tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15212499346956246622024-03-26T23:36:00.741-07:00SparkmagIvan Kayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10795511825904316044noreply@blogger.comBlogger1329125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1521249934695624662.post-32295374405294313882024-03-21T15:36:00.001-07:002024-03-21T15:36:02.776-07:00Clean Energy is a great investment <img id="id_461d_89bd_c805_39de" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/d/1IH9xMiLj4IwbKpAufAo6VrrPBS0r37qd" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 392px; height: auto;"><br><br> <div><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">Texas is going through a transformation where half a million oil and gas workers will be redeployed into the development and deployment of new clean energy technologies. </font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">Breakthrough Energy and Bill Gates have invested more than $130 million into Texas-based entrepreneurs, institutions, and projects and is betting that this workforce will help form the backbone of the world’s new clean energy economy, and it will cement Texas’s energy leadership for generations to come.</font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">Some examples </font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><h4><span class="s1"><font face="Times">Infinium </font></span></h4><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">Infinium - turning waste CO2 and renewable energy into electrofuels—or eFuels—for trucks. ships, and even planes. </font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">They’ve already signed a deal with Amazon, and sometime soon, if you live in the area, you might get a delivery supported by Infinium eDiesel.</font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">Companies won’t have to adapt their fleets, removing one of the biggest hurdles to transitioning to a new fuel. </font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">The work they’re doing on sustainable aviation fuel, or SAF—could potentially reduce emissions from air travel by as much as 90 percent, </font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">How do they do this?</font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times"> They are converting an old gas-to-liquid plant in West Texas into a new facility that will increase the company’s capacity for producing eFuels ten-fold. </font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">Breakthrough Energy’s Catalyst program has invested in this first-of-its-kind plant, and I can’t wait to see it when it’s done.</font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><h4><span class="s1"><font face="Times">Mars Material </font></span></h4><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">Mars Materials <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>are working on a different way to reuse CO2. Their business models assume that they’ll have access to lots of carbon!! They are developing technology that will turn captured carbon into one of the key components in carbon fiber, an ultra-light, ultra-strong material that is used in everything from clothing to car frames and pickleball <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>fiber rackets!</font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span></font></p><h4><span class="s1"><font face="Times">The Direct Air Capture Hub in Kingsville</font></span></h4><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">Direct Air Capture - seems to be a thing !!</font></span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">DAC is the process of removing carbon directly from the air. The captured carbon can either be sequestered underground or reused by companies like Infinium and Mars Materials. A recent study found that Texas has the greatest DAC deployment potential in the country and could create as many as 400,000 jobs by 2050.</font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">DAC is the fire extinguisher of clean energy technologies: It’s something you hope you will never need but should have ready if (and when) you do. </font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">In an ideal world, we’d adopt clean energy quickly enough that we wouldn’t need to remove carbon from the air. In reality, that hasn’t happened. We already have decades of legacy emissions that we’ll need to clean up, so we need a significant DAC industry.</font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">The DAC Hub in Kingsville, Texas is the brainchild of Occidental’s 1PointFive, and over the next five years, it will bring an estimated 2,500 jobs to the community. </font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">Grants have been received from the Department of Energy as a result of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and Bill Gates is an early investor in direct air capture technology, and it’s super cool to see it evolve from a concept to real economic opportunity for a local community.</font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><h4><span class="s1"><font face="Times">Air Liquide </font></span></h4><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">Hydrogen will play a key role in the energy transition and at CERAWeek, one of the biggest annual energy conferences in the United States - you will see The Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub and Air Liquide’s hydrogen facility in the town of La Porte. </font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">Their plant uses steam methane reforming to generate hydrogen fuel for industry, and it will be retrofitted in the coming years to eliminate its emissions.</font></span></p></div>Ivan Kayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10795511825904316044noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1521249934695624662.post-19637553504815079332024-03-14T15:51:00.001-07:002024-03-14T15:51:17.868-07:00Diversified we Grow <div><img id="id_99a5_c17c_f418_fc47" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/d/1jxKbZgcjF8MBnwAG9kofmrNw5tFKoQZE" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 392px; height: auto;"><br><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times;"><br></span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times;">Peter</span><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;"> </span><font face="Times">Mousaferiadis</font><span style="font-family: Times;"> gave a brilliant keynote ‘Diversified We Grow: Unlocking Diversity in the Age of AI’ delivered at Big Data & AI World, London, March 2024</span></p></div><div><span class="s1"><font face="Times"><br></font></span></div><h4>The human poulation explosion!!</h4><div><span style="font-family: Times; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Population 1m - </span> <span style="font-family: Times; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">1b - 2b - 3b - 4b - 5b - 8b</span></div><div><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">Years <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>100k- 10k 123 - 33- 14 - 13 - <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>35</font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">From <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>1927 to <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>2022 we have gone from 2billion to 8 billion people </font></span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times"><br></font></span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">In less than 100 years we’ve quadrupled.<br></font></span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times"><br></font></span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">Are we at the top of a bell curve? </font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times">Where to now?</font></p><h4><font face="Times">Growth through Culture - what is culture ?</font></h4><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">The human has grown through being part of tribes and a common culture !</font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">Culture is a mighty force, a fire that can warm and protect but can also burn and destroy. </font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times"><a href="https://www.unesco.org/en/legal-affairs/convention-protection-and-promotion-diversity-cultural-expressions">UNESCO</a> identifies culture as:</font></span></p><ol class="ol1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><li class="li1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">a driver of sustainable development;</font></span></li><li class="li1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">an eradicator of poverty;</font></span></li><li class="li1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">key to quality education, and;</font></span></li><li class="li1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">key to building socially cohesive and peaceful communities.</font></span></li></ol><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">Culture is also a significant enabler of innovation. </font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">After all, innovation thrives on the diversification of ideas. What better way to foster innovation than by bringing together the diverse perspectives of different cultures?<br><br>So, what is culture?<br><br>Well, the term is extremely slippery, and its definition depends on what context and what type of culture we are referring to.<br><br>Simply put, culture is the ways in which a particular group of people live. Culture includes shared knowledge, values, customs, physical objects and social norms.<br><br>It provides the frames, the contexts, the lenses, through which we all see the world.<br></font></span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times"><br></font></span></p><blockquote style="text-align: center;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times"><b><i>Different Cultures create conflicts and conflict costs </i></b></font></span></blockquote><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><img id="id_95_26dc_5881_a3f4" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/d/18lGIa9qWGxJ-GXB3WGSTB9trEunXfTn6" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 392px; height: auto;"><br><br></span><font face="Times"><br>What is at stake? According to the <a href="https://www.visionofhumanity.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/GPI-2023-Web.pdf">Global Peace Index</a> in 2022 alone we spent US$17.5 trillion dealing with conflict. According to <a href="https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/world-day-cultural-diversity-dialogue-and-development">UNESCO</a>, about 75% of the world’s conflicts have an ethno-linguistic and religious cultural dimension. </font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times"><br>The big cost is lives, livelihoods and human happiness.<br></font></span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">Inclusiveness</font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">How do we make sure everyone who wants to be included is, and no one is left behind? How do we give visibility to everyone?</font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">Globalisation has made it a more-than-human challenge to understand ‘the other’. Do we <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>need the aid of technology to do this ?</font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><h4><span class="s1"><font face="Times">Connectivity Internet Social Media and AI </font></span></h4><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">Today, with the near ubiquity of the internet we are finding ourselves in a super-diverse world where time and space have been compressed. </font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">More than 65% of the world’s population has internet access and Meta (formerly known as Facebook) launched in 2004 (as The Facebook) now has more than 3 billion active users – nearly 56% of all internet users.</font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">ChatGPT attracted a million users in just 5 days after going public on 30 November 2022. It now has more than 180 million users.</font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><blockquote style="text-align: center;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times"><b>And Yet Peace has been on a steady decline since.</b></font></span></blockquote><blockquote style="text-align: center;"><span class="s1"><img id="id_15a4_35d4_1a2e_85ce" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/d/1z_mKTPh9KCjHd4TuGYBIZ14iqCyYMOra" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 392px; height: auto;"><br><br></span><font face="Times"><b><br></b></font></blockquote><h4><span class="s1"><font face="Times">Migration and conflict </font></span></h4><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">Humanity can be defined by an ongoing flux of migration and conflict. Peter’s <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>grandparents were banished 101 years ago from the Ottoman Empire, from the area today known as Türkiye, and his parents migrated to Australia in the ’50s for a better life. </font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><blockquote><span class="s1"><font face="Times">Who among us cannot be defined by a journey?</font></span></blockquote><h4><span class="s1"><font face="Times">Ai and diversity </font></span></h4><div><font face="Times"><br></font></div><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">AI is a logical extension of human adaptability and sharing and quest for speed and knowledge. </font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">Can it solve the challenges of globalisation: the intercultural misunderstandings and exclusions that are costing us so much in terms of human happiness and dollars? </font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">Or will it, unchecked, exacerbate current conflicts and inequities?<br><br>The ability to understand and relate to the other is now more important than ever.</font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">Human identity is complex because humans are multifaceted. <a href="https://diversityatlas.io/cultural-diversity-is-like-a-rubiks-cube/">As with a Rubik’s cube</a>, it is not a successful outcome if I ‘solve’ one aspect of identity and leave the rest in disorder. </font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><blockquote><span class="s1"><font face="Times"><b>Our challenges require a holistic approach. </b></font></span></blockquote><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">We need to factor in all attributes, not only gender, disability or racialised attributes but simultaneously all relevant identity markers if we’re to avoid the pushback and myriad unintended consequences of doing this work selectively. Gender, for example, is important but it is no more important than other human attributes when considering who gets left out or treated as lesser.</font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">Data on its own is meaningless. It needs to be sorted into categories (datasets) to enable us to identify meaningful information.<br></font></span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times"><br></font></span></p><p class="p3" style="margin: 0px 0px 4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-weight: bold;"><font face="Times">We Don’t Know What We Don’t Know</font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">How do you measure diversity - Diversity Atlas</font></span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times"><br></font></span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">What we can measure we can manage </font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p3" style="margin: 0px 0px 4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-weight: bold;"><font face="Times">Looking Under the Covers at Meta - they don’t have a handle on measuring culture </font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">I looked under the covers at Meta.<br><br><a href="https://scontent-syd2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.2365-6/334958148_530065152559661_5338683189927361369_n.pdf?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=3c67a6&_nc_ohc=sB1CAHNc3hcAX9bt-nI&_nc_ht=scontent-syd2-1.xx&oh=00_AfC2Ys-H4c3eqdB0q_5DHPtzl-pP7-dZlTlX1cZ6EcZM_w&oe=65F7445E">This is a paper they published</a> titled ‘A diverse, large benchmark for measuring fairness and robustness in audio/vision/speech models’.<br><br>In this paper they write, ‘The seven race groups used are White, Black, Indian, East Indian, Southeast Asian, Middle East, and Latino, and the dataset is reasonably balanced across these groups. However, race is seen as a social construct and its use in categorization exercises may be problematic.’<br><br>Say no more!<br><br>We need nuanced data that goes beyond appearance and nation states and broad geographic boundaries to define one’s culture and consider other areas of identity.<br><br>What would someone from a Kurdish background in Türkiye have in common with a Cantonese person from Southern China? A lot, but there is great dissimilarity, too. How can AI account for these nuances?<br><br>If we’re categorised into broad groups, AI will persist in making decisions under the assumption that we all begin from the same social and cultural standpoint.</font></span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times"><br></font></span></p><h4><span class="s1"><font face="Times">How do we ensure that AI assists us on a healthy path towards greater understanding, compassion and joy and not more conflict, polarisation and misery?</font></span></h4><span class="s1"><font face="Times"><br>Confluence is the lifeblood of culture and AI is a powerful expression of confluence.<br><br>If the development of AI is in the tight grip of a powerful few who can attract the necessary funding, IT IS LIKELY we will see stagnation in parts of the AI field. This could manifest as increased conflict and polarisation, accompanied by a collective sense of hopelessness, inertia, and a feeling of history repeating itself.<br><br>The alternative is learning from our past.</font></span><p></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p3" style="margin: 0px 0px 4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-weight: bold;"><font face="Times">Diversity in the Age of AI: The future lies in the past</font></span></p><p class="p3" style="margin: 0px 0px 4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-weight: bold;"><font face="Times"><br></font></span></p><p class="p3" style="margin: 0px 0px 4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-weight: bold;"><font face="Times">Diversify to grow </font></span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times"><br>Cultural diversity is as important to sustaining humanity as biodiversity is for sustaining the environment. Great depths of human knowledge are encoded in each specific culture. We need to cherish these diverse expressions of humanity.<br><br>If AI is our collective future then we need more AI platforms, made by more people, reflecting the diversity of our world.</font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p3" style="margin: 0px 0px 4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-weight: bold;"><font face="Times">How Do We Mindfully Benefit from AI?</font></span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times"><br>AI is rapidly creating breakthroughs, as in the medical field with AlphaFold, developed by Google’s DeepMind, which almost every pharmaceutical industry is now using.<br><br>In terms of DEI, AI has improved accessibility for people with disabilities through speech recognition, text-to-speech and visual recognition. AI is also helpful for bridging communication gaps between different language speakers. </font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">ChatGPT 4, for instance, can communicate in more than 50 languages. Thanks to AI, barriers are tumbling down that may have once prevented employers from using someone’s skills.<br><br>I often use the new chatbots to help me communicate my ideas. They are like new members of staff. </font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">Each of the language models, ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini and Pi, for instance, have different strengths, weaknesses and capacities, because they’ve each been shaped by different data inputs – just like real people but a lot better read, faster and may I add ever so slightly prone to hallucinating. AI chatbots can assist but can’t replace real humans because AI cannot reproduce the emotional depth, personal experiences and unique perspectives that humans bring to their work.<br><br>No company today can afford to think AI will compensate for a representatively diverse workforce or that AI is somehow free of bias and erasures. All the big AI developers in the Anglosphere have been criticised for bias, sometimes from within their own organisations. Even though the most recent iteration of ChatGPT has the capacity to communicate in 50 languages, it still excludes thousands of other languages representing value-based systems from across the globe. This is not a holistic system.<br><br>Female-founded AI startups currently receive only 2% of funding deals in the UK and US. Ada Lovelace was arguably the first ever computer programmer. Is this field less equitable for women than it was nearly 200 years ago? Who else is missing out on funding deals? Their absence as developers deprives the AI field of much-needed diversity and creates a lot of questions in my mind.<br><br>There’s never been a more important time to advocate for genuine representation in the technology industry. An equitable allocation of funding would lead to a more vibrant, less biased and more human future for AI.<br><br>If we have diversity in tech, we have healthy tech.<br><br>My final word is a call to work together, tread carefully and recognise the importance of every voice moving forward with AI.</font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times;">ABOUT THE AUTHOR:</span></p><p class="p4" style="margin: 9px 0px 8px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times"><img src="blob:null/73a9990f-1935-4be8-a3c7-072218c91b53" alt="577e85b6a9dcb87359bc17b3a5d861e1.png" id="id_22e3_fffe_c65b_7b20" style="width: 96px; height: auto;"></font></span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">Peter Mousaferiadis</font></span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">Peter Mousaferiadis has had an extensive career working in the cultural & creative industries. He has had a career as a conductor, creative director and producer and is considered a thought leader in culture as a driver of progress, social cohesion, and innovation. In 2002, he founded the internationally recognised organisation Cultural Infusion, which builds global harmony through intercultural action within education, ICT & the arts. Peter is a winner of numerous international awards and in 2021 was a winner of the Global Business and Interfaith Peace Award. His flagship product Diversity Atlas, a data-driven tool for measuring and understanding diversity in organizations is now being used by organisations throughout the world.</font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">Tracking diversity equity and inclusion</font></span></p><p class="p5" style="margin: 0px 0px 3px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 36.2px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s3" style="font-weight: bold;"></span><br></font></p><p class="p6" style="margin: 0px 0px 3px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s3" style="font-weight: bold;"><font face="Times">Diversity Atlas and the Global Database of Humanity</font></span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">Diversity Atlas is underpinned by the Global Database of Humanity, which comprises more than 42,000 human attributes, including every known language and dialect, secular and non-secular tradition, ethnic group and country of birth, gender, age, sexual orientation, sex at birth, position level, position type and many other dimensions, which can shed light on the correlation between experience and identity like never before.