#Free_Palestine #Gaza pic.twitter.com/CxE0XuRJI8
— newmatilda (@newmatilda) December 21, 2023
This blog is open to any who wish to comment on Australian society, the state of the environment or political shenanigans at Federal, State and Local Government level.
Yesterday, 10 December 2023 was the 75th Anniversary of the United Nation's Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted by the UN General Assembly on 10 December 1948 during the tenure of Australia's Dr HV Evatt as President of the General Assembly.
Australia had been on the UN Drafting Committee responsible for formulating the draft declaration and pushed for the declaration to include a covenant making it legally enforceable. Australia went on the become one of the original signatories to the final form declaration.
Seventy-five years later......
On 10 December 2023 media sources stated that the death toll in the Gaza Strip was thought to be over 17,700 dead or missing presumed dead since Israel's sustained retaliatory bombardment began on 8 October 2023. UNWRA the UN relief & works agency confirms the vast majority of the dead are believed to be Palestinian civilians with an estimated 40 per cent being children, including newborns, infants and toddlers.
These deaths are now occurring in both the north and south of Gaza as Israel conducts its ground war.
"There is no safe place to go in the Gaza Strip"
[Palestinian Health Ministry, 9 December 2023]
The International Criminal Court (ICC) continues to investigate alleged crimes committed "in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, since June 13, 2014". The Israeli Likud Government has refused the ICC and foreign media access to the Gaza Strip since 8 October 2023.
According to the World Health Organisation the Gaza Strip remains cut off from food, water, electricity, civilian telecommunications and health care, with little humanitarian aid allowed to pass though Israeli checkpoints.
The War on Gaza has entered its 10th week, nothing changes and Australia refuses to acknowledge those humanitarian obligations it espoused in 1948.
A recounting in video clips:
9 December 2023
"And we will tell you, what we tell you every day.
We are coming to Gaza.
We are coming to Lebanon.
We will come to Iran.
We will come to everywhere.
Can you imagine how many we are going to kill?
How many of you, we are going to kill? On each of the 1,300 people you killed, kidnapped.
You did not see these numbers in all Arab history. i assure you, that it will come, in case you are confused.
I assure you it will come, Numbers that you did not imagine, that it is possible, it is possible to get them.
And we are ready to enter International Unity.
We are prepared to fight United States and the entire world.
How long it will take untill all of you, including all your supporters go up to meet Allah? We will kill, it will be clear. This is the sentiments.
So wait in the social media. Do a free palestine. Do all your crying. We will destroy you.
Far-right Israeli member of Knesset Zvika Fogel's disturbing response to Channel 4 Foreign Correspondent, Secunder Kermani, on how the new Israeli government intends to de-escalate the tension between Israelis and Palestinians in Israel and the occupied West Bank moving forward.
Hi! My name is Boy. I'm a male bi-coloured tabby cat. Ever since I discovered that Malcolm Turnbull's dogs were allowed to blog, I have been pestering Clarencegirl to allow me a small space on North Coast Voices.
A false flag musing: I have noticed one particular voice on Facebook which is Pollyanna-positive on the subject of the Port of Yamba becoming a designated cruise ship destination. What this gentleman doesn’t disclose is that, as a principal of Middle Star Pty Ltd, he could be thought to have a potential pecuniary interest due to the fact that this corporation (which has had an office in Grafton since 2012) provides consultancy services and tourism business development services.
A religion & local government musing: On 11 October 2017 Clarence Valley Council has the Church of Jesus Christ Development Fund Inc in Sutherland Local Court No. 6 for a small claims hearing. It would appear that there may be a little issue in rendering unto Caesar. On 19 September 2017 an ordained minister of a religion (which was named by the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse in relation to 40 instances of historical child sexual abuse on the NSW North Coast) read the Opening Prayer at Council’s ordinary monthly meeting. Earlier in the year an ordained minister (from a church network alleged to have supported an overseas orphanage closed because of child abuse claims in 2013) read the Opening Prayer and an ordained minister (belonging to yet another church network accused of ignoring child sexual abuse in the US and racism in South Africa) read the Opening Prayer at yet another ordinary monthly meeting. Nice one councillors - you are covering yourselves with glory!
An investigative musing: Newcastle Herald, 12 August 2017: The state’s corruption watchdog has been asked to investigate the finances of the Awabakal Aboriginal Local Land Council, less than 12 months after the troubled organisation was placed into administration by the state government. The Newcastle Herald understands accounting firm PKF Lawler made the decision to refer the land council to the Independent Commission Against Corruption after discovering a number of irregularities during an audit of its financial statements. The results of the audit were recently presented to a meeting of Awabakal members. Administrator Terry Lawler did not respond when contacted by the Herald and a PKF Lawler spokesperson said it was unable to comment on the matter. Given the intricate web of company relationships that existed with at least one former board member it is not outside the realms of possibility that, if ICAC accepts this referral, then United Land Councils Limited (registered New Zealand) and United First Peoples Syndications Pty Ltd(registered Australia) might be interviewed. North Coast Voices readers will remember that on 15 August 2015 representatives of these two companied gave evidence before NSW Legislative Council General Purpose Standing Committee No. 6 INQUIRY INTO CROWN LAND. This evidence included advocating for a Yamba mega port.
A Nationals musing: Word around the traps is that NSW Nats MP for Clarence Chris Gulaptis has been talking up the notion of cruise ships visiting the Clarence River estuary. Fair dinkum! That man can be guaranteed to run with any bad idea put to him. I'm sure one or more cruise ships moored in the main navigation channel on a regular basis for one, two or three days is something other regular river users will really welcome. *pause for appreciation of irony* The draft of the smallest of the smaller cruise vessels is 3 metres and it would only stay safely afloat in that channel. Even the Yamba-Iluka ferry has been known to get momentarily stuck in silt/sand from time to time in Yamba Bay and even a very small cruise ship wouldn't be able to safely enter and exit Iluka Bay. You can bet your bottom dollar operators of cruise lines would soon be calling for dredging at the approach to the river mouth - and you know how well that goes down with the local residents.
A local councils musing: Which Northern Rivers council is on a low-key NSW Office of Local Government watch list courtesy of feet dragging by a past general manager?
A serial pest musing: I'm sure the Clarence Valley was thrilled to find that a well-known fantasist is active once again in the wee small hours of the morning treading a well-worn path of accusations involving police, local business owners and others.
An investigative musing: Which NSW North Coast council is batting to have the longest running code of conduct complaint investigation on record?
A fun fact musing: An estimated 24,000 whales migrated along the NSW coastline in 2016 according to the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service and the migration period is getting longer.
A which bank? musing: Despite a net profit last year of $9,227 million the Commonwealth Bank still insists on paying below Centrelink deeming rates interest on money held in Pensioner Security Accounts. One local wag says he’s waiting for the first bill from the bank charging him for the privilege of keeping his pension dollars at that bank.
A Daily Examiner musing: Just when you thought this newspaper could sink no lower under News Corp management, it continues to give column space to Andrew Bolt.
A thought to ponder musing: In case of bushfire or flood - do you have an emergency evacuation plan for the family pet?
An adoption musing: Every week on the NSW North Coast a number of cats and dogs find themselves without a home. If you want to do your bit and give one bundle of joy a new family, contact Happy Paws on 0419 404 766 or your local council pound.