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admin

Wed, 2021-05-19 08:42

The embedded tweet below shows Syrian Residents of Haseke in the north-east of Syria, throwing stones at an armed U.S. army vehicle, passing through. United States forces are illegally in Syria at the invitation of the separatist Kurdish separatist YPG.

Some of the YPG's overseas supporters, for example, Australians for Kurdistan, bizarrely, portray it as a national liberation movement, in the same sense as the Vietnamese National Liberation Front from 1956 until 1975, but the YPG openly welcomes, within Syrian Kurdistan, the military forces of the same United States, which has devastated Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, Yemen and elsewhere, in addition to fighting a war against Syria with its terrorist al-Qaeda proxies which the YPG claim to oppose.

As occurred in Yugoslav federation, following the secession of Slovenia 1991, the United States intends to break up Syria into smaller states of different ethnicities as part of its campaign to overthrow the popular elected government of President Bashar al-Assad. Within each of these 'independant' states, minorities, like these Arabs in Haseke, in the north-east of Syria, are likely to face 'ethnic cleansing'.

Geoffrey Taylor

Mon, 2021-05-17 02:42

The following, adapted from the above article, was posted as a comment to Netanyahu Unleashes Herds of Israeli Terrorists against the Palestinians (12/5/2021) by Arabi Souri | Syria News in order to lift the profile of this article. You should consider donating to Syria News which is a very informative and insightful journal.

Do Melbourne pro-Palestine protesters think the Palestinian resistance can triumph whilst US forces and their terrorist proxies rampage through neighbouring Syria and Iraq? /node/6121

Can Palestine be liberated while the US illegally occupies Syria, Afghanistan, and Iraq? Apparently Melbourne's pro-Palestine movement thinks Palestine can be liberated while Syria has much of its territory illegally occupied and US troops also illegally occupy Iraq and Afghanistan.

At the Palestine protest, I also found it curious that no mention was made at all about Syria and all the other conflicts going on in the Middle East, right next door to Palestine. There's a terrible war going on in Syria, right at this moment, and I felt it striking that not a word was said about this.

admin

Sat, 2021-05-15 01:46

In the Melbourne Freedom March, commencing at 12:00pm today, Saturday 15 May, from Batman Park [1], supporters of Julian Assange will be forming a contingent for the march.

We believe that, given that Julian Assange has committed no crime and has already served the outrageous 50 week sentence for his supposed misdemeanor of skipping bail in 2012, his continued detention - just so that the U.S. can, finally, after 9 years, present its 'case' for extradition - is totally illegal under British law, international law and even U.S. law. That Julian Assange is made to serve this illegal continued imprisonment for 23 hours each day shows astonishing malice on the part of the British magistrate Vanessa Baraitser who is hoding Julian behind bars on behalf of her U.S. masters.

An Australian government with any backbone and with any moral compassion would act immediately to demand the release of Julian Assange and his return to Australia to be with his two children and their mother Stella Moris.

Join us in our march to demand that the Australian government act to end this continued illegal imprisonment and torture. Please be outside the main (Saint Kilda Road) entrance to Flinders Street Station at 11:15pm (and no later than 11:30pm).

We will be marching from Batman Park behind our large banner (pictured above), handing out leaflets and making speeches.

Footnote[s]

Batman Park is on the north bank of the Yarra River, 800 metres to the west of the corner of Flinders Street and Saint Kilda Road (i.e. 800 metres from where the main entrance to Flinders Street Station is located).

Nate (not verified)

Tue, 2021-05-11 13:17

Today I heard the CEO or equivalent of ANU talking up foreign students. Amongst a lot of stuff revealing that the universities don't get much funding for local students, he neatly wrapped up with - once we've got the population vaccinated we can open up and get the foreign students in.- (words to that effect.) That's why they want us vaccinated with any old vaccine, such as Astrazenica, without a choice as to what we might believe is safer! I was visiting the art gallery today with a group of friends. We went off to have coffee. One of the women told me she was meant to play golf tomorrow. I asked where she played - it was North Balwyn. She said the course was going to be carved up for North East Link -the link we *have to have* because the growth lobby wants more population and, of course, they also want to 'redevelop' all the golf courses.) I asked where she would play when this happened. "I don't know," she replied, looking bewildered, obviously unprepared by life as to how to deal with such new-age threats.

Nate (not verified)

Mon, 2021-05-10 15:42

The government is so totally lacking in imagination. I guess that's part of "small government" All they do is oscillate about immigration - "close borders" (please the populace) "open up" (please business/developers etc.) The only thing they appear passionate about is "growth". Or, the people we have elected are all in the thrall of criminal gangs of developers - mafia and triads - and dare not stand up to them. At least, in Italy, this is talked about openly, so people don't waste their time going through 'the proper channels'. One might hope that the COVID-19 pause on mass immigration could starve some of these criminal enterprises of their fodder, but I fear they are too big.

Katoom (not verified)

Sun, 2021-05-09 21:27

I can't reconcile the following on today's "Insiders" (Channel 2, ABC Australia) One person said there are 2 million people in Oz either unemployed or without enough work, yet they all seemed to agree that the sooner we get the borders open, the better: 1. to bring in workers 2. International students 3. tourists . Later the talk was of a desperate shortage of hairdressers and a few other occupations - I can't remember what they, but the illogical and ideological conclusion was that the 'only' way to fill these crying vacancies is to import migrants with these qualifications! What about starting right now enticing people who are already here (Australians) into these professions and training them???

James Sinnamon

Sat, 2021-05-08 03:57

My apologies to Melbourne supporters of Julian Assange for not attending yesterday's weekly vigil or Julian Assange commencing at 6:30pm outside Flinders Street Station.

The reasons I could not make it are:

  1. At the time when I normally have to leave home to be at the vigil, the paint on the second side of the banner, shown below, was still wet. The banner also required further work to make the font sizes on the second and third lines match the font size on the first line;

  2. Painting even just those words (Julian's likeness had been painted previously) on the second side of the banner that afternoon was hard work and exhausted me.

However (whilst not wanting what makes our vigils necessary to continue - the illegal imprisonment of Julian Assange at Belmarsh Prison), I look forward to seeing you all again at 6:30pm next Friday at Flinders Street Station and at other protests with that banner, which can now display its message to both passengers leaving Flinders Street Station and passing motorists.

James Sinnamon

Thu, 2021-05-06 23:17

As Julian Assange's father John Shipton continues his "Home Run for Julian" world tour, Melbourne supporters of Julian Assange continue to inform fellow Melburnians about Julian Assange and his ongoing illegal detention in London's Belmarsh Prison for more than two years.

Please help us to bring Julian home for his two children and their mother, Stella Moris (@stellamoris1) by joining us again tomorrow evening (Friday) from 6:30pm outside Flinders Street Station, help us distribute leaflets, hold up our large banner (pictured below) and listen to speeches.

Sheila Newman

Sat, 2021-05-01 18:48

WORLD PRESS FREEDOM DAY Monday 3 May 2021 Support Press Freedom Support Julian Assange's Freedom TWO SYDNEY LOCATIONS ABC Centre 700 Harris St., Ultimo and 52 Martin Place, outside Channel 7 Studios 7.30 AM Join supporters of Julian Assange at either location.

James Sinnamon

Fri, 2021-04-30 16:47

Below is my comment beneath the 56:00 minute video World War II Leaders -The hidden side of the Big Three relations on the RT Documentary Channel (rtd.rt.com).

This documentary describes how the leaders of the United States, the United Kingdom, Russia, and various European countries, including Poland responded to Nazi Germany in the 1930's and after 1 September 1939, when Germany invaded Poland causing the outbreak of the Second World War. In that war, 55 million died by one estimate. I have also embedded the Video above for those who may be interested.

I admire Russia and President Vladimir Putin in 2022 and thank him for providing us with http://rt.com, this channel https://rtd.rt.com and https://sputniknews.com. I believe that the fate of fate of all humankind, including Russia, depends upon whether or not Russia and its allies can resist the US, which by one estimate, has killed 20 million since 1945 (https://globalresearch.ca/us-has-killed-more-than-20-million-people-in-37-victim-nations-since-world-war-ii in Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan, Guatemala, Chile, etc.

I Still think that, in spite of this, Russia and other former Soviet Republics still need to take a look at their own histories that is more critical than that shown by Peter Kuznick above.

One of many cases in point is Poland. According to "Rising 44 - the Battle for Warsaw" (2003) by Norman Davies, after the German invasion which began on 1 September 1939, the Polish resistance around Warsaw and elsewhere was giving the German invaders a lot of difficulty until the Red Army attacked from the East 0n 17 September. Subsequently 22,000 captured Polish officers were murdered by the NKVD on Stalin's orders at Katyn Wood in April and May of 1940.

Then, 5 years later, after August 1944 after the Polish Home Army rose up in Warsaw against the German occupiers, the Red Army stood on the East bank of the Vistula River and did nothing as the nazis crushed the uprising. Then, after the Home Army was left with no choice but to surrender to the Germans on 2 October, the Red Army still did nothing as the nazis razed Warsaw to the ground. This criminal stupidity by Stalin devalues much of the worth of the terrible sacrifice that the Soviet peoples made in resisting nazi Germany.

Whilst this cannot justify the criminal military alliance by the rulers of Poland with the United States against Russia, today, in 2022, if the Russian government were to show remorse towards the Polish people for Stalin's past crimes against them, it is far more likely that Poles would come to see their rulers for what they are and act accordingly.

Whilst Vladimir Putin has acknowledged the Katyn Wood crime and apologised for it, I think if he wants to win the friendship of the Polish people he needs to go much, much further.

World War II Leaders - The hidden side of the Big Three relations

 

 

Appendix: Posts by a troll moved from above this comment to our 'Troll Posts' page

Previously, there had been a number of posts which, in my opinion, did not add to the discussion and my responses. I have finally moved all of those posts, including my own responses, to Troll 'contributions' to candobetter should any visitor decide he/she is actually interested in reading those posts. This is to allow my own post below, which I think far more relevant to the above article, to be found by visitors without the necessity of them having to scroll down for many screen pages to find this post.

James Sinnamon

Sat, 2021-04-24 03:13

Nine people attended the Friday night vigil for Julian Assange outside Flinders Street Station from 6:30pm on Friday 23 April.

Whilst this figure is still a very long way short of what is warranted by the continued illegal imprisonment of Julian Assange in solitary confinement at Belmash Prison, it enabled us to make our vigil more striking in its visual and vocal impact on passing Melburnians.

For the first time, with the aid of umbrella holders, filled with water to stablise the three poles holding up our very large (2.8m x 1.7m) banner, [1] pictured (again) below, we were able to keep our banner displayed in full for the full duration of the vigil, making its visual impact so much more effective than on previous occasions.

For most of the vigil, a group of Christian evangelists behind us kept talking very loudly through their public address system. At one point they committed to finish after 5 more minutes, but they continued until 8pm. Some of us attempted to give speeches over the loud noise coming from behind, but could not be heard very well. The video recordings of those speeches are not likely to be of much use.

