#especially the south west of western australia

[mycological-mariner]

Hmm… Cornish Western story… hm

[spanishskulduggery]

You're probably familiar with the cardinal directions in Spanish (and they're usually cognates with English):

(el) norte = north

(el) sur = south

(el) este = east

(el) oeste = west

However there are other more literary terms that you will see from time to time for using the directions as adjectives. This is different from something like norteño/a "northern" or "northerner" and sureño/a "southern" or "southerner"

And sometimes people will say del norte / sur for "from the north/south" as an adjective though it can translate as "northern/southern" regardless

...

Primarily what you will see for the fancier or more literary/geographic terms is:

septentrional = northern

meridional = southern

oriental = eastern

occidental = western

Particularly oriental and occidental get used with geographical terms, like el Medio Oriente is "the Middle East" or something like el hemisferio occidental "western hemisphere"

It's also common to see el Oriente as "the East" or "the Orient", and el Occidente as "the West"

I'd say oriental and occidental are much more common than septentrional for example... Largely you can consider them synonymous, but I think of septentrional as more formal than del norte and meridional feels more formal than del sur to me

These terms may also be used in relation to nautical things, or astronomical terms like constellations or the stars in the night sky, especially septentrional being used for the constellation Big Dipper [called (La) Osa Mayor in Spanish as Ursa Major, or "big bear"; sometimes called El Carro being "the Chariot" or "Wagon/Cart"], and sepentrión or septentrional also applies to stars near the North Star/Polaris and the Little Dipper [(La) Osa Menor or Ursa Minor; "smaller bear"]

Unrelated but Osa means "she-bear" literally; el oso is generally "male bear"

...But in etymology septentrional means "(related to) seven oxen", as the old word for the Big Dipper was "the Plow/Plough" or "Wagon", and it was said that the Seven Stars were the oxen pulling the plough; that sept- is related to "seven"; so again septentrional came to be related to "north" simply because that's what you'd look for as a sailor because that's where the North Star was

In other words, "north" was related to "the North Star and where you'd find it and what other stars were around it" hence septentrional

-

The other important directional words you'll want to know are:

el Levante = the East

el Poniente = the West

You may have heard the term "Levant" used for the Middle East; these terms come from Latin but have to do with the rising and setting sun

levantar is "to raise/rise", and poner(se) el sol is "for the sun to set"; thus el Poniente is "where the sun sets" for example and viceversa el Levante is "where the sun rises" which is more based on the old world knowledge of the East being more like Persia, Mesopotamia, and what the Ancient World called Asia [today we'd say "Asia Minor" now that we know fully about China and the Far East]

-

Other words to maybe just be aware of:

boreal = North / North wind

austro/a, austral = South / South wind

These you won't see too much except for something like la aurora boreal for "Northern lights" or just the Latin aurora borealis or when you look into the etymology of places like Australia as literally being "southern" [the north wind was el bóreas related to Boreas from Greek mythology]

And maybe be aware of el céfiro "zephyr" which was linked to the west wind; not that you necessarily need to know it for "west wind" unless you're reading Greek mythology or fancy literature, but they do use it when discussing the wind every so often

-

Side Note: el norte is also related to the ideas of "finding one's way"; like perder el norte can be "to lose one's way" which is literally "to lose north" - but it's related to nautical terms where people would follow la Estrella Polar "North Star / Polaris" and compasses facing north

A lot of directional vocabulary is related to wind and stars; which does make sense since it features heavily in navigation and nautical terms

[langernameohnebedeutung]

My family came to Australia from the Rheinland centuries ago. I've never been there, what's it like?

Oh, wow...it's not easy, breaking down an entire region authentically. There are a lot of internal divides and differences between different sub-regions and the north vs the south and rural areas vs urban ones as well as the industries that shaped different areas - especially very agricultural areas vs regions shaped by mining.

It's also shaped by being near several national borders, with the south-west like the Saarland being very much shaped by its proximity to France and e.g. north-western regions being shaped by their proximity to the Benelux countries.

Carl Zuckmeyer once coined the expression of the Rhineland as the "Völkermühle" (people-mill, kind of like a melting pot)(as opposed to being defined by a certain ethnic group or a more strictly defined culture) because so many different people settled and passed through here throughout the centuries, all bringing together a lot of different influences and cultures, so it's very hard to say what's "typically Rhinish". Which is obviously true for a lot of places in Germany, but the Rhine amplifies the effect in a way.

Stereotypically, Rhinelanders have a bit of a reputation for being more extroverted and approachable than people from other German regions, though I think that's very much a point of view thing.

We have a lot of sub-regions with their own little cultures, some being VERY regional. Like, we have a bunch of stereotypes here e.g. about Eifelaner, Sauerländer, and so forth.

It's a great place if you like wine, castles and Karneval for sure.

[opencommunion]

"Genocide often accompanies white European settler colonialism around the world. Justification for annihilating the natives for daring to resist the white colonists' theft of their land fills the archives of European colonial thought. This is particularly the case when white settlers encountered resistance on the 'frontier' of their colonies, whether in the Americas or Australia.

Referred to as 'reprisals' or, in the case of Israel and its western apologists, 'retaliation,' the colonists' murderous campaigns against the natives remain the cornerstone of western morality. They view the natives' attack on their colonial oppressors as the start of violence and not as a defensive response to colonial theft and oppression.

Western governments have maintained this position, as attested by their vehement support for Israel's genocidal war. This is in addition to the justifications proffered for the annihilation of the Palestinian people by the mainstream western press and the policing, both literal and figurative, of any opinion, especially scholarly, that condemns Israel's atrocities as part of the racist and annihilationist nature of Zionism. The UN General Assembly itself had adjudged Zionism as such in 1975 when it formally defined it as 'a form of racism and racial discrimination.' ... What all this demonstrates clearly is that the world today is divided between two opposing camps: a minority of powerful imperialist white supremacists, conservatives and liberals alike, including token non-white liberals, who support the genocide of the Palestinians and the majority of the people of the world who do not."

