More than 100 witnesses, including two former prime ministers, have faced the Robodebt inquiry and sworn to tell the truth.
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Wednesday, 05 July
19:40
Rearranging the deckchairs on climate-battered country "IndyWatch Feed Politics.au"
By Frances Goold He may look like an idiot and talk like an idiot but dont let that fool you. He really is an idiot. (Groucho Marx) Last Thursdays ICAC report on the NSW ex-premiers serious corrupt conduct by breaching public trust was quickly countered by her assertions that nothing in the report demonstrates that
The post Rearranging the deckchairs on climate-battered country appeared first on The AIM Network.
18:08
Monetary policy in the hands of the central banker sociopaths is advancing the class interests of the elites "IndyWatch Feed Economics.au"
Recently, I wrote about the conditions that dictate what impacts interest rate changes will have on aggregate spending and demand-driven inflation in direction, magnitude and temporality see RBA governors Quils mangent de la brioche moments of disdain (June 8, 2023). It is highly likely in many cases, the decisions by central banks to increase
17:20
Information on the number of littering and parking fines issued "IndyWatch Feed Politics.au"
Response by Randwick
City Council to Laurence
Poulter on .
Awaiting classification.
PLUS everything
that's happening for NAIDOC Week 2023 ...
16:07
Why Arent Thailands Banks More Profitable? "IndyWatch Feed Economics.au"
Compared to their counterparts in Indonesia and the Philippines, the country's financial institutions have seen only modest growth.
16:00
Berejiklian escapes prosecution despite ICAC corruption verdict "IndyWatch Feed Politics.au"
The conclusion of the NSW ICAC determined former Premier Gladys Berejiklian had engaged in serious corruption, yet she has escaped criminal charges. Anthony Klan reports.
FORMER NSW PREMIER Gladys Berejiklian has been found to have engaged in serious corrupt conduct after a multi-year probe by the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC).
In findings released on Thursday 29 June, the ICAC found Berejiklian engaged in serious corrupt conduct in relation to a $5.5 million grant to the Australian Clay Target Association (ACTA) in Wagga Wagga NSW.
It found Berejiklian had engaged in serious corrupt conduct for not reporting her concerns or corrupt conduct, or improper conduct, of former MP Daryl Maguire, who the ICAC also found had engaged in corrupt conduct over a series of private business dealings.
Berejiklian and Maguire had been in a secret relationship from about 2015 to 2020, which Berejiklian had not disclosed, despite presiding over millions of dollars of grants to projects in Maguires then electorate of Wagga Wagga, central NSW.
The ICAC also found Berejiklian had breached the public trust over funding for the Riverina Conservatorium of Music, also in Wagga Wagga.
The ACTA gun club was given a $5.5 million grant for a new clubhouse and function centre despite it failing to meet the required criteria and strong objections from departmental officials after an intervention by Berejiklian.
The ICAC said Maguire had been a strong proponent of both the ACTA project an...
14:28
AFTINET joins civil society in calling for the release of IPEF pillar 2 agreement and current texts "IndyWatch Feed Economics.au"
July 5, 2023: The Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) is a new regional forum initiated by the US that proponents say will strengthen economic cooperation between its 14 participants and divert supply chains away from China. IPEF, unlike traditional trade agreements, does not include market access commitments like lower tariffs. Instead, the main incentives are increased investment and capacity building projects (you can read more about the 'Four Pillars' negotiating objectives of IPEF here).
IPEF recently announced the substantial conclusion of negotiations for pillar 2, which aims to increase the resilience and sustainability of supply chains amongst the 14 members, following a Ministers meeting in Detroit in May. However, the text of the agreement has not been released and civil society is now calling for greater transparency from trade ministers ahead of the next round of IPEF negotiations from July 8 in Busan, South Korea.
IPEF is being promoted as a new model of trade arrangements with greater consultation with civil society. Yet the secrecy of the text means that civil society is unable to assess the agreement or ensure those benefits are real, and not a repeat of the trade agreements designed to benefit powerful states and transnational corporations.
By failing to release the texts and ensure the transparency of negotiations, IPEF negotiators not only deny the public and civil society meaningful input to ensure that the self-defined IPEF outcomes of fairness, collaboration and inclusivity are met, but also risk repeating the problematic approaches to free trade agreements that has led to their deep unpopularity.
AFTINET has joined with 16 civil society groups from IPEF countries in signing a letter to leaders and ministers participating in the IPEF negotiations in Busan to release the Pillar 2 agreement and other negotiating texts. You can read the full letter here.
13:13
Which NSW councils need ward redistributions? "IndyWatch Feed Politics.au"
Prior to the 2021 NSW council elections, I analysed the population trends in another of Sydney councils which have been shouldering the bulk of Sydneys population growth. I wrote about Camden, Blacktown, a number of other councils, and an overall post.
Now as we get closer to the September 2024 elections, I have started paying attention to which NSW councils might be redrawing their ward boundaries.
Unfortunately there is no central record of the redistribution process, unlike in Victoria and Queensland. Each council handles redistributions through their regular decision-making process, usually involving a round of public consultation.
There are still some rules that apply to this process. Councils must make a final decision by 5 October 2023. Wards in New South Wales must elect the same number of councillors across a council area, and must be drawn so no ward varies from any other ward by more than 10% of enrolment. This process cant change the structure of the council the number of wards and number of councillors can only be changed with a referendum.
Some councils are obliged to redraw their ward boundaries, if wards deviated by each other by more than 10% over a specified time period. Councils can also choose to redraw outside of this situation, but this deviation obliges a council to make a change.
Its worth noting that I originally interpreted the legislation as requiring wards to fall within 10% of the average enrolment, which would have been much less strict in terms of forcing redistributions. Once realising this I had to re-run my calculations and update this blog post.
In todays post, Ill be looking at enrolment data to identify councils which are obliged to redraw their map, and those that have narrowly escaped.
When I was first looking into this issue, I downloaded the latest enrolment data for the 48 councils in the state which used wards in 2021 (at the time they were April 2023 data) to look for wards that were 10% higher than other wards in their council. But when I read the legislation, I realised that the trigger is based on a much earlier point in time.
Section 211 of the Local Government Act requires a redistribution if the council becomes aware that a ward deviates by more than 10% during a councils term of office, and if that difference remains at the end of the first year of the following term.
This means that a deviation would only force a redistribution if it had appeared during the previous council term. If a new deviation was to appear now, it would only trigger a redistri...
12:00
Reserve Bank has gone mad "IndyWatch Feed Politics.au"
The successive rises in the cash rate to March 2023 by the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) leave one doubting the intelligence of its Governor, Philip Lowe, and his senior staff.
The further rise in the cash rate to 3.85% on 2 May 2023 confirms ones doubts.
The cash rate began its most recent descent in November 2011, lowered from 4.75% to 4.50%. The rate was pushed down successively to 0.10% in November 2020, where it stayed until May 2022. In March 2021, Lowe claimed that the cash rate would stay low for another three years to 2024. The rate was then raised during ten successive months to 3.60% in March 2023. Many would-be mortgagors apparently took Lowe at this word.
Philip Lowe speaks like an automaton, delivering the conventional wisdom in myriad re-phrasings but which remain opaque. Yet Lowe is earning over $1 million a year (the U.S. Feds Jerome Powells salary is around US$200,000 (AU$295,842)). His deputies are on a good earner as well. Salaries are supposedly set to acquire and reward expertise.
Moreover, the formal reason for affording central banks independence is that the detached expertise of central bankers must be given free rein for analysis and implementation without the interference of ill-informed and opportunistic politicians. But where is the expertise?
The RBA employs over 1,300 staff, a huge total and growing over the last decade. Why are so many formally well-educated brains not filtering intelligence to the peak of the pyramid?
Lowe has a PhD from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, one of the very to...
10:02
Nobbling royal commissions: a Scott Morrison how-to guide "IndyWatch Feed Politics.au"
Nobbling royal commissions: a Scott Morrison how-to guide
08:17
Final Robodebt royal commission report will be delivered on Friday, outlining who was responsible for the scheme "IndyWatch Feed Politics.au"
What we learned from nine weeks of the Robodebt inquiry
...
08:08
In which the pond is triggered, and takes some time to get around to "Ned", some two party ningnong and the bromancer's war with China ... "IndyWatch Feed Politics.au"
Apropos of a note regarding the pond's work not yet being done, yesterday the pond visited the RPA and was shocked and disturbed to discover everyone was still required to wear masks on entry ...
To what avail? And another thing, when will the medical profession get over this bizarre fetish for wearing masks during operating procedures? Where's the harm if a few germs drop on an open wound?
Everyone knows that the efficacy of masks is disputed on almost a daily basis in the lizard Oz as an idle superstition.
Sure doctors waste time spending seven years or more studying medicine and doing internships and maybe 24-7 service in an emergency ward, but a little learning is a dangerous thing. There's nothing they couldn't learn by dropping in on a Joe Rogan podcast for five minutes or spending ten listening to the deepest thoughts of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (They might even discover mass shootings are linked to prescription drugs and that vaccines can cause autism and assorted other conspiracy theories).
Oh they'll quibble and cavil, as if they know anything. When in doubt regarding your medical knowledge, trust an environmental lawyer. Better still, trust Killer Creighton or the Caterist, with a deep medical understanding honed over years of writing columns. Weigh up a third rate sociology degree against wasted time at university studying medicine, and there's only one conclusion. Better still, Killer has degrees in economics, so he's entirely suited to explaining how masks are a very expensive con job. He's full of sage advice.
Another thing: the pond is convinced that mask-wearing is somehow related to the prevalence of assorted tough-to-fight staph forms in hospitals. Settle. Of course the pond has no evidence, but isn't that the scientific way? Advance a theory, just ask questions, and soon enough the proof will come along. Or not, as the case may be, but what fun asking the questions.
Sorry, that little outburst came from the pond being made to wear a mask, going against years of reptile warnings. Sure it kept the face warm on a cold day, but it also fogged the pond's glasses, and that might have led to a fatal injury, not to mention the harm done by fatal ingestion of carbon dioxide, which is good for the planet and plants, but can be tricky for the metabolism.
What else triggered the pond at the start of this day? Well the pond took a look at the top of the lizard Oz digital page and threw a hissy fit and decided its work was pretty much baked to the point of burning ...
See if you can spot any report on the disgraceful behaviour of the far right government of Israel, aerial bombing a refugee camp with "precision"? You can find it elsewhere: ...
08:00
Top tech trends to boost your business "IndyWatch Feed Politics.au"
Key areas in which companies can succeed in the digital business world have been identified by a leading tech firm, writes Paul Budde.
TECH CONSULTING FIRM Gartner's identified trends for cloud, data centre and edge infrastructure in 2023 underline the importance of optimising existing infrastructure, embracing new architectures, adopting cloud principles on-premises, and prioritising sustainability. By staying abreast of these trends and effectively navigating economic and geopolitical challenges, organisations can position themselves for success in the rapidly evolving digital landscape.
Optimisation and refactoring of cloud infrastructure
Gartner emphasises the need for organisations to revisit their cloud infrastructure in 2023. Many companies hastily assembled or poorly architected their cloud infrastructure in the past, resulting in inefficiencies and increased costs.
This year presents an opportunity to optimise and refactor existing cloud infrastructure to enhance efficiency, resilience, and cost-effectiveness. The focus should be on eliminating redundancy, overbuilt or unused infrastructure, building business resilience, mitigating supply chain disruptions, and modernising infrastructure.
Embracing new application architectures
As new application architectures emerge, organisations will need to consider alternative infrastructure options. Gartner suggests that non-x86 architectures, such as Advanced RISC Machines (A.R.M.)-based processors, will be in demand for specialised workloads. A.R.M.-based processors are gaining popularity due to their energy-efficient nature, particularly in the mobile device industry.
By adopting alternative architectures, organisations can harness energy efficiency and optimise their infrastructure for specific workload requirements.
Adoption of cloud principles on-premises
Data centre teams will increasingly adopt cloud principles on-premises to deliver more agil...
01:45
Down Under High: Australia Is the First Country To Use MDMA and Psilocybin To Treat Severe Psychiatric Conditions "IndyWatch Feed Politics.au"
Lately, it has become difficult to detect exactly where the cure ends and where the poison begins. The rationale behind many decisions in Big Pharma and regulatory agencies around the world is getting increasingly difficult to support.
Ecstasy and Magic Mushrooms for psychologically unstable people? Sure, why not? What could possibly go wrong? Sounds like a joke, but now its a reality in Australia.
Sputnik reported:
Australias controversial move to become the worlds first country to allow the clinical prescription of MDMA, better known as part of the drug ecstasy, and psilocybin the main ingredient in magic mushrooms for a raft of psychiatric conditions has left many clinicians and researchers concerned.
The therapy would provide an options for people with mental illnesses not responding to other treatments. Some hail it as a game changer, but others fear that the was decision rushed.
3,4-Methylenedioxy-methamphetamine, commonly known as ecstasy, and psilocybin are both Schedule 9 (prohibited substances) in Australia. The drugs in question are still being tested in clinical trials.
The decision to approve their being prescribed for the treatments in question is very early as compared with the usual process of developing and rolling out new treatments, clinical psychiatrist Dr. Colleen Loo, a professor of psychiatry at the University of New South Wales [] in Sydney told the media.
There is also no data on the long-term results of the treatments, or about how permanent are the promising positive effects.
Professor Richard Bryant, School of Psychology, University of NSW: The science is at a point where we can say it is too early to be prescribing MDMA for PTSD patients. Instead, we should be investing in research to understand how MDMA can be used in relation to proven treatments.
The cost of psychedelic-assisted therapy is estimated to be around $25,000.
The new regulations allows approved psychiatrists to prescribe MDMA for post-traumat...
01:36
Shipping levy on maritime emissions opposed by Australia at IMO conference "IndyWatch Feed Enviro.au"
Shipping, in transporting around 90% of world trade, creates about 1 billion tonnes of greenhouse gasses, or nearly 3 per cent of global carbon dioxide emissions. It is about the same amount as Germany or Japan. Pacific Island nations including Solomon Islands and Marshall Islands, proposed the introduction of a $100 per tonne levy on maritime emissions in order to make cleaner fuels
Tuesday, 04 July
23:42
Listings remain low, but... "IndyWatch Feed Economics.au"
Listings remain low
Property for sale remained relatively tight across
each of the major capital cities, and significantly lower than a
year earlier in Sydney, Melbourne, and Perth.
Listings have increased notably in Canberra and
Hobart, after some stellar price performance in recent
years.
Asking prices are higher over the year in most
cities, but there has been some weakness in regional markets of
late, including in 'lifestyle' locations such as the Sunshine Coast
(which I can attest to personally) and the Mornington Peninsula
(which I can't).
23:23
Quick as a flash, nothing happened "IndyWatch Feed Economics.au"
ausbiz TV
The Reserve Bank of Australia kept interest rates
on hold today.
I joined Danielle Ecuyer on ausbiz TV to discuss what it all means for property
here (or click on the image below):
James Foster analysed the 'on hold'
decision in detail here.
21:21
Yeah Nah Pasaran! #168 w Isabella Currie on The Wagner Group : July 6, 2023 "IndyWatch Feed National"
Thank you to everybody who donated to 3CR during Radiothon. With your help YNP! managed to raise just over $7,000 for the station in order to stay radical and continue to provide a vital platform for the issues that get Continue reading
19:19
Cancer Treatment Progress "IndyWatch Feed National"
Editors note: We have written quite a bit on cancer on this site and Mary Maxwell has written a...
19:15
The Power of Her Lived Experience "IndyWatch Feed National"
Many of the women who work in domestic violence shelters and crisis settings have had a lived experience of violence and have dedicated their life to making the world a more peaceful, safer place for women, children and family pets.
This is particularly relevant to the era of womens collectives and grass roots community refuges and shelters. The following is a tribute to some of the women who staff Shelters and have chosen to transform her trials and difficulties into knowledge, wisdom and guidance for other women.
- Overcoming Trauma: This extraordinary woman has demonstrated immense strength and resilience by building her life on top of trauma. Despite facing significant challenges, she has refused to let her past define her, instead choosing to use her experiences as a driving force to create a better future for herself and others.
- Commitment to Empowerment: Despite her own struggles, this courageous woman has remained steadfastly committed to making the world a better place. She understands the transformative power of empowerment and has dedicated herself t...
17:57
A second McDonnell-Douglas UAP study in the 1970's? - A preliminary article "IndyWatch Feed National"
Introduction
I am continuing my steady re-reading of Jacques Vallee's "Forbidden Science: Volume 5." There are a wealth of interesting little pieces of information to be digested slowly; just like the French food which Vallee frequently refers to in his diary entries.
