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 thiis 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:
global:
- “Neoliberalism dreads an educated electorate” https://theaimn.com/neoliberalism-dreads-an-educated-electorate/ “Think tank warns Australian misinformation laws should not be based on voluntary industry code” https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/article/2024/may/03/thinktank-warns-australian-misinformation-laws-should-not-be-based-on-voluntary-industry-code “Experts find ‘significant gaps between statement and practice’ of social media firms’ enforcement of standards”
- “Russia arrests Forbes reporter over social media posts on Bucha[, Ukraine] massacre” https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20240426-russia-arrests-forbes-reporter-over-social-media-posts-on-bucha-massacre Despots also dislike people knowing “Macron reaffirms possibility of sending troops to Ukraine” https://www.france24.com/en/france/20240502-macron-doesn-t-rule-out-troops-for-ukraine-if-russia-breaks-front-lines “French
President Emmanuel Macron reaffirmed he did not rule out sending troops
to Ukraine, saying the issue would “legitimately” arise if Russia broke
through Ukrainian front lines and Kyiv made such a request” This would HAVE to be done completely independently of NATO to avoid a wider war ...
- “South Africa's apartheid-era victims demand reparations” https://www.dw.com/en/south-africas-apartheid-era-victims-demand-reparations/a-68959332
- “US accuses Russia of using a chemical weapon against Ukrainian forces” https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20240502-us-accuses-russia-of-using-a-chemical-weapon-against-ukrainian-forces “In addition to the chemical agent chloropicrin, Russia also used "riot control agents (tear gas) as a method of warfare in Ukraine, also in violation of the CWC," the [US State Department] said in a factsheet.” So ... it’s OK to use tear gas against protestors - but not in a war ...
- “Russian troops enter base housing US military in Niger, US official says” https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/russian-troops-enter-base-housing-us-military-niger-us-official-says-2024-05-02/ “... a move that follows a decision by Niger's junta to expel U.S. forces. ... Russian forces were not mingling with U.S. troops but were using a separate hangar”
- “African Union and United Nations Partnership Key to the Future of Peace Operations in Africa” https://africacenter.org/spotlight/african-union-united-nations-peace-operations/ “The use of United Nations–assessed contributions to support African Union–led peace operations has the potential to revitalise peace operations in Africa.”
- in support of other evidence of the “intersectionality of haters” (i.e., those who are bigotted in one area [against one group] are also likely to be bigotted against other groups), “Teen t_rr_r accused already charged with gay bashings” https://qnews.com.au/teen-terror-accused-already-charged-with-gay-bashings/ However, note that all people charged with any criminal offence are innocent until proven guilty
- “USC: 17 History Department Faculty Demand Resignation of President, Others, for use of Violence against Campus Community” https://www.juancole.com/2024/04/department-resignation-president.html “Gaza protests: UN rights chief flags ‘disproportionate’ police action on US campuses” https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/04/1149181 “College administrators are falling into a tried and true trap laid by the right” https://theconversation.com/college-administrators-are-falling-into-a-tried-and-true-trap-laid-by-the-right-228732 “To Peacefully Petition” https://theaimn.com/to-peacefully-petition/ “In
a matter of days, 54 years will have passed since the National Guard
shootings of unarmed students at Kent State University in Ohio. They had
peacefully assembled on their campus to protest the War in Vietnam and
its expansion into Cambodia. In just 13 seconds, though, guardsmen fired
67 rounds that killed four students and injured nine, including one who
was permanently paralysed. ... Every generation of [US] youth since 1900 has confronted a war, and they are currently dealing with one not of [their] country’s immediate making. ... The
Texas governor’s tactics are a common element of fascism. Using law
enforcement in riot gear or soldiers is an effective method for
suppressing and intimidating dissenting voices. ... Every war is the same. Until it becomes genocide.” “Anatomy of a Moral Panic” https://jewishcurrents.org/anatomy-of-a-moral-panic “The repressive machine currently arrayed against campus protests follows a familiar pattern” “This is Why the Students are Protesting: Eyes on Israel’s Killing Fields in Gaza” https://www.juancole.com/2024/05/students-protesting-israels.html “UCLA chancellor condemns ‘instigators’ who attacked pro-Palestinian camp on campus” https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/may/01/violence-erupts-ucla-university-campus-clashes-rival-gaza-protest-groups “Los Angeles mayor calls late-night attack by counter-demonstrators ‘abhorrent’ as footage shows people wielding sticks” The violent extremists who attacked Israel have won - and it is Israel and blind, amathiac supporters of Israel who have given _____ their victory “Australian universities reject calls for police to break up Gaza protests” https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/article/2024/may/03/australian-universities-reject-calls-for-police-to-break-up-gaza-protests “Group of Eight chief says campuses don’t want to see ‘escalation’ like what is occurring in the US” Here’s hoping they hold to that ...