So, against this loud backdrop of noise, we attempted to make speeches through a megaphone and handed out double-sided A5 leaflets to passersby [2]. Our speeches, in addition to our large banner, still aroused interest from passersby causing more to accept a copy of our double-sided A5 leaflet, with a number committing themselves to support other future actions that we might take in support of Julian Assange.

After the Christian evangelists left at 8:00pm, some of us spoke through the megaphone.

I personally spoke on three occasions on the megaphone. Three other participants also spoke. (I will upload the Video recordings of myself and others to YouTube. ) Whilst, I still think that making speeches greatly increases the effectiveness of our vigils, I think my own speeches suffered from my not having them written out prior to the vigil and my not having too many facts about Julian Assange's case, at my finger tips. Consequently they were repetitive and much less effective than they could have been.

Still, given that Julian Assange's case is so open-and-shut it should be possible, in under one minute, to make any curious and open-minded member of the public enraged at his treatment and, from that point onwards, have his/her undivided attention, whilst I proceed to explain all the other outrages committed against Julian Assange. Hopefully, I will be able to do this next Friday.

This banner, shown here at a previous vigil, was used again at this vigil, but,
this time for the full two hour duration making its impact more effective.

Footnotes

[1] Unfortunately, the other side of the banner is blank, so if passing motorists and people heading past Flinders Street Station or into Flinders Street Station can see the banner, those walking out of Flinders Street Station cannot and vice versa. This coming week, before next Friday's vigil, I intend to rectify this problem by painting, on the reverse side, a similar likeness of Julian Assange and the text.

[2] The PDF file used to print the leaflet was originally attached to my article Barraitser's 'compassion' towards Julian Assange a ploy to avoid judicial scrutiny of the United States' illegal war on journalism? (12/1/21). This PDF file was later adapted to become my article Uphold the Rule of Law - demand that the Australian government act to end the illegal imprisonment and torture of Julian Assange (11/2/21). Whilst we need a new, more up-to-date, leaflet about Julian Assange, please feel most welcome to download the existing PDF file, print more copies of this leaflet and hand them out.

James Sinnamon

Thu, 2021-04-22 23:28

The otherwise insightful and highly informative British/Syrian PressTV journalist Richard Medhurst recently tweeted:

Russia lost over 25 million people during World War II, more than any other nation. Around 80% of German casualties were inflicted by the Red Army. Hollywood and Western education teach the story differently but the world owes Russia a huge debt of gratitude for crushing the Nazis. twitter.com/RusEmbJakarta/…

I responded:

See "Many lessons of World War 2 'hidden' in plain sight from war historian Richard Overy (8/5/15). Whilst the courage & sacrifice of Red Army soldiers should not be forgotten, the terrible magnitude of this sacrifice was largely a consequence of:

  1. Stalin's purge the Red Army officer corps in 1938;
  2. Stalin's signing of the Molotov/Ribbentrop pact in August 1939;
  3. the Red Army's invasion of Poland on 17 September 1939 just as Polish resistance to the German invasion was stiffening (by one account account I have read);
  4. Stalin's supply of vitally needed raw materials, right up until the morning 22 June 1941, to the German Reich, as it conquered Western Europe, and thence tried to use the Luftwaffe to subjugate Britain in what became known as the "Battle of Britain"
  5. Stalin ignoring warnings, right up until the morning 22 June 1941, from Britain, the U.S. and even his own spy, communist Richard Sorge who worked in Germany's Tokyo embasssy, that Germany was going to invade;
  6. Stalin ordering the execution of one German soldier who tried to warn the Red Army of the impending invasion; and
  7. Russian popagandist Ilya Ehrenberg actually encouraging victorious Red Army soldiers to rape German woman;

Whilst the anger that Red Army soldiers felt towards German people near the end of the war was understandable, in the context, the widespread rape of German women by Red Army soldiers, amongst so much other brutality towards the conquered German people could only have persuaded many German soldiers to fight harder, thus causing the already terrible count of Red Army dead to go even higher.

Had the Soviet Union's leadership, instead, been humane and more competent, the sacrifice necessary to defeat Nazism would have been less by an order of magnitude, conceivably less than the 286,959 Americans who also died in the fight against Nazi Germany and Japan.

admin

Sun, 2021-04-18 19:25

From 6:30pm until 8:30pm, this Friday 23 April, Melbourne supporters of Australian journalist Julian Assange will again be holding our weekly vigil at Flinders Street Station, where we will be holding banners, handing out leaflets. If you are free at that time, please come along, help us hand out leaflets and hold banners and listen to our speeches.

Help us force the Australian government act to end the illegal imprisonment, so far for almost nine years, of Julian Assange and to prevent the United States' attempt to kidnap extradite Julian Assange.

James Sinnamon

Thu, 2021-04-15 18:33

From 6:30pm until 8:30pm, this Friday 16 April, Melbourne supporters of Australian journalist Julian Assange will be holding our weekly vigil at Flinders Street Station. If you are free at that time, please come along, help us hand out leaflets and hold banners. We will be giving speeches to explain to passersby the facts about Julian Assange and to demand that the Australian government act to prevent the United States' attempt to extradite Julian Assange and to make Britain end its illegal imprisonment and torture of him.

James Sinnamon

Mon, 2021-04-12 01:01

Syria has so far defended it sovereignty against the Western sponsored terrorism which commenced in March 2011, but at at a terrible terrible cost. According to one estimate, now several years old 80,000 Syrian Army soldiers out of a national death toll of 400,00 have been killed in this conflict. In addition much of Syria's industry, infrastructure has been devastated and many Syrian homes have been destroyed in the conflict.

Now, as the Syrian people try to rebuild their country, they face former U.S. Donald Trump's Caesar Act of June 2019, new harsher sanctions from the European Union, and ongoing sanctions from other countries, including Australia.

In addition, Syria still faces continued illegal occupation of much of its territory by United States, in the Eastern largely Kurdish region, where their is oil. Currently that oil is being stolen by the Kurdish YPG, whose military forces collaborate with the US occupiers and ship it off via pipelines through Turkey.

For all the setbacks suffered by the US recently, both in the Middle East and, domestically, with Donald Trump's 2020 COVID-19 debacle, involving 31,149,565 cases(9.42% per capita) and 561,789 deaths (0.17% per capita), the U.S. still remains a formidable force, and still seems to have resources sufficient to keep the Syrian conflict going, for as long as it takes to wear the Syrian nation into surrender - 5 more years? 10 more years? 50 more years?

Unless people in the United States, and countries allied with the United States, re-build their past anti-war movements, the U.S. will be able to continue its war against Syria, whether actual or through sanctions and terrorist proxies, for as long as it chooses.

In Australia, writers on Candobetter participated in a loosely based group of people in favour of reconciliation with Syria (Mussalah) for a few years. Susan Dirgham had the idea of promoting the Syrian concept of Mussalah, and a small fluctuating group of people met in Melbourne to discuss the situation and update each other. We attended or spoke at information sessions and demonstrations, and documented some of these activities in films, published in articles on Candobetter, and elsewhere. There were attempts to educate politicians and the mainstream press. Susan produced an educational newsletter about Syria. Eventually the loosely-based Melbourne meetings fell away, in part due to new work commitments and new directions and strategies undertaken by the participants.

Unless, anti-war groups in Western nations resume their campaign to end the sanctions against Syria and to get U.S. troops and other foreign occupiers out, it will be much harder for Syria to achieve peace. The Independent and Peaceful Australia Network (IPAN) is showing leadership in modeling new directions for Australian foreign policy and deserves support.

James Sinnamon

Sat, 2021-04-10 06:52

The number of partcipants in our Friday 9 April weekly vigil for Julian Assange in front of Melbourne's Flinders Street Station, due other to commitments by some members of the group, was somewhat down - only 5 this week rather the 9 or 11 we had come to typically expect at our previous weekly vigils. Five people weren't enough to share around the arduous work of holding up my large 4.8mx1.7m banner [1] in addition to making speeches, handing out literature and engaging in discussion with interested members of the public, so the banner was left unfurled.

In spite of this the public responded particularly well, with a large proportion being interested enough to accept one or more of our printed leaflets. Whilst a sizable proportion of the public, who were passing through that street corner in front of the railway station, were still not concerned one way or the other, about Julian Assange, the number who expressed support for him vastly outnumbered those who showed their hostility. Many thanked us for our efforts and a sizeable number told me that they would be coming to Sunday's commemoration of the second anniversary of the British Government's illegal arrest and imprisonment of Julian Assange in Belmarsh Prison at 4:00pm on 11 April 2019 at the British Consulate at 90 Lyons Road, roughly 1.6km to the Northe-East.

Fanny gave a speech, but (yet again!) I was not able to figure out, fast enough to record Fanny's speech, how to use the video recording feature of my mobile phone, so Fanny's speech was not recorded. However, Anita was subsequently able to work out how to use that video recording feature and so my own subsequent speech was recorded. Later today (Saturday 10 April, I will upload that recording of my speech to YouTube and embed it in a more complete article about that vigil on /.

In time, in order to achieve our goal of forcing the Australian government to act effectively to achieve Julian Assange's freedom, we need to, and anticipate getting, far greater numbers to other planned events for Julian Assange. Such events include protests such as our planned commemoration of the second anniversary of Julian Assange's imprisonment. In the short-term future, to begin with, it should be possible to build protests numbering in the order of several hundred - enough to at least begin to make a few more politicians take notice.

So, if you have time, please attend the 4pm Sunday protest at the British Consulate.

Footnote[s]

[1] That banner has impressed members of the Melboune public on foot, or in cars. It has also, amangst others, impressed Denver Free Assange (@DNVFreeFA). So far, two members of the group each own one umbrell stand. Without those 2 umbrella stands, it would have been necessary for three people, at any one time to hold up the banner. Because it is such hard work to hold up my 4.8mx1.7m canvas banner for our vigils of duration of 2 hours or longer, a minimum of 5 or 6 people were needed to share the work around. It would have been very dificult for us to accomplish the other necssary tasks

[2] The commemoration of this second anniversary will by held at 4pm outside the Melbourne British Consulate at 90 Collins Street, roughly 1.6 km North-East of Flinders Street Station.

James Sinnamon

Wed, 2021-04-07 20:44

At 6:30pm this coming Friday 9 April outside Flinders Street Station, as the world approaches 11 April 2019, the second anniversary of the illegal imprisonment of Australian journalist Julian Assange, his Melbourne supporters will again be holding their weekly vigil to demand that Scott Morrison his authority as Australian Prime Minister government to make Britain end it's imprisonment of Julian Assange.

As we have done at previous vigils, we will be displaying our banners (one of which is pictured to the left), making speeches and handing out leaflets. We will also be handing out an additional leaflet to promote the International commemoration of the second anniversary, this coming Sunday 11 April, of the British Government's imprisonment of Julian Assange. For details of other commemoration events in Australia and overseas, see Melbourne protest at British Consulate to mark 2nd anniversary of the arrest of Julian Assange - 4:00pm Sunday 11 April (4/4/2021) also published here on candobetter.net and the Twitter @Candles4Assange page.