<br><br>Importantly, Diversity Atlas avoids lazy, outdated racial categories to allow people to gain a clear view of where inequities are playing out in any given context – which may or may not be along ethnic, religious and/or appearance lines. In other words, we don’t group people into broad, unnuanced categories like ‘African’, ‘Asian’, ‘White’ or ‘Black’.<br><br>Crude and broad categories of one kind or another were once necessary for people in leadership roles because they had to rely on humans to count groups of people and sort them into categories with assigned meanings. Now that we have machines to do this work there is no excuse for them not to take a nuanced approach.<br><br>The <a href="https://diversityatlas.io/diversityandinclusiondata/">granular insights from Diversity Atlas</a> help organisations identify stakeholders, shape Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) strategies and inform business goals by effectively leveraging the skills and knowledge of their people. It sheds light on organisational identity by answering the question who are we? Our work relies on AI working in combination with data scientists and cultural experts to process the vast amounts of intersectional data our analytics tool generates.<br><br>AI can assist with identifying patterns, however it cannot replace the humans whose job it is to understand the information a particular organisation needs. This work requires the experience of living as a human in the real world and the sort of intuition, compassion, creativity and critical thinking that comes from that. Even Pi.AI told me that.</font></span></p></div>Ivan Kayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10795511825904316044noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1521249934695624662.post-75001619842571263612024-03-13T22:36:00.001-07:002024-03-13T22:36:09.134-07:00The Clean Technology Innovation Commercial Readiness Stream <div><br></div><div><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px 0px 4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times;"> A NSW programme P</span><span style="font-family: Times;">roviding grants between $250,000 and $5 million </span></p><p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s2"></span><br></font></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2"><font face="Times">These grants support projects that advance low emissions technologies towards commercial viability, driving innovation in clean technology for a sustainable future.</font></span></p><p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s2"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px 0px 4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-weight: bold;"><font face="Times">Background and Objectives </font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2"><font face="Times">The Clean Technology Innovation Commercial Readiness Stream is part of the NSW government’s Net Zero Plan, with a goal of achieving net zero emissions by 2050 and building the state’s reputation as a clean technology powerhouse.</font></span></p><p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s2"></span><br></font></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2"><font face="Times">They plan to do this by </font></span></p><ul class="ul1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><li class="li2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="s2"><font face="Times">fostering an innovation ecosystem encouraging clean technology innovations.</font></span></li><li class="li2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="s2"><font face="Times">reducing industrial emissions and <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>carbon footprint </font></span></li><li class="li2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="s2"><font face="Times">positioning NSW as a leader in clean technology development and adoption encouraging cleantech companies to come to NSW </font></span></li></ul><p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s2"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px 0px 4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-weight: bold;"><font face="Times">Eligible Entities</font></span></p><ul class="ul2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><li class="li2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><font face="Times"><span class="s3"></span><span class="s2">Entities incorporated under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth)</span></font></li><li class="li2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><font face="Times"><span class="s3"></span><span class="s2">Research organisations applying through commercialisation departments</span></font></li><li class="li2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><font face="Times"><span class="s3"></span><span class="s2">Commonwealth, state, or territory-owned corporations</span></font></li><li class="li2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><font face="Times"><span class="s3"></span><span class="s2">Local government councils</span></font></li><li class="li2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><font face="Times"><span class="s3"></span><span class="s2">International NGOs aiming to establish an Australian entity for clean technology commercialisation</span></font></li></ul><p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s2"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px 0px 4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-weight: bold;"><font face="Times">Eligible Expenditure</font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2"><font face="Times">The eligible expenditure for the Clean Technology Innovation are:</font></span></p><ul class="ul2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><li class="li2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><font face="Times"><span class="s3"></span><span class="s2">Technology development and prototyping</span></font></li><li class="li2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><font face="Times"><span class="s3"></span><span class="s2">Construction of testing infrastructure</span></font></li><li class="li2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><font face="Times"><span class="s3"></span><span class="s2">Product verification and compliance testing</span></font></li><li class="li2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><font face="Times"><span class="s3"></span><span class="s2">Demonstration and deployment of technologies in real-world settings</span></font></li></ul><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px 0px 4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-weight: bold;"><font face="Times"> </font></span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px 0px 4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-weight: bold;"><font face="Times">To be eligible for the <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Clean Technology Innovation</font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2"><font face="Times">You need to </font></span></p><ol class="ol1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><li class="li2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="s2"><font face="Times">Demonstrate that your project aligns with the grant’s objectives and the Net Zero Plan.</font></span></li><li class="li2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="s2"><font face="Times">Provide a comprehensive overview of your technology and its potential impact on reducing emissions.</font></span></li><li class="li2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="s2"><font face="Times">Detail previous funding and investments to illustrate your project’s financial viability.</font></span></li><li class="li2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="s2"><font face="Times">Highlight your team’s expertise and commitment to clean technology innovation.</font></span></li><li class="li2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="s2"><font face="Times">Showcase existing traction and a clear plan for commercialisation and market entry.</font></span></li><li class="li2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="s2"><font face="Times">Outline how the grant will support your project’s development and address specific challenges.</font></span></li><li class="li2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="s2"><font face="Times">Submit a detailed application by the deadline, ensuring all eligibility criteria are met.</font></span></li></ol><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px 0px 4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-weight: bold;"><font face="Times">Timing</font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2"><font face="Times">The closing date for the Clean Technology Innovation is on 5 April 2024.</font></span></p><p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s2"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px 0px 4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-weight: bold;"><font face="Times">More Information</font></span></p><p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s2"><a href="https://www.energy.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/2024-02/NSW-202402-CTI-commercial-readiness-funding-guidelines.pdf"></a></span><br></font></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2"><a href="https://www.energy.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/2024-02/NSW-202402-CTI-commercial-readiness-funding-guidelines.pdf"><font face="Times">https://www.energy.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/2024-02/NSW-202402-CTI-commercial-readiness-funding-guidelines.pdf</font></a></span></p></div>Ivan Kayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10795511825904316044noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1521249934695624662.post-37991757964189809902024-02-07T12:32:00.001-08:002024-02-07T12:32:57.280-08:00The power of Acknowledgement, Recognition and Gratitude <img id="id_2069_f483_d5c2_6b5f" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/d/1HVv-CNZgYZByrIdEQDkzOJsQaTrg1jPl" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 392px; height: auto;"><br><br> <div><font face="Times">My friend, Cecilia Henderson , posted this piece in 2022 , and I have host come across it …</font></div><div><font face="Times"><br></font></div><div><font face="Times">Here are some insites </font></div><div><font face="Times"><br></font></div><div><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">💥We live in a great nation with great achievements and advances </font></span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">💥Have we <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>committed historic crimes? </font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times"><b>Yes</b>. </font></span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">💥Have we sorted out racial justice? </font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times"><b>No, of course not. </b></font></span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">💥Are we struggling with severe problems in this age of crisis? </font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times"><b>Absolutely</b>. </font></span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">💥👍🏼💥👍🏼However, we need to acknowledge the progress, the great strides forward, the sacrifices made by so many - often at severe personal cost</font></span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">💥By not acknowledging the good - we commit the most grievous crime not merely against the <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>pioneers of our western civilisation but against ourselves. </font></span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">💥Are we living through a period of great historical amnesia, blind to the preciousness of our cultural inheritance?</font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times"><br></font></span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times;">💥The 18th-century historian Edward Gibbon warned: without faith, civilisations die.</span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">@MatthewSyed</font></span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">⁉️Is faith <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>in western civilisation wilting? </font></span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">🎶The great Joni Mitchell sang: "You don't know what vou've got till it's gone."</font></span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">👨🏼🏫One of the things we can do - a great gem from the legendary Chazan Brett Kaye -</font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times"> </font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">“Before criticising someone or something - acknowledge something great or good about it or them!!!”</font></span></p></div>Ivan Kayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10795511825904316044noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1521249934695624662.post-3724227683990309082024-01-01T19:14:00.001-08:002024-03-26T08:42:38.820-07:00Here’s to 2024 <div><br></div><div><img id="id_b4fa_65d9_cdff_8533" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/d/1BTdwP0TR4o2atquGQ2wSvoIyrkRctVD0" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 392px; height: auto;"><br><br></div><div><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">As I travel to my first day of work <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>on 2 January 2024,and reading new years message from my friend Guido Von Nispen and Herman Gyr from our I4J community, <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I find <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>myself engulfed in an emotion of gratitude to be alive at this pivotal time in human history , surrounded by a cocoon of support of friends and family , in my adopted <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>country (Australia) that prides itself on being friendly, culturally diverse and relatively harmonious! </span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">(I know that’s really a long sentence!!) </span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">2023 was a year of significant change and challenges - and where there are challenges and problems <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>- for those savvy enough to overcome those challenges and solve those problems - come opportunities! </span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br></p><h4><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">My resolution for 2024 </span></h4><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"></p><ul style="font-size: 17px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><li><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Stay positive and surround myself with positive people who I know like and trust.</span><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"> </span></li><li><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Help people become the best version of themselves and in turn become the best version of myself through connection , collaboration and contribution - and help build on the amazing community that we have .</span></li><li><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Radiate positive vibes!!</span><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"> </span></li><li><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Strive to energise rather than exhaust ( such a fine line to navigate!!) (I tend to exhaust…</span></li><li><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Build rather than Battle</span><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"> </span></li><li><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Continue to Build on the solid foundation that has been laid</span><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"> </span></li><li><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Be grateful for the ability to choose - and with this important gift - choose wisely !!</span><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"> </span></li></ul><ul style="font-size: 17px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><li><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">And of course lose 5kg!!</span><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"> </span></li></ul><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Here's to a positive and <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>joyous 2024 filled with life, laughter and love ! </span></p></div>Ivan Kayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10795511825904316044noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1521249934695624662.post-69497225277083889202023-12-23T01:16:00.001-08:002023-12-23T01:16:10.020-08:00Big year for Songtradr looking to become a unicorn in 2024! <div><img id="id_b503_1112_350_7cb1" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/drive-viewer/AEYmBYQk6E2325EFNdyPPbeNImrkZBvz4eEDqifN5XJJykyBR5t1pbo9KQvgETJu8uirUF52bPSdOjahcfQ8buklxOvssHc0Hw" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 392px; height: auto;"><br><br></div><div><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">2023 was a big year for SONGTRADR the music licensing platform founded by the musical genius <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>PAUL WILTSHIRE (in Picture )</font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">Songtradr raised $109 million in 2023 <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>at a valuation of $879 million.</font></span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">Investors included </font></span></p><ul class="ul1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><li class="li1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">Epic Games — the same company that sold the D2C music sales platform Bandcamp to Songtradr last month </font></span></li><li class="li1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">WiseTech’s Richard White</font></span></li><li class="li1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">Perennial and </font></span></li><li class="li1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">Argo.</font></span></li></ul><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">Investors in Songtradr include the </font></span></p><ul class="ul1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><li class="li1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">St Baker family office, </font></span></li><li class="li1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">Regal Funds Management, and </font></span></li><li class="li1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">Aware Super.</font></span></li></ul><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">What it does </font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">Songtradr is like a B2B version of Spotify, says Paul - with songwriters and producers earning fees whenever a Songtradr client licenses their music. </font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">Songtradr aims to be an all-in-one music licensing platform for corporates, small businesses, and content creators. Its subscribers can select songs from the Songtradr marketplace or browse from playlists, including ones inspired by popular films and TV shows.</font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">Wiltshire has previously described the platform as a <a href="https://www.smartcompany.com.au/marketing/social-media/spotify-wrapped-brand-social-media-campaign-data/"><span class="s2">B2B version of Spotify</span></a></font></span></p></div>Ivan Kayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10795511825904316044noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1521249934695624662.post-6174482433880660972023-12-22T00:36:00.001-08:002023-12-22T01:18:51.439-08:00From the Desk of Ivan Kaye Dec 2023 <div><br></div><div><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px 0px 3px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;">It’s been a year of consolidation - and ready to build and grow from a solid foundation!</span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br></p><p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Looking forward to our journey towards 2030!!</span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br></p><p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Here’s a snapshot </span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br></p><p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">“We help entrepreneurs and business’s grow by connecting them to people and money”</span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br></p><p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">I still like the mantra of </span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br></p><p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">“We help you create your generational legacy” - this is what drives me :)</span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br></p><p class="p4" style="margin: 0px 0px 4px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 22px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s3" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">BSI Learning </span></p><p class="p4" style="margin: 0px 0px 4px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 22px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s3" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;"><img id="id_a121_8a1e_b663_4609" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/drive-viewer/AEYmBYTC7jTyOdcz5RFrFLgajVIsD35_d57o7A-8JP68cLUVnWYy8uJI-feKCGYvhqCNvfvrXxjmgPYWSiwnEg3QsitEoY7Kog" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 392px; height: auto;"><br><br></span><br><img id="id_efaa_58a1_a076_102d" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/drive-viewer/AEYmBYT80mjq66yY5wc7aQ5KlkO0Hj063xHh-svolxGj8SY3zFv560mIu6Q7dQSOSTBcUoLEU2W4cXfQ8nmtoBzuBJnIda9QSg" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 392px; height: auto;"><br></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">We have gone through an intensive planning and consolidation process , and the team is looking forward to rapid Growth on all fronts - as well as providing a good return to its shareholder !</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br></p><p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">We welcome Craig Saphin and Tony Surtees to <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>our board <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>- with a view to capitalise the business and go for serious growth! </span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br></p><p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><b><i>The BSI Learning Institute</i></b> - lead by Kala and supported by Dylan and the Scott’s’ and Kat looking after CSnSW so well!! They have maintained their core clients and have some solid plans with the our transnational business </span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br></p><p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><b><i>BSI Digital learning</i></b> - <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>led by Simon and supported by Jess , Sam, Naomi and the team - continues to provide a solid base keeping up to date with innovation in the e learning space and adding massive value to their clients </span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br></p><p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><b><i>BSI People</i></b> - continues to add value to its clients with Rob and Walter - and chaired by our very own Mick! </span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br></p><p class="p4" style="margin: 0px 0px 4px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 22px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s4" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleEmphasizedItalicBody; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; text-decoration: underline;">BSI Finance and Ark Group</span><span class="s5" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-weight: bold;"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><img id="id_a3e5_dedb_1505_58fa" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/drive-viewer/AEYmBYRepj8jP3hLca6nTboaf1Y2F2TOAD-76dlfKWIPhP402g4Aml6JFDkd6e-vWBkEBvd4LoQpRFlg-VPmOCc4nswCGFg_3w" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 392px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_ed17_adc8_98df_d223" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/drive-viewer/AEYmBYSlyyxhLzyE_5MpwaEBL670kVF8YUxk3pf3ObBVv1J1u0h-hD4YqmT3wQQBzDEczvvq38WplmCXLSP-f4QoPoPQ3if6lA" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 392px; height: auto;"><br><br><br></p><p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">I am super excited about the plans for BSI Finance and Ark who have just moved to amazing offices at Level 1 343 George Street .