Hi Joel, fantastic article. Iād like to connect with you when time permits in regards to the possibility of further discussions as to the above. My best contact is jordan@strandedaussies.org
My wife passed me this article and never has a truer word been written, bravo! I enjoyed it so much I decided to re-read it again. In fact I may well get it framed and hang it in the bathroom while I am sitting on the thunderbox thinking about why Australia is going down the shitter.
My wife and I have travelled to around the same amount of countries as you, over 2 and a bit decades as we have a deep fascination with what we didn't know so we could learn other perspectives. Currently we are on an island in Thailand so life is ok but I feel a deep sadness for the Thais (and all similarly placed countries....long list) as they are quite literally watching opportunity evaporate around them from COVID and all the ensuing madness.
Your article articulates how we should assess the situation (and what my wife and I convey in conversations to people we meet) and that is from a perspective without the hype glasses on. It is easy to do simple calculations of various contries populations and work out % of COVID deaths, check it against other diseases. Heart disease still the #1 global killer and rising at a rapid rate? How many signs have you seen in your travels alerting you to it or what you should do to combat it? Ever seen a country be shut down for too many heart disease deaths ? Many world media outlets hyped this COVID situation and governments have bought in and created further power plays to subdue their citizens with fear. What stagers me is how easily so many bought into the idea. 1 Australian COVID case = state lockdown = happy safe people ?? You would have thought Ebola was running rampant around the world with the reactions.
I too wonder what will become of our great southern land we called home. Will the walls of paranoia continue to grow or will Australians finally have had enough and stand up against the hypocracy? Time will tell.
What about breaching human rights of those Australians trying to leave Australia who are being precluded from doing so without obtaining a special permit from the government? Shall they need a separate ruling as to breach of their human rights from the UNHCR in Geneva?
Great article, Joel. I am one of the many, many Australians with partners overseas who are desperate to be together again. Your article is being shared far and wideš
Hi Joel . I absolutely loved this . I am in Australia separated from my partner who is overseas .
I shared this post on my Facebook & received very negative feedback from friends & family . They think I am too focused on this point of view & it comes across as un Australian . Iv lost friends over my view on how Australia has handled this & feel very disappointed in my countrymen. I received a phone call from a close friend telling me that this point of view will get me nowhere & only alienate me from more people . I feel if I keep quiet about us being locked up & freedoms taken away that I am participating in doing nothing & agreeing with the masses that have become obedient , complying members of a very insular Australia . Any thoughts or advice on dealing with these people ?
the weirdest, most frustrating aspect of it is smth you called 'Stockholm Syndrome'. Everyone in Australia supports these policies, Ive had major fallouts with my family about it. Its like they're blind
I too am hugely disappointed by the response to the pandemic back home. So much so that I petitioned the UNHCR to consider whether Australia is derogating itās responsibilities under clause 12.4 of the ICCPR. The case is being represented by Geoffrey Robertson QC, and despite the committee immediately issuing an order for interim measures to āfacilitate and ensureā my prompt return whilst the case is being heard, my phone still hasnāt rung & Iām still stranded abroad.
We have organised ourselves into quite a community now, collecting together tens of thousands of Australian citizens, PR holders & other visa subclass holders who have the perfect legal right to come & go as they please (whilst obviously respecting public health), and together we are driving a lot of media, strategic litigation & political lobbying.
We could use a man with your communication skills ;) Join us!
Brilliant piece. Thanks Joel. As an Aussie expat (16 years to date) currently based in Tokyo, Japan, I have never been so disappointed by my country. As you say I hope Australia wakes-up and starts to have an outward perspective... and just a little bit of empathy. The initial response was perhaps the correct thing to do; it did keep numbers down when a lot of other countries were rapidly spiking, but the government now needs to iterate and quickly. They need to be adaptable (as good leaders are) and change their policy on Covid-19, caps on international arrivals and closed boarders before we do any more damage to separated families, the economy and our standing in the world. C'mon Australia.
Feeling very good after reading this latter written by Joel . All the Truth ,All the facts and Emotion of humanity in your heart with all logical Avidence . I wish All Australian citizens Raise Their voice for the people who stuck overseas and Also raise their voice for Their own Right And freedom in their own contry .
I Am a Indian , I lives in India and only for once I visited Australia in 2019 @My brothers home And now my brother his wife and my nephew are also stuck in India from last 1.5 year . They are trying hard to go back home and mailed Australian Government many Times but they are not getting response from them.
Scott marrison is such A sick old Man . I think he should give Resign from his position and should have to take rest @Home . Or Australian citizens has to Through him out of country .
Finally someone puts exactly what I think in wards finally !! Very good read! People need to read this!
