people, there has been a useful report on such evidence - which I have listed, along with a few other useful links, below:

• “experts blast so-called “rapid onset gender dysphoria” as junk science”;
• “stop using phony science to justify transphobia. Actual research shows that sex is anything but binary”; 
• “the disturbing history of research into transgender identity. Research into the determinants of gender identity may do more harm than good”.

There is also an excellent article which, in effect, talks about lateral hostility within the TGD communities: 

• “should we hate Lia Thomas? Pariah, pawn, fool, or dupe?”. 
  

If they are of any use of interest, the activism information links from my former news posts are available in this post. 

 

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Another activism email to MPs on hate against trans people in Australia

This was sent last night: 

Dear Members of Parliament,

I wish to draw your attention to the report "Fuelling Hate: Abuse, Harassment, Vilification and Violence Against Trans People in Australia" based on data from the Trans Justice Project and the Victorian Pride Lobby which "shows anti-trans hatred has increased over the last three years" - media coverage by The Guardian available at https://www.theguardian.com/society/2023/aug/29/our-lives-are-under-attack-one-in-two-trans-australians-have-experienced-hate-report-reveals.

I understand copies of the report will be delivered to MPs, although that may be State MPs only. Owing to the importance of this evidence, I have chosen to include Federal MPs in this email as well, and, for the sake of MPs who may not receive a visit, advise that the report is available online at https://transjustice.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Fuelling-Hate-Anti-Trans-Abuse-Harassment-and-Vilification-WEB-SINGLES.pdf.

The key findings from the report are:

Finding #1: Anti-trans hate, both online and in-person, is widespread

• 94.55% of all participants (2930) indicated that they had seen online anti-trans abuse, harassment or vilification in the last year.
• 49.20% (644) of trans participants had experienced online anti-trans abuse, harassment or vilification in the last 12 months.47.90% of trans participants reported experiencing in-person anti-trans abuse, harassment or vilification in the last 12 months.

Finding #2: Anti-trans hate, both online and in-person, is escalating

• 34.22% of trans participants said they had experienced more or significantly more in-person anti-trans hate compared to 2020.
• 40.03% of trans participants experienced more or significantly more online anti-trans hate compared to 2020.

Finding #3: Anti-trans hate rose during the period where anti-trans lobbyist, Kellie-Jay Keen, was touring Australia

• 23.61% of trans participants reported more or significantly more anti-trans in-person hate in the two months leading up to the survey compared to the start of the year. 
• 31.17% of trans participants experienced more or significantly more online anti-trans hate in the two months preceding the survey compared to the start of the year.

Finding #4: Experiences of anti-trans violence are highly prevalent

• 15.97% of trans participants had experienced anti-trans violence in the last 12 months.

I also note that the hate affects other communities in the LGBTQIASB+ communities as well. As an example, police have finally recently applied for an AVO to protect a gay male friend of mine in regional Victoria who has experienced months of harassment and violence.

In general haters/bigots tend to have hate and bigotry against multiple groups.

I also note that the growing culture of anti-racist fervour in Florida is widely considered to have contributed to the recent blatantly racist murder of three black people.

That is, the reality of the problems explored in this report is well supported by related experience from elsewhere.

I commend the report to you for your deepest consideration and reflection.

 

I considered sending an email about the attempt to resurrect the old exclude all biwomen and transwomen who are lesbians from an event intended to cater for cisgender lesbians in a public space, but didn't have the energy. 

The key points I was going to make if I had, however, were as follows:

• it is important that everyone be psychologically safe;
• however, there may be a need to consider apparently conflicting rights - about which Kant _ 
• the basis of the request for an exemption is an aspect of questionable relevance, and verges on being defamatory;
  
• sexual assault is caused by issues such as patriarchy, power, and character. The requested exemption is akin to associating gun violence with people of a particular hair colour;
  
• furthermore, women do and have committed sexual assault - including lesbians;
  
• the view that excluding trans women will mean cislesbians feel safe is false;
  
• furthermore, the implication that trans women not women is false and unsupportable 
• the implication that the lesbian community built around cisgender women is false - there are some notable inclusive groups;
  
• there are also concerns about how this would be policed - after all, one transwoman passed well enough to be a so-called “Bond girl”. 