[workersolidarity]

[ 📹 Scenes of massive destruction after Israeli Occupation Forces bombed a civilian home belonging to the Abu Awaili family in the al-Habda neighborhood of Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip on Tuesday night.]

🇮🇱⚔️🇵🇸 🚨

💥OCCUPATION BOMBING RAIDS IN CENTRAL GAZA AND INTENSE SHELLING OF KHAN YUNIS ON DAY 116 OF ISRAELI GENOCIDE💥

Bombing and shelling continued for another day and into the night in the Gaza Strip, while at the same time, Palestinian Minister of Health, Mai Alkaila warned of catastrophic healthcare conditions in the outdoor prison that Gaza is.

Speaking in interview with Palestine TV, Minister Alkaila spoke about severe shortages of health personnel, equipment, medicines and open clinics for Palestinians in Gaza, even as the shells continue to rain down on central and southern Gaza, where Israeli forces penetrated deep into the Khan Yunis governate.

“There are 36 hospitals in the Gaza Strip, 14 of which are partially operating, 9 in the south and 5 in the north," Minister Alkaila told Palestine TV.

She warned that a large outbreak has become probable and emphasized the need for vaccines for children, telling Palestine TV that over 1'100 medical personnel were dead or wounded.

Minister Alkaila also warned that the thousands of dead still trapped under the rubble are an environmental disaster waiting to unfold as it can contribute to the spread of disease.

Lastly, Alkaila slammed the various Western countries, including the United States, the UK, Germany and Australia, among others, that have suspended funding to UNRWA over accusations by the Israeli occupation authorities that less than 0.04% of UNRWA's staff might have participated either directly or indirectly in the events of October 7th.

Israel has previously made repeated made false accusations against international agencies and organizations, including the United Nations, as well as having a history of false flags, set-ups, and false confessions extracted through torture.

Meanwhile, the Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) reported Tuesday that the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) stormed the local headquarters of the humanitarian organization, while also raiding the al-Amal Hospital building's front courtyard area in Khan Yunis, southern Gaza.

Reports tell of Occupation tanks and soldiers demanding the evacuation of both locations under threat of weapons, while the IOF use VHF wave suppression to block communications with the outside world.

Israeli tanks in the courtyard of Al-Amal fired live ammunition and lobbed smoke grenades at the displaced Palestinians outside the hospital, while occupation munitions caused several fires to break out within the confines of PRCS HQ.

Red Crescent crews also transported 16 dead, including women and children, as a result of Israeli airstrikes which targeted another civilian home in the city of Deir al-Balah, in the central Gaza Strip.

Medical sources with PRCS also said they'd transported one dead individual and three wounded civilians after occupation warplanes bombed a residential home west of the Nuseirat Camp, in central Gaza. PRCS published video of the scene after its ambulance and civil defense crews arrived at the site of the occupation's bombing raid, with widespread destruction evident in the footage.

Occupation aircraft also targeted the al-Bureij Camp, in the central Gaza Strip, resulting in several casualties, with another airstrike targeting a group of civilians in al-Bureij, wounding several people.

IOF jets also bombed the Nuseirat Refugee Camp in addition to the heavy shelling of the northern sections of Beit Lahia in northern Gaza, as well as the eastern sections of Khan Yunis to the south.

The Israeli occupation army also launched several missiles randomly towards civilian homes, especially in the al-Sina'a neighborhood west of Gaza City.

Gaza City's horrors continued with reports of dozens of bodies littering the streets in the west and southwest of the city after occupation air raids, tanks and drone fire concentrated on the area.

Israeli soldiers also opened gunfire in the vicinity of al-Shifa Medical Complex west of Gaza City, resulting in the death of a Palestinian child.

As a result of Israel's war of genocide in the Gaza Strip, the occupation army committed 13 massacres of Palestinian families, killing 114 people, mostly women and children, with an additional 65'636 Palestinians wounded according to Gaza's Ministry of Health.

#source1

#source2

#source3

#source4

#source5

#videosource

@WorkerSolidarityNews

[not-poignant]

Me, on a weekly check through all the WIP stories playlist on spotify, crying of happiness and imagination go wild when I see new songs in the Silver. It maybe a long time to the Silver, but every new song feels like new chapter and glimpse in their not yet written life, and I just thought I would share the love and excitement I have for your characters with you <3

Oooo yeah I do go through phases where I add songs to playlists! And Silver is definitely still growing in my mind. I'm getting a stronger sense of the story as I get closer to it. :D

I'm really intrigued to write a human Raven Prince, especially one that is as well-developed as a character as Corbyn is. There's going to be a lot of easter eggs from other stories re: what he likes doing, his past, and his nature, but there's going to be new things too, new facets which might even tell us things about the other versions of him (that's why I like AUs so much).

With human Efnisien I had to completely split him off and away from his fae counterpart and I feel they have very little in common.

But I don't feel that way about Corbyn (or Augus) at all.

I also think it's going to give us a chance to see more of the south west of Western Australia, because Corbyn is in love with the wild lands, and he wanders, so for anyone who likes the trail chapters in Underline the Black, get ready for it to be off-trail and ridiculous at times.

[radical-revolution]

More by Accident than Design

Today, we know that Buddha was born in the Himalayas in present-day Nepal, then spent his life wandering through the region of northern India that lies to the south of Nepal. Yet, three hundred years ago, after seven hundred years of Muslim rule, India had all but forgotten about the Buddha. Until, that is, a few eccentric British colonizers and tea estate managers fell under India’s spell and became fascinated by its native languages and culture.

