James Boyce
@jamesboycebooks.bsky.social
Writer and Historian. Books include Van Diemen’s Land , 1835 , Born Bad and Imperial Mud
The media focus must be on the best known names but please support also lesser known & unwaged writers who have often laboured years on a book for little financial reward and for whom, festivals are a rare opportunity for promotion. In a boycott, these authors make the biggest sacrifice.
Authors withdraw from festival after Palestinian Australian author dropped
After Randa Abdel-Fattah was dropped from Adelaide Writers' Week by the Adelaide Festival Board, a slew of authors, including Michelle de Kretser, have withdrawn from the event.
www.abc.net.au
January 8, 2026 at 7:22 AM
The media focus must be on the best known names but please support also lesser known & unwaged writers who have often laboured years on a book for little financial reward and for whom, festivals are a rare opportunity for promotion. In a boycott, these authors make the biggest sacrifice.
Apartheid in the Holy Land. If the late great Desmond Tutu was alive today, his support for non violent direct action to end apartheid in Israel would likely see him barred from the US and being labelled a terrorist under UK law. And there would certainly be no more truth telling trips to Palestine
Apartheid in the Holy Land
Desmond Tutu: In our struggle against apartheid, the great supporters were Jewish people.
www.theguardian.com
January 8, 2026 at 5:07 AM
Apartheid in the Holy Land. If the late great Desmond Tutu was alive today, his support for non violent direct action to end apartheid in Israel would likely see him barred from the US and being labelled a terrorist under UK law. And there would certainly be no more truth telling trips to Palestine
A must read on the Palestine Action hunger strikers. How can this be happening in the UK? Under a Labour Government . Given the UN findings, surely past time for the few remaining countries in the world with respect for international law to speak up
Let’s be clear: if the Palestine Action hunger strikers die, the government will bear moral responsibility | George Monbiot
The three remaining hunger strikers have been convicted of nothing. Yet with astonishing cruelty, ministers refuse to listen to their reasonable demands, says Guardian columnist George Monbiot
www.theguardian.com
January 7, 2026 at 1:36 PM
A must read on the Palestine Action hunger strikers. How can this be happening in the UK? Under a Labour Government . Given the UN findings, surely past time for the few remaining countries in the world with respect for international law to speak up
6 January. Insurrection Day AND Epiphany which marks the end of Christmas. On this day Christians remember three wise leaders paying homage to a vulnerable baby who a narcissistic King wanted dead.
family.room
January 6, 2026 at 5:43 PM
6 January. Insurrection Day AND Epiphany which marks the end of Christmas. On this day Christians remember three wise leaders paying homage to a vulnerable baby who a narcissistic King wanted dead.
Its Time for the Australian Labor Government to remember that the ‘rules based international order’ to which it says national security and prosperity rely, has, by definition, one set of rules for all. And if America, can’t accept that, end AUKUS now.
January 5, 2026 at 1:32 PM
Its Time for the Australian Labor Government to remember that the ‘rules based international order’ to which it says national security and prosperity rely, has, by definition, one set of rules for all. And if America, can’t accept that, end AUKUS now.
A Royal Commission could helpfully confirm what we already know. ALL those who confuse criticism of the state of Israel with criticism of Jewish people, be they Islamic extremists, Zionist lobby groups, Jillian Segal, News Ltd editors or the Israeli PM, are pouring fuel on the fire of antisemitism.
Business leaders and Catholic bishops join call for royal commission after Bondi attack
Signatories to open letter include former Reserve Bank of Australia governors Philip Lowe and Glenn Stevens and billionaire James Packer
www.theguardian.com
January 4, 2026 at 2:04 PM
A Royal Commission could helpfully confirm what we already know. ALL those who confuse criticism of the state of Israel with criticism of Jewish people, be they Islamic extremists, Zionist lobby groups, Jillian Segal, News Ltd editors or the Israeli PM, are pouring fuel on the fire of antisemitism.
Reposted by James Boyce
“The response to the Bondi massacre has been seriously strange.”
Essential writing from one of Australia’s great thinkers:
Essential writing from one of Australia’s great thinkers:
Don't Mention The War
After Bondi
robertmanne.substack.com
January 1, 2026 at 3:23 AM
“The response to the Bondi massacre has been seriously strange.”
