PALM OIL THREAD. Commentary.
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A work in progress...
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'They made it a wasteland and called it peace.' - Tacitus.
Welcome to this #PalmOil Thread website which initially has been somewhat tentatively produced to facilitate and complement as a digital adjunct to what is posted on the social media site known as Twitter. Commentary/editorial remarks etcetera will be occasionally added usually 'in union' with what is remarked upon on social media.
(With what is said at times also overlaid on different web pages within the website itself...after all reality is multi-dimensional with its interconnectedness between issues being not at all narrowingly one-dimensional. It should also be pointed out that palm oil is not always necessarily directly spoken about so as to attempt to widen the discourse yet which ultimately can still go back to this pressing environmental issue yet perceived also by way of theoretical input that also widely takes into account a larger 'global ecosystem').
As it is this website may help to play an educative reference role in hopefully some organised way so as to highlight some of the more deeper underlying 'environmental nuances' in relation to this monoculture cash crop and at times incorporating also political, economic, social frameworks and so forth by which to examine this subject.
It is hoped the information randomly posted on this website in its own quirky, offbeat way will also be somewhat relevant in its own right. If nothing else the links on this website may prove to be a useful resource for one's personal research. As it is it is advisable to scroll down any particular webpage to examine the links which most pages will usually have as this is where information will likely be found of most benefit.
Although the #palmoil thread on Twitter mainly posts links of interest pertaining to this specific environmental matter (as well as other accompanying ecocide/human rights/land rights/labour rights/ gender / endangered species / climate / colonial / ecological issues) there are at times when I choose to have some further commentary so rather than post many individual missives - as has been the case in the past with the technically restrictive parameters of this instantaneous social media site - I have thought to experiment and see how it will go to post comments/editorial remarks etc on the one website. e.g. for instance in relation to some initial historical observations regarding transmigration in Indonesia: as I started writing about this issue to place on social media it occurred to me it would probably be far more practical to communicate what was turn outing to be a lengthy discourse on one page from which the idea of trying out a website actually came about.
I wish to make it very clear that this will be a very generalist website. I am not a palm oil expert and if it also so matters to say I am also not an academic. All remarks should be read with this in mind as I am simply 'a member of the general public' who stumbles along blindly - but hopefully sincerely - in a 'cloud of unknowing'.
While it is hoped what is written will be of some worth to the reader one is encouraged to do one's own research - if so motivated or even possibly inspired and thus to be sufficiently intrigued to learn more on any particular issue or at least to check on the veracity of what has been written. I say so as although one sincerely tries to be accurate one is most certain honest mistakes will be unintentionally made.
It should also be made clear that I approach this environmental issue from an anti-palm oil perspective which I believe will become clear on this website - as it already the case on the #palmoil thread. I fall into the camp that believes palm oil should be boycotted and that the marketed notion of so called 'sustainable' palm oil is a corporate myth (i.e. it mostly does not really exist). Thus the reader may also like to be mindful of such a particular bias when reading anything here on this website. (Perhaps trust the gleaned information, rather than the messenger of this web online platform. Alas, I am sure there will be some disagreement).
However, as it is I have somewhat become an 'accidental environmentalist'.
I should also add that I write/present as a first world urban 'westerner' and what is certainly encouraged is to look at this environmental issue from an indigenous/local perspective so please search out articles written - or are about - frontline defenders, indigenous academics etc. It is they who are to be admired.
(Actually, - for better or worse...to speak one's mind - one thinks it should be mostly those frontline environmentalists and local communities in the Global South, who one feels often face the greatest personal risks, that should have the 'highest profile agency' in calling out the many environmental injustices that still prevail and who can also voice and direct the correct progressive positions that need to be achieved; as well as which direction they should take so as to firmly establish long lasting reforms; with well informed allies in the Global North perhaps effectively shifting more so to a still powerful supporting role - that is equally also genuinely non-paternalistic - so, all in all, to ensure those who bravely daily face heinous environmental threats are protectively fully empowered in order to substantially overcome any tribulation that comes their way, as well as to finally succeed).
Thus what is written here is to be seen overall as a 'launching pad' rather than a 'final word'.