In the course of their Sanskrit studies, they stumbled across the teachings of the Buddha. A British Army officer called Alexander Cunningham famously rediscovered Bodhgaya. Thanks to him, we can now visit the exact spot of the Buddha’s enlightenment.

Throughout the nineteenth century, European interest in the Buddha grew as reports of new discoveries in India became available. The first general historical account of Indian Buddhism, Introduction à l’histoire du Bouddhisme indien, was published in 1844 by French scholar Eugène Burnouf.

The German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer famously described Buddhism as the “best of all possible religions” and even Friedrich Nietzsche became interested in Buddhism, albeit for all the wrong reasons. Carl Jung, the Swiss psychiatrist, wrote:

I have visited the holy places of Buddhism in India and was profoundly impressed by them, quite apart from my reading of Buddhist literature. If I were an Indian, I would definitely be a Buddhist. But in the West, we have different presuppositions.

Migration also played a major part in the spread of Buddhism throughout the nineteenth century. In the 1840s, Chinese Buddhists began emigrating to America; in the 1870s they were the first to take Buddhism to Australia. In the 1950s, Vietnamese refugees fled to America where they set up the first Buddhist institutions in the West.

By the time the Tibetans were relocating to India in the 1960s, Buddhism had begun to attract a great deal of attention, thanks in no small part to the hippies, the ‘hippy trail’, weed (ganj), the Beat Generation, the Beatles, transcendental meditation and the Vietnam war.

For centuries, Christian missionaries travelled to the East to spread the gospel and convert the natives. Asians have therefore never had to seek out the Christian teachings. For westerners it was the other way around. I have heard some very touching stories about the higgledy-piggledy routes Buddhism took to the UK, America and Europe – especially about the hippies who followed The Beatles to India, accidentally bumped into Buddhism, tuned into transcendental meditation and took up yoga. But few of those who took an interest in Buddhism at that time were specifically seeking enlightenment and so they did almost no research or fact-checking. All of which made Buddhadharma’s centuries-long journey to the West haphazard, at best.

Yet, in spite of its chaotic introduction, the results of having the Buddhist teachings in Europe, America and Australia have generally been good. The only real drawback is that quite a number of new Buddhists have been left with some quite hard-to-shake misconceptions and deeply rooted habitual patterns.

Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse

Poison is Medicine - Clarifying the Vajrayana

Siddhartha’s Intent

[outofangband]

Reptiles and Amphibians of Brethil and Greater Doriath

I love doing general flora and fauna posts but I can’t fit everything in them so I’m trying to make more specific ones as well! please please feel free to send categories to work on with locations! Or any environmental world building asks!

Note that while I have many specific headcanons about the environment of Brethil, I’m always happy to take suggestions or write environment posts based on specific places (like I did with the Havens based on Southwest Australia)

It’s climate was similar I believe to the deciduous and semi deciduous forests of Central Europe as well as those of non coastal New Zealand and parts of East Asia.

Flora, fauna, geography and environment of Arda masterlist 

Brethil is a forested region west of Doriath and the river Sirion. Though it was not within Melian’s Girdle, it was considered part of Doriath until it was inhabited by people of the Haladin as well as so called woodsmen and wild men. Brethil was a deciduous forest of mainly birch trees, bordered on the south and west by the river Teglin which broke off into several tributaries.

The common pond turtle is found throughout Brethil and surrounding regions in wooded ponds.

Common green lizards and common wall lizards are found in more open areas closer to the region of Nargothrond. Jeweled geckos are another species found closer to the region of Nargothrond but which will occasionally be found within the borders of Brethil in beech trees especially. Brown skinks are found sometimes in Northern Brethil. 

Vernal pools form throughout the woods, sometimes the result of spring rains or groundwater. These provide important habitats for amphibians to lay eggs as there are no fish and thus no significant predators for eggs and tadpoles. Vernal pools can be found throughout Brethil forest.

Fire salamanders live on the south western side of Brethil towards the region of Nargothrond, as they prefer hilly terrain. Crested newts are found throughout the woods but tend to congregate in similar locations during spring before returning to their forest homes.

Smooth newts are a highly adaptable species and can be found throughout western Beleriand outside of extremely mountainous regions. They are some of the least disturbed by human habitation.

Black salamanders are found nearer to the river Sirion and around the river Teglin. 

Common tree frogs are also found in the southwest areas of Brethil in more open areas.

Marsh frogs and pool frogs are found closer to Nivrim and in slower moving areas of the two northern tributaries to the river Teglin. 

Agile frogs can be occasionally found in Brethil though they tend to prefer warmer and drier climates.

In the north west parts of Brethil in the northern reaches of the river Teglin species similar to the genus Amolops in East Asia live in fast moving streams. These are called torrent frogs though that name actually refers to species in several different genuses. 

Geographic and environment notes

-Throughout Sindar culture, amphibians are associated with spring, vibrancy, and metamorphosis. Northern Sindar cultures (as well as some Silvan ones) often have words for the first sounds of frogs in the spring.

[drhoz]

#2004 - Venator immansuetus - Western Variable Wolf Spider

Photo by Patrick Wake.

Found in the south-west of Western Australia, and one of the more common Wolf Spiders around Perth especially in autumn.

It was first described in 1909 by Eugène Simon as Lycosa immansueta (the specific meaning 'rough' or 'savage') but transferred to the genus Venator by Volker Framenau in 2015, where it is one of 3 species. Venator (established in 1900) means 'Hunter'.