Please be there, both this Friday 9 April at 6:30PM at Flinders Street Station and this coming Sunday 11 April at 4:00pm at the British Consulate at 90 Collins Street to help us get Australia's visionary, multiple award-winning journalist Julian Assange back to his wife Stella Moris and their two children.

James Sinnamon

Sat, 2021-04-03 23:27

In the Interview below from an October 2019 edition of RT's Going Underground, John Pilger describes to host Afshin Rattansi the refusal of magistrate Vanessa Barraitser to allow Julian Assange any of the rights which the British judicial system is supposed to allow an accused person, whilst confining him to solitary confinement 23 hours a day. John Pilger's testimony here is chilling.

Both Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne, who as shown in the above article, stated on 11 April, 5 months prior to this interview:

"I am confident … that Mr Assange will receive due process in the legal proceedings he faces in the United Kingdom."

… should be made to watch this interview.

James Sinnamon

Sat, 2021-04-03 02:46

On Friday 2 April 2021, Good Friday, on which day the crucifixion of Jesus Christ is commemorated by Christians, Melbourne supporters of Julian Assange's supporters held another successful vigil from 6:30pm until 8:30pm at Flinders Street Station.

The terrible nine year ordeal so far endured by Julian Assange, as cruel, unjust and illegal as it is, cannot be likened to the cruel and gruesome end suffered by Jesus Christ on Good Friday. Nevertheless, supposedly endangering the lives of US servicemen at one point in time, the only crime of which Julian Assange has ever been accused has even less basis than Jesus' conviction for not recognising the authority of Rome.

At the vigil, supporters held up banners, handed out two leaflets, one which was adapted to become the article Uphold the Rule of Law - demand that the Australian government act to end the illegal imprisonment and torture of Julian Assange (11/2/2021 - pdf here) and the other which was adapted from Open Letter to Prime Minister Scott Morrison: Act now to end the illegal imprisonment and torture of Julian Assange! (11/3/2021).

During the vigil, I gave a 6:30 minute speech through the megaphone in which I explained to the passing members of the public how Julian's imprisonment and torture was illegal and I called upon Scott Morrison to use his authority as Prime Minister to demand that he UK release Julian Assange. That speech was recorded and will be embedded within an article to be published here later today.

Sheila Newman

Sun, 2021-03-28 13:45

I thought she realised it, but could not admit it, since she employed by and represents the BBC, which promotes her country's political policies. Your interpretation may be right, however, there seems little limit to mainstream media arrogance and blindspots.

Sue (not verified)

Sat, 2021-03-27 11:06

Journo was hoist on her own petard and didn't even seem to realise it. Why did she seem to feel so sure of herself?

James Sinnamon

Sat, 2021-03-27 03:15

Below is a video of myself speaking for four and a half minutes in support of Julian Assange outside the British Consulate at around 4;30pm on Friday 26 March.

The speech is somewhat less polished than I had hoped it to be, in part, because I had left my written speech in my car so had to speak somewhat off the cuff. Nonetheless, I feel that even speeches such as this still serve to inform passing members of the public and arouse their curiosity. An example of a more polished speech in support of Julian Assange is that given by Mairéad Farrell TD (@Farrell_Mairead), a Sinn Fein member of the Irish Parliament. I have transcribed the transcript of Mairéad Farrell's speech here.

Sheila N (not verified)

Fri, 2021-03-26 00:35

IPAN submissions will be accepted during the period from 26 November 2020 to 31 July 2021, when organisations and individuals can deliver written submissions (where possible). Where submissions cannot be in writing, individuals/organisations will be able to meet 1-1 with an assistant/IPAN Coordinating Committee member and provide an oral submission.

admin

Fri, 2021-03-19 01:41

This Friday (today) at 6:30pm Melbourne for Wikileaks (@Melbourne4Wiki) will be holding its weekly vigil for Julian Assange.

Please come along in order to help make fellow Melburnians aware of how this Australian hero has been illegally imprisoned and tortured for revealing to the world the truth behind the many instances, in recent years, of US meddling in other countries at the cost of many hundred of thousands of lives.

We especially need you to help us hold up our large (5mx1.7m) banner which has been praised overseas.

quark

Wed, 2021-03-10 19:35

I had a conversation today with a recent visitor to Malacoota Eastern Victoria. He told he noticed a whole lot of silt in one of the lakes which he had never seen there before and he has known the area well over a long period. It turns out it is from massive clear felling of forest in the area. The once abundant lake is now no good for fishing. He also reported that there were heaps of trucks carrying huge eucalyptus trunks trundling along the highway on his way to and from Malacoota from Melbourne.

admin

Sat, 2021-03-06 02:11

In the following transcript from from a Video posted on 5 March to Twitter, Irish Sinn Fein MP Mairéad Farrell, in the Teachta Dála (TD) - the Irish lower house of Parliament - asked the government of Ireland to raise the issue of the attempt by the US government to extradite Julian Assange from the UK with the British government:

"'If wars can be started with lies, then peace can be started with the truth,' as per the words of Julian Assange. The case of Julian Assange is very simple: Acting as a journalist and publisher, in coordination with the Guardian, Der Spiegel and the New York Times, he exposed major war crimes by US Forces and its allies. The NUJ (National Union of Journalists) has said the charges attempt to criminalise actvities, that, for many NUJ members, is their daily work. As he is not an American citizen, his extradition by the British government would mean that the US would have carte blanche, across the globe to persecute journalists and pubishers for revealing state crimes. And I am asking you to raise his case both with the British ambassador and with the US Administration."

admin

Fri, 2021-03-05 00:48

As reported on Yahoo News and elsewhere on 23 February:

"Anthony Albanese has thrown his support behind releasing Julian Assange from prison after 10 years without freedom.

"The Labor leader was asked at a caucus meeting in Canberra on Tuesday for his view on the ongoing detention of the Australian WikiLeaks founder.

"'Enough is enough,' he responded."

In fact, Anthony Albanese has never said this publicly. He was only reported by another Labor MP to have said this within a meeting of the Federal Labor Party Parliamentary caucus. He never repeated any of this in Parliament or anywhere else in public - certainly nothing was said by Anthony Albanese on his Twitter account (@AlboMP) or on anthonyalbanese.com.au (A search "Julian Assange site:anthonyalbanese.com.au" revealed nothing.

Althony Albanese was also reported to have said, at that meeting:

"I don't have sympathy for many of his actions …"

I can only guess at which of Julian Assange's actions Anthony Albanese has no 'sympathy' for. As far as I am aware, every informed person, who shares my hope for the well-being of all of humanity, is awed at Julian Assange's courageous efforts to reveal to the world so much about the criminal machinations of the rulers of the United States against their own people and the rest of humanity. Without Julian Assange and Wikileaks that the degree of damage inflicted by the United States on humankind in recent years would have been much greater.

If his support was as sincere as some of Julian Assange's supporters apparently believe, then 'left-wing' Labor Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese would not allow himself to be seen to repeat that implicit smear of Julian Assange.

quark

Sun, 2021-02-28 09:11

Wouldn't the taxpayer also be contributing to this extra housing demand from retrieved superannuation due to the tax advantages withiin super and the fact that the contributions are pre-tax? Also one could ask why super should be released just for the purpose of buying a house or apartment? What about a caravan? What about a car? etc.

admin

Mon, 2021-02-22 23:49

From Maduro Accuses Left and Communist Party of Being Agents of Imperialism (16/2/21) by Ernesto León | Venezuelanalysis:

In the last few weeks, there has been an escalation in the verbal attacks from the Venezuelan government against the revolutionary left. These attacks, by president Maduro and National Assembly speaker Jorge Rodríguez, have been directed particularly against the Popular Revolutionary Alternative (APR), a political platform that gathers several parties and organisations to the left of Maduro’s government. Very serious allegations have been made, including that the left opposition to the government is acting in cahoots with US imperialism.

Up until now, the attacks against the APR had consisted of intimidation, censorship in public and private media, and several acts of repression against APR candidates during the National Assembly election campaign. The most important and serious issue here is that these latest attacks could set the stage for a higher level of repression against the left wing and the workers’ movement.

One of the motives for intensifying the political campaign against the APR could be that, in order to bypass the economic sanctions from US imperialism, as well as overcome the deep economic crisis that currently exists, the Maduro government will go much further to the right, deepening its monetarist policies and increasing privatisations. These types of measures will always mean a heavier burden for the working masses to bear, and within that context the APR could play an important role, organising and leading mass protests against the upcoming package of economic measures.

…

… The APR and its component organisations have a track record of fighting against imperialism and imperialist aggression, opposing US sanctions on Venezuela. Furthermore, they have consistently demanded that Juan Guaidó be arrested for his participation in a failed coup in 2019, the attempt to overthrow the elected president, his call for a US military invasion, his collaboration with a mercenary incursion, etc. The Maduro government has chosen to let him walk free, while it attacks those who want the pro-imperialist traitors jailed for being “in cahoots with Elliot Abrams”!

…

My comment: For years I have despaired at the way the Bolivarian government of Venezuela has allowed Juan Guaidó, who openly sides with the United States against that government, to freely walk the streets of Venezuela. Given that at least 40,000 (a very outdated estimate) Venezuelans have died as a consequence of United States' sanctions that Juan Guaidó has repeatedly supported, for President Nicolas Maduro not to have put him on trial for treason is, at best, gross negligence on his part.

Were such a trial to occur in public, the case against Juan Guaidó would be seen by world public opinion to be overwhelming and conclusive.

James Sinnamon

Sun, 2021-02-21 01:08

The following comment was posted in response to Moscow Warns Israel on Repeated Bombing: Syria May Lose Patience (20/2/21) at Syria News. Please consider giving Syria News financial support so that they may keep publishing.

Now that their proxy war has lasted almost 10 years, It's clear that Netanyahu and his US masters are resolved to keep this war against Syria going on for however long as it takes to force the Syrian people to surrender to their Takfiri footsoldiers - another year?, another 5 years?, another 10 years? another 50 years?

There is an urgent need in the US, Britain, Australia and other allies to again organise mass opposition to their wars in Syria and elsewhere and bring about regime change back there. In a sense, this happened, for a while, in Australia in 1972, with the election of the Gough Whitlam Labor government following the success of the Moratorium movement against the war in Vietnam. Sadly, that change of government was reversed in 1975.

Wikileaks is one force that makes possible the rise of such an anti-war movement. So it desperately important that we keep the United States' grubby hands off Julian Assange. Please see /JulianAssange.

James Sinnamon

Tue, 2021-02-16 14:30

This comment was previously entitled "Illegitimate Syrian Government Big Lie rears its ugly head again" - JS, 18/2/21

Whilst, from here in Melbourne, Australia I greatly appreciate your most informative and very insightful program ("The News with Rick Sanchez"), I cannot say the same for former Naval intelligence Officer John Jordan, one of your two guests today (15/2/21).

Contrary to John Jordan's assertion that the "government in Syria is not elected" the Syrian government, was, in fact, democratically elected and is amongst the most popular governments in the world if not the most popular government. It is more legitimate than nearly every formal democracy in the West - Britain, France, Germany, Sweden, etc. - and vastly more legitimate than the US government itself or any of its vassal states - Saudi Arabia, the former government in Bolivia imposed by a coup, Ukraine, and the (hopefully former) Ecuadorian regime.

