Anzac Day and the conflict-loving neocons
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/anzac-day-and-the-conflict-loving-neocons,16300, By David Donovan | 27 April 2022
This year’s Anzac Day has been politicised into a call-to-arms against China by our Coalition leaders. Founder and publisher Dave Donovan calls for war profiteers to be condemned.
ACCORDING TO one report, Defence Minister Peter Dutton’s opponent in Dickson, Labor candidate Ali France, is increasingly confident of deposing him from his marginal north Brisbane seat.
“It will be better than last time around,” she told Roman Mackinnon. “[I’m] definitely feeling hopeful we can kick him out.”
We can hope, but not too much. Because Dutton is the sort of former cop who looks as if he might have enjoyed a bit of kicking in his time ─ on the boot end, not as the ball.
On the day before Anzac Day, Dutton – out of what seems more a skull than a living head − honoured the grim sacrifice of generations of Australian military personnel, by preparing us all for more war. We need to “prepare for war” with China, said Peter Dutton,
It’s the oldest trick in the book: the khaki election. Beloved by conservatives like Dutton, whose reptile brains are ever ready for fight and flight. And it just might work for them again. Because Australia is a war-loving nation, with a people ever ready to send the cream of their youth to kill and be slaughtered in any scrap going down, anytime, anywhere, for any reason.
We love war so much, Remembrance Day in November is not enough for us, we need to relive the action again each year in April for what has truly become our national day. On 25 April, we take the day off for marches and parades, for drinking and gambling, all to recall our futile role in an ill-planned invasion of a distant land for a European empire. One that ended in disaster and defeat, but which has become some sort of macabre national death cult and celebration – yes, celebration, because that is what it is − of militarism and folly.
Of course, it’s not our fault, we Australians. It is how we have been taught. The death cult has been inculcated into us almost from the teat. It is an intrinsic part of our culture. I don’t need to tell you, knowledgeable reader, about the military-industrial complex or that war is a racket. Our National War Memorial in Canberra is sponsored by Lockheed Martin and Boeing.
You know that, like you know that it is good for business. And Australia is deeply invested in the war business. After Tony Abbott and Joe Hockey shooed the car industry from our shores in 2014, the Coalition’s only plan to maintain a heavy manufacturing base in this country is through the production of war materials: guns, rockets, tanks, troop carriers, shells and other such armaments.
They also, through normalising war, ensure there is always enough new meat to send to the slaughterhouse each time. A country that profits from war, surely, has a vested interest in perpetuating it.
Isn’t that something we should consider on Anzac Day each year, as we mourn our dead? That our Government does not really care about the tragedy and sacrifice of war, or the deaths of our children, but instead wants to make a buck out of it?
Scott Morrison cares so little for those he considers his lesser – the ones he would send to fight China – that he was seen on Monday, during the Dawn Service, texting on his phone. War is just a potential vote winner for him, as it is for the ghoulish Dutton.
Celebrate Anzac Day, certainly. Take to the streets and honour the dead. But do it with a sense of outrage. That we needlessly sacrificed so many of our brave sons and daughters. For nothing but the conquest of empire and the dreams of mortal power of our cold and psychopathic leaders.
Take to the street to condemn those who feel no pangs about sending our children off to die. Take to the streets on Anzac Day to condemn the warmongers and profiteers. Because there is no glory in war: just blood, and tears, and shit and death.
Today: The ANZACs and the Ukrainians: the dangerous mythology of heroically fighting to the death.
Australia has just celebrated the memory of a World War One battle which, in essence, was for the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps to make what was a suicidal push at Gallipoli against the Turkish troops of the Ottaman Empire. It was part of British strategy against Germany, and to relieve the pressure on the European and Eastern fronts of the war, Britains ally, the Russian government had also formally requested a ‘show of strength’ against Turkey, one of Germany’s allies’.
The result?
The campaign was a costly failure for the Allies, with heavy losses (44, 000 dead) and no gains made. Of the 60,000 Australians that fought at Gallipoli, there were 26,000 casualties and 7,594 were killed. Conditions were filthy, and dysentery was rife.
The longer term result?
By some magic – this whole thing has been turned into a glorious military myth about Australia’s identity.
Australia enthusiastically celebrates the national identity – the national spirit -the courage of these young men, many just teenagers, who lost their lives, or their health, in this failed military adventure. Of course they were brave, and should be remembered with great sadness, – but not turned into a hymn to militarism
And Ukraine?
Today’s Age – print version has this headline – ”National identity forged in the fire of Russian aggression’‘ We are regularly being told that Ukraine can win this war. I believe that the reality is otherwise. The USA and NATO are happy for this war to go on as long as possible, with their goal of weakening Russia – let it be fought to the last heroic Ukrainian.