It is now common knowledge that the McDonnell-Douglas company conducted an in-house study of UAP between 1967-1969. The leader of this internal company study was Robert M. Wood. Wood published a few details of the project in the July/August 1993 issue of the "International UFO Reporter" in an article "A Little Physics....A Little Friction: A Close Encounter with the Condon Committee" and in much more detail in the October 2008 "MUFON Journal" in an article titled "McDonnell Douglas Studied UFOs in 1960's." There are a number of websites where you can read around 275 pages of documentation of this 1967-1969 study. I posted an article about the project and the contents of some of this documentation on 22 September 2020.
A second McDonnell Douglas study in the 70's?
Now, when reading "Forbidden Science: Volume 5" I came across references to what appears to have been a separate, and second McDonnell-Douglas UAP study. Below, I extract a number of sections of Vallee's diary entries, from "Forbidden Science: Volume 2,3 and 5" concerning McDonnell-Douglas.
FS2 10 December 1974
| ... |
17:41
IAEA hypocrisy, and the little Fukushima nuclear radiation mill "IndyWatch Feed Enviro.au"
Do you remember the old Norwegian folk story? In this, the little salt mill is thrown into the sea, because it wont stop producing salt. Thats why the sea is salty.
Well, the not-so-little damaged Fukushima nuclear reactor will soon be releasing radioactively-contaminated water (equivalent in volume to about 500 Olympic-size swimming pools) into the sea and thats just the start.
The International Atomic Energy Agencys Director General Rafael Grossi will visit Japan from Tuesday to deliver a final report on the safety of the process.
That is just a formality. Despite the perilous situation at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, Rafael Grossi and the rest of the well-paid IAEA troop, and Japans political big-wigs, and TEPCO -all are happy to release irradiated water ad infinitum into the worlds oceans.
This really should be a wake-up call for the world. The International Atomic Energy Agency doesnt give a damn about your health, your childrens health, your grandchildrens health, your great-grandchildrens health and so on ad infinitum.
The religious belief that nuclear reactors, and especially small nuclear reactors will save the world from global heating that is a load of codswallop, and the IAEA knows this.
There are safer alternatives for dealing with the Fukushima nuclear wastewater, and with wastes from other nuclear reactors.
This permission from the ultimate authority whose real job is saving the nuclear industry, this permission should be a wake-up call to the world.
17:39
Sinking billions: undergunned and overpriced "IndyWatch Feed Enviro.au"
Missing records, billions in over-runs, conflicts of interest, and flawed ships. How the Defence Departments new frigates project is a boondoggle for a British weapons-maker.
MICHELLE FAHY, JUL 3, 2023, https://undueinfluence.substack.com/p/sinking-billions-undergunned-and?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=297295&post_id=132705738&isFreemail=true&utm_medium=email
Part one of a two-part series.
In this two-part investigation, Declassified Australia examines the flawed contracting process that led to a $46 billion naval ship-building deal that has been found to be suffering what an investigative audit described as corruption vulnerabilities.
The company at the centre of the scandal, UK arms giant BAE Systems, is revealed to have lied to Australias Defence Department about the planned ships design.
Crucial departmental records of key decision-making meetings have gone missing, while no overall assessment of whether the selected BAE design was value for money was ever made.
The Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) reported in May its findings on the multi-billion dollar contract Australia signed in December 2018 with BAE Systems to build nine Hunter-class frigates.
The ANAO found that BAE had overstated bureaucratic language for lied the level of development of the frigates design, which meant cost inflation and schedule slippage were severely under-estimated.
BAE exaggerated the maturity of its design to get around a key government objective requiring the ship to be based on an existing military-off-the-shelf design with a minimum level of change.
Defence selected the BAE Systems frigate even though the two other ships on its shortlist were considered the two most viable designs.
Business as usual
Conflicts of interest, secret consulting deals, and revolving door appointments all undermine democracy, yet this is business-as-usual at the Defence Department, the nations biggest procurement agency.
Former senior BAE executives have been placed at the heart of Australias naval procurement. They have helped write government shipbuilding policy, overseen the navys largest tende...
17:37
Will this whistleblower be heard by anyone? "IndyWatch Feed Enviro.au"
Date: June 28, 2023, Author: dunrenard, https://dunrenard.wordpress.com/2023/06/28/will-this-whistleblower-be-heard-by-anyone/
RELEASES INTERNAL IAEA DOCUMENT PROVING COLLUSION WITH JAPAN
OVER FUKUSHIMA RADIOACTIVE WATER RELEASE
A whistleblower-released document created by the International
Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on June 1, 2023, shows that the fix is
in IAEA is not only is planning to approve the release of 1.3
million tons of radioactive water from Fukushima but to manipulate
their communication to the world in support Japans position despite
facts showing otherwise, eliminating anything that might be viewed
negatively by the public.
This is outrageous and dangerous for the entire world. Japan, with the IAEAs support NOT protection is planning to commit its own nuclear assault on the world through this radioactive water release.
Weve suspected and accused the IAEA and Japan of working
together in the past, and now we have the proof
Please, do what you can to get this word out not just to our echo
chamber, but to media.
Date: June 28, 2023Author: dunrenard0 Comments
RELEASES INTERNAL IAEA DOCUMENT PROVING COLLUSION WITH JAPAN
OVER FUKUSHIMA RADIOACTIVE WATER RELEASE
A whistleblower-released document created by the International
Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on June 1, 2023, shows that the fix is
in IAEA is not only is planning to approve the release of 1.3
million tons of radioactive water from Fukushima but to manipulate
their communication to the world in support Japans position despite
facts showing otherwise, eliminating anything that might be viewed
negatively by the public.
This is outrageous and dangerous for the entire world. Japan, with
the IAEAs support NOT protection is planning to commit its own
nuclear assault on the world through this radioactive water
release....
17:35
Chris Hedges: They Lied About Afghanistan. They Lied About Iraq. And They Are Lying About Ukraine. "IndyWatch Feed Enviro.au"
The U.S. public has been conned, once again, into pouring billions into another endless war.
The playbook the pimps of war use to lure us into one military fiasco after another, including Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Syria and now Ukraine, does not change. Freedom and democracy are threatened. Evil must be vanquished. Human rights must be protected. The fate of Europe and NATO, along with a rules based international order is at stake. Victory is assured.
The results are also the same. The justifications and narratives are exposed as lies. The cheery prognosis is false. Those on whose behalf we are supposedly fighting are as venal as those we are fighting against.
The Russian invasion of Ukraine was a war crime, although one that was provoked by NATO expansion and by the United States backing of the 2014 Maidan coup which ousted the democratically elected Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych. Yanukovych wanted economic integration with the European Union, but not at the expense of economic and political ties with Russia. The war will only be solved through negotiations that allow ethnic Russians in Ukraine to have autonomy and Moscows protection, as well as Ukrainian neutrality, which means the country cannot join NATO. The longer these negotiations are delayed the more Ukrainians will suffer and die. Their cities and infrastructure will continue to be pounded into rubble.
But this proxy war in Ukraine is designed to serve U.S. interests. It enriches the weapons manufacturers, weakens the Russian military and isolates Russia from Europe. What happens to Ukraine is irrelevant.
First, equipping our friends on the front lines to defend themselves is a far cheaper way in both dollars and American lives to degrade Russias ability to threaten the United States, admitted Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell.
Second, Ukraines effective defense of its territory is teaching us lessons about how to improve the defenses of partners who are threatened by China. It is no surprise that senior officials from Taiwan are so supportive of efforts to help U...
17:33
American, Russians, Ukrainians and Belarusians gather in Vienna to call for peace "IndyWatch Feed Enviro.au"
By Medea Benjamin, https://beyondnuclearinternational.org/2023/07/02/coming-together-for-peace/
During the weekend of June 10-11 in Vienna, Austria, over 300 people representing peace organizations from 32 countries came together for the first time since the Russian invasion of Ukraine to demand an end to the fighting. In a formal conference declaration, participants declared, We are a broad and politically diverse coalition that represents peace movements and civil society. We are firmly united in our belief that war is a crime against humanity and there is no military solution to the current crisis.
To amplify their call for a ceasefire, Summit participants committed themselves to organizing Global Weeks of Actionprotests, street vigils and political lobbyingduring the days of September 30-October 8.
Summit organizers chose Austria as the location of the peace conference because Austria is one of only a few neutral non-NATO states left in Europe. Ireland, Switzerland and Malta are a mere handful of neutral European states, now that previously neutral states Finland has joined NATO and Sweden is next in line. Austrias capital, Vienna, is known as UN City, and is also home to the Secretariat of the OSCE (the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe), which monitored the ceasefire in the Donbas from the signing of the Minsk II agreement in 2015 until the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Surprisingly, neutral Austria turned out to be quite hostile to the Peace Summit. The union federation caved in to pressure from the Ukrainian Ambassador to Austria and other detractors, who smeared the events as a fifth column for the Russian invaders. The ambassador had objected to some of the speakers, including world-renowned economist Jeffrey Sachs and European Union Parliament member Clare Daly.
Even the press club, where the final press conference was scheduled, was canceled at the last minute. The Austrian liberal/left newspaper Der Standard piled on, panning the conference both beforehand, during and afterwards, alleging that the speakers were too pro-Russian. Undaunted, local organizers quickly found other locations. The conference took place in a lovely concert center, and the press conference in a local cafe.
The most moving panel of the conference was the one with representatives from Ukraine, Russia, and Belarus, who risked...
16:35
Linda Burney: give the kids a sign for the photo-op "IndyWatch Feed National"
The memos gone out. Desperate times. Push the cause. Use any tactic.
16:02
Executions Human Rights forsworn and Wars fought "IndyWatch Feed Politics.au"
By Andrew Klein In these days of mass communication and glib reportage, carefully presented and stage managed by the powers that be the reality of death in its many guises often presents more of a picture of entertainment, or at best, outrage at a distance. Many Australians were outraged by the executions carried out in
The post Executions Human Rights forsworn and Wars fought appeared first on The AIM Network.
16:00
Dutton's defence of Berejiklian oozes Liberal contempt for women "IndyWatch Feed Politics.au"
Just when you thought the Liberals might be running out of new ways to demean women, along comes Opposition Leader Peter Dutton with his defence of disgraced former NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian.
Berejiklian was last week found by the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) to have engaged in serious corrupt conduct. This included failing to disclose her close personal relationship with former disgraced Liberal MP for Wagga, Daryl Maguire, and failing to report her knowledge of his involvement in corrupt dealings.
Dutton found himself caught between a rock and a hard place on the Berejiklian matter. He couldnt accept the ICAC findings without raising the spectre of pork barrelling by the previous Federal Government, for example, the sports rorts fiasco, the regional rorts, the pool rorts and the road rorts. As Ms Berejiklian herself observed everybody rorts. Its not illegal, however, it is corrupt.
Dutton launched a novel defence of Berejiklians actions. Shed fallen in love with a dud, he declared. Shes not corrupt she just made a...
15:15
Costly Amalgamations: The University Merger Mania "IndyWatch Feed Politics.au"
Never trust the musings of university management, with their uplifting visions of sunlit glory, their honey-laced promises of healthy workplaces, staff and students. Being several steps removed from the trench, the field, the library, they are the last to be asked about anything of any consequence in the fields of teaching and research. But that
The post Costly Amalgamations: The University Merger Mania appeared first on The AIM Network.
14:45
The reasons why for you to vote Yes "IndyWatch Feed Politics.au"
The 1967 referendum bill was passed by Parliament because the international community were taking a dim view of Australias treatment of First Nations. First Nations were being excluded as people to count in the census, and those same international observers were cognisant of Queensland and Western Australia resisting pressure to close down the dreadful First
The post The reasons why for you to vote Yes appeared first on The AIM Network.
14:00
Australian Dollar and Bitcoin "IndyWatch Feed Economics.au"
1.00 AUD = 0.00002 BTC
0.00010 BTC = 4.70 AUD
Converter
13:40
Race Riots and Culture Wars "IndyWatch Feed Economics.au"
What was it like?
What?
Parisduring the riots.
Were there riots?
Every country has its railroad tracks. And some people are inevitably on the other side of them. In Paris, poor people tend to live in the suburbs. One of them got killed by police last week. Those of us in the centre of town barely noticed.
Nationwide, the French seem to be having their own George Floyd moment.
Heres CNN:
Chaos, destruction and confrontations have led to curfews in some towns around the capital. Bus and tram services faced disruptions with a nationwide shutdown ordered for 9:00pm on Friday to try to stem another night of violence.
Areas within some of Frances major cities have erupted in violence for several successive nights after a teenager named Nahel Merzouk, reportedly of Algerian descent, was fatally shot by police an incident caught on video.
More than 800 people were arrested the night of 29 June, as outrage continued to intensify. Merzouks death appears to have become a flashpoint for anger about racial inequality in France and claims of police discrimination.
Culture warriors
Meanwhile, racism is a big deal in the US too. There is a whole brigade of culture warriors ready to call it outstamp it outand duke it out. They see racism everywhere.
The Daily Beast: White Professor Disgusts Women Historians Conference:
A conference for female historians this weekend was plunged into turmoil when a prominent white academic speaking at the main event said her professional life would have been easier if she were black.
She was immediately called out for her blatantly racist remarks, and refused to apologise, let alone listen, to the reason why her remarks were horrifyingly wrong
And heres another click-baiting headline from something called BuzzLoving:
White men are a danger to society, says a member of San Franciscos reparations committee.
This past weekend, the US press reeled and railed over the Supreme Courts latest decision on universities race-based admissions programs. In brief, the court recognised that you cant discriminate in favour of one group (blacks, for example) without discriminating against another (Asians, for instance).
This anti-racist decision was immediately attacked asyesracism!
Fox News:
...Jemele Hill accuses Asians of carrying the water for white supremacy for backing affirmative action decision.
Harvard pledged to go forth and sin no moreat least not openly. It said, however, that it would continue to take other circumstances, beyond test scores and academic achievements, into account.
13:40
How Do You Hold onto a Bird in the Hand? "IndyWatch Feed Economics.au"
One of the best pieces of advice I received early in my financial advisory career came from a seasoned investment professional.
His words still ring in my ears
Vern, whenever you hear this five-word preface you cant go wrong buying, thats the moment when everything can go wrong.
Why?
Because once every man and his dog thinks something is a sure bet, cant fail, one-way trip to assured wealth, it means that all risk has been discounted out of the investment equationand thats when an investment contains its most risk.
The only thing thats guaranteed in this business is there are no guarantees.
There are two components to an investmentincome and capital gain.
Neither is assured.
For example, in April 2020, during the COVID meltdown, APRA Chairman, Wayne Byres, penned a letter to the banks, stating:
APRA expects ADIs [Authorised Deposit-taking Institutions] and insurers to limit discretionary capital distributions in the months ahead, to ensure that they instead use buffers and maintain capacity to continue to lend and underwrite insurance
As reported by IG Capital at the time
In response to APRAs letter; Macquarie analysts today said that the big four banks may be forced to either reduce or suspend their next wave of dividends completely.
Looking at a stressed scenario; Macquarie posits that bank losses could run as high as $2527 billion per bank. In this possible world, the banks ability to pay dividends (without raising equity) materially diminishes, it was noted.
Recent history has taught us that other sources of income are not set in stone either.
In 2010, with the RBA cash rate around 5%, who would ever have thought a decade later, money in the bank would earn next-to-nothing?
Who could have anticipated how work-from-home would upset the commercial property applecart?
With higher vacancy levels, per-square-metre rent rates have
come under pressure.
Landlords have suffered a double whammyfalling rental income and
lower property values.
Nothing is ever absolutely guaranteed
Things happen that can change market dynamics.
And what was once placed in the category of you cant go wrong buying, suddenly shifts to how did we get this so wrong?
Of the two types of investment returns, income is perceived as the bird in the hand, while growth is the two in the bush.
So, how do you increase the odds of holding onto that bird in your hand?
With the guidance of someone who has been there and done that.
This is an unashamed plug for my good mate, Greg Canavan
Ive been in this business for 37 years and have seen a lot of investment professionals.....
13:07
Recognised experts agree on that the Australian economy is in trouble "IndyWatch Feed National"
Contributed by Joe Montero
The latest survey by the Conversation should be of interest to everyone. It involved contributions from of leading forecasters in 25 Australian universities, thinktanks and financial institutions among them economic modellers, former Treasury, International Monetary Fund and Reserve Bank officials, and a former member of the Reserve Bank board.
It is the unified view of the state of the Australian economy hat is the most noteworthy part. In short, the probability of a recession high.
The focus of the universities, think tanks, financial institutions, and the rest is on inflation and interest rates. No surprise here. Everyone knows they are a problem. We are all feel the impact on our lives.
But the forecast of a probable recession is about much more. It means a recognition that the economy is not growing and may even be shrinking. Predictions are that even if there is a small growth, it will be less than the increase in population.