[dryades-angeli]

Where Ariel lives

Where does Ariel the little mermaid live? I found this question particularly exciting to clarify, especially in relation to the live action film in which Ariel is played by an Afro-American woman. Here I give you the history of my research. ~*~ The sea kingdom where Ariel lives is called Atlantica. So it stands to reason that this kingdom is somehow in the Atlantic.

North America, South America, Europe and Africa border the Atlantic Ocean. In the area of ​​Europe it is the North Atlantic and in the area of ​​Africa it is the South Atlantic. ~ Then King Triton's name caught my eye. Triton is the son of the Greek god of the sea, Poseidon. He also spawned the Tritons, which are nothing but mermaids and mermen. His palace was in present-day Turnesia. However, Triton had no daughters. At least I couldn't find anything about it. So I guessed, only the name was adopted. But that's why I found it interesting to find out where his daughters' names came from. Name: Ariel, Arielle Origin: Hebrew, France Meaning: The Lion of King, The one born in the water Name: Aquata Origin: Greece Meaning: Water Name: Attina (Athena) Origin: Greece Meaning: Wise Name: Alana Origin: Latin, Irish, (may) german Meaning: Precious, Awakening Name: Adella Origin: German Meaning: Noble Name: Arista Origin: Greece Meaning: The best Name: Andrina Origin: Greece Meaning: Manly, Brave Ariel is a male name, Arielle is the female version. Both are hebrew origins and means lion of god. But in France Arielle means water born. Attina is another variant of Athena, the greek goddess of wisdom. In the Live-Action Movie Arielles the siblings are called: Caspia, Indira, Perla, Karina, Mala und Tamika ~ Speaking of names. Where is Prince Eric from? Could he be Eric of Pomerania? He ruled over Denmark, Sweden and Norway. In 1389, Bogislaw was brought to Denmark to be raised by Queen Margaret. His name was changed to the more Nordic-sounding Erik. Source Because the original story of Arielle, written by Hans Christian Anderson, takes place in Denmark, cartoon Erik's empire seems also be Denmark. ~ Then I took on Fabius and Sebastian. Fabius is a surgeonfish that is also found in the Atlantic. This confirms my thesis that Atlantica must be somewhere in the Atlantic. With Sebastian, you know exactly what type of crab he is supposed to be. Because he is red, possible candidates would be the Christmas Island crab, a land crab from Australia, and the red mangrove crab from Thailand. But they don't reside in the Atlantic. That's why I assume Sebastian is a pure invention. Teach me otherwise. But where does the seagull Scuttle actually fly? Scuttle is a lesser black-backed gull. At least that would make the most sense. Lesser black-backed gulls live on the Atlantic coasts of Europe and also winter in North America and West Africa. Source ~ Finally, let's talk about Ariel's red hair. I was also very interested in them: Red hair is most commonly found at the northern and western fringes of Europe;[4] it is centred around populations in the British Isles and is particularly associated with the Celtic nations.[4] Ireland has the highest number of red-haired people per capita in the world, with the percentage of those with red hair at around 10%.[5]

Great Britain also has a high percentage of people with red hair. In Scotland, around 6% of the population has red hair, with the highest concentration of red head carriers in the world found in Edinburgh, making it the red head capital of the world.[6][7] In 1907, the largest ever study of hair colour in Scotland, which analysed over 500,000 people, found the percentage of Scots with red hair to be 5.3%.[8] A 1956 study of hair colour among British Army recruits also found high levels of red hair in Wales and in the Scottish border counties of England.[fn 1][9] The Berber populations of Morocco[23] and northern Algeria have occasional redheads. Red hair frequency is especially significant among the Riffians from Morocco and Kabyles from Algeria,[24][25][26] respectively. Source While Europe, especially Ireland, has the most redhairs, they are rarely seen in Africa. And Ireland is pretty close to Denmark. Arielle is full of European influences. Starting with the names of the sea creatures. Prince Erik is sure from Denmark. His name is also Nordic. Because of this I think Atlantica is located in the Atlantic Ocean between Ireland and Denmark nearby island. That would make the most sense. Of course, the conditions are there to move the setting from Europe to Africa. But how far will Ariel swim to get to Erik? At least a fair bit further than the original European Ariel.

[donnybrookmotel]

Discover a Peaceful Getaway at Donnybrook Motel: Your Ideal Stay in the Heart of Western Australia

When planning a trip to Western Australia, few places offer the tranquility, comfort, and accessibility like Donnybrook Motel. Nestled in the heart of Donnybrook, this charming accommodation is perfect for both short stays and long visits, providing guests with a relaxing environment after a day of exploring the picturesque surroundings.

Why Choose Donnybrook Motel for Your Stay?

Donnybrook Motel stands out as a preferred choice for travelers seeking a serene escape while being close to essential amenities. Whether you are passing through on a road trip or staying for a few nights, this family-friendly motel offers all the necessary facilities to make your visit enjoyable. Located conveniently within the town of Donnybrook, it is ideal for those who wish to explore the surrounding landscapes, local attractions, or simply unwind in a peaceful environment.

Ideal Location for Exploring the Donnybrook Area

The town of Donnybrook, known for its apple orchards and charming countryside, offers visitors a variety of activities to enjoy. From hiking trails to local wineries, you’ll find plenty of things to see and do. Donnybrook Motel’s central location makes it an excellent base for exploring the nearby natural wonders. Not far from the motel, visitors can enjoy scenic drives through the South West, along with visits to regional parks and gardens that showcase the area's natural beauty.

For those interested in history and culture, Donnybrook is also home to a number of historical landmarks and attractions. The region has a rich history, and the local community is proud of its heritage. Whether you're looking to relax or take in some local history, Donnybrook Motel provides easy access to all the region’s best offerings.