Could I suggest to John Jordan that he take the time to watch the video recording of the Syrian Presidential Elections Observers Report to the United Nations of 19 June 2014 at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZnFQd4wBXnk (above)? It is also embedded within the article "Syria's press conference the United Nations doesn't want you to see" (20/6/14) at /SyriansVotedForPresidentBasharAlAssad. As even attested to by Israel's Haaretz "88.7% of the 73.42% of eligible Syrian voters who voted, voted for President Bashar al-Assad. So, of 15,845,575 Syrians eligible to vote, eligible voters 10,319,723 or 65.13% voted for Bashar al-Assad."

Perhaps, if John Jordan still holds that the Syrian government was not democratically elected, he could tell us what questions he would have put to Syrian UN Ambassador and the four election observers during that 53 minute press conference.

I thank your other guest Michael Maloof for pointing out that the Syrian government is a legitimate government recognised by the United Nations, but I think even he would learn quite a lot from watching that video.

James Sinnamon

Sat, 2021-02-13 01:53

Some of the comment below was posted to Twitter.

Maram Susli (aka 'The Syrian Girl') has been advised by the YouTube 'team':

Our team has reviewed your content, and, unfortunately, we think it violates our child safety policy. We've removed the following from YouTube:

Video: Israeli terrorist Choked Out Little Boy

This is truly Orwellian. A video of yet further brutality towards a Palestinian Boy, whose land has been stolen by the Israeli occupiers, is beaten up by one of the occupiers. Luckily it was captured on video. However the YouTube management decided that that video evidence of the Israeli's brutality towards the Palestinian boy "violat[ed] [their] child safety policy".

Would the YouTube managers truly have us believe that was there no witness with video a camera on hand that the Israeli would not have beaten up that boy? Would they have us believe that had that witness not been there that their "child safety policy" would not have been violated?

More likely the YouTube managers realise the idiocy of that statement, but believing that the Syrian Girl doesn't have the power to hit back at them, they just don't care.

Perhaps it's time that the Syrian Girl and the many other victims of YouTube censorship worked together on the other parts of the Internet, which are not under the control of the likes of the YouTube management and worked together to hold them to account for their unconscionable conduct.

James Sinnamon

Thu, 2021-02-11 17:06

The removal of former United States President Donald Trump and his replacement by Joe Biden seems, so far, not to have improved Julian Assange's circumstances.

From Biden Regime Wants Julian Assange Crucified (10/2/21) by Stephen Lendman:

The … calls on Biden to drop spurious charges against Assange and order his release were rejected.

…

Criminalizing his truth-telling journalism continues — a US dagger thrust into the heart of constitutionally affirmed First Amendment rights bipartisan hardliners want undermined by repressive legislation.

If occurs, extraditing Assange to the US for politicized show trial persecution will be another major body blow to digital democracy, the last frontier of media freedom.

Crucifying [Julian Asange] for truth-telling journalism and whistleblowing revelations of government wrongdoing reflects the hallmark of totalitarian rule.

Censorship of what’s vital to know is likely prelude for much greater harshness to come.

We’re all Julian Assange. His fate is ours.

James Sinnamon

Thu, 2021-02-04 02:06

The first half of Kurdish contras, the 2 February episode of the Iranian PressTV news service's Mideastream features Maram Susli, otherwise known as "The Syrian Girl" from Perth.

Whilst the struggle by the supposedly 'communist' YPG for Kurdish autonomy from Syria has become a fashionable cause for some in the West, including Australians for Kurdistan, Maram points out that the YPG (also referred to as the "Syrian Democratic Forces" or SDF) take orders from US forces illegally inside Syria. The SDF have effectively besieged two Syrian Arab cities. They are attempting to ethnically cleanse Kurdistan of its Arab population in order to secede from Syria. Such a secession would almost certainly cause Syria to become balkanised into a number of small statelets for each of Syria's ethnic groups. This, in many ways, would be similar to how Yugoslavia was disastrously broken up from 1991 until 1999.

admin

Tue, 2021-01-26 00:46

The following is from Assange vs the violence of imperial 'humanitarianism' (24/1/21) an Al JAzeera opinion piece:

In the United Kingdom court decision sparing WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange from extradition to the United States (for now, pending appeal), the intimately symbiotic relationship between humanitarianism and violence was evident once again.

Judge Vanessa Baraitser ruled that it would be “oppressive” to extradite Assange – but not because of the injustice of the US government’s campaign of retribution against him for exposing its massacres, misrepresentations and manipulations, but rather due to the fragility of Assange’s mental health.

The same “justice” system that has eviscerated Assange’s mental wellbeing with prolonged psychological torture, in the assessment of the UN special rapporteur on torture, now poses as his hope for salvation.

Like a large-scale governmental version of Munchausen by proxy, the state mystifies its own role in producing the pathology in question, then attempts to extract moral capital from exhibiting a modicum of care. Structural violence creates the need for humanitarianism, which mitigates some of the excesses of violence, ensuring the flourishing of both violence and humanitarianism.

Judge Baraitser not only declined to find that the US’s prosecution of Assange is for political “offences” – and therefore barred by the UK-US Extradition Treaty – but held that there is no judicially enforceable barrier against political extraditions at all: “the defence has not established that the UK-US treaty confers rights on Mr Assange which are enforceable in this court” since the treaty is “not yet incorporated into domestic law”. Perversely, according to this judgement, Assange (and other extradition targets) are subject to the treaty, but precluded from invoking its protections.

The fact that Assange revealed damning truths about state atrocities that would otherwise have remained concealed was also dismissed as irrelevant. “The defence have not established that the principle of the ‘right to truth’ is a legal rule that is recognised in either international law or domestic law.”

…

admin

Mon, 2021-01-25 11:28

The following has been expanded from a tweet in response to Tim Anderson's question, "Spot the difference between Alexei Navalny and Juan Guaidó":

Juan Guaidó & Alexei Navalny are both guilty of acting for the US rogue state against their own people, but the depravity of Guaidó's treason is vastly greater. Also, the Venezuelan government bizarrely allows the Quisling Juan Guaidó to freely walk the streets of Venezuela!? Fortunately, unlike Guaidó, nearly all members of the Venezuelan defence forces remain loyal to their country. I trust this Venezuelan government idiocy towards Juan Guaidó would not extend to any member of the Venezuelan Defence forces were he/she to similarly betray her/his country?

James Sinnamon

Mon, 2021-01-25 02:16

I posted the following beneath President Donald Trump’s Farewell Address (20/1/21) | 21st Century Wire:

Some see former United States' President Trump's failure to pardon Julian Assange as an act of cowardice, under the threat by the U.S. deep state to make the outcome of impeachment proceedings against him as even more harsh. I see it as something worse - an act of malevolence towards Julian Assange.

Other crimes committed by former U.S. President Donald Trump include:

1. Failure to renew even one nuclear arms control treaty that expired during his term of office;

2. Abandonment of the 'Open Skies' policy, which even President Eisenhower spoke in favour of. This allowed reconnaissance planes of either superpower to overfly the territory of the other superpower in order to verify that the other superpower wasn't preparing for war;

3. The murder of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis the deputy chairman of Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) on 3 January 2020. This was found to have been illegal by Dr. Agnes Callamard, the U.N. Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions;

4. Continued U.S. military occupation of Iraq in defiance of the wishes of Iraq's Parliament;

5. Continued U.S. presence of U.S. troops in Syria and the theft of Syria's oil;

6. Sanctions against Venezuela which have cost at least 40,000 lives;

7. Grotesque mishandling of the COVID19 pandemic causing the loss of over 414,000 U.S lives.

8. etc., etc, etc.

Those, including Alex Jones and Paul Joseph Watson (see The Final Hours of Donald Trump) who still claim that Trump was opposed to the U.S. establishment, including the U.S. military-industrial complex, are, at best, deluded.

admin

Sat, 2021-01-16 12:14

Apologies to those who may have been looking at the article above for the attached PDF file of the flyer I handed our yesterday at the 6.30pm Vigil [1] for Julian Assange at Flinders Street Station yesterday (Friday). The PDF file contains 2 landscape oriented A4 pages. [2] Footnotes [1] The time for the start of the vigil was mistakenly given as 7:30pm, rather than 6:30pm, my apologies, This will be corrected. [2] Two pages are necessary in order to, quickly and without too much trouble, print off the flyer on both sides of an A4 sheet (for example, at Officeworks). The laser printer allows the selection of the double-sided print option. This causes each A4 sheet to be automatically fed back into the laser printer after the first side is printed and then sent to the output tray. If the PDF file contains only one landscaped A4 page, and not two, it will be necessary to take the A4 sheets from the out tray after the first side is printed, then feed them back in - considerably more effort.

admin

Fri, 2021-01-08 19:03

@AdelaideForAssange wrote:

This Friday (Saturday for Australians) we continue the Tweetstorms!
Use #WeAreAllAssange to spread the word and put pressure on our politicians.

This Friday (Saturday for Australians) we continue the Tweetstorms!
Use #WeAreAllAssange to spread the word and put pressure on our politicians.
#Assange #JulianAssange #FreeAssangeNOW

I responded:

@Melbourne4Wiki 'Tweetstorms' are no substitute for grass-roots activism & street protests. It's time that we in Australia again started to organise street protests in Melbourne, Adelaide, Sydney, Canberra, Brisbane & Perth: 'Tweetstorms' cannot replace grassroots activism, street protests'

Sheila Newman

Sun, 2020-11-29 12:06

As we are told, they could be shed from people who are no longer infectious, but there several particles have been found in this area, so the fat lady has not yet really sung. I am very glad that we have reached the point we have, though. Shocking COVID-19 situations all over the rest of the world. Furthermore, our economy is not doing badly at all, minus mass migration. The United States, whilst aiming to preserve economic growth rather than supporting its people, is in terrible shape, as is Britain. Nonetheless, stock-markets and the wealthy have managed to profit from this scourge. It suits them that big corporate stores were able to stay open. Those stores were also much more easy to police regarding infection control than lots of little ones.

quark

Fri, 2020-11-27 09:56

Today marks 28 days with no new cases of Covid 19 in the Victorian community. The word "elimination" is being tossed around the mainstream media with glee. It now seems to be what we wanted in the first place. After daily new cases in Victoria quickly rose to over 700, there seemed to be a panicked realisation by the Victorian government that the (very nasty) genie was out of the bottle. People in Melbourne, as a result suffered a very severe lock- down for over 100 days and I doubt any of them would want to do it again. About 36,500 Australian are lined up to come home from various countries overseas. Nowhere (apart from New Zealand) is looking as good as Australia right now. But these returning Australians pose a risk to the rest of the population. Melbourne, where hotel quarantine was so badly handled earlier this year resulting in Victoria accounting for most of the country's Covid 19 cases and most of the deaths in the whole of Australia , will be again entrusted with hotel quarantine early next month. Let's hope Victoria's newly gained freedom is much more than fleeting!