</span></p><ul class="ul1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><li class="li3" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Ark Total Wealth providing solid financial planning to its clients with Chris, Brandon , Blair and Sara !</span></li><li class="li3" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Ark Accounting - lots has happened with our fearless leader - Ahad and his boss (Sharmean) creating beautiful baby Zoya . We congratulate Ryan - being made partner - and <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Kelly, Ishmam, Umma, Saaid and Henry with the support of our offshore team. And of course our mentors Lewis and Brent - for providing the back office, support and accounting infrastructure to our clients! </span></li><li class="li3" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">And BSI Finance - our mortgage and lending business - being managed by …. Yours truly. Am having much fun </span><span class="s6">🤩</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"> being client focussed and helping to grow the business !! if anybody needs a mortgage , loan or money - call me :) </span></li></ul><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3I3nJ1Nktl0?si=x_CO-ULWfYdrkSEq" width="500" height="281" id="y_id_b29e_c0c5_ee88_f1c" frameborder="0"></iframe><br></p><p class="p4" style="margin: 0px 0px 4px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 22px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s3" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;"><br></span></p><p class="p4" style="margin: 0px 0px 4px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 22px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s3" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Our Investments </span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br></p><p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">We still have investments in Martian Logic and Retriever - which seems to be going from strength to strength , and Referron and BBG which is being used as part of our group marketing strategy! </span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br></p><p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">I still believe that Referron is the sleeping Unicorn :) </span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br></p><p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">To our Shareholders and Stakeholders </span></p><p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br></span></p><p class="p3" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">As always - Mick and I thank you for <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>your unwavering support , and look forward to great returns on all fronts - both monetary and non - monetary.</span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br></p><p class="p5" style="margin: 9px 0px 8px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><img id="id_e235_8d82_711d_5332" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/drive-viewer/AEYmBYSnPnQCmaPM6gQ1KYSQZL3Xfb457cQ7rbhZmqkajmzWSRSTIROzYwsw5WwX_qsxoNiT0XZGQ4UJ-aDEnAPSG65Sx9rv-g" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 392px; height: auto;"><br><br></p><p class="p6" style="margin: 0px 0px 4px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 22px; line-height: normal; min-height: 28.5px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s5" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-weight: bold;"></span><br></p><p class="p4" style="margin: 0px 0px 4px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 22px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s5" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-weight: bold;"> <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Here’s to 2024 </span></p></div>Ivan Kayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10795511825904316044noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1521249934695624662.post-82501516610911452062023-12-03T12:22:00.001-08:002024-03-26T08:43:27.688-07:00Leapfrog Investments $500m pledge at Windsor Castle <div><a href="www.gc-af.com" id="id_1415_d65f_fb0a_47da">In July, Andy Kuper made a $500m pledge at Windsor Castle on behalf of LeapFrog Investments to back companies that provide green tools and technologies for emerging consumers. </a></div><div><div> </div><div>Today, to kick off #COP28, he shared the news of a $100m investment from Temasek and significant support anticipated from European Investment Bank (EIB) for their Climate Strategy. </div><div> </div><div>This is swift and early support. It reveals to other signal long-term investors how to tackle climate change – and be rewarded for it.</div><div> </div><div>They will focus on investments in four sectors: energy, transport, built environment as well as food and agriculture. </div><div><br></div><div>Says Andy</div><div>“We will build on our distinctive expertise in scaling consumer companies in growth markets. We will ensure tens of millions of people get the cleaner and cheaper products they need, opening up green paths to prosperity.”</div><div> </div><div>More here: <span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 238); color: rgb(0, 0, 238); text-decoration: underline;">https://lnkd.in/gQjPngwp</span></div><div> </div><div>#COP28UAE #climatechange #impactinvesting EIB Global | BEI Monde Benoit Valentin Markus Berndt </div></div><div><a href="www.gc-af.com" id="id_f52a_c0ab_6f55_8e31">www.gc-af.com</a></div><div></div>Ivan Kayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10795511825904316044noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1521249934695624662.post-15221923190719832572023-12-01T20:09:00.001-08:002023-12-01T20:12:29.001-08:00Do you support peace ? Answer and share <div><br></div><div><br></div>Every life is precious <div><br></div><div>Every Jew has a write to exist in the state of Israel </div><div>Every Palestinian has the right to live in the state of Palestine </div><div><br></div><div>Each State needs to respect their neighbours and recognise each others right to exist .</div><div><br></div><div>Hope fully in my lifetime!!</div><div><br><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VJ86rlIZnQM?si=23U7urX8HP99r-Te" width="500" height="281" id="y_id_70dd_8d3a_33a4_c792" frameborder="0"></iframe> </div>Ivan Kayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10795511825904316044noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1521249934695624662.post-61796130850167737132023-11-18T13:50:00.001-08:002024-03-26T08:39:03.108-07:00Being at one with natureThe lost world of the Kalahari<br><div><div><br></div><div><div>“In The Lost World of the Kalahari, Laurens van der Post writes about living among the Bushmen of the Kalahari Desert and describes how shocked they were that he couldn’t hear the stars. </div><div><br></div><div>At first they thought he must be joking or lying. When they realized he really couldn’t hear the stars, they concluded he must be very ill and expressed great sorrow. For the Bushmen knew anyone who can’t hear nature must have the gravest sickness of all.</div><div><br></div><div>For nearly all of the time humans have been on the planet, regular conversations across the species border were an everyday natural part of life.</div><div><br></div><div>Sadly, this seems like a strange invitation in our world today; most people have difficulty initiating such a conversation. Perhaps this is because we’ve been taught from a very young age to perceive nature as separate, a life-less object, a commodity. This mistaken perception seems to be at the foundation of our cultural ills.</div><div><br></div><div>Humanity’s ability to perceive the sentience of Earth is critical to our survival and to all life on earth.</div><div><br></div><div>Longing to be in conversation with nature can catalyze us. And perhaps the natural world longs for this relationship with us too...”</div><div>~ Rebecca Wildbear, the Animas Valley Institute</div><div><br></div><div>(Thx to Mike kawitzky via Paul Mirbach :) )</div></div></div>Ivan Kayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10795511825904316044noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1521249934695624662.post-42384656149699644022023-11-17T21:35:00.001-08:002023-11-17T21:35:21.624-08:00The Israeli Palestinian Conflict - easy to describe - but terms so hard to solve :( <div><br></div><div><br><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jy0VlwPGt3k?si=rqJCT4eRZldN7f-1" width="500" height="281" id="y_id_7853_850f_9025_d4ce" frameborder="0"></iframe><br></div><div><div><br></div><div>This popped in my feed from 11/11/2011. a great explanation of the Israel/Palestinian conflict. It is easy to describe the problem - but so hard to solve!</div><div>One side does not accept the right for the other to exist! </div><div>And yet in the history of the world , </div><div>this land has always been a place where Jews have lived</div><br></div>Ivan Kayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10795511825904316044noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1521249934695624662.post-61245852869564545742023-11-12T14:45:00.001-08:002024-03-26T08:25:42.437-07:00From the river to the sea, Palestine and Israel will be free<p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">“From the river to the sea, Palestine and Israel will be free - we all deserve peace, respect, freedom safety and opportunity for our children .” </span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">This is one of the <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>darkest hours we have experienced in our lifetimes.</span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Israelis and Palestinians and indeed our species who believe in a shared equal society are grieving, are being violently attacked by the warmongers on both sides, and we are rejected by our international allies for not turning our backs against each other. </span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br></p><blockquote><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">The narrative of using <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">“YES, AND” </span><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">instead of</span><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"> </span> <span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">“YES, NO”</span><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"> </span><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"> </span> <span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Or “YES, BUT” is desperately needed !!</span></blockquote><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">YES, their <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>past is ridden with injustice, with villains and with victims,<br>AND YES, their present is bleeding,<br>AND YES, their future will depend on whether they bend the arc of the universe towards justice, or away from it.</span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br></p><ul class="ul1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><li class="li1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: Menlo-Regular; font-size: 12px;"></span><span class="s3" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleEmphasizedBody; font-weight: bold;">YES</span><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">, the Hamas attack against civilians in Israel is an indefensible crime against humanity, </span><span class="s3" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleEmphasizedBody; font-weight: bold;">AND</span><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"> nothing can justify the indiscriminate bombing of civilians in Gaza.</span></li><li class="li1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: Menlo-Regular; font-size: 12px;"></span><span class="s3" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleEmphasizedBody; font-weight: bold;">YES</span><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">, the occupation cannot be ignored as the context for this violence,</span><span class="s3" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleEmphasizedBody; font-weight: bold;">AND</span><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"> Israel has the right and the duty to defend its citizens.</span></li><li class="li1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: Menlo-Regular; font-size: 12px;"></span><span class="s3" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleEmphasizedBody; font-weight: bold;">YES</span><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">, IDF bombing cause un-proportional damage leaving Palestinian defenseless against it, </span><span class="s3" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleEmphasizedBody; font-weight: bold;">AND</span><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"> Hamas continuously shells Israeli cities and holds hundreds of civilians hostage which is unacceptable and must be stopped!</span></li><li class="li1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: Menlo-Regular; font-size: 12px;"></span><span class="s3" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleEmphasizedBody; font-weight: bold;">YES</span><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">, Hamas cannot be trusted for cease fire negotiations, </span><span class="s3" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleEmphasizedBody; font-weight: bold;">AND</span><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"> a cease fire may be the only way to stop the indiscriminate killings and release the hostages.</span></li><li class="li1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: Menlo-Regular; font-size: 12px;"></span><span class="s3" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleEmphasizedBody; font-weight: bold;">YES</span><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">, Palestinians will be forever traumatized by this war, </span><span class="s3" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleEmphasizedBody; font-weight: bold;">AND</span><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"> Israelis will be forever traumatized by this war</span></li><li class="li1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: Menlo-Regular; font-size: 12px;"></span><span class="s3" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleEmphasizedBody; font-weight: bold;">YES</span><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">, trust between Israelis and Palestinians is at an all time low,</span><span class="s3" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleEmphasizedBody; font-weight: bold;">AND</span><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"> diplomacy and trust are required to achieve conflict resolution, security and justice.</span></li></ul><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">YES, from the river to the sea, Palestine and Israel <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>will be free. where they <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>can they share a homeland based on common desire <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>of peace, respect, freedom and safety and opportunity for their children ” </span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br></p><h2 style="text-align: center;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Let them be a light to the nations </span></h2> Ivan Kayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10795511825904316044noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1521249934695624662.post-73357758722537801162023-11-12T12:32:00.001-08:002023-11-12T12:39:59.102-08:00Your Empathy is Killing Us <div><br></div><div><div class="fl fm fn fo fp" style="box-sizing: inherit; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;"><div class="ab ca" style="box-sizing: inherit; display: flex; justify-content: center;"><div class="ch bg ex ey ez fa" style="box-sizing: inherit; width: 380px; min-width: 0px; margin: 0px 24px;"><div class="abj abk abl abm abn" style="font-family: medium-content-sans-serif-font, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Open Sans", "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; 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color: rgb(36, 36, 36);"><div class="hz ab q" style="box-sizing: inherit; align-items: center; display: flex; margin-bottom: 2px;"><div class="ab q ia" style="box-sizing: inherit; align-items: center; display: flex; flex-wrap: nowrap;"><div class="ab q" style="box-sizing: inherit; align-items: center; display: flex;"><p class="be b ib ic bj" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><a class="af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar id" data-testid="authorName" rel="noopener follow" href="https://medium.com/@mushon?source=post_page-----1a50a4fc0488--------------------------------" style="box-sizing: inherit; text-decoration: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; fill: inherit; font-size: inherit; border: inherit; font-family: inherit; letter-spacing: inherit; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; cursor: pointer;" id="id_e322_1d43_b86d_b349">@Mushon Zer-Aviv</a></p></div><span class="ie if" aria-hidden="true" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 8px; display: inline;"><span class="be b bf z dw" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 20px; color: rgb(107, 107, 107);">·</span></span></div></div></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="fy" style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both;"><div class="ab ca" style="box-sizing: inherit; display: flex; justify-content: center;"><div class="ny nz oa ob oc od ce oe cf of ch bg" style="box-sizing: inherit; width: 428px; min-width: 0px; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%;"><div class="og oh oi oj ok ab jx" style="box-sizing: inherit; display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-top: 40px;"><figure class="ku fy ol om on oo op paragraph-image" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; clear: both; width: 209.125px; padding-top: 5px; padding-bottom: 5px;"><div role="button" tabindex="0" class="fz ga ee gb bg gc" style="box-sizing: inherit; width: 209.125px; position: relative; cursor: zoom-in; z-index: auto; transition: transform 300ms cubic-bezier(0.2, 0, 0.2, 1) 0s;"><picture style="box-sizing: inherit;"><font face="Times"><source srcset="https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:640/format:webp/1*se_RK2AnBs7gYGhpcedQyQ.png 640w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:720/format:webp/1*se_RK2AnBs7gYGhpcedQyQ.png 720w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:750/format:webp/1*se_RK2AnBs7gYGhpcedQyQ.png 750w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:786/format:webp/1*se_RK2AnBs7gYGhpcedQyQ.png 786w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:828/format:webp/1*se_RK2AnBs7gYGhpcedQyQ.png 828w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:1100/format:webp/1*se_RK2AnBs7gYGhpcedQyQ.png 1100w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:1002/format:webp/1*se_RK2AnBs7gYGhpcedQyQ.png 1002w" sizes="(min-resolution: 4dppx) and (max-width: 700px) 50vw, (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 4) and (max-width: 700px) 50vw, (min-resolution: 3dppx) and (max-width: 700px) 67vw, (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 3) and (max-width: 700px) 65vw, (min-resolution: 2.5dppx) and (max-width: 700px) 80vw, (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 2.5) and (max-width: 700px) 80vw, (min-resolution: 2dppx) and (max-width: 700px) 100vw, (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 2) and (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 501px" type="image/webp" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><source data-testid="og" srcset="https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:640/1*se_RK2AnBs7gYGhpcedQyQ.png 640w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:720/1*se_RK2AnBs7gYGhpcedQyQ.png 720w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:750/1*se_RK2AnBs7gYGhpcedQyQ.png 750w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:786/1*se_RK2AnBs7gYGhpcedQyQ.png 786w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:828/1*se_RK2AnBs7gYGhpcedQyQ.png 828w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:1100/1*se_RK2AnBs7gYGhpcedQyQ.png 1100w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:1002/1*se_RK2AnBs7gYGhpcedQyQ.png 1002w" sizes="(min-resolution: 4dppx) and (max-width: 700px) 50vw, (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 4) and (max-width: 700px) 50vw, (min-resolution: 3dppx) and (max-width: 700px) 67vw, (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 3) and (max-width: 700px) 65vw, (min-resolution: 2.5dppx) and (max-width: 700px) 80vw, (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 2.5) and (max-width: 700px) 80vw, (min-resolution: 2dppx) and (max-width: 700px) 100vw, (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 2) and (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 501px" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><img alt="" class="bg gd ge c" width="501" height="719" loading="eager" role="presentation" src="https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:2560/1*se_RK2AnBs7gYGhpcedQyQ.png" style="box-sizing: inherit; vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); width: 209px; max-width: 100%; height: auto;" id="id_f497_b7af_cc20_58fa"></font></picture></div></figure><figure class="ku fy oq om on oo op paragraph-image" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; clear: both; padding-top: 5px; padding-bottom: 5px; width: 208.875px;"><div role="button" tabindex="0" class="fz ga ee gb bg gc" style="box-sizing: inherit; width: 208.875px; position: relative; cursor: zoom-in; z-index: auto; transition: transform 300ms cubic-bezier(0.2, 0, 0.2, 1) 0s;"><picture style="box-sizing: inherit;"><font face="Times"><source srcset="https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:640/format:webp/1*LtlfQhUHTf4D-qqdn_hOxA.png 640w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:720/format:webp/1*LtlfQhUHTf4D-qqdn_hOxA.png 720w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:750/format:webp/1*LtlfQhUHTf4D-qqdn_hOxA.png 750w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:786/format:webp/1*LtlfQhUHTf4D-qqdn_hOxA.png 786w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:828/format:webp/1*LtlfQhUHTf4D-qqdn_hOxA.png 828w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:1100/format:webp/1*LtlfQhUHTf4D-qqdn_hOxA.png 1100w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:1000/format:webp/1*LtlfQhUHTf4D-qqdn_hOxA.png 1000w" sizes="(min-resolution: 4dppx) and (max-width: 700px) 50vw, (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 4) and (max-width: 700px) 50vw, (min-resolution: 3dppx) and (max-width: 700px) 67vw, (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 3) and (max-width: 700px) 65vw, (min-resolution: 2.5dppx) and (max-width: 700px) 80vw, (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 2.5) and (max-width: 700px) 80vw, (min-resolution: 2dppx) and (max-width: 700px) 100vw, (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 2) and (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 500px" type="image/webp" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><source data-testid="og" srcset="https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:640/1*LtlfQhUHTf4D-qqdn_hOxA.png 640w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:720/1*LtlfQhUHTf4D-qqdn_hOxA.png 720w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:750/1*LtlfQhUHTf4D-qqdn_hOxA.png 750w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:786/1*LtlfQhUHTf4D-qqdn_hOxA.png 786w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:828/1*LtlfQhUHTf4D-qqdn_hOxA.png 828w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:1100/1*LtlfQhUHTf4D-qqdn_hOxA.png 1100w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:1000/1*LtlfQhUHTf4D-qqdn_hOxA.png 1000w" sizes="(min-resolution: 4dppx) and (max-width: 700px) 50vw, (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 4) and (max-width: 700px) 50vw, (min-resolution: 3dppx) and (max-width: 700px) 67vw, (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 3) and (max-width: 700px) 65vw, (min-resolution: 2.5dppx) and (max-width: 700px) 80vw, (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 2.5) and (max-width: 700px) 80vw, (min-resolution: 2dppx) and (max-width: 700px) 100vw, (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 2) and (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 500px" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><img alt="" class="bg gd ge c" width="500" height="360" loading="eager" role="presentation" src="https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:1280/1*LtlfQhUHTf4D-qqdn_hOxA.png" style="box-sizing: inherit; vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); width: 209px; max-width: 100%; height: auto;" id="id_dac6_d73a_fd2f_bd8c"></font></picture></div><figcaption class="or os ot fq fr ou ov be b bf z dw ow ee ox oy" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 20px; color: rgb(107, 107, 107); position: relative; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 10px; text-align: center; max-width: 728px; width: 417.75px; left: calc(0% - 8px); transform: translateX(-50%);"><font face="Times">Michael and Amalia with their father (left) and Habiba (right)</font></figcaption></figure></div></div></div></div><div class="ab ca" style="box-sizing: inherit; display: flex; justify-content: center;"><div class="ch bg ex ey ez fa" style="box-sizing: inherit; width: 380px; min-width: 0px; margin: 0px 24px;"><br></div><div class="ch bg ex ey ez fa" style="box-sizing: inherit; width: 380px; min-width: 0px; margin: 0px 24px;"><br></div></div></div><div class="fl fm fn fo fp" style="box-sizing: inherit; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;"><div class="ab ca" style="box-sizing: inherit; display: flex; justify-content: center;"><div class="ch bg ex ey ez fa" style="box-sizing: inherit; width: 380px; min-width: 0px; margin: 0px 24px;"><div class="ch bg ex ey ez fa" style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8); box-sizing: inherit; width: 380px; min-width: 0px; margin: 0px 24px;"><div><div><font face="Times">They shot dad, they shot mom and they shot Avigail” <a class="af ns" href="https://www-mako-co-il.translate.goog/news-israel/2023_q4/Article-ed2ae3739c69b81027.htm?