Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Stacey Henderson @staceyhenderson.bsky.social · Sep 10

Cuteness overload!

Reposted by Stacey Henderson

Molly Quell @mollyquell.bsky.social · Sep 1

The largest professional organization of scholars studying genocide said Monday that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza.

Leading genocide scholars organization says Israeli action in Gaza is genocide

The largest professional organization of scholars studying genocide says that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza.

apnews.com

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Reposted by Stacey Henderson

amy brown (spooky edition) @amybrown.xyz · Aug 22

this iconic advertising copywriter named Kathy Hepinstall Parks died over the weekend and I wanted to share something from her website I thought Bluesky would like

Why should I write better when a machine can do it for me?
Because actually no one can do it for you, because your voice is unique among all the people on earth. Siri never petted a horse's neck. Alexa has never been ghosted by the captain of the football team. But you have lived, your heart is beating, you have suffered, and you have something important to say. It's a human's job, to use words, and whatever job you give to a machine, that part of your brain goes dark. Maybe it's worth it when it comes to remembering phone numbers and directions, but when that part of your brain that uses words goes dark, that's a vast area that's very close to your soul. Don't let some internet platform convince you that what you have to say and create isn't worthwhile. Words are the echo of your soul. Honing that echo matters.

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Reposted by Stacey Henderson

Tim Stephens @proftimstephens.bsky.social · Aug 21

“Figures from a classified Israeli military intelligence database indicate five out of six Palestinians killed by Israeli forces in Gaza have been civilians, an extreme rate of slaughter rarely matched in recent decades of warfare.”

www.theguardian.com/world/ng-int...

Revealed: Israeli military’s own data indicates civilian death rate of 83% in Gaza war

Figures from classified IDF database listed 8,900 named fighters as dead or probably dead in May, as overall death toll reached 53,000

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by Stacey Henderson

Australian and New Zealand Society of International Law @anzsil.org · Aug 15

Ahead of #UNGA80, where several states are expected to recognise the State of #Palestine, we're co-hosting a webinar on "Recognition of Palestine in International Law: Australian and New Zealand Perspectives", on 18 Aug 2025, 3-4PM AEST (5-6PM NZT). Register now www.eventbrite.co.nz/e/recognitio...

Recognition of Palestine in International Law

A webinar

www.eventbrite.co.nz

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Reposted by Stacey Henderson

Dr Tamsin Phillipa Paige @pagingdrpaige.bsky.social · Aug 10

“The clearer position that Australia could take is that if it diplomatically, legally and politically objects to Israel’s occupation of Gaza, then all exports could be suspended for the time being.”

Don Rothwell is spot on here

Guardian Australia @australia.theguardian.com · Aug 10

Marles insists Australia ‘not supplying weapons to Israel’ but critics argue ‘parts of weapons are weapons’

Acting prime minister decries ‘misinformation’ regarding arms exports while Greens claim ‘hollow talking points … aren’t washing with the public’ * Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates * Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast The federal government won’t follow Germany and introduce new export restrictions to pressure Israel, with the defence minister, Richard Marles, insisting no weapons are being sent from Australia to aid the killing in Gaza. Marles, the acting prime minister, said on Sunday that Australia was not exporting any weapons for use by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), a contested claim rejected by human rights campaigners and the Greens. Continue reading...

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by Stacey Henderson

CosmicRami 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ @cosmicrami.com · Aug 7

If you're in the need for some cheering up, or are just starting your day and want to unleash some oxytocin/serotonin in your brain (hormones that make you feel good), then I highly recommend going through this thread.

Lots of folks sharing photos of their animal friends with a focus on snouts. 👇

CosmicRami 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ @cosmicrami.com · Aug 7

Do you have a booop snout photo of your best mate?

Show me!

Let’s fill the TL with boooop snouts
(any animal btw)

CosmicRami 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ @cosmicrami.com · Aug 6

Seriously, though.

This guy.

Booooop.

#BalmainMax

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Stacey Henderson @staceyhenderson.bsky.social · Aug 7

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Reposted by Stacey Henderson

Professor Euan Ritchie @euanritchie.bsky.social · Aug 7

This! www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

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Reposted by Stacey Henderson

International Association of Genocide Scholars @genocidescholars.bsky.social · Aug 6

Check out @alonso-gd.bsky.social's summary of "The Academic Consensus on Gaza": www.youtube.com/watch?si=jOU... #genocide #genocidestudies

What is the Academic Consensus on the Gaza Genocide?

YouTube video by Alonso Gurmendi

www.youtube.com

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Reposted by Stacey Henderson

Douglas Guilfoyle @djag2.bsky.social · Aug 5

Somehow, Episode 50 of #CalledToTheBar is not that far off.

In it we plan to *answer your questions* on any international law topic (within our competence) or life in academia topic (whether we're competent or not).

So drop your questions in the comments, or email or DM one of us!

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Reposted by Stacey Henderson

Dr Melanie O'Brien @drmelob.bsky.social · Aug 5

I encourage all #AUS academics to sign this open letter requesting the federal govt repeal Jobs-Ready Graduates, a terrible piece of legislation that never should have passed, & has significantly negatively impacted #higherEd. www.openpetition.org/au/petition/...