Nuclear submarines in an Adelaide shipyard – sitting ducks for a disastrous terrorist attack: conventional submarines – cheaper, safer
Impact of a missile strike on the SSN at Osborne, APRIL 26, 2022 BY AUSTRALIAN DEMOCRATS WHAT HAPPENS IF A LARGE ADVERSARY DECIDES TO BLOW UP THE PROPOSED NUCLEAR SUBMARINES (SSN) PRIOR TO LAUNCH BUT AFTER THE REACTOR IS INSTALLED?
Once launched nuclear submarines are a very powerful weapons with an indefinite range. They are very hard to find and destroy in open water and pose a major direct threat to an adversaries home territory.
In the unlikely event they were destroyed in the water the reactor should shut down and sink with the boat to the abyssal depths of the ocean. While the reactor may leak to some extent the pressure and cold water contain the problem.
However, prior to launch the submarine is a sitting duck, vulnerable to a wide range of submarine and land-launched precision missiles. The logical time to strike would be when the boats are almost complete but not launched.
Questions for the government
- What is the likely impact of a missile strike on a nuclear submarine in the shipyard?
- What modelling does the government have regarding the spread of radioactive material from the reactor if it was hit by a precision missile?
- How many years would Adelaide need to be evacuated for after a disaster?
- Given the government’s rhetoric, why would a large adversary not destroy our SSN before launch given the threat they pose?
- Having spent $20 billion on each boat over ten years, will the government be upset if the SSN are destroyed on the day of the launch?
Our Plan: 20 advanced conventional submarines
The Democrats advocate avoiding this problem by building advanced conventional submarines.
This would save about $80 billion, ten years, and Adelaide…… https://www.democrats.org.au/impact-of-a-strike-on-the-ssn-at-osborne/
Hysteria over the Solomon Islands-China security pact
Independent Australia, By Binoy Kampmark | 28 April 2022, Visits to Honiara are part plea, part threat. Delegations are equipped with a note of harassment.
That was the initial Australian effort to convince the Solomon Islands that the decision to make a security pact with Beijing was simply not appropriate in the lotus land of Washington’s “Pacific empire”. ………………
Having not convinced Honiara to change course, a range of reactions are being registered. David Llewellyn-Smith, former owner of the Asia Pacific foreign affairs journal The Diplomat, took leave of his senses by suggesting that a Chinese naval base in the Solomons would see ‘the effective end of our sovereignty and democracy’.
In a spray of hysteria, he suggested that this was ‘Australia’s Cuban missile crisis’.
The Labor Opposition, desperate to win office on 21 May, are calling this one of the greatest intelligence failures since World War II, which perhaps shows their somewhat tenuous command of history. Their leader, Anthony Albanese, seeking some safe mooring in a campaign that has lacked lustre, was particularly strident.
It was a chance to show that Labor was not shaky or wobbly on national security.
…………..This belligerent, simple note might have been stronger were it not for the fact that his deputy, Richard Marles, had previously made the unpopular suggestion that the Pacific islands were somehow sovereign entities who needed to be treated as such while China, in providing development assistance to them, should be “welcome” in offering it. …………………….
With Australia failing to change minds, the paladins of the U.S. imperium prepared to badger and bore Honiara. On the list: President Joe Biden’s National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan; Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel Kritenbrink; and National Security Affairs Indo-Pacific chief Kurt Campbell. It seemed like an absurd gathering of heft for a small Pacific Island state.
The theme was unmistakable. A bullying tone was struck in a message from National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson, who seemed to forget the Solomons was not some ramshackle protectorate of the Five Eyes.
Officials from the US, Japan, New Zealand and Australia had ‘shared concerns about [the] proposed security framework between the Solomon Islands and the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and its serious risks to a free and open Indo-Pacific’.…………………………….
As for the Solomon Islands itself, divided, fragmented and vulnerable to internal dissent and disagreement, Sogavare is unrepentant:
He has already told his country’s Parliament that there is no intention “to ask China to build a military base in Solomon Islands”. He felt “insulted” by such suggestions and felt that there was only one side to pick: “our national security interest”………………… https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/hysteria-over-the-solomon-islands-china-security-pact,16302
Low emissions, lower prices: South Australia’s remarkable shift to wind and solar — RenewEconomy
South Australia’s rapid transition to wind and solar has left other states in its wake, and it’s winning on emissions and prices too. The post Low emissions, lower prices: South Australia’s remarkable shift to wind and solar appeared first on RenewEconomy.
Low emissions, lower prices: South Australia’s remarkable shift to wind and solar — RenewEconomy
Greens propose levy on coal exports to drive coal phase-out within a decade — RenewEconomy
Australian Greens say billions could be raised through a levy on coal exports and help accelerate the phase out the fossil fuel. The post Greens propose levy on coal exports to drive coal phase-out within a decade appeared first on RenewEconomy.