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=wapp" rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank" style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent;">said</a> Michael (9) to his uncle on the phone. On October 7th, when Hamas terrorists invaded their home in Kfar Aza, Michael and his 6 year old sister Amalia were hiding in the closet. Their dad carried their 3 year old sister, Avigail, and run out of the house, when the terrorists murdered him. For 14 hours Michael and Amalia were closed in the safe room together with the body of their dead mother. Little Avigail managed to release herself from her father’s dead hands and was found by neighbors, only to be kidnapped along with them into Gaza.</font></div><div><font face="Times"><br></font></div><div><font face="Times"><a class="af ns" href="https://inews.co.uk/news/mothers-agony-daughter-killed-gaza-airstrike-2710181" rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank" style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent;">Habiba</a> (8) had big hopes for the future. She grew up <a class="af ns" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cy0VTjMKYYU/" rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank" style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent;">learning</a> about the international convention of children rights, including the right to education and the right to health. When the airstrikes on Gaza started, Habiba couldn’t stop trembling in fear. On the morning of October 14th she finally appeared more composed. At the sound of explosions she consoled her mother, saying, “Don’t be afraid”. She picked her colors and began drawing the TV as it was reporting the news about the war. An hour later an Israeli missile struck the family home, injuring everyone inside and ending Habiba’s short life.</font></div></div><div><font face="Times"><br></font></div><div><font face="Times">It shouldn’t be hard to empathize with the pain of the Israeli victims, or the pain of the Palestinian ones. </font></div><div><font face="Times"><br></font></div><div><font face="Times">But paradoxically, it seems almost impossible to empathize with both sides at the same time. Why is that?</font></div><div><font face="Times"><br></font></div><div><font face="Times">This question, apparently is not exclusive to this conflict. In a <a class="af ns" href="https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/judgment-and-decision-making/article/if-i-look-at-the-mass-i-will-never-act-psychic-numbing-and-genocide/0E55D099E133068F9ACD5A0DBBE1E4E2" rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank" style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent;">study</a> focusing on stories of starving children, participants showed a distinct drop in empathy when asked to assist two identified victims as opposed to just one. </font></div><div><font face="Times"><br></font></div><blockquote><font face="Times">Psychologist Paul Bloom argues that empathy is indeed a treacherous path, likening it to a spotlight that illuminates one individual, leaving others in the dark.</font></blockquote><div><span style="font-family: Times;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Times;"> According to Bloom, we are more likely to direct the spotlight of empathy toward those we perceive as more similar to us. This tendency plays a significant role in both parent-child bonding and the ugliest forms of racism. The light we shine on those we identify with and consider more deserving of our care casts a shadow on the suffering of others.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Times;"><br></span></div><div><font face="Times">Moreover, cognitive empathy is a form of intelligence that even psychopathic murderers possess. The Hamas terrorist who streamed the killing of an elderly woman on Facebook Live did it exactly because he cognitively empathized with the pain it would cause her family, who indeed found out about her death by witnessing her recorded execution.</font></div><div><font face="Times"><br></font></div><div><font face="Times">In his book <a class="af ns" href="https://www.harpercollins.com/products/against-empathy-paul-bloom?variant=32122194853922" rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank" style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent;">“Against Empathy”</a> Bloom goes further to argue that empathy should not serve as a moral compass. Instead he advocates for compassion which goes beyond feeling another’s pain; and involves a deep sense of concern and a genuine desire to alleviate suffering.</font></div><h1 id="58a6" class="lw lx gh be ly lz ma mb mc md me mf mg mh mi mj mk ml mm mn mo mp mq mr ms mt bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 1.2em 0px -0.28em; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 24px; letter-spacing: 0px;"><font size="3" face="Times">Lost Souls</font></h1><div><font size="3" face="Times"><br></font></div><div><font face="Times">Ten days after the Hamas attack, philosopher Slavoj Zizek delivered a powerful address at the Frankfurt Book Fair. Zizek not only condemned Hamas unequivocally but went further to justify Israel’s right to retaliate. </font></div><div><font face="Times"><br></font></div><div><font face="Times">Despite some protests from the audience, he dedicated most of his address to exploring the background of the occupation and the Israeli government’s ongoing systematic oppression of the Palestinian people. </font></div><div><font face="Times"><br></font></div><div><font face="Times">Without siding with either Hamas or the Israeli government, Zizek managed to present a crucial analysis of the current situation and its history. He went on to argue:</font></div><div><font face="Times"><br></font></div><blockquote class="oz pa pb" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0px -20px; box-shadow: rgb(36, 36, 36) 3px 0px 0px 0px inset; padding-left: 23px;"><blockquote><span class="gh" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><font face="Times">“The moment you accept that this is not possible, to fight for both sides at the same time, you lost your soul.”</font></span></blockquote></blockquote><figure class="og oh oi oj ok fy" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 40px 0px 0px; clear: both;"><div class="pg ph l ee" style="box-sizing: inherit; position: relative; margin: auto; overflow: hidden;"><div class="pi pj l" style="box-sizing: inherit; padding-bottom: 213.578125px; height: 0px;"><iframe src="https://cdn.embedly.com/widgets/media.html?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fembed%2Fj8pwQ4uUxoQ%3Fstart%3D900%26feature%3Doembed%26start%3D900&display_name=YouTube&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3Dj8pwQ4uUxoQ&image=https%3A%2F%2Fi.ytimg.com%2Fvi%2Fj8pwQ4uUxoQ%2Fhqdefault.jpg&key=a19fcc184b9711e1b4764040d3dc5c07&type=text%2Fhtml&schema=youtube" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" width="854" title="Slavoj Zizek - Statement on Israel, Hamas & Palestine (17/10/2023)" class="eo n fg dy bg" scrolling="no" id="id_1c08_478b_2626_7486" style="box-sizing: inherit; top: 0px; width: 380px; height: 213.578125px; position: absolute; left: 0px;"></iframe></div></div><figcaption class="or os ot fq fr ou ov be b bf z dw" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 20px; color: rgb(107, 107, 107); margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 10px; text-align: center; max-width: 728px;"><font face="Times">Slavoj Zizek’s statement on Israel, Hamas & Palestine at the Frankfurt Book fair, 17/10/2023 (quote in <a class="af ns" href="https://youtu.be/j8pwQ4uUxoQ?si=BR0DlHlSJzFsPsXb&t=900" rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank" style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent;">00:15:00</a>)</font></figcaption></figure><div><font face="Times"><br></font></div><div><font face="Times">While I sympathize with the message, I’m afraid that most Israelis and Palestinians will find it very difficult to simultaneously advocate for both sides right now. Tortured souls are not necessarily lost, but they are overflowing with stress, fear and grief.</font></div><div><font face="Times"><br></font></div><div><font face="Times"><br></font></div><div><blockquote class="oz pa pb" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0px -20px; box-shadow: rgb(36, 36, 36) 3px 0px 0px 0px inset; padding-left: 23px;"><blockquote><span style="font-family: Times;">Can anyone really expect us, Israelis or Palestinians, to shine a wide ray of empathy while we’re still in the dark, under attack, burying our dead, unable to know if our loved ones are dead or alive, and fearing our own children will be next?</span></blockquote></blockquote></div><div><font face="Times"><br></font></div><div><font face="Times">With so much pain, how should the international community respond?</font></div><div><font face="Times"><br></font></div><div><ul><li><span style="font-family: Times;">Does “standing with Israel” and removing Hamas from power justify the destruction of Gaza and the thousands of casualties in this unprecedented humanitarian crisis? </span></li><li><span style="font-family: Times;">Is that truly a means to ensure a secure future for Israelis? </span></li></ul><span style="font-family: Times;">And </span><span style="font-family: Times;"><br></span><ul><li><span style="font-family: Times;">does “solidarity with Palestine” necessitate turning a blind eye, downplaying, or sometimes even justifying Hamas’s crimes against humanity? </span></li><li><span style="font-family: Times;">How does endorsing bloodthirsty nihilists contribute to the broader Palestinian cause?</span></li></ul></div><h1 id="c145" class="lw lx gh be ly lz ma mb mc md me mf mg mh mi mj mk ml mm mn mo mp mq mr ms mt bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 1.2em 0px -0.28em; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 24px; letter-spacing: 0px;"><font size="3" face="Times">3 common responses</font></h1><div><font size="3" face="Times"><br></font></div><div><font face="Times">It might have been magnitude of the attack, the brutality, and the graphic documentation of violence, or perhaps the sheer intensity of human tragedy, but there is no denying that the world did not turn a blind eye to this war. </font></div><div><font face="Times"><br></font></div><div><ul><li><span style="font-family: Times;">Leaders condemned, </span></li><li><span style="font-family: Times;">protests filled the streets, </span></li><li><span style="font-family: Times;">funding and military support was provided, </span></li><li><span style="font-family: Times;">and social-media flame wars erupted.</span></li></ul></div><p id="ee09" class="pw-post-body-paragraph mu mv gh mw b mx nt mz na nb nu nd ne nf nv nh ni nj nw nl nm nn nx np nq nr fl bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 1.56em 0px -0.46em; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); word-break: break-word; line-height: 28px; letter-spacing: -0.003em;"><font face="Times">The responses have mostly been either of three types:</font></p><h2 id="7587" class="pk lx gh be ly pl pm pn mc po pp pq mg nf pr ps pt nj pu pv pw nn px py pz qa bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 1.23em 0px -0.31em; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 20px;"><font size="3" face="Times">1. YES / NO</font></h2><div><font size="3" face="Times"><br></font></div><div><font face="Times">To judge by social media, the world is divided to good and evil. </font></div><div><font face="Times"><br></font></div><div><font face="Times">No nuances, no context, no gray areas.</font><span style="font-family: Times;">Thus, to truly eradicate evil one must make a clear cut and choose a side: you’re either with the victim or you’re with the perpetrator.</span></div><div><font face="Times"><br></font></div><div><font face="Times">Sadly, this blanket refusal to acknowledge complexity is intensified by the algorithmically induced cycles of engagement / enragement.</font></div><div><font face="Times"><br></font></div><div><font face="Times"> The more extreme your position, the more tweetable or instagramable it becomes, and the more likely it is to be shared and go viral. </font></div><div><font face="Times"><br></font></div><div><font face="Times">And conversely, the more nuanced and devoid of catchy slogans your stated position is, the more it gets suppressed by the algorithm.</font></div><div><font face="Times"><br></font></div><div><ul><li><span style="font-family: Times;">Does likening Hamas to ISIS imply it should be eliminated “by any means necessary”?</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Times;">Does drawing parallels between the Jewish victims of Hamas and those of the Nazis in the Holocaust justify the “Dresdening” of Gaza</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Times;">Moreover, how can we anticipate genuine concern for Israeli lives without demonstrating sincere concern for Palestinian lives?</span></li></ul></div><div><font face="Times">And what compelled the respected artists who signed the <a class="af ns" href="https://hyperallergic.com/851479/artists-and-scholars-call-for-immediate-ceasefire-in-gaza/" rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank" style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent;">open letter</a> advocating for a ceasefire in Gaza to overlook Hamas’s rampage of slaughter and rape? </font></div><div><font face="Times"><br></font></div><div><font face="Times">Did they believe that acknowledging these horrific crimes could somehow justify the destruction of Gaza? </font></div><div><font face="Times"><br></font></div><div><font face="Times">How would a plea for the release, or at least an acknowledgment of, the hundreds of Israeli civilians held hostage in Gaza, including many children, detract from their commitment to the Palestinian cause?</font></div><h2 id="6db8" class="pk lx gh be ly pl pm pn mc po pp pq mg nf pr ps pt nj pu pv pw nn px py pz qa bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 1.23em 0px -0.31em; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 20px;"><font size="3" face="Times">2. YES, BUT…</font></h2><div><font size="3" face="Times"><br></font></div><div><font face="Times">Yes, the world is indeed complex and cruel, there are innocent victims on the other side, <strong class="mw gi" style="box-sizing: inherit;">BUT…</strong></font></div><span style="font-family: Times; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); letter-spacing: -0.003em;">…</span></div><div><div class="fl fm fn fo fp" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; box-sizing: inherit; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div class="ab ca" style="box-sizing: inherit; display: flex; justify-content: center;"><div class="ch bg ex ey ez fa" style="box-sizing: inherit; width: 380px; min-width: 0px; margin: 0px 24px;"><ul class="" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; list-style: none;"><li id="32b1" class="mu mv gh mw b mx nt mz na nb nu nd ne nf qb nh ni nj qc nl nm nn qd np nq nr qe qf qg bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 28px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; margin-bottom: -0.46em; list-style-type: disc; margin-left: 30px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 1.56em;"><span style="font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 18px;">…</span><font face="Times">but they voted for these leaders and continuously support them</font></li><li id="4858" class="mu mv gh mw b mx qh mz na nb qi nd ne nf qj nh ni nj qk nl nm nn ql np nq nr qe qf qg bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 28px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; margin-bottom: -0.46em; list-style-type: disc; margin-left: 30px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 1.34em;"><font face="Times">…but they educate their children to hate and kill</font></li><li id="01e7" class="mu mv gh mw b mx qh mz na nb qi nd ne nf qj nh ni nj qk nl nm nn ql np nq nr qe qf qg bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 28px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; margin-bottom: -0.46em; list-style-type: disc; margin-left: 30px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 1.34em;"><font face="Times">…but they constantly lie to the international community</font></li><li id="fc3c" class="mu mv gh mw b mx qh mz na nb qi nd ne nf qj nh ni nj qk nl nm nn ql np nq nr qe qf qg bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 28px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; margin-bottom: -0.46em; list-style-type: disc; margin-left: 30px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 1.34em;"><font face="Times">…but they get enough support from the super-powers backing them</font></li><li id="d09d" class="mu mv gh mw b mx qh mz na nb qi nd ne nf qj nh ni nj qk nl nm nn ql np nq nr qe qf qg bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 28px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; margin-bottom: -0.46em; list-style-type: disc; margin-left: 30px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 1.34em;"><font face="Times">…but they systematically missed every opportunities to sign a peace agreement</font></li><li id="8b90" class="mu mv gh mw b mx qh mz na nb qi nd ne nf qj nh ni nj qk nl nm nn ql np nq nr qe qf qg bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 28px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; margin-bottom: -0.46em; list-style-type: disc; margin-left: 30px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 1.34em;"><font face="Times">…but they actively sabotage any peaceful solution to the conflict</font></li><li id="2802" class="mu mv gh mw b mx qh mz na nb qi nd ne nf qj nh ni nj qk nl nm nn ql np nq nr qe qf qg bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 28px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; margin-bottom: -0.46em; list-style-type: disc; margin-left: 30px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 1.34em;"><font face="Times">…but they call for annexation and genocide, and are actively pursuing it</font></li></ul><div><font color="#242424" face="Times"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.048px;"><br></span></font></div><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><font face="Times">This line of reasoning is compelling and can be used, to a certain degree, against any sides in this conflict. </font></div><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><font face="Times"><br></font></div><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><font face="Times">It paints a grim picture of the world that destines us, as my father often says, to forever live by the sword. </font></div><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><font face="Times"><br></font></div><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><font face="Times">Both sides are corrupted by the conflict, and both sides suffer; </font></div><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><font face="Times"><br></font></div><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><font face="Times">however, any acknowledgment of the other side’s pain is accompanied by a significant “BUT…”. </font></div><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><font face="Times"><br></font></div><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><font face="Times">Though it doesn’t fully see the world as one-sided, it unmistakably demands one-sided actions.</font></div><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><font face="Times"><br></font></div><div><font face="Times">If “YES / NO” is a clear binary division, “YES, BUT” presents a range of arguments that ultimately leans towards justifying one side. </font></div><div><font face="Times"><br></font></div><div><font face="Times">In many cases, it still results in the same one-sided call to action and seldom provides a sincere account that considers compassionate concern for the other side.</font></div><h2 id="f8d7" class="pk lx gh be ly pl pm pn mc po pp pq mg nf pr ps pt nj pu pv pw nn px py pz qa bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="color: rgb(36, 36, 36); box-sizing: inherit; margin: 1.23em 0px -0.31em; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 20px;"><font size="3" face="Times">3. OH DEAR…</font></h2><div><font size="3" face="Times"><br></font></div><div><font face="Times">Choosing a side to empathize with and to fight for provides an engaging reaffirmation of one’s own morality. Fighting the good fight and protecting the good victims from the evil perpetrators is indeed a noble thing to do. But what if the lines between good and evil are not so easily drawn? The biggest danger in acknowledging complexity is resignation. And indeed we know too well, that as the war goes on, the media attention fades away, and the public, no longer motivated to fight the good fight, (especially when it isn’t purely good) moves on to find other things to care for.