Consideration should be given to the reality that official statistics are not accurate and tend to underestimate what is really going on. The reasons are that the methods used tend to be those that paint the best picture for the government.
Take inflation. A price index is used. It contains a basket of essential items for a household and their prices. What is included and whatever weight is given to each of these items matters. The cost of housing is underestimated, and high tech items like computers, mobile phones are excluded. These are just two examples that indicate the Index underestimates the real rate of inflation.
Economic growth is generally measured either by means of the money value of sales. This is called gross Domestic Product (GPD). But there is a problem with this. Financial transactions are considered parts of growth, when all they are is changing ownership of what already exists. There are also certain costs, like those resulting from environmental and social damage that arent included.
If these factors are brought into the calculation, the GDP measurement would show less economic growth.
This gives us a clue as to what is really going on. Finance in proportion to the rest of the economy has become far too big, and the largest part of this takes the form of debt. In turn, this debt takes two forms. Debt used to finance business and household debt.
When the first...
12:26
The Ignorant Imperative: Hannah Gadsby on Pablo Picasso "IndyWatch Feed Politics.au"
The humourless comedian Hannah Gadsby has much to thank one of the twentieth centurys titans of art. By placing him in the stockade of feminist disapproval, the Australian was picking the easiest target and avoiding the most profound questions of his oeuvre. To be so personal, and play the man with such indignation, is the
The post The Ignorant Imperative: Hannah Gadsby on Pablo Picasso appeared first on The AIM Network.
12:00
POEM: An Ode to Senator Thorpe "IndyWatch Feed Politics.au"
This poem is an *IA Writing Competition (fiction category) entry.
AN ODE TO SENATOR THORPE
It's a new generation and pronouns are the rage
Plus a new batch of pollies have taken the stage
Of all of them though, there is who stands out
And it's Senator Thorpe, without a shadow of doubt.
On the coattails of the Greens, she came by Harley to town
Championing minorities and sticking it to the Crown
Some people are asking, Is she barking mad?
In fairness, it was Bolt and Sky News who elected to give a
platform to her dad.
Now widely criticised for making a fuss
But imagine your own father throwing you under the bus!
Evicted from a strip club with verbal abuse her great crime
Some may just argue she's ahead of her time.
But how was Barnaby Joyce, commenting with presumption
About someone else's alcoholic consumption!
Man-handled by police I've been there myself
If politics was about realness, she'd be top shelf.
Everyone seems to have had a go at ripping her down
But she's not one to mess with how about that Van clown?
On the Parliament's stage, she told Pauline where to go
But there are just so few who haven't wanted to, though.
To their discredit, no sisters have paused the great goad
Easier to paint her crazy it serves their cause so
Condemned by so many and told to go take a hike
In fairness, with chance, I'd ride a great Martin bike!
Neither poised nor polished, but should she need be?
A woman after my own heart you get what you see
She is not fit for parliament, says Van like white Sir
Or could it be the great halls, aren't ready for her?
Running scared and desperate to stop her calling them out
Perhaps running scared of the fact she is gaining some clout
Who would actually write this, I hear the hacks say
It's not even fiction burn the rulebook, she'd
say.
A controversial poem, perhaps, but let it be known
Senator Thorpe this is an ode
Let all young girls take a sip from her cup
If only we were all a bit more Lidia as we grew up.
Naomi Fryers is a writer, author, storytelle...
11:59
FixedIt: Rape is not a date "IndyWatch Feed National"
The Cairns Post is back after erasing an alleged violent rape and replacing it with date goes horribly wrong.
The date went wrong? Really? Thats how they choose to describe 21 charges of rape, sexual assault, physical assault, robbery, and enter with intent?
A date goes wrong when youre wearing white jeans and you sit in a puddle of spilled coffee. A date goes wrong when your date tips soup in your lap or sneers at Swifties or brings their parents with them.
Rape, assault and robbery charges are not a date, theyre crimes to be tried in court.
Erasing an alleged rape like this is not an accident or a mistake. Its a choice. That choice tells me a lot about the person who wrote it and they audience they think theyre writing for.
*This man has been charged but not yet tried in court. He has the right to the presumption of innocence. If you are commenting on this post on social media please remember than anything you say that prejudges his guilt or innocence could be contempt of court and could disrupt his trial.*
_
If youre reading this on social media, links to all the articles are on the post on my website: www.JaneGilmore.com
FixedIt is an ongoing project to push back against the medias constant erasure of violent men and blaming of innocent victims. If you would like to help fund it even $5 a month makes a big difference please consider becoming a Patron
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11:24
An unfinished political obituary for Stuart Robert, a flat circle "IndyWatch Feed Politics.au"
An unfinished political obituary for Stuart Robert, a flat circle
Some politicians rise and fall. The scandals of others are simply never done.
As the explosive Synergy 360 controversy shows, one can never truly take comfort in the idea the worst has already come to pass with Stuart Robert.
The man is a flat circle, evangelically unburdened by the weight and sting of conscience. His ensuing and almost preternatural ability to spread scandal thin and wide is not unlike that of a toxic weed: the scandal lingers for years, defacing the trust that sits at the heart of our democracy.
But absent a full panorama of Roberts 15-year scandal-distinguished political career, it would be too easy to cast doubt on or downplay the significance of his legacy.
After all, he belonged to a government marked by unrivalled and unconcealed contempt for those conventions designed to ensure propriety where lies were habitually brandished against not just facts but reality itself, government made...
10:46
TRT World interview on Israeli invasion of Jenin "IndyWatch Feed National"
My interview on global broadcaster TRT World about Israels invasion of the Jenin refugee camp in the occupied West Bank and the logic of Israels escalating violence.
The post TRT World interview on Israeli invasion of Jenin appeared first on Antony Loewenstein.
10:21
10:13
Will this whistleblower be heard by anyone? "IndyWatch Feed Enviro.au"
RELEASES INTERNAL IAEA DOCUMENT PROVING COLLUSION WITH JAPAN
OVER FUKUSHIMA RADIOACTIVE WATER RELEASE
A whistleblower-released document created by the International
Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on June 1, 2023, shows that the fix is
in IAEA is not only is planning to approve the release of 1.3
million tons of radioactive water from Fukushima but to manipulate
their communication to the world in support Japans position despite
facts showing otherwise, eliminating anything that might be viewed
negatively by the public.
This is outrageous and dangerous for the entire world. Japan, with
the IAEAs support NOT protection is planning to commit its own
nuclear assault on the world through this radioactive water
release.
Weve suspected and accused the IAEA and Japan of working together
in the past, and now we have the proof.
Please, do what you can to get this word out not just to our
echo
View original post 466 more words
10:11
Non-government health expenditure for 2019-20 "IndyWatch Feed Politics.au"
Response by Australian Institute of
Health and Welfare to Julie
Middleton on .
Successful.
OFFICIAL Dear Ms
Middleton, I refer to your email of 22 June 2023, requesting
information in relation to the Australian Institute of Health and
Welfar...
09:59
The EU risks repeating another vaccine apartheid with new deals with vaccine companies "IndyWatch Feed Economics.au"
July 4, 2023: Reuters reports that the European Commission has contracted several European vaccine production companies, such as Pfizer, to reserve capacity to make the EU up to 325 million vaccines a year in case of another future global health emergency. The contracts also obligate the companies to be adequately responsive to crises, including by stockpiling supplies where necessary.
The announcement of these contracts has been met with backlash from members of the Peoples Vaccine Alliance advocating for equitable access to medicines who claim they threaten to repeat the vaccine inequity experienced during Covid-19. As of June 2023, only 35% of people in low countries have received a Covid vaccination compared to 73% in high income countries. The World Health Organisation (WHO) dubbed this inequity a vaccine apartheid which led to large-scale, preventable deaths in the global South.
The EUs announcement of its vaccine contracts comes alongside discussions of a Global Pandemic Agreement by the WHO. The agreement aims to avoid a repeat of the "catastrophic failure" of the Covid pandemic and includes a commitment to reserve up to 20% of any tests, vaccines or treatments for low-income countries in a future global health emergency. However, there are concerns that inward-looking measures to protect supply lines, such as the EUs, threaten the Global Pandemic Agreement and undermine initiatives to ensure equitable access to medicine.
Read Reuters reporting on this subject here and a press release by the Peoples Vaccine Alliance here.
09:55
The 13th Interest Rate Rise OR Lucky For Some "IndyWatch Feed Politics.au"
Now, I know that some of you have no interest in sport so the fact that Im using a sporting analogy may put you off, but if you just remember its an analogy and stick with it, youll soon see that it was an appropriate comparison. On the other hand, when I start talking about
The post The 13th Interest Rate Rise OR Lucky For Some appeared first on The AIM Network.
09:36
Good question from the ABC for Bowen - when will power prices come down? "IndyWatch Feed National"
When will power prices start to come down? #abc730 pic.twitter.com/cpgghGa93x abc730 (@abc730) July 3, 2023
08:50
All Hail King Charles Now That Alan Partridge Has Made Him Almost Bearable "IndyWatch Feed National"
Couldnt sit through the 14-hour live coronation ceremony of
King Charles III last month, because, you know, watching paint dry
had more appeal? Well, theres good news. Weve had to wait more than
a month, but you can now experience the real reason the British
Empire collapsed (amid the unbearable weight of its own pomp and
ceremony) without vomiting back up some of your lunch, courtesy of
an 18-minute segment of the coronation featuring the commentary of
Alan Partridge, Englands consummate media personality and premiere
Royal Watcher.
If youre not sure who Partridge is, he makes even the most British of moments tolerable. The creation of British comedian and satirist Steve Coogan (along with writer Armando Iannucci, the brains behind, among other things, In The Spin), Partridge is described on his Wikipedia page thusly: A parody of British television personalities, Partridge is a tactless and inept broadcaster with an inflated sense of celebrity.
Without wishing to spoil any of the punchlines, this is a random line from Partridges commentary of Charlies coronation: Today a chance to look back and to cherish the many happy memories we have of the former Prince Charles. Of course, the investiture of a rather awkward 21-year-old with big ears and a plum in his mouth. But he was to blossom from what many would openly admit was an ugly duckling. He has grown into, perhaps not a swan, but certainly a very fine goose.
Definitely in the upper echelons of Best Things On The Internet. If you want mroe Alan Partridge, then Baby Cow Productions is his home on Youtube.
The post All Hail King Charles Now That Alan Partridge Has Made Him Almost Bearable appeared first on New Matilda.
08:00
News Corp condemns ICAC and stands for corruption "IndyWatch Feed Politics.au"
With the release of NSW ICACs findings on Gladys Berejiklian, an editorial in The Australian has condemned the Commission and made a bold stand for corruption, writes David McIlveen.
LAST WEEK saw the official opening of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) and the release of the long-awaited findings from the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) on former Premier Gladys Berejiklian. Quite a week.
It makes for a useful occasion to reflect on corruption in Australian politics and the media, and to point out the people politicians, publications and hacks that line up to side with the guilty, attack the accountability body, and provide every lame excuse to downplay or dismiss the findings of corruption. Presumably in hopes of weakening the public unity in condemning something so clearly against its interests.
The few senior current and former Liberals that provided comment on the findings were as predictable as they were vacuous and unprincipled in their responses, and dont deserve any serious treatment. Their contempt for evidence and ICACs hard work and careful deliberation is fitting with the Liberal brand. Just let us use the Treasury as our own private bank account, you can hear them thinking.
The funambulist nature of the Murdoch press is always a little more interesting, however, as its forever obliged to try to present itself as for the people to its limited readership, while simultaneously promoting the interests of the Liberal Party and its associates.
Lets look at The Australians editorial position on the NSW ICAC findings, for...
07:21
In which the pond cuts back on its diet for a leaner, meaner, dot point laden Groaning ... "IndyWatch Feed Politics.au"
The pond regrets to advise that, despite a splendid surge in comments yesterday, today is a leaner and meaner cut down post.
Why so? Well there were the usual alarums in the tree killer edition ...
Indeed, indeed, the last thing anyone
needs is a watchdog with teeth.
A toothless watchdog if you please, but
the pond was immediately settled by a Wilcox, who understood the
spirit of the game, at least if you happened to be a bunch of
dropkick ponces in a dropkick losing country ...
To think the pond's long lost grandma
stayed up late at night to listen to the news from England on the
wireless ...
Some even forgot about a decent
defanging and instead urged on a d...
04:09
Scream if you wanna fall faster... "IndyWatch Feed Economics.au"
ISM gauge plunges
The closely-followed US ISM gauge was released
today and it slowed from a reading of 46.9 in May to just 46.0 in
June (a print of below 50 denotes contraction).
Source: Institute for Supply
Management
This was the weakest monthly reading since
the shuttered economy of all the way back in May
2020.
The prices component contracted faster still,
dropping from 44.2 in May to 41.8 in June.
It's a clear indication that the battle against
inflation is being won, with the balance of risks tilting somewhat
further towards a recession.
...
03:40
Race Riots and Culture Wars "IndyWatch Feed Economics.au"
What was it like?
What?
Parisduring the riots.
Were there riots?
Every country has its railroad tracks. And some people are inevitably on the other side of them. In Paris, poor people tend to live in the suburbs. One of them got killed by police last week. Those of us in the centre of town barely noticed.
Nationwide, the French seem to be having their own George Floyd moment.
Heres CNN:
Chaos, destruction and confrontations have led to curfews in some towns around the capital. Bus and tram services faced disruptions with a nationwide shutdown ordered for 9:00pm on Friday to try to stem another night of violence.
Areas within some of Frances major cities have erupted in violence for several successive nights after a teenager named Nahel Merzouk, reportedly of Algerian descent, was fatally shot by police an incident caught on video.
More than 800 people were arrested the night of 29 June, as outrage continued to intensify. Merzouks death appears to have become a flashpoint for anger about racial inequality in France and claims of police discrimination.
Culture warriors
Meanwhile, racism is a big deal in the US too. There is a whole brigade of culture warriors ready to call it outstamp it outand duke it out. They see racism everywhere.
The Daily Beast: White Professor Disgusts Women Historians Conference:
A conference for female historians this weekend was plunged into turmoil when a prominent white academic speaking at the main event said her professional life would have been easier if she were black.
She was immediately called out for her blatantly racist remarks, and refused to apologise, let alone listen, to the reason why her remarks were horrifyingly wrong
And heres another click-baiting headline from something called BuzzLoving:
White men are a danger to society, says a member of San Franciscos reparations committee.
This past weekend, the US press reeled and railed over the Supreme Courts latest decision on universities race-based admissions programs. In brief, the court recognised that you cant discriminate in favour of one group (blacks, for example) without discriminating against another (Asians, for instance).
This anti-racist decision was immediately attacked asyesracism!
Fox News:
...Jemele Hill accuses Asians of carrying the water for white supremacy for backing affirmative action decision.
Harvard pledged to go forth and sin no moreat least not openly. It said, however, that it would continue to take other circumstances, beyond test scores and academic achievements, into account.
03:40
How Do You Hold onto a Bird in the Hand? "IndyWatch Feed Economics.au"
One of the best pieces of advice I received early in my financial advisory career came from a seasoned investment professional.
His words still ring in my ears
Vern, whenever you hear this five-word preface you cant go wrong buying, thats the moment when everything can go wrong.
Why?
Because once every man and his dog thinks something is a sure bet, cant fail, one-way trip to assured wealth, it means that all risk has been discounted out of the investment equationand thats when an investment contains its most risk.
The only thing thats guaranteed in this business is there are no guarantees.
There are two components to an investmentincome and capital gain.
Neither is assured.
For example, in April 2020, during the COVID meltdown, APRA Chairman, Wayne Byres, penned a letter to the banks, stating:
APRA expects ADIs [Authorised Deposit-taking Institutions] and insurers to limit discretionary capital distributions in the months ahead, to ensure that they instead use buffers and maintain capacity to continue to lend and underwrite insurance
As reported by IG Capital at the time
In response to APRAs letter; Macquarie analysts today said that the big four banks may be forced to either reduce or suspend their next wave of dividends completely.
Looking at a stressed scenario; Macquarie posits that bank losses could run as high as $2527 billion per bank. In this possible world, the banks ability to pay dividends (without raising equity) materially diminishes, it was noted.
Recent history has taught us that other sources of income are not set in stone either.
In 2010, with the RBA cash rate around 5%, who would ever have thought a decade later, money in the bank would earn next-to-nothing?
Who could have anticipated how work-from-home would upset the commercial property applecart?
With higher vacancy levels, per-square-metre rent rates have
come under pressure.
Landlords have suffered a double whammyfalling rental income and
lower property values.
Nothing is ever absolutely guaranteed
Things happen that can change market dynamics.
And what was once placed in the category of you cant go wrong buying, suddenly shifts to how did we get this so wrong?