Essential writing from one of Australia’s great thinkers:
Essential writing from one of Australia’s great thinkers:
What incredible fish they are. Locking them up in tiny packed cages in warm southern Tasmanian estuaries is so cruel. Perhaps one cause of the disease so many of the captives suffer from is grief
Young Atlantic salmon seen in three English rivers for first time in a decade
Species that is critically endangered in Britain is spotted in Mersey, Bollin and Goyt rivers in north-west
www.theguardian.com
December 31, 2025 at 3:34 PM
What incredible fish they are. Locking them up in tiny packed cages in warm southern Tasmanian estuaries is so cruel. Perhaps one cause of the disease so many of the captives suffer from is grief
Reposted by James Boyce
There's the key sentence: "For brave leaders, there could be real political capital to be gained from reducing this mobility as feelings run high over waste, pollution and emissions." Brave leaders anyone? theconversation.com/the-politics...
The politics of the hyper-polluting private transport used by the world’s super-rich is hotting up
Inequality is damaging the cohesion needed to fight climate change.
theconversation.com
December 24, 2025 at 9:20 AM
There's the key sentence: "For brave leaders, there could be real political capital to be gained from reducing this mobility as feelings run high over waste, pollution and emissions." Brave leaders anyone? theconversation.com/the-politics...
Lest we forget …
Israeli troops kill six Palestinians, including a baby, sheltering in Gaza school – video
Attack brings total number of Palestinians killed by Israel to 401 since October ceasefire took effect
www.theguardian.com
December 23, 2025 at 6:46 PM
Lest we forget …
The past 2 weeks have confirmed what is firming up as the judgement of history: John Howard was the most socially destructive and divisive PM Australia has ever had. He used his undoubted political skills to diminish and divide us as a nation - a work he is carrying on to this day.
nation.work
December 23, 2025 at 9:04 AM
The past 2 weeks have confirmed what is firming up as the judgement of history: John Howard was the most socially destructive and divisive PM Australia has ever had. He used his undoubted political skills to diminish and divide us as a nation - a work he is carrying on to this day.
Any comment Sussan, Josh, Jillian, any of you?
Israel approves 19 new Jewish settlements in occupied West Bank
Decision takes the total number of new settlements to 69 in past few years as construction binge continues
www.theguardian.com
December 22, 2025 at 10:50 AM
Any comment Sussan, Josh, Jillian, any of you?
Proud to stand with the courageous and loving Jewish Council of Australia. Please take a moment to consider signing their petition
SIGN ✍️ We will not be divided after Bondi
Add your name to the Jewish Council petition today
jewishcouncil.good.do
December 22, 2025 at 5:58 AM
Proud to stand with the courageous and loving Jewish Council of Australia. Please take a moment to consider signing their petition
Southern Rock Lobsters are sentient beings & extraordinary creatures with critical ecological functions. Yet in Tasmania they are killed for fun and exported live with almost no public debate or concern except for divvying up quotas. As with cruelty to salmon, I hope this changes.
Do prawns feel pain? Why scientists are urging a rethink of Australia’s favoured festive food
Studies show crustaceans can learn, remember, solve problems and form relationships
www.theguardian.com
December 21, 2025 at 2:35 PM
Southern Rock Lobsters are sentient beings & extraordinary creatures with critical ecological functions. Yet in Tasmania they are killed for fun and exported live with almost no public debate or concern except for divvying up quotas. As with cruelty to salmon, I hope this changes.
Will Australian defenders of violent acts of terrorism in the West Bank sponsored by the Israeli state be outlawed by Australia’s new hate speech laws? Land Grab: Israel’s Escalating Campaign for Control of the West Bank . www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Land Grab: Inside Israel’s Escalating Campaign for Control of the West Bank
Israeli seizure of Palestinian lands in the West Bank, often brutally, has accelerated, raising doubts about the prospects of a peaceful solution to the conflict.
www.nytimes.com
December 21, 2025 at 11:12 AM
Will Australian defenders of violent acts of terrorism in the West Bank sponsored by the Israeli state be outlawed by Australia’s new hate speech laws? Land Grab: Israel’s Escalating Campaign for Control of the West Bank . www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Israeli troops kill six Palestinians, including a baby, sheltering in Gaza school – video
December 20, 2025 at 6:20 PM
Israeli troops kill six Palestinians, including a baby, sheltering in Gaza school – video
Reposted by James Boyce
Labor must critically analyse the effect on democracy and the right to protest of adopting the Segal report recommendations.