</font></div><div><font face="Times"><br></font></div><div><font face="Times">Documentary film maker Adam Curtis described this phenomenon as “Oh Dearism”, in a short opinion video clip he claims that:</font></div><div><font face="Times"><br></font></div><blockquote class="oz pa pb" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0px -20px; box-shadow: rgb(36, 36, 36) 3px 0px 0px 0px inset; padding-left: 23px;"><div><span class="gh" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-style: normal;"><font face="Times">“Political conflicts around the world, from Darfur to Gaza, are now portrayed to us as simple illustrations of the mindless cruelty of the human race, about which nothing can be done, and to which the only response is: </font></span></div><div><span class="gh" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-style: normal;"><font face="Times"><br></font></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="gh" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-style: normal;"><font face="Times">Oh dear.”</font></span></div></blockquote><figure class="og oh oi oj ok fy" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit; margin: 40px 0px 0px; clear: both;"><div class="pg ph l ee" style="box-sizing: inherit; position: relative; margin: auto; overflow: hidden;"><div class="pi pj l" style="box-sizing: inherit; padding-bottom: 213.578125px; height: 0px;"><iframe src="https://cdn.embedly.com/widgets/media.html?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fembed%2F8moePxHpvok%3Fstart%3D55%26feature%3Doembed%26start%3D55&display_name=YouTube&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3D8moePxHpvok&image=https%3A%2F%2Fi.ytimg.com%2Fvi%2F8moePxHpvok%2Fhqdefault.jpg&key=a19fcc184b9711e1b4764040d3dc5c07&type=text%2Fhtml&schema=youtube" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" width="854" title="Adam Curtis - Oh Dearism" class="eo n fg dy bg" scrolling="no" style="box-sizing: inherit; top: 0px; width: 380px; height: 213.578125px; position: absolute; left: 0px;" id="id_218d_fba2_6bd0_7aa0"></iframe></div></div><figcaption class="or os ot fq fr ou ov be b bf z dw" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 20px; color: rgb(107, 107, 107); margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 10px; text-align: center; max-width: 728px;"><font face="Times">Oh Dearism / Adam Curtis (2009): <span class="qm" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-style: inherit;">“it’s like living in the mind of a depressed hippy”</span></font></figcaption></figure><div><font face="Times"><br></font></div><div><font face="Times"><br></font></div><div><font face="Times">A few weeks in, we’re already beginning to see this happen. The newspapers front pages move on to cover other things, and the self-righteous slogans and tweets feel repetitive and futile. </font></div><div><font face="Times"><br></font></div><div><font face="Times">If this horrible war will end with another “OH DEAR”, we will be bound to repeat it again and again. We will forever “live by the sword” until we’re left to fight with sticks and stones.</font></div><h1 id="d9f1" class="lw lx gh be ly lz ma mb mc md me mf mg mh mi mj mk ml mm mn mo mp mq mr ms mt bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="color: rgb(36, 36, 36); box-sizing: inherit; margin: 1.2em 0px -0.28em; line-height: 24px; letter-spacing: 0px;"><font size="3" face="Times">Bonus Round: YES, AND…</font></h1><div><font face="Times"><br></font></div><div><font face="Times">Complexity is indeed hard and acknowledging it is generally unrewarding, but I want to suggest it is not impossible, and that it is indeed essential.</font></div><div><font face="Times"><br></font></div><div><font face="Times">A fourth potential response to the war is to replace any “YES, BUT” with a “YES, AND…” Although they may sound similar, they do not negate or justify each other, nor do they compete on an imaginary unified scale of righteousness. Instead, they coexist as truthful statements, serving as adjacent factors to be addressed both separately and simultaneously.</font></div><div><strong class="mw gi" style="color: rgb(36, 36, 36); letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: Times; box-sizing: inherit;"><br></strong></div><p id="00ae" class="pw-post-body-paragraph mu mv gh mw b mx nt mz na nb nu nd ne nf nv nh ni nj nw nl nm nn nx np nq nr fl bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="color: rgb(36, 36, 36); box-sizing: inherit; margin: 1.56em 0px -0.46em; word-break: break-word; line-height: 28px; letter-spacing: -0.003em;"></p><ul><li><strong class="mw gi" style="letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: Times; box-sizing: inherit;">YES</strong><span style="letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: Times;">, the Hamas attack against civilians in Israel is an indefensible crime against humanity, </span><strong class="mw gi" style="letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: Times; box-sizing: inherit;">AND</strong><span style="letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: Times;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: Times;">nothing can justify the indiscriminate bombing of civilians in Gaza.</span></li></ul><ul><li><strong class="mw gi" style="font-family: Times; letter-spacing: -0.003em; box-sizing: inherit;">YES</strong><span style="font-family: Times; letter-spacing: -0.003em;">, the occupation cannot be ignored as the context for this violence,</span><strong class="mw gi" style="font-family: Times; letter-spacing: -0.003em; box-sizing: inherit;">AND</strong><span style="font-family: Times; letter-spacing: -0.003em;"> </span><span style="font-family: Times; letter-spacing: -0.003em;">Israel has the right and the duty to defend its citizens.</span></li></ul><ul><li><strong class="mw gi" style="font-family: Times; letter-spacing: -0.003em; box-sizing: inherit;">YES</strong><span style="font-family: Times; letter-spacing: -0.003em;">, IDF bombing cause un-proportional damage leaving Palestinian defenseless against it, </span><strong class="mw gi" style="font-family: Times; letter-spacing: -0.003em; box-sizing: inherit;">AND</strong><span style="font-family: Times; letter-spacing: -0.003em;"> </span><span style="font-family: Times; letter-spacing: -0.003em;">Hamas continuously shells Israeli cities and holds hundreds of civilians hostage.</span></li></ul><ul><li><strong class="mw gi" style="font-family: Times; letter-spacing: -0.003em; box-sizing: inherit;">YES</strong><span style="font-family: Times; letter-spacing: -0.003em;">, Hamas cannot be trusted for cease fire negotiations, </span><strong class="mw gi" style="font-family: Times; letter-spacing: -0.003em; box-sizing: inherit;">AND</strong><span style="font-family: Times; letter-spacing: -0.003em;"> </span><span style="font-family: Times; letter-spacing: -0.003em;">a cease fire may be the only way to stop the indiscriminate killings and release the hostages.</span></li></ul><ul><li><strong class="mw gi" style="font-family: Times; letter-spacing: -0.003em; box-sizing: inherit;">YES</strong><span style="font-family: Times; letter-spacing: -0.003em;">, Palestinians will be forever traumatized by this war, </span><strong class="mw gi" style="font-family: Times; letter-spacing: -0.003em; box-sizing: inherit;">AND</strong><span style="font-family: Times; letter-spacing: -0.003em;"> </span><span style="font-family: Times; letter-spacing: -0.003em;">Israelis will be forever traumatized by this war</span></li></ul><ul><li><strong class="mw gi" style="font-family: Times; letter-spacing: -0.003em; box-sizing: inherit;">YES</strong><span style="font-family: Times; letter-spacing: -0.003em;">, trust between Israelis and Palestinians is at an all time low,</span><strong class="mw gi" style="font-family: Times; letter-spacing: -0.003em; box-sizing: inherit;">AND</strong><span style="font-family: Times; letter-spacing: -0.003em;"> </span><span style="font-family: Times; letter-spacing: -0.003em;">diplomacy and trust are required to achieve conflict resolution, security and justice.</span></li></ul><p></p><div><font face="Times">Many of us may not find the emotional energy to contain a “YES, AND” approach, especially not now. But we must uplift those who can. We need “YES, AND” leaders, and indeed we should demand “YES, AND” policies. If anything, we should at least think twice before demanding everyone aligns neatly to our one-sided lowest common denominator.</font></div><div><font face="Times"><br></font></div><div><font face="Times">Pro-Palestinian protestors have been chanting: “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.” Since the 1960s, this phrase has been associated with calls to dismantle the Jewish state. Specifically, Hamas employs the phrase in advocating for ethnic cleansing and the genocide of Jews in favor of an exclusive fundamentalist Muslim state extending from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea.</font></div><div><strong class="mw gi" style="color: rgb(36, 36, 36); letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: Times; box-sizing: inherit;"><br></strong></div><div><ul><li><strong class="mw gi" style="color: rgb(36, 36, 36); letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: Times; box-sizing: inherit;">YES</strong><span style="color: rgb(36, 36, 36); letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: Times;">, this is actually</span><span style="color: rgb(36, 36, 36); letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: Times;"> </span><a class="af ns" href="https://black-ink.info/2023/10/13/palestinian-resistance-news-networks-media-guide/" rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank" style="letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: Times; box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent;">what some protestors on the Pro-Palestinian are actively advocating</a><strong class="mw gi" style="color: rgb(36, 36, 36); letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: Times; box-sizing: inherit;">, </strong><strong class="mw gi" style="color: rgb(36, 36, 36); letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: Times; box-sizing: inherit;">AND</strong><span style="color: rgb(36, 36, 36); letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: Times;"> </span><span style="color: rgb(36, 36, 36); letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: Times;">most protestors do not equate Palestinian freedom with Israel’s destruction.</span></li></ul><ul><li><strong class="mw gi" style="font-family: Times; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); letter-spacing: -0.003em; box-sizing: inherit;">YES</strong><span style="font-family: Times; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); letter-spacing: -0.003em;">, Israel’s founding addressed a prolonged historical injustice, </span><strong class="mw gi" style="font-family: Times; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); letter-spacing: -0.003em; box-sizing: inherit;">AND</strong><span style="font-family: Times; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); letter-spacing: -0.003em;"> </span><span style="font-family: Times; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); letter-spacing: -0.003em;">Israel’s founding caused another grave historical injustice.</span></li></ul></div><div><font face="Times">For ten months before the war, we Israelis have been protesting against our government’s attempt to change the rules of the democratic game and overhaul the judicial system. </font></div><div><font face="Times"><br></font></div><div><font face="Times">Many of us in the Anti-Occupation Block insisted on highlighting the connection between the anti-democratic turn within Israel and the ongoing anti-democratic occupation of the West Bank and the blockade on Gaza. </font></div><div><font face="Times"><br></font></div><div><span style="font-family: Times;">We see Palestinian freedom not as a danger but indeed as an essential condition to Israeli democracy. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Times;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Times;">And hence, one of our most prominent chants was:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Times;"><br></span></div><blockquote><span style="font-family: Times;"> “From the river to the sea, we all deserve democracy” (rough translation, it rhymes better in Hebrew).</span></blockquote><div><font face="Times">This is our darkest hour, for me, my children, my loved ones. We, Israelis and Palestinians who believe in a shared equal society are grieving, we are violently attacked by the warmongers on both sides, and we are rejected by our international allies for not turning our backs against each other. </font></div><div><font face="Times"><br></font></div><div><font face="Times">We need your help, not through short-sighted one-sided empathy, but through sincere, stubborn and hopeful compassion. </font></div><div><font face="Times"><br></font></div><div><font face="Times">Progressive politics is rightfully demanding to think beyond binaries. And while this non-binary “YES, AND” may be harder and more tasking, it is urgently required:</font></div><div><strong class="mw gi" style="font-family: Times; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); letter-spacing: -0.003em; box-sizing: inherit;"><br></strong></div><div><strong class="mw gi" style="font-family: Times; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); letter-spacing: -0.003em; box-sizing: inherit;">YES,</strong><span style="font-family: Times; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); letter-spacing: -0.003em;"> </span><span style="font-family: Times; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); letter-spacing: -0.003em;">our past is ridden with injustice, with villains and with victims,</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Times; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); letter-spacing: -0.003em;"><br></span></div><div><strong class="mw gi" style="font-family: Times; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); letter-spacing: -0.003em; box-sizing: inherit;">AND YES,</strong><span style="font-family: Times; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); letter-spacing: -0.003em;"> </span><span style="font-family: Times; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); letter-spacing: -0.003em;">our present is bleeding,</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Times; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); letter-spacing: -0.003em;"><br></span></div><div><strong class="mw gi" style="font-family: Times; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); letter-spacing: -0.003em; box-sizing: inherit;">AND YES,</strong><span style="font-family: Times; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); letter-spacing: -0.003em;"> </span><span style="font-family: Times; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); letter-spacing: -0.003em;">our future will depend on whether we bend the arc of the universe towards justice, or away from it.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Times; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); letter-spacing: -0.003em;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Times; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); letter-spacing: -0.003em;">So let me suggest we start here:</span></div><div><mark class="aga agb ao" style="letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: Times; box-sizing: inherit; cursor: pointer; background-color: rgb(232, 243, 232); color: rgb(36, 36, 36);"><strong class="mw gi" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><br></strong></mark></div><blockquote style="text-align: center;"><font size="5"><mark class="aga agb ao" style="letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: Times; box-sizing: inherit; cursor: pointer; background-color: rgb(232, 243, 232); color: rgb(36, 36, 36);"><strong class="mw gi" style="box-sizing: inherit;">YES</strong></mark><mark class="aga agb ao" style="letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: Times; box-sizing: inherit; cursor: pointer; background-color: rgb(232, 243, 232); color: rgb(36, 36, 36);">, from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free, </mark><mark class="aga agb ao" style="font-family: Times; letter-spacing: -0.003em; box-sizing: inherit; cursor: pointer; background-color: rgb(232, 243, 232); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><strong class="mw gi" style="box-sizing: inherit;">AND</strong></mark><mark class="aga agb ao" style="font-family: Times; letter-spacing: -0.003em; box-sizing: inherit; cursor: pointer; background-color: rgb(232, 243, 232); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> so would Israel.</mark></font></blockquote></div></div></div><div class="ab ca qn qo qp qq" role="separator" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; box-sizing: inherit; display: flex; justify-content: center; margin-top: 32px; margin-bottom: 14px; padding-top: 24px; padding-bottom: 10px;"><span class="qr bx bl qs qt qu" style="box-sizing: inherit; display: inline-block; border-radius: 50%; background-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); height: 3px; width: 3px; margin-right: 20px;"></span><span class="qr bx bl qs qt qu" style="box-sizing: inherit; display: inline-block; border-radius: 50%; background-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); height: 3px; width: 3px; margin-right: 20px;"></span></div></div><p id="0686" class="pw-post-body-paragraph mu mv gh mw b mx my mz na nb nc nd ne nf ng nh ni nj nk nl nm nn no np nq nr fl bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="color: rgb(36, 36, 36); box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0.67em 0px -0.46em; word-break: break-word; line-height: 28px; letter-spacing: -0.003em;"><font face="Times"><br></font></p><p id="0686" class="pw-post-body-paragraph mu mv gh mw b mx my mz na nb nc nd ne nf ng nh ni nj nk nl nm nn no np nq nr fl bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="color: rgb(36, 36, 36); box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0.67em 0px -0.46em; word-break: break-word; line-height: 28px; letter-spacing: -0.003em;"><font face="Times"><strong class="mw gi" style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent;"><a class="af ns" href="https://www.alandforall.org/english/?d=ltr" rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank" style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent;" id="id_6e74_65de_780f_3e00">A Land for All — Two States, One Homeland </a></strong><strong class="mw gi" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><br style="box-sizing: inherit;"></strong></font></p><div><font face="Times">This is our <strong class="mw gi" style="box-sizing: inherit;">”YES, AND”</strong> proposition for ending the conflict. A Palestinian/Israeli political movement calling for an end to the occupation by establishing a Palestinian/Israeli confederation that shares the homeland from the river, to the sea. (I am proud to be a member of the council of this movement)</font></div><p></p><p id="438e" class="pw-post-body-paragraph mu mv gh mw b mx nt mz na nb nu nd ne nf nv nh ni nj nw nl nm nn nx np nq nr fl bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="color: rgb(36, 36, 36); box-sizing: inherit; margin: 1.56em 0px -0.46em; word-break: break-word; line-height: 28px; letter-spacing: -0.003em;"><font face="Times"><a class="af ns" href="https://newrepublic.com/article/176545/gaza-least-bad-option-international-intervention" rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank" style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent;" id="id_6b30_c7ca_6413_c177"><strong class="mw gi" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Here’s the Least Bad Option for Gaza After the War Ends</strong></a><strong class="mw gi" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><br style="box-sizing: inherit;"></strong>Dahlia Scheindlin, A Land for All board member, in an eye-opening article:</font></p><blockquote class="oz pa pb" style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8); box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0px -20px; box-shadow: rgb(36, 36, 36) 3px 0px 0px 0px inset; padding-left: 23px;"><p id="7748" class="mu mv pc mw b mx nt mz na nb nu nd ne pd nv nh ni pe nw nl nm pf nx np nq nr fl bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 1.56em 0px -0.46em; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); word-break: break-word; line-height: 28px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-style: italic;"><font face="Times">“The moral force and the historic role of the international community — if the term is to have any meaning — depends on that community proving it can help build a better path for the future.”</font></p></blockquote><p id="9bf9" class="pw-post-body-paragraph mu mv gh mw b mx nt mz na nb nu nd ne nf nv nh ni nj nw nl nm nn nx np nq nr fl bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="color: rgb(36, 36, 36); box-sizing: inherit; margin: 1.56em 0px -0.46em; word-break: break-word; line-height: 28px; letter-spacing: -0.003em;"><font face="Times"><a class="af ns" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/03/opinion/ezra-klein-podcast-amaney-jamal.html" rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank" style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent;"><strong class="mw gi" style="box-sizing: inherit;">She Polled Gazans on Oct. 6. Here’s What She Found.</strong></a><strong class="mw gi" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><br style="box-sizing: inherit;"></strong>On the eve of the Oct. 7 attacks, Amaney Jamal asked Gazans what they thought about Hamas, their economic circumstances and their hopes for long-term peace.</font></p><p id="701a" class="pw-post-body-paragraph mu mv gh mw b mx nt mz na nb nu nd ne nf nv nh ni nj nw nl nm nn nx np nq nr fl bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="color: rgb(36, 36, 36); box-sizing: inherit; margin: 1.56em 0px -0.46em; word-break: break-word; line-height: 28px; letter-spacing: -0.003em;"><font face="Times"><a class="af ns" href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/israelis-hamas-attack-peace" rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank" style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent;" id="id_1922_4050_fc76_fb3e"><strong class="mw gi" style="box-sizing: inherit;">‘We Need Peace’: Israelis Who Survived or Lost Loved Ones in Hamas Attack Speak Out Against War</strong></a><strong class="mw gi" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><br style="box-sizing: inherit;"></strong>Many examples of <strong class="mw gi" style="box-sizing: inherit;">“YES, AND”</strong> from those who payed the highest price and refuse to give up on the hope.</font></p><p id="8133" class="pw-post-body-paragraph mu mv gh mw b mx nt mz na nb nu nd ne nf nv nh ni nj nw nl nm nn nx np nq nr fl bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="color: rgb(36, 36, 36); box-sizing: inherit; margin: 1.56em 0px -0.46em; word-break: break-word; line-height: 28px; letter-spacing: -0.003em;"><font face="Times"><a class="af ns" href="https://www.hooplaimpro.com/resource/yes-and" rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank" style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent;"><strong class="mw gi" style="box-sizing: inherit;">“YES, AND” improv</strong></a><strong class="mw gi" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><br style="box-sizing: inherit;">“YES, AND”</strong> is a known improvisation technique to build on top of each other’s storytelling. It could be a good exercise for thinking beyond the politics of division.