Of the two types of investment returns, income is perceived as the bird in the hand, while growth is the two in the bush.
So, how do you increase the odds of holding onto that bird in your hand?
With the guidance of someone who has been there and done that.
This is an unashamed plug for my good mate, Greg Canavan
Ive been in this business for 37 years and have seen a lot of investment professionals.....
01:34
Are you a creative, lateral Thinker but are in a risk averse, KPI driven workplace? "IndyWatch Feed National"
I have worked in womens shelters and community settings for over 35 years and I have had the good fortune to work in teams that place high value on innovation and creativity.
I have also experienced workplace settings where creativity is not a high value and risk aversion takes priority over the uncertainty and organic nature of creative practices. Some staff, particularly those who have been working in that setting for a long time, can be very resistant to the development of creativity or arts based program tools.
It is important to remember that many people put down the coloured pencils and the storytelling books by the end of primary school and entered competitive, con-formative higher education systems that elevate science degrees over the arts.
I have written about the impact of the loss of the creative self here: The Magical Child In Exile
In-house programs are often poorly attended because there is a traditional classroom format wh...
00:29
International student "IndyWatch Feed Alllocal"
What should I expect as a student studying abroad in Townsville. Student life, things to do, etc.
[link] [comments]
00:16
The Armed Revolt: Why Israel Cannot Crush the Resistance in Palestine "IndyWatch Feed National"
Numbers can be dehumanizing. However, when placed in their proper context, they help to illuminate wider issues and answer urgent questions, such as why occupied Palestine is at the threshold of a major revolt. And why Israel cannot crush Palestinian resistance no matter how hard or violently it tries.
Thats when numbers become relevant. Since the start of this year, nearly 200 Palestinians have been killed in the Occupied West Bank and Gaza. Among them are 27 children.
If one is to imagine a heat map correlating the towns, villages and refugee camps of the Palestinian victims to the ongoing armed rebellion, one will immediately spot direct connections. Gaza, Jenin and Nablus, for example, paid the heaviest price for Israeli violence, making them the regions that resist most.
Unsurprisingly, Palestinian refugees have historically been at the forefront of the Palestinian liberation movement, turning refugee camps such as Jenin, Balata, Aqabat Jabr, Jabaliya, Nuseirat and others into hot spots of popular and armed resistance. The harder Israel attempts to crush Palestinian resistance, the greater the Palestinian reaction is.
Take Jenin as an example. The rebellious refugee camp has never ceased its resistance to the Israeli occupation since the famous battle and subsequent Israeli massacre of April 2002. The resistance continued there in all of its forms, despite the fact that many of the fighters who defended the camp against the Israeli invasion of the Second Palestinian Uprising, or Intifada, were killed or imprisoned.
Now that a new generation has taken over, Israel is at it again. Military incursions of Jenin by Israel have become a routine, resulting in a mounting number of casualties, though at a price for Israel itself.
The most notable and violent of these incursions was on January 26, when the Israeli army invaded the camp, killed ten Pa...
Monday, 03 July
23:07
Litecoin $100 Milestone Indicates Promising Bullish Trends Heres Why "IndyWatch Feed National"
Litecoin (LTC) has been on a remarkable run in the past three days, emerging as one of the most impressive performers among cryptocurrencies this week. But whats causing this sudden surge in its price?
The answer lies in the anticipation of a major event thats just around the corner: the impending halving of Litecoin, set to take place on August 2. Similar to Bitcoin, Litecoin undergoes halvings after a specific number of blocks are mined, roughly every four years.
As the halving approaches, investors and enthusiasts are left wondering: will Litecoins price continue to soar, or is there more to this story than meets the eye?
Litecoin Price Rally And Resistance Breakthrough
LTC has demonstrated a strong performance in recent days, currently trading at $112.35 according to CoinGecko. Over the past 24 hours, LTC experienced a notable rally of 5.1%, and within a seven-day timeframe, it surged by an astonishing 29.0%.
Over the weekend, LTC managed to surpass the crucial $100 mark, and since then, it has sustained trading above this key level of resistance. This resilience indicates bullish tendencies and raises the possibility of a significant breakthrough, with the potential for the $100 resistance to transform into support.
Such a development could pave the way for a sustained bull run, potentially propelling the token to reach $130 in the near future.
Social Activity Volume And Halving Event Hype
The surge in LTCs price has coincided with heightened social activity volume, as observed by the blockchain analytics firm Santiment.
This suggests a correlation between price spikes and increased interest and engagement surrounding the crypto.
The anticipation of Litecoins upcoming halving event has generated a surge in demand for the asset, driving its price upward.
...
21:57
Australians we want to hear your opinions about a new food choice called Cultured Meat "IndyWatch Feed Alllocal"
Researchers at Federation University are seeking Australian adults to participate in a research project investigating factors that influence food choices, and how people feel about cultured meat (meat grown in a lab from animal cells). In this study, you will be asked to report some demographic information and to answer questions about your beliefs about cultured meat, how you feel about eating unfamiliar foods and the use of technology to create foods, and your beliefs about eating traditionally farmed meat.
If you are an Australian 18 years or older and are interested in participating, please click the link below to complete a 30-minute survey.
By participating in this study, you will have the opportunity to enter the draw to win one of four e-gift vouchers valued at $25 (AUD). Participation in this draw is not compulsory.
Please also feel free to share this invitation and the online study link with anyone you think might be interested in participating.
This project has been approved by the Human Research Ethics Committee, Federation University (Reference number 2023-082)
https://federation.syd1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6XO6eDa4vOimfxs
[link] [comments]
21:48
INTERVIEW: Freddie Ponton & Markus Kraus Will NATO Launch a False Flag? "IndyWatch Feed Enviro.au"
Is NATO desperate enough to carry out a nuclear false flag attack in order to freeze the conflict in western Ukraine?
In this episode of the Patrick Henningsen Show on TNT Radio which aired on June 26, 2023, Patrick is joined in-studio in France with independent French researcher and journalist Freddie Ponton and former German and NATO military member, Markus Kraus, as they break down the numerous NATO drills underway in June, and also ask the key question: is NATO desperate enough to carry out a nuclear false flag attack in order to freeze the conflict or insert peacekeeping forces into western Ukraine? All this and more. Listen:
More from Freddie:
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21:47
INTERVIEW: Freddie Ponton & Kevork Almassian Russia, Wagner & The Coup That Wasnt "IndyWatch Feed National"
More on The coup that wasnt a coup, which turned out to be an internal military power-struggle in Russia.
In this episode of the Patrick Henningsen Show on TNT Radio which aired on June 26, 2023, Patrick is joined in-studio in France with independent French researcher and journalist Freddie Ponton and Kevork Almassian from Syriana Analysis as they break down the extraordinary events of last week in Russia with Evgeny Prigozhin, the Wagner PMC chief, and the infamous coup that wasnt a coup, which turned out to be an internal military power-struggle in Russia, but with some serious consequences politically for Moscow and beyond. All this and more. Listen:
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21:37
RBM at Winter Magic Festival 2023 "IndyWatch Feed Alllocal"
We broadcast live from the 2023 Winter Magic Festival in Katoomba on June 24th. Time Tunnel host Tony Eades compered the parade, from outside Katoomba Music on Katoomba Street, while Blue Mountains Live presenter Brad Diedrich used all his local know how to organise a constant stream of interesting people to speak On Air.
After years of covid and cancellations, it was magnificent to be out in the streets again, meeting people, playing music and taking part in this brilliant community event.
21:06
Experimental A4 water colour sketches "IndyWatch Feed Alllocal"
I have been resistant to using anything else than pencil, ink or charcoal to draw with but on a recent trip to Melbourne I chose to make some water colour sketches of the house and area where I was staying and then continued to try this medium when I came home to Brisbane. I bent the water colour A4 page in 2 and sketched the top half as a painterly rendition of the site. Then I rendered the bottom of the page as blocks of colour and shapes.
19:06
Community battery for Coorparoo. "IndyWatch Feed Alllocal"
Labor honours its 2022 election promise, making Coorparoo home to a new community battery. Community batteries are a relatively new concept in Australia and have been likened to Dropbox for []
The post Community battery for Coorparoo. first appeared on Westender.
18:01
Vice Admiral Jonathon Mead to be Director-General of New Australian Submarine Agency "IndyWatch Feed Enviro.au"
New Australian Submarine Agency to manage nuclear subs, by Brian Hartigan 2 July 23
The Australian Submarine Agency (ASA) which will be responsible and accountable for the management and oversight of the nuclear-powered submarine program has been officially established.
Vice Admiral Jonathan Mead is the new agencys inaugural Director-General.
Minister for Defence Richard Marles said that as chief of the Nuclear-Powered Submarine Taskforce, Vice Admiral Mead demonstrated his leadership and judgement in supporting the establishment of the pathway to acquire this critical capability through the AUKUS partnership.
This is a significant day, marking our next step towards the acquisition of conventionally-armed, nuclear-powered submarines, which is the single biggest investment in our defence capability in our history, Mr Marles said..
ASA currently has more than 350 staff from the Australian Defence Force and Australian Public Service, including many who have transitioned from the Nuclear-Powered Submarine Taskforce and others who have joined recently.
It is expected to almost double to more than 680 staff over the next year, drawing on a diverse skillset required to deliver this significant endeavour.
ASA will be headquartered i...
17:52
Stock for sale falls further "IndyWatch Feed Alllocal"
Dearth of stock continues
Rental vacancies remained generally low in June
according to CoreLogic, with several industry participants noting a
recent shift back towards the inner cities.
Capital city vacancy rates remained at a record low 1.1 per cent.
The number of properties listed for sale
continued to decline across the combined capital cities, now -26.4
per cent below the 5-year average.
Home values increased +1.1 per cent in June and
+2.8 per cent for the June quarter.
The quarterly increase was driven by a +4.9 per
cent increase in Sydney, and a +3 per cent increase in Brisbane,
though recent sentiment suggests something of a cooling in these
markets.
...
17:20
A Land without Honor "IndyWatch Feed National"
READ MORE AT PUSHING RUBBER DOWNHILL Australia is
sliding down a path laid down by...
17:19
Couples in Nepal celebrate ruling allowing same-sex marriage "IndyWatch Feed Alllocal"
Nepal will soon see the first legal same-sex marriages registered after an interim ruling from the countrys top court. The Nepal Supreme Court issued the interim order last week. Earlier, a group of nine activists sued over the South Asian countrys marriage laws that limit marriage to between a man and a woman. The interim ...
The post Couples in Nepal celebrate ruling allowing same-sex marriage appeared first on QNews.
16:54
Howard then Hawke killed off Australian manufacturing "IndyWatch Feed Alllocal"
The last car made in Australia. Free-trading Liberal and Labor killed Australian manufacturing industries Letter to the Editor In 1983 (yes, 40 years ago) I was a non-TV watching, non-radio listening, non-news reading, non-political Aussie in my twenties too busy living an amazing life with uni and diving and camping and working Then (in 1983) []
16:32
Australia-India Migration and Mobility Partnership Arrangement "IndyWatch Feed Politics.au"
Response by Department
of Home Affairs to Oliver
Smith on .
Successful.
OFFICIAL Freedom of
Information (FOI) request FA 23/06/00093 Dear Mr
Smith, I refer to your FOI request received on 1 June 2023.
...
16:18
A Brief Guide to Product Marketing "IndyWatch Feed National"
Effective product marketing is crucial for the success of any company in todays competitive business landscape. Whether youre looking to sell digital products or provide services, the principles of product marketing can greatly assist you in increasing sales, establishing a trustworthy brand, and developing customer loyalty.
Regardless if youre running a small business or a large corporation, its important to have a solid understanding of product marketing.
In this blog post, we will be diving into the world of product marketing. Well discuss what it involves, how its different from general marketing, the important tasks product marketers handle, and some effective strategies to boost your products success.
How is Product Marketing Different from General Marketing?
Simply put, product marketing is about specificity. Unlike general marketing, which focuses on building broader brand awareness and customer acquisition, product marketing zooms in on a specific product or service. It aims to effectively communicate the value proposition, features, and benefits of a product to the target audience. This is done with the hopes of influencing customer behaviour and increasing product sales.
Here are the key differences between product marketing and general marketing as a whole:
- Focused audience targeting
Product marketing zeroes in on a specific group of consumers with the aim of understanding their needs, preferences, and pain points. This enables product marketers to create tailored product campaigns that resonate with their target demographic.
- Product-specific marketing
Through product marketing, you can craft compelling narratives that highlight the unique features, benefits, and value proposition of a specific product. Product-specific marketing aims to differentiate the product from competitors and showcase its particular advantages to the target audience.
What Does a Product Marketer Do?
Product marketers often wear multiple hats and have to work with several other departments within a company.
Here are some of the key responsibilities of product marketers:
- Market research and cross-functional
collaboration
Product marketers conduct thorough market research to understand the target audience, industry trends, and competitive landscape. They gather valuable customer insights, analyse market data, and identify opportunities for product differentiation.
To create a comprehensive go-to-market strategy, product marketers also collaborate with cross-functional teams, including the product management and sales teams. An effective go-to-market strategy might involve defining target segments, setting pricing strategies, identifying distribution channels, and planning promotional activities.
- Developing product positioning and......
16:00
Words in Winter is celebrating 20 years with a thought-provoking lineup "IndyWatch Feed Alllocal"
Words in Winter warms the heart and nourishes the soul of Hepburn, Daylesford and their beautiful surroundings each winter. The wonderful festival celebrates 20 years in 2023 with one of its best programs, featuring some of Australias finest minds.
Explore Melbournes latest arts and stage news, features, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
August 25
15:33
Eliminate Lead from Drinking Water "IndyWatch Feed Allstate"
Steps to Eliminate Lead from Drinking Water Its up to us to eliminate lead from drinking water because Australia lags the developed world. Global Valve Technology (GVT) have been committed to providing Australians with its first Certified and field-proven Lead-Free Water Meter. This is something that other advanced countries have committed to, by introducing rules []
The post Eliminate Lead from Drinking Water appeared first on LeadSafeWorld by The LEAD Group Inc..
15:31
Building pipeline continues to decline "IndyWatch Feed Alllocal"
Building pipeline struggles
Building approvals bounced 20.6 per cent in May to 15,032,
possibly clearing off an Easter backlog.
House approvals were fairly flat for the month, and -15 per
cent lower than a year earlier.
The bounce was overwhelmingly due to an increase in
unit approvals in Sydney in this lumpy data series, with most other
capital cities still trending lower.
This was a welcome increase, although 15,000
building approvals in a month is still a relatively weak figure
overall.
...15:30
Dunk Island "IndyWatch Feed Alllocal"
Is it worth taking snorkelling gear to the island? Are there any good spots to check out the marine life right off the beach?
[link] [comments]
15:20
SOUNDCHECK: JULY 3 9 "IndyWatch Feed Alllocal"
Soundcheck is made possible thanks to Inner West Council.
The post SOUNDCHECK: JULY 3 9 appeared first on FBi Radio.
15:17
14:57
The Tale of Old Nana Quokka "IndyWatch Feed Alllocal"
How we treat our environment greatly impacts the animals that live there.
After noticing how tourists were treating native bush animals such as the vulnerable Quokka on the sacred Noongar cultural site of Wadjemup (Rottnest Island), artist, storyteller and respected Yamatji-Noongar elder Aunty Rhonda Collard-Spratt co-wrote Old Nana Quokka, to help spread a message of environmentalism, and shed light on the wisdom of our elders.
The story follows Old Nana Quokka, a small wallaby from south-west Western Australia, who is a healer and keeper of wisdom, who helps the other Australian bush animals who are becoming sick and injured as a result of tourist activities. In this Aboriginal Dreaming story, the animals teach us how to look after our sacred land and its animals.
The Wires Aryana Mohmood spoke to Aunty Rhonda Collard-Spratt, to find out more about her book and the teachings it offers to readers and listeners
Image: Source: Spirit of the Dreaming Website / Old Nana Quokka
Produced By: Aryana Mohmood
Featured In Story: Aunty Rhonda Collard-Spratt, respected Yamatji-Noongar, artist, storyteller and stolen-generation survivor
First aired on The Wire, Monday 3 July 2023
The post The Tale of Old Nana Quokka appeared first on 4YOU 98.5FM Capricorn Community Radio.
The Tale of Old Nana Quokka "IndyWatch Feed Alllocal"
How we treat our environment greatly impacts the animals that live there.
After noticing how tourists were treating native bush animals such as the vulnerable Quokka on the sacred Noongar cultural site of Wadjemup (Rottnest Island), artist, storyteller and respected Yamatji-Noongar elder Aunty Rhonda Collard-Spratt co-wrote Old Nana Quokka, to help spread a message of environmentalism, and shed light on the wisdom of our elders.
