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Archive for March, 2019

“Brexit” log-jam in London: new plans, same problem

  • March 29th, 2019
  • Posted by EU Australia

The British parliament has voted to extend the deadline for seceding from Europe from Friday until mid-April – but has failed to vote for a consensus on what to do.

Lee Duffield says he stopped making a straw-poll of Australian observers after getting a very early consistency of comments: “silly pommie parliament”, “incompetent mob”, and so on.

In this up-date he says there is surprise and exasperation in Europe also. … Read More »

Christchurch attack: shaky minds, guns and the internet

  • March 19th, 2019
  • Posted by EU Australia

The shooting outrage in New Zealand on Friday put a focus on anti-immigration, anti-Moslem ethno-nationalist movements in many Western countries – but it’s a question whether it will break their support.

Lee Duffield joins in the drive to find explanations for a surge of barbarism this century reaching even into the peaceful streets of Christchurch. … Read More »

EU-UK “Brexit”: one week of warfare, not there yet

  • March 16th, 2019
  • Posted by EU Australia

The British parliament has ended a week of big votes on leaving Europe with the battle lines more clear but still stuck in a stand-off.

Lee Duffield says the House of Commons has continued with a struggle to budge the Conservative Party Prime Minister Theresa May from the stand she has been taking.

He says it is a struggle also for journalists to make sense of the trouble, as he has worked through the details to get this explanation. … Read More »

Gaoling of Cardinal George Pell – millions looking for a better way

  • March 13th, 2019
  • Posted by EU Australia

Cardinal George Pell has been sentenced to six years gaol with a non-parole period of three years and eight months on his conviction for a paedophilic attack on two children.

Lee Duffield provides a wrap on the case and notes that in the fall-out there are fresh calls for reforms to try and end such abuses. … Read More »

EU-UK “Brexit”: Parliament says “No” a second time

  • March 12th, 2019
  • Posted by EU Australia

The House of Commons has again on Tuesday overwhelmingly rejected the Withdrawal Agreement for Britain to leave the European Union.

Lee Duffield writes that the vote came after a week of the usual confusion and bumble over so-called “Brexit”, which produced a revised agreement – in the end not revised-enough to satisfy hold-out MPs.

The vote was NO 391, YES 242.

… Read More »

After Pell Fell: Churchman in gaol, millions looking for a better way

  • March 12th, 2019
  • Posted by EU Australia

Cardinal George Pell waits in gaol ahead of an appeal against his conviction for a paedophilic attack on two children.

Lee Duffield provides a wrap on the case and notes that in the fall-out there are fresh calls for reforms to try and end such abuses. … Read More »

Dr Maximilian Brandle OAM: champion of a multi-cultural Australia

  • March 10th, 2019
  • Posted by EU Australia

A standard bearer for multiculturalism and civilised values Dr Maximilian Brandle died from a heart condition at the end of February in Brisbane, Australia.

A Swiss-born linguist who migrated to Australia to teach languages, he was described this week by the Swiss Consulate General as “respected throughout his life at both ends of the Earth”. He was “forward-looking with a great capacity to reflect on the human condition”. … Read More »