</font></p></div></div></div><div class="ab ca qn qo qp qq" role="separator" style="box-sizing: inherit; display: flex; justify-content: center; margin-top: 32px; margin-bottom: 14px; padding-top: 24px; padding-bottom: 10px; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span class="qr bx bl qs qt qu" style="box-sizing: inherit; display: inline-block; border-radius: 50%; background-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); height: 3px; width: 3px; margin-right: 20px;"></span><span class="qr bx bl qs qt qu" style="box-sizing: inherit; display: inline-block; border-radius: 50%; background-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); height: 3px; width: 3px; margin-right: 20px;"></span><span class="qr bx bl qs qt" style="box-sizing: inherit; display: inline-block; border-radius: 50%; background-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); height: 3px; width: 3px;"></span></div><div class="fl fm fn fo fp" style="box-sizing: inherit; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;"><div class="ab ca" style="box-sizing: inherit; display: flex; justify-content: center;"><div class="ch bg ex ey ez fa" style="box-sizing: inherit; width: 380px; min-width: 0px; margin: 0px 24px;"><p id="8070" class="pw-post-body-paragraph mu mv gh mw b mx nt mz na nb nu nd ne nf nv nh ni nj nw nl nm nn nx np nq nr fl bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 1.56em 0px -0.46em; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); word-break: break-word; line-height: 28px; letter-spacing: -0.003em;"><font face="Times">I want to thank Jacques Servin, Maya Van-Leemput, Steve Lambert, Julian Oliver and especially Uri Zer-Aviv for providing sensitive and crucial feedback on the drafts towards this post.</font></p></div></div><div class="fy" style="font-family: medium-content-sans-serif-font, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Open Sans", "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; box-sizing: inherit; clear: both;"><div class="ab ca" style="box-sizing: inherit; display: flex; justify-content: center;"><div class="ny nz oa ob oc od ce oe cf of ch bg" style="box-sizing: inherit; width: 428px; min-width: 0px; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%;"><figure class="og oh oi oj ok fy on oo paragraph-image" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 40px 0px 0px; clear: both; padding-top: 5px; padding-bottom: 5px;"><div role="button" tabindex="0" class="fz ga ee gb bg gc" style="box-sizing: inherit; width: 428px; position: relative; cursor: zoom-in; z-index: auto; transition: transform 300ms cubic-bezier(0.2, 0, 0.2, 1) 0s;"><div class="fq fr ra" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 1500px;"><picture style="box-sizing: inherit;"><source srcset="https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:640/format:webp/1*SNDgEW4FK9O33WmpoXUAHQ.png 640w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:720/format:webp/1*SNDgEW4FK9O33WmpoXUAHQ.png 720w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:750/format:webp/1*SNDgEW4FK9O33WmpoXUAHQ.png 750w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:786/format:webp/1*SNDgEW4FK9O33WmpoXUAHQ.png 786w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:828/format:webp/1*SNDgEW4FK9O33WmpoXUAHQ.png 828w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:1100/format:webp/1*SNDgEW4FK9O33WmpoXUAHQ.png 1100w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:2000/format:webp/1*SNDgEW4FK9O33WmpoXUAHQ.png 2000w" sizes="(min-resolution: 4dppx) and (max-width: 700px) 50vw, (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 4) and (max-width: 700px) 50vw, (min-resolution: 3dppx) and (max-width: 700px) 67vw, (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 3) and (max-width: 700px) 65vw, (min-resolution: 2.5dppx) and (max-width: 700px) 80vw, (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 2.5) and (max-width: 700px) 80vw, (min-resolution: 2dppx) and (max-width: 700px) 100vw, (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 2) and (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 1000px" type="image/webp" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><source data-testid="og" srcset="https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:640/1*SNDgEW4FK9O33WmpoXUAHQ.png 640w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:720/1*SNDgEW4FK9O33WmpoXUAHQ.png 720w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:750/1*SNDgEW4FK9O33WmpoXUAHQ.png 750w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:786/1*SNDgEW4FK9O33WmpoXUAHQ.png 786w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:828/1*SNDgEW4FK9O33WmpoXUAHQ.png 828w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:1100/1*SNDgEW4FK9O33WmpoXUAHQ.png 1100w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:2000/1*SNDgEW4FK9O33WmpoXUAHQ.png 2000w" sizes="(min-resolution: 4dppx) and (max-width: 700px) 50vw, (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 4) and (max-width: 700px) 50vw, (min-resolution: 3dppx) and (max-width: 700px) 67vw, (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 3) and (max-width: 700px) 65vw, (min-resolution: 2.5dppx) and (max-width: 700px) 80vw, (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 2.5) and (max-width: 700px) 80vw, (min-resolution: 2dppx) and (max-width: 700px) 100vw, (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 2) and (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 1000px" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><img alt="" class="bg gd ge c" width="1000" height="750" loading="eager" role="presentation" src="https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:2000/1*SNDgEW4FK9O33WmpoXUAHQ.png" style="box-sizing: inherit; vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); width: 428px; max-width: 100%; height: auto;" id="id_5464_9c7f_10bf_dda5"></picture></div></div><figcaption class="or os ot fq fr ou ov be b bf z dw" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 20px; font-family: sohne, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; color: rgb(107, 107, 107); margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 10px; text-align: center; max-width: 728px;">My daughter Yaara & me at the “A Land For All” booth with a sign: “From the River to the Sea, Equality for All”</figcaption></figure></div></div></div></div></div>Ivan Kayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10795511825904316044noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1521249934695624662.post-48069382779268740532023-11-01T20:44:00.001-07:002024-03-26T08:38:28.819-07:00I am a seenager <div><br></div><div>Gotta love being immature - or a senior teenager .</div><div>I have a drivers licence, my own pad, no curfew, access to bars and clubs, no acne and not scared of making anyone pregnant! I don’t have acne , and have a monthly allowance </div><div><br></div><div>I have more friends I could send this to - but right now , I can’t remember their names .</div><div><br></div>Ivan Kayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10795511825904316044noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1521249934695624662.post-29328390861909223592023-10-30T02:30:00.001-07:002023-10-30T02:34:15.743-07:00Statement by Former Prime Ministers of Australia <div><span style="font-family: Times; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">All of us are former Prime Ministers of Australia.</span></div><div><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">Our multicultural nation's success is founded on the Australian values we all share and the respect we show for our fellow Australians' diversity of cultures and faiths.</font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">Whatever is happening elsewhere in the world, there is no place in our country for racial or religious hatred.</font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">And there is no more tenaciously evil race hatred than antisemitism.</font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">Our Australian Jewish community, directly affected by the terrible crimes of Hamas, not only has to endure the loss and suffering of their families in Israel, but now sees these events being used by some to spread ancient hatreds which have inflicted so much suffering on the Jewish people for thousands of years.</font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">No complaint or concern about international affairs justifies hate speech against any Australian, or any Australian community.</font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">We believe we speak for the vast majority of Australians, of all faiths and of none, when we say we stand in solidarity with Jewish Australians at this time.</font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">Likewise, we stand too with the Australian Palestinian community whose families are dying and suffering in this terrible conflict.</font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">They too deserve our love and support.</font></span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">Our nation's success depends on us not allowing conflict overseas to turn Australians against each other.</font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">We condemn the cruel and murderous attack on Israeli families by Hamas on October 7.</font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">After raining thousands of rockets down on Israel, Hamas terrorists invaded Israel and kidnapped and murdered 1400 Israelis; young and old, women and men, children - not even babies were spared. It was the single largest massacre of Jewish people since the Holocaust and its grotesque cruelty and violence was comparable to that of ISIS.</font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">We call for the unconditional release of all the hostages taken by Hamas.</font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">The Hamas terrorists sought to horrify and intimidate the people of Israel, shaking that nation's faith in its technology, its military, its government.</font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">But they also sought to provoke Israel into a reaction that would kill countless innocent civilians in Gaza. The Hamas terrorists have no more interest in the safety of Palestinians than they do of Israelis.</font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">They want Israel to invade and bomb Gaza. They want to be able to point to thousands of Palestinian casualties from Israeli military action.</font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">Their mission is to promote hatred - hatred of Israelis, hatred of Jews, hatred of Palestinians, hatred of Muslims.</font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">If our hearts are filled with hatred, then we will be doing the terrorists' work.</font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">At home in Australia we must treat each other with love and with respect. We must support those who are grieving and distressed.</font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">On the battlefield in Israel and Gaza we do not presume to give strategic advice to Israel. But the legitimate objective of defeating Hamas must be accompanied by support and protection for the civilian population of Gaza. </font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">Israel promises it will do all it can to avoid civilian casualties, we urge it to do so with all of its humanity and skill.</font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">We call for sustained humanitarian access to ensure essential supplies can reach innocent </font></span><span style="font-family: Times;">Palestinians.</span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">We are horrified by the thousands of deaths and injuries inflicted on innocent Palestinian civilians, including many, many Palestinian children.</font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">We endorse, as we did in office, the Australian Government's enduring support for a two-state solution as the basis for long-term lasting peace between the Israeli and Palestinian peoples.</font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">At this time, more than ever, we must in the words of the 34th Psalm "seek peace and pursue it". </font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">And here at home that is done by defending our Australian values, condemning hate speech and intolerance and respecting the people of Australia in all our diversity.</font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">The Hon. John Howard OM AC</font></span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">The Hon. Dr Kevin Rudd AC</font></span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">The Hon. Julia Gillard AC</font></span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">The Hon. Tony Abbott AC</font></span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">The Hon. Malcolm Turnbull AC</font></span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">The Hon. Scott Morisson MP</font></span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times"><br></font></span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">30 October 2023</font></span></p></div>Ivan Kayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10795511825904316044noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1521249934695624662.post-79180102116804496372023-10-23T02:14:00.001-07:002023-10-23T02:14:24.089-07:00A Jewish Wedding in times of tragedy is a mitzvah #celebratinglife #london #love #peace<div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4B4QlEqrZGY?si=3pyYFHFSg9TpLBH7" width="500" height="281" id="y_id_d1f8_2c27_b021_3b3a" frameborder="0"></iframe><br></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><div>#Jewish #weddings go forward even during times of tragedy. As the #Talmud instructs in the section on marriage: “If a funeral procession and a wedding procession meet at an intersection, the wedding procession goes first.”</div><div><br></div><div> בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם אֲשֶׁר בָּרָא שָׂשׂוֹן וְשִׂמְחָה חָתָן וְכַלָּה. גִּילָה רִנָּה דִּיצָה וְחֶדְוָה אַהֲבָה וְאַחֲוָה וְשָׁלוֹם וְרֵעוּת. מְהֵרָה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ יִשָּׁמַע בְּעָרֵי יְהוּדָה וּבְחֻצוֹת יְרוּשָׁלָםִ, קוֹל שָׂשׂוֹן וְקוֹל שִׂמְחָה קוֹל חָתָן וְקוֹל כַּלָּה קוֹל מִצְהֲלוֹת חֲתָנִים מֵחֻפָּתָם וּנְעָרִים </div><div>מִמִּשְׁתֵּה נְגִינָתָם. בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ מְשַׂמֵּֽחַ חָתָן עִם הַכַּלָּה׃</div><div><br></div><div>Baruch ata Adonai, Eloheinu melech ha’olam, asher bara sason v’simcha chatan v’chala. Gila, rina, ditzah v’chedva, ahava v’achava v’shalom v’rei’ut. M’heira Adonai Eloheinu yishama b’arei yehuda u’vchutzot yerushalayim, kol sason v’kol simcha kol chatan v’kol kala, kol mitzhalot chatanim meichupatam u’n’arim mimishtei n’ginatam. Baruch ata Adonai m’sameiach chatan im ha’kala.</div><div><br></div><div>Blessed are you, Adonai, our God, ruler of the universe, who created joy and gladness, loving couples, mirth, glad song, pleasure, delight, love, loving communities, peace, and companionship. </div><div>Adonai, our God, let there soon be heard in the cities of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem the sound of joy and the sound of gladness, the voice of the loving couple, the sound of the their jubilance from their canopies and of the youths from their song-filled feasts. Blessed are you who causes the couple to rejoice, one with the other.</div><div><br></div><div>The groom stomped a glass to remind us of the tragedies that have befallen Jerusalem and the Jewish people — as if we needed reminding on this night!</div><div><br></div><div>And then we danced </div><div><br></div><div>Every part of this wedding was made with love and hope. Every stranger instantly became family.</div></div> Ivan Kayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10795511825904316044noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1521249934695624662.post-47957630064461888302023-10-10T23:50:00.001-07:002023-10-11T05:05:46.804-07:00Devastated - A loss of a innocence <div><br></div><div>I have tried to articulate my feelings that have been bubbling over the last week - and could not articulate them better that this article I have just read written by my daughter </div><div><br></div>Written by my daughter , Tanya Kaye.<div><br></div><div><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times;">I've struggled to find the words over the past 3 days to describe my deep sorrow watching the events unfold in Israel / Palestine.</span><span style="font-family: Times;"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">I'm heartbroken.</font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">I've always sat on the fence with issues in that region - pro-peace, pro-humanity, condemning the actions of the right wing Israeli government and empathising with the living conditions suffered by Palestinians in Gaza. </font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">But the brutal attack by Hamas on civilians, the killing, raping and capturing young people from a music festival, murdering entire families, taking women and children as prisoners, beheading and burning babies and the widespread terror instilled is just beyond belief. </font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">It is terrifying and unimaginable and feels very personal. I have sobbed, oh how I have sobbed watching the footage of the carnage roll in. I cry for the victims, for their families, for the terror instilled in another generation on both sides, for the trauma, the senseless loss of lives and a sense of bracing for the worst which feels like it is yet to come. It is truly unbelievable.</font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">I keep trying to rationalise to understand the</font></span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">"other side" - how sad it is that Palestinian people have resorted to violence because they have no other voice or means of liberation.</font></span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">Jewish settlers also used terrorism to oppose the British colonisers in Palestine pre 1948. We know what it means to be oppressed, it is in our DNA.</font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">But in my eyes, Israel is not a coloniser, nor a concept invented by the British. There is a deep and ancient land connection for the Jewish people. I acknowledge that this is where the irreconcilable difference lies.</font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">Palestinians also have a deep connection to the land, and believe in their right to the entire region. </font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">I pray that we can find a way to coexist, where no child grows up knowing fear or hate.</font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">Sadly, I cannot see a path to this in my lifetime. </font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">lam sad about the implications of this for my own children, who will come to know this heartache that I am experiencing now, because they are Jewish.</font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">A two state solution seems an impossibility when Hamas' stated mission, backed by lran, calls for "the destruction of Israel".</font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">There can never be peace between Israel and Palestine with a terrorist organisation in power that calls for Israels destruction as its foremost goal. </font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">Israel is not blameless here either, settlements continue to grow in the West Bank, occupying additional Palestinian territory. </font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">The settlements are unacceptable and must stop, but there can be no negotiating with this neighbour who will not rest until Israel is destroyed and will go to any means to do this as we have seen from the barbaric acts committed by Hamas terrorists over the past days.</font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">I have sympathy for the living conditions of civilians in Gaza and for those who want to live their life in safety and stability like the rest of us. </font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">It is clear that Hamas has prioritised terrorism rather than developing Palestine and supporting its people. One can see how it is in Hamas' interest to keep Palestinians hungry, unemployed and despondent because a happy and fulfilled population would have no reason to rise up against Israel to fulfil Hamas' stated mission - the destruction of Jews and Israel.</font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">I ask <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>myself the question of why is Hamas not held accountable for the breach of human rights and poor living conditions in Gaza, buying rockets instead of food, building tunnels to infiltrate Israel instead of hospitals? Why is Israel always blamed for this? </font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">And very sadly, I understand the antisemitic undertones underpinning this which are echoed around the world, disguised as pro human rights rallies.</font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">Apart from pushing me off the fence and strengthening my support of Israel, the past fews days have provided a new lens on my Jewish identity.</font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">I have never felt closer to my Jewish community where I found an unexplainable understanding of the ancient trauma that runs through our veins as we've watched on in horror as stories from our history books played out before our eyes - massacres, mass graves, beheadings, torture and humiliation- as the rest of the world has watched on, and stayed silent and justified these atrocities. </font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">For those nations and friends who have reached out and condemned the recent terror attacks and antisemitism - thank you. Your humanity means the world to us.</font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">These have been some of the darkest days I have experienced in my lifetime. </font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">Watching fellow Australians celebrate these most vile terrorist attacks against Jews with fireworks, dancing and parades, followed by a demonstration where protesters chanted "fuck the Jews" on the steps of the Sydney Opera House, and a data breach of website 23andMe resulting in the details of thousands of Ashkenazi Jews posted on the dark web. It's deeply terrifying. Never have I felt so unsafe and so alone.</font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">I don't care where you stand politically on where borders should be drawn or if at all, please reach out to your Jewish friends, ask them how they are and let them know that you care about them. </font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">We are scared. </font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">We are sad.</font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">We are bracing for the worst which is yet to come. </font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">The rampant rise in antisemitism is terrifying and sadly, somewhere deep down it feels inevitable, because this is how it has always been. Maybe this is part of what it means to be Jewish, and that is very sad.</font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">I pray for safety. I pray for peace. </font></span></p></div>Ivan Kayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10795511825904316044noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1521249934695624662.post-1187178095232423622023-09-18T14:52:00.001-07:002024-03-26T08:43:48.447-07:00How to Solve the Homeless Housing Crisis <br> <div><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">Premier Chris Minns is trying to solve the wicked problem of <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>homelessness in NSW - with an increasing number of young people, seniors aged 55 and older, and individuals struggling to secure housing.</font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">“We need to provide a <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>boost to social and affordable housing to help break cycles of homelessness,” Minns said.</font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">They have developed the $224 million NSW Essential Housing Package .