Vivienne (not verified)

Fri, 2020-11-06 09:17

Dingoes are native animals, but they don't have the antiquity of other native animals that have evolved here over thousands - or millions- of years. They've always been dependant on humans, to some degree. Why do they have to be left to starve? Surely they could have food drops, anonymously, at various spots, so as not to over-rely on humans? Strange how our human populations quite unashamedly import foods from all over the world, and endorse 'food security', and don't rely on our available local habitats- but dingoes must? If they could roam the landscape as they would have, they might be able to survive- but not in a limited island. Then they say the dingoes are 'dangerous' when they approach tourists?

Matthew Mitchell

Mon, 2020-10-26 14:06

Ivermectin quad-therapy - works as a preventative and a cure - taken on day 1, mean recovery time - 3.6 days. Multiple studies - including two by Australian researchers. India is using it, and has 80 deaths per million cases (0.00008 chance of dying), much lower than the USA (667): https://youtu.be/bbGG79WGmu4?t=784 As for the spread - the only reason we cannot open is due to poor contract tracing and management. That is very clear now.

Sheila Newman

Sun, 2020-10-18 22:30

Matthew, Any spread, with such an infectious virus, creates a danger of exponential spread. We do not know how many people have been infected overall in Victoria; we only know the ones detected by tests, but, like the tip of an iceberg, there is more we don't know about. You write that we should only contact trace and quarantine the sick, yet this is how this problem began. We failed to contact trace and quarantine the sick. That got us into a situation that required strong movement controls. We have now probably brought the virus down to more or less manageable levels - so that it won't overwhelm our hospitals, and so that we will soon be able to move. However it is not yet time to throw everything open because we still have 127 active cases, including 15 mystery cases, and two new detected cases just today (18 October 2020). How do you quarantine only the sick when they have to be attended by staff who are not themselves quarantined? How do you quarantine the sick when you don't know who or where they are? The only way you can deal with unknown infections is by localising their movement, which then helps pinpoint sources when other infections occur nearby. Europe and America thought they could control the spread of the virus in the manner you suggest and, at the moment Europe and America are facing shocking odds with this disease. Sweden, a country whose self-monitoring method you previously recommended, is now looking at lock-downs. With regard to the wearing of masks: they are a mechanical barrier, but this is a very infectious disease. Protection also requires social distancing, disinfection of surfaces, and hand-washing. Any of those things can break down. Masks are not vacuum-sealed onto our faces, they need to be changed frequently, etc. Masks are also particularly important to be worn by an infected person, to reduce the amount of virus they put out into the environment. We don't know how well the person who infected people in Chadstone was observing infection protocol. Hospital staff wearing masks and using strict protocol still get infected, due to exposure to massive amounts of virus. With regard to your assertion that ivermectin is a sure thing, your evidence is anecdotal. It is easy to assert that something is effective against a disease if you cannot be held to account if people suffer through your advice, since you are not a medical doctor, who can be sued for endangering lives. You cannot expect editors on this site to allow this kind of assertion to pass as if it were an unassailable truth. It is fair enough to say that you hope that this drug is effective, but it is irresponsible to insist that it is.

Sheila Newman

Sun, 2020-10-18 22:07

I suspect the Minister for Immigration misses the point, which is that Victorians have been restricted to five kilometre radiuses in order to restrict transmission of the virus. If the New Zealanders (now assessed at about 53, not 17) traveled from Tullamarine Airport, north of Melbourne, to any other point in Victoria, they would run far greater risk of encountering and then transmitting, the virus, than any Victorian who only travelled within 5km, or for essential purposes. Furthermore, there is more COVID-19 in the north than the south, so the danger is that they would pick it up in the north and take it into less infected areas. The two latest known cases [18 October 2020] are in Hume, which is about 16 km from Tullamarine (Melbourne Airport). There are still 137 known active cases in Victoria, and who knows how many undetected cases? There are still 15 'mystery' cases of COVID 19 in Victoria, which means that we don't know where they came from. Our best bet is to be able to control people's and thus virus movement. The minister for immigration's attitude is not only disrespectful to Victorians, but dangerous through his ignorance.

Sue (not verified)

Sat, 2020-10-17 19:22

Having lived in virtual isolation for many weeks, feeling fairly confident of not having Covid 19 but not allowed to travel outside 5km radius of my home I am furious that 17 New Zealanders appear to have been let into Melbourne. The acting Minister for Immigration appears to brush this off as unimportant because NZ doesn't have any cases of Covid 19. At this point the likelihood of a Melbournian and the likelihood of someone from NZ having Covid 19 are probably not much different but the fact remains, people in Melbourne are living severely restricted lives in a large scale effort to suppress (or dare i say eliminate?) the virus. People in Melbourne are not allowed to visit family outside Melbourne. What rules will apply to the New Zealanders? I think the Acting Minister for Immigration mocks the people of Melbourne in being so dismissive.

Matthew Mitchell

Fri, 2020-10-16 19:29

Consider this - even through the lock down thousands of people have been travelling in and out of Melbourne - yet it has only spread in a few cases - they are the cases where the people were actually infected. Thus the lock downs do not help, contact tracing and quarantine of the sick does. Also everyone at Chadstone was wearing masks - yet they still got it - so what use are masks then? Also if you get sick, take ivermectin triple course early, you will only get mild flu - developing countries know this as many use ivermectin as a matter of course for malaria. A Melbourne couple used it - one with serious health complications - were completely better in a day or two - they and their doctor are interviewed by Sky news - look at the youtube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbIkGbriJXI

James Sinnamon

Mon, 2020-10-05 01:15

Repesentatives Tulsi Gabbard and Thomas Massie Introduce Bipartisan Resolution Defending the Free Press & Call For Charges Against Julian Assange To Be Dropped

October 2, 2020

Press Release

Washington, DC—Today, Reps. Tulsi Gabbard (HI-02) and Thomas Massie (KY-04) introduced H.Res.1175, a resolution that defends the freedom of the press, noting that newsgathering activities and news organizations ability to acquire and publish information are protected under the First Amendment. The resolution calls for the United States to drop all charges and efforts to extradite Julian Assange.

“Freedom of the press is a vital function of a free democracy in which the government is accountable to the people. Julian Assange published information that exposed lies and abuses of power at the highest levels of our government. His indictment under the Espionage Act sends a chilling message to every member of the media and all Americans,” said Rep. Tulsi Gabbard. “U.S. government prosecutors now claim that any journalist or news organization that publishes classified material is liable to prosecution under the Espionage Act -- which would have led to the indictment of the Washington Post for the publication of the Pentagon Papers. The Federal government’s prosecution of Julian Assange sets a dangerous precedent. All extradition efforts and charges under the Espionage Act against Julian Assange must be dropped now.”

“At a time when government officials claim the right to perform warrantless surveillance upon all American citizens, there is an urgent need to zealously guard freedom of the press and to demand government transparency and accountability. The ongoing attempts to prosecute Julian Assange threaten our First Amendment rights, and should be opposed by all who wish to safeguard our constitutional rights now and in the years to come. I join my colleague, Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, in calling for an immediate end to all charges against Mr. Assange,” said Rep. Thomas Massie.

…

James Sinnamon

Sun, 2020-10-04 23:47

The following was posted to the article by Craig Murray, linked to above:

Thank you, Wikikettle, Craig.

We have also embedded the interview in "Assange Extradition Hearing mistrial – Interview with Craig Murray, former British Ambassador, in daily attendance" (4/10/2020) at /node/6040 [here].

Judge Vanessa Barraister and the prosecution apparently don’t care that the proceedings don’t remotely resemble a trial. In a trial, the accused is presumed innocent until proven guilty, is allowed to call upon witnesses to give evidence and to have witnesses for the prosecution cross-examination. Their 'case' against Julian is no more than:

"Might is right. We own Judge Vanessa Barraitser and the government which appointed her. Just sit back and accept your indictment and your punishment for daring to question the good intent of the United States government."

Given how Barraitser’s makes no effort to conceal her hostility to Julian Assange and her outrageous rulings against Julian’s defence team, surely it must be possible to demand that Judge Vanessa Barraitser be removed from this case though popular protest, another legal challenge or both.

Matthew Mitchell

Fri, 2020-10-02 12:37

it is very hard to do trials in countries that have inexplicably banned HCQ and Ivermectin since COVID hit - harder to ban these in countries that use it routinely against malaria. Here are the results of a peer-reviewed Indian study: Highlights COVID-19 -patients receiving ivermectin became SARS-CoV-2 negative more quickly -Fewer ivermectin-treated patients developed respiratory distress -Ivermectin-treated COVID-19 patients had shorter hospital stays -Ivermectin is associated with a lower mortality rate in COVID-19 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S030028962030288X?via%... Trialing vaccines on people who are not sick or dying is highly unethical - those involved are reporting severe side effects: https://www.cnbc.com/2020/10/01/coronavirus-vaccine-trial-participants-e... Does Monash University do good studies? Ivermectin as a Broad-Spectrum Host-Directed Antiviral: The Real Deal? https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/9/9/2100 They suggest Ivermectin needs investigating - here is what the Monash study suggests: "Phase III human clinical trials have been completed for DENV, with >50 trials currently in progress worldwide for SARS-CoV-2. This mini-review discusses the case for ivermectin as a host-directed broad-spectrum antiviral agent for a range of viruses, including SARS-CoV-2." "After decades of use in the field, ivermectin clearly “fits the bill” here in terms of human safety, but whether it turns out to be the molecule that proves this principle will only begin to be established unequivocally, one way or another, in the ensuing months with respect to SARS-CoV-2." Of course, it is hard for Monash researchers to do studies on drugs that are now banned in Australia.

Sheila Newman

Wed, 2020-09-30 15:44

The international study you cite on HCQ certainly links a lot of scientific papers, which will take me ages to go through. In maps it also hints at a premise that countries with routine HCQ malaria treatment make good studies. As a sociologist, it is hard for me to put much faith in an international comparative study regarding HCQ comporting so many variables, comparing so many differently collected and defined statistics of no doubt varying validity. The study page at https://c19study.com/ itself warns: "Note: In Vitro, Ex Vivo, Meta, Theory, Safety, Review, News, and Retracted items are not included in the percentages and study count. There is a total of 194 items. Recently added studies - 9/30: Lammers et al., 9/29: Gasperetti et al., 9/28: Fiolet et al., 9/27: Ulrich et al. Positive/negative effects vary in degree and certainty, please read the papers or descriptions thereof for more details. Every study has some limitations when considered in isolation (for example confounding factors; sub-optimal treatment regimens; dosing regimens that may be too low, too high, or insufficiently account for the long half-life of HC; large treatment delays; small sample sizes; lack of focus on severity; reliance on Internet surveys; and patient characteristics very different from the most at-risk population)." The Pasteur Institute today came out with news that they have tested a known antiviral on COVID-19 and chimpanzees with good results. They won't say what the drug they are using is, however, because of fears that there will be a rush on it. In the mean time they intend to go to trials. I think that ivermectin has yet to show success in any clinical trials.