The story follows Old Nana Quokka, a small wallaby from south-west Western Australia, who is a healer and keeper of wisdom, who helps the other Australian bush animals who are becoming sick and injured as a result of tourist activities. In this Aboriginal Dreaming story, the animals teach us how to look after our sacred land and its animals.
The Wires Aryana Mohmood spoke to Aunty Rhonda Collard-Spratt, to find out more about her book and the teachings it offers to readers and listeners
Image: Source: Spirit of the Dreaming Website / Old Nana Quokka
Produced By: Aryana Mohmood
Featured In Story: Aunty Rhonda Collard-Spratt, respected Yamatji-Noongar, artist, storyteller and stolen-generation survivor
First aired on The Wire, Monday 3 July 2023
The post The Tale of Old Nana Quokka appeared first on Fraser Coast FM 107.5.
14:56
From Closure to New Purpose: Post-Mining in Regional Australia "IndyWatch Feed Alllocal"
As mines continue shutting down in Australia, mining experts say there is a need to transition to an acceptable land use after mining ceases.
Evaluating and planning post-mining economies requires the collaborative effort of all stakeholders involved to ensure positive outcomes for local residents.
Thats according to the Cooperative Research Centre for Transformations in Mining Economies, who research and implement strategies underpinning challenges in mining closures.
The Wires Toni Pankaluic reported at the World Mining Congress and spoke with Fiona Haslam-McKenzie, Program Lead for Regional Socio-Economic Development from the Cooperative Research Centre, to gain an insight in successful mining closures and repurposing within regional Australia.
Image: Source: Aryana Mohmood /Fiona Haslam-McKenzie at the World Mining Congress
Produced By: Toni Pankaluic
Featured In Story: Fiona Haslam-McKenzie, Program Lead for Regional Socio-Economic Development from the Cooperative Research Centre
First aired on The Wire, Monday 3 July 2023
The post From Closure to New Purpose: Post-Mining in Regional Australia appeared first on 4YOU 98.5FM Capricorn Community Radio.
From Closure to New Purpose: Post-Mining in Regional Australia "IndyWatch Feed Alllocal"
As mines continue shutting down in Australia, mining experts say there is a need to transition to an acceptable land use after mining ceases.
Evaluating and planning post-mining economies requires the collaborative effort of all stakeholders involved to ensure positive outcomes for local residents.
Thats according to the Cooperative Research Centre for Transformations in Mining Economies, who research and implement strategies underpinning challenges in mining closures.
The Wires Toni Pankaluic reported at the World Mining Congress and spoke with Fiona Haslam-McKenzie, Program Lead for Regional Socio-Economic Development from the Cooperative Research Centre, to gain an insight in successful mining closures and repurposing within regional Australia.
Image: Source: Aryana Mohmood /Fiona Haslam-McKenzie at the World Mining Congress
Produced By: Toni Pankaluic
Featured In Story: Fiona Haslam-McKenzie, Program Lead for Regional Socio-Economic Development from the Cooperative Research Centre
First aired on The Wire, Monday 3 July 2023
The post From Closure to New Purpose: Post-Mining in Regional Australia appeared first on Fraser Coast FM 107.5.
14:55
"IndyWatch Feed World" "IndyWatch Feed National"
The property development and construction industry is
having a lend of Australia: By promoting massive migration numbers,
it keeps housing and land costs high and it keeps its own costs
low. It leans on government for subsidies and it builds virtually
uninsurable high-rises, , and houses which are compulsorily insured
by its own special insurers, who almost never find themselves
liable.[1] And when the industry's excesses cause its
practitioners to go broke, their customers are rendered homeless
and bankrupt. There was never a better case for the state to take
over an industry, but we find the reverse has happened.
A Master Builders Association press release issued today (3 July 23) makes some typical assertions:
Mays sharp increase in unit/apartment building approvals is welcome given the severity of shortages in the rental market," Master Builders Australia chief economist Shane Garrett commented today in a press release. He claimed this to be due to prolonged underbuilding in the medium/high-density part of the market." But it is not the result of 'underbuilding,' as the industry well knows, it is the result of driving up demand through massive migration intakes.
The Tower of Babel, is a biblical cautionary tale about a group of
men who wanted to make a name for themselves by building a city.
God felt they were becoming too powerful, so he sent difficulties
their way.
Going by their reproductive rate - a reflection of increasing economic and environmental pressures - if Australians had self-determination, their population would be a lot smaller.
The industry and the Master Builders have been selfishly and irresponsibly calling for - and getting - continuously increasing migration - for decades now. See, for instance, their submission to the Department of Home Affairs review of the Australian migration system: https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/reports-and-pubs/files/migration-system-aust-future-submissions/m-r/Master_Builders_Australia.PDF.
They persistently and guilefully ignore their success in creating overdemand and its accompanying inflationary housing-bubble.
We will need to see a sustained recovery in higher density home building volumes before the affordability crisis in our rental market starts to abate."
They metaphoricall...
14:53
Envisioning Reconciliation for the Future "IndyWatch Feed Alllocal"
While many Australians may agree the work of reconciliation is up to everyone, not many people understand what this work looks like.
One Indigenous scholar says non-Indigenous people often dont know how they should address racism and social inequity brought about by colonisation and white privilege. This may be why many Australians are expressing hope the Voice to Parliament is going to solve such problems.
Indigenous leaders, scholars, activists and community members have spent decades suggesting solutions to inequities in this country, which still havent been implemented.
The Wires Aryana Mohmood spoke to the Associate Dean of Education at Gnibi College, Southern Cross University, Kelly Menzel, about what reconciliation looks like and how to address the problems Indigenous people face due to colonisation and white privilege
Image: Source: Image by Shaun from Pixabay / Australia
Produced By: Aryana Mohmood
Featured In Story: Kelly Menzel, Associate Dean of Education at Gnibi College at Southern Cross University (SCU)
First aired on The Wire, Monday 3 July 2023
The post Envisioning Reconciliation for the Future appeared first on 4YOU 98.5FM Capricorn Community Radio.
Envisioning Reconciliation for the Future "IndyWatch Feed Alllocal"
While many Australians may agree the work of reconciliation is up to everyone, not many people understand what this work looks like.
One Indigenous scholar says non-Indigenous people often dont know how they should address racism and social inequity brought about by colonisation and white privilege. This may be why many Australians are expressing hope the Voice to Parliament is going to solve such problems.
Indigenous leaders, scholars, activists and community members have spent decades suggesting solutions to inequities in this country, which still havent been implemented.
The Wires Aryana Mohmood spoke to the Associate Dean of Education at Gnibi College, Southern Cross University, Kelly Menzel, about what reconciliation looks like and how to address the problems Indigenous people face due to colonisation and white privilege
Image: Source: Image by Shaun from Pixabay / Australia
Produced By: Aryana Mohmood
Featured In Story: Kelly Menzel, Associate Dean of Education at Gnibi College at Southern Cross University (SCU)
First aired on The Wire, Monday 3 July 2023
The post Envisioning Reconciliation for the Future appeared first on Fraser Coast FM 107.5.
14:51
NAIDOC Week Community Family Day Byron Bay Thursday 6 July "IndyWatch Feed Alllocal"
Come along and join the Bunjalung of Byron Bay (Arakwal people) and the community in celebration of NAIDOC week. Meet at Railway Park Playground. Celebration walk to Denning Park (next to Byron Surf Club). Thursday, 6 July 2023, 10:00 AM 2:00 PM.
Activities include:
Culture
Music
Dance
Sand art
Educational activities
BBQ lunch.
National NAIDOC Week celebrations are held across Australia in the first week of July each year (Sunday to Sunday), to celebrate and recognise the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. NAIDOC Week is an opportunity for all Australians to learn about First Nations cultures and histories and participate in celebrations of the oldest, continuous living cultures on earth.
Bobbi Lockyer, a proud Ngarluma, Kariyarra, Nyulnyul and Yawuru artist, born and based on Kariyarra Country in Port Hedland, is the winner of the prestigious National NAIDOC Week Poster Competition for 2023 with her entry, For Our Elders.
Where there is knowledge there are our Elders. Our Elders paved the pathways for us, taught us our knowledge, our history, they passed down their art, stories and wisdom. Our Elders are the foundation of our communities and role models for our children. With this poster I wanted to showcase how important our Elders are in passing down traditions and culture to our children and future. said Bobbi.
The post NAIDOC Week Community Family Day Byron Bay Thursday 6 July appeared first on Byron Bay Blog.
14:51
Conflict over Western Australias new Cultural Heritage laws "IndyWatch Feed Alllocal"
Backlash against Western Australias new Cultural Heritage laws has caused the state government to amend the legislation, in favour of the resource and mining sectors.
At the centre of the new laws is greater involvement of traditional owners, higher protection for sites of cultural significance and local representative groups playing a key role in the approval process. The Act originally applied new, more rigorous requirements to Indigenous heritage surveys undertaken after July 1st. But those guidelines were re-published on Friday, with the start date for stricter heritage surveys having been pushed back by a year.
Concern over the law has been cited as a key factor in WAs growing no vote in the Voice to Parliament referendum. Greens Senator and YamatjiNoongar woman, Dorinda Cox, has spoken up in criticism of changes to the Act.
Negaarada Medias Conrad MacLean has the report.
Image: Image courtesy: Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA
Produced By: Conrad MacLean
Featured In Story: Dorinda Cox, Greens Senator and YamatjiNoongar woman
First aired on The Wire, Monday 3 July 2023
The post Conflict over Western Australias new Cultural Heritage laws appeared first on 4YOU 98.5FM Capricorn Community Radio.
Conflict over Western Australias new Cultural Heritage laws "IndyWatch Feed Alllocal"
Backlash against Western Australias new Cultural Heritage laws has caused the state government to amend the legislation, in favour of the resource and mining sectors.
At the centre of the new laws is greater involvement of traditional owners, higher protection for sites of cultural significance and local representative groups playing a key role in the approval process. The Act originally applied new, more rigorous requirements to Indigenous heritage surveys undertaken after July 1st. But those guidelines were re-published on Friday, with the start date for stricter heritage surveys having been pushed back by a year.
Concern over the law has been cited as a key factor in WAs growing no vote in the Voice to Parliament referendum. Greens Senator and YamatjiNoongar woman, Dorinda Cox, has spoken up in criticism of changes to the Act.
Negaarada Medias Conrad MacLean has the report.
Image: Image courtesy: Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA
Produced By: Conrad MacLean
Featured In Story: Dorinda Cox, Greens Senator and YamatjiNoongar woman
First aired on The Wire, Monday 3 July 2023
The post Conflict over Western Australias new Cultural Heritage laws appeared first on Fraser Coast FM 107.5.
14:29
Winter delights: recipes to warm your soul "IndyWatch Feed Alllocal"
As we enter the coldest month of the year, theres nothing quite like indulging in delicious and comforting food that warms both the body and soul.
This article presents a collection of delightful winter recipes that will make you feel cosy and content.
From hearty soups and stews to decadent desserts, these dishes are guaranteed to bring comfort and joy to your winter season.
Creamy Butternut Squash Soup:
Start your winter culinary journey with a bowl of creamy butternut squash soup. This velvety and rich soup is made with roasted butternut squash, aromatic herbs, and a touch of cream. The flavors blend together harmoniously, creating a comforting and satisfying dish perfect for cold winter nights. Serve it with a crusty bread roll for a complete and heartwarming meal.
Slow-Cooked Beef Stew:
When it comes to winter comfort food, few dishes can rival a slow-cooked beef stew. Tender chunks of beef, root vegetables, and fragrant herbs come together in a savory broth to create a hearty and filling meal. The slow cooking process allows the flavors to meld beautifully, resulting in a dish that warms you from the inside out. Serve it with fluffy mashed potatoes or crusty bread for the ultimate winter feast.
Roasted Winter Vegetable Medley:
Take advantage of the seasons bountiful produce with a roasted winter vegetable medley. Gather an assortment of winter vegetables such as Brussels sprouts, carrots, parsnips, and sweet potatoes. Toss them in olive oil, sprinkle with herbs and spices, then roast them until tender and caramelized. The combination of flavors and textures will leave you craving for more, and it makes for a perfect side dish to accompany your winter meals.
Classic Chicken Pot Pie:
A winter recipe list would be incomplete without the mention of a classic chicken pot pie. This comforting dish features a flaky pastry crust encasing a creamy filling of tender chicken, mixed vegetables, and a velvety sauce. With every bite, youll be reminded of home-cooked meals and the warmth they bring. Serve it with a fresh green salad to balance out the richness of the pie.
Decadent Hot Chocolate:
No winter season is complete without a steaming cup of hot using high-quality cocoa powder, rich dark chocolate, and creamy milk. Top it off with a dollop of whipped cream and a sprinkle of cocoa powder for an indulgent treat. Sip it by the fireside or while watching snowflakes fall outside, and let the warmth of the hot chocolate melt away the winter chill.
Spiced Apple Crumble:
For a comforting and fruity dessert, try making a spiced apple crumble. Toss tart apples with warm spices like cinnamon and nutmeg, then top them with a crumbly mixture of oats, flour, butter, and brown sugar. As it bakes, the sweet aroma will fill your kitchen, and the resulting dessert will be a deli...
14:25
Why doesnt she just leave? Why did you stay? "IndyWatch Feed National"
We hear it said often, especially when there is a high profile domestic violence case in the media.
When high profile cases of violence against women are in the media, the air waves fill with outrage, calls to action, compassion, political responses and inevitably someone somewhere will say: Why didnt she leave? and Why did she go back?.
Those of us who work in womens domestic and family violence shelters hear her stories and witness her tears and sometimes are asked to be her voice at a time when just taking the next breath takes a huge amount of energy.
This poem is dedicated to those women who are living in domestic violence or have come through it and have had those words asked of them :
Why didnt you just leave?
Im sorry I cant hear you
what did you say?
My ears are blocked and heavy
From vicious words that have been hurled my way
There used to be sweet words and promises
and whispered romance in my ears
I now I find myself wondering
Can ears become blocked with all those tears?
...
14:10
14:05
Aspartame Deemed Carcinogenic "IndyWatch Feed National"
The World Health Organization is set to label aspartame as possibly carcinogenic. If the FDA or USDA actually considers labeling something as possibly carcinogenic, you know its bad. They let us eat and drink actual poison to improve their bottom line. Aspartame is an artificial sugar that is allegedly 200 times sweeter than the natural product. The FDA, European Food Safety Authority, Health Canada, Food Standards Australia and New Zealand, and UK Food Standards Agency and Cancer Research ALL approved the use of aspartame in independent studies. It was marketed as a sugar-free weight loss supplement, but that also proved to be false.
Replacing free sugars with NSS [non-sugar sweetener] does not help with weight control in the long term. People need to consider other ways to reduce free sugars intake, such as consuming food with naturally occurring sugars, like fruit, or unsweetened food and beverages, says Francesco Branca, WHO Director for Nutrition and Food Safety. NSS are not essential dietary factors and have no nutritional value. People should reduce the sweetness of the diet altogether, starting early in life, to improve their health.
Aspartame is in everything from diet sodas, gum, energy drinks, candies, and even sold in pure form under the brands Sugar Twin and Equal. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) found that the gastrointestinal tract hydrolyzed and absorbed aspartame, releasing aspartic acid, methanol, and phenylalanine. The liver oxidizes the methanol to formaldehyde than again to formic acid. Both methanol and formaldehyde are toxic to liver cel...
14:00
Australian Dollar and Bitcoin "IndyWatch Feed Economics.au"
1.00 AUD = 0.00002 BTC
0.00010 BTC = 4.65 AUD
Converter
13:48
Fake indigenous author backs neo-Marxist UN expert to push the Voice "IndyWatch Feed Alllocal"
By TONY MOBILIFONITIS IF there was one outstanding example of a person being a beneficiary of Australias white liberal guilt industry, the author Bruce Pascoe would be it. And if there was a prime example of a prominent professor in the same position, Megan Davis (pictured) would be it. Pascoe has received at least $770,000 []
13:45
Celebrate NAIDOC Week on Thursday at Sydneys Powerhouse museum "IndyWatch Feed Alllocal"
Sydneys iconic Powerhouse museum is marking NAIDOC Week 2023 with an evening of events that reflect the theme For Our Elders, recognising the significant role that elders continue to play across every generation of Indigenous Australians. Powerhouse Late Re-Right on Thursday, July 6 will celebrate the creativity, strength and diversity of First Nations communities across ...
The post Celebrate NAIDOC Week on Thursday at Sydneys Powerhouse museum appeared first on QNews.
13:35
Updated flood risk management study for Towradgi Creek catchment adopted by Council "IndyWatch Feed Allstate"
UPDATED studies to assess the flood risk to people, private property, infrastructure, and public assets within the Towradgi Creek catchment area have been completed by Wollongong City Council.
