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Category: Education

  • MIL-OSI Global: What do the Bible, the Quran and the Torah say about the justification for war?

    Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Robyn J. Whitaker, Associate Professor, New Testament, & Director of The Wesley Centre for Theology, Ethics, and Public Policy, University of Divinity

    Wars are often waged in the name of religion. So what do key texts from Christianity, Islam and Judaism say about the justification for war?

    We asked three experts for their views.

    The Bible

    Robyn J. Whitaker, University of Divinity

    The Bible presents war as an inevitable reality of human life. This is captured in the cry of the Teacher in Ecclesiastes:

    for everything there is a season […] a time for war and a time for peace.

    In this sense, the Bible reflects the experiences of the authors and communities who shaped the texts over more than a thousand years as they experienced both victory and defeat as a small nation among the large empires of the ancient near east.

    When it comes to God’s role in war, we cannot shirk from the problematic violence associated with the divine. At times, God orders the Hebrew people to go to war and enact horrendous violence. Deuteronomy 20 is a good example of this: God’s people are sent to war with the blessing of the priest but told to first offer terms of peace. If peace terms are accepted, the town is enslaved. Certain enemies, however, are decreed worthy of total annihilation, and the Hebrew army is commanded to destroy anyone and anything that doesn’t produce food.

    On other occasions, war is interpreted as a tool, a punishment where God uses foreign nations against the Hebrew people because they have gone astray (Judges 2:14). You can also find an underlying ethic to treat the captives of war justly. Moses commands that women captured in war are to be treated as wives, not slaves (Deuteronomy 21), and in 2 Chronicles, captives are allowed to return home.

    In contrast to war as divinely authorised, many of the Hebrew prophets express hope in a time where God will bring peace and people will “neither learn war any more” (Micah 3:4) but rather turn their weapons into tools for agriculture (Isaiah 2:4).

    War is viewed as a result of human sinfulness, something that God will ultimately transform into peace. And that peace (Hebrew: shalom) is more than an absence of war. It is about human flourishing and unity between peoples and God.

    Most of the New Testament was written during the first century CE, when Jews and emerging Christians were a minority within the Roman Empire. The military power of Rome is harshly critiqued as evil in resistance texts such as the Book of Revelation. Many early Christians refused to fight in the Roman army.

    In this context, Jesus says nothing specific about war but generally rejects violence. When Jesus’s disciple Peter seeks to defend him with a sword, Jesus tells him to put away his sword because a sword only leads to more violence (Matthew 26:52). This is consistent with Jesus’s other teachings such as “blessed are the peacemakers” or his commands to “turn the other cheek” when struck or to “love your enemies”.

    The reality is that we find various war ideologies in the Bible’s pages. If you want to find a justification for war in the Bible, you can. If you want to find a justification for peace or pacifism, that is there too. Later Christians would develop ideas of “just war” and pacifism based on biblical ideas, but these are developments rather than explicit within the Bible.

    For Christians, Jesus’s teaching provides an ethical framework for interpreting earlier war texts through the lens of love for enemies. This counterpoint to divine violence and war points readers back to the prophets, whose hopeful visions imagine a world where violence and suffering are no more and peace is possible.

    The Quran

    Mehmet Ozalp, Charles Sturt University

    Islam and Muslims emerged onto the world stage in the hostile environment of the seventh century. In response to major challenges, including warfare, Islam introduced pioneering legal and ethical reforms. The Quran and the Prophet Muhammad’s example laid out clear legal and ethical guidelines for the conduct of war, well before similar frameworks appeared in other societies.

    Islam did this by defining a new term, “jihad” rather than the usual Arabic word for war, “harb”. While harb refers broadly to warfare, jihad was defined within Islamic teachings as a legal, morally justified struggle, which includes but is not limited to armed conflict. In the context of warfare, jihad refers specifically to fighting in a just cause under clear legal and ethical guidelines, rather than belligerent or aggressive warfare.

    Between 610-622, Prophet Muhammad practised active non-violence in the face of the constant suffering, persecution and economic embargo he and his followers endured in Mecca, despite insistent approaches by his followers to take up arms. This showed that armed struggle cannot be taken up within the members of the same society, as this would lead to anarchy.

