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:
- “Why are European defence leaders talking about war?” https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2024/jan/26/why-are-european-defence-leaders-talking-about-war “Intractable combat in Ukraine and Middle East has planners fearing the worst, but a returning President Trump would add to the volatility”
- “Ukraine war: talk of Russian spring offensive raises fears that Kyiv is ill-prepared to face it” https://theconversation.com/ukraine-war-talk-of-russian-spring-offensive-raises-fears-that-kyiv-is-ill-prepared-to-face-it-221142 Also, Ukrainian President “Zelenskiy slams Trump’s rhetoric on stopping the war as ‘very dangerous’ | Volodymyr Zelenskiy | The Guardian” https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/jan/20/zelenskiy-trump-rhetoric-very-dangerous-invitation-ukraine which is coming from someone widely perceived to possibly be - in older Australian terminology - in Putin’s pocket ... but “Macron urges French defence firms to boost production to support Ukraine” https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20240119-macron-urges-french-defence-firms-to-boost-production-to-support-ukraine but “Aid to Ukraine and Israel in doubt as [US] House speaker says he won’t support deal” https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/jan/26/mike-johnson-us-mexico-border-ukraine-israel-aid-deal
- “Iran announces successful satellite launch, heightening Western concerns over missile program” https://www.france24.com/en/asia-pacific/20240120-iran-announces-successful-satellite-launch-heightening-western-concerns-over-missile-program As a sovereign nation, Iran has the right to launch satellites ... but if there are valid grounds for concern (and the probably stronger rockets for this are likely such), I can understand others being concerned ... but don’t create problems for later by acting inconsistently or hypocritically “Iranian Economy Buoyed By “Dark Fleet” Oil Shipments To China” https://www.juancole.com/2024/01/iranian-economy-shipments.html Note also “Iran urged to halt ‘horrific wave of executions’” https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/01/1145812
- ““State-sponsored violence”: Haiti’s “real gangsters are in the political spectrum & private sector”” https://youtu.be/D5DKFj2eZlk?si=Y-Ks8IMlpp9_N2EA “Diana Salazar, the prosecutor spearheading Ecuador's fight against “narcopolitics”” https://www.france24.com/en/americas/20240121-diana-salazar-the-prosecutor-spearheading-ecuador-s-fight-against-narcopolitics “Attorney General Diana Salazar is the leading figure in Ecuador’s fight against “narcopolitics”. As the country’s top prosecutor, her revelations have already led to the arrest of several high-level officials, including judges and other prosecutors accused of involvement in organised crime linked to drug trafficking”
- “Kenya high court rules against plan to deploy hundreds of police to Haiti” https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/jan/26/kenya-high-court-rules-against-plan-deploy-hundreds-police-haiti-un “Judge says UN-backed proposals to tackle gangs in Caribbean country contravene Kenya’s constitution” While the decision is no doubt legally correct, morally this is a major setback
- “Dr Nicole Nguyen on T_______m On Trial” Yeah Nah Pasaran! https://www.3cr.org.au/yeahnahpasaran “YNP! is back for 2024! This week we're talking to Dr Nicole Nguyen about her books Terrorism On Trial and Suspect Communities.” Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/yeah-nah-pasaran/id1529396490?i=1000642748149 or at https://www.3cr.org.au/yeahnahpasaran/episode/dr-nicole-nguyen-t_______m-trial
- “Semantic Infiltration explainer” https://youtube.com/shorts/QBQOR8hrCzw?si=RWGdp6hS4IDJps1W
- “Africa’s 2024 Elections: Challenges and Opportunities to Regain Democratic Momentum” https://africacenter.org/spotlight/2024-elections/ An excellent, comprehensive analysis
- “The world should learn from Poland’s tragedy: restoring democracy is even harder than creating it | Timothy Garton Ash | The Guardian” https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/jan/23/poland-restoring-democracy-harder-donald-tusk and “How Israel got Stuck in Orwell's “1984”” https://www.juancole.com/2024/01/israel-stuck-orwells.html See also “Indictments fuelled extremists’ support for Trump, survey finds” https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/jan/26/trump-criminal-charges-increase-support-extremist-republican “Support for democratic norms has gone from ‘bad to worse’ as Trump’s attempt to twist messaging is working” and “Argentinians stage nationwide strike against Javier Milei’s far-right agenda” https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/jan/24/argentina-strike-protest-javier-milei and “Arrests