It’s that time of year again where I make note of how little I have written, but at least I’ve made up for it by reading more. Particularly, reading books on topics to ensure that what I did write (mostly university essays) was as polished as possible – and given my grades, for the most part, were good this year, it paid off. So like previous years (linked below), here is the first part of my 2022 reading list. As usual, it is in the order that I completed reading them – so enjoy the jumps between topics.
Continue reading “My 2022 Reading List – Part 1”Category: Emergency Services
The Melbourne Protests Are Not a Worker’s Movement
22/09/2021
We are in the third day of small but loud protests taking place in Melbourne right now, and it has become crystal clear what the purpose of these demonstrations really are. What started ostensibly as a “tradies” protest against Victoria’s vaccine mandate and the Union’s support of it has quickly turned into a violent, nationalist and conspiracy ridden farce. The misinformation online has accelerated as clashes begin with police, now at the Shrine of Remembrance.
Continue reading “The Melbourne Protests Are Not a Worker’s Movement”Defunding the Police and Changing Focus
21/06/2020
There is a post going around at the moment that is supposedly meant to paint the police in a positive light during the recent global protests again police violence towards native peoples and people of colour. Honestly, it really sounds like the author (unknown, at least I’ve not seen a name with it) is telling the population to submit to power because… it’s power.
Respect the Prime Minister? Perhaps Not
14/02/2020
I saw a comment earlier today on a Greens related social media page that said, “if you have so little respect for the office of Prime Minster, you certainly never deserve to occupy the position”. Someone responded by saying the office is fine, but that Morrison himself was worthy of the insults he gets. This may come as a shock, but I say to hell with both.
Should Morrison Resign?
05/01/2020
It is question that has been circulating online for a couple of days now, with a video of a firefighter telling him to stand down and the hashtag “#ResignMorrison”. While it is certainly a sentiment I can get behind, that, or a “libspill” (another hashtag that has shown up a fair bit in the last 12 months), might have immediate benefits, to a degree, in the long run it could be extremely problematic.
Media on the Bushfires
04/01/2020
I commented on Twitter the other day that I’ve been a bit more attached to the social media platform in the past week or so, primarily to see personal accounts from those who are in the affected regions. But not everyone uses Twitter, and of those who do, there’s a fair share of questionable content that some can get lost in (i.e. those downplaying the extremity of this crisis, or the causes). “Traditional” (like newspapers, but also liberally applying that label to TV and digital media) media is still very important as it shapes a lot of opinion and knowledge.
Scott Morrison Must Leave
02/01/2020
I don’t care how, he just needs to get the hell out of it. A resignation would be welcome, as would a vote of no confidence – but his criminal gang masquerading as a political party would laugh it down as they did Medevac. He could run off back to Hawaii and leave someone competent in charge, but that wouldn’t be possible because competence isn’t the Coalition’s strong point. I wouldn’t condone it, but I also wouldn’t shed a tear if the man pulled a Harold Holt or JFK.
Coalition Still Campaigning
22/11/2019
Despite winning the election in May, the Coalition seems to still be stuck in a lot of their campaigning habits. The reason, in my opinion, is a relatively simple one, but it’s mind-boggling to think that a government can be so awful that, only six months into a third term, all they can think to do is self-promoting PR.
We Can’t Afford This Cycle
21/11/2019
We elected the Coalition into government in 2013, and twice since then in both 2016 and 2019. In NSW, the Coalition has also been voted in for three consecutive terms. My interest in politics didn’t start until 2015, and I’ve only voted in two Federal elections, but there is a very clear pattern that has emerged in that time that is incredibly worrying. The media is, as usual, one of the greatest contributors to this mess.
Propaganda: Selecting and Misrepresenting Voices
18/11/2019
One of the things any book, article, or academic course on the media will (or should) tell you is that one of journalism’s flaws is agenda setting. Who frames the news, where they get the news, and who they get that information from are just some of the factors that go into structuring what consumers get to read and comment on. Australia is no exception, and as fires rage across the country’s east, many voices are being choked out by segments of the media.
Continue reading “Propaganda: Selecting and Misrepresenting Voices”
Anarchist Rising 