James Sinnamon

Wed, 2020-09-30 13:58

13 presidents past & present urge UK government to halt Julian Assange’s extradition proceedings and grant his immediate freedom (28/9/2020) - The Duran

As Julian Assange fights US extradition at the Old Bailey in London, over one hundred eminent political figures, including 13 past and present heads of state, numerous ministers, members of parliament and diplomats, have today denounced the illegality of the proceedings and appealed for Assange’s immediate release.

The politicians from 27 different countries and from across the political spectrum have joined 189 independent international lawyers, judges, legal academics and lawyers’ associations by endorsing their open letter to the UK Government warning that the US extradition request and extradition proceedings violate national and international law, breach fair trial rights and other human rights, and threaten press freedom and democracy.

Politicians endorsing the call to free Julian Assange include Jeremy Corbyn, former Prime Minister of Spain, Luis Zapatero, several members of the European Parliament, former presidents of Brazil, Lula da Silva and Dilma Roussef, and Australian parliamentarians from the cross-party parliamentary group to free Assange.

I posted the following comment in response:

Whilst I welcome Jeremy Corbyn’s name being on the list, I don’t recall where he ever once said a word about Julian Assange whilst he was leader of the Opposition Labour Party. He never once visited the Ecuadorian Embassy to help those outside who were protesting against his outrageous detention.

Had he done so, it would not have been possible for the UK government to continue its criminal complicity in the illegal detention of Julian at the Embassy.

He could have just walked in to the Embassy, taken Julian’s hand escorted him to Heathrow Airport for a flight back home to Australia. What UK policeman would have dared interfere?

Matthew Mitchell

Mon, 2020-09-28 12:00

There is plenty of evidence - beyond whatever erratic work Raoult has done - that demonstrates the effectiveness of HCQ based treatments eg: an international study that compared death rates in countries that used HCQ and those that didn't: https://sarahwestall.com/massive-international-hcq-study-shows-substanti... Extract: "Massive international study looks at 70 Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) studies of which 42 were peer reviewed. The results showed that countries with early use of HCQ (Costa Rica, Israel, India, Russia, Turkey, Algeria, Morocco, Indonesia, Ukraine, Greece, Cuba) had significantly less deaths than those countries that restricted widespread HCQ use (Mexico, USA, U.K.,Sweden, Ireland, France, Netherlands, France). Study involves the populations of 2 billion people. The glaringly obvious question is how many lives would have been saved if our CDC, health “experts”, and mass media, did not lie about the dangers of this live saving drug?" Also, there is evidence that Ivermectin with zinc and anti-biotic is even more effective - this is no crackpot theory either - supported by Australian Professor Thomas Borody. This gastroenterologist received credit for developing the world’s first peptic ulcers, saving lives in the process - here is a discussion of that: https://www.trialsitenews.com/more-news-on-dr-borodys-ivermectin-proposal/ I think this has nothing to do with Ape like behaviour - and everything to do with very serious questions as to why our media and health systems are failing people in this way. The most likely theory is Big Pharma related corruption. The alternative is ignorance in our bureaucracies.

Sheila Newman

Fri, 2020-09-25 23:03

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_a03rVwjxTi2e-2ONdnGSMw Economists and policy makers often use the language of economics to exclude people from the national economic debate, using what our chief economist Richard Denniss calls 'econobabble'. Now--when the Federal Government is about to hand down its delayed federal budget during the first recession in 30 years--it is more important than ever that every Australian has the tools to participate in the economic debate and to understand the choices that governments are making for us and concealing from us. "The response to COVID-19 will cost hundreds of billions of dollars and such spending has the potential to not just create jobs, but to create a new Australia, if we want it to,” - Dr. Richard Denniss, chief economist at The Australia Institute. That's where the Australia Institute comes in. Introducing... The Australia Institute Economics Academy with Dr Richard Denniss, Chief Economist, The Australia Institute Matt Grudnoff, Senior Economist, the Australia Institute Beginning Thursday, 1 October 2020 FREE, registration essential Economics is the science of the efficient allocation of scarce resources, but what does that mean in real life? What is 'opportunity cost' and why does it matter? What happens when markets fail? Every fortnight, Richard Denniss will help you answer these questions and more. We'll take you through some of the basic principles of economics, help you spot the bullsh*t and cut through the econobabble so that you feel more confident to participate in and understand the national economic debate. In the first Economics Academy webinar, on Thursday 1st October 2020, Richard Denniss will focus on the government's plan to bring forward its income tax cuts package in the Budget (which will mainly benefit high income earners), as well as answering your questions from the tutorial. No prior knowledge of economics is necessary to participate. The Australia Institute's Economics Academy is FREE to enrol and open to anyone. We don't want price to be a barrier to education or participating in our democracy. Enrol now and you will get access to: Economics Academy - Semester One 5x tutorial videos (20 minutes each, via YouTube, released fortnightly) In each video, we'll take you through some of the basic principles of economics in Richard Denniss' typical easy-to-understand style. Instructors: Richard Denniss and Matt Grudnoff The science of the efficient allocation of scarce resources Opportunity cost & thinking at the margins Demand, supply, equilibrium and elasticity When markets work well When markets fail 5x webinars with Richard Denniss (1 hour each, via Zoom, fortnightly) Every fortnight Richard Denniss will run a webinar with Economics Academy participants where he'll tackle one big economic issue from the current economic debate -- and where you will have the opportunity to ask him questions based on the video tutorials. 2pm Thursdays, every fortnight. Webinar 1: 1st October 2020 - Why income tax cuts make poor stimulus measures. (enrol now - Attendees register once and can attend any of the webinars) Webinar 2: 15th October 2020 Webinar 3: 29th October 2020 Webinar 4: 12th November 2020 Webinar 5: 26th November 2020 Note: video recordings of the webinars will be made available to everyone enrolled Please, feel free to forward this email on to any friends of family who may be interested. The economic response to this recession could set Australia up for future prosperity that is shared by the whole community --a Reconstruction the likes of which we haven't seen since the Great Depression and the World Wars-- or we could waste it on boondoggles with high costs, few jobs and few benefits to the community. These decisions are being made right now. Here at the Institute, we think it is critical that all Australians are equipped with the tools to fully participate in shaping our economic response to the recession. That's why we hope you'll enrol in the Economics Academy. - The Australia Institute Team

quark

Tue, 2020-09-15 19:28

To me infrastructure is the opposite of nature so any man- made structures or other impositions on the natural vegetation on the foreshore at Seaford will be a negative to the value of the area and the enjoyment people will derive from the place. These areas are so rare around Melbourne. What vandalism to add anything in its place and ruin its integrity!

Matthew Mitchell

Thu, 2020-09-10 13:00

It is true that you can get serious organ damage from COVID-19. But we understand the disease much better now than 6 months ago. There are two phases - the first with simply flu-like symptoms, is the second stage where all the damage is caused, and it highly likely that is due to a bradykinin storm. There are also a few things we know. 1) that if you treat COVID-19 as soon as symptoms occur with either Ivermectin or HCQ, plus additives (i,e zinc and a mild anti-biotic) that in nearly all cases - even for those most vulnerable - the second stage will never develop. 2) That if you are in a certain range with your Vitamin D levels, also you are unlikely to get more than mild flu symptoms. See for example the study described here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZuCrwYa80s&t=1015s In that study 50 infected people were given high doses of vitamin D - only 1 person required ICU. Compared with the control group of 26 - 13 of these required ICU and 2 died.

Matthew Mitchell

Fri, 2020-08-28 08:30

You do not need to apply to parliament to extend Emergency Powers - they can can be extended by the Government up until the maximum period of 6 months. Under current legislation, there is no extension beyond this. This is not an extension, it is new legislation. It is quite possible that if we are going to introduce new legislation, we could instead simply authorise enforcement of quarantine and mask wearing - those are the only powers needed. That is all that is needed to stop the spread. There is no need for curfews or travel restrictions - certainly not after our recent 6 week lock down - as long as quarantine and contact tracing is done properly - that should be the government's focus.

quark

Mon, 2020-08-17 09:03

Hans Brunner's expert evidence was extremely important in this case. Had it been taken on beard decades earlier it would have saved a lot of misery for the Chamberlain family. At least they finally saw some degree of justice although the harm could not be undone. There are heroes in this sorry tale and Hans is one of them.

Triguboff (not verified)

Sun, 2020-08-16 22:09

Just watched this documentary. It was absolutely terrific! Hans Brunner's contribution to justice was very important. Just proves to me again what a sorry profession the law is. Fortunately the journalists involved in this documentary - father and son, the first inspiring the second - were incredible. As were the Chamberlains in their terrible ordeal.

Sheila Newman

Sat, 2020-08-15 20:15

IF you want to know more about Hans Brunner and the Lindy Chamberlain appeal, tune into the "Lindy Tapes" documentary, which premieres on Channel 7 Sunday 16th August at 8.30pm. Brunner pointed out that dingos were dogs, among other things. That's an indication of the state of education in our legal professions and the need for more science education.
https://7news.com.au/entertainment/tv/the-lindy-tapes-documentary-premieres-on-channel-7-c-1222738?utm_campaign=share-icons&utm_source=email&utm_medium=email&tid=1597187672214

Matt (not verified)

Mon, 2020-06-15 10:53

The modern equivalent of the marriage broker is probably e-harmony - people hand their relationship matching over to a computer algorithm. It seems to work sometimes, but maybe that has little to do with the algorithm per-se, but vetting by the individuals when they meet. But from what I can gather, a lot of people are not looking for marriage but hook-ups. And since sex is (apparently) so freely available, one traditional incentive to marry is greatly reduced. Then there is the MGTOW movement - where a growing movement of men swear off long-term relationships with women, as the risks and cost is claimed to be to high. These are older men, who have been burnt, but also younger ones, and they have much sympathy it seems: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCo2drA7n6c3fQ48XChKitkg/videos https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9ctsJZ2aD1nCexfqj342NQ/videos https://www.youtube.com/user/EntrepreneursInCars/videos

Sue (not verified)

Sat, 2020-06-06 11:56

I was appalled that "Planet of the humans" was removed from You Tube and I am glad that this interview has been done and is available.(at least for now) As the interview proceeds it becomes clear how serious this censorship is for any future film-makers to put ideas that do not conform into the public domain. Will they dare?

Michele (not verified)

Tue, 2020-05-12 15:48

More trouble in the Seaford/ Kananook Creek area LXRP have ignored the apparently agreed stop work and continued pouring concrete in the Seaford Park Arboretum site and then have constructed a steel fence right along their new bike road, effectively fencing off the creekside nature reserve from the public. What on earth were LXRP thinking?