The Towradgi Creek Floodplain Risk Management Plan was adopted at last weeks general council meeting. The plan includes the suburbs of Tarrawanna, Corrimal, East Corrimal, Towradgi and small pockets of Balgownie and Fernhill.
Wollongong Lord Mayor Gordon Bradbery said the adoption of the plan is an important milestone that will support appropriate flood risk management strategies such as development controls, emergency response measures, education, and infrastructure solutions to benefit the residents and businesses in the catchment.
Wollongong is naturally flood-prone due to our built-up areas being sandwiched between the escarpment and the ocean. There are many of us in the city who will remember the flooding of August 1998 or experienced the flash flooding events last year. Thats why Council is working proactively to mitigate the risk of severe inundation and storm events right across the Wollongong Area, Cr Bradbery said.
The work were doing through the Floodplain Risk Management Study and Plan looks ways we can r...
13:17
Nolan and Elliot to and fro over tweets and housing "IndyWatch Feed Alllocal"
In what appears to be an early start to the battle for the seat of Richmond in 2025, Greens Candidate Mandy Nolan has responded to a tweet that the sitting Member for Richmond Justine Elliot posted last week Nolan saying the tweet is inaccurate.
Nolan has called on Mrs Elliot to withdraw the misleading Twitter post involving a homeless man.
12:54
Getting rich on their own supply: the housing crisis and capitals supply-side solutions "IndyWatch Feed National"
At precisely the moment that the housing crisis has caused centre-left parties and think tanks to begin proposing price controls on rent, and calling this a democratic question rather than an economic one, the financial world is working to insulate itself from democratic control.
The post Getting rich on their own supply: the housing crisis and capitals supply-side solutions appeared first on Overland literary journal.
12:53
The Blocks Mitch and Mark say no nastiness in new TV show "IndyWatch Feed Alllocal"
The Blocks gay granddads Mitch Edwards and Mark McKie believe theyre the first gay couple to host a primetime Australian TV show together. The couple, whove been together for nearly two decades, first competed on The Block in 2019. Two years later, Mitch and Mark returned to The Block for a Fans vs Faves season. ...
The post The Blocks Mitch and Mark say no nastiness in new TV show appeared first on QNews.
12:32
Cadel Evans road race dates set "IndyWatch Feed Alllocal"
Organisers have announced the 2024 Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race will take place over the January 27-28 weekend.
The event will see some of the worlds best ride through the roads of Geelong, the Bellarine and the Surf Coast.
The world-class one-day classic cycling event features the UCI WorldTour Elite Mens and Deakin University Elite Womens races, offering equal prize money for the two races and drawing elite women and men cyclists from around the globe.
The TAC Peoples Ride is another popular feature of the cycling carnival, as is the all-inclusive Family Ride along the Geelong Waterfront.
Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Steve Dimopoulos said the event was a big drawcard to the Geelong, Bellarine and Surf Coast regions.
Were looking forward to seeing a sea of spectators in Geelong and the Surf Coast for the 2024 Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race next January, he said.
This incredible weekend of cycling will bring thousands of visitors to the region and boost business over the long weekend while also showcasing the stunning scenery of the Great Ocean Road to viewers from around the world.
Last years Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race was broadcast to more than 140 countries and attracted more than 100,000 to the region.
Team FDJ-Suezs Loes Adegeest won the 2023 womens race, while Team DSMs Marius Mayrhofer took out last years mens event.
For information on events and participation ride registrations visit cadelevansgreatoceanroadrace.com.au.
The post Cadel Evans road race dates set appeared first on Ocean Grove Voice.
12:24
Monday Message Board "IndyWatch Feed Enviro.au"
Post comments on any topic. Civil discussion and no coarse language please. Side discussions and idees fixes to the sandpits, please.
Im now using Substack as a blogging platform, and for my monthly email newsletter. For the moment, Ill post both at this blog and on Substack. You can also follow me on Mastodon here.
12:23
Tweed Council now a regional strategic area councillor remuneration increases "IndyWatch Feed Alllocal"
The value of what councillors bring to the table was up for debate at the last Tweed Shire Council meeting (22 June). The Tweed Shire Council has been reclassified as a regional strategic area in recognition of its large population, key economic role in the region and being the largest employer and strongest growth area in the Northern Rivers.
With the reclassification there was also the opportunity to increase the remuneration of the Mayor and Councillors, however, Councillor Warren Polgalse said he didnt think the proposed increase was appropriate due to the current challenging financial circumstances of the council having recently requested a special rate variation and the difference in what the Mayor and the councillors would receive.
It doesnt pass the pub test he told the meeting.
The proposed Notice of Motion (NoM) would see Councillors remuneration go to $32,590 (2022: $25,310) and the Mayors to a maximum annual amount of $127,540, this is a combination of the Mayor and councillor fee (2022: $87,820).
...12:19
Make the Catholic Church pay land-tax, not the poor - Response to new land-tax bill Victoria, Australia "IndyWatch Feed National"
The Catholic Church owns many billions of dollars of land in
Australia but does not pay any land-tax. Today, in Victoria,
Australia, if you own a second property worth more than 300,000,
you pay land-tax. Soon, however, property worth 50,000 and upwards
will be taxed, if a new bill goes ahead. This makes no moral sense
in an era of skyrocketing land-prices, where you would logically
expect land-tax thresholds to rise, not to fall. This letter to Tim
Pallas MP suggests that, rather than punish Australians with very
modest land-holdings, Australia should simply tax the Catholic
Churchs vast holdings.
The following letter was sent to Tim Pallas Victorian Labor MP.
Dear Mr. Pallas
Re: Land Tax Act 2005, recent amendments and
consequences
We write to express our concern and disappointment with your announcement in the recent state budget to reduce the exemption for paying Land Tax from $300,000 to $50,000.
The purpose of this amendment is inexplicable, perhaps other than to perversely begin levying Land Tax in a draconian way on the least wealthy land owners. Setting a $50,000 exemption is unnecessarily cruel and draconian on those who may have acquired a small holding many years ago, and who, for a range of reasons may not be able, or inclined, to dispose of the land.
Indeed, an increase in the exemption threshold was long overdue and was expected to be increased due to the long delay since the last adjustment. Logically, as land values always rise, so should the threshold for exemption, and we suggest the exemption should have been increased to at least $1 million to maintain the existing relativities.
Land-tax changes would affect pension eligibility
Pensioners for example, now forced to sell their land to pay for the increasingly prohibitive Land Tax rates, may find themselves ineligible for the pension, or reduced to only a part pension as they would then have too much cash to be eligible for a pension.
It is cruel and unfair to expect elderly pensioners, who may have owned the block next door for decades to have to engage in a market sale of their land, and the personal consequences to them, such as living arrangements, family issues, eligibility for health care etc. - arising from what is effectively for many a forced sale. In short, given the relatively few people affected it is a very limited source of revenue for the state. It seems instead....
12:15
Escaping the ScapeGoat trap "IndyWatch Feed National"
Being a family scapegoat refers to a role or dynamic within a family system where one person is consistently blamed, criticised, or targeted for the familys problems and dysfunctions. The one who receives the eye rolls, plaintive sighs, admonishments and fault finding. The scapegoat can serve to unite a non-communicative family as they highlight the flawed member and extrapolate on their faults whilst not examining their own.
Image source- Stock
The scapegoat is often seen as the troublemaker or the overly sensitive, too emotional or unreliable one responsible for all the familys issues, while other family members are idealised or considered unflawed and non-problematic by comparison.
This unhealthy family dynamic can have a profound impact on the scapegoats well-being and self-esteem as the scapegoat is frequently the target of unfair accusations, verbal abuse, or emotional manipulation within the family.
They may be blamed for things that are not their fault, held responsible for the actions of other family members, or constantly singled out for their perceived flaws or shortcomings.
For example if the scapegoat speaks out about fa...
12:07
Honduras risks losing $11 billion in ISDS case after repealing laws created by authoritarian government "IndyWatch Feed National"
June 30, 2023: US company Prspera has launched a $11 billion dollars Investor State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) claim against Honduras for repealing a controversial law.
ISDS is a mechanism within some trade agreements which enables foreign (but not local) investors to sue governments for millions and even billions of dollars of compensation if they can argue, among other reasons, that a change in domestic law or policy has reduced the value of their investment.
Honduras law, passed by corrupt officials of the post-coup Honduras government, allowed foreign investors to establish Economic Development and Employment Zones (ZEDE). ZEDEs are essentially private cities outside of the jurisdiction of the government which grant investors the power to create their own security forces, governance systems, regulations and separate courts.
The recently elected democratic government has repealed the ZEDE law to ensure that democratic governance applies to these zones. Despite strong public support for the repeal, and the concern over the threat of ZEDEs to democratic protections, Honduras risks losing nearly two-thirds of its national budget if Prsperas case is successful and will have to spend millions defending the case.
You can read more about this case here, or about the dangers of ISDS in AFTINETs updated briefing here.
12:02
Local advice for a Brisbanite in Cairns "IndyWatch Feed Alllocal"
Arriving in Cairns from a road trip tomorrow - Im there for the best part of a week. Was just wondering if there are any local places that a standard tourist wouldnt know of and are worth checking out?
[link] [comments]
12:00
RATs remain free till December "IndyWatch Feed Alllocal"
The City of Greater Geelong will continue to distribute Victorian government-funded rapid antigen tests (RATs), with the roll-out program extended until December this year.
Test kits are freely available to all community members at many municipal locations including libraries, recreation centres and customer service centres.
Community members can take up to two kits per household member, while those with a disability or their carer can take up to four kits.
The city has handed out 44,000 test kits since early 2023 with each kit containing five RATs, which means more than 200,000 RATs have been distributed to the Geelong community so far this year.
Geelong Mayor Trent Sullivan welcomed the news that the tests would continue to be available free of charge.
I thank the Victorian Government for the extension of this program and encourage all residents to make the most of the opportunity to obtain free rapid antigen tests, Mayor Sullivan said.
Theres been an incredibly strong uptake across the first part of 2023, which is really pleasing, so its terrific to see Greater Geelong residents prioritising their health and that of others.
Deputy Mayor Anthony Aitken urged community members to take up the offer of obtaining free tests.
We know the RATs are a convenient and fast way to detect Covid-19 once someone begins to show cold-like symptoms, Deputy Mayor Aitken said.
I have witnessed first-hand the success of this partnership program between State and Local Governments with multiple members of our community collecting the free RATs at City of Greater Geelong Customer Service Centre at Corio Village.
There are no eligibility requirements when collecting free tests, so it doesnt matter what a persons age or health, disability or carer status is.
All we would ask is that people experiencing symptoms dont attend these facilities for a test but rather wait until theyre well or have someone collect a RAT for them.
For more information visit geelong.link/covidsupport.
The post RATs remain free till December appeared first on Ocean Grove Voice.
11:59
Lil Nas X reacts after someone hurls sex toy at him mid-concert "IndyWatch Feed Alllocal"
Lil Nas X has reacted in the middle of a concert in Sweden, after he narrowly dodged a flying sex toy someone threw on stage. The US singer and rapper was singing Down Souf Hoes at Lollapalooza in Stockholm, in the video of the moment shared online. Lil Nas X and his crew of backup ...
The post Lil Nas X reacts after someone hurls sex toy at him mid-concert appeared first on QNews.
11:58
NSW Real Estate Agents using loophole to evict tenants without good reason "IndyWatch Feed Alllocal"
by Harry Palmer A whistle blower has told Cairns News that NSW Real Estate companies are utilising a little known section of the (RESIDENTIAL TENANCIES ACT 2010) to evict tenants under a NO REASON clause releasing property owners of any obligation to a tenants lease agreement. Investment property owners wanting to remove a tenant by []
11:58
New family law support service "IndyWatch Feed Alllocal"
Families impacted by domestic violence and involved in family law proceedings in the regions, including services in locations at Lismore and Coffs Harbour, will have improved access to support as part of a major project expansion.
The Family Advocacy and Support Services (FASS) has expanded into 14 additional family law court circuit and registry locations across NSW following an $85 million nationwide funding boost from the Commonwealth Government.
Legal and non-legal wraparound supports
The FASS is an integrated service that provides legal and non-legal wraparound supports to those impacted by family violence including duty lawyer services, as well as help with accommodation, safety planning, mental health, finance and drug and alcohol abuse.
Clients can access free legal help and help with their non-legal problems from dedicated social support workers for men and women. Legal Aid NSW has partnered with local Womens Domestic Violence Court Advocacy Services (WDVCASs) and Relationships Australia to provide this on the ground social support.
A dedicated mental health support worker
FASS will also include a dedicated mental health support worker for the first time since launching in 2017.
The service has been successfully operating in the Sydney, Parramatta, Wollongong and Newcastle Family Court Registries since 2017, with services expanding state-wide in 2023.
Associate Director, Domestic Violence Unit, Legal Aid NSW, Anna Baltins said wraparound services focused on early intervention for both victims and perpetrators were essential to improve overall outcomes for families.
A critical gap
This service fills a critical gap in frontline service provision to people experiencing family violence and with family law issues. The service takes a holistic, wrap around approach and looks at both the legal and non-legal needs of clients to achieve long lasting positive outcomes for families.
By providing clients with a one-stop shop for support, we aim to contribute to the prevention of the cycle of violence by offering support to engage in perpetrator programs while also ensuring victims have adequate social and psychological support and are able to plan for their safety.
A profound benefit
Chief Executive Officer of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia, Mr David Pringle acknowledged the profound benefit that the expansion of the service will have for the many families that engage with the Courts, particularly in remote and regional locations.
The service provided by FASS is integral in facilitating the safe resolution of family law disputes involving families and children that are, or have been, impacted by family violence.
The Courts particularly welcome the expansion of the targeted support provided by FASS to several of t...
11:55
Armageddon and the Limits of Evolution "IndyWatch Feed National"
On March 28, 2022, the Biden administration sent to Congress a "https://www.armscontrol.org/act/2022-04/news/biden-policy-allows-first-use-nuclear-weapons"> removed the longstanding doctrine of no first use of nuclear weapons, and opened the door to a nuclear response to a non-nuclear threat. Within months of the new U.S. policy, but without referring to it, the Putin administration responded that it might consider first use in case of an existential threat to Russia, including a non-nuclear one. More recently, Sergei Karaganov, head of the Council on Foreign and Defense Policy, a non-governmental Russian think tank, argued that perhaps Russia should use a low yield tactical nuclear weapon in order to convince NATO to back off and stop threatening Russias security.
What drives human society to engage in such reckless behavior? The answer to this question is at once familiar to any student of human nature, human society and human history, and yet equally perplexing given the prospect of potential obliteration. This article is an exploration of such causes and their consequences, with possible implications that go far beyond human behavior alone, and may be grounded in universal principles.
We live in extraordinary times possibly more extraordinary than we realize. How many of those living even fifty years ago imagined that today we might be able to carry in the palm of our hand a device that can access most of human knowledge. Or quantum computers with almost infinite and instantaneous computing capacity, which are now being designed. We can now even peer at the birth of the universe.
We owe this to human intelligence, which is sometimes ridiculed, but is an extraordinary evolutionary development nonetheless. More specifically, we owe our superpowers to human technology, which is a product of human intelligence, and which further expands the production of human intelligence with new tools, even including the ability to augment human intelligence with artificial intelligence.
How did this come about? The answer is quite simple and well known, although only the most imaginative science fiction writers have even scratched the surface of its potential consequences. Intelligence is born of evolution.
Evolution, in turn, is born of competition, and more specifically the competition between life forms. In fact, if there is another form of competition, such as between astronomical or chemical or physical units, they might have to be defined as life forms by virtue of that competition. Even the most ancient and primitive life forms, such as viruses, compete against other life forms and against each other. This is the fundamental fact of e...
11:51
The obsession with surpluses "IndyWatch Feed Enviro.au"
The Federal Government has posted the first actual surplus for 15 years as distinct from a projected surplus with celebratory coffee mugs just before covid struck.
The essential lesson is not to get stuck on the mantra of surplus good, deficit bad and that that is the be-all and end-all of budgetary (or fiscal) policy. Governments are not like households. They do not have to keep spending within the bounds of income or go bankrupt.
And besides, as every mortgage holder knows, some debt is a good because it generates wealth in the long term.
The Government should not be congratulated on delivering a surplus (of $19 billion). Rather it should be congratulated on doing fairly well the other important elements of budgetary policy: tweaking according to whether the economy is inflationary, on one hand, or sliding into recession on the other; redistributing wealth in measured ways; promoting good economic activity and discouraging bad activity by applying taxes or tax breaks; and delivering services that people might otherwise not be able to afford.
A surplus right now is good, not because surpluses are good per se, but because the economy is in an inflationary mode which needs braking. It is better that the sledge-hammer of high interest rates does not do that alone.