If possible, I would also have sought a way to include the following:

• the aspirations of this request have been built on shifting sands, possibly out of fear at having to grieve the loss of false notions about reality (specifically, the nature of gender) and then adjust their life; 

The following sayings should also be kept in mind: 

“We can disagree and still love each other unless your disagreement is rooted in my oppression and denial of my humanity and right to exist.” 

“One cannot deny the humanity of another without diminishing one's own.”

James Baldwin 

“In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.”

“Over the last few years I have consistently preached that nonviolence demands that the means we use must be as pure as the ends we seek. So I have tried to make it clear that it is wrong to use immoral means to attain moral ends. But now I must affirm that it is just as wrong, or even more, to use moral means to preserve immoral ends.”

Dr Martin Luther King, Jr.

Relevant links:

• https://www.starobserver.com.au/news/national-news/victoria-news/melbourne-group-applies-for-exemption-to-hold-lesbians-born-female-only-event/225778  https://humanrights.gov.au/our-work/legal/exemption-applications-under-sex-discrimination-act-1984-cth  
• https://humanrights.gov.au/sites/default/files/lesbian_action_group_application_for_a_temporary_exemption_redacted_0.pdf  
• https://humanrights.gov.au/sites/default/files/lesbian_action_group_additions_to_application_for_exemption_redacted_0.pdf  
• https://aifs.gov.au/resources/practice-guides/intimate-partner-violence-lesbian-gay-bisexual-trans-intersex-and-queer  
• http://www.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/viewdoc/au/cases/tas/TASCAT/2022/142.html  
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gender_essentialism  
• https://www.lemkininstitute.com/statements-new-page/statement-on-the-genocidal-nature-of-the-gender-critical-movement%E2%80%99s-ideology-and-practice  
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/False_equivalence  

 

If they are of any use of interest, the activism information links from my former news posts are available in this post. 

 

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From the news: On governance [Content Warning: links to news reports on racism]

PS - I have been adding more links to this

There have been some links in the news of late which relate, in my opinion, to the topic of governance. They are: 

An example of bad governance in the form of failing to look after key employees:

“Stan Grant lashes ABC after ‘smear campaign’ in the media”   https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/2023/08/30/stan-grant-abc-colleague/   

... and allowing employees to behave appallingly:

“Stan Grant accuses the Australian newspaper of acting like a ‘racist hit squad’ ”   https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/aug/29/nfbntw-stan-grant-accuses-the-australian-newspaper-of-acting-like-a-racist-hit-squad  

Corrupt conduct: 

a bent copper in the USA has forced multiple cases that relied on his testimony to be dropped   https://www.propublica.org/article/chicago-officer-kriv-perjury-prosecutors-dropped-criminal-cases   (see also https://politicalmusingsofkayleen.blogspot.com/2021/04/the-seemingly-little-things-matter.html)  

Blatant abuses of human rights: 

Over 180 organisations have condemned the Queensland government's latest breach of Human Rights Act   https://nit.com.au/31-08-2023/7421/over-120-organisations-sign-open-letter-to-the-queensland-government-condemning-new-breach-of-human-rights-act  

Attitudinal problems having an impact on many things:

“Everyone shut up: Intergenerational hatred is misguided”   https://thebigsmoke.com.au/2023/08/28/everyone-shut-up-intergenerational-hatred-is-misguided/   (see also https://politicalmusingsofkayleen.blogspot.com/2019/06/intergenerational-inclusivity-and.html)  

Regression to outmoded, inefficient, unnecessary, and harmful management approaches: 

“Amazon CEO tells staff ‘it’s probably not going to work out’ unless they visit office three days a week”   https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2023/aug/29/amazon-ceo-staff-work-in-office-job-workers  

Bad thinking causing bad governance (particularly bad goal setting):

A critique and powerful criticism of so-called “longtermism” by a former adherent   https://www.truthdig.com/articles/before-its-too-late-buddy/  

A little related to the previous point, evidence disproving ideas that have been adhered to by some: 

“Does private health insurance cut public hospital waiting lists? We found it barely makes a dent”   https://theconversation.com/does-private-health-insurance-cut-public-hospital-waiting-lists-we-found-it-barely-makes-a-dent-211680  

“50 years of tax cuts for the rich failed to trickle down, economics study says”   https://www.cbsnews.com/news/tax-cuts-rich-50-years-no-trickle-down/  

The current apparent continuation of the 1980s greed mentality (sickness?): 