Comfortable and Relaxing Accommodation

At Donnybrook Motel, comfort and convenience are top priorities. The rooms are designed to cater to both business travelers and holidaymakers, ensuring that each guest has a pleasant and restful stay. Each room features modern amenities, including air conditioning, comfortable bedding, Wi-Fi, and flat-screen TVs to help you unwind after a day of exploring. The motel also offers family rooms, making it a perfect choice for those traveling with children.

One of the standout features of Donnybrook Motel is its commitment to cleanliness and attention to detail. The staff is dedicated to providing a high standard of service, ensuring your stay is as enjoyable as possible. Whether you're here for business or leisure, you can rest easy knowing that you’re staying in a well-maintained and welcoming environment.

Explore the Local Area: Donnybrook’s Natural Beauty

Donnybrook’s surrounding area is brimming with opportunities to enjoy the great outdoors. A short drive from the motel, visitors can find national parks, scenic trails, and breathtaking views that are perfect for nature lovers. Donnybrook is especially famous for its apple orchards, which draw visitors from near and far during the harvest season. If you happen to be in the area during this time, make sure to stop by the local markets to try fresh apples and apple-based products.

For those who enjoy a glass of wine, Donnybrook Motel is located near several renowned wineries. The South West region is known for its wine production, and a visit to a local cellar door is a must for connoisseurs. Many of these wineries also offer dining experiences, making it easy to combine a visit to the cellar door with a delicious meal. Whether you're interested in wine tasting, hiking, or simply relaxing, Donnybrook offers something for every traveler.

The Best Way to Experience the Heart of Western Australia

Donnybrook Motel offers an ideal blend of comfort, accessibility, and location for those visiting Western Australia. With its central position in Donnybrook, guests can experience all that the region has to offer while staying in a relaxing, comfortable environment. The friendly staff, coupled with the motel’s well-maintained amenities, ensures a great stay for all types of travelers.

Whether you're here to experience the beauty of the South West, relax and recharge, or explore the local culture, Donnybrook Motel is the perfect place to stay. So, why not plan your next trip and make Donnybrook Motel your home away from home? Your peaceful getaway awaits.

Final Thoughts

If you're seeking a quiet and convenient place to stay in Western Australia, Donnybrook Motel provides everything you need. With its comfortable rooms, excellent service, and prime location, it's no wonder that visitors return time and time again. Book your stay today, and experience the comfort and charm that Donnybrook Motel has to offer.

[nellamente]

In or Out.

If someone had to go to every part of the world and study the people they encounter within every corner they end up in, one would discover millions, if not billions, of culture identities and representations. In fact if we had to focus on India only research says that "Modern India is one of the most diverse countries in the world: a subcontinent home to over 100 languages, over 700 different tribes and every major religion in the world." (AIRC, 2023) and those are all based in one country!

Culture makes us unique and different. "The world is divided into two major regions, east and west with distinct cultural differences" (The Migration Translators, 2019) East refers to Asia and the Middle east and the West refers to North and South America, European Countries, Australia etc. Though we live in the same globe we have many things that "divide us" into two regions. According to Thespanishgroup.org (2024), the things that differentiate us are the; values, ways of life, beliefs, traditions, and most of all, languages. "Western cultures, particularly those influenced by European traditions, tend to emphasize individual freedom, autonomy, and personal achievement." Whilst Eastern cultures "place greater emphasis on collective harmony, familial ties, and societal obligations" (Thespanishgroup.org, 2024)

The different 'identities' or cultures, unfortunately, creates division. In fact for a long time it has been debated that the Western dominates over both regions. Let's go back a couple of years. in 2016 History Extra ("The official website for BBC History Magazine") remind us of the historian Arne Westad who says that from the beginning of time "Asia has been in the lead" this happened until the industrial revolution, according to Westad who says that, Europeans stepped up their game and gained domination due to "access to resources (especially energy) and technologies" in the industrial revolution. He continues on by saying that "Spin-offs from military technologies and organisation also furthered research and state development. This form of modernity was found only in Europe (or, rather, in parts of it),". Hakim Adi (another historian) mentions that " Indeed, it is doubtful if the countries of western Europe could be said to have dominated any other continent by the end of the 17th century"

Despite that times change and cultures change, this 'Western domination' can still be seen today. Most especially in popular children's animations. You already know what I am referring to... Walt Disney. In 2023 Louisa Summers a mum of 8 year old boy, wrote an article about Walt Disney movies and how much they are westernised. The first film she refers to is Aladdin.

She points out how despite the character's ethnicity is supposed to be Asian (from the East) his features as well as his princess Jasmine, have European features despite the colour of their skin. This film was made in 1992, yet the author also finds "European cultural tradition and history" elements included in more recent movies such as Encanto (2021). "Why did these Columbian women need to be likened to white Europeans, when Columbia’s descendants are a mix of three racial groups, Europeans, Amerindians, and Africans?" Summers questioned when referring to the characters of Mirabel and her sister Isabela.

Summers concludes her article saying "It’s time for Disney to take authenticity a step further, and make sure every aspect of their films are culturally accurate and representative of the cultures they are portraying, free from white European/US influence." (Summers, 2023)

Considering that this domination has been going on for a long time, it has become the norm unfortunately and we have been more accepting of it and refuse change, in my opinion. If we take a look at how the Catholic religion exhibit Jesus, Holy Mary, Angels, Apostles and more, we see them having a white coloured skin. According to the Holy Bible, John 19:21 "Jesus the Nazarene, King of the Jews" was written on Jesus' cross. Further proving that Jesus was a Jew and that he was definitely not white.

