When I ask about the trend at the Younger Sun children’s bookshop in Melbourne, a bookseller pulls a dozen examples off the shelves including books about queer theory, feminism, Islam, multiculturalism and citizenship aimed at primary-aged children. Some of these titles are from the US and UK – such as Feminist Baby by Loryn Brantz, What Can A Citizen Do? by Dave Eggers and Shawn Harris and A is for Activist by Innosanto Nagara – but many titles are Australian. Diversity and representation is a key theme. … [Read more...] about Why are Australian children’s books suddenly so political?
Politics
India Lockdown: Migrant workers’ plight breaks political ceasefire
NEW DELHI: Thousands of migrant workers thronging the streets amid the nationwide lockdown has put stains on the nascent political ceasefire at the time of the Covid-19 emergency. Congress on Sunday accused the prime minister of announcing the lockdown without an adequate plan to deal with the problems migrant workers were bound to face. Congress charged the chief ministers of Bihar and UP with insensitivity for “turning away these migrant workers when they returned. CWC member Rahul Gandhi has sent a letter to Modi, seeking a social safety net for the most vulnerable sections. Rahul Gandhi told the PM: “It is important that the government consider a nuanced approach that takes the complex realities of our people into consideration…The sudden lockdown has created immense panic and confusion. Factories, small industries and construction sites have closed, tens of thousands of migrant labourers are trying to walk home to their villages and are stranded at various … [Read more...] about India Lockdown: Migrant workers’ plight breaks political ceasefire
A woman’s place appears to be anywhere but the Downing Street press briefing
It also helped that the foreign secretary didn’t have any news, other than the grim daily death statistics, to impart. So he could stick to doing what he knows best, which is spilling out a random series of words, only some of which amount to fully coherent sentences. At some point in his career, the black-belt martial arts specialist is going to have to realise that the brain is also a muscle. Coming up with lines like “We are focusing on the things we need to focus on” may sound impressive at cabinet meetings, but doesn’t translate well to those of us who speak human. … [Read more...] about A woman’s place appears to be anywhere but the Downing Street press briefing
Coronavirus: Boris Johnson out of intensive care but remains in hospital
EU finance ministers have agreed a €500bn (£440bn) rescue package for European countries hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic There are now 1.5 million confirmed coronavirus cases around the world, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University A 101-year-old man has been discharged from hospital in Worcestershire after recovering from coronavirus at the Alexandra Hospital in Redditch The Queen has written to those she would have presented with symbolic money during the annual Royal Maundy service, which was cancelled due to the pandemic Ofcom has launched a formal investigation into a London TV network's broadcast of an interview with conspiracy theorist David Icke about coronavirus Admissions to hospital A&E departments in England fell last month by 23%, as calls to NHS 111 doubled … [Read more...] about Coronavirus: Boris Johnson out of intensive care but remains in hospital
They Said They Were Bernie or Bust. Then They Talked Themselves Into Biden.
“My impression is that Bernie has good chemistry with Biden. They have a relationship. It’s easier for them to connect on a human level,” said Tad Devine, who served as Sanders’ top strategist in 2016 before having a falling-out with the campaign in 2020. “I think a lot of it depends on Bernie's messaging to him and on Biden acknowledging that issues like climate and education and student debt matter and affect this voting bloc that is critical to Bernie. I would move on that front by recognizing that Bernie has good ideas.” … [Read more...] about They Said They Were Bernie or Bust. Then They Talked Themselves Into Biden.
Peter Saul’s Donald Trump in Florida: reptilian political satire
Body horror … One of Saul’s key anti-Vietnam war works, Saigon from 1967, also references Guernica. Picasso’s screaming animals and people are translated in a horror show of comic-book sexual violence, with Asian babes born of racist, misogynist stereotypes prey to rampaging GIs. The painting’s psychedelic palm trees recur throughout Saul’s work, suggesting the reverberations of America’s imperialist crimes. … [Read more...] about Peter Saul’s Donald Trump in Florida: reptilian political satire
