From this week’s news on: politics & democracy, and international affairs [Note: Content Warning - links to reports on bigotry/hate, violence/abuse/war. Reader discretion is advised]

Note: CONTENT WARNING - some of this content is about upsetting, disturbing or triggering events & attitudes. Seek competent help - including professional - if you need it. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that linked articles may contains names and/or images of deceased people. READER CAUTION IS RECOMMENDED! For anyone distressed by anything in this post, or for any other reason considering seeking support, resources are available in Australia here, here, and here. In other nations, you will have to do an Internet search using terms such as “mental health support - <your nation>” (which, for instance, may lead to this, this, and this, in the USA, or this, this, and this, in France [biased towards English-language - my apologies]), or perhaps try https://www.befrienders.org/. 

Note: in my “from the news” posts, quotes are shown italicised and blue, my comments are in a different shade of blue, and “good” items are shown in green. I have loosely grouped the posts where such seemed reasonable, but that is subjective (i.e., my opinion - others are free to disagree), and challenging, as some posts belong in multiple “groups”.

From this week’s news on politics & democracy, and international affairs (note: I may continue to add links for a few days, possibly up to a week, after these are published): 

• “How Do Civilians Respond to Political Violence? | Lawfare”   https://www.lawfaremedia.org/article/how-do-civilians-respond-to-political-violence   

 

• “UN adviser warns of genocide in Sudan”   https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/tea/rest-of-africa/un-adviser-warns-of-genocide-in-sudan-4439848   and   “‘Six days of terror’ in West Darfur: Ethnically-based attacks on the rise”   https://news.un.org/en/story/2023/11/1143732   and   “South Sudan mediates consultative meeting of Sudanese political forces in Juba”   https://radiotamazuj.org/en/news/article/south-sudan-mediates-consultative-meeting-of-sudanese-political-forces-in-juba   and   “Advocates urge increased women’s representation in civilian forces conference”   https://sudantribune.com/article279611/   

• “Clashes in eastern DR Congo displace 450,000 in six weeks”   https://news.un.org/en/story/2023/11/1143937  
  

• “Why the US and its partners cannot afford to go soft on support for Ukraine now”   https://theconversation.com/why-the-us-and-its-partners-cannot-afford-to-go-soft-on-support-for-ukraine-now-217538  
  

• “The Myanmar Military Is Facing Death by a Thousand Cuts”   https://warontherocks.com/2023/11/the-myanmar-military-is-facing-death-by-a-thousand-cuts/   and   “‘A real blow for the junta’: Myanmar’s ethnic groups launch unprecedented armed resistance”   https://www.france24.com/en/asia-pacific/20231119-a-real-blow-for-the-junta-myanmar-s-ethnic-groups-launch-unprecedented-armed-resistance  
  

• “Online Platforms’ Responses to T________”   https://www.lawfaremedia.org/article/online-platforms-responses-to-terrorism   

• “Sikh activist accuses India of ‘transnational terrorism’ after US foils plot to kill him”   https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/nov/22/us-thwarts-plot-to-kill-sikh-separatist-and-issues-diplomatic-warning-to-india   
  

• “Is it time to reconsider the idea of ‘the banality of evil’?”   https://theconversation.com/is-it-time-to-reconsider-the-idea-of-the-banality-of-evil-216737   The article debunks assumptions about Eichmann being a banal bureaucrat, and ends with “Ordinary democratic citizenship, civility and public life depend on not allowing the mendacity of evil, of which Adolf Eichmann provides one extraordinary example, to become the norm. This is why better understanding his case remains so vital today”, which is particularly important in a world where Trump and others are being openly authoritarian.   “‘Openly authoritarian campaign’: [former potus45]’s threats of revenge fuel alarm”   https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/nov/22/trump-revenge-game-plan-alarm    and   “The Media must stop Enabling [former potus45]'s Attention-Seeking use of Fascist Rhetoric”   https://www.juancole.com/2023/11/enabling-attention-rhetoric.html  
  

 

• “How African juntas are using anger at France to consolidate control”   https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/11/21/niger-france-sahel-coups-juntas/   

 

• “Australian naval divers injured after being subjected to Chinese warship’s sonar pulses”   https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/nov/18/australian-naval-divers-injured-after-being-subjected-to-chinese-warships-sonar-pulses   

• “China closing hundreds of mosques in northern regions, rights group says”   https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/nov/21/china-closing-hundreds-of-mosques-in-northern-regions-rights-group-says   
  

• in a blow to human rights and the lives (including existence) of minorities, Argentina has jumped a turn towards the far right   https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/nov/20/argentina-presidential-election-far-right-libertarian-javier-milei-wins-after-rival-concedes   - see also   “Argentina presidential election: far-right libertarian _ wins after rival concedes”   https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/nov/20/argentina-presidential-election-far-right-libertarian-javier-milei-wins-after-rival-concedes   “Victory for TV celebrity-turned politician catapults South America’s second-largest economy into an unpredictable future”   &   “fears of abortion setback after _ wins in Argentina”   https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/nov/20/argentina-milei-abortion-womens-rights   &   “‘Extremely worrying’: Argentinian researchers reel after election of anti-science president”   https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-03620-3  
  

