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 (when I remember) 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 the war in West Asia, 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 (please note: this is a cut down and/or version of what I used to do):
the war in West Asia (note: I object to the colonial term “Middle East”), in imperialistic Israel, Gaza, and adjoining nations:
Note: my usual preamble to these posts can be found on the post at https://politicalmusingsofkayleen.blogspot.com/2024/04/from-this-weeks-news-on-war-in-west_24.html.
I will omit the full version of that from now on for the sake of
brevity, but the main points are: (i) I do not give violent
extremists/other mass murderers the oxygen of publicity, nor the
satisfaction of using the t word; (ii) _____ have for many years been
identified as genocidal; (iii) I
consider a safe place for Jewish people must exist because of the
world's collective failures on antisemitism - everywhere, not only
Germany of the 1930s/40s, but the Arab nations’ proposal for a single nation with Arab and Jewish provinces should have been given more consideration, IMO; (iv) now, Israel's existence can ONLY be morally justified as part of a two
state solution where Palestine becomes a modern, functional, prosperous sovereign nation-state; (v) I note https://theconversation.com/when-is-criticism-of-israel-antisemitic-a-scholar-of-modern-jewish-history-explains-220995
on when criticism of Israel becomes antisemitic; (vi) Israel’s
conduct since the assassination of Yitzhak Rabin and the collapse of the
Oslo Accords has been both devastating to its victims and damaging of
its standing, and its conduct now risks an even more self-damaging
Pyrrhic “victory”; (vii) note that the ICJ has issued preliminary directions, but not made a formal finding regarding genocide.
- “Israel continues Rafah operation as hostage bodies are recovered” https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/may/25/israel-continues-rafah-operation-as-hostage-bodies-are-recovered “Offensive appears to go ahead despite ICJ ruling”
- “Rockets fired at Israel from Gaza | DW News” https://youtu.be/Uy7bmfTJwt8?si=n_g4-k1AQ_1wsaPF “Israeli airstrike kills 35 in Rafah after _____ launches rockets at Tel Aviv” https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/may/26/_____-rocket-attack-tel-aviv-israel-gaza “... after militants launch first salvo at Israel in months” “militants”
strikes me as a weasel word ... But it should be noted that the (misdirected) air
strike appears to have been in response to the rocket attack
- “Gaza: UN officials condemn Israeli airstrikes on camp for displaced” https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/05/1150261 “Global shock after Israeli airstrike kills dozens in Rafah tent camp” https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/may/27/global-shock-after-israeli-airstrike-kills-dozens-in-rafah-tent-camp “At least 45 people, including many women and children, killed in assault that prompts international outcry” “Rafah massacre demonstrates urgent need to cut ties and sanction Israel” https://www.jewishcouncil.com.au/media/rafah-massacre-demonstrates-urgent-need-to-cut-ties-and-sanction-israel “Israel faces fresh international condemnation over deadly strikes on Rafah tent camp” https://www.france24.com/en/middle-east/20240527-israel-faces-fresh-international-condemnation-over-deadly-strikes-on-rafah-tent-camp
- “Australia says 'crystal clear' on Rafah as Israel strikes again despite top UN court's ruling” https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/australia-crystal-clear-on-rafah-as-israel-strikes-again-despite-top-un-courts-ruling/t1w4atsud “Australia
believes Israel should abide by a top United Nations court's "binding"
ruling that its military assault in southern Gaza must stop, a senior
minister has said.” “Australian public servants call on government to ‘cease supplying all military parts and weapons to Israel’” https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/article/2024/may/30/australia-public-servant-open-letter-israel-weapons-military-war-gaza-rafah “More
than 300 employees of federal, state and local governments sign letter
warning against Australia’s ‘complicity’ in war crimes”
- Israel has adopted what I consider to be highly questionable word games to try to avoid acting on the ICJ’s order - which are supported, however, by several of the ICJ judges. See: “How a single comma is allowing Israel to question ICJ Rafah ruling” https://www.theguardian.com/global/article/2024/may/29/how-a-single-comma-is-allowing-israel-to-question-icj-rafah-ruling “... That interpretation was supported by one of the dissenting judges, Israel’s former supreme court president Aharon Barak, who served as an ad-hoc judge on the ICJ bench. In his opinion, he wrote that the majority decision “requires Israel to halt its military offensive in the Rafah governorate only in so far as is necessary to comply with Israel’s obligations under the genocide convention”.” The other dissenting judge and one of the supporting judges were also critical. Irrespective of the legal grammar wars, Israel is continuing to do massive harm - to its own standing, as well as the obvious harm to toddlers, children, women, non-binary, and male civilians in Gaza ... and, it would appear, based on increased antisemitism, to Jews globally, although those doing that harm are responsible for the harm they choose to do