“Qantas lashed for the ‘moral blindness’ of putting profits ahead of passengers”  https://thenewdaily.com.au/finance/finance-news/2023/09/01/qantas-turnaround-week-from-hell/   -   see also here   and   here  
There have also been calls for accountability by not approving bonuses   https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/sep/04/qantas-board-urged-to-withhold-bonuses-of-alan-joyce-and-senior-executives  

But, on the other hand, good perspective can lead to good decisions - that enable other good decisions:

“New UN guidance affirms children’s right to a clean, healthy environment”   https://news.un.org/en/story/2023/08/1140122  

And good governance examples: 

“Africa’s health experts gather in Gaborone to discuss pandemic readiness”   https://www.voanews.com/a/africa-s-health-experts-gather-in-gaborone-to-discuss-pandemic-readiness/7244566.html  

“Africa climate summit 2023: A new global financial architecture to help green growth”  https://www.france24.com/en/video/20230829-africa-climate-summit-2023-a-new-global-financial-architecture-to-help-green-growth   

Canada is warning LGBT travellers of the dangers of travelling to the USA   https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/canada-citing-potential-dangers-warns-lgbtq-travelers-us-risks-2023-08-29/  

As always, make up your own minds about these.

If they are of any use of interest, the activism information links from my former news posts are available in this post. 

 

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A commentary on the significance of state charges against despot djt in the USA

Over on Mastodon there has been some debate about Presidential pardons in the event that despot djt is returned to power by his puppets. Foolishly, I pointed out that Presidential pardons only apply to Federal crimes, not state - which the charges about interference in Georgia are. 

The replies have missed the significance of that, and I cannot be bothered trying to explain over there, so: 

the point is, if the despot is returned to power after being convicted and imprisoned, he is going to find governing difficult - there’ll be no visits by state dignitaries, no access to state secrets, etc. Everything will have to be done by audio phone call. 

Changes could possibly be made, by why would Georgia do that? 

Incidentally, candidates have run while imprisoned in the USA before, so the campaigning is not a problem: the question is how would he govern effectively.

 

PS - I weakened, and posted the following on Mastodon: 

I know at least one candidate has run while imprisoned at some stage in the past, so that's evidently not a problem, but the question I'm interested from here is:

how would he govern from inside a jail in the state of Georgia?

Would Georgia make changes so that is possible - could they?
I would imagine visiting state dignitaries wouldn't visit a jail, and there could be ... "problems" with handling state secrets.
Would Georgia release him under some sort of parole conditions - or do the charges prevent that possibility?

If I get  sensible reply, I'll post it here.  

PPS - Further debate was around reasons for not considering that matter now on the part of one person, but no answer to the question.

 

If they are of any use of interest, the activism information links from my former news posts are available in this post. 

 

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A YouTube video on problems with power - and ways to prevent them [Content Warning: cruelty, abuse, violence, atrocities, abuse of power/scandals, bad choices, narcissism, politics, police violence]

Something I have long wanted is for all political candidates, and applicants for police etc, to be tested for the things that matter to me: bigotry, in all its myriad forms. 

Test them all for unconscious bias (and take note if any show signs of genuinely committing to a credible plan to manage that bias), test electoral candidates for authoritarian bias, and have some trusted functionary provide a summary of the results to the public. 

This is unlikely to be compulsory for decades, but if JUST ONE candidate did this - somewhere - we could use that as leverage to try to get others to do the same ... *sighs wistfully*

Now I’ve come across a - long: two hour length - YouTube video where someone else is advocating the same - and based on evidence to boot.

The details are:

“The world’s biggest problem? Powerful psychopaths” presented by Brian Klaas, “Associate Professor of Global Politics at University College London, Contributing Writer for The Atlantic, author of “Corruptible: Who Gets Power and How It Changes Us” (https://www.amazon.com.au/Corruptible-Who-Gets-Power-Changes-ebook/dp/B0932K38TN/ref=sr_1_1)“”, and creator/host of the award-winning Power Corrupts podcast (https://www.powercorruptspodcast.com/, and https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/power-corrupts/id1458750622)”

URL: https://youtu.be/3eBN_9rMoVI?si=HJfMBoLl7KkzBYVi

The video also covers the tweaks/changes to prevent the wrong people getting into power. For example:

“... imagine that the worst person in the world is trying to get the job that you are advertising for. Imagine that the worst person in the world is running for the political office in your political party or in your election. Now design every system with that idea in mind.”