Mary (not verified)

Thu, 2020-05-07 19:39

Recipients Of The Prime Native Australian Australia Day Award For 2011 Announced THE ORDER OF THE TOAD Kristina Keneally Excelling in the qualities of a Money Changers Quisling through enforcing the transfer of the Public Wealth of New South Wales to corporate interests in accord with the Globalist Agenda

Matt Mitchell (not verified)

Sat, 2020-04-18 16:04

Yes, it seems that a lot of economic activity is just 'busy work' that we can survive without.

quark

Mon, 2020-03-30 12:58

The following is the beginning of a media release from Daniel Andrews , Premier of Victoria on March 30th 2020. I am posting this so we can keep up with the numbers. "Over the last two days we have seen the number of cases of coronavirus in Victoria increase by 136 to 821. Four people have already died, many more are in hospital or self-isolating at home......" I note that the offical website has not been updated to this number for Victoria. 821 is the number but of course there will be many more as yet unidentified.

quark

Sun, 2020-03-29 21:54

It would seem from the description of what is necessary in construction work in terms of the way workers are organised and moved around a given site that in this time of contagion what may be safe from the physical injury point of view will probably not be healthy from the contagion point of view.

Mary (not verified)

Sun, 2020-03-22 08:52

In 1973, the book Small Is Beautiful: A Study Of Economics As If People Really Mattered, was published. The author was the eminent economist, Ernst Schumacher. Alas, his forebodings about globalisation were ignored. Now we find how the West’s industry has been demolished by ‘our’ captains-of-industry and their lackey politicians. Essentially, this work was a critique of Western economics. Schumacher argued in the first chapter titled: ‘The Problem of production: the modern economy is unsustainable; it depended upon an international division of labour that contained serious flaws. The book was published about a year prior to the Lima Declaration. The gist of that United Nations’ declaration was to dismantle industries in the Western hemisphere and transfer them to Third World (now referred to as ‘developing economies’). The ‘motivation’ was supposedly to “distribute the ability for countries to prosper”. However, in reality, what was being claimed by those who would instigate this dramatic movement of transferring industry from the First World, to the Third World, was nothing more than a blatant ruse. The true motivation for the Lima Declaration wasn’t, in any shape or form, in wanting to share opportunity amongst nations. It was simply that the captains-of-industry wanted to dismantle ‘their’ manufacturing hubs located in Western nations and then re-launch them in Third World societies; with the express purpose to ruthlessly exploit as cheap labour the down trodden classes in the poorest nations on earth. This is increasingly understood as the true agenda of the Lima Declaration. Schumacher’s view, verified those positions. But here we are in 2020 and can look back over those past 45 years and decipher that the consequences of the Lima Declaration are now diabolical for the Western world. Apropos to this I could convey a plethora of examples to consolidate that case. However, one gem was a commentary in The Australian from March 17/20, courtesy of its regular contributor, Robert Gottlibsen: The dangers of relying on China for medicine In the opening paragraph, Robert Gottlibsen writes: “The US has declared a national emergency as a result of the spread of COVID-19. But it really needs to call a second emergency [with that being how] its dependence on China for many medicines.” In the next paragraph he writes: “In the now rapidly disappearing era of unrestrained globalism the US found it cheaper to access vital medicines from China and closed many of its manufacturing facilities and/therefore has become dependent on China for many of its medicines.” Further, Gottlibsen prattles on as to how detrimental matters are now for [all] Western nations with our dependency upon China and, indeed, other non-Western nations too - for a large swag of nick-knacks to maintain our life styles. Now, had that commentary [asserting concerns about Western nations being dependent upon China for medicines] emanated from a host of other writers who have been warning about the madness of globalisation for many years, it wouldn’t have been at all surprising. However, that dispatch from Gottlibsen is astounding! And this was because for over the past 6, 7 or whatever number of years, Gottlibsen has been a rabid gloater when it comes to pumping up the tyres of China. In fact, he has been an ardent cheer-leader for China. Hence, to read ˜The dangers of relying on China for medicines, was incredible because it was the antithesis of what he has vigorously advocated for years. Schumacher predicted/warned in his book about the detriment that would ensue for the Western world by dismantling its secondary industries and transferring them to the Third World. So with that said, back to Schumacher’s, Small is Beautiful where he wrote:- What is the point of a pair of sandals which were made in India costing ten cents, if Australians can’t afford them, because they are too poor to buy them? So, perhaps, it might be better that a country produces tangible products to consume, which cost ten times more than what they can be made for elsewhere, if the consumers at least have jobs. Rather, than those societies lose their manufacturing bases and mass unemployment ensues! What is the point if no one is working to earn incomes and can’t afford items even at rock bottom prices? Essentially, Schumacher was arguing a reasonable thesis: If a country (in this case Australia) was to totally dismantle its manufacturing sectors and then those other vectors [financing and other services], which were instituted to replace manufacturing also collapsed, it would mean people could be too poor to buy items that were absurdly cheap. Of course, Schumacher was being quite tongue-in-cheek with that thought. However, he was correct in posing that ‘what if?’ scenario. Of course, globalisation has now spawned Schumacher’s dread. The Western world, in implementing the Lima Declaration dismantled much of its manufacturing base. Gottlibsen so decidedly expressed that the Lima Declaration has permitted China to morph into the monster it has become. And now the West can be held to ransom by China or, any other nation, for its needs. We are now captive to their whims.

Sheila Newman

Wed, 2020-03-18 00:55

Cr Glenn Aitken advises with regret that a public meeting that he hoped to hold regarding loss of vegetation at Seaford will not be held for reasons of observing corona virus precautions. Cr Glenn will advise of any new developments by email as they come to hand. Thank you all for your continuing support and concern.

quark

Fri, 2020-03-06 17:02

There have been many discussions this afternoon on ABC radio about the way people have been responding to media reports re the corona virus with respect to supermarket shopping, particularly the big rush on toilet paper. A medical officer from the Austin Hospital was saying that we have to think long- term with this problem as it will be with us for months and not rush into buying up big. But we have been told that the virus is now amongst us in Sydney, Melbourne at least and that if we are diagnosed with it we need to self- isolate for about 2 weeks. The way i read the situation, this could happen at any time without warning. Therefore to me it seems one needs to have 2 weeks supply of whatever we rely on at all times. In addition we need the items discussed in the above article to minimise infecting others and to protect ourselves.

B.Wildered (not verified)

Mon, 2020-03-02 22:39

Where do humans get off? A man wants to have 1 third of the species in the area murdered because they damage his machinery when he runs over them! It leaves me speechless ad in despair.

quark

Wed, 2020-02-26 10:20

Cr. Aitken says "we will never give in to stupidity" As this unfortunate case illustrates , stupidity has the heavy machinery. I guess many heroes would lay their bodies on the line to save trees and other vegetation but they may need to lie in wait as often we don't know when these acts of destruction will occur. It's really tough trying to save things from the thugs.

quark

Thu, 2020-02-20 20:39

Congratulations to Andrew Wilkie and George Christensen for supporting and highlighting Juliane Assange who has been treated so inhumanely.

Sheila Newman

Sat, 2020-02-15 10:07

Correction: a new Canberra has to be built EVERY year. Oz adds about 1 million every 3 years. so that's a lot more than Canberra, which has about 390,000 people. Population is being engineered upwards by corrupt elites in Australia so fast that no-one can keep up with the figures.

B.Wildered (not verified)

Fri, 2020-02-14 12:55

I am one of the Renter underclass. The 7.30 series that you ran this week was biased and extremely cruel to someone like myself. I pay higher than average rent so am luckier than those lower down on the income spectrum, although I live extremely frugally. The problem is that because I don't yet have a deposit for a home loan, which I could easily be paying off instead of rent I am locked out of the property market while filling the pockets of my wealthy overseas landlord. Due to my mature age I may never have secure housing and the risk of homelessness is a glaring reality for me. You did not mention overpopulation as one of the major causes of high property prices. I'm not surprised because the ABC, as far as I can see, has a policy of never uttering the O word. Secondly why is it fair that someone who already has a home can be helped by the government to build their private wealth while those of us in the underclass are hindered from attaining housing security and endure every privation that accompanies that situation? The property developers build housing and make sure that the government allows hundreds of thousands of non humanitarian immigrants in each year so that property prices don't fall. Furthermore one of your guests accused certain people of nimbyism. That is unjust. Many people who oppose overdevelopment and the environmental and social damage that it causes oppose overdevelopment everywhere. Another of your guests said that high rise buildings are the answer to more affordable housing because they are more environmentally friendly due to their smaller foot print and they are better socially. Wrong, high rise buildings are more energy intensive and damage the environment. Socially, they generally isolate residents from one another. The ABC needs to be more balanced in it's reporting because the consequence of being narrow in who you represent allows injustices to continue. Talking about overpopulation is not racist as is explained in Katherine Betts' book "The Great Divide".

quark

Thu, 2020-02-13 22:59

"People don't like development in their area so it's the politics of NIMBY-ism that is preventing us from providing enough housing " This statement from a Grattan Institute spokesman followed footage of a 72 year old man walking his dog past a humungous multi -story development under construction complete with associated noise and cranes etc. Then we went to his house a 2 storey terrace in Sydney- which we were told was bought a few decades ago and is now worth over $800,000 and he has a $300,000 mortgage, possibly to fund his retirement. Grattan Institute person looked forward to the day when people unlocked the equity in their houses to fund retirement (because they are worth so much) - making it sound oh so sensible . It was not mentioned that people his age were paying for houses on much lower salaries and with much higher interest rates. At least they showed one female in her late sixties who had only just managed to buy a timber bungalow in Kangaroo Valley- her first home. They also referred to Australians' "obsession" with the back yard. It's not an obsession but a preference, a desire. and something that was attainable in the past .In fact one of the contributors to the segment pointed out that in the past rich people AND poorer people could afford housing and that this is no longer the case. I also note land tax being mentioned on this program and others instead of stamp duty. The former tends to keep people in situ and the latter will have the effect of moving people on as they get rated /taxed out of their properties. The ABC seems to be preparing us for a future where we will all be renters. Once older people have used up the equity in their houses for living expenses there will not be a house to leave to their children. Looks like we are on the road to being dispossessed.

quark

Mon, 2020-02-10 22:29

He's nailed it. I knew I liked Paul Kelly. The glory, the diversity of our wildlife are disappearing. Think how much we would like to see a Thylacine ; well that's how we'll be about a koala or kangaroo in decades to come....

Sue (not verified)

Sat, 2020-02-01 09:57

Does this mean that for the majority of Melbourne City councillors there is at least one public park each in the City of Melbourne that would lose sunlight because of something that will bring that individual financial gain? I guess it does!

Sheila Newman

Thu, 2020-01-30 23:17

A question people in Frankston would like answered:
Why wasn't the draft Frankston Green Wedge Management Plan adopted by Frankston Council on 14 October 2019 actioned without delay in accordance with the Local Government Act?
LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT 1989 - SECT 94A Functions of the Chief Executive Officer
LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT 1989 - SECT 94A
Functions of the Chief Executive Officer
(1) A Chief Executive Officer is responsible for—

S. 94A(1)(a) amended by No. 53/2015 s. 9(1)(a).

(a) establishing and maintaining an appropriate organisational structure for the Council; and

(b) ensuring that the decisions of the Council are implemented without undue delay

Sheila Newman

Thu, 2020-01-30 13:42

Show your support by come along and bring two friends! We will be presenting to the community information about the proposed quarry and what The Ross Trusts' Hillview Quarries is not telling you. We are inviting politicians to make a statement and inviting media. If you have any contacts that will help with this meeting please let them know. The more people that turn up the more support we will have to show Daniel Andrews and Richard Wynne that this quarry is not needed and precious bushland should not be destroyed. Please share this information with all your family and friends. -- Regards, Michelle PPG Secretary https://www.SaveArthursSeat.com Petition: https://www.change.org/p/mark-fancett-say-no-to-a-massive-new-quarry-on-arthurs-seat?recruiter=305335849&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=copylink&utm_campaign=share_petition&utm_term=undefined Social Media https://www.facebook.com/groups/642633169096067/ https://www.instagram.com/savearthursseat/ https://twitter.com/SaveArthursSeat Peninsula Preservation Group Inc acknowledges and pays respect to the Boon Wurrung/Bunurong people, the traditional custodians of these lands and waters.