- In
addition to that, Israel’s appalling conduct includes includes what is
being described as a nine year war against the ICC. See: “Israeli campaign against ICC may be ‘crimes against justice’, say legal experts” https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/may/29/israel-icc-criminal-offences-espionage-legal-experts “International lawyers believe conduct of Israeli intelligence service should be investigated by prosecutor in The Hague” “Revealed: Israeli spy chief ‘threatened’ ICC prosecutor over war crimes inquiry” https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/may/28/israeli-spy-chief-icc-prosecutor-war-crimes-inquiry “Spying, hacking and intimidation: Israel’s nine-year ‘war’ on the ICC exposed” https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/may/28/spying-hacking-intimidation-israel-war-icc-exposed Responses to these revelations include: “Labor backs ICC’s role in international law as other MPs condemn Israeli ‘war’ on court” https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/article/2024/may/30/labor-backs-iccs-role-in-international-law-as-other-mps-condemn-israeli-war-on-body An opinion that: “By attacking and undermining the ICC, Israel has proved again it is a state gone rogue” https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/article/2024/may/29/icc-israel-state-benjamin-netanyahu “Benjamin Netanyahu and his associates are already doubling down against these allegations. They must be made to answer them” “Israeli journalist describes threats over reporting on spy chief and ICC” https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/may/30/journalist-threatened-over-reporting-on-spy-chief-and-icc-israeli-newspaper-says “Haaretz journalist was warned of ‘consequences’ if he reported on attempts by Mossad chief to intimidate ex-prosecutor”
- “US state department falsified report absolving Israel on Gaza aid – ex-official” https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/may/30/stacy-gilbert-us-state-department-israel-gaza-aid “Stacy Gilbert, who quit post as senior adviser ..., says report went against consensus of experts”
- “Egypt tight-lipped over Israeli takeover of Gaza buffer zone” https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/may/30/egypt-israel-relations-gaza-philadelphi-corridor-buffer-zone-takeover “Cairo
seeks to keep lid on public anger and avoid escalation as IDF moves
into Philadelphi corridor in breach of 1979 peace accord”
on peace/ceasefires:
- “What is the impact of recognising Palestinian statehood?” https://www.france24.com/en/middle-east/20240528-what-is-the-impact-of-recognising-palestinian-statehood “... experts hope the move could give new impetus to peace talks”
- “‘We all share the same pain’: can the Israeli-Palestinian peace movement rebuild after 7 October?” https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/article/2024/may/21/peace-reconciliation-dialogue-activism-middle-east-7-october-gaza-israel-palestinians-west-bank “As the conflict in Gaza continues, reconciliation may seem a distant dream, but on both sides there are those working for peace”
on human rights and human suffering (on both sides) aspects:
- “As Israel pushes into Rafah, it exposes an uncomfortable truth: no court alone can protect civilians in war” https://theconversation.com/as-israel-pushes-into-rafah-it-exposes-an-uncomfortable-truth-no-court-alone-can-protect-civilians-in-war-231052
- “Rights groups urge Meta shareholders to end pro-Palestinian content ‘censorship’” https://www.theguardian.com/technology/article/2024/may/29/meta-censorship-palestine “The action comes after nearly 200 Meta employees sign open letter to Mark Zuckerberg demanding end to alleged censorship”
- “Is Israel’s War on Gaza destabilising Egypt?” https://www.juancole.com/2024/05/israels-destabilizing-egypt.html
internationally:
- “How Israel’s Shift to the Ultra-Far Right is Leading European Nations to Recognize Palestine” https://www.juancole.com/2024/05/european-recognize-palestine.html
- “Jewish Council of Australia Condemns Antisemitic Graffiti at Mount Scopus College” https://www.jewishcouncil.com.au/media/jewish-council-of-australia-condemns-antisemitic-graffiti-at-mount-scopus-college
- A political cartoon: “There’s more than one way to think about Gaza” https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/picture/2024/may/28/theres-more-than-one-way-to-think-about-gaza “It helps if you read the signs”
- “Pro-Palestine protesters at ANU move campus camp by 50 metres ahead of noon deadline” https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/article/2024/may/28/anu-gives-noon-ultimatum-as-pro-palestine-protesters-refuse-to-disband-campus-camp “...
