I just woke a short time ago, 4:45 local time, definitely against my will, with my back, hips and other joints absolutely on fire from my ankylosing spondylitis, and I finished this article which I’d begun reading last night. I went back to the beginning because I’d had to stop reading and care for my wife, who’s been ill for more than a week. As I read I was filled with the sadness of all the beautiful and irreplaceable things that we humans, as dwellers and custodians of the earth, have lost, and also the myriad (thanks, Alia!) things that we are in danger of losing in the foreseeable future. I’d never heard of Murujuga before last night, when I began reading your post. The thing that stood out to me was that generational thought is shaped not only by what we tell our young people, but perhaps more importantly, what we leave out of the curriculum that we formulate for them. Leaving things out can be as deceitful as telling outright lies. Thank you for your article and the accompanying video. I feel grateful for learning about Murujuga and I wish that every young person all over the world could see what we have in that site, and get a chance to think about what we’re going to lose if things don’t change in a hurry.
This brings me to the subject of the titles that writers choose to attach to their Substack newsletters. I can’t think of a better, more accurate title for your essays than “Mind Flexing.” It sums up perfectly what you’re working to accomplish with your writing. And personally, that title sums up what is going on in my own head when I read your work. Thank you for sharing your myriad insights and concerns, and encouraging readers like me to flex their minds!
Oh sounds like you and your wife have had a tough week Rafael. My thoughts are with you in hoping you get some relief soon.
You are absolutely right about the things we leave out. For the past 240 years, Australia's First Nations' history has been largely left out.
As for the name of my page, thank you. I was just thinking today that I might have the 'wrong' name, but I haven't got a clue what else to call it because I flip flop about with all sorts of things. I would get bored if confined myself to a niche.
I don’t think you have to worry about confining yourself to a niche. You’ve covered a lot of ground in the short time I’ve been a subscriber. Thanks again!
Thank you Alia. I had never heard of this place, this heritage of our human history. Yes, I know of the destruction of the Alexandria Library, but here is a library burning in slow motion from industrial blight.
It seems we’re at the End Times. Those aboriginal stories are about to be bookended by a capitalist mentality that’s egomania has already topped us toward extinction and yet these fuckers won’t stop.
It’s funny really because energy Is what brought this mindset to power and it’s energy that’ll finally silence the greed.
Apologies for the dark comment Aria, an excellent piece of work as always and thanks for writing about it. I have a fascination with prehistory and I’ll learn more about these stories. Thanks
Thanks Jonathan. Looking at Iran and Israel and the news this week, it certainly feels like the End Times. But I also have hope. People are increasingly rising up and speaking out, and it's only the start. If it all goes to pot, I read recently that scientists have learned how to reflect time waves backward. You never know, maybe we can just go back to 'that' moment in time where nothing else mattered and choose to pause the matrix.
It's horrifying, isn't it? I had no idea that the siting of the gas hub was so arbitrary. But even if it weren't ... Woodside's website has lots of reassuring things to say, of course. I'm simply not qualified to say whether any of them have validity or are complete bullshit. I suspect the latter.
Yes, there is a lot of tax-deductible spin on there. I'm sure they are generous in their corporate citizenship where profits aren't impacted. The technology to clean the acidic chemicals from their emissions prior to release apparently exists and I suspect the government has included it in its conditions. How much it would cost to implement, I don't know. I'm guessing a lot, otherwise, if they were truly good corporate citizens, they would have done it already. And even if it's not feasible, they'd be fools to turn the conditions down. It's kinda like parking all day in the 2hr zone knowing you'll get a fine but that fine will still be less than the cost of the parking station, so why not.
A brilliant thought experiment this week, thanks Alia. Until I read your letter I had not heard of the Murujuga ‘library’. I was moved by your connection between the great Alexandria library and the 50,000 year old rock art and stories and song lines, still with us, but slowly burning, because of our ignorance and our obsession with progress. I hope this will not be something we regret later and that there are enough of us to stand up and save this beautiful library. 🙏
I wasn't fully aware of it either until I started following the Woodside extension a while back. I was shocked I didn't know about it prior. It's sad that as a country, we fail to celebrate remarkable places like Murujuga.
