Afleveringen
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Jacques and Jennifer reflect on the post-election political reality in Australia and the implications for doing something about some of the major issues facing us, like looming catastrophic climate change and the escalating gap between rich and poor.They urge Labor to seize the day, and ask 'if not now, when?'
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Jennifer is joined by David Glanz from the Refugee Action Collective to talk about the implications of the federal election result for refugees and asylum seekers.David talks about our cruel system of prolonged temporary visas, offshore detention centres, and deportations. This time round (during Labor's 2nd term) we need to agitate much more strongly and loudly for fair, just and humane treatment of asylum seekers and refugees, in line with our international obligations. RAC Forum:From the US to Australia: Fighting racist deportationsMonday 2 June, 6.30pm-8.00pmKathleen Syme Library and Community Centre251 Faraday Street, Melbourne (Carlton)
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Zijn er afleveringen die ontbreken?
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Amidst Labor celebrations following their federal election victory, and ruminations that the Greens were punished for being too pro-Palestine, Jacques and Jennifer argue that local politics cannot ignore what is happening internationally - especially in the clear case of genocide against the Palestinian people by the State of Israel.Their conversation draws attention to this, to remedy what has been largely ignored in the campaign and in post-election analysis and reflection. And they call for more 'moral compass' in our local politics and discourses.https://theintercept.com/2024/12/23/eu-report-israel-war-crimes-complicity/ https://johnmenadue.com/images/Israel-Palestine-pushed-beyond-endurance-Print-2025-04-22.pdf https://www.commondreams.org/news/guterres-trump-gaza?utm_source=Common+Dreams&utm_campaign=e404e72f30-Top+News%3A+Mon.+5%2F5%2F25&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-c56d0ea580-600367827
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In the context of the federal election on 3rd of May, Jennifer and Jacques talk about disruptions at home and abroad, and how public political discourse has narrowed to exclude the things that we really need to focus on. These things include climate change, military enmeshment with the US, and how the capitalist system is failing most people and evidently in decline.At the same time, right wing propaganda spreads and oozes throughout our social media.
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Jennifer talks with Dr Nick Riemer from the University of Sydney about the new definition of antisemitism proposed by Universities Australia for use on Australian campuses.This definition was developed in reaction to pro-Palestine protests against the actions of the State of Israel, to stymie open and scholarly debate.ReferencesJumana Bayeh 2025, Silencing Palestine: Universities Australia and the new definition of antisemitism, Overland 31 March 2025Nick Reimer 2025, Genocide showroom: Universities after Gaza, Overland 22 April 2025
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Jacques talks again with Suzan Saka from the Alevi Foundation of Australia about the dire situation of Alevi people in current Turkiye and surrounding countries. Suzan begins by giving some background about the Alevi culture, and the substantial presence of Alevi people in Australia. She then details the hardships and prosecutions they suffer in Syria, Iraq and their Anatolian homeland in Turkiye... It is a humanistic imperative to alert politicians and the international bodies about their plight and argue for intervention and support.
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Jacques talks with Mike Salvaris, Director of the Australian National Development Index (ANDI). While our governments and political leaders focus on narrow economic indicators (like GDP) of 'progress' and how well a country and its population are doing, various attempts have been made to capture more meaningful social, cultural and personal aspects of people's lives since the 1960s.Mike Salvaris talks about the development and application of ANDI as a measure of wellbeing and progress for everyday Australians and about the planned process of introducing a set of wellbeing indicators in West Australia.ANDI website: https://www.andi.org.au/
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Mark Zirnsak from the Tax Justice Network Australia talks with Jennifer about the recent federal government budget, handed down just before an election on the 3rd of May.While the budget has some positives such as boosts to Medicare, the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, and fair funding for schools, it doesn't address the fundamental inequity of our tax system. It would take a braver approach to address this, which might provide the required funds for things like an adequate level of social housing and Centrelink benefits that people can actually live on.TJN website: https://www.taxjustice.org.au/
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Jennifer and Jacques continue their reflections on the latest events in the US, clearly demonstrating a new Authoritarianism that shouldn't be ignored. They talk about the implications for Australia as well as people in the US, the selective silence of our leaders, and how the new wave of Trumpist Authoritarianism is reported across our media. Lastly they make a call to be both alert and active.Trump is kryptonite for PM, Dutton’ by Peter Hartcher Saturday Age (15/03/2025)‘Pulling the Strings: Australia offered the US a deal on critical minerals, and Trump sold us fool’s gold…’ by Matthew Knott Saturday Age (15/03/2025)Nick Bryant (2024) The Forever War: America's Unending Conflicy With Itself (Viking/Penguin/Random House Australia)Simon Mccarthy-Jones: Spite (see ref. in https://www.thenewdaily.com.au/author/simon-mccarthy-jones) Carlos Martinez in the Morningstar https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/strategic-autonomy-or-stockholm-syndrome-whither-europe
