“The university still has an opportunity to speak out against genocide and apartheid. It should do so.”
@jeffsparrow1.bsky.social responds to the call for feedback on the right to protest and the “iSurveillance Policy” at the University of Melbourne.
Chris Minns’ refusal to apologise is extremely offensive, divisive and inflammatory. So much for social cohesion.
In my last piece here, I talked about the rhetoric employed against Hamas, or indeed any group the status quo is set against, and how neutral, militaristic rhetoric is always employed for Israel's actions. There's the emotive impact, of course, but it goes further. The rhetoric of hatred and terror, the sensationalist language, is used by the State to designate its enemies as essentially mindless, as less than animal, in order to render them exterminable. Reason and civility can do nothing against these manifestations of embodied hatred; this magical thinking runs in reverse, too, where no logic is required, no reason, no thinking on the part either of the messenger or of the audience receiving this message, what you are expected to do is feel-first fear, and then reassurance at the bloodletting or promised "crack down" to follow. What's another right, another check on power, in the scheme of the nation's security? And that's what you're being asked rhetorically to shoulder, in these moments, each time: the whole nation-state rests on your willingness to give more power to the very same security and enforcement agencies that fail repeatedly.
Over and over, we see this tactic employed by the powerful: they are never to be held accountable, to sacrifice anything, it’s up to individuals to do more, while the status quo remains unchanged and the system unchallenged, except to accrue more power and money. sakr.substack.com/p/the-stalki...
Even the absence of hatred can be described as “hate” - this demonstrates the defining feature of this rhetoric, which is characterising any opposition to the functioning of the state as hateful, as antisemitism. And the apartheid state maintains its violences with hatred of Arabs and Muslims.
You can contact the Adelaide Festival here to express your opinion about their decision to ban Randa Abdel-Fattah. Please refrain from abuse.
Statement from the Australia Institute announcing its withdrawal of support and sponsored events from the Adelaide Writers’ Festival
Statement from Amy Remeikis withdrawing from Adelaide Writers’ Festival
I stand with Randa and everyone standing against hate, genocide, oppression and terror. In all its forms.
Petition: We will not be divided after Bondi.
Add your name:
jewishcouncil.good.do/unity/jewish...
So, ignore the terrorist group that is very evidently responsible for the attack and go after peaceful protesters who object to genocide? Sounds legit.
Ty Clare
Can recommend!
Hello! I'm running a six-week writing workshop in Melbourne over summer designed to help you deepen your craft, receive generous feedback and build momentum in your work.
💫 Small group (max 12 writers)
💫 Fortnightly meet-ups
Places are limited. Apps close on Nov 7. App w info in bio.
Interesting. But is not just another way of saying he's a centrist??
It would be hard to conjure a more unhelpful figure than Segal to lead the fight against anti-semitism than a
former NAB bank director, for over 2 decades during which time the bank admitted to misconduct, schemes involving bribery, forgery and general corporate grifting.
Let’s hope that the current government does not yield to this massive over reach . Even if you are so blinkered as to be only concerned with Jewish issues, exceptionalising Jews will foster antisemitism rather than defeat it . www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Imagine the public outcry and Murdoch media beat-up if Australia allowed the China lobby to define sinophobia then enacted censorship on the PRC's behalf. Yet that's exactly what's happening with Israel and antisemitism.
It's now open to non Indigenous signatories. Awww I love writers and other creative peeps xxxx
Have just signed. Solidarity with you Ren!
below is the brief acceptance speech I was going to give on Tuesday, but instead my Fellowship was rescinded a few hours before the award ceremony:-
I acknowledge that I’m speaking on the unceded lands of Turrbal, Yuggera and Jagerra peoples and pay my respect to their Elders, past and present.
1/
Powerful Stella prize speech from Michelle de Kretser:
“In Australia today it isn’t those applauding mass murder who have cause to be afraid, but those speaking out against it. Principally targeted are Palestinians, Arabs, Muslims, First Nations people, people of colour, queers.”
Social post from Ren Wyld with details of being told her award was rescinded
Social post from Ren Wyld with details of being told her award was rescinded
Social post from Ren Wyld with details of being told her award was rescinded, including an email from a journo at The Australian sent 20 minutes before she was told.
Social post from Ren Wyld with details of being told her award was rescinded
The day author Ren Wyld was due to receive the Black & Write $15k Indigenous fellowship she was told it had been rescinded. A journo from the Oz seemed to know before she did. Appalling to see QLD govt cave to Murdoch press to punish a First Nations writer for speaking out in support of Palestine.
Ty for reading Danielle!
What a great #essay. For me, the escalating destruction of our #ecosystem is the great horror of our times, notwithstanding our enforced complicity in the current round of crimes against humanity. And as for asking why #reading is essential - it's a bit like asking why thinking is essential. 🤯
Ty for reading Stuart!
How I admire people who can write like this.
"In spite of all this, at no time over the last 18 mths have I felt that writing fiction was a waste of time". Finally got to @lukehorton.bsky.social's great essay on meaningfully engaging with this world through writing (& reading) overland.org.au/2025/05/book...
Ty for reading Martin!
'...while Israelis continue to slaughter Palestinians in their thousands — and we have awoken each morning to new unbelievably horrific scenes that can never be scrubbed from our memories — literally no-one in power is doing anything to stop it. No-one.'
All I care about today, as we vote.