From my end as a practitioner and believer of the Roman Catholic Religion as well as the Holy Bible, the skin colour of Jesus Christ and all of the people involved in the Bible, both testaments, does not make a difference to me on how I perceive, pray and believe in Him. This being said neither should cartoon characters' cultures should affect our approach towards them.

I believe that in this day and age we should move along with time and move on from "power" and "domination", be more open minded to what is really out there in the world without hiding away from reality.

Reference list

AIRC. (2023). Understanding India: A Vast and Richly Diverse Country, with Students from many Different Cultures and Backgrounds. [online] Available at: https://www.airc-education.org/news-and-blog/understanding-india-a-vast-and-richly-diverse-country-with-students-from-many-different-cultures-and-backgrounds.

Bible Gateway. (2019). Bible Gateway passage: John 19-21 - New International Version. [online] Available at: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2019-21&version=NIV.

Moore, J. (2024). The earliest images of Jesus Christ show Him to be a Black man. [online] Neocities.org. Available at: https://blackhistory.neocities.org/BlackChrist.

Summers, L. (2023). Disney’s Ongoing Western-Centric Cultural Focus. [online] Substack.com. Available at: https://innerlifecollaborative.substack.com/p/disneys-ongoing-western-centric-cultural .

The Migration Translators (2019). Eastern vs western cultures. [online] The Migration Translators. Available at: https://www.migrationtranslators.com.au/east-vs-west-cultural-differences/.

Thespanishgroup.org. (2024). How is Eastern culture different from Western culture? [online] Available at: https://thespanishgroup.org/blog/how-is-eastern-culture-different-from-western-culture/.

www.historyextra.com. (2016). The big question: Why did the west dominate history for so long? [online] Available at: https://www.historyextra.com/period/general-history/the-big-question-why-did-the-west-dominate-history-for-so-long/.

[gunelle]

Photos and texts: @everlook_photography

1-. Storm swept at Motukiekie beach on the Wild West coast of New Zealand

2-. Abiqua falls in Oregon

3-. Anzac day 2011 at the boat shed at Dove Lake where a beautiful dawn unfolded

4-. Astride the Pinnacle at the Grampians Wonderland area. Victoria, Australia

5-. Beauchamp Falls in the Otway ranges is yet another beautiful spot on the Ocean Road

6-. Bonney blaze. Barmera jetty on a blustery winter evening that brought snow to South Australia in 2013

7-. Cuillin colours as seen from the amazing location Elgol in the Isle of Skye. Scotland

8-. Drop in birds! Combo of Robe and Mannum in this shot. South Australia

9-. Fjallzarlon in Iceland

10-. Glorious sidelight breaks through on a grey evening at Gibson Steps beach in summer 2014

11-. Half our luck! While we where driving to Skaftafell in Iceland this rainbow hung around for seemingly ages over Lomagnupur

12-. Hopetoun Falls in the Otway ranges

13-. Joffre falls in Karijini national park. Australia

14-. Kawakarpo or Meili Xueshan as seen from the town of Deqin in North Western Yunnan province China

15-. Manapouri Mystery. Kepler Track

16-. Mannum falls yesterday morning was flowing pretty well. I had problems with foggy filters though and forgot to bring wipes grrr. South Australia

17-. Mares Leg cove is beside the more famous Cathedral cove

18-. Milford sound on a beautiful morning in 2012. Bowers falls roaring away after rain the previous day

19-. Mona Vale tidal pool from a quick visit back in 2013 at the tail end of a NZ trip. Australia

20-. Moody morning at Eurobin creek at the base of Mount Buffalo. Victoria, Australia

21-. Motukiki beach on a crazy evening on the west coast of New Zealand in 2013

22-. Mount feathertop as seen from Mount Hotham early winter. Victoria, Melbourne

23-. Murphys Haystacks by night. South Australia

24-. On the edge of light. Grampians. Australia

25-. Palouse falls in Washington state was one of the most impressive scene I have witnessed especially standing near the edge and wandering down below

26-. Robe South Australia on a dramatic morning

27-. Rocks trolls live in Iceland, this one at Hvitserkur

28-. Sail rock at Cathedral cove was one of our favourite spots in New Zealand

29-. Stargate. Standing before two of the apostles on Gibsons steps beach in the darks is a highly recommended experience lol. Light was provided by a faint near new moon. Australia

30-. Stars of the storm. Taken a Motukiekie beach on the Wild West coast of New Zealand

[xtruss]

The World's Best Destinations For Bird-Watching! Slow Down For Epic Spectacles of Nature in These World Wonders For Birding.

SOUTH GEORGIA 🇬🇪 ISLAND — Half a million king penguins, each standing three feet tall, pack shoulder to shoulder in mesmerizing colonies on this hundred-mile-long, glacier-studded island–reached by two days of sailing east of Chile’s Cape Horn. Millions of smaller seabirds nest on the island’s tussock-covered slopes, partly thanks to the largest-ever rat-eradication effort, completed on South Georgia in 2015. While drinking in the abundant birdlife, raise a glass to Ernest Shackleton at his final resting place. Photograph By Eric Chen, Getty Images

CAPE MAY, NEW JERSEY, USA 🇺🇸— The narrow peninsula at Cape May acts as a bird funnel, bringing in songbirds during their spring and fall migrations. At dawn on a good day, legendary Higbee Beach offers front-row seats to a feathered fashion show: A steady procession flies by, each bird intent on finding a place to rest as it encounters the natural barrier of Delaware Bay. With a little luck, you can see 20 species of warblers, each in its own colorful costume. Photograph By Jay Cassario, Getty Images

PANTANAL, BRAZIL 🇧🇷 — Everyone gets spoiled by nature’s extravagance of Brazil's Pantanal, especially during the July-to-August dry season when three-foot hyacinth macaws and hulking jabiru storks seem to lurk around every corner. Cruise the famous Transpantaneira road or hop a boat downriver where, amid oodles of birds, you might glimpse a jaguar lounging on an exposed bank. Photograph By All Canada Photos/Alamy Stock Photo

