Hip Hop: DJ Shadow- Endtroducing… Blues: RL Burnside- A Ass Pocket of Whiskey Psychedelic Rock: The Cambodian Space Project- Whisky Cambodia Dance/Electro: The Presets- Apocalypso

My father-in-law is from Burkina, and his family, including my brother-in-law, still live there. The rejection of ECOWAS and the alliance with Mali and Niger is popular, owing mostly to what I’d describe as a general anti colonialist and, particularly, anti French sentiment, which I suppose is understandable.

The article talks about how the countries have rejected French military aid, but the overwhelming opinion I hear from any of the expats I talk with is that the French were only there to protect their mineral interests and provided minimal aid outside of that.

Ultimately, the combined military power of all three nations is not enough to fend off the insurgency. They are further hampered by inter-ethnic conflict, and I very much doubt that Russia will be able to provide any meaningful support, especially for free. This all leads to intense civilian suffering which, in my opinion, requires UN intervention. Unfortunately unless the military junta suddenly reverses its opinion on western influence, this is unlikely to happen.

And only with consent

Honestly, it sounded like my Nan when she’s got her teeth out

All day long on the chaise longue

If you haven’t heard it before, please listen to the song “The Band Played Waltzing Matilda” by Scottish-Australian songwriter Eric Bogle. That song, as well as “I Was Only 19” by Redgum, perfectly encapsulates the reason for the memorials.

The songs do not glorify our success as a military nation, nor do they portray the soldiers they are about as grand heros or defenders of freedom. They are about very young men, sent away by their country to experience unimaginable horror and suffering, only to return to a home with, at best, minimal support and, at worst, the shame of the community they once were a part of.

Each name on each of those memorials- thousands of them- represent an experience of the unimaginable, and a family irreparably changed. They are a reminder of what was taken, and of the sorrow that was caused. I do not see them as prideful, celebratory or reverential, and I do not know of anyone who does. They are a commiseration.

With regards to ANZAC, and it’s place in Australian culture, you are essentially looking at modern Australia’s foundational myth. In the 1950s and 1960s when Australia was having its own civil rights moment, the original foundation myth of terra nullius and the “brave”, white settlers conquering an untamed land finally began to feel too untrue to most Australians, too much like a myth. Colonial Australia needed a new explanation for its existence and it is around that time that the Gallipoli campaign started to be promoted by various historians and authors as Australia’s “coming of age” as a nation.

The intention was to give (white) Australians a point of reference for themselves, something they could point to and say “the things that we are, this is where they came to be”. Qualities like mateship, camaraderie, larrakinism, hard work, disdain for authority or aristocracy and resilience in the face of adversity. Those were the qualities promoted as being cemented in the national psyche at ANZAC Cove. It is a manufactured narrative, but those writers were very successful, as you can see.

There’s more that can be said for Australia treats it’s narrative history, especially that of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, but that’s better left for another (long) post. If you’re interested in how Australia viewed it’s two competing foundational stories in the 1990s and 2000s, and how it effects the way we talk about our history today, look up the History Wars. Let me know if you think there was a winner.

Regardless of David’s original intentions, he is being victimised for exposing war crimes. There is nothing just in his incarceration.

Treating somebody poorly, purely for spite or some form of retaliation, seems like a lot of unnecessary energy to expend on somebody who may not deserve that much space in your mind. The golden rule is not about whether someone has the right to be treated better than they have you, it is about discovering grace within yourself and extending it towards all others.

As to why you should, I could use another turn of phrase- “Lead by example”. You had a poor example in how to extend grace to others in the form of your teachers, and you have the opportunity to be a positive example to others in their place.

With bonus suffering!

Ah yes, the famous Soviet era of the United States. How could I forget?

It was a US made Bell 212

Yeah cool, here’s one good thing we can do to make a positive change but fuck doing it because of the other, completely unrelated thing, right?

Or if you’re up in the top end, there’s Nawarla Gabarnmung which dates to about 44kya. Some natural rock pillars in the shelter, others modified and others still constructed or relocated.

Could you use a command strip or something?

I hope you love them all. The Witches series was my favourite, my toddler is starting small, with “Where’s my Cow?”, but it’s just as good as the rest of them.

It’s gotta be something from Our Kylie;

Kylie Minogue - Padum Padum https://youtu.be/p6Cnazi_Fi0?si=2gK5W93-kGwL4elZ

Does the song need to be of the past 12 months, or any Australian song?

Time to start practicing then! Try to get out on a couple of grade 3’s in your area before you head over.

I did it with hiking shoes because that’s all I had with me, but I’d recommend hiking boots with good ankle support instead. There’s a short scramble towards the top but it’s not overly difficult.

Another favourite of that trip was the Old Man of Storr up at the Isle of Skye. It’s a less technical hike but much more exposed to the elements and can get windy.

Also, I’m by no means a photographer. Scotland is just so stupidly pretty that you struggle to take a bad photo- get over there!