</font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">This funding plans <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>to expand temporary accommodation options, and allocate resources to specialist homelessness services. </font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">The funding will be allocated <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>as follows </font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s2" style="text-decoration: underline;"></span><br></font></p><ul class="ul1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><li class="li1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><font face="Times"><span class="s3"></span><span class="s1">$70 million financing facility to accelerate the delivery of social and affordable homes, by funding initial land and site works.</span></font></li><li class="li1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><font face="Times"><span class="s3"></span><span class="s1">$35.3 million for housing services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and families through Services Our Way.</span></font></li><li class="li1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><font face="Times"><span class="s3"></span><span class="s1">$35 million to support critical maintenance for social housing.</span></font></li><li class="li1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><font face="Times"><span class="s3"></span><span class="s1">$20 million reserved in Restart NSW for dedicated mental health housing.</span></font></li><li class="li1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><font face="Times"><span class="s3"></span><span class="s1">$15 million towards a NSW Housing Fund for priority housing and homelessness measures.</span></font></li><li class="li1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><font face="Times"><span class="s3"></span><span class="s1">$11.3 million urgent funding to continue the Together Home program in 2023–24.</span></font></li><li class="li1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><font face="Times"><span class="s3"></span><span class="s1">$11 million emergency funding for Temporary Accommodation in 2023–24 to support vulnerable people.</span></font></li><li class="li1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><font face="Times"><span class="s3"></span><span class="s1">$10.5 million additional funding to the Community Housing Leasing program.</span></font></li><li class="li1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><font face="Times"><span class="s3"></span><span class="s1">$10 million for a Modular Housing Trial to deliver faster quality social housing.</span></font></li><li class="li1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><font face="Times"><span class="s3"></span><span class="s1">$5.9 million urgent funding to Specialist Homelessness Services to respond to increasing demand.</span></font></li></ul><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><ul class="ul2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><li class="li1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">What other things can be done to solve this wicked problem? </font></span></li><li class="li1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">How can you help with solving this wicked problem? </font></span></li></ul></div>Ivan Kayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10795511825904316044noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1521249934695624662.post-18259698338556642412023-09-15T19:54:00.001-07:002023-10-06T02:58:39.458-07:00Why I am going to vote YES <div><img id="id_a69e_83cc_6deb_563a" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/drive-viewer/AITFw-zQ8IhlfZZ8FxaBhTKO7EyT9G2gINn5QaFvDxEU2eQ5BhE_jMSHfbJxuygEnp-RvjZCD613VrOvdseNdWKURtsAh-0Wiw" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 392px; height: auto;"><br><br><br></div><div><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Australia - This beautiful , unique amazing place that we call “the lucky country” is my home.</span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Australia - a place of opportunity where we <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>are proud to say we live. A place that has given <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>me a fair go, where most of us live in a free, democratic place. </span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">A safe place </span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Our First Australians, who have been here for 60.000 years have got so much to offer. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>These humans, <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>who <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>have a passion for sport, art, music, dance and the <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>environment - have so much knowledge and culture to share . </span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br></p><blockquote><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">These people are struggling and are in pain . </span></blockquote><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">They are struggling with health, education and opportunities - that is diminishing us all <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>us all. </span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"></p><ul><li><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">They represent 2% of our population represent over 30% of the prison population .</span></li><li><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">The gap between Our First Australians and the rest - seems to me a huge hole in our soul.</span></li></ul><p></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br></p><blockquote><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">How do we close this gap - and make our land a lucky country for all ? </span></blockquote><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">It starts by showing respect and acknowledgment to our FIrst People of Australia </span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">It starts by giving a VOICE to our First Australians <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>on matters that relate to them - with a view to closing this yawning gap. </span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br></p><blockquote><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">The voice is about promising to listen. </span></blockquote><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Having a voice gives people responsibility as well as agency. Being involved in decisions that impact your life brings with it accountability for the outcomes.</span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">By saying Yes to a voice and listening to it, we can tackle these problems in a more effective way.</span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Some say that a Yes vote will divide us. </span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"> In my view there is no disadvantage by saying YES <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>, and by saying YES will be a small step closer <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>in our journey th help complete us as a nation.</span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br></span></p><h4><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">What a VC - blackbird says </span></h4><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">A great piece by Rick Baker of Blackbird of why he and Niki is going to vote yes </span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times"><br></font></span></p><div class="inner-section-container" style="box-sizing: border-box; letter-spacing: -0.1284px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; background-attachment: scroll !important;"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; background-attachment: scroll !important;"><div class="text-rich-text w-richtext" style="box-sizing: border-box; background-attachment: scroll !important;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 4vw; line-height: 1.2; background-attachment: scroll !important;"><font face="Times">I don’t claim to be an authority on this matter, but I think the concept of the Voice aligns with Blackbird’s values.</font></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 4vw; line-height: 1.2; background-attachment: scroll !important;"><font face="Times">At Blackbird we have an ambition to tackle the world's greatest problems. The disadvantage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians face has long been one of our nation’s greatest problems. </font></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 4vw; line-height: 1.2; background-attachment: scroll !important;"><font face="Times">Close to home, we see it in our startup ecosystem: a lack of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander founders, job applicants, people coming through our programs, and participants within our networks. We need to do a better job of supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in our community.</font></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 4vw; line-height: 1.2; background-attachment: scroll !important;"><font face="Times">At a national level, the Voice is an ambitious idea to change the way that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are represented and the way we come together to solve problems. It is the sort of innovation that we talk about when we think of a <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/business/entrepreneurship/aussie-start-ups-pave-the-way-for-a-new-creative-nation-20221124-p5c117.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 1.2; font-weight: 700; background-attachment: scroll !important;">New Creative Nation</a>.</font></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 4vw; line-height: 1.2; background-attachment: scroll !important;"><font face="Times">While a YES outcome won’t solve everything overnight, it will disrupt two centuries of inertia. It’s the next step in the journey to reconciliation and equality. One that resonates with us at Blackbird.</font></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 4vw; line-height: 1.2; background-attachment: scroll !important;"><font face="Times">Niki and I are both going to vote YES and we encourage you to do so too.</font></p></div></div></div><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span></p><div id="w-node-_8f7a1692-9bfb-b452-b8ee-0ebb6f7f79cf-000f7791" class="inner-section-container" style="box-sizing: border-box; justify-self: end; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17.120001px; letter-spacing: -0.1284px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; background-attachment: scroll !important;"><div class="inner-sticky-container" style="box-sizing: border-box; height: 216.125px; flex-direction: column; align-items: flex-start; display: flex; column-gap: 0vw; justify-content: space-between; row-gap: 6vw; background-attachment: scroll !important;"><div class="scroll-into-view-fade" style="box-sizing: border-box; background-attachment: scroll !important;"><div class="scroll-into-view-fade_element" style="box-sizing: border-box; background-attachment: scroll !important;"><div class="margin-bottom-small" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 15px; background-attachment: scroll !important;"><a href="https://www.blackbird.vc/team/rick-baker" class="media-author-wrapper underline-hover-interaction margin-top w-inline-block" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 1.2; text-decoration: none; max-width: 100%; display: flex; margin: 6vw 0px 0px; column-gap: 4vw; flex-direction: row; align-items: center; background-attachment: scroll !important;"><div class="media-author-image-wrapper" style="box-sizing: border-box; width: 12vw; height: 12vw; min-width: 12vw; border-radius: 20vw; overflow: hidden; background-attachment: scroll !important;"><img src="https://assets-global.website-files.com/62d67952134ba04fe9cbd586/647549501cbd5831818ac559_RickWebsite2.0.png" loading="lazy" alt="Rick Baker" sizes="(max-width: 479px) 12vw, (max-width: 767px) 8vw, (max-width: 991px) 5vw, 3vw" srcset="https://assets-global.website-files.com/62d67952134ba04fe9cbd586/647549501cbd5831818ac559_RickWebsite2.0-p-500.png 500w, https://assets-global.website-files.com/62d67952134ba04fe9cbd586/647549501cbd5831818ac559_RickWebsite2.0-p-800.png 800w, https://assets-global.website-files.com/62d67952134ba04fe9cbd586/647549501cbd5831818ac559_RickWebsite2.0.png 1080w" class="media-author-image" style="box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px; max-width: none; vertical-align: middle; display: inline-block; width: 51.359375px; height: 51.359375px; object-fit: cover; background-attachment: scroll !important;"></div><div class="media-author-content-wrapper" style="box-sizing: border-box; row-gap: 1vw; flex-direction: column; justify-content: flex-start; display: flex; background-attachment: scroll !important;"><div class="text-weight-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700; background-attachment: scroll !important;">Rick Baker</div><div class="text-size-small text-style-times" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 1em; font-family: "Times New Roman", sans-serif; background-attachment: scroll !important;">Partner</div></div></a></div></div></div></div></div></div>Ivan Kayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10795511825904316044noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1521249934695624662.post-84421163991573097462023-09-09T15:36:00.001-07:002023-09-09T15:38:55.177-07:00Is collaboration and connection the key? <div><img id="id_162b_bbed_7266_b3a7" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/drive-viewer/AITFw-xdX1hgCg4Fr5K5LF0EwiHFUB6XehaG1EFp0AI-WfgPgMR_NWs_e7dgYolasm0O6hcHR1kJPfVrhIHmVHrHRvGKNbhc" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 392px; height: auto;"><br><br><br></div><div><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">We grew up in Colonial Africa <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>as part of the privileged few.</font></span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times"><br></font></span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">The world was in chaos . </font></span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times"><br></font></span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">We were ashamed about poverty, racism, sexism, … about the rise of authoritarianism, … the conflicts in Africa, Asia, Middle East , the Cold War and the list goes on.</font></span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">Class-based stereotyping was ripe and there was a massive <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>gap between the rich and the poor. </font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">Us humans were fragmented - blaming each other for having different beliefs and ideologies </font></span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times"><br></font></span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">And yet - the human species has continued to thrive and survive!</font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">40 years on </font></span></p><ul class="ul1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><li class="li1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">extreme poverty has improved</font></span></li><li class="li1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">infant mortality is down and </font></span></li><li class="li1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">The World Food Programme feeds some. </font></span></li><li class="li1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">We have millions of government and nonprofit programs, thousands of social innovators that play at the edges. Our low-income communities have become playgrounds for the well-intended and their ideas.</font></span></li><li class="li1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">Communication with mobile phones have made us more connected </font></span></li><li class="li1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">Billionaires have made giving <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>pledges <br></font></span></li></ul><h4><span class="s1"><font face="Times">We are becoming one - or are we ?</font></span></h4><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">Conflicts and crisis such as climate change disrupts billions forcing people to flee their homes - <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>leading to resentment by the host countries. </font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">Class and racial strife continues. </font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">10% of the world’s population controls 76% of the world’s wealth while 380 individuals controlled as much wealth as the bottom 50% of our people. </font></span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times"><br></font></span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><img id="id_ae64_337_36e5_a6a5" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/drive-viewer/AITFw-yOp3fuwzqY6T_qyJKA1thBxAb3AuNal9MckQHcPc82IghzeXx7WvutKBzG2yJsHGWilPsmqKYrLIg3ViFGCKHWkzohiQ" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 392px; height: auto;"><br></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">Those at the bottom are essentially slaves. <br><br>Is the growing socio-economic gap as dangerous to the health of the globe as climate change is?</font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">The wealthy <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>have the power to change the lives of others in an equitable way - but do they really have the desire? </font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><address><span class="s1"><font face="Times">“<b>We are an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly."</b></font></span></address><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times"> Martin Luther King</font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">But do we see that? </font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">Mandela tried to build a colourful nation of collaboration in South Africa - and it’s now in tatters with the gap between the haves and have nots greater than ever! </font></span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times"><br>Our greatest chance for change is to work together in a “network of mutuality”. But how do we do this?</font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><blockquote><span class="s1"><font face="Times">By talking to each other!!!</font></span></blockquote><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">It is the efforts of every one of us as we work together, helping ourselves <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>and each other that will begin to close the economic gap but also the gap in social status as they rebuild their own <a href="https://thealternativebook.us16.list-manage.com/track/click?u=57e822e181a98c9bc332f62e1&id=d711becad1&e=9618287324"><span class="s2" style="color: rgb(228, 175, 10);">pride in community</span></a>, self, and culture. </font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><blockquote><span class="s1"><font face="Times">People need that cloak of collaboration, connection and community </font></span></blockquote><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">This is why the Voice in Australia is so important.</font></span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">Giving a Voice to those that are so disadvantaged - where <span class="Apple-converted-space"> s</span>uicide , distress and social distress is rife …. </font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">Giving a Voice to those that have a culture steeped in history and are an ingrained piece of our country’s DNA</font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">How can we make Australia a beacon of light for the rest of the world </font></span></p><ul class="ul1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><li class="li1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">where we are a melting pot of cultural fusion and mutual respect for each others differences and cultures </font></span></li><li class="li1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">where we don’t have poverty </font></span></li><li class="li1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">where education and health care is a right of every citizen </font></span></li></ul><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times"><br></font></span></p><blockquote><span class="s1"><font face="Times">Why would anyone say no to giving people a Voice? </font></span></blockquote><p></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">What am I missing? </font></span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times"><br></font></span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">Inspired by Mauricio Miller who is part of our I4J forum -</font></span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><a href="https://peerchange.org/">https://peerchange.org/</a></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times"><br></font></span></p><img id="id_a17a_2ebf_7d7f_4a9a" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/drive-viewer/AITFw-yKSliI02U2qdP76ORD62MxhtpflMe1FfymwcvtL3db53uNT3-Qykc82rtY1VlXR27O55ULVedbH2wCTUWDMuo8qELf" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 392px; height: auto;"><br><br></div>Ivan Kayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10795511825904316044noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1521249934695624662.post-90029360322510334392023-09-02T14:50:00.001-07:002024-03-26T08:35:07.998-07:00Cry the beloved country Johannesburg is burning <div><br></div><div><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times">When it comes to corruption , decay and a collapsing infrastructure Soviet Union, India, Nairobi, Singapore, Bangkok, Ukraine - have nothing on Johannesburg says Andrew Harding from the BBC as he farewells an uneasy South Africa. </font></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">Johannesburg become a violent city warped by corruption, and plagued by hunger.</font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">Those that can afford to - <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>are leaving en-Masse - “semigrating” to Cape Town - or emigrating wherever they can - England, Portugal, USA or Australia are popular destinations - welcoming these highly qualified hard working “refugees” to their land! </font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">Johannesburg - A bustling city of stark contrasts - Cold nights and sun dried days. </font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">Johannesburg - A place of extremes - extreme wealth of a few and extreme poverty of most <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>- </font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">Johannesburg - A cocophany of <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>energy , resilience, hope and a generosity of spirit - with music playing on every corner …. A vibe that is hard to explain.</font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">Johannesburg - a <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>rainbow nation that is muddling through a <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>haze of unemployment (of 43%) , corruption, decay and hunger</font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">Johannesburg - load shedding - a place where key infrastructure systems is failing - water, rail transport, electricity and schools - are in dire straits. - <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>destroyed by gross corruption . </font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">Johannesburg- <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>where “robots” or traffic lights are replaced by beggars directing a line of expensive cars of a privileged few - <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>in the hope of a few coins to survive! </font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">Johannesburg - where squatters steal cable from infrastructure </font></span><span style="font-family: Times;"> to connect to a loaded electrical grid </span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">Johannesburg - where Suicide and tragedy are a common occurrence - <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>where a woman and her three children were reportedly found dead as <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>poverty and debt drove the mother to poison her kids before taking her own life.