Hi Joel, fantastic article. Iād like to connect with you when time permits in regards to the possibility of further discussions as to the above. My best contact is jordan@strandedaussies.org
My wife passed me this article and never has a truer word been written, bravo! I enjoyed it so much I decided to re-read it again. In fact I may well get it framed and hang it in the bathroom while I am sitting on the thunderbox thinking about why Australia is going down the shitter.
My wife and I have travelled to around the same amount of countries as you, over 2 and a bit decades as we have a deep fascination with what we didn't know so we could learn other perspectives. Currently we are on an island in Thailand so life is ok but I feel a deep sadness for the Thais (and all similarly placed countries....long list) as they are quite literally watching opportunity evaporate around them from COVID and all the ensuing madness.
Your article articulates how we should assess the situation (and what my wife and I convey in conversations to people we meet) and that is from a perspective without the hype glasses on. It is easy to do simple calculations of various contries populations and work out % of COVID deaths, check it against other diseases. Heart disease still the #1 global killer and rising at a rapid rate? How many signs have you seen in your travels alerting you to it or what you should do to combat it? Ever seen a country be shut down for too many heart disease deaths ? Many world media outlets hyped this COVID situation and governments have bought in and created further power plays to subdue their citizens with fear. What stagers me is how easily so many bought into the idea. 1 Australian COVID case = state lockdown = happy safe people ?? You would have thought Ebola was running rampant around the world with the reactions.
I too wonder what will become of our great southern land we called home. Will the walls of paranoia continue to grow or will Australians finally have had enough and stand up against the hypocracy? Time will tell.
Any chance you want to run for PM ?
What about breaching human rights of those Australians trying to leave Australia who are being precluded from doing so without obtaining a special permit from the government? Shall they need a separate ruling as to breach of their human rights from the UNHCR in Geneva?
Yours faithfully,
Irena Pechanats
Great article, Joel. I am one of the many, many Australians with partners overseas who are desperate to be together again. Your article is being shared far and wideš
well said, its dirty politics what Australia is doing.
Hi Joel . I absolutely loved this . I am in Australia separated from my partner who is overseas .
I shared this post on my Facebook & received very negative feedback from friends & family . They think I am too focused on this point of view & it comes across as un Australian . Iv lost friends over my view on how Australia has handled this & feel very disappointed in my countrymen. I received a phone call from a close friend telling me that this point of view will get me nowhere & only alienate me from more people . I feel if I keep quiet about us being locked up & freedoms taken away that I am participating in doing nothing & agreeing with the masses that have become obedient , complying members of a very insular Australia . Any thoughts or advice on dealing with these people ?
Hi Joel,
the weirdest, most frustrating aspect of it is smth you called 'Stockholm Syndrome'. Everyone in Australia supports these policies, Ive had major fallouts with my family about it. Its like they're blind
Excellent commentary Joel!
I too am hugely disappointed by the response to the pandemic back home. So much so that I petitioned the UNHCR to consider whether Australia is derogating itās responsibilities under clause 12.4 of the ICCPR. The case is being represented by Geoffrey Robertson QC, and despite the committee immediately issuing an order for interim measures to āfacilitate and ensureā my prompt return whilst the case is being heard, my phone still hasnāt rung & Iām still stranded abroad.
We have organised ourselves into quite a community now, collecting together tens of thousands of Australian citizens, PR holders & other visa subclass holders who have the perfect legal right to come & go as they please (whilst obviously respecting public health), and together we are driving a lot of media, strategic litigation & political lobbying.
We could use a man with your communication skills ;) Join us!
FreeAndOpenAustralia.org
Brilliant piece. Thanks Joel. As an Aussie expat (16 years to date) currently based in Tokyo, Japan, I have never been so disappointed by my country. As you say I hope Australia wakes-up and starts to have an outward perspective... and just a little bit of empathy. The initial response was perhaps the correct thing to do; it did keep numbers down when a lot of other countries were rapidly spiking, but the government now needs to iterate and quickly. They need to be adaptable (as good leaders are) and change their policy on Covid-19, caps on international arrivals and closed boarders before we do any more damage to separated families, the economy and our standing in the world. C'mon Australia.
Feeling very good after reading this latter written by Joel . All the Truth ,All the facts and Emotion of humanity in your heart with all logical Avidence . I wish All Australian citizens Raise Their voice for the people who stuck overseas and Also raise their voice for Their own Right And freedom in their own contry .
I Am a Indian , I lives in India and only for once I visited Australia in 2019 @My brothers home And now my brother his wife and my nephew are also stuck in India from last 1.5 year . They are trying hard to go back home and mailed Australian Government many Times but they are not getting response from them.
Scott marrison is such A sick old Man . I think he should give Resign from his position and should have to take rest @Home . Or Australian citizens has to Through him out of country .
Well said BUT I would not base a measure of success on a vaccine rollout when many donāt want or need it.š