Upward scrutiny rather than downward: "rather than trying to punish and regulate every person who might steal a paper clip, think about the people who can actually bring the company down and inflict enormous damage on our societies." 

For candidates for elected positions (including in democratic representatives): “I wish there was a certain question that was asked to people who wanted to wield immense amounts of power that is often not asked. And that question is this. What would it take for you to think that you are no longer necessary in power?” 

“What we don't think about often is not what the police do, but who the police are” - he refers to New Zealand's “Do You Care Enough To Be a Cop?” (https://youtu.be/f9psILoYmCc?si=AsqZaX41O97YcM1T) as an example of a better recruitment approach, and perpetuation of demographics (which is an obvious problem). 

 

Here are a few other links, from the news, that fall vaguely into the same paddock as this:

Australia’s federal whistleblowing laws have not protected anyone since inception, analysis shows   https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/aug/29/australias-federal-whistleblowing-laws-have-not-protected-anyone-since-inception-analysis-shows

AEC responds to 'tick' and 'cross' referendum voting outrage   https://nit.com.au/27-08-2023/7387/aec-responds-to-tick-and-cross-referendum-voting-outrage  

‘New low’: Peter Dutton accused of seeking to ‘undermine’ faith in Australia’s electoral system   https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/aug/29/indigenous-voice-to-parliament-peter-dutton-sarah-hanson-young-new-low 

PS - I've started reading the book, and it is very good - well worth considering, in my view. 

PPS - I have come across some additional material which may be worthwhile. I'm still working through it, but I'll post it now anyway so others can assess it for themselves: 

• “Discovering One's Hidden Psychopathy” | James Fallon | Big Think - transcript here;
  
• “Why do conservatives fall for fake news?”.
  

Assumptions / basis 

In writing this, I have assumed / started from the following: 

• this blog states quite clearly that it is about political and human rights matters, including lived experience of problems, and thus I will assume readers are reasonable people who have noted the content warning in the post header;
  

Possible flaws 

Where I can, I will try to highlight possible flaws / issues you should consider:

• there may be flawed logical arguments in the above: to find out more about such flaws and thinking generally, I recommend Brendan  Myers’ free online course “Clear and Present Thinking”; 
  
• I could be wrong - so keep your thinking caps on, and make up your own minds for yourself.
  

 

If they are of any use of interest, the activism information links from my former news posts are available in this post. 

 

If you appreciated this post, please consider promoting it - there are some links below.

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Evil, and bystanders vs. upstanders

In this post today on my main blog, I included the following: 

After the high of my last day in engineering, the trauma of socially widespread (endemic is probably more accurate) bigotry and the accumulated trauma of this demanding and often abusive profession hit home in a rush. That wasn’t helped by reading of the appalling attempts by the cismale heterosexual head of Spain’s soccer organisation to cover up his misogyny, which I wrote about here, nor reading this attempted resurrection of two decade old bigotry (which reminds me of the need for what I wrote here and here ... such people have built emotional and mental palaces on a series of false premises, and are so amathiac that they think to change is to threaten to bring down all their goals - whereas the truth is that if they accept reality, grieve the minor changes to their place that are necessary, they will, in fact, wind up with an edifice on solid ground). 

The appalling, misogynistic and sexual nature of the actions by the cismale heterosexual head of Spain’s soccer organisation are - quite rightly - being widely condemned. 

The attempted resurrection of an old evil in my home state does not appear to have the same support for its victims from upstanders as yet, so I will remind all bystanders of the following sayings: 

In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.

Dr Martin Luther King, Jr.

The hottest places in hell are reserved for those who, in times of great moral crisis, maintain their neutrality.

John F. Kennedy 

We can disagree and still love each other unless your disagreement is rooted in my oppression and denial of my humanity and right to exist.

James Baldwin

When evil occurs, it is a test of us all. There are no bystanders or neutrals.

The Voice referendum here in Australia (see the link below) is also showing those who are decent, and those who are evil. 

 

If they are of any use of interest, the activism information links from my former news posts are available in this post. 

 

If you appreciated this post, please consider promoting it - there are some links below.

Vote Yes for the Voice in Australia.  

Finally, remember: we need to be more human being rather than human doing.