Sheila Newman

Mon, 2020-01-27 15:29

Please stand up and be counted against Mr Hampton's adverse scheme for Frankston Green Wedges.  We live at the top of a truly heavenly series of open landscapes with incomparable views and unique biodiversity (albeit struggling against human overpopulation - which councillors must also resist with all their courage).  We would be insane to further jeopardise this incredible Pacific Island paradise just for a few developers and land-corporation-slash-political parties' short-term gain. God only knows what motivates Mr Hampton. There is nothing I care more about than preserving this area (and the rest of Australia) against overdevelopment and overpopulation.  As a land-systems, enery resources and population sociologist, I have dedicated years to this.task.  No financial gain, no 'jobs project' can possibly justify more urbanisation and industrialisation of Frankston or the Peninsular. If Cr Hampton likes overdevelopment so much, I suggest that Frankston hold a raffle to buy him a one-way ticket to China.

James Sinnamon

Mon, 2020-01-27 02:46

From Donald Trump Murdered Qasem Soleimani (10/1/20) by James Risen | The Intercept. (The emphases in the quoted text below, are my own. - JS) :

Donald Trump has dragged America into a moral abyss. And yet Congress, the press, and the public are unwilling to admit that we are now standing in blood. The nation is enabling a murderous demagogue, and we are all complicit.

The president of the United States has murdered a high-ranking official of a foreign government. The assassination last week of Iranian Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani was a state-sponsored murder.

But no one in the Washington establishment seems prepared to come out and say the hard truth: Donald Trump is a murderer.

Yet, further below, James Risen writes:

Soleimani was the head of the Quds Force, the elite external operations arm of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which operated with impunity throughout Iraq under his leadership. He ran Iran’s ground campaign against ISIS in Iraq, in parallel to the American air campaign, and employed Shia militias and their ruthless tactics to defeat the cult-like group. The United States has been happy to take credit for the victory over ISIS in Iraq, without admitting that it relied heavily upon Soleimani’s horrific paramilitary actions and his strategic acumen.

But he was much more than a special forces commander or spymaster; he was Iran’s most important envoy, and he served as Tehran’s intimidating political fixer throughout the Middle East.

He dominated the political landscape in Baghdad. In November, The Intercept and the New York Times reported on leaked Iranian intelligence cables that publicly documented Iran’s deep influence in Iraq from Iran’s perspective for the first time. What jumped off the pages in the leaked cables was Soleimani’s personal political power in Iraq and his hold on many of Iraq’s top political, military, and security officials.

Last October, Soleimani intervened at the highest levels of Iraqi politics to keep Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi in office amid massive protests and calls for his resignation.

So, on the one hand, James Risen rightly states that President Donald Trump is guilty of murdering Iranian General Qasem Soleimani. This clear fact and the consequent need to at least have Donald Trump shown up for the murderer that he is at least before world public opinion, if not in a court of law, is, bizarrely, rarely stated, even in the Iranian PressTV, the Russian RT or other alternative newsmedia.

On the other hand, whilst acknowledging Qasem Soleimani's role in leading the fight against ISIS in Iraq, James Risen describes his tactics against ISIS as "horrific paramilitary actions". No specific examples are given, let alone the context in which those "horrific paramilitary actions" were used. He also labels Soleimani "Tehran's intimidating political fixer throughout the Middle East".

So, whilst condemning Donald Trump's murder of Qasem Soleimani and acknowledging his leading role in the fight against ISIS, James Risen still manages to depict Qasem Soleimani, who was mourned by many millions of Iraqis and Iranians before, and during, his funeral as a ruthless and unconscionable operator, feared by most Iraqis. So, in spite of his initial outcry against the murder of Qasem Soleimani, much of what James Risen has subsequently written, seems to provide some justification for that murder.

quark

Fri, 2020-01-24 09:56

A rather aggressive sounding male rang ABC Melbourne radio yesterday about what the government's decision to stop roo shooting has "cost" him - about $2,000 a week. It's a bit like the logging - harvesting our common wealth for their gain. His main argument against this moratorium was that he wants to shoot where there have been no fires so kangaroo populations there are unaffected (even tho decimated elsewhere.) A bit later the topic continued with Virginia Trioli who twice showed her ignorance of the treatment of pouch young by kangaroo shooters. One person referred to banging joeys on the tow bar and Trioli "corrected" this person saying that animals were shot and then cut the person off. (We know that dependent young are killed by flinging them against the the tow bar of vehicles.) Later a woman rang to say that as far as the govt (presumably DELWP) is concerned pinkies /pouch young are considered "non sentient" and not able to feel pain but she assured the audience they do. Trioli then said "Oh I was unaware of this" and cut her off immediately. This woman also said was that kangaroos numbers in Victoria are only 1 point something million and that the numbers are only a fraction of the human population. Trioli replied that one would naturally expect there to be more humans To me it was as though humans are the main game and the animals are just a backdrop. Trioli to me appeared biased in favour of kangaroo harvesting (shooting) - that's what came across to me.

Marion (not verified)

Wed, 2020-01-08 16:04

In the 1950s and 1960s the Otways was a dense damp temperate rainforest. Cool temperate rainforest in Victoria covers the Otways, Central Highlands, East Gippsland and South Gippsland. This rainforest type generally exists in high rainfall, higher altitude fertile environments. In the 1970s large swathes of Otway temperate rainforest were cut down for pine plantations. The Otways has since dried out considerably which seems to have affected the rainfall of all surrounding areas, including Geelong and possibly Melbourne too.

Vivienne (not verified)

Mon, 2020-01-06 17:30

Interesting to read another opinion other than reducing 'fuel loads', as if fallen trees and undergrowth were merely fuel and not ecological events. It would be interesting to do some research on areas that have had prescribed burning, compared to other similar areas, and get data on just how effective they are. Apart from hotter climate and more frequency of fires, we have burgeoning population growth, urban sprawl, and tree-changers, more and more living close to trees, country and native parks. Not to mention arson!

Sue (not verified)

Wed, 2019-12-25 10:24

I am in the north east of Victoria where I can smell and taste smoke all the time , even inside. We open windows only to let in smoke. The nearby hills and mountains, usually clear and dominant are faded behind a light grey smoke haze.

James Sinnamon

Tue, 2019-12-24 01:24

The following is a response to the latter part of CrossTalk Bullhorns on impeachment: Impasse, the 23 December edition of RT's CrossTalk discussion. You can view the 30 minute program at the above link or below, where it is embedded. In my comment, I strongly dispute the panel's assertion that it was the Western Allies - France and Britain - and not Stalin that did the most to facilitate Hitler's launching of the Second World War. Whilst those countries' betrayal of Czechoslovakia at the Munich conference of 1938 should be condemned, I consider Stalin's subsequent appeasement of, and collusion with, Hitler to have been even more unconscionable. I tried to post the comment below to that page, but it was deleted. I intend to find out from the RT site administrators whether or not this apparent censorship was intentional. - JS

The case against supposed 'historical revisionism' concerning the outbreak of the Second World War was abysmal. Whilst, of course, the policy of appeasement by Britain and France prior to 1 September 1939 cannot be excused, the following facts are ignored by the CrossTalk panel:

Whilst they (and Vladimir Putin) have acknowledged Stalin's murder of most of the Polish officer corps at Katyn wood, Stalin's Betrayal of Poland did not start and did not end there.

Until the Red Army invaded Poland from behind on 17 September, the Polish Army's resistance to the German invasion was stiffening. "Rising '44 - the Battle for Warsaw" (2003) by Norman Davies shows how the Red Army stood still on the East bank of the Vistula, whilst the German Army brutally suppressed the Warsaw uprising from August until October 1944. [1]

The fact remains, that from 1 September 1939 until 22 June, Britain and France [2] fought on alone against Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy, whilst the Soviet Union shipped across the border much of the raw materials needed by the Third Reich to invade Denmark, the Benelux countries, Denmark, Norway and then France. Whilst, in the skies above Britain, from July until October 1940, 'the few' fought against German bombers and fighters, the Soviet Union continued to ship raw materials across to Germany.

The supply of raw materials continued as the Germans and Italians conquered the Balkans and attempted to conquer North Africa.

How does the panel think the Red Army would have fared, had Britain made a separate peace with Hitler? How does the panel think the Red Army would have fared had President Roosevelt (FDR) not (against previous promises to American voters) succeeded in bringing the United States into the war against Nazi Germany? Could any country have endured proportionately more losses than did the the Soviet Union and still survive?

In spite of Stalin's treachery, when the British and Americans learned of Hitler's plans to invade the Soviet Union they warned Stalin, but these warnings were ignored. Stalin also ignored warnings of the invasion from his agent, German Communist Richard Sorge who worked in the German Tokyo embassy. [3]

The Soviet Union contniued to send raw materials across the border into the Third Reich right up until the morning of 22 June 1941, when after all the time that Stalin had supposedly bought the Soviet Union, the Red Army was surprised and routed terribly. [4]

So much for Stalin's brilliant plans to use the Moltov-Ribbbentrop Pact of August 1938 to better prepare for war against Nazi Germany.

Appendix: Embedded copy of "CrossTalk Bullhorns on impeachment: Impasse" (23/12/19)

Footnotes

[1] Even the Greek Communist ELAS resistance fared little better than the Polish Home Army after October 1994 because of Churchill's infamous "percentages agreement" with Stalin, as documented in "The Kapetanios" (1972) by Dominique Eudes.

[2] After 22 June 1940, when Vichy France signed a truce and effectively sided with Nazi Germany from that point on, 'France' refers to the Resistance and the conventional Free French armed forces of Charles de Gaulle.

[3] Richard Sorge was to be subsequently uncovered and arrested by the Japanese. The Japanese, who were not then at war with the Soviet Union, offered to return Richard Sorge, but Stalin did not take up the offer. Sorge was executed on 7 November 1944. In 1964, Nikita Khruschev posthumously awarded Richard Sorge with the title of "Hero of the Soviet Union".

[4] Even when the war finally turned in favour of the Red Army on 2 February 1943 at the conclusion of the Battle of Stalingrad, the Red Army still had to pay a terrible cost to drive Nazi Germany and its allies all the way back to Berlin. This was largely thanks to Stalin murdering or imprisoning the Red Army's best officers in the purges of 1938. Had those officers still been alive, the cost paid by the Soviet Union would not have been nearly as high.

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