It is probably time for some sanctions
In this edish:
— International diplomacy on Gaza is hard but it is time for our government to get angry
— Smart things — links and shares on important issues
— Distractions — recipes, online shopping, podcasts, cool things online, Bob Katter
Hello
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It is probably time for some sanctions
Like anyone with a heart, I’ve been horrified by the ongoing genocide in Gaza, and the flagrant middle finger that Israel has shown to international humanitarian law. The loss of life and suffering is horrific enough. But the out and out cruelty of deliberate starvation, deliberate denial of the most basic of human rights, and the extended and seemingly deepening violence against a civilian population— including innocent children — is simply beyond the pale.
As someone with some idea of how challenging international diplomacy is, and a good idea of how maddening the international system is to deal with, sometimes I’ve felt almost conservative compared to my most lefty of associates. I’ve been sharing journalism on what is happening in Palestine, and sharing my outrage. And I truly, deeply understand the anger — I feel it too. I am so glad people are being very vocal and standing up against this atrocity. I find it absolutely bizarre that being pro-Palestine is framed as being somewhat fringe or disruptive in the Australian mainstream media, and even more maddening that being anti-genocide is at times framed as anti-semitic when it is fundamentally about human rights.
But I do drawn a line. I’ve steered clear of some of the most vitriolic language around Australia’s leaders and their efforts on international advocacy, because I honestly believe they have been trying.
There is a huge difference between the messaging you can deliver as an activist, and the messaging you can publicly deliver as a foreign minister or prime minister — that doesn’t mean the messaging isn’t more direct behind closed doors, or that the FM doesn’t wish she could publicly drill Netanyahu down a details-oriented shame spiral like a mid-level official who doesn’t have all the numbers at Estimates.
Yes, Australia should do more and be more vocal. But it is also hard. Australia is a middle power that has signed its security destiny to the USA, an ardent backer of Israel’s actions now run by an absolute psychopath who has no signs of empathy or humanity. Aid into Gaza has been blocked, and is now only being delivered in drips. Those needing it are in direct danger. An Israeli-controlled ‘Foundation’ using American contractors and backed by a private equity fund is the only distributor allowed in, completely avoiding the accountable, transparent and tested international aid infrastructure.
On one hand, the only way forward to is try to work with these maddening, frustrating, dysfunctional and morally broken nation states who hold so much power. Sometimes that involves walking a middle line in public, appealing for reason behind closed doors and tenuously propping up flimsy bilateral bridges that you’d love to just torch, on a personal level.
On the other, it is now very clear that we are beyond our middle power strengths of koala diplomacy, flat white diplomacy, or Bob Irwin in Bonds.
We are not seeing progress or reason.
It is time for the government to take a tougher stance.
As Senator David Pocock wrote this week, “if the horror unfolding in Gaza is not our country’s red line for stronger action then I don’t know what is”.
Domestically, what does the government have to lose? They have just been re-elected in an absolute landslide victory. The opposition is in shambles. In the Senate, the cross-bench is largely Greens who have a strong pro-Palestine stance. In three years when we next head to the polls, the Australians not paying attention to this issue will have forgotten what happened in the first months of this government. But those who are watching will remember if we didn’t say or do enough.
Internationally, our economy is already being played around with by Trump’s unpredictable tariff ‘policy’ and we’re being told to spend more on defence because the US might just kick off the China-Taiwan war for fun. It is time to tone down the cute sidekick schtick and set some clear boundaries. We wouldn’t be alone.
Of course, there may be things on the table we don’t know about — but if these are stymying our national response on Palestine, then perhaps we should know. Blink three times if Trump has threatened a massive retaliatory tariff on aluminium or something? I’ll blink four times if I don’t really care at this point.
It is time to look at sanctions on our 49th largest two-way trading partner, and 56th largest export market, unless the government can explain to us why it is holding back. At the moment, it is not easy to understand.
Smart stuff
NSFW, but my former colleague and brilliant science writer Kate Evans has started a Substack with her sister Monica looking at the scientific side of sex. Their first issue is on the allure of breasts. A bit of a departure from Kate’s previous, but equally interesting, history of the feijoa!
Another former colleague, Lindy Kanan, has produced an excellent and sobering research report on access to reproductive justice for Pacific seasonal workers in Australia. Blog here, report here, ABC coverage here. It was my pleasure to design a cover for the report.
On the issue of internet regulation I brought up in my last Substack, a three-part series ‘Australia vs the Internet’ on ABC’s If You’re Listening podcast provides a good overview.
Laura Tingle’s parting commentary as she moves from the press gallery into a global affairs role at ABC was as spicy and spot-on as you would expect.
Still on Gaza, Dr Mohammed Mustafa’s testimony on the conditions during his medical missions is heart wrenching.
Little distractions
I want to give a shout out to Amplefolk, a great Aussie business that sells actually large, ethically-made, gorgeous towels to fit bigger bodies (but honestly, all bodies feel better in a big luxe towel, that is why my sister is always swiping mine out of the linen cupboard… bath sheets ain’t what they used to be, these are so big and cosy). They also sell activewear, and I can attest for fellow big body babes that their leggings actually stay up — thanks to Amplefolk and some other size inclusive brands like Hine and Snag my recent middle aged foray into reformer pilates has been mercifully free from legging-creep. Plus they share heaps of great IG content on how to be a great ally to your fat friends, and more.
I enjoyed this short podcast on the invention of the rice cooker — and as is too often the case in history, a woman did a lot of the work to make it a success with very little of the credit.
While national treasure Nagi Maehashi aka RecipeTinEats might have been in the news lately for a couple of controversies (alleged plagiarism — against her, not by her — and being the source of the mushroom alleged murders beef wellington recipe), her recipes always stand up! The incredibly easy but impactful lamb shank massaman curry is such a great winter warmer.
Even though I am far from plant-based, Tamtam’s amazing Instagram content on little-known Indonesian plant based dishes is awesome. I’m always learning things.
Shout out to my sister and her envy-inducing Instagram — she has just spent five months travelling in South America and is about to return to the Canberra winter.
Bob Katter is always a national distraction. Feral pigs do eat turtle and bird eggs, so there are some nuggets of conservation truth in this rant, but I’m not sure giving every young fella a gun and the right to go out shooting after the rugby season is over is the best approach… but I literally have the two university degrees he disparages so what would I know? Entertaining none the less.