December, 2011

An allegation of apartheid, like genocide, stands for something evil in the public mind, and is associated with the kind of institutionalized racism that owes its name to the governing process of South Africa under white rule. But the crime of apartheid was generalized on the basis of this historical background, and has the status of an [...]

What follows is the final in a three-part series of three related reflections on the anniversary of SIEV 221, the Christmas Island Boat Tragedy. Here are parts one and two. Part Three: Getting the message What is the message of border security, and who is its intended recipient? The imputed message is for the categorically [...]

What follows is the second in a series of three related reflections on the anniversary of SIEV 221, the Christmas Island Boat Tragedy. Part Two: It *must* have been the weather… The ocean is inherently hazardous, yet our culture has no word for fortuna, or the Gods. After technology, the other general lesson the reports’ [...]

What follows is the first in a series of three related reflections on the anniversary of SIEV 221, the Christmas Island Boat Tragedy. Part One: The integral accident In the dark reflection of the one-year anniversary of the shipwreck of SIEV 221 – the Christmas Island Boat Tragedy – it’s time to ask ourselves and [...]

Following the reaction to my blog post on the application of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanction (BDS) of Israel campaign in October, I approached five members of the Middle East diaspora and community in Australia to each discuss, in their own words, the following proposition: “To what extent is the BDS effective at balancing competing “harms” – the [...]

Les Rosenblatt responds to This Blog Harms’ NAJ Taylor, who asks: “To what extent is the BDS effective at balancing competing “harms” – the use of “non-violent” harm to injure Israel economically, politically, reputationally and militarily and the relief of the “violent harm” endured by Palestinians under Israeli occupation? How useful is a campaign that “balances competing harms” for the Israeli and Palestinian, as well as Jewish and Muslim, diaspora – and wider Middle Eastern community – in Australia?”

Kim Bullimore responds to This Blog Harms’ NAJ Taylor, who asks: “To what extent is the BDS effective at balancing competing “harms” – the use of “non-violent” harm to injure Israel economically, politically, reputationally and militarily and the relief of the “violent harm” endured by Palestinians under Israeli occupation? How useful is a campaign that “balances competing harms” for the Israeli and Palestinian, as well as Jewish and Muslim, diaspora – and wider Middle Eastern community – in Australia?”

Antony Loewenstein responds to This Blog Harms’ NAJ Taylor, who asks: “To what extent is the BDS effective at balancing competing “harms” – the use of “non-violent” harm to injure Israel economically, politically, reputationally and militarily and the relief of the “violent harm” endured by Palestinians under Israeli occupation? How useful is a campaign that “balances competing harms” for the Israeli and Palestinian, as well as Jewish and Muslim, diaspora – and wider Middle Eastern community – in Australia?”