Pope Francis calls unfettered capitalism 'tyranny' and urges rich to share wealth | World news | theguardian.com

 This is the first time EVER that I have considered the words of a Pope to be worth listening to.  People in this position of enormous power have, in my view, misused that power to keep the disadvantaged in their place while supporting the rich and powerful, even disciplining those priests who supported those who rose up against murderous dictators.  Francis is making different 'noises' and I'm starting to listen.  Several things occur to me, principally (of course) that he may not survive as he seeks to reform the Vatican's financial holdings (e.g., bank).  I'll be interested in any progress but criticism of capitalism is good!

Pope Francis calls unfettered capitalism 'tyranny' and urges rich to share wealth | World news | theguardian.com

Amani Duniani: Difficult circumstances or not PM, torture is never acceptable

 There's no need for me to add any words to this when Francis Ventura has said it so well in his blog:
"When recently questioned by journalists in Colombo about allegations of torture in Sri Lanka, Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott initially said that his government deplores the use of torture. Fair enough. But he then went on to say, and I quote, “but we accept that sometimes in difficult circumstances, difficult things happen.” I had to listen to it again twice to ensure I’d heard it correctly. Had the Prime Minister seriously just implicitly defended the use of torture by the Sri Lankan government, which he sees as a strategic partner in his efforts to ‘stop the boats’?"

Read the whole article!

Amani Duniani: Difficult circumstances or not PM, torture is never acceptable

“Responsibility to Protect” (R2P): An Instrument of Aggression

Provocative article and well worth a thoughtful read.  The author is Edward S Herman who, in addition to considerable work of his own, also wrote a couple of books with Noam Chomsky.

“Responsibility to Protect” (R2P): An Instrument of Aggression

U.N. Defends Banning Three Youth Activists While Allowing Fossil Fuel Firms to Sponsor Climate Talks | Democracy Now!

 Ban Ki-moon needs to answer a straight question with a true answer (e.g., we're all in the power of these multi-nationals so without huge world-wide protest from people to empower - force - their governments to support the cause, we can't do much).

U.N. Defends Banning Three Youth Activists While Allowing Fossil Fuel Firms to Sponsor Climate Talks | Democracy Now!

Consumer Rights in a world of hard sell

The importance of this topic was brought home to me recently.

It is vital for people to at least check out their rights in relation to products and services when they're dissatisfied.  One shouldn't 'assume' or take advice from a 'friend'.  In my working life I came across numerous instances of people thinking they were 'stuck' with something, as well as people who had an unreasonable expectation of their rights.  No need to wonder!  We can go to the governments'  designated bodies to help us sort things out.  To find them, you can start here:
Australian Competition & Consumer Commission
Consumer Affairs Victoria (each state has its own)

Also, worth looking at Fact Sheets at various sites, e.g., Consumer Action Law Centre


Thanks to my nephew Liam for sharing this site on google.  It's a fun series for providing information.  The Checkout - ABC TV

The Nerkh Killings: The problem with ‘immunity’ for US soldiers. By Kate Clark | The WikiLeaks Party

I can understand the USA - indeed any country - not wanting their people to be charged and tried in foreign lands for alleged war crimes (if only Oz would care about its citizens overseas) but war crimes not being properly investigated and those in authority not being held accountable is unacceptable.  If everyone signed on to give the International Court jurisdiction, perhaps even US personnel would think 2ce before taking some of their reprehensible actions.

The Nerkh Killings: The problem with ‘immunity’ for US soldiers. By Kate Clark | The WikiLeaks Party

Secret Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP)

This is arguably one of the most important fights to be had by opponents of non-representative Corporate Government of the world.  Virtually all trade agreements mean sacrificing our ability to put legal controls on business and make our personal liberties more vulnerable than they already are under government corruption and business lobbies.  The global corporations must not be seen as having rights - as has already happened via US Supreme Court - they are not people or citizens!!!
Secret Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP)

The pantomime continues – Australia’s debt ceiling. By Bill Mitchell | The WikiLeaks Party

Does anyone believe the bs being dished out by the government, especially the idiot treasurer?

The pantomime continues – Australia’s debt ceiling. By Bill Mitchell | The WikiLeaks Party

SWEDEN/UK GOVERNMENTS BLOCK ANY U.S. ADMINISTRATION’S RETALIATION AGAINST JULIAN ASSANGE – MAIREAD MAGUIRE, NOBEL PEACE LAUREATE. – ll.ll.2013 « Just International

SWEDEN/UK GOVERNMENTS BLOCK ANY U.S. ADMINISTRATION’S RETALIATION AGAINST JULIAN ASSANGE – MAIREAD MAGUIRE, NOBEL PEACE LAUREATE. – ll.ll.2013 « Just International

These dogs only knew suffering. Now free & learning to live for the first time! #puppyFactory #rescued v @AnimalsAus

These dogs only knew suffering. Now free & learning to live for the first time! #puppyFactory #rescued v @AnimalsAus

It's business that really rules us now | George Monbiot | Comment is free | The Guardian

It's business that really rules us now | George Monbiot | Comment is free | The Guardian

Australia is different how?  Corporations are the enemy and they are not people!  They are just served by people.

Neoliberalism: it's back! Errol Brandt @e2mq173 reports - No Fibs

Neoliberalism: it's back! Errol Brandt @e2mq173 reports - No Fibs 
nofibs.com.au is an interesting site.  It's crowd funded journalism.  Margo Kingston writes there, as well as lots of other interesting people.

This Working Life: Blacklisting

Unions may well be the last bastion against the global corporatisation of our world and societies.  As in their beginning, they are still attacked on a regular basis to weaken their (our) resistance to increasing loss of our power.
See 3 posts on blacklisting

Chomsky on the Trans-Pacific Partnership

http://www.youtube.com/v/LBpXlI4Oxkw?version=3&autohide=1&showinfo=1&autoplay=1&attribution_tag=ywJybv6CEhYBn-Of9fKYow&autohide=1&feature=share

Brandis, Bolt and a whole lot of other B’s! By Suresh Rajan

"However, one wonders as to the inconsistency of the approach being adopted herein. The repeal of the Section 18 provisions will be in direct conflict with the London convention on this matter. It will be interesting to see how Brandis justifies the inconsistency of his approach."

Magi Cecilia shared a link via WikiLeaksParty.

This is a 'must read' to ensure we don't just accept what governments say because the aim of boasting of 'high spending' is just a way of trying to convince us that the first people are incorrigible rather than repeatedly/constantly/historically screwed. We must not feel comfortable with injustice - ever - or we are doomed.

http://www.wikileaksparty.org.au/25-4-billion-spent-on-aboriginal-disadvantage-is-a-lie-by-gerry-geo

www.wikileaksparty.org.au

$25.4 billion spent on Aboriginal disadvantage is a lie. By Gerry Georgatos

Razor taken to CSIRO

Razor taken to CSIRO

The lucky country? Try selfish and deluded, too: Peter Watson

November 4, 2013

"We think of ourselves as a generous people and many Australians are. But it's a form of national psychosis when a rich, secure nation unblinkingly spends more on killing people than helping them."

Read more:  The lucky country? Try selfish and deluded, too