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), and noting the conflicts, listed here, for instance, and other global; issues, such as those listed here, that may not have made it into this weeks news: 

• “Choosing Justice, Peace, and Decency over Anti-Social Neoliberalism - The Australian Independent Media Network”   https://theaimn.com/choosing-justice-peace-and-decency-over-anti-social-neoliberalism/   I agree - and this is also consistent with my post at https://politicalmusingsofkayleen.blogspot.com/2023/12/changing-world.html    

• “An ultra-right plan for a government coup”   https://socialism.com/fs-article/an-ultra-right-plan-for-a-government-coup/   

• “Israel’s AI can produce 100 bombing targets a day in Gaza. Is this the future of war?”   https://theconversation.com/israels-ai-can-produce-100-bombing-targets-a-day-in-gaza-is-this-the-future-of-war-219302   “AI should support democratic ideals, not undermine them. Trust in governments, institutions, and militaries is eroding and needs to be restored if we plan to apply AI across a range of military practices. ...   Until then, machine learning algorithms are best kept separate from targeting practices. Unfortunately, the world’s armies are heading in the opposite direction”  

 

• “Why Russians still support Vladimir Putin and the war in Ukraine”   https://theconversation.com/why-russians-still-support-vladimir-putin-and-the-war-in-ukraine-219484   “Through their actions, western powers have made it easy for the Russian government to point to western hypocrisy”      “Hungary blocks 50 billion euros in EU aid for Ukraine following approval of membership talks”   https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20231215-hungary-s-orban-blocks-eu-aid-for-ukraine-following-membership-discussions   Hungary’s PM is a Putin ally - and a right wing bigot  
  

• “Fighting engulfs over two-thirds of Myanmar, fuelling humanitarian needs”   https://news.un.org/en/story/2023/12/1144587   In addition to highlighting the growing humanitarian crisis, this also highlights that the notorious junta may finally fall ...    See   “After a Sudden Turn, The Military Junta in Myanmar May be Facing Defeat in a Civil War”   Global Dispatches   “In February 2021, the Myanmar military toppled the civilian government of Burma, lead by Aung San Suu Kyi. Mass protests followed this coup and were brutally suppressed by the military junta. Soon, an insurgency sprang up. For much of this conflict, the Burmese military has had the upper hand.  But things changed dramatically in recent weeks. Now, the Burmese military looks as weak as it ever has in its nearly 40 years of on and off again control of Myanmar. The Junta's defeat suddenly looks like a real possibility.  Joining me to provide important context for understanding the civil war in Myanmar is Gregory Poling, director of the Southeast Asia Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. We kick off discussing the outbreak of conflict in Myanmar following the 2021 coup. Gregory Poling does a good job of breaking down the complexities of a civil war that involves a wide number of ethnic armed groups, many of which have now joined in an alliance to defeat Burmese military. We also discuss the role of China and the United States, and whether or not we can expect a collapse of the Myanmar Junta in the near future.”   Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/global-dispatches-world-news-that-matters/id593535863?i=1000638131907   

• “‘Hunger catastrophe’ looming in war-ravaged Sudan, UN agency warns”   https://news.un.org/en/story/2023/12/1144777  
  

• a backgrounder:   “Why Venezuela is threatening to annex Guyana’s oil-rich province of Essequibo”   https://theconversation.com/why-venezuela-is-threatening-to-annex-guyanas-oil-rich-province-of-essequibo-219352   “Maduro does not want to relitigate the 1899 Paris decision – he simply wants to ignore it. But the International Court of Justice (ICJ) already warned Caracas not to take any action about the recognised international boundary.   ...   Venezuela’s armed forces dwarf Guyana’s.   ...   Guyana will need international assistance if the situation turns ugly.   ...   Venezuela’s closest geopolitical ally is Putin’s Russia.   ...   Maduro will have watched events unfold in Crimea and eastern Ukraine and perhaps picked up some lessons from Putin ...”   

• “In the Caucasus, the US Priority is Fossil Fuels, not Armenians”   https://www.juancole.com/2023/12/caucasus-priority-armenians.html   There are concerns about the ongoing effects of the collapse of Nagorno-Karabakh  
  

• “Victims of Argentina’s dictatorship see step backward in Milei’s presidency”   https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/12/10/victims-of-argentinas-dictatorship-see-step-backward-in-mileis-presidency    

• “Indian court confirms end of special status for Kashmir”   https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/12/11/indias-top-court-upholds-end-of-special-status-for-kashmir   This is a major set back for peace and stability in the region  
  

• “Five key issues at stake in the DR Congo’s crucial election”   https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/12/11/five-key-issues-at-stake-in-the-dr-congos-crucial-election   I agree that the issues selected are crucial, and the article has been based on sound journalism   