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Jennifer and Jacques reflect on recent world trends toward Authoritarianism, and what we need to take good notice of.Quoting Henry Giroux, they argue that our task is to refuse the limits imposed by neoliberal fatalism and authoritarian rule - but not only to resist but to widen the horizon of the possible.Henry Giroux (19/02/2025) Neoliberalism's Embrace of Cruelty and its Assault on Social Bonds in the LA Progressive (Giroux occupies the Chair for Scholarship in the Public Interest in the English and Cultural Studies Department; he is the Paulo Freire Distinguished Schoar in Critical Pedagogy at Mc Master University in Canada)Nick Bryant (2024) The Forever War: America's Unending Conflict With Itself (Viking, Penguin Random House Australia)Chris Hedges speech at the Workers Strike Back conference in Seattle (go to Chris Hedges substack)J. Boulet (2021) 'Social-Media-weaponised populism and community development' in Kenny, Ife & Westoby (eds.) Populism, Democracy and Community Development (Bristol: Policy Press/Bristol University Press)Kant Immanuel (1795) Zum Ewigen Frieden: ein philosophischer Entwurf (Towards an eternal Peace: a philosophical proposal)
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Jacques and Jennifer talk about the recent roller coaster of international events, led by US President Trump. Chief among these are the incredible public shouting match between the US Trump-Vance duo and Ukrainian Presient Zelensky, and Trump's idea for the Palestinians to evacuate Gaza permanently giving up their land for a high-priced seaside resort.Overall, the US has dropped its mask of benevolent keeper of world order, and its blatant self-interest has been laid bare - which places onus on other formerly-compliant nations to respond, including Europe and Australia. References:To listen to Jeffrey Sachs delivering his astonishing speech to the EU go to:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hA9qmOIUYJA&t=1s Jane Fonda, receiving recognition from the actors Union for her lifetime acting and other achievements and tell the Hollywood audience to start resisting, go to:https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=jane+fonda+sag+2025
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For this episode Jennifer interviews Jacques about the results of the latest German election, with surpises including a worrying boost for right wing racist party AfD, but also, more hopefully, for left wing progressive party Die Linke.Jacques talks about trends in German politics from WW2, to give some context for latest voting results. He finishes with some linking this to international trends. https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/roots-neofascism-east-germany from Jacobin:After Germany’s Election, the Left Can Hope AgainJulia Damphouse
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Teachers are key agents of changes and improvements in their classrooms. Yet spaces and opportunities for teachers, and others in the human services, to have control over their working lives and professional learning, have drastically diminished. Janette and Mary talk to Marie about their project to address this, by supporting teachers' reflection and self-directed learning and improvement. The evaluation of their project was overwhelmingly positive, with principals and teachers valuing the opportunity for professionaly supportive reflection, especially in a safe space outside the school environment.ReferencesAllen, J.M. (2019) From “Telling” To “Triangle” To “Tentative Truth”: How The Use Of The Positioning Theory Triangle Enabled Multiple Layers Of Truth To Become Evident. Paperson social representations, 28(1), pp 5.1-5.18.Allen, J.M., Hattie, J., Redman, C.R., (2022) Ticking boxes?: How teachers perceive their professional learning within a performance and development process Leading and Managing 2022 Vol. 28 Issue 1 Pages 1-19Baxter, L.P., Gardiner, A.E., & Southall, F., (2021), Trialling critical reflection in education: the benefits for school leaders and teachers, Reflective Practice 2021 Vol. 22 Issue 4 Pages 501-514Clandinin, D.J., (2006) Narrative Inquiry: A Methodology for Studying Lived Experience, Research studies in music education 2006 Vol. 27 Issue 1 Pages 44-54Creagh, S., Thompson, G., Mockler, N., Stacey, M., & Hogan, A., (2023) Workload, work intensification and time poverty for teachers and school leaders: a systematic research synthesis, Educational Review 2023 Pages 1-20Creswell, J.W. (2007) Qualitative Inquiry and Research Design: Choosing Among Five Approaches, Sage Publications Gore, J.M., Miller, A., Fray, L., Harris, J., Prieto, E., (2021) Improving student achievement through professional development: Results from a randomised controlled trial of Quality Teaching Rounds. Teaching and Teacher Education 2021 Vol. 101 Heffernan, A., Bright, D., Kim, M., Longmuir, F., Magyar, B., (2022) ‘I cannot sustain the workload and the emotional toll’: Reasons behind Australian teachers’ intentions to leave the profession”, Australian Journal of Education, Vol 0, p. 1-14Hunter, M.A., Broughton, G. (2025) Professional supervision for principals: A primer for emerging practice. Cambridge University Press, online. (+ LinkedIn announcement of book)Moghaddam, F.M., , Harré, R., & Lee, N. (Eds) (2008). Global conflict resolution through positioning analysis. New York, London: SpringerNetolicky, D. (2016). Rethinking professional learning for teachers and school leaders. Journal of Professional Capital and Community, 1(4), 270-285.Timperley, H., Ell, F., Le Fevre, D., Twyford, K., (2021) Leading Professional Learning ACER Professional supervision course for educators
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Jacques and Jennifer talk about some of the unravellings happening in our society, with reactionary forces being unleashed in the US and rippling into Australian politics.The unravelling of Australian society Allan PatienceAmid President Donald Trump’s rollback of diversity, equity and inclusion programs throughout government and the Defense Department declaring “identity months dead,” concern grew this week that Black History Month could be in danger.