- “I'm a Tenured College Professor. I'm Quitting. Here's Why.” https://www.okdoomer.io/im-a-professor-heres-why-im-walking-away-from-my-tenure/ I agree with the essence of this commentary on serious problems in society in the USA and, in my case, Australia
- “UN reviews progress and challenges 30 years after landmark population conference” https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/04/1149161 “Global progress towards sustainable development will continue to stall unless countries do more to bridge the gender gap and reduce poverty and inequality, the President of the General Assembly said”
Australia:
- “The budget reveals what governments actually care about. And Labor has chosen to keep jobseekers in poverty” https://www.theguardian.com/business/grogonomics/2024/may/02/the-federal-budget-reveals-what-governments-actually-care-about-and-labor-has-chosen-to-keep-jobseekers-in-poverty “The government could easily index jobseeker to whichever is highest of the CPI or wage price index”
- a podcast (which I have not had time to listen to as yet, but the channel is good): “What’s Unsaid | Migrants and refugees are easy political targets” https://www.thenewhumanitarian.org/2024/05/02/podcasts/whats-unsaid-migrants-and-refugees-are-easy-political-targets “‘The safety valve becomes an outsider to blame.’”
- “New Queensland ‘community safety plan’ won’t make community safer, advocates warn” https://nit.com.au/01-05-2024/11130/new-queensland-community-safety-plan-wont-make-community-safer-advocacy-group-says “A new $1.28 billion 'community safety plan' announced by the Queensland government won't make the state any safer according to advocates, who argue continually investing in prisons and policing is a "short-sighted and politicised" approach to justice.” This is more of the problem of Newtonian “thinking” - i.e., “when you have a hammer, everything looks like a nail”
- “New homicide statistics show surge in intimate partner killings – and huge disparity in First Nations victims” https://theconversation.com/new-homicide-statistics-show-surge-in-intimate-partner-killings-and-huge-disparity-in-first-nations-victims-228890 “Almost 30% spike in rate of Australian women killed by intimate partner last year, data shows” https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/apr/29/30-spike-in-rate-of-australian-women-killed-by-intimate-partner-last-year-data-shows
- “‘Stop talking and start doing.’ Rosie Batty on trolls, accidental advocacy and treating domestic violence for what it is: t_rr_r_sm” https://theconversation.com/stop-talking-and-start-doing-rosie-batty-on-trolls-accidental-advocacy-and-treating-domestic-violence-for-what-it-is-terrorism-228617 “Calls for immediate action on national epidemic of violence against women” https://nit.com.au/29-04-2024/11109/calls-for-immediate-action-on-national-epidemic-of-violence-against-women “We won’t stop violence against women with conversations about respect. This is not working. We need to get real” https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/apr/26/we-wont-stop-violence-against-women-with-conversations-about-respect-this-is-not-working-we-need-to-get-real-ntwnfb “Eight years ago Australia had a wake-up call on family violence. So how did we end up here again?” https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/article/2024/may/04/australia-family-violence-against-women-law-changes-reforms “There was hope for change after Victoria’s royal commission. Now the experts agree that it’s past time for ‘an abundance of words’ to be met by action” a cartoon: “There’s one question domestic violence victims often hear” https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/picture/2024/may/02/theres-one-question-domestic-violence-victims-often-hear “In a society where male violence seems inevitable we need much more than education and awareness” https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/apr/30/in-a-society-where-male-violence-seems-inevitable-we-need-much-more-than-education-and-awareness “If men’s violence is not prevented or treated, it tends to spread like an infectious disease” Australia’s Prime Minister “Albanese calls for debate on blocking online misogynistic content at snap national cabinet meeting” https://www.theguardian.com/society/2024/may/01/albanese-calls-for-debate-on-blocking-online-misogynistic-content-at-snap-national-cabinet-meeting “Labor to focus on online harms at national cabinet meeting on women’s safety as others call for further needs-based funding and bail reform” “National cabinet to meet on violence against women, with Albanese saying everyone ‘must do better’” https://theconversation.com/national-cabinet-to-meet-on-violence-against-women-with-albanese-saying-everyone-must-do-better-228873 “Not good enough” https://theaimn.com/not-good-enough/ “What is the problem with men?” A well written - by a male - assessment “Aggressive? Homophobic? Stoic? Here’s what thousands of Australian men told us about modern masculinity” https://theconversation.com/aggressive-homophobic-stoic-heres-what-thousands-of-australian-men-told-us-about-modern-masculinity-228187 “Most young adult men in Australia reject traditional ideas of masculinity that endorse aggression, stoicism and homophobia. Nonetheless, the ongoing influence of those ideas continues to harm men and the people around them. These are some of the findings of a new survey of men in Australia.”