Similarly, when then Treasurer Josh Frydenbergs black surplus coffee mugs turned red with embarrassment after covid struck he should not have been condemned for running a deficit because deficits are bad per se. Rather, he should have been applauded for tipping money into households when it was needed.
If there had been no covid and Frydenbergs surplus had eventuated, there still would have been good grounds for saying his fiscal policy was deeply flawed. Taking the wrecking ball the government service and vast hand-outs to mates and marginal seats for projects of dubious economic merit are no way to run fiscal policy. It was the equivalent of a household borrowing to finance holidays rather than a house.
From the 1990s, the Coalition successfully convinced much of the broader community that its obsession with surpluses was warranted. However, that obsession disguised a more passionate, but flawed, agenda: that of reducing government spending and thereby...
11:43
A Voice crying in the wilderness "IndyWatch Feed Alllocal"
History is a myth that men agree to believe. Napoleon
Origin stories often contain a good deal of mythology not the old gods and goddesses stuff, nor the tales folktales of faeries and elves, but rather, the stories we tell ourselves about who and what we are as a nation, its origins, character, its constitution The pioneer spirit is one, based on the now dismissed concept of terra nullius (there was nobody and nothing here of any worth when we arrived ) and the belief that white settlement established in the face of hardship and adversity made us the proud nation wer are today. Military valour and prowess is another, born of a military dbcle, and our repeated involvement in foreign wars, many but not all on others interests rather than our own. Other shibboleths evolved from these like egalitarianism, mate ship, and the fair go. Periodically, we are forced to look at ourselves and out history, and to grapple with our many mythologies and we discover that we are not really who we think we are. And, to quote American cartoonist Walt Kelly, who borrowed from the early 19th century US naval hero Commodore Perry, we have met the enemy and he is us!
A leap of faith or a leap in the dark?
We have waited 122 years to recognize in our Constitution the privilege that we have of sharing this continent with the oldest continuous culture on earth. I say to Australians, do not miss this opportunity. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese
Anthony Albanese calls the Torres Strait Islander and Aboriginal Voice to Parliament the chance to make a positive change that will last for generations. Peter Dutton says its a reckless roll of the dice that will take our country backwards, not forwards. These are the battle lines drawn around the upcoming referendum on the Voice to parliament, which promises to be a watershed moment in the history of our nation.
If a Yes vote prevails, the Constitution will be amended to formally recognize Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples with the creation of a new body to represent their interests in the running of this country.
If established , the Voice will be an advisory body to give indigenous people all around the country a say in government policy and programs that affect the lives of their peoples. Critically, the intention has always been to have its existence and validity enshrined in the Constitution. This would have a dual purpose: to formally recognise First Nations peoples as well as to insulate this new body from the threat of an unsympathetic government later attempting to disband it. But if the refere...
11:32
Whale could not be saved on Seven Mile Beach "IndyWatch Feed Alllocal"
A concerted team effort by NPWS, ORCCA, Seaworld and the Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital (BBWH) was unable to save a stranded Humpback whale on the weekend, after it washed up in Lennox Head.
11:27
New to town "IndyWatch Feed Alllocal"
Hello all, I'm new to town and keen on meeting some people and getting some mates. I'm a huge car guy and bit of a gym rat. Don't drink much but I'll go for some brews if I have people to go with, cheers
[link] [comments]
11:25
China Pacific Takeover "IndyWatch Feed National"
J.G.Olsen / Financial Expositor
Possibly the Globalists most significant common ancestor, the Macedonian Ptolemy, in 305 BC declared himself Saviour and moved the capital of Egypt out of Memphis to Alexandria, the new great city on the Mediterranean coast. Pyramids went out of style for a while but are more recently roaring back in as definitive fashion statements around...
11:25
Singer proudly gets gay sex onto YouTube in racy music video "IndyWatch Feed Alllocal"
Norwegian-American indie singer Magnus Riise has dropped an explicit and unapologetically sexual queer music video with a great message. Magnus grew up in Norway and is now based in New York City. The queer singer-songwriter released his EP Until Tomorrow in April, and recently dropped the title tracks music video. The singer and Broadway hunk ...
The post Singer proudly gets gay sex onto YouTube in racy music video appeared first on QNews.
11:18
Membership application approved, official induction ceremony this Wednesday. "IndyWatch Feed National"
PS - while we're at it, a couple of decades here and there can't hurt!
11:10
Stranded In Cairns "IndyWatch Feed Alllocal"
Our motorbike has stopped working, and were stranded in Cairns in the rain - trying to get home to TSV. Does anyone know a one way vehicle hire company? Or have a ute/trailer suitable for carrying a bike willing to help us out for cash?
[link] [comments]
10:58
Celebrating innovative local health projects "IndyWatch Feed Alllocal"
The Northern New South Wales Local Health District (NNSWLHD) recently held its annual awards ceremony to celebrate innovative local health projects.
Programs to help mental health clients to be more physically active, increase the leadership capacity of nurses and midwives, and process referrals using artificial intelligence were among the initiatives showcased at Northern NSW Local Health Districts annual Quality Awards.
Acting Chief Executive, Lynne Weir, congratulated the nine finalists across five team categories, as well as several individual award winners who picked up their awards at the ceremony in Goonellabah on June 21.
Great work on display
Our communities and our staff are the real beneficiaries of the great work on display at our awards night, and I want to congratulate every one of our colleagues who cont...
10:43
Home invaders armed with knives undeterred by shovel-wielding occupants "IndyWatch Feed Alllocal"
Home owners arming themselves with shovels proved no deterrent against four home invaders armed with knives in a Brisbane suburb two days ago. Three people were stabbed and were taken to hospital, one in a serious condition, and a dog was stabbed after a robbery turned violent in Forest Lake on Sunday afternoon. Police said []
10:41
Woman dies in overnight house fire "IndyWatch Feed Alllocal"
Detectives are investigating the circumstances surrounding a fatal house fire in Newtown this morning.
Emergency Services were called to the Upper Skene Street home following reports of the fire about 2am.
A woman found inside the property died at the scene.
A crime scene has been established and detectives from the Arson and Explosives Squad and an arson chemist will attend the property this morning.
Anyone who witnessed the incident or with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.
The post Woman dies in overnight house fire appeared first on Ocean Grove Voice.
10:24
Nighttime Wind Farm Noise No Worse Than Traffic "IndyWatch Feed National"
One of the hallmarks of modern conservatism is their love of making up completely silly attacks, and sticking with them, no matter how much theyre debunked, or how many legitimate attacks may exist. By endlessly insisting that the Clintons are evil incarnate, we now have a sizable portion of the US that believes, without evidence, that Hillary Clinton regularly has people assassinated for getting in her way. It doesnt matter that its nonsense invented by Rush Limbaugh and his ilk, it just matters that it has been woven into the tapestry of bullshit that has become conservative common knowledge.
Another such myth is the idea that wind turbines are too noisy. There are real reasons to be concerned about wind turbines, like their effects on local ecosystems. Here in Ireland, turbines built in peatlands, and the infrastructure supporting them, have resulted in at least one landslide. Likewise, one could point to the damage done to birds and bats, or even maybe the flickering effect of the blades when the sun is behind them in the morning or evening. The problem is that with the exception of the last point, all of the others require acknowledging that ecological harm is something worth considering.
Plus, you know, turbines are big fans, and fans make noise. Sometimes thats all the reasoning thats needed to make a bit of propaganda stick.
Well, it probably wont persuade the right people, but some scientists looked into nighttime turbine noise and found that at worst, its comparable to normal traffic:
Short exposure to wind farm and road traffic noise triggers a small increase in people waking from their slumber that can fragment their sleep patterns, according to new Flinders University research.
But importantly, the new study also shows that wind farm noise isnt more disruptive to sleep than road traffic, which was a little more disruptive at the loudest audio level but not at more common levels.
Sleep researchers at Flinders University have studied the impact of exposure to wind farm noise during sleep in three new scientific publications to better understand its impact on Australians.
The study played 20-second wind farm and road traffic noise samples repeatedly during participants sleep using 3 different sound pressure levels to compare their sleep disruption responses between the two different noise types.
On a separate night, the study tested if longer 3-minute noise samples, including very low-frequency wind farm infrasound alone, resulted in sleep disturbance.
The researchers also found that wind farm infrasound at realistic levels was n...
10:16
Scottish Indie Icons Teenage Fanclub Announce Australia and New Zealand Tour "IndyWatch Feed Alllocal"
Teenage Fanclub are returning to Australia for the first time since 2019.
True indie greats, the Scottish band will perform in Perth, Sydney, Melbourne, Byron Bay and Brisbane in March of next year, followed by a stop in New Zealand for an Auckland show (see full dates below).
Tickets go on sale to the general public on Monday, July 10th at 10am local time. The Frontier Members pre-sale. begins on Thursday, July 6th at 10am local time).
As The Quietus once wrote, if you fall for Teenage Fanclub, you fall hard. The Glasgow five-piece are still going strong in 2023, preparing for the release of their 11th studio album, Nothing Lasts Forever, in September (pre-save/pre-order here).
Nothing Lasts Forever was recorded over an intense ten-day period in the Welsh countryside. These songs are definitely personal, says founding member Norman Blake. Youre getting older, youre going into the cupboard getting the black suit out more often. Thoughts of mortality and the idea of the light must have been playing on our minds a lot When we write, its a reflection of our lives.
The record feels reflective, and I think the more we do this thing, the more we become comfortable with going to that place of melancholy, feeling and expressing those feelings, adds fellow founding member Raymond McGinley.
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...10:09
Sydney Criminal Lawyers Weekly Rundown Articles from 26 June to 2 July 2023 "IndyWatch Feed Alllocal"
In case youve missed any of them, heres a rundown of the past weeks articles: Is Receiving Oral Sex Whilst Driving A Crime? An Australian porn performer revealed she was involved in a car crash whilst performing fellatio on her...
The post Sydney Criminal Lawyers Weekly Rundown Articles from 26 June to 2 July 2023 appeared first on Sydney Criminal Lawyers.
09:10
YES campaign official launch in NAIDOC Week "IndyWatch Feed Alllocal"
Yesterday the YES campaign officially kicked off around the nation, launching on the first day of NAIDOC week.
Supporters gathered around the country to kick off a campaign to support YES for constitutional recognition and a voice to Parliament at the next referendum.
Around 30 Yes supporters in Byron Bay gathered at the lighthouse for the first YES to hit Australia in Brunswick Heads, around 80 YES supporters gathered on the beach to form a YES with their bodies.
Mullumbimby organiser for Richmond for YES Elia Haugh was thrilled by the turn out.
A huge show of support
It was amazing to launch the local YES campaign with such a huge show of support from all corners of our community. Thank you so much to everyone who came down to Brunswick Heads for our picnic and big YES on the beach the energy was so positive, inspiring and ready for action!
This is a moment for us to come together as a community: to acknowledge the 65,000 years of continuous culture and connection to Country, to show we are ready to really listen to a First Nations Voice and voices, to offer our deep respect for elders past, present and future through action as well as words.
Greens Candidate for...
08:39
Bill Gates' An open Letter to Hobbyists 1976 "IndyWatch Feed National"
See Wikipedia article:
08:37
Bondi Festival launch + previews of Werewolves and CAKE "IndyWatch Feed Alllocal"
Bondi Festival launch (photo Paul Neeson)
The 2023 Bondi Festival launched on a chilly Friday night at the Bondi Pavilion. The iconic ferris wheel and ice rink have returned and 16 days of arts, theatre, cabaret, dance and markets are ready to go.
Waverley Art Prize Winner, Carolyn Craig
After a launch that included a performance of indigenous dance, the Waverley Art Prize Winner was announced. Carolyn Craig is this years winner of the $15,000 acquisitive prize for her compelling mixed media work RE/Mediation, My mothers broom, which explores domestic labour and relationships.
Also the Mayors Prize ($2000) went to Damian Dillon for his work, Bloodflowers.
And the newly created Local Prize ($1500), was awarded to Onrie Radovic for Calibration 20.
...
08:31
08:30
"IndyWatch Feed Nthamerica" "IndyWatch Feed National"
Welcome to The Daily Wrap
Up, a concise show dedicated to bringing you the most relevant
independent news, as we see it, from the last 24 hours
(7/2/23).
As always, take the information discussed in the video below and
research it for yourself, and come to your own conclusions. Anyone
telling you what the truth is, or claiming they have the answer, is
likely leading you astray, for one reason or another. Stay
Vigilant.
(https://www.rokfin.com/TLAVagabond)(https://www.bitchute.com/channel/24yVcta8zEjY/)
!function(r,u,m,b,l,e){r._Rumble=b,r[b]||(r[b]=function(){(r[b]._=r[b]._||[]).push(arguments);if(r[b]._.length==1){l=u.createElement(m),e=u.getElementsByTagName(m)[0],l.async=1,l.src="https://rumble.com/embedJS/u2q643"+(arguments[1].video?'.'+arguments[1].video:'')+"/?url="+encodeURIComponent(location.href)+"&args="+encodeURIComponent(JSON.stringify([].slice.apply(arguments))),e.parentNode.insertBefore(l,e)}})}(window,
document, "script", "Rumble");
Rumble("play", {"video":"v2v4ymu","div":"rumble_v2v4ymu"});
Video Source Links (In Chronological Order)
THEY t-shirt:
https://tlavfreespeech.itemorder.com/shop/home/
(34)
RichPeopleWeekly on Twitter: "Another backfire tweet pathetically
trying to own people pressuring for accountability in a corrupt
pharma run system. Ian doesn't understand that vaccines were given
at the same time as the (undefined) placebo. All arms of the study
received at least 1 vaccine. Sponsor=Merck too
https://t.co/qRx3uFWj0R" / Twitter
(34)
The Vigilant Fox on Twitter: "Steve Kirsch: We Cant Find an
Autistic Kid Who Was Unvaccinated The Amish are a perfect example
of a large group of people who are largely unvaccinated, testified
@stkirsch to the Pennsylvania State Senate. You wont find kids with
ADD, with autoimmune disease, with https://t.co/vBfWixDLbE" /
Twitter
New Tab
(35)
Andrew Whelton on Twitter: "But, buildings are still chemically
contaminated indoors near the derailment site and Sulfur Run. So,
what you are see is how the decision makers do not speak about or
remove existing indoor contamination. This is the Shifting the
Burden policy trap. https://t.co/pe890XbNrL" / Twitter
(34)
Ben...
08:24
The Voice Update "IndyWatch Feed Alllocal"
For the racists who oppose the voice I have this to say,
You are a bunch of numbskulls!
For the well meaning but misguided folks who oppose the voice l say this,
Please do not listen to hot-heads like Lydia, who have no constituency.
It is written in the blackfella constitution that everyone must listen to our wise elders,
good people like Megan Davis, Marcia Langton, Pat Dodson, Noel Pearson, Rachel Perkins.
People with a great track record on fighting for black justice.
To vote yes you do not have to believe it will improve Indigenous lives,
You just have to believe it wont harm them.
If you believe that having a voice in parliament would actually hinder your ability to achieve your lofty ambitions, such as a fair treaty, then by-all-means go to the wise elders and do your utmost to convince them of their folly. But if they reject your advice, what ever you do, do not go making public statements that undermine the cause of your wise elders and the vast majority of your people.
Cop it sweet. Take it on the chin. Take one for the team.
At no time in history has anything ever been achieved via disunity.
Sure, argue the toss amongst yourselves till you are blue in the face, then shut the fuck up.
The idea of rejecting the voice in favor of more concrete measures would be laughable
if it was not so tragically nave. We have all seen what an enormous effort it has taken to
get people to even consider the concept of a voice, what on earth makes you think they
will be more willing to accept more concrete measures instead, like a treaty.
Dont forget that you have no leverage what so ever.
The only people with any leverage in this system are those who can threaten withdrawal
of their money, their labour or their vote.
tribes. It panders to the biggest tribe, the bogans. They are easy to placate. Tiny little tribes of angry blackfellas dont get a look in, as you are no doubt aware. Lacking leverage you must apeal to the better nature of the bogans. Good luck!To reject the voice in favor of a treaty looks nave in the extreme.
Very much like a child who is offered a vegemite sandwich, throwing it in the dirt and demanding,
No! I dont want a sandwich, I want an ice cream.
Well, after the sandwich offer is withdrawn, how are going to get your ice-cream?
What can you threaten if you dont get it, other than a tantrum..Lydia?
You wont be getting much help from all those people who signed The statement from the heart
after you have rejected their advice. You wont be getting any help from the racists who will feel emboldened by the crushing blow they have dealt to your movement when the referendum is reje...
08:23
Northern Territory government steps up support fracking industry "IndyWatch Feed Enviro.au"
Contributed by Adam Carlton
A new law in the northern Territory which allows fracking companies exploring for gas to start selling before they go through the project approval process is designed to turn this process into a rubber stamp. This law was introduced into the NT parliament in October last year. The state government hopes that this will give rise to the growth of the industry.