From the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance’s (International IDEA)  Global State of Democracy (GSOD) Initiative:

improvements have occurred (last month) in:   Austria (political control of media limited by court),   UK (first anti-SLAPP measures),   DRC (reduced violence) - see also https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/big-topics-that-will-define-congos-election-2023-11-23/,   Iceland (strike against gender based violence & pay gaps),

mixed results and/or watch further developments have occurred (last month) in:   Algeria (Algerians defy ban to support Palestinians, government detains Islamic Party leaders),   Armenia (joined ICC, but Armenians who fled Nagorno-Karabakh denied citizenship),   Brazil (charges & trial recommended for attempted coup),  

declines have occurred (last month) in:  Angola (arrests of protestors),   Australia (rejection of referendum),   Belarus (last democratic opposition party deregistered),   Columbia (violence during elections),   Egypt (attempt for third term by president),   Nicaragua (abolition of Indigenous political party),   China (forced mass repatriation of North Korean escapees),

• “A Warning from 1994 of a Two-Tiered Society | Robert Reich”   https://youtu.be/Bnd0eSuxu84?si=6iPhQTtJENs5GdRD   and   “The data is in: a generational shift of wealth is under way in Australia”   https://www.theguardian.com/inequality/2023/nov/25/generational-wealth-gap-study-monash-old-to-young-debt-repayments-savings-rates  

• “Cleaning Up Politics | Richard Denniss”   https://youtu.be/5Zp0Vk1p4xY?si=fxiNqdOHMkaygnPP  
  

• “Bellingcat founder faults [billionaire] for spread of disinformation on [a notorious social media platform]”   https://asia.nikkei.com/Editor-s-Picks/Interview/Bellingcat-founder-faults-Musk-for-spread-of-disinformation-on-X   

• “Migration isn’t increasing, border restrictions don’t reduce crossings — and other home truths”   https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-03603-4  

• “Alan Kohler: Digital money means government must run digital infrastructure”   https://www.thenewdaily.com.au/opinion/2023/11/23/alan-kohler-digital-money   “The failure of the Optus network reminded us that the digital infrastructure is the most important of all, yet it is in the hands of private companies, some foreign-owned, that may or may not know what they’re doing and/or have the nation’s best interests at heart.   Meanwhile, the infrastructure section of the government is building and paying for roads and ignoring digital networks, even as they collapse, while the government bank is driving us on the road towards a fully digital currency.”   and   “Data retention laws and brokers under microscope in Australia’s Cyber Security Strategy”   https://www.thenewdaily.com.au/life/tech/2023/11/22/cyber-security-strategy-2   and   “An expert reviews the government’s 7-year plan to boost Australia’s cyber security. Here are the key takeaways”   https://theconversation.com/an-expert-reviews-the-governments-7-year-plan-to-boost-australias-cyber-security-here-are-the-key-takeaways-218117  
  

 

• “The human rights of older persons”   https://youtu.be/ioju2b9wNhk?si=WHH7VmjglrMOt4EB   

• a The Guardian exclusive reports that   “Australian legal aid at risk of turning people away unless $484m extra funding provided”   https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/nov/22/australian-legal-aid-at-risk-of-turning-people-away-unless-484m-extra-funding-provided   “Exclusive: report commissioned by National Legal Aid says funds needed to prevent threat of ‘supply failure’, while means testing leaves ‘large cohort’ in need”   

• “Michael Pascoe: Graphs tell the story the RBA doesn’t – tax cuts boosting interest rates”   https://www.thenewdaily.com.au/finance/2023/11/22/michael-pascoe-rba-graphs-tax-cuts  
  

• “Centrelink urged to suspend mutual obligations during periods of extreme heat”   https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/nov/20/centrelink-urged-to-suspend-mutual-obligations-during-periods-of-extreme-heat   “Federal MPs including Amanda Rishworth asked to consider halt to the obligations during heatwaves”  
  

• “Alan Kohler: Australians can’t afford homes – something politicians can’t risk fixing”   https://www.thenewdaily.com.au/finance/2023/11/20/housing-market-conundrum-kohler   “So here’s the excruciating paradox: Everyone agrees that housing affordability is one of Australia’s biggest economic problems, if not the biggest, exacerbating inequality and causing deep resentment among voters, but promising to fix it will ensure that you don’t get elected.   That’s why all political parties dodge it by turning housing into a welfare issue, promising to build social and affordable houses, and otherwise chip at the edges of the real problem.   That started with Menzies way back in 1949”   

 

• “UAE: Migrant Worker Abuses Linked to Broader Climate Harms”   https://youtu.be/Id-rDplMn2g?si=pOHEXINZ5E3bwMky   
  

 

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.

Remember: we need to be more human being rather than human doing, and all misgendering is an act of active transphobia/transmisia that puts trans+ lives at risk.