Conflating antisemitism with legitimate opposition to Israeli govt genocide, apartheid and breaches of international law would be a grave mistake.
Conflating antisemitism with legitimate opposition to Israeli govt genocide, apartheid and breaches of international law would be a grave mistake.
December 18, 2025 at 7:51 PM
Labor must critically analyse the effect on democracy and the right to protest of adopting the Segal report recommendations.
Conflating antisemitism with legitimate opposition to Israeli govt genocide, apartheid and breaches of international law would be a grave mistake.
Conflating antisemitism with legitimate opposition to Israeli govt genocide, apartheid and breaches of international law would be a grave mistake.
Reposted by James Boyce
Weaponising the Bondi tragedy is a betrayal of all our children theshot.net.au/uncategorize...
December 19, 2025 at 7:15 AM
Weaponising the Bondi tragedy is a betrayal of all our children theshot.net.au/uncategorize...
There is nothing new in blaming extremists act of terror on peaceful citizens protesting extremist acts of terror. It’s part of the history of democratic states in times of crisis. When liberties are lost, all minorities become vulnerable. Democracy itself is threatened. This is a serious moment
Furious Frydenberg calls to ban 'incubators of hate' after Bondi attack
Former treasurer Josh Frydenberg has called for bans on radical "hate preachers," protests, stronger immigration laws and a royal commission into antisemitism in an emotional speech at the site of the...
www.abc.net.au
December 18, 2025 at 6:18 AM
There is nothing new in blaming extremists act of terror on peaceful citizens protesting extremist acts of terror. It’s part of the history of democratic states in times of crisis. When liberties are lost, all minorities become vulnerable. Democracy itself is threatened. This is a serious moment
Imagine if we accepted that Palestinian mothers, fathers & community members feel the same level of shock, horror & grief as we do when loved ones are massacred. What if their dead were also given a name & their story told. Surely we would then stop supplying weapons & the killing would finally end
December 17, 2025 at 6:17 PM
Imagine if we accepted that Palestinian mothers, fathers & community members feel the same level of shock, horror & grief as we do when loved ones are massacred. What if their dead were also given a name & their story told. Surely we would then stop supplying weapons & the killing would finally end
Why are Netanyahu, Jillian Segal and other apologists for the far right Israeli government allowed to discuss the context in which the horror of anti semitism is increasing but critics of that government’s brutality are not ?
December 16, 2025 at 7:33 AM
Why are Netanyahu, Jillian Segal and other apologists for the far right Israeli government allowed to discuss the context in which the horror of anti semitism is increasing but critics of that government’s brutality are not ?
Jillian Segal linking peaceful & democratic protests against illegal acts of the Israeli state to anti semitic terror is so divisive, extremist and dismissive of the true horror that unfolded at Bondi that she must resign immediately. Using this tragedy to pursue a political agenda was abominable
December 14, 2025 at 3:41 PM
Jillian Segal linking peaceful & democratic protests against illegal acts of the Israeli state to anti semitic terror is so divisive, extremist and dismissive of the true horror that unfolded at Bondi that she must resign immediately. Using this tragedy to pursue a political agenda was abominable
Gaza is almost exactly the same size as Bruny Island, yet in 2 years it’s received explosives equivalent to what was dropped on all of Britain in WW2. The world has never forgotten the Blitz. But even before the bombs have ceased to fall, it seems we are forgetting Gaza.
December 13, 2025 at 6:51 AM
Gaza is almost exactly the same size as Bruny Island, yet in 2 years it’s received explosives equivalent to what was dropped on all of Britain in WW2. The world has never forgotten the Blitz. But even before the bombs have ceased to fall, it seems we are forgetting Gaza.
Gaza is slightly smaller than the Isle of Wight, yet in 2 years it’s received explosives roughly equivalent to what was dropped on all of Britain in WW2. The world has never forgotten the Blitz. But even before the bombs have ceased to fall, it seems we are forgetting Gaza.
December 13, 2025 at 6:37 AM
Gaza is slightly smaller than the Isle of Wight, yet in 2 years it’s received explosives roughly equivalent to what was dropped on all of Britain in WW2. The world has never forgotten the Blitz. But even before the bombs have ceased to fall, it seems we are forgetting Gaza.