• “With Taiwan’s election just a month away, the China threat is emerging as the main talking point”   https://theconversation.com/with-taiwans-election-just-a-month-away-the-china-threat-is-emerging-as-the-main-talking-point-216069   

• “US Invests in Africa in Effort to Counter Chinese Influence”   https://www.voanews.com/a/us-invests-in-africa-in-effort-to-counter-chinese-influence-/7399128.html  
  

 

• “‘Abuse in all its forms’: Emotional Folbigg cleared”   https://www.thenewdaily.com.au/news/state/nsw/2023/12/14/abuse-emotional-folbigg-cleared   “Rhanee Rego was not prepared to name a figure, but said Folbigg would be seeking compensation after a quarter century of wrongful treatment.   ...   The 56-year-old was vindicated on Thursday when an appeal court quashed her convictions for killing her four children following a long legal fight.   ...   Although thankful for her freedom, Folbigg called attention to the plights of others who had been wrongfully imprisoned.”   

 

• a The Guardian exclusive reports   “NSW police watchdog says responsible officers have nothing to fear from body-worn cameras”   https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/dec/14/nsw-police-watchdog-says-responsible-officers-have-nothing-to-fear-from-body-worn-cameras   “Exclusive: Peter Johnson says police shouldn’t be suspicious of footage if they ‘are dealing with people properly’”   It is also important to make sure the cameras are turned on, and that there is a system which is adequate to cope with the volume of footage   

 

• “Filling the vacuum - The Australian Independent Media Network”   https://theaimn.com/filling-the-vacuum/    which is a plea for the Albanese government to market itself better   and   “‘Determined to fix this’: Albanese previews plan to make immigration ‘sustainable’”   https://www.thenewdaily.com.au/news/politics/australian-politics/2023/12/09/albanese-immigration-policy-review   This has been an aspect of progressive party policies for decades, often on the basis of limited water on this continent. In terms of conventions and laws, it is distinct from the issue of refugees   and   “Dr Keating prescribes the needed cure for Labor’s chronic PTSD”   https://www.thenewdaily.com.au/opinion/2023/12/11/labors-political-ptsd   “Meanwhile the remaining, uncharged, non-monstrous 143 escapees are ankle-braceleted and curfewed, afraid to venture out for fear of being seized by angry mobs because of the tell-tale lump under their pants at the ankles, indicating that they are sex monsters”   but   “Paul Bongiorno: Hold your fire, Albanese is not done yet”   https://www.thenewdaily.com.au/news/politics/2023/12/12/paul-bongiorno-albanese-gun-control   which is an excellent analysis      “Navigating Political Waters: The Courage to Embrace Change - The Australian Independent Media Network”   https://theaimn.com/navigating-political-waters-the-courage-to-embrace-change/      “Negativity Bias: What is it and how it’s used in politics? - The Australian Independent Media Network”   https://theaimn.com/negativity-bias-what-is-it-and-how-its-used-in-politics/   
  

• “Frank and far-reaching: Senate report recommends shake-up of the way freedom of information is handled”   https://theconversation.com/frank-and-far-reaching-senate-report-recommends-shake-up-of-the-way-freedom-of-information-is-handled-219331   I am still thinking about this   

• “Veil of Secrecy: Unmasking the Contradictions in Australia's Transparent Government Claims”   https://theaimn.com/veil-of-secrecy-unmasking-the-contradictions-in-australias-transparent-government-claims/   
  

 

• “More than mental illness. How the NDIS review could help people with psychosocial disability”   https://theconversation.com/more-than-mental-illness-how-the-ndis-review-could-help-people-with-psychosocial-disability-219502   There are too many major points through this article to sum up with a quote or two: the article should be read carefully - it is very informative   
  

• “Australia has one of the weakest tax systems for redistribution among industrial nations – the Stage 3 tax cuts will make it worse”   https://theconversation.com/australia-has-one-of-the-weakest-tax-systems-for-redistribution-among-industrial-nations-the-stage-3-tax-cuts-will-make-it-worse-217820   “This new data enhances concerns about the impact of planned Stage 3 tax cuts.   ...   It also highlights the consequences of Australia’s relatively weak payments programs, including JobSeeker which on one measure is the second-weakest in the OECD”   We are only half as good as the best OECD nations - and are even four places WORSE than the USA!   

• “Most people support lifting incomes for those with the least”   https://theaimn.com/most-people-support-lifting-incomes-for-those-with-the-least/   
  

• “Michael Pascoe: Business too busy whingeing to lift productivity”   https://www.thenewdaily.com.au/finance/2023/12/13/michael-pascoe-business-productivity   “That’s a lot easier than admitting Australia suffers from dud corporate leadership”   
  

My links for activism post may aid any activism  you may decide to do on any/all of these.

 

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 & accept that all insistence on the use of “trans” as a descriptor comes with commensurate use of “cis” as a descriptor to prevent “othering”.