</font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">Johannesburg - where a building downtown housing squatters burns down scorching <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>over 70 souls to their death </font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">Johannesburg - a place where police corruption is rife - who stop luxury cars at random - giving them spot fines of R8000 ($400 - the max you can draw from an ATM machine) for travelling 121km/hour in an 80km zone - in a slow lane during peak hour traffic - (where it’s actually impossible to do so) - or face immediate imprisonment , harassment and threats that if they take this further - the police and their thugs “know where you live!” </font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">Johannesburg - <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>where the privileged few drink cold lagers with the ANC - <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>on the terrace of their immaculate golf club looking at the magnificent facade of a “city of gold” , highlighted by the glinting tin roofs of a growing slum - where people are living with no sanitation! </font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">The jist of a conversation being overheard at sunset at this haven of paradise </font></span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">"Someday soon those people are going to come for us” they are saying - predicting an uprising far greater than the protests that engulfed several big cities in South Africa in 2021. "Things can't go on like this," he warned.</font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">“ TIA - This is Africa” his mate says </font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">The sadness of this ANC founder - lamenting on how the ANC has failed the challenges of democracy. Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu, Oliver Tambo would be turning in their grave! </font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><h4><span class="s1"><font face="Times">What has enabled this couldron of corruption, poverty and extremes? </font></span></h4><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"></p><ul><li><span style="font-family: Times;">Is this the result of rampant corruption? </span></li><li><span style="font-family: Times;">How can this be changed ?</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Times;">Does the country rot from the head - just like a fish?</span></li></ul><p></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">How can one help turn this lemon into lemonade? </font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">South Africa has an <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>exceptional charm with abundant resources and a nation of people who have a <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>history of overcoming impossible odds.</font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><h4 style="text-align: center;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">What to do ?</font></span></h4><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">Article inspired by - BBC World Africa. </font></span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">IMAGE: <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Andrew Harding UK Journalist. </font></span><a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-66568082.amp"><font face="Times">https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-66568082.amp</font></a></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">#BreakTheSilenceAboutSouthAfrica</font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">Corruption - <a href="https://businesstech.co.za/news/government/445728/hundreds-of-crooked-cops-in-south-africa-under-investigation-for-corruption/">https://businesstech.co.za/news/government/445728/hundreds-of-crooked-cops-in-south-africa-under-investigation-for-corruption/</a></font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2023-06-16/south-africa-s-crime-chaos-and-corruption-make-it-look-like-a-failed-state"><font face="Times">https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2023-06-16/south-africa-s-crime-chaos-and-corruption-make-it-look-like-a-failed-state</font></a></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">Decay - <a href="https://dailyinvestor.com/south-africa/20545/johannesburg-crumbling-under-chaos-and-corruption/">https://dailyinvestor.com/south-africa/20545/johannesburg-crumbling-under-chaos-and-corruption/</a></font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">Gas explosion <a href="https://www.google.com.au/amp/s/www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-66256591.amp">https://www.google.com.au/amp/s/www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-66256591.amp</a></font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">Building explosion <a href="https://www.google.com.au/amp/s/amp.abc.net.au/article/102802572">https://www.google.com.au/amp/s/amp.abc.net.au/article/102802572</a></font></span></p></div>Ivan Kayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10795511825904316044noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1521249934695624662.post-42365602283274020012023-08-31T14:03:00.001-07:002023-08-31T14:31:23.160-07:00Is America in decline? <div><br></div><div><img id="id_e52b_af4d_da1a_c632" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/drive-viewer/AITFw-yphhXawGmDtq0HdNRY9KUi6j1dNQstFk5ORItp-5tWefEFJWe0wo1p87bFek6-s8lXWQOZTXEi5-Vyd4gIa30LrMc5" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 392px; height: auto;"><br><br><font face="Times">I’ve tried to stay completely away from politics - but can’t help myself!!</font></div><div><font face="Times"><br></font></div><div><font face="Times">The future of America is going to be managed by one of 2 octogenarians fast approaching senility - with </font><span style="font-family: Times; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">the 2024 election looking to be between Biden 80 </span> <span style="font-family: Times; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">and Trump</span><span style="font-family: Times; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"> </span> <span style="font-family: Times; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">77</span></div><div><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">Biden is <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>80, and <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>if he wins in 2024, he’ll be 85 when he leaves office. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Physical and mental decline is happenning and is a scary pill to swallow! </font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">There is a bittererer pill - Trump </font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">And it looks like the American public is looking to be supporting Trump to be President again !</font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">Trump, overweight , approaching 80 with a personality disorder of pathological narcissism and inability to tell the truth, with a policy and belief of authoritarianism and who has undermined American democracy and been indicted in several jurisdictions for serious crimes. </font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">Trumps legacy </font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">Trump during his presidency oversaw a <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>disastrous pandemic response, appointed supreme court justices who went on to strip abortion rights from American women, made it more difficult for Americans to access <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2021/01/undoing-trump-damage/617736/">healthcare</a>, made <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/24/politics/trump-worst-abuses-of-power/index.html">abusing power</a> and profiting from the office something of a personal hobby, rolled back protections for the environment and endangered species, attacked immigrants and tried to ban refugees from coming in, and then refused to accept the results of a free and fair US election, fomenting an attempted coup</font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">The American people seem to be lining up to vote for this Dude. </font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><blockquote style="text-align: center;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times"><b><i>Is this a disturbing sign of American degeneration?</i></b></font></span></blockquote><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">Under Biden’s regime - he seems to be collaborative , the economy seems to be recovering, he has forgiven student loan debt, invested in nationwide infrastructure projects, appointed a slew of new judges , <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>is currently taking <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/video/us/politics/100000009063049/biden-drug-pricing.html">historic action</a> on prescription drug prices and taking global climate action seriously …..</font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">And together with coping with family tragedy and a degenerate son!</font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">I reckon he has a right to be tired!!! </font></span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times"><br></font></span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/posts/ivankayebsi_gaurdian-activity-7103121170891214848-zX9S?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_ios" id="id_e7a4_3087_a8fe_bfbc">So vote here who will be next president of USA </a></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">Inspired by Jill Filipovic who wrote this in the guardian. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="https://amp-theguardian-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/amp.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/aug/30/biden-trump-age-presidential-election-2024">https://amp-theguardian-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/amp.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/aug/30/biden-trump-age-presidential-election-2024</a></font></span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><br></span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1">Who would you vote for?</span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><br></span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1">Trump or Biden or other? </span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><br></span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><a href="https://www.economist.com/united-states/2023/08/31/joe-bidens-re-election-bid-is-in-trouble">https://www.economist.com/united-states/2023/08/31/joe-bidens-re-election-bid-is-in-trouble</a>Joe Biden’s re-election bid is in trouble from TheEconomist</span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><br></span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><br></span></p></div>Ivan Kayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10795511825904316044noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1521249934695624662.post-62333702412238428942023-08-12T01:27:00.001-07:002023-08-12T01:27:44.988-07:00Upstream raises $20m to help corporates go solar <div><br><img id="id_38ba_e80f_f3ca_fe0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/drive-viewer/AITFw-zQ1kyj35DL-Y9UrFXRQUYZlq3Ib9NboTezRRDG9Qt6pj5b0E0FSUHQjUvcY1sFAuyTwKjkSSCPBz6SKa9lp1yn5AbpDA" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 392px; height: auto;"><br><br><br></div><div><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Solar Energy company <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Upstream founded by by <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanbegley" id="id_e2bd_9a98_1769_8cfe">Nathan Begley</a></span> in 2013 has raised $20 million from MA Financial’s growth ventures business<a href="https://www.afr.com/companies/financial-services/ma-financial-venture-capital-arm-pens-20m-deal-with-energy-start-up-20230810-p5dvd1"><span class="s2">.</span></a></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Upskilled places solar panels on its clients’ sites, such as retail stores or bank branches. The companies then purchase energy from Upstream, instead of the grid at a lower cost.</span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">They currently operate 15 megawatts of rooftop solar energy and battery storage and is looking to reach 100 MW in three years.</span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br></span></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; padding: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 16px; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; max-width: unset; font-size: 1.2rem; line-height: 1.6; font-family: "Open Sans"; overflow-wrap: break-word; caret-color: rgb(116, 118, 126); color: rgb(116, 118, 126); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit; max-width: unset;">“The generation amount of coal fired power stations that will be shut down in the next 11 years is the same amount of generation needed by the state of NSW at 7.00am in the morning – 7 GW or 7 million kilowatts. To power the electric vehicles needed in future is 40 times that amount. We need to invest massive amount of money and innovation into fixing this problem.“</em></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><cite style="box-sizing: inherit; max-width: unset; margin-top: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; font-size: 1.2rem; color: rgb(116, 118, 126); font-style: normal; position: relative; caret-color: rgb(116, 118, 126); font-family: "Open Sans"; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; max-width: unset;">Nathan Begley, Managing Director of Upstream Energy</span></cite></span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ED0LBaN9g6E" width="500" height="281" id="y_id_7b50_fa65_ee4a_b53c" frameborder="0"></iframe></span><br></p></div>Ivan Kayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10795511825904316044noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1521249934695624662.post-4312040734845099672023-08-12T00:47:00.001-07:002023-08-12T00:47:09.992-07:00Global sisters raises $500k to help women in need create microbusiness <div><img id="id_56d7_c7b8_8927_4cb4" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/drive-viewer/AITFw-zdMmUp80sYa_v7kLVC8VP5-cbntlDMnNbGjbXcjo0OxVpiglTP9EgHoER_hnveg_G9urfxVGCGELcsZvhO1oC_X0dd" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 392px; height: auto;"><br><br><br></div><div><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times;">Australian not-for-profit Global Sisters founded by Mandy Richards in 2016, </span><span style="font-family: Times;">helps women with disabilities and their carers to start and grow their own businesses .</span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">They have raised a US$500,000 ($736,579) grant from Google’s charitable arm, Google.org.</font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><h4><span class="s1"><font face="Times">The Pain </font></span></h4><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">According to the Australian Institute’s Health and Wellness <a href="https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/disability/people-with-disability-in-australia-2022-in-brief/contents/about"><span class="s2">report</span></a> in 2022, one in six Australians have a disability. Half of these are women - many of them need more assistance.</font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times;"><br></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times;">These women have been shutout from mainstream employment - and </span><span style="font-family: Times;">these barriers are external and often systemic… says Mandy </span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times"><br></font></span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times;">Entrepreneurship can be quite elitist, and really hard … Global Sisters goal is to help them develop</span><span style="font-family: Times;"> </span> <span style="font-family: Times;">the right networks and resources through connection, collaboration , learning and growth</span><span style="font-family: Times;"> </span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times;"><br></span></p><h4><span class="s1"><font face="Times">The painkiller </font></span></h4><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">The Global Sisters program work with women in small businesses who typically aren’t given adequate attention, including indigenous women, migrants and refugees, women over 50, and women with disabilities.</font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><blockquote><span class="s1"><font face="Times">Ik thought (Collaboration with Dress for Success?)</font></span></blockquote><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">The goal is to enable women living with a disability or a disadvantage to participate in the lifecycle of business support, so they can access all they need to start and grow their micro business, and embark on the path to financial independence. </font></span></p><blockquote><span class="s1"><font face="Times">Ik thought (10x material) </font></span></blockquote><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">Global Sisters provide recipients with confidence and skill boosting, networking and coaching.</font></span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times"><br></font></span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times;">To date, Global Sisters has supported over 5,500 women and offered more than $7.6 million in free business support for women-led micro businesses.</span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times;"><br></span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times;">(Collaboration with BSI Learning? )</span></p><div><span style="font-family: Times;"><br></span></div><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><h4><span class="s1"><font face="Times">Networking Connection and collaboration with Corporates </font></span></h4><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">One of the aims is to engage corporations and individuals to get involved through either pro bono coaching and business services, financial investment, collaboration, corporate engagement </font></span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times"><br></font></span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">Maybe even purchasing from the Global Sisters’ Marketplace for gifting or catering purposes</font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><h4><font face="Times">Afterpay Opportunity </font></h4><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">Afterpay has created a campaign <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>giving consumers the option to donate $1 at the checkout with a goal to raise a minimum of $50,000 annually.</font></span></p><p class="p3" style="margin: 0px 0px 4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 28.5px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s3" style="font-weight: bold;"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s4" style="font-weight: bold;">Afterpay can be a major contributor to this programme with </span><span class="s1">13 million active users around the world. </span></font></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">“Asking someone to donate a dollar — who’s going to say no to that?” Asks Mandy </font></span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times"><br></font></span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">Ik thought (speak to Zip ; speak to online retail; speak to Canva? </font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">Corporate Partners include Unilever, Visa and AMP , each bringing specific expertise that can be valuable to various types of small businesses.</font></span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times"><br></font></span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">Ik thought (collaborate with RAP programme)</font></span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">Ik thought (sister company to Babana - Mark Spinks? )</font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">For their part, the corporates get opportunities for staff engagement and meaningful collaborations.</font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">“It makes for this amazing two-way value transfer,” Richards says.</font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">Ik thought (Collaboration with #bbgforum yarning circle)</font></span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times">(Martin Stark , Ivan Schwartz , Kala Philip , Mark Champley, Sounya Zaiter - transport nsw -opal? )</font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p4" style="margin: 0px 0px 4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s3" style="font-weight: bold;"><font face="Times">This type of philanthropy is a win win win </font></span></p><p class="p4" style="margin: 0px 0px 4px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s3" style="font-weight: bold;"><font face="Times"><br></font></span></p><blockquote><span class="s1"><font face="Times">How do you make giving charity frictionless and tech-enabled? </font></span></blockquote><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><font face="Times"><b><i>It’s about targeting people where they already spend money, and going for small amounts in high volume.</i></b></font></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><font face="Times"><span class="s1"></span><br></font></p><blockquote><span class="s1"><font face="Times">“The goal is to support women who are not contributing to the economy as much as they would want to become active participants in it. </font></span><span style="font-family: Times;">That’s good for everyone.”</span></blockquote><blockquote><span style="font-family: Times; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Mandy Richards - Global Sisters</span><span style="font-family: Times; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"> </span></blockquote></div>Ivan Kayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10795511825904316044noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1521249934695624662.post-31956281551307941922023-08-03T15:08:00.001-07:002023-08-03T15:08:16.331-07:00A one woman musical Tour De Force Bernadette Robinson <div><br></div><div><div class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;">A one woman musical Tour De Force Bernadette Robinson inhabits the voices and sound of the greatest Divas. From Edith Piaf, to Barbara Streisand, Dolly Parton, Kate Bush, Shirley Bassey , Maria Callas and more, Robinson’s vocal talents are simply stunning. At the Opera House only <span dir="ltr">until August 20</span>, this is a show you should not miss, it’s just 30 songs of pure joy. Find Tickets: <a href="https://www.sydneyoperahouse.com/contemporary-music/bernadette-robinson-divas" class="">https://www.sydneyoperahouse.com/contemporary-music/bernadette-robinson-divas</a></div><div class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;"><br class=""></div><div class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;"><br class=""></div><div class="" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;"><br class=""></div><img webkitattachmentid="d9b65f67-a4cb-4ce4-be03-9a33bbde1cfa" apple-inline="yes" id="9B1BBD64-09C6-462D-9982-1025FF84B21D" src="blob:null/e72dee04-fb32-4eff-857b-c98567a6411f" class="x-apple-edge-to-edge" _mf_state="1" title="null" alt="20230721 Divas-32.jpg" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; width: calc(100% + 0px); margin-left: 0px; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;"></div>Ivan Kayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10795511825904316044noreply@blogger.com