Repeal Job-Ready Graduates Policy Now: Restoring Equity in Higher Education - Online petition

We sign this petition in solidarity with those who signed the Open Letter to the Prime Minister on 28 July 2025 (https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/jul/28/open-letter-to-australian-govern...

www.openpetition.org

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Reposted by Stacey Henderson

Dr Juliette McIntyre ☯︎🩷💚 🏳️‍🌈 @drnajimagi.bsky.social · Jul 10

ALL GOVERNMENTS CAN AND SHOULD BE CRITICIZED

Osman Faruqi @osmanfaruqi.bsky.social · Jul 10

Segal's anti-semitism "review" can, and should, be ignored. There has been a longstanding need for better government work on anti-racism, but this review is compromised by the fact its first recommendation suggests codifying criticism of Israel as anti-semitism. Everything else stems from that.

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Reposted by Stacey Henderson

ANZSIL Gender, Sexuality & International Law Interest Group @anzsilgsil.bsky.social · Jun 30

CfP!!! The @anzsil.org Gender, Sexuality and International Law Interest Group will be holding a workshop on 'Feminist Approaches to International Law in Times of Atrocity, Anthropocene, and Authoritarian Capitalism' on 31 October at Melbourne Law School: drive.google.com/file/d/10YPs...

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Stacey Henderson @staceyhenderson.bsky.social · Jul 7

My wolves

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Stacey Henderson @staceyhenderson.bsky.social · Jun 23

Excellent piece by Don Rothwell in The Conversation: “there’s an expectation that Labor governments should be holding all states accountable for egregious breaches of international law…there’s no other way you can characterise the US strikes on Iran” #intLaw

Why the US strikes on Iran are illegal and can set a troubling precedent

The US and Israel have adopted the most wide-ranging and robust interpretations of the right of self defence. Other nations may now follow their lead.

theconversation.com

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Reposted by Stacey Henderson

Dr Tamsin Phillipa Paige @pagingdrpaige.bsky.social · Jun 23

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Douglas Guilfoyle @djag2.bsky.social · Jun 23

It appears Australia now supports a doctrine of using preventative force against potential, future threats.

*Rustles international law textbook, shakes copy of UN Charter.*

Oh, right, that doesn't exist.

So, we're just supporting aggression, then.

www.abc.net.au/news/2025-06...

Australia backs US strikes on Iran while urging return to diplomacy

Anthony Albanese says action to prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon was acceptable, but that talks should now resume.

www.abc.net.au

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Stacey Henderson @staceyhenderson.bsky.social · Jun 20

Double dare you

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Reposted by Stacey Henderson

Dr Tamsin Phillipa Paige @pagingdrpaige.bsky.social · Jun 13

To be even clearer "preventive self-defence" is just straight up aggression

Kevin Jon Heller @kevinjonheller.bsky.social · Jun 13

Let's be clear: Israel's attack on Iran is not simply a violation of the UN Charter. It is a manifest violation of it. Few acts are more unequivocally illegal than preventive (non-imminent) self-defence. So Israel's attack is both unlawful and criminal -- the crime of aggression.

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Reposted by Stacey Henderson

elia ayoub 🌱 @ayoub.bsky.social · Jun 10

Melanie O'Brien, President of the International Association of Genocide Scholars, says Israel is committing genocide in Gaza

www.middleeasteye.net/news/israel-...

Israel committing genocide in Gaza, says top legal scholar Melanie O'Brien

President of the International Association of Genocide Scholars outlines why Israel has no defence against the charge of genocide in Gaza

www.middleeasteye.net

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Reposted by Stacey Henderson

Emma Shortis @emmashortis.bsky.social · Jun 9

Remember how last week Deputy PM Richard Marles talked about our “shared values” with the United States and specified that those values were “democracy and the rule of law”.

Matt Bevan @mattbevan.bsky.social · Jun 9

My producer sent this to me and off the headline I was like "oh right, so she got hit by a loose round"... but then when you see it... like, that officer saw she was a reporter and shot her ~on camera~. Absolutely wild. Hope @laurentomasi.bsky.social is ok.

Dr. Lucky Tran @luckytran.com · Jun 9

LAPD fired rubber bullets at Australian journalist @laurentomasi.bsky.social

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Reposted by Stacey Henderson

Adil Haque @adhaque.bsky.social · Jun 4

This is an abomination.

The IDF is using an interlocking set of manifestly unlawful policies, killing civilians by the dozen, either with no military objective in view or in manifest disproportion to low-value targets.

It makes a mockery of international law.

+972 Magazine @972mag.bsky.social · Jun 4

Israel is falsely designating Gaza areas as empty in order to bomb them -
www.972mag.com/israel-gaza-...

Israel is falsely designating Gaza areas as empty to bomb them

The army is using a crude algorithm to declare neighborhoods cleared of residents and carry out airstrikes, a joint investigation reveals.

www.972mag.com

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Reposted by Stacey Henderson

Holly Cullen @hollycullenfreo.bsky.social · May 29

Excellent reflection on the huge problem for learning and assessment in law degrees posed by AI.

Eddie Clark @dreddieclark.bsky.social · May 29

One of the things that's in one way an interesting challenge and another *deeply, deeply depressing* is working out the sort of essay question you can ask that genuinely lets students develop skills & demonstrate competence outside of timed exams that AI can't do better than a bare pass in.

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Rachel Killean @rachelkillean.bsky.social · May 22

An excellent analysis by @jessicawhyte.bsky.social of the new lows of Israel's atrocity crimes and the calls for a Diplomatic Humanitarian Convoy to Gaza.

www.abc.net.au/religion/as-...

As Gaza faces starvation, a new plan weaponises humanitarian aid — what can be done? - ABC Religion & Ethics

After blocking all food from entering Gaza for 11 weeks, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu has agreed to allow a limited amount into the besieged territory — though he insists that a new militarised deliv...

www.abc.net.au

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