Finally, as a Sydney resident I would like to add that this website is for now mainly being produced on the unceded lands of the clans of the Eora, Wangal, Gameygal, Gadigal & Bediagal peoples who are the First Nations traditional owners in some of the coastal and slightly inland vicinities of various parts of the Sydney environ.
All the best. Enjoy your day. NN.
(Acknowledging Country: a modern history -
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fern angel. minnammorra rainforest. jamberoo. new south wales south coast.
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DIRECTORY
three-organisations september 2021
long-draft september-2021 (miscellaneous).
transmigration-september-2021
two indonesia transition narratives september-2021
indonesian-performance-art-september-2021
personal reflection sarawak borneo. september 2021
pennies-from-heaven september 2021
two indonesia transition narratives september-2021
indonesian-performance-art-september-2021
personal reflection sarawak borneo. september 2021
pennies-from-heaven september 2021
west papua september 2021
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(i): It should be noted that one has discovered a feature whereby one can actually press on an individual title and it will transport you like some time machine to the particular webpage.
(ii): The month/year associated with the header simply denotes when the webpage was posted. Hopefully, most of the information remains relevant and even if some of it becomes nominally perceived as 'out-of-date' it can still have historical value which is also vital. All the best.
Other Explanatory Notes.
(i) home-notes.afterword - the secondary webpage which relates to this particular Home page has additional extraneous comments perhaps best for the more curious...it stems from the main Home page & one simply hovers over the heading in the sidebar to then access it.
(ii) long draft was the first original transmigration page (i.e. it was titled: 'transmigration september 2021' ) . I have been reluctant to take it down;it has much information yet extends far beyond the original topic although one may argue it is all thematically relevant. Thus I was working on this webpage extensively when originally drafting this website; it is quite expansive and from it will be gleaned information to be used for other more compact webpages which is perhaps more accommodating for now so as to avoid any initial information overload. However, one is more than welcome to have a look at this very long, somewhat unwieldy webpage as has collated together many various links etcetera as there will be some information that probably won't make it onto other webpages. (It should also be noted in passing that at times one may also post/update extra information on already uploaded webpages)
(iii) it also goes without saying that there will be other information included over time beyond what has already been uploaded.
(iii)i as further pages are added it will be noted on this Home Directory. All the best.
(iv) one notes when sometimes looking back at the webpages that the prose can be hurried and disjointed at times and needs much improvement. Apologies.
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Technical matters: (1) it should be noted that I have noticed that sometimes a webpage appears slightly different from the way it was formatted - especially the lines. Anyhow, I thought to make you aware of this somewhat minor technical issue. (2) also have noticed a couple of links no longer working and do try to fix them up when sighted. However, if a link does not work for some mysterious reason it is suggested to copy the title of the link and do a Search. I have also learnt that a link at times may work in one browser but will not work in another browser. Strange & mysterious to say the least... Apologies. Thank you for your patience. All the best.
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TWITTER
If at all interested here is my Twitter handle*:
(Hopefully, the link should work and take you to my home social media page otherwise it should be easy enough to look up as have had technical issues in attempts to post a direct link).
Although not an academic to be amusingly dubbed a 'citizen academic' has come to mind...
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BANNER IMAGE: Fireworks. Sydney. New Years Eve. 2011 for 2012. The photograph was taken by waving a SLR digital camera around in the air just to 'see what happens' and from a vantage in a park where he Harbour Bridge can just be sighted in the vicinity of Anzac Bridge which is an approach over water that leads to the city's CBD and for me these streams of coloured light reference both threads and - after thinking about it - also the various ways information; a smorgasbord of visuals; points of view/opinions etc..look likely to be randomly/laterally/spontaneously presented on this 'home-made' website. Hope it all makes some sense anyway. :). It should be mentioned that all images on this website unless otherwise specified are by me. All the best. NN.________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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nicholas nicola etchings
Lastly, just in case anyone maybe actually interested: a web link to a 'sister website -'nicholas nicola etchings' which deals mainly with printmaking which along with writing are my main thematic interests; as said before I am an 'accidental environmentalist' and should be seen as such:
On this website there is also a link back to this website. Look for 'environmental' header in sidebar which should be at the end of the list of headers. All the best. Thank you.
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