(We) can do better

The ongoing tensions between the United States, Israel, and Iran have become a focal point in global geopolitics. As America navigates its role in the Middle East, questions arise about its motivations and the implications of its actions, particularly regarding Iran's nuclear capabilities.  Lost in the sound and fury of United States attacks on Iran is how these protect and approve Israel's merciless obliteration of the people of Gaza.

It is profoundly unfair and globally irresponsible to consider military action against Iran, as President Trump is mooting, in a NATO narrative that has told lies about Iran for decades. The recent outcry from Israel, which attacked Iran, and its allies over an Iranian missile strike that damaged a hospital raises serious questions about accountability. Reports indicate that the damage was a result of a nearby military facility being targeted, and fortunately, there were no casualties.

In a sequel to the Victorian Inquiry into planning Amendments VC257, VC267 and VC274, today 18 June 2025, Dave Davis (Liberal) put a motion requiring the Victorian State Government provide within three weeks very important documents required of it by the Inquiry Committee.[1] These documents would reveal the basis, actors, and rationale behind drastic cha

Israel has just launched missile strikes on Iran, including attacks on Iran's Natanz nuclear enrichment program which is under a mountain, and other military targets.

"Down Under Reform" on Facebook has issued a challenge.

Humane World for Animals: A migrating humpback whale is entangled in a shark net off Greenmount Beach at Coolangatta, Gold Coast, marking the first entanglement of the whale migration season.  The trauma this whale is experiencing is on the Crisafulli Government’s head for ignoring scientific advice to remove shark nets for the winter. Even if freed from the net, there is every chance the whale will die from exhaustion and trauma.

Zoroastrians in Iran once worshiped dogs. Today Iran has dog-walking bans in over 20 cities, adding a layer of hardship for pet owners and their dogs, who face arrests or confiscation for simple acts of companionship. This clampdown, which has nothing to do with the Koran - see more below - stems from some local views of dogs as impure or Western symbols. Iranians surely don't need more suffering, imposed by their own.

There is another protest in Sydney for Zero Immigration Until Housing Affordability is Restored on Saturday 12 July at Sydney Town Hall - see Facebook event. 

Sunday, 20 July 2025 : National Rally at Parliament House.  Monday, 21 July 2025: National campaign planning day.  Tuesday, 22 July 2025: Rally at Parliament House on the opening day of Parliament

Pressure Labor to end its support and complicity in human rights violations that have been called genocide by the International Criminal Court. 

Criticism of one party to the Gaza conflict has been deemed 'hate speech' and illegal by the Australian federal parliament (see embedded Gerard Rennick video below). Somehow, however, the same federal government shows little concern about the actual hate crimes (as opposed to hate speech) being committed in full view of the whole world in Gaza, as in the embedded tweet.

IPAN supports PM Albanese’s firm rejection of US demands to increase military spending by billions. Australia must not be drawn into a conflict with China over Taiwan. AUKUS Pillars 1 and 2 should be cancelled.

Some wealthy homemakers are being allowed to do the opposite of what the rest of us are being told to do. They have been given permission to turn an area where there were six households into one - theirs.  Such significant destruction and prioritization of certain interests  in the face of so much homelessness and the loss of democracy for all Victorians through authoritarian planning is shocking. 

A predictably appalling article from Nicholas Reece, City of Melbourne Lord Mayor, and a seasoned career growth enthusiast, has found a cozy spot in Australia's legacy press.

 Saturday 14 June - 10.30am to 12.30pm. The future of Planning Democracy. Majorca Room, City Library (not the State Library!), 253 Flinders Lane Melbourne. Click on the image to read Report No. 46. 

Location: Coffs Harbour Magistrates Court (2–16 Beryl St, Coffs Harbour); Date: Wednesday, May 28; Time: From 9am. Supporters of Sharron Hodge and Juliet Lamont will gather outside the Coffs Harbour Court House on Wednesday, May 28, from 9am. Sharron and Juliet were arrested on the roof of the Forestry Corporation building in Coffs Harbour on April 22, as part of a group of women who occupied the ro

Le livre dont le chapitre ci-dessous est extrait pose la question : Pourquoi la France a-t-elle connu une révolution démocratique et démographique, mais pas la Grande-Bretagne ?

This is about an Aran Sweater and Viking Jacquard Celtic Style sweater scam at vipsshops.com, using AI photo-models to falsely market a product that in no way resembles what is advertised. Inside see details of product, the seller, and dealing with PayPal complaints.

A few weeks ago, cross-benchers got together with the Liberals to conduct an inquiry into the legitimacy of State Labor Government Victoria's new planning laws that underpin the authoritarian creation of massive new 'activity centres,' infilling, hyper-densification, and removal of residents' rights to affect and discuss and dispute what happens where they live.  The Inquiry found

I was not the only one sitting up late last night, writing to various members of the Victorian Legislative Council.  There are about 55 neighborhood groups, many councils and other bodies, all trying to stop what is going ahead. They have been involved in this battle for a long time.  In the absence of any reasonable information and consultation, neighborhood groups have been writing and distributing their own information about what Planning is about to do.

This report came out today in the Legislative Council, Victoria.  Non-Labor members of the Committee criticised the amendments for failing to consult the community as they are required to by law, and found that they contain little or nothing that would provide the much-claimed affordable housing, and failed on environmental counts.  The full report is here: https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/49a10f/globalassets/tabled-paper-documents/tabled-paper-9164/

An article by Aude Lecrubier, in Medscape reported that, "A study published in The Lancet HIV suggests that recent and anticipated international budget cuts may lead to 4.4 to 10.8 million new HIV infections by 2030 in low- and middle-income nations, along with 0.8 to 2.9 million HIV-related deaths within five years.

See video and written submission inside. Independents and small parties usually cannot find enough scrutineers to check most of the votes. They lack the manpower and finances. Also, with the prepolling, small parties and independents cannot keep publicity up for two weeks, whilst the Libs and the Labs take full advantage of this situation by plastering voting places with with publicity and staffing them with copious volunteers. Lex Stewart worked as a scrutineer for 25 years.

Gerard Renick of the People First Party Thank all those who supported his campaign. Currently, the Australian electoral Commission tally room shows that he now has 35.26% of the quota necessary for him to win one of the 6 Senate seats being contested in this half-Senate election. To be returned as Senator, he needs to gain another 64.74% of the total of Queensland Senate votes through the allocation of preferences from candidates with fewer votes than him.

All Australian mainstream media outlets push the idea that we must have rapid population growth in Australia and that this must be sourced by increasing rates of immigration. Whilst the mass media never shuts up about this, they are very repressive about any contrary opinion, although people are really angry about the increasingly obvious costs in all this, and they seek ways to express themselves.

Click on the image to read Report No. 46.