Greens propose levy on coal exports to drive coal phase-out within a decade — RenewEconomy
After 43-nation war council, Australia to send howitzers, ammunition to Ukraine — Anti-bellum
UkrinformApril 27, 2022 Australia to send Ukraine howitzers, ammo Australia will give Ukraine more heavy artillery weapons and ammunition. *** The $26.7 million package of military assistance will see Ukraine provided with six M777 lightweight towed howitzers along with ammunition…. It takes Australia’s military assistance contribution to Ukraine to $225 million, with a further $65 […]
After 43-nation war council, Australia to send howitzers, ammunition to Ukraine — Anti-bellum
Ratings agency says Morrison climate policies “obscure, unclear and confusing” — RenewEconomy
Ratings agency says batteries will replace gas within a decade, but Morrison’s “obscure” energy policies could slow energy transition. The post Ratings agency says Morrison climate policies “obscure, unclear and confusing” appeared first on RenewEconomy.
Ratings agency says Morrison climate policies “obscure, unclear and confusing” — RenewEconomy
Morrison’s ‘hydrogen hubs’ push is a CCS trojan horse — RenewEconomy
Morrison and Taylor use promises for new ‘clean hydrogen’ hubs as a guise for channelling more than $285m into CCS projects. The post Morrison’s ‘hydrogen hubs’ push is a CCS trojan horse appeared first on RenewEconomy.
Morrison’s ‘hydrogen hubs’ push is a CCS trojan horse — RenewEconomy
Teals and Greens are the only political groups focused on the main issue — RenewEconomy
Neither major political party can be bothered with vehicle emissions standards, let alone a policy that might change consumer behaviour. Utterly hopeless. The post Teals and Greens are the only political groups focused on the main issue appeared first on RenewEconomy.
Teals and Greens are the only political groups focused on the main issue — RenewEconomy
“Lazy, toxic scare campaign:” Labor attacks Coalition over new climate war — RenewEconomy
Canavan triggers chaos within Coalition after declaring ‘net zero dead’, while Labor hits back at ‘lazy and toxic’ climate scare campaign. The post “Lazy, toxic scare campaign:” Labor attacks Coalition over new climate war appeared first on RenewEconomy.
“Lazy, toxic scare campaign:” Labor attacks Coalition over new climate war — RenewEconomy
NSW solar farm reaches full production three months after first power — RenewEconomy
Owner of Hillston solar farm says it has reached full operation less than three months after first energisation. The post NSW solar farm reaches full production three months after first power appeared first on RenewEconomy.
NSW solar farm reaches full production three months after first power — RenewEconomy
April 27 Energy News — geoharvey
Opinion: ¶ “Green Jet Fuel Is Here – So Why Are Airlines Not Using It?” • The ingredients of Sustainable Aviation Fuel include used cooking oils or agricultural waste. The first commercial flights using SAF took off in 2011. And yet in 2019, SAF accounted for just 0.1% of all jet fuel used worldwide. There […]
April 27 Energy News — geoharvey
Renewables to be “the new baseload” by 2030, says McKinsey.
Solar and wind power are on track to become the new baseload electricity
supply for global energy markets as early as 2030, and to relegate thermal
generation from coal and gas to the role of back-up, a major new report has
found.
In its 2022 Global Energy Perspective, leading global consultancy
McKinsey & Company says renewable energy is on track to account for 50% of
the world’s power mix by 2030, and around 85% by 2050, thanks to the
increasing cost competitiveness of new solar and wind capacity.
McKinseysays that even despite the conflict in Ukraine – and bizarre declarations
from certain Australian politicians that net-zero is “dead” – the
long-term transition to low-carbon energy systems continues to see strong
momentum, and even acceleration.
The report projects a rapid shift in the
global energy mix, with the share of renewables in global power generation
expected to double in the next 15 years while total fossil fuel demand is
projected to peak before 2030, depending on the scenario.
Renew Economy 27th April 2022
If Chevron, Exxon and Shell can’t get carbon capture right at Gorgon, who can?
If Chevron, Exxon and Shell can’t get carbon capture right at Gorgon,
who can? At a cost of more than $3 billion, Gorgon, the largest carbon
capture and storage (CCS) project in the world has failed to deliver,
underperforming its targets for the first five years of operation by about
50%. Carbon capture technology has historically been used as a method of
enhanced oil recovery – selling captured carbon dioxide to oil companies
to push more oil out of depleted wells, making any initial “carbon
capture” negligible.
Renew Economy 27th April 2022
Antinuclear 