Australian universities are increasingly funded by weapons manufacturers, partly driven by the AUKUS folly. They are the same companies that support Israel’s genocide in Gaza. Michael Sainsbury reports.
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Michael West
Category: Australian Pride
Wait for the wailing from Sky News
Ultra-conservatives with substantial wealth and/or undue media influence distort the secular agenda with outrageous impunity. Refer again to all the CPAC23 speeches linked above.
One case in point is Janet Albrechtsen, a former Director of the right-wing Institute of Public Affairs, and columnist for Rupert Murdoch’s flagship The Australian.
Indeed, Ms Albrechtsen wrote a scathing opinion piece in The Oz on 22.11.23 (paywalled) railing against the upcoming Secular Conference on 2nd December, in Surry Hills. Ten days before SAC – when not even one word had been spoken – she just “knew” she’d absolutely hate it all.
Her article was a breathless tirade linking basic secular principles directly with transgenderism, wokeism, the entirety of gender politics, all culture wars, and the climate “hoax”. She states, “And it’s hard to escape this new religion.” What a bizarre statement to make! Religion requires a ‘god’, but Janet knows that. She also knows secularism simply doesn’t have one!
Notice this basic right-wing strategy to bundle up everything they hate in the world and stick a convenient label on it – it’s all down to Satanism, to communism, or secular heresy. Oh, please!
SAC, and the objectively rational speakers of the Secularism Australia Conference will take a calm and measured analysis of where Australia actually stands now, in relation to the broad sweep of issues which undermine progress towards a fair, just and equitable society.
By Brian Morris Secular Australia justifiably expects equal media attention to that given to CPAC – the Conservative Political Action Conference that stages rallies promoting authoritarian agendas. Notably, the Secularism Australia Conference, SAC, is the polar opposite!
Source: SAC takes on CPAC – » The Australian Independent Media Network
When 35 people were murdered by a lone gunman in Tasmania in 1996, the conservative government did something the American government hasn’t: it quickly banned automatic and semiautomatic weapons.
Source: When Australia Experienced a Mass Shooting, the Government Enacted Gun Reform
As we watch the slow, momentous collapse of American democracy, a Scott Morrison-ism comes to mind: How good is the Australian Electoral Commission?
Source: Alan Kohler: How good is the Australian Electoral Commission?
Morrison has turned Australia into an American post and in doing so given up sovereignty. Biden is now intervening on our behalf about trade with China. Morrison has us jumping to the tune of “The Yanks are Coming” and that we need to get prepared to welcome them. Will Trump be our PM or President in 2024?
Get the Marines ready. Store the supplies. Marshal the allies. The United States is getting ready for war (the preferable term in Washington is policing) in the Indo-Pacific region, and is hoping to do so with a range of expanded bases across client states, or what it prefers to call friends.
Source: Arming Against China: The US Global Posture Review – » The Australian Independent Media Network
Australian historian Stuart Macintyre passed away on Monday. A veteran of the New Left and the Communist Party of Australia, as a historian, writer, and political activist, Macintyre exemplified the spirit of solidarity at the heart of the workers’ movement.
Source: Stuart Macintyre Was Australia’s Foremost Left-Wing Historian
I noted elsewhere that “Adelaide was originally populated by the aboriginal Kaurna people, who called it Tarndanyangga. It is now about as populous as San Diego. It was settled by free British immigrants, unlike the rest of Australia, which was a penal colony. In the nineteenth century, “Afghans” were brought in as camel drivers. It has the oldest continuously functioning mosque in Australia, constructed in 1889, and the state is known for its dedication to religious freedom.”
Our National Archives hold a great many secrets. What the courageous Professor Hocking and her supporters have done is to turn that mighty key to the vaults that house and secrete so much of our past, including our shameful treatment of our Indigenous brothers and sisters, just for starters. Her win in the High Court stands other seekers of truth, justice and history in good stead. Since her brave intervention, we all have a better chance of accessing these archives.
Australia’s most uncelebrated Academic ignored by our LNP government and the IPA who preferred to bribe universities to create space for Dr Bjorn Lomborg a globally ignored academic. Tony abbott’s view of progress was to cut funding to the likes of Professor Green (ODT)
“His fundamental and applied research has transformed the global energy sector and will continue to produce major economic and social benefits, both in Australia and worldwide.”
UNSW Dean of Engineering Professor Mark Hoffman said: “The global impact of the work of Martin and his research team has been profound. They have created the highest efficiency solar cells using techniques that have made them accessible to the world through commercialisation. And all of this has been achieved in Australia.
“We are proud of Martin’s inspirational leadership and pioneering research which is helping address the challenge of climate change.”
Professor Green said receiving the award was “a great honour”.
“The efficiency of solar modules is an area whose progress has been faster than many experts expected, and this is good news,” he said.
“We need to maintain the pace of research in Australia, not only to keep our international lead, but also to benefit society by providing a cheap, low carbon source of electricity.”
Australian Values: Remember when it used to be Simpson and his donkey now it’s Matthew Guy is a donkey
So, in Victoria, Matthew “The Family” Guy has announced that Victorian schools will be instructed to teach “Australian values” under a Liberal Government, as well as getting rid of all this trendy nonsense of teaching about sustainability, Asia and aboriginal history. Of course, Safe Schools goes because an Australian environment needs to be dangerous and there’s also going to be a greater concentration on “literacy, numeracy and writing.” Writing, of course, being a totally separate thing from literacy.
via Australian Values? What Can I Say? – » The Australian Independent Media Network
Far north Queensland residents try to lead a stray 3.8-metre crocodile back to the water’s edge by utilising a wall of wheelie bins.
Jim Molan rejected claims by Amnesty International that conditions on Nauru are the worst in the world, despite admitting he has never been there.
Source: Q&A: Most Aussies ‘would give right arm’ for Nauru facilities, says ex-government advisor
A group of Malaysian men in their twenties gate-crashed an event at the Palm Beach Surf Life Saving Club last night, performing an extended cultural show in front of stunned onlookers.
The show – which included traditional dancing, music and an interactive presentation about 16th century Malay instrumental styles – was said to be payback for the ‘Budgie 9’ incident at the Malaysian Grand Prix last week.
Revellers at the venue described the alcohol-free performance as ‘disrespectful’. Palm Beach SLSC regular Simon McRay said it was the worst Friday night of his life. “Four hours without being able to get a beer. It just shows a lack of respect for Australian culture”.The Malaysian men were released from the Club with a warning.
Duncan Storrar, the man whose Q&A question defined the election campaign at its outset in May, has emerged to challenge the nation’s leaders once more.
Source: Q&A star Duncan Storrar overcomes trauma to pose fresh questions
olddogthoughts 