after police demanded they pack up by noon on Tuesday. Protesters at
the Australian National University voted on Monday night to relocate
their camp 50 metres down the road, saying they had engaged in good
faith. But they condemned what they called “reckless and unjustifiable
intimidation tactics” from the university.”
global:
- “‘Everybody has not won’: trickle-down economics was an [amathiac] idea. How do we fix the inequality it causes?” https://theconversation.com/everybody-has-not-won-trickle-down-economics-was-an-[amathiac]-idea-how-do-we-fix-the-inequality-it-causes-223296
- “OpenAI says Russian and Israeli groups used its tools to spread disinformation” https://www.theguardian.com/technology/article/2024/may/30/openai-disinformation-russia-israel-china-iran “Networks in China and Iran also used AI models to create and post disinformation but campaigns did not reach large audiences” “What does AI mean for Australian democracy? And what can we do about it?” https://theconversation.com/what-does-ai-mean-for-australian-democracy-and-what-can-we-do-about-it-231159 “A
comprehensive policy will not focus purely on deepfakes swaying votes
but the health of democracy more broadly. ... So when we think
about the relationship between AI and democracy, we need to think about
perennial concerns such as political representation, public interest
journalism, media literacy and social cohesion. A balanced policy
should recognise AI technologies present opportunities for democracy, as
well as risks. ... there are still lessons we can learn from the
past.” The article includes four specific proposals “Big tech has distracted world from existential risk of AI, says top scientist” https://www.theguardian.com/technology/article/2024/may/25/big-tech-existential-risk-ai-scientist-max-tegmark-regulations “Max
Tegmark argues that the downplaying is not accidental and threatens to
delay, until it’s too late, the strict regulations needed” in Nigeria, “Dubawa launches AI tools to check misinformation” https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/698270-dubawa-launches-ai-tools-to-check-misinformation.html “Nigerians
can now verify information on WhatsApp in seconds by simply texting the
Dubawa Chatbot ... an Artificial Intelligence (AI) tool developed by
Dubawa, a project of the Centre for Journalism Innovation and
Development (CJID)”
- “Ukraine: How to Hold the Line” https://www.crisisgroup.org/europe-central-asia/eastern-europe/ukraine-russia-internal/270-ukraine-how-hold-line “What should be done? The best hope for meaningful diplomacy and sustainable peace is for Kyiv to hold the line against Moscow.” The report recommends ways to do this “Kyiv says talks on France sending military instructors to Ukraine are ongoing” https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20240527-kyiv-says-talks-on-france-sending-military-instructors-to-ukraine-are-ongoing This was one of the early steps of US involvement in Việt Nam ... Russia’s aggression must be resisted, but all actions need to be taken with full awareness of the potential consequences a The Guardian exclusive reports: “Polish foreign minister calls for long-term rearmament of Europe” https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/may/25/poland-foreign-minister-radoslaw-sikorski-long-term-rearmament-europe “A long-term rearmament of Europe, in which the UK can play the closest possible role, is necessary to defeat Russian imperial ambitions, Poland’s foreign minister has said.” “Macron says Kyiv should be allowed to ‘neutralise’ Russian military bases, prompting Putin warning” https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20240528-macron-putin-warns-of-serious-consequences-if-western-arms-strike-targets-in-russia “Biden allows Ukraine to hit Russia with US weapons to defend Kharkiv” https://www.france24.com/en/americas/20240530-biden-allows-ukraine-to-hit-russia-with-us-weapons-to-defend-kharkiv “Biden changes stance to allow Ukraine to fire US-supplied weapons into Russia” https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/may/30/biden-ukraine-weapons-strike-russia “US official says policy change relates to ‘counter-fire purposes’ and prohibits long-range attacks inside of Russia” “Germany to allow Kyiv to strike inside Russia, Moscow warns of ‘all-out war’ | DW News” https://youtu.be/K01kVvdc2UM?si=iK-7xCaRwXLqQSwp Again: Russia’s aggression must be resisted, but all actions need to be taken with full awareness of the potential consequences