    After leaving his home town to escape persecution, he established a pluralistic and multi-faith society in Medina. He took active steps to sign treaties with neighbouring tribes. Despite following a deliberate strategy of peace and diplomacy, the hostile Meccans and allied tribes attacked the Muslims in Medina. Engaging these attackers in an armed struggle was unavoidable.

    The permission to fight was given to Muslims by the Quran verses 22:39-40:

    The believers against whom war is waged are given permission to fight in response, for they have been wronged. Surely, God has full power to help them to victory. Those who have been driven from their homeland against all right, for no other reason than that they say, “Our Lord is God” […]

    This passage not only permits armed struggle but also offers a moral justification for just war. It means war is clearly just when defensive — while aggression is unjust and condemned. Elsewhere, the Quran emphasises this point:

    If they withdraw from you and do not fight against you, and offer you peace, then God allows you no way (to war) against them.

    Verse 22:39 outlines two ethical justifications for warfare. The first is when people are driven from their homes (and land) – in other words, through occupation by a foreign power. The second is when people are attacked because of their beliefs to the point of violent persecution and attack.

    Importantly, verse 22:40 includes churches, monasteries and synagogues. If believers in God do not defend themselves, all places of worship would be destroyed, so this is to be prevented by force if necessary.

    The Quran does not allow for aggression, since “God loves not the aggressors” (2:190). It also provides detailed regulations on who is to fight and who is exempted (9:91); when hostilities must cease (2:193); and prisoners should be treated humanely and with fairness (47:4).

    Verses such as 2:294 emphasise that warfare and any response to violence and aggression must be proportional and within limits:

    Whoever attacks you, attack them in like manner as they attacked you. Nevertheless, fear God and remain within the bounds.

    In the event of unavoidable war, every opportunity to end it must be pursued:

    But if the enemy inclines towards peace, then you must also incline towards peace and trust in God.

    The aim of military action is to end hostilities and remove the reason for warfare, not to humiliate or annihilate the enemy.

    Military jihad cannot be pursued for personal ambition or to further nationalistic or ethnic disputes. Muslims cannot wage war on nations that have no hostility towards them (60:8). But if there is open hostility and attack, Muslims have a right to defend themselves.

    The Prophet and the early caliphs specifically warned military leaders and all combatants that they must not act treacherously or engage in indiscriminate killing and pillage. He said:

    Do not kill women, children, the elderly, or the sick. Do not destroy palm trees or burn houses.

    Because of these teachings, Muslims have had legal and ethical guidelines throughout much of history to help limit human suffering caused by war.

    The Torah

    Suzanne D. Rutland, University of Sydney

    Judaism is not a pacifist religion, but in its traditions it values peace above all else, and prayers for peace are central to Jewish liturgy. At the same time, there is a recognition of the need to fight defensive wars, but only within certain boundaries.

    In the Torah, the Five Books of Moses, the recognition of the need for war is clear. Throughout their journeying in the desert, the Israelites (Children of Israel) fight various battles. At the same time, in Deuteronomy, the Israelites are instructed (chapter 12, verse 10):

    When you go forth against your enemies and are in camp, then you should keep yourself from every evil thing.

    The story of Amalek is the symbol of ultimate evil in Jewish tradition. Scholars argue this is because his army attacked the Israelites from the rear – killing defenceless women and children.

    The Torah also stresses that army service is compulsory. Yet, Deuteronomy elaborates four categories of people who are exempt:

    • someone who has built a home but has not yet dedicated it
    • someone who has planted a vineyard but has not yet eaten of its fruit
    • someone who is engaged or in his first year of marriage
    • someone who is afraid, in case he influences other soldiers with his fear.
    Judaism is not a pacifist religion, but in its traditions it values peace above all else.
    Shutterstock

    It is important to point out that the disdain of war is so strong that King David was not permitted to build the temple in Jerusalem because of his military career. His son, Solomon, was allocated this task, but no iron was to be used in the building because this represented war and violence, while the temple was to represent peace, the ideal virtue.