and fines after balaclava-clad neo-N___s swarm Sydney train | SBS News” https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/arrests-and-fines-after-balaclava-clad-neo-nazis-swarm-sydney-train/mwezxdvba & “Six balaclava-clad neo-N___s arrested by police after swarming Sydney train” https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/jan/26/balaclava-clad-neo-nazis-held-by-police-after-swarming-sydney-train “A further 55 hooded men brandishing Australian flags were issued rail infringement notices after being stopped at North Sydney station” and “Some 250,000 turn out to protest German far right's mass deportation plans” https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20240120-germans-protest-nationwide-after-far-fight-meeting-on-deportation-of-migrants “Around 250,000 people turned out across Germany on Saturday in protests against the far-right AfD, which sparked an outcry after it emerged that the party's members discussed mass deportation plans at a meeting of extremists” Also, “Tens of thousands of protesters across France call on Macron not to sign [tough new] immigration law” https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20240121-tens-of-thousands-of-protesters-across-france-call-on-macron-not-to-sign-immigration-law The way to stop these threats is to take strong action EARLY “Germany's top court agrees to ban far-right party from accessing state funds | DW News” https://youtu.be/ql8yp-9Csn4?si=JMar6_JrN2Bel06l
- “Why are Russians risking years in prison to protest? | DW News” https://youtu.be/Fb3Zsr9Ee4Y?si=zOG9_JQOvyPNnZqd The hope of freedom and democracy is still alive in Russia, despite the last few decades
- “India’s Modi inaugurates flashpoint temple seen as triumph for Hindu nationalism” https://www.france24.com/en/asia-pacific/20240122-india-s-modi-to-inaugurate-flashpoint-temple-seen-as-triumph-for-hindu-nationalism This is not good ...
- “Russian sanctioned by Australia over Medibank breach” https://www.thenewdaily.com.au/news/national/2024/01/23/russian-sanctioned-medibank-breach
- “The Silent Revolution in American Economics | Robert Reich” https://youtu.be/t2x7LFBz8U8?si=XV_2_yCRurKQQ6Ga This covers the actions by Biden to boost workers and otherwise restore decency
- This is an unacceptable impingement on our sovereignty and our democracy “‘He Who Must Not Be Named’: Australian council told not to mention Harry Potter-themed event in local park” https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/jan/24/he-who-must-not-be-named-australian-council-told-not-to-mention-harry-potter-themed-event-in-local-park “Warner Brothers demand councillors sign non-disclosure agreements preventing them from revealing planned interactive event in wildlife sanctuary”
- “Alan Kohler: Good idea to keep the 37% tax rate, but the really rich are laughing at us” https://www.thenewdaily.com.au/finance/2024/01/25/alan-kohler-tax-rates-rich See also “The stage-three tax cuts are finally being revised. The rich complaining Labor broke its promise just sound vulgar” https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/jan/25/the-stage-three-tax-cuts-are-finally-being-reversed-the-rich-complaining-labor-broke-its-promise-just-sound-vulgar
- ““Shit Life Syndrome”: the criminalisation of poverty - The Australian Independent Media Network” https://theaimn.com/shit-life-syndrome-the-criminalisation-of-poverty/ I agree with the sentiment of the article, but the number of Australian billionaires doesn’t match what I can find online See also “Jobseeker endured 11 weeks without Centrelink payments but was still forced to attend job agency appointments | The Guardian” https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/jan/21/jobseeker-endured-11-weeks-without-centrelink-payments-but-was-still-forced-to-attend-job-agency-appointments This is unconscionable!!! Also, “Retired teacher’s pension stopped as provider refuses to believe she is not dead | Pensions | The Guardian” https://www.theguardian.com/money/2024/jan/20/retired-teachers-pension-stopped-as-provider-refuses-to-believe-she-is-not-dead From the UK, but also illustrates the principle of the bureaucratic mentality
- a deep, wide and comprehensive critique of claims around jobs and unemployment: “Sorry, No Vacancy” https://theaimn.com/sorry-no-vacancy/
- “Does a public school education in Australia really cost $93k? | Australian education | The Guardian” https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/jan/19/does-a-public-school-education-in-australia-really-cost-93k No
- “Privatisation in the Prison System” Women on the Line https://www.3cr.org.au/womenontheline “On
this week’s episode we look into the prison industrial complex in
so-called Australia and how private companies profit from the prison
system. In particular, we focus on the high cost of phone calls and how