- “Summit: China, South Korea agree to start 'security dialogue' | DW News” https://youtu.be/K_turvlGmE0?si=H1OZNQmLo6eiPxdo
- “Burkina Faso military rule extended for five years” https://www.lemonde.fr/en/le-monde-africa/article/2024/05/25/burkina-faso-military-rule-extended-for-five-years_6672665_124.html “Mali opposition sets up transition government in exile” https://www.voanews.com/a/mali-opposition-sets-up-transition-government-in-exile-/7627033.html
- “Tens of billions of dollars in gold flows illegally out of Africa each year, a new report says” https://apnews.com/article/gold-smuggling-africa-uae-switzerland-e1a614c465766f1c3e90fb9e5a5167a2 “... most of it ends up in the United Arab Emirates”
- “France to lift state of emergency in New Caledonia” https://nit.com.au/27-05-2024/11623/france-to-lift-state-of-emergency-in-new-caledonia “... in a move meant to allow political dialogue” Later in the week: “France lifts state of emergency in New Caledonia, maintains curfew” https://www.france24.com/en/france/20240528-france-lifts-state-of-emergency-in-new-caledonia-curfew-maintained “... but is maintaining a curfew and sending hundreds of paramilitary reinforcements”
- “I’m a brown, Muslim European. For people like me, these EU elections are terrifying” https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/article/2024/may/28/brown-muslim-european-eu-elections-institutions-far-right “EU institutions have already let people of colour down. Now the rise of the far right poses an even greater threat” “Macron calls the rise of far-right parties an ‘ill wind’ for Europe” https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20240527-macron-calls-the-rise-of-far-right-parties-an-ill-wind-for-europe
- “Fwd: Felon for President? | Robert Reich” https://youtu.be/AzYUx2nFro0?si=UjfBBi9SgjKaXdD1 “Trump found guilty on all counts in historic criminal trial” https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20240530-%F0%9F%94%B4-jury-finds-donald-trump-guilty-on-all-34-counts-in-hush-money-trial “Donald Trump found guilty in historic New York hush money case” https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/donald-trump-verdict-hush-money-trial-rcna152492 “The jury’s verdict is the first time a former president has been convicted of a crime” “Donald Trump found guilty of hush-money plot to influence 2016 election” https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/may/30/trump-trial-hush-money-verdict “Here’s what you should know about Donald Trump’s conviction in his hush money trial” https://apnews.com/article/trump-conviction-what-to-know-a70941a7cd367f7b2aa3218ea91ad922 “Could Trump go to prison and can he still run for president? What happens next after guilty verdict” https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/may/29/what-if-trump-guilty-prison-fine “4 takeaways from the historic felony conviction of Donald Trump” https://www.npr.org/2024/05/31/g-s1-2024/trump-trial-verdict-analysis “Trump is now a convicted felon. He could still win re-election” https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/article/2024/may/30/trump-convicted-trial-election “Analysis: History has just been made at Donald Trump's trial in New York City. It could shape America's future” https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-05-31/donald-trump-convicted-week-in-us-politics-macmillan/103918980 The thing about this is that, if this had not happened, the world would have been spared a nightmare that is still continuing
Australia:
- “Coalition’s brave nuke world a much harder sell after new CSIRO report” https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/article/2024/may/26/coalitions-brave-nuke-world-a-much-harder-sell-after-new-csiro-report “The agency’s GenCost analysis says a first nuclear plant for Australia would deliver power ‘no sooner than 2040’ and could cost more than $17bn”
- “Australia’s populist right embraces unconstrained freedom of expression – but only when it suits them” https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/article/2024/may/25/australias-populist-right-embraces-unconstrained-freedom-of-expression-but-only-when-it-suits-them “Recent banning requests highlight a paradox in an Australia once characterised by censorship”
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.
Note that, as with my main blog [see here], I am cutting back on aspects of my posts.
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/
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