    The vision of peace for all humanity is further developed in the prophetic writings and the concept of the Messiah. This is seen particularly in the writings of the prophet Isiah, who envisaged an age when, as he describes in his idyllic vision:

    they shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.

    The Mishnah, the first part of the Talmud, raises the concept of an “obligatory war” (milhemet mizvah). This encompasses the biblical wars against the seven nations said to inhabit the Promised Land, the war against Amalek, and the Jewish nation’s defensive wars. It is, accordingly, a clearly defined and recognisable class.

    Not so the second category, “permitted war” (milhemet reshut), which is more open-ended and, as scholar Avi Ravitsky writes, “could relate to a preemptive war”.

    After the Talmudic period, which ended in the 7th century, this debate became theoretical, since Jews living in Palestine and the diaspora no longer had an army. This was largely the case from the time of the defeat of the Bar Kokhba Rebellion against the Romans (132–135 CE), apart from a few small Jewish kingdoms in Arabia.

    However, with the return of the early Zionist pioneers to the Land of Israel in the late 19th and 20th century, the rabbinic debates of what constitutes an obligatory, defensive war and what is a permitted war, as well as the characteristics of a forbidden war has reignited. This is a subject of deep concern and controversy for both academics and rabbis today.

    Robyn J. Whitaker is affiliated with The Wesley Centre for Theology, Ethics, and Public Policy.

    Mehmet Ozalp is affiliated with Islamic Sciences and Research Academy

    Suzanne Rutland has received an Australian Research Council grant for her research on the Australian Jewry and funding from the Pratt Foundation, as well as an Australian Prime Ministers Centre (APMC) fellowship for her research on Soviet Jewry and Australia. She is also involved with numerous NGOs, including the Australian Jewish Historical Society (patron), the Australian Association for Jewish Studies (past president and committee member), and the Australian government’s expert delegation to the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance. In addition, she is a board member of the Freilich Project for the Study of Bigotry at ANU; she is on an academic advisory committee at the Sydney Jewish Museum; she is the director of the Australian Academic Alliance Against Antisemitism; and she is an Australian board member for Boys Town Jerusalem and a board member of Better Balance Futures for faith communities These roles are all undertaken in an honorary capacity. She is also writing the history of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry in an honorary capacity.

    – ref. What do the Bible, the Quran and the Torah say about the justification for war? – https://theconversation.com/what-do-the-bible-the-quran-and-the-torah-say-about-the-justification-for-war-259679

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Interview – ABC Adelaide with Jules Schiller and Sonya Feldhoff

    Source: Murray Darling Basin Authority

    JULES SCHILLER: There is a meeting of State and the Federal Education Ministers today to look at issues surrounding education. Always a very popular topic here on the ABC, as it should be, Jason Clare. Welcome to you.

    JASON CLARE, MINISTER FOR EDUCATION: G’day, mate. Great to be here.

    SCHILLER: Let’s get to the child care sector first, because this has been a bit of an ongoing rolling conversation. I know Four Corners tackled it. There’s an Auditor-General’s report into subsidy and fraud. But let’s first get to child care and safety. I know Four Corners had a report saying that many of the for-profit child care centres have not been properly regulated. We’ve heard issues around staff-to-child ratios and pay. Are you going to regulate this industry properly?

    CLARE: This is the number one issue on the agenda for Education Ministers today meeting here in South Australia, meeting for the first time since the election. There’s more than a million Australian families who have their kids in early education and care, including me, I’m one of them, so it’s personal for me.

    You mentioned the Four Corners story. Even before that there was the arrest of a paedophile in Queensland a couple of years ago and subsequent conviction. That led me as the Minister, working with the states and territories, to ban the use of personal mobile phones in child care centres. There was a reason that we had to do that. And also changes to mandatory reporting rules from seven days to 24 hours where there’s evidence or allegations of sexual or physical abuse in child care centres.

