Dr Peter Job

Always read the fine print. The agreement Albanese signed with Trump commits Australian super funds to massively increase investment in the US in the next ten years. Outrageous. Investment decisions re super should be made in the interests of members, not geopolitical kowtowing to a foreign power.

The Rally for Palestine in Melbourne today. Don’t know the exact number but it was huge.

As a writer I know the sacrifice withdrawal from the Bendigo WF entailed. A gig at a writer's festival is a huge boon for a writer. Making this sacrifice is very commendable. It was a huge betrayal of the writers that they were forced to make this choice. The festival is not supporting writers.

Awful interview with PM in 7.30 last night. No ref to genocide. Talk of “2 state solution” but no mention of Israeli occupation, settlement, repression. Perennial emphasis on security of Israel as Palestinians are murdered in tens of 1000s using western supplied weapons.

Former Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte arrested for crimes against humanity – a blow against impunity The ‘war on drugs’ in Philippines became an orgy of violence accounting for many thousands of deaths.

In these dark times, a small ray of hope. Let’s hope Duterte is not the only international human rights criminal to be sitting in court benches in The Hague. theconversation.com/former-phili...

Denigrating refugees: Media Watch is no exception - Pearls and Irritations While the prospects of a significant change to our appalling refugee policies seem remote, the worm has a habit of turning.

Sections of the media and some politicians have attacked Australian citizens and residents who originally came to this country seeking asylum for doing what all citizens and residents have a right to do - bring their partners and close relatives to Australia. #auspol #a ...

Denigrating refugees: Media Watch is no exception - Pearls and Irritations While the prospects of a significant change to our appalling refugee policies seem remote, the worm has a habit of turning.

My latest. The vilification of refugees is so ingrained in Australian society that even responsible sections of the media do it. This even includes the ABC’s Media Watch under its otherwise excellent new presenter Linton Besser.
johnmenadue.com/denigrating-...

US could 'take over' Gaza and 'permanently' resettle Palestinians, Donald Trump says The US president made the remarks while hosting Israel's leader Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House. Their meeting coincides with the second phase of ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas.

An attempt to destroy the Palestinian nation & a potentially even more lethal attack on Gaza. Australia should not only openly condemn this, but make it clear economic, political & military cooperation with the US is dependent on abandoning it. @AlboMP @SenatorWong www.sbs.com.au/news/article...

Israel’s ban on UNRWA is an illegal attack on humanitarian aid Amnesty International Australia denounces Israel’s illegal ban of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) that comes

Illegal Israeli ban on UNRWA starts today. Fresh & clear condemnation by Australia desperately needed. www.amnesty.org.au/israels-ban-...

4. Marsden wrote well, but his values were appalling. His books should have no place in schools.

3. The ‘Tomorrow’ series depict a fictional Asian nation invading Australia & heroic white kids resisting. Xenophobia & racist attitudes abound. /4.

2. ‘So Much to Tell You’ has a man attempting to assault his wife with acid, but disfigures his daughter instead. But the man is depicted sympathetically as a victim & his wife as a negative character who ‘brought it on’. /3.

1. Short thread. Lots of tributes to John Marsden, but as a teacher I found his work highly problematic. /2.

Sorry Guardian, wanted to read this, but when I clicked on it, it turned out to be one of those awful live feeds. I hate them. Unrelated stories, annoying trivia mixed with real news, wasted time scrolling through rubbish to find the headlined item. Give us real stories instead.

No, not the worst students, the students with the least opportunities.

Thanks Mike, no longer a teacher but did this for years. But please don’t use the term “elite schools”. Makes the students & schools actually believe they are better, an “elite” that stands out from govt school students. Call them what they are - unfairly privileged.

Agree with Penny Wong for once. Although if anyone else had said this the chances are that special envoy on antisemitism Jillian Segal would be denouncing them as antisemitic & demanding they be silenced.

I had high hopes for Bluesky, but am I the only one finding it bland? Limited topics under discussion, esp international relations. Little robust debate. Is it because many have not yet move here? Or is there some algorithm restricting controversial topics? Will it improve?

I had high hope for Bluesky, but finding it pretty bland. Perhaps it will change as more join.

Antisemitism envoy criticised over 'dangerous' call to ban pro-Palestinian city protests Jillian Segal's comments have been described by one Palestinian advocate as "a thinly veiled attempt" to "silence critics of the Israeli government".

Not the first attack on the right to protest for Palestine, but disturbing as Segal’s role allows her to damage people’s lives, including their jobs. Surely some in the parliamentary ALP are concerned? Time we heard from them.

www.sbs.com.au/news/article...

The ABC today reported "the IDF remained stationed within Syrian territory along the border with the occupied Golan Heights”. A strange description of an illegal, destructive & unprovoked attack against a neighbouring country facilitated by western weapons.

ICC to Bibi: “You’re wanted for crimes against humanity”.

Thanks Peggy! Feedback is always appreciated.

Mark Zuckerberg seeks ‘active role’ in Trump tech policy Top Meta lieutenant says company ‘overdid it a bit’ on moderation after CEO’s dinner at Mar-a-Lago

Seems the foxes will be running the henhouse.

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024...

President Claudia Sheinbaum has responded to Trump’s threats. A stark contrast between Sheinbaum’s evidence based maturity & Trump’s xenophobic popularism.

Oops, meant to say thread

4. The bipartisan repression of refugees in Aust, mandatory detention, offshore processing, is in violation of our obligations under the refugee convention & a gross violation of human rights. We need to change our ways.

3. Others were of a similar standard of bias and incompetence. If this law had been in place these refugees would have had to choose between returning to great danger or going to prison. Cont, /4.

2. The Dept assessment had been grossly biased, as even as an amateur researching cases and advocating managed to turn five cases around. Here is an article I wrote about one years ago. Cont, /3. newmatilda.com/2007/02/14/s...