I'm still hopeful the extension will fall through somehow. Somehow. I might have to chain myself to a rock 😂
I just woke a short time ago, 4:45 local time, definitely against my will, with my back, hips and other joints absolutely on fire from my ankylosing spondylitis, and I finished this article which I’d begun reading last night. I went back to the beginning because I’d had to stop reading and care for my wife, who’s been ill for more than a week. As I read I was filled with the sadness of all the beautiful and irreplaceable things that we humans, as dwellers and custodians of the earth, have lost, and also the myriad (thanks, Alia!) things that we are in danger of losing in the foreseeable future. I’d never heard of Murujuga before last night, when I began reading your post. The thing that stood out to me was that generational thought is shaped not only by what we tell our young people, but perhaps more importantly, what we leave out of the curriculum that we formulate for them. Leaving things out can be as deceitful as telling outright lies. Thank you for your article and the accompanying video. I feel grateful for learning about Murujuga and I wish that every young person all over the world could see what we have in that site, and get a chance to think about what we’re going to lose if things don’t change in a hurry.
This brings me to the subject of the titles that writers choose to attach to their Substack newsletters. I can’t think of a better, more accurate title for your essays than “Mind Flexing.” It sums up perfectly what you’re working to accomplish with your writing. And personally, that title sums up what is going on in my own head when I read your work. Thank you for sharing your myriad insights and concerns, and encouraging readers like me to flex their minds!
Oh sounds like you and your wife have had a tough week Rafael. My thoughts are with you in hoping you get some relief soon.
You are absolutely right about the things we leave out. For the past 240 years, Australia's First Nations' history has been largely left out.
As for the name of my page, thank you. I was just thinking today that I might have the 'wrong' name, but I haven't got a clue what else to call it because I flip flop about with all sorts of things. I would get bored if confined myself to a niche.
I don’t think you have to worry about confining yourself to a niche. You’ve covered a lot of ground in the short time I’ve been a subscriber. Thanks again!
Thank you Alia. I had never heard of this place, this heritage of our human history. Yes, I know of the destruction of the Alexandria Library, but here is a library burning in slow motion from industrial blight.
It is very sad. I think this one will get messy if they try to push ahead. I have a feeling people will rise up for Murujuga and the climate.
Thank you Alia for finding words and for the reminder of how to participate in democracy outside an election cycle.
There's a lot of passion in the country about this one. I think even if Woodside and the government try to push ahead, things will get very messy.
That would be wonderful!
It seems we’re at the End Times. Those aboriginal stories are about to be bookended by a capitalist mentality that’s egomania has already topped us toward extinction and yet these fuckers won’t stop.
It’s funny really because energy Is what brought this mindset to power and it’s energy that’ll finally silence the greed.
Apologies for the dark comment Aria, an excellent piece of work as always and thanks for writing about it. I have a fascination with prehistory and I’ll learn more about these stories. Thanks
Thanks Jonathan. Looking at Iran and Israel and the news this week, it certainly feels like the End Times. But I also have hope. People are increasingly rising up and speaking out, and it's only the start. If it all goes to pot, I read recently that scientists have learned how to reflect time waves backward. You never know, maybe we can just go back to 'that' moment in time where nothing else mattered and choose to pause the matrix.
It's horrifying, isn't it? I had no idea that the siting of the gas hub was so arbitrary. But even if it weren't ... Woodside's website has lots of reassuring things to say, of course. I'm simply not qualified to say whether any of them have validity or are complete bullshit. I suspect the latter.
Yes, there is a lot of tax-deductible spin on there. I'm sure they are generous in their corporate citizenship where profits aren't impacted. The technology to clean the acidic chemicals from their emissions prior to release apparently exists and I suspect the government has included it in its conditions. How much it would cost to implement, I don't know. I'm guessing a lot, otherwise, if they were truly good corporate citizens, they would have done it already. And even if it's not feasible, they'd be fools to turn the conditions down. It's kinda like parking all day in the 2hr zone knowing you'll get a fine but that fine will still be less than the cost of the parking station, so why not.
A brilliant thought experiment this week, thanks Alia. Until I read your letter I had not heard of the Murujuga ‘library’. I was moved by your connection between the great Alexandria library and the 50,000 year old rock art and stories and song lines, still with us, but slowly burning, because of our ignorance and our obsession with progress. I hope this will not be something we regret later and that there are enough of us to stand up and save this beautiful library. 🙏
I wasn't fully aware of it either until I started following the Woodside extension a while back. I was shocked I didn't know about it prior. It's sad that as a country, we fail to celebrate remarkable places like Murujuga.
I'm still hopeful the extension will fall through somehow. Somehow. I might have to chain myself to a rock 😂