Varsha Yajman

Opinion | Social media fed me harmful content that fuelled my eating disorder but a ban is not an evidence-based solution, writes @varshayajman. #Echobox=1731029292" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">crikey.com.au/2024/11/08/soc…

Australia is also complicit in funding a genocide and in being an absolute embarrassment when it comes to climate policy. So yes, the US voted in a convicted felon as President, and it’s terrifying, the pressure on Australia’s policy can’t be sidelined.

It’s not about being “so glad I don’t live in the US” when abortion rights in some Australian states are up in the air. We have a voting system, which means you CANNOT “WASTE” your vote, so read up on policy. You don’t have to vote for the two major parties.

Australia’s federal election is mere months away. If the US isn’t a sign to make the most of a preferential vote and not vote in the Libs then I don’t know what is.

The Victoria Secret Fashion Show came back this year with the promise to do better after being cancelled. Here’s what they gave us: - 2 plus size models…? - nepotism :)) - a bad budget lol?

This is not to discount the devastation that Florida is facing right now but a question of why the horrendous floods that South Asia is facing right now don’t make news in the same way.

When a hurricane hits Florida, it makes headlines and fills social media feeds. Yet when South Asia, one of the most geographically vulnerable places to climate change, faces floods and landslides, it seems to not matter as much.

This week, Labor APPROVED the extension of THREE COAL MINES. They justified this by saying it is lawful and an extension of existing mines, not new projects. But in reality, they just said yes to another 1.3 BILLION TONNES of greenhouse gas emissions.

I will never understand how banning things means those under 16 will simply not find unregulated ways to access the same content. And as if 16 year olds are not vulnerable to the same content if they haven’t been taught media literacy anyway.

Someone tell me how the government justifies this: Ban gambling ads? No Fund mental health? No Educate people on media literacy? No Raise the age of incarceration from 10? No But ban social for under 16s? Yes

In 1990s/2000s Albanese was marching the streets in support of a free Palestine. Today, HE FUNDS the genocide and SUSPENDS his party’s members for standing against war crimes. This is a betrayal of not only what we believed him to represent but of basic human rights.

Labor and Coalition are playing a game of tag from one stupid climate policy to another. Yesterday, Dutton said Renewable energy? NAHHHH. Let’s have NUCLEAR ENERGY: it takes ~20 years to build, delays climate solutions, oh AND it’s WAY MORE $$$ than renewable energy.

Just a reminder that the monarchy is a colonial institution. It’s no surprise people care more about one royal, the coloniser, rather than the colonised, over 30 THOUSAND DEATHS in GAZA under a GENOCIDE. Yes a cancer diagnosis is devastating but so is the ongoing colonialism.

It’s International Women’s Day. None of that “intersectional feminist” stuff if you’re not acknowledging the genocide that’s happening right now.

Australia: where we release those who TIE UP 3 Aboriginal kids UNDER 9 for swimming in a VACANT PROPERTY ON BAIL. The mother of two of the kids said if an Aboriginal man had done that, “they would not even let him out of prison, they would not even give him bail."

The Eurocentric media cycle continues with little coverage of South Asia seeing RECORD BREAKING TEMPERATURES in WINTER. There are projections of India surpassing 1.5 degrees for MOST of 2024. Almost 2 billion people live in this region.

In considering South Africa’s allegations of Israel committing genocide, the ICJ issued IMPOSED SEVERAL CONDITIONS ON ISRAEL, requiring it to take all measures to prevent genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. It has yet to order Israel to stop its military operation altogether.

Today, Israel’s Defence Minister stated they have “the most moral army” and are separating civilians from Hamas members. But Israel’s army attacks have seen OVER 23 THOUSAND Palestinians DEAD since Oct 7th, the MAJORITY being civilians. This isn’t self-defence. It’s genocide.

A year closer to 2030 and 2050 - years the government has set targets to minimise emissions. But in 2023, MULTIPLE coal/gas projects were opened/extended, with over 100 IN THE PIPELINE. It’s not about numbers, but about livelihoods of people, about ecosystrms that we disrupt.