BROOME, WESTERN AUSTRALIA 🇦🇺 — Roebuck Bay, on the coast of Australia’s enormous Kimberley wilderness, might be the shorebird capital of the world. More than 100,000 sandpipers, godwits, knots, tattlers, plovers, curlews, greenshanks, and turnstones gather here each year before embarking on a marathon journey northward: Many will not touch down until reaching China five days later. In early April, you can relax on the beach at sunset to watch flock after flock take to the skies. Photograph By Luc Hooganstein, Buiten-Beeld/Minden Pictures

NEW GUINEA 🇬🇳 HIGHLANDS — The jungly interior of New Guinea, largely unmapped until the 1930s, astonished early explorers with its birdlife—and the area remains a birdwatcher’s wonderland. Dazzling birds-of-paradise appear to have sprung from a modern artist’s wild imagination. A courting male Raggiana bird of paradise looks like a quivering, pastel-colored feather duster caught in an invisible pinball machine. Photograph By Tim Laman, National Geographic Image Collection

KAKUM NATIONAL PARK, GHANA 🇬🇭 — A series of hanging walkways, draped 130 feet above the ground, gives bird’s-eye views of Ghana's pristine West African rain forest for those brave enough to sway into the canopy. Seven treetops are connected by spans totaling 1,150 feet—almost a quarter mile of vertiginous crossings. It’s possible to find 300 species of birds in the park, including the little-known Fraser’s eagle-owl, the wide-ranging melancholy woodpecker, and nine different hornbills. Photograph By Wietse Michiels, Alamy Stock Photo

MINDO, ECUADOR 🇪🇨 — Embraced by cloud forest almost a mile above sea level, the enclave of Mindo in Ecuador is a honey trap for hummingbirds. Spend a morning at one of the valley’s many sugar-feeder stations to admire these turbocharged gems—with evocative names like shining sunbeam and glowing puffleg. While you’re at it, indulge your own sweet tooth with a bar of heavenly, shade-grown local chocolate. Photograph By Karine Aigner, National Geographic Image Collection

HULA VALLEY, FOREVER PALESTINE 🇵🇸 (ILLEGALLY OCCUPIED BY THE FASCIST WAR CRIMINAL ZIONIST 🐖 🐷 🐖 🐗, ISRA-HELL) — At the geographic crossroads of Eurasia and Africa, upwards of a billion birds may pass through Israeli airspace each fall before crossing the Sahara Desert. Wetland restoration projects have been so successful that many birds now spend the winter, too, and “The Terrorist , Fascist, Apartheid Illegal Regime of the War Criminal Isra-helli 🐖 🐷 🐖 🐗 Government” feeds corn and seeds to tens of thousands of common cranes in the Hula Valley to decrease crane damage to agricultural fields. A movable hide lets viewers sneak into the midst of this real-life spectacle. Photograph By Doron Horowitz, Redux

KRUGER NATIONAL PARK, SOUTH AFRICA 🇿🇦— On safari, the birds are just as outrageous as other, furrier wildlife. Behold the secretarybird, a terrestrial eagle that uses its exceptionally long legs to stride across the African savanna and stamp on venomous snakes. Or the lesser jacana, equipped with such spindly toes that it can balance on floating lily pads. While others pursue the Big Five in South Africa, set your sights on the tiny Southern cordon-bleu—and, bonus, you’ll spot all the megafauna along the way. Photograph By Mdumbleton, Getty Images

NAGALAND, INDIA 🇮🇳— Several years ago, when conservationists visited the remote province of Nagaland on the border of India and Myanmar, they discovered more than a million Amur falcons gathering in dense roosts near Doyang Reservoir—apparently a launching point for the falcons’ nonstop, 13,000-mile migratory flight to Southern Africa. At its peak in October, this stopover may hold the world’s largest concentration of raptors. Photograph By Caisii Mao, Nutphoto/Getty Images

[eveningramblerouser]

The Voice Referendum Review

Finally discharged from my electoral duties, I reckoned my first post would be about the conduct of the 2023 referendum. Not just the political campaigns, but the work of all the key players.

Part 1: Our Humble Servants

As the Australian federal electoral agency, the AEC was tasked with the delivery of Australia's first referendum since 1999. While considerably easier than a standard election (no Senate preferences!), there was still the issue of setting into motion the largest logistical operation in Australia.

Overall, the AEC did an excellent job in rolling out the referendum - more than 20 rural voter services were set up in Western Australia alone, little changes to polling premises were made, and the public was well-informed on what to expect on polling day. Their social media presence was probably the best seen of any government organisation, with a clear aim to inform as many twitterers and facebookers as possible. Pre-writ enrolments were finished before close of rolls, and the scrutiny was done as quickly as possible. All in all, one of the best electoral events in modern history.

The only issue I could find was small, but prominent: the ticks and crosses debacle. It all came out of an interview that Tom Rogers, the Electoral Commissioner, gave on Sky News. While the rules have in place for 30 years, it gave plenty of concern, especially among No voters, that the AEC could provide an inaccurate count. However, while the controversy was there, actual informality rates were less than one would find at a general election, most likely due to the AEC's urging for people to write either Yes or No (as well as the fact that it was on the ballot paper).

Part 2: Our Loyal Activists

As expected, the major political figures in the Voice debate were Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton – Prime Minister and Prime Minister-hopeful. However, like the republican referendum, the Voice referendum had its own specific leadership teams to help fuel debate in Australia.