this is impacting families and communities. ... We speak to Sarah
Schwartz, Principal Managing Lawyer of the Wirraway Practice at the
Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service, and Monique Hurley, Managing Lawyer
at the Human Rights Law Centre, about the layers of privatisation and
profit in the prison system, the exploitation of incarcerated people,
and the importance of investing in the community.” Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/women-on-the-line/id312631232?i=1000642416789 or at https://www.3cr.org.au/womenontheline/episode/privatisation-prison-system
- “Antoinette Lattouf sacking shows how the ABC has been damaged by successive Coalition governments” https://theconversation.com/antoinette-lattouf-sacking-shows-how-the-abc-has-been-damaged-by-successive-coalition-governments-221578 This is also, IMO, a condemnation of the expectation of blind loyalty in corporate culture See also “As new ABC chair, one of Kim Williams’ challenges will be to stiffen the organisation’s spine” https://theconversation.com/as-new-abc-chair-one-of-kim-williams-challenges-will-be-to-stiffen-the-organisations-spine-221847 Despite the positive tone of the article, this person’s background with conservative media (also mentioned) is concerning to me
- “Breaking out of the Quagmire - The Australian Independent Media Network” https://theaimn.com/breaking-out-of-the-quagmire/ An interesting and, IMO, important perspective
- The
culture war called for by Dutton in response to supermarkets responding
in commercially appropriately ways to the declining interest in
Invasion Day merchandise has now extended to aggressive abuse of staff: “Woolies boss defends decision to dump Australia Day merch” https://www.thenewdaily.com.au/finance/consumer/2024/01/24/woolworths-australia-day See also “A Day for all Australians” https://theaimn.com/a-day-for-all-australians/ and “Australia Day is on the nose – it’s becoming harder to defend celebrating the date of an apocalypse” https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/jan/25/australia-day-is-on-the-nose-its-becoming-harder-to-defend-celebrating-the-date-of-an-apocalypse “No
matter how indignantly the woke-as-a-pejorative crowd screech on their
op-ed pages and airwaves, the cultural tide on 26 January is ebbing
fast” and “Indigenous mental health sector braces for first "Australia Day" post-Voice referendum” https://nit.com.au/22-01-2024/9402/indigenous-mental-health-sector-braces-for-first-australia-day-post-voice-referendum and “Woolworths corrects misleading reports on Indigenous flag policy” https://nit.com.au/19-01-2024/9366/woolworths-corrects-misleading-reports-on-indigenous-flag-policy but also “Captain Cook statue hacked, Queen Victoria memorial vandalised” https://nit.com.au/25-01-2024/9461/captain-cook-statue-hacked-queen-memorial-vandalised and, an important perspective, “The absurd 26 January debate overlooks that many on both sides want the same thing: a day of unity” https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/jan/26/the-absurd-26-january-debate-overlooks-that-many-on-both-sides-want-the-same-thing-a-day-of-unity
- “Michael Pascoe: For all the talk, public and social housing just got worse” https://www.thenewdaily.com.au/finance/2024/01/24/michael-pascoe-public-social-housing-worsens
My links for activism post may aid any activism you may decide to do on any/all of these. If you do, don’t get too fixated on specific instances of problems - important though they may well be: take a moment to also consider the broader issues these incidents and groups of incidents may suggest/reveal.
Note: as with other mass murderers/serial killers/and the like, violent extremists and other evil people/groups crave publicity, so I refuse to give that to them - including not using their names (which is a policy adopted by good law enforcement and media for other mass murderers - as I can do as I am a secondary news source: the name(s) are in the primary sources if people wish to know them).
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.
Copyright © Kayleen White 2016-2024 NO AI
I do not consent to any machine learning aka Artificial Intelligence
(AI), generative AI, large language model, machine learning, chatbot, or
other automated analysis, generative process, or replication program to
reproduce, mimic, remix, summarise, or otherwise replicate any part of
this post or other posts on this blog via any means. Typo’s may be inserrted deliberately to demonstrate this is not an AI product. Otherwise,
fair and reasonable use is accepted under Creative Commons 4.0 on an
Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike basis https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: only a member of this blog may post a comment.