- “Violence against women is both a legal and cultural problem. What can we do to address it?” https://theconversation.com/violence-against-women-is-both-a-legal-and-cultural-problem-what-can-we-do-to-address-it-228889 This articles examines legal and cultural issues - and the need to act immediately and continuously a Monash University Media Release: “Domestic violence disclosure schemes may not improve safety for victim-survivors of intimate partner violence” https://theconversation.com/domestic-violence-disclosure-schemes-may-not-improve-safety-for-victim-survivors-of-intimate-partner-violence-228994 “Domestic violence disclosure schemes: part of the solution to improving women’s safety or an administrative burden?” https://theaimn.com/domestic-violence-disclosure-schemes-part-of-the-solution-to-improving-womens-safety-or-an-administrative-burden/ “This research calls not for the introduction of a DVDS but for evidence-based policies and adequate funding for wraparound specialist support services to support safer outcomes for victim-survivors.” I support the principle of evidence-based, but reject any suggestion that administrative burden should be an approval consideration, only an aspect of implementation “Australian government pledges almost $1bn to help women leave violent relationships” https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/may/01/leaving-violence-payment-australia-women-violent-relationships “National Cabinet has committed to a range of strategies to stop violence against women, but has it done enough?” https://theconversation.com/national-cabinet-has-committed-to-a-range-of-strategies-to-stop-violence-against-women-but-has-it-done-enough-229106 ““Violence against women is not a women’s problem to solve, it is a whole of society problem to solve; and men in particular have to take responsibility.” Those were the words of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. ... No Australian government has yet solved this problem. Every Australian government can and should do more to advance women’s safety. Perhaps the most important outcome from today’s National Cabinet meeting is not just a renewed national commitment on action to end gender-based violence, but an Australia that will hold all governments to account on delivering their promises.” “Funding to tackle family and domestic violence welcome, but falls short” https://nit.com.au/01-05-2024/11146/funding-to-tackle-family-and-domestic-violence-welcome-but-falls-short “Albanese government flags measures to tackle online misogyny in the battle against violence towards women” https://theconversation.com/albanese-government-flags-measures-to-tackle-online-misogyny-in-the-battle-against-violence-towards-women-229109 “Australia will trial ‘age assurance’ tech to bar children from online porn. What is it and will it work?” https://theconversation.com/australia-will-trial-age-assurance-tech-to-bar-children-from-online-porn-what-is-it-and-will-it-work-229184 This also examines the very real problems - including privacy risks, but also the need to attempt to do something “Here’s how you can talk to your kids about gendered violence, and 7 ways to model good behaviour” https://theconversation.com/heres-how-you-can-talk-to-your-kids-about-gendered-violence-and-7-ways-to-model-good-behaviour-228898 “Labor to launch ad campaign urging parents to learn about the harmful misogyny children see online” https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/article/2024/may/03/labor-to-launch-ad-campaign-urging-parents-to-learn-about-the-harmful-misogyny-children-see-online a The Guardian exclusive reports “National Legal Aid calls for $300m funding increase to keep Australian women safe” https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/apr/30/national-legal-aid-calls-for-300m-funding-increase-to-keep-australian-women-safe “Exclusive: Peak body unable to meet increased demand for family services as nation grapples with a crisis of murdered women” “4 things our schools should do now to help prevent gender-based violence” https://theconversation.com/4-things-our-schools-should-do-now-to-help-prevent-gender-based-violence-228993
- See also “Tech-based sexual harassment at work is common, male-dominated and often intended to cause harm” https://theconversation.com/tech-based-sexual-harassment-at-work-is-common-male-dominated-and-often-intended-to-cause-harm-228102 “‘Make me a sandwich’: our survey’s disturbing picture of how some boys treat their teachers” https://theconversation.com/make-me-a-sandwich-our-surveys-disturbing-picture-of-how-some-boys-treat-their-teachers-228891
- but also “We’re all feeling the collective grief and trauma of violence against women – but this is the progress we have made so far” https://theconversation.com/were-all-feeling-the-collective-grief-and-trauma-of-violence-against-women-but-this-is-the-progress-we-have-made-so-far-228781
- Finally, I’ll end with a cautionary note on this: avoid being transphobic - as exemplified by the UN’s Gender Flat Earther Reem Alsalem: transwomen are women, and often suffer even more violence than ciswomen. Similarly, transmen are not victims of some delusion: they are men.
- an Oxfam Australia media release “Australian dividend payouts to shareholders rise 6 times faster than worker pay since 2020” https://theaimn.com/australian-dividend-payouts-to-shareholders-rise-6-times-faster-than-worker-pay-since-2020/
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 - and I can do as I am a secondary news source [the name(s) are often 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.
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