The new law, in the form of an amendment to the Petroleum Act, was approved by the parliament last year. Now the claim that the recommendations that the Pepper inquiry has been met is used to encourage companies to make use of the new law. This is a lie. Even though the inquiry had been meant to be a rubber stamp, it did raise a list of needs before a go ahead can be considered. These needs have not been covered, and the green light was given in May.
NT Environment Centre director Kirsty Howie said allowing the sale of exploratory gas before the recommendations were fully completed appeared to weaken the governments commitment to the recommendations of its own Pepper inquiry. Appeared, In this context using the word appeared is a polite way that it has.
Photo by Tristan Hooft/ABC News: Kirsty Howie
Wed been promised by the Northern Territory government that the industry would not move to production until numerous safeguards were in place, she said.
That includes things like offsetting all life cycle emissions produced in Australia from fracking and declaring water allocation plans in the regions to be affected.
Locals opposed to fracking and First Nation communities are not accepting this and gearing up to step up a battle that has already been going on for years. This is especially true for the Beetaloo Basin. Its big underground aquifer is threatened. A dozen test wells have already ben build here. Local community and first Nation opponents, intent of reversing this, have been joined by Northern Territory and across Australia pro-environment organisations.
07:38
07:30
"IndyWatch Feed Seq" "IndyWatch Feed Alllocal"
In 2001, Tharunka reported that the year before leading American ex-gay John Paulk was photographed in a gay bar. Odds & Sods: snippets of queercentric news coverage from Australian media in years gone by. ex-gay claim they formerly identified as gay, lesbian, or bisexual but subsequently transformed into happy shiny heteros.
07:17
Australian Vintage [ASX:AVG] Shares Jump 10% as It Undertakes Strategic Review "IndyWatch Feed Economics.au"
Australian Vintage [ASX:AVG], the company behind popular wine brands Tempus Two, McGuigan, and Nepenthe, has announced the initiation of a strategic review to explore options to unlock shareholder value.
Investors were relieved at the news, with the share price jumping by 10% today, trading at 43 cents per share.
The decision comes in light of the challenging business environment faced by AVG, including inflationary impacts, pressure from consumer trends, and tough market dynamics affecting pricing.
The market has reacted to these challenges, with AVGs shares declining by nearly 40 % over the past year. While the company experienced a surge in demand during the pandemic as consumers shifted to at-home consumption, reaching a 13-year high of 89 cents between March 2020 and June 2021 it remains a far cry from the highs witnessed in the early 2000s.
Source: Trading View
Australian Vintage explores alternatives
Australian Vintage announced today the beginning of a strategic review by corporate advisory firm E&P to explore options to unlock shareholder value in a challenging environment.
The decision to undertake the review comes in the wake of a challenging mid-June trading update for Australian Vintage, which highlighted the impact of the cost-of-living pinch on demand for affordable wines among Australian consumers.
The company responded by cancelling its final dividend and announcing a $9 million cost-cutting plan to mitigate ongoing inflationary pressures and the negative effects of excess wine capacity on margins.
Despite these challenges, AVG has managed to increase its market share across all key geographies, particularly in the rapidly growing Zero and Low-alcohol wine markets.
Craig Garvin, the former Australian CEO of Parmalat dairy business, leads Australian Vintage as its CEO. In a recent interview, he remarked that he believed consumer habits had changed after COVID.
People are becoming more sensible with lifestyle choices, he remarked, signalling his interest in the continued move towards low-alcohol markets.
The company said it remains committed to its strategic plan and the initiatives outlined in its recent trading update, with the goal of improving over...
07:17
Pilot Susi Air Has Been Hostage For Five Months The President and PM of New Zealand Asked to Fulfill the TPNPB Negotiations "IndyWatch Feed Alllocal"
A Google translate.
Original Bahasa link
Pilot Susi Air Has Been Hostage For
Five Months The President and PM of New Zealand Asked to Fulfill
the TPNPB Negotiations
the Indonesian state has to admit it, because the
pilot has spokenwe gave the pilot two months to live
JUBI News Desk - Susi Air Pilot Hostage
July 2, 2023
Jayapura, Jubi TV The West Papua Diplomatic and
Foreign Affairs Council asked Indonesian President Joko Widodo and
New Zealand Prime Minister, Chris Hipkins to sit with the West
Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) Free Papua Organization at
the international peace negotiating table to discuss the release of
the Zealand pilot New, Philip Mark Mehrtens.
Chairman of the West Papua Diplomatic and Foreign
Affairs Council, Akouboo Amatus Douw stated that the two main
requests were to the governments of Indonesia and New
Zealand.
We ask again the President of Indonesia, Mr. Joko
Widodo to withdraw his military personnel and open hearts and minds
to listen to the demands of the people of West Papua (Land of
Papua) for internationally mediated peace negotiations on the
future fate of West Papua and the release of foreign national
Philip Mehrtens , said Amatus in his press release received by
Jubi, Saturday (1/7/2023).
The second request to the New Zealand government,
reads, "We again ask the Prime Minister of New Zealand, The
Honorable Chris Hipkins to open his heart in good faith to our
request for...
06:12
46 Fantastic year-round things to do in Split with teenagers "IndyWatch Feed Alllocal"
Split, Croatia is one of our favorite places we have ever been to. One of the biggest reasons we loved our time in Split so much was because one of our favor...
06:00
A Pacific Mobility Index to strategically guide the Pacific Engagement Visa "IndyWatch Feed Politics.au"
In this blog, we introduce the Pacific Mobility Index (PMI) as a tool to guide the implementation of the revolutionary Pacific Engagement Visa (PEV) under its proposed annual 3,000 visa lottery ballot system.
Whilst the PMI we are proposing is currently only a concept, it promotes the strategic allocation of visas and aligns its rationale to the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent. It recognises the sensitive competing priorities in the region, and promotes regional agreement that aims to avoid tension. The PMI incorporates Australias own priorities for considerations of climate vulnerability and low access, and aims to strengthen the delivery of these highly prized visas.
The PEV is a first for Australia. It is a new visa that targets increased access to permanent migration pathways specifically for citizens of the Blue Pacific. In the interest of advancing and strengthening Australias ties, relationships and people-people connections to the Pacific, wider collective consultation in the region should foreground the successful delivery of the PEV.
Should the PEV roll out as initially announced by the Albanese government, citizens of 12 eligible Pacific Island countries and Timor-Leste, who have access to the internet or have family members that are technology savvy, will be able to make an online pre-application for a PEV. Four members (aside from Australia and New Zealand) from the apex regional body the Pacific Islands Forum the Cook Islands, French Polynesia, New Caledonia and Niue are not included. Eligible citizens will have the opportunity to enter a ballot, at a nominal non-refundable fee of A$25, to be randomly selected and then invited to apply for the visa. This is a tested and proven system that New Zealands Pacific Access Category Resident Visa has successfully delivered exclusively to citizens of Kiribati, Tuvalu, Tonga and Fiji.
When Labor first announced the PEV in opposition, it said that the 3,000 visas would be distributed on a pro rata basis. More recently, the government has said that visas would consider several factors including population size, di...
01:00
1971 De Tomaso Mangusta "IndyWatch Feed Enviro.au"
If you know of De Tomaso, its probably because of the Pantera. The mid-engine, rear-drive sports car was a wonderful combination of Italian design and Detroit muscle. The body was by Carrozzeria Ghia, the powerplant was Fords V8. It was De Tomasos most popular car, with more than 7,000 made from 1971 to 1992.
Until recently, I was unfamiliar with the De Tomaso Mangusta. And thats a shame because it is a beautiful car that (as others have argued) makes the case that car design peaked in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
Powered by a 296 bhp Ford V8 with bodywork by Giorgetto Giugiaro, it looks like a proper supercar, with unusual Gullwing engine covers. Mangusta is Italian for mongoose, an animal known for killing Cobras. A deal gone bad with Carroll Shelby is the supposed reason for the name.
Here are the De Tomaso Mangusta details via Petrolicious:
"https://www.classicdriver.com/en/car/de-tomaso/mangusta/1971/971987" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Classic Driver asking 298,500 ($324,350).Years Built: 1967-1971
Total Produced: 401
Engine: 4.7L-5.0L Ford V8
Power Produced: 221hp-306hp
Torque Produced: 300lb-ft
Coachwork Design: Giorgetto Giugiaro
Curb Weight: 2,612lbs
Price When New: $11,500
Now all you need is a mechanic that knows De Tomasos and some room in your garage
00:42
Weapons, costing billions to US taxpayers, used by Kiev regime to bombard civilians: Max Blumenthal to the UN Security Council "IndyWatch Feed National"
Grayzone editor Max Blumenthal speaks to
the UN Security Council, detailing huge financial corruption and
unsustainable rationale for supporting Ukraine war.
On Thursday 29 July Max Blumenthal, a writer for The Grayzone as a guest of Vassily Nebenzia, the Russian Ambassador to the United Nations, gave a 14 minute speech in which he deconstructed the lies of the United States and its allies about the Ukraine conflict. He explained how billions of dollars worth of weapons supplied to the Kiev regime are being used to bombard homes, schools, kindergartens, hospitals and other infrastructure in the Donetsk region.
The following, together with the full transcript, is from Why are we tempting nuclear annihilation? Watch Max Blumenthal address UN Security Council (29/6/23) | The Grayzone
We have published some excerpts citing an independent audit of US taxpayer funding below the video and of how US political figures rake in billions to their personal fortunes from this funding. Note that Australia is also funding this corruptly financed slaughter in Cabinet decisions made without consulting Australian taxpayers and citizens.
Excerpts from Grayzone's independent audit of US tax dollar allocation to Ukraine war
"The Grayzone published an independent audit of US tax dollar allocation to Ukraine throughout fiscal years 2022 and 2023. Our investigation was led by Heather Kaiser, a former military intelligence officer and veteran of US wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
We found a $4.48 million payment from the US Social Security Admin to the Kiev government. We found $4.5 billion worth of payments from the United States Agency for International Development to pay off Ukraines sovereign debt, much of which is owned by the global investment firm BlackRock. That alone amounts to $30 taken from every single US citizen at a time when 4 in 10 Americans are unable to afford a $400 emergency.
We found tax dollars earmarked for Ukraine padding the budgets of a television station in Toronto, a pro-NATO think tank in Poland, and, believe it or not, rural farmers...
Sunday, 02 July
23:32
INTERVIEW: Arnaud Develay Truth About the Wagner Fallout "IndyWatch Feed Alllocal"
The political fallout in Russia over the Prigozhin and Wagner coup that wasnt a coup.
In this episode of the Patrick Henningsen Show on TNT Radio which aired on June 28, 2023, Patrick talks with Arnaud Develay, an international human rights lawyer, to discuss the political fallout in Russia over the Prigozhin and Wagner coup (which wasnt really a coup), and how this mutiny will shape Moscows approach going forward. Also, Belarus has been drawn even closer to a partnership with Russia. At the same time, NATO and Kiev continue to struggle to make any gains in what is fast becoming one of the most disastrous proxy wars in history. All this and more. Listen:
More from Arnaud:
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22:16
Bosi puts military detractors in their place "IndyWatch Feed Alllocal"
Sack Chief of Defence Force General Angus Campbell Deep State plot to sink the Australian military is sunk by Riccardo Bosi
22:15
What are PFAS, and why are these forever chemicals showing up in drinking water? An environmental health scientist explains "IndyWatch Feed Allstate"
Youve probably been hearing the term PFAS in the news lately as states and the U.S. government consider rules and guidelines for managing these forever chemicals.
Even if the term is new to you, chances are good that youre familiar with what PFAS do. Thats because theyre found in everything from nonstick cookware to carpets to ski wax.
PFAS stands for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, which are a large group of human-made chemicals currently estimated to be around 9,000 individual chemical compounds that are used widely in consumer products and industry. They can make products resistant to water, grease and stains and protect against fire.
Waterproof outdoor apparel and cosmetics, stain-resistant upholstery and carpets, food packaging that is designed to prevent liquid or grease from leaking through, and certain firefighting equipment often contain PFAS. In fact, one recent study found that most products labeled stain- or water-resistant contained PFAS, and another study found that this is even true among products labeled as nontoxic or green. PFAS are also found in unexpected places like high-performance ski and snowboard waxes, floor waxes and medical devices.
At first glance, PFAS sound pretty useful, so you might be wondering whats the big deal?
The short answer is that PFAS are harmful to human health and the environment.
Some of the very same chemical properties that make PFAS attractive in products also mean these chemicals will persist in the environment for generations. Because of the widespread use of PFAS, these chemicals are now present in water, soil and living organisms and can be found across almost every part of the planet, including Arctic glaciers, marine mammals, remote communities living on subsistence diets, and in 98% of the American public.
The Environmental Protection Agency issued a health advisory in 2022, warning about their risk in drinking water even at very low levels. PFAS maker 3M, facing lawsuits, announced a...
22:02
![[link]](https://i.redd.it/vgagn6nrkj9b1.jpg){kind=link}
21:50
OPINION: Brisbane The city thats also a forest. "IndyWatch Feed Alllocal"
Last week, there was a flurry of reporting and commentary about how Brisbane didnt have a well-known brand and that this was supposedly a problem to be solved in the []
The post OPINION: Brisbane The city thats also a forest. first appeared on Westender.
21:03
Screw the banks and the CBDC, use cash only and keep your freedom "IndyWatch Feed Alllocal"
The Australian Treasury and the Liberal Labor duopoly are coming after your cash. Say NO to CBDC
21:01
Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Alenia C-27J Spartan Transport Aircraft A34-004 "Kaos 46" Completes Airwork at Bundaberg Airport "IndyWatch Feed Alllocal"
Also on Sunday 25 June, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Alenia C-27J Spartan transport aircraft A34-004 was noted completing airwork at Bundaberg Airport.
 |
| File photo |
A34-004 was flying as "Kaos 46" and arrived up at Bundy direct from RAAF Base Amberley before it then completed several approaches at Bundaberg Airport. The Spartan then continued up to Townsville.
Photo taken by Steve Vit
20:30
NSFW! more nude bodybuilders from Douglas of Detroit "IndyWatch Feed Alllocal"
Douglas Juleff became famous as Douglas of Detroit for his photographs of nude bodybuilders after meeting a bodybuilder who modelled for a life-drawing class he attended. Revered as a pioneer of physique photography, Douglas Juleff operated a studio at home while keeping his day job in the photo lab of a major Detroit department store. ...
The post NSFW! more nude bodybuilders from Douglas of Detroit appeared first on QNews.
20:09
Meteor fireball over New England, Ontario and Qubec on July 1 "IndyWatch Feed Allstate"
We received 362 reports about a fireball seen over CT, MA, ME, New Brunswick, NH, NY, Ontario, Qubec, Quebec and VT on Saturday, July 1st 2023 around 02:16 UT. For this event, we received 5 videos and 2 photos.
19:33
Ready for the next WHO plandemic "IndyWatch Feed Alllocal"
From ABC Its like a scene of a sci-fi film. Emerging from a lift, lying in a sealed coffin-like bed, some of Australias most infectious patients will be transported into a pressurised room. The newly-opened facility is part of the nations first purpose-built biocontainment centre based at Westmead Hospital in Sydneys west. Highly trained doctors []
19:11
Alexis Tsipras resigns: lessons for progressives "IndyWatch Feed Allstate"
Following Greeces latest election, after which Alexis Tsipras announced his resignation, a journalist asked me: What conclusion do you draw from this situation? Here is my answer:
The crucial conclusion to be drawn is that radicals are never welcomed for long into the club of the powerful, even if they are willing to betray their principles to serve the powerful well. Tsipras has every reason to feel badly treated by the establishment.
Having imposed on the people of Greece, efficiently and some would add ruthlessly, the policies that he was elected to oppose, he succeeded in stabilising Greece (at the expense, of course, of the majority of Greeks) on behalf of the international oligarchy. To do so, he embraced (in the name of the radical left!) oligarchic policies that even the most fervent political representatives of the oligarchy, when in government, had baulked at introducing. And what did he get for it?
While in government, doing the oligarchys dirty bidding, the establishment accommodated him, throwing his way the odd compliment. But, once the dirty deed was done, the powers-that-be abandoned him going all out in their support of their traditional political representatives the New Democracy party led by Kyriakos Mitsotakis and the ramp PASOK party. Without a shred of gratitude to their true saviour, Tsipras, they ditched him in an electoral environment where as a result of his own choices he stood no chance of garnering support from the people whom he had subjected to the troikas oligarchic torture.
In short, leftists dallying with betrayal beware: It does not pay!
The post Alexis Tsipras resigns: lessons for progressives appeared first on Yanis Varoufakis.