On the Yes side: Linda Burney, Marcia Langton, Thomas Mayo, and Patrick Dodson.

On the No side: Warren Mundine, Jacinta Price, and - to a lesser extent - Lidia Thorpe.

Probably one of the most prominent strategic issues for the Yes campaigners was the influence that Lidia Thorpe had on the debate. While far across the aisle from Price's perspectives, she was able to promote the "Progressive No" vote, as she was of the view that the advisory body would do little to right the wrongs that have plagued the area of Aboriginal affairs within Australia. With that, with every conservative voter that they helped sway with their "just an advisory body" line, they alienated a staunch progressive voter.

What also didn't help is that two of the major campaigners were devout ALP members, with Burney having served as National President prior to her parliamentary career. If you were of the view that the Voice was another Canberra-based bureaucracy with a love for red tape, the idea of it being created by Labor probably did nothing to sweeten that thought.

Additionally, there appears to be a bit of fatigue regarding how to campaign for referendums. The double majority rule means that traditional marginal seats are obsolete and there's a higher bar to clear. The Yes campaign did well in inner-city regions, and especially in Sydney, Melbourne, and Canberra. However, in my opinion the No campaign was a lot more prudent with their resources, focusing on South Australia, Western Australia, and Tasmania, as they had much smaller populations to target, but were worth just as much value as the Eastern Seaboard. Their targeted advertising in WA resulted in 13/15 electorates voting no in the referendum, even in seats that have been considered safe Labor seats.

Part 3: Our True Reaction

As with all political campaigns, the media took sides. The opinion columns in the Daily Tele, the Herald Sun, the West Australian and News Corp metropolitan papers generally favoured the No side, while the columnists at the Guardian, The Saturday Paper, and the Nine Papers (SMH, The Age, etc.) generally supported the Yes case. However, unlike traditional election campaigns, media analysis showed news reporting to be generally neutral in tone.

And then the referendum came and went. People had their names ticked off and cast their votes. If you were lucky, you got a sausage for your duty. If you were invested, you tuned into the television and watched the results come out.

And the result was shown simply:

39.94% in favour, 60.06% against.

0 states in favour. Referendum not carried.

And then the politicians made their statements, people went on social media to make their statements. Overall, the feelings on the No side were akin to a sigh of relief, having decisively blocked what they saw as unnecessary red tape. On the Yes side, people were considerably more upset, with some people seeing it as the end of Aboriginal reconciliation. Many progressives saw the vote as conclusive proof that Australia is a racist state that can't find a path to progress. Put simply, emotions were mixed. A few Aboriginal leaders called for a week of silence, due to the impact the campaign and ballot had on people's lives, and people were genuinely distressed because of the referendum.

However, I do want to point out one response from the Saturday Paper, as their first post-referendum issue's front page simply read "No.". While probably trying to show either despair in the newsroom, or solidarity with those who called for time to heal, it's pretty hard to swallow from a business gaining comfortable revenue from nearly a million readers, mostly left-leaning folk from the upper-middle class. I'd say it summarises the reaction on the Yes side quite well. At the core is a number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders and communities who reckon they need a break from the intense pressure that was put on them by both campaigns, and outside of that is a network of white activists and criers and Naarm Settlers™ who were very keen to cry for a community they've barely interacted with because of a cause they didn't pitch.

What's next for the realm of Aboriginal affairs is unclear. The government has stated that the Voice isn't the end, but as of 2024 there's been little discussion post-referendum, except for a few alcohol restrictions in towns such as Carnarvon, WA. But even without an advisory body, there are plenty of tools in the arsenal that could be used to help close the gap. While current governmental bodies have come under scrutiny, they're still there, and can be tweaked and altered if our elected representatives see fit.

We'll just have to see if either side of the aisle is willing to do it.

[slacktivist]

Well researched short doco about the anti co-governance movement in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Also I stand in solidarity with my Indigenous relatives and Pacific Indigenous peoples, Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders that are working to have their voices heard. The fact that such a referendum was created and the rights of Indigenous people, who have lived in the Pacific, in Australia for thousands of years, are put into the hands of others.

Referendums have a time and a place. Referendums are for when the government is lazy and want the public to make the decision. But what if you have misinformed your public, or if your public does not engage? Then whose hands are you leaving the decision in? I am sure that the lower rates of voting for Indigenous people in NZ are also low for Indigenous people in Aus. So this to me is not really representative of the people to make this decision. We need to really start taking Indigeneity seriously because culture happens even when we stop. The earth keeps spinning and sea levels keep rising.

Decisions for Indigenous people need to be determined by Indigenous people. But this means more than what is on offer with this Aus referendum. How is it possible to create a representative body, when Aboriginal nations all over Australia already have their own governing bodies and systems for government. I really feel that this is another western solution, to a western-derived problem. Just like putting a bandaid on a bullet hole.

You cant really synthesize Indigenous peoples through assimilation into the functional structures invented in the West. Not unless it's legitimately cool and makes sense, if you think that's possible then why not tell Palestine and Israel to become a single nation, tell North Korea and South Korea to become Korea. The answer is obvious, you can't just tell people to decide on what they are or who they are (especially if you're actually NOT THEM), they just ARE. Whyy would you make it a vote, knowing that surveys and polls are not an accurate capture of the general population, let alone marginalized populations.

It's possible to create an environment where polls are an accurate depiction but it's far from reality. I am Fakaofo Tokelau, I will never be Nukunonu Tokelau, or Atafu Tokelau. But we are all Tokelau together. We are all together, Tu Tolu, three nations, we give thanks to Tui Tokelau, who looks after ALL. what makes us all Tokelau, makes us strong, and what makes Fakaofo Tokelau, different to Nukunonu Tokelau and Atafu makes us stronger.