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Jacques interviews Josh Bornstein about his new book: Working for the brand: How corporations are destroying free speech. (2024 - Scribe Publishers)Josh explains how corporations are exercising unprecedented power over what we say, in a way that we wouldn't accept from our governments. He offers examples of lots of large corporations including Qantas and our universities...Other books recently appeared and documenting the failure of the major institutions and systems in the capitalist political economy to create and maintain equality, justice and ecological safety and security.Eric Bleecher (2024) The Men Who Killed The News: The Inside Story of how Media Moguls Abused their Power, Manipulated the ruth and Distorted Democracy (Sydney: Scribner)Grace Blakeley (2024) Vulture Capitalism: Corporate Crimes, Backdoor Bailouts and the Death of Freedom (London: Bloomsbury)Rick Morton (2024) Mean Streak: A moral vacuum & a multi-billion dollar government shake down (Sydney: Fourth Estate/Harper-Collins)Naomi Klein The Shock Doctrine (2014) and Doppelganger (2022)
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Jacques and Jennifer continue their exploration of possible and probable political developments in 2025, started the previous week.They include some 'highlights' (or low lights) from current events, and touch on how we need to change direction.
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Jacques and Jennifer discuss unfolding developments internationally and what we might expect in 2025, especially relating to the US-centred vortex, a vortex that has been smouldering since the early-1800shttps://johnmenadue.com/jeffrey-sachs-and-joanna-lei-on-taiwan-and-us-china-conflict/https://www.commondreams.org/opinion/200-years-of-the-monroe-doctrine?utm_source=Common+Dreams&utm_campaign=d1a70f65de-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2023_11_15_08_04&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-d1a70f65de-%5BLIST_EMAIL_ID%5D https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/562246/how-democracies-die-by-steven-levitsky-and-daniel-ziblatt/Stephen Collinson, CNN (Wed. 08/01/2025) Trump’s threats to Greenland, Canada and Panama explain everything about America First’
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Jennifer and Jacques cover the latest events in the Middle East, with Israel's expansionism and its opportunistic bombing of Syria.They comment on the one-sided local response in the media and by our politicians, evidently cowardly responding to a strident Zionist lobby and to the demands of Australia's hegemonic 'biggest friend' the US.References:https://johnmenadue.com/how-the-us-and-israel-destroyed-syria-and-called-it-peace/ https://johnmenadue.com/endless-onslaught-would-israels-mordechai-be-attacked-as-antisemitic-in-australia/
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Looking back over an almost 40 years-long academic career, moving from Melbourne (Melbourne and Monash Universities) to the UK in 2016 (Bath University) and since 2022 in Germany, as Chair of the University of Cologne Research Hub for Multidisciplinary Environmental Studies in the Humanities, Kate Rigby talks with Jacques about the evolution of her endeavours to integrate our ways and means of being and thinking as 'humans' into the relational reality of our ecology, of Mother Earth. The conversation implicitly also opens up questions about Australia's Tertiary Education and whether it remains fit and prepared to play its role in the necessary thinking and practice our times demand. Below are links to some of her publications. 2023: Meditations on Creation in an Era of Extinction, New York: Orbis Books. ('Day Three' available open access here)2020: Reclaiming Romanticism: Towards an Ecopoetics of Decolonization, London: Bloomsbury Academic (open access)2015: Dancing with Disaster: Environmental Histories, Narratives, and Ethics for Perilous Times, Charlottesville: U of Virginia P.(Chapter Two available open access here)2004: Topographies of the Sacred: The Poetics of Place in European Romanticism, Charlottesville: U of Virginia P.Other links:Manifesto of Australian National Working Group for the Ecological Humanities (c. 2001)Environmental Humanities JournalUniversity of Cologne Research Hub for Multidisciplinary Environmental Studies in the Humanities (MESH).Sophia's Spring Eco-feminist Church Community, CERES, Brunswick (if interested in attending service on December 22, at which Kate will be speaking, please contact the coordinator, Christina at [email protected])
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Jennifer and Jacques talk about how we have taken on the administration burden once carried by government bodies and companies, including utilities, services and financial institutions. After all, we already pay for those utilities and services but are now required to 'manage' them ourselves... and spending hours at doing it being punished when we don't... This trend is being accelerated with new digital technologies working hand-in-glove with the neoliberalism of the last few decades and the mass marketisation of every aspect of our lives.This day-to-day admin burden has become part of the background wall paper of our lives, so Jacques and Jennifer thought it worth highlighting and exposing it, and putting it into the conversations we are having.
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