    That Four Corners story was really concerning. It produced evidence there of neglect and mistreatment and physical abuse of children in child care centres. Anyone watching that would say that you can’t sit by and do nothing. I’ve said that we will introduce legislation into the Federal Parliament which basically cuts off funding to dodgy operators. If you’re not meeting the quality standards, then you won’t get the subsidy that helps to fund the centre. And we won’t let you expand and open new centres, but not just that.

    That Four Corners story produced evidence that people that were once working in child care were moving into the NDIS. We need to take steps to stop people working and neglecting people in one part of the care sector from moving into another. So, they’re things that we’re already doing. Yesterday the New South Wales Government released an independent report following that Four Corners story into the actions that they think are necessary. And they’re going to report to Ministers on that today so that we can work on what are the next steps. This work is never done. But what are the things that we need to do next to make sure our kids are safe.

    SONYA FELDHOFF: Can we avoid anything other than an official regulator, though? I mean, are there other options?

    CLARE: There are already regulators. There’s a national regulator and there’s state regulators and they work together. That doesn’t mean that everything is hunky dory, though.

    FELDHOFF: I was going to say, these things have still happened, though, haven’t they?

    CLARE: Exactly right. And so, some of the things we’ll talk about today are beefing up the penalties for providers when it’s proved that they’ve let children down and they’ve let families down and how do we make sure that we get better information faster to families when things aren’t up to scratch.

    SCHILLER: This is an issue with quality ratings, isn’t it? Only 10 per cent of all centres, I think – well, 10 per cent don’t have quality ratings. And, look, I mean, to be kind of blunt here, we’re talking a lot about the for-profit centres as well. And, you know, I went to the – there’s a Reddit page on child care in Adelaide, so child care workers talking on Reddit about problems in their industry. Almost uniformly, people who work for not-for-profit centres seem to be happier than many people in the for-profit centres. And you hear stories about staff chipping in for books and toys themselves. They’re very concerned about, you know, children to staff ratios up to three. I think it’s one to five, it gets over three and it’s one to 10 and 11. They’re saying that parents expect them to, you know, parent their kids more than they do, and they’ve got kids with special needs and, you know, obviously they don’t think that they’re paid enough.

    CLARE: Firstly, when it comes to quality and safety, whether it’s in a private for-profit child care centre or a not-for-profit centre, my expectation is that everybody meets the quality standards. You’re right, there are different ratios for children depending on how old they are. For little children, zero to two, the ratio of educators to children is much smaller. And that’s all about safety and quality and protecting those children.

    In terms of salary, you’re right, early educators historically have not been paid enough, and that‘s why people have either chosen not to become an early educator or have left the job to go and work at Woolies or at Bunnings. We’re rolling out now a 15 per cent pay rise right across the board for the entire sector. Ten per cent rolled from December last year, another 5 per cent from this December. And we did something similar in aged care. It’s designed to help boost the workforce, recognise the important work that they do but hopefully encourage some people who’ve left the industry to come back and work.

    We’re seeing evidence of that already: Goodstart, one of the biggest not-for-profit early education provider in the country has seen a massive increase in job applications in the last couple of months, that’s a really good sign, as well as a drop in vacancy rates.

    FELDHOFF: It’s 17 minutes past 7. Sonya and Jules with you here. And in the studio with us is the Federal Education Minister Jason Clare. With the introduction of the three free days child care for most families, is it going to be easier or less easy to bring this regulation in? Because we need policing of these things that are going wrong, don’t we?

    CLARE: One doesn’t necessarily affect the other. Let me make sure I’m pretty clear about the three days. The 3 Day Guarantee. That’s three days guaranteed access to the subsidy. It doesn’t mean it’s free, but depending on your income, it means that your subsidy for child care could be up to 90 per cent of the real cost that’s charged by the child care centre. And why are we doing that? Because the evidence shows us that kids from really poor families are the children that are most likely to miss out on going to earlier education and care at all and are the ones who need it the most. This isn’t just about looking after children; it’s about the early education of children.

    If a child goes to early education and care, they’re more likely to be ready to start school, less likely to start behind, get that early literacy and numeracy and social skills that can help get them off to a good start when they start school. At the moment, we know it’s the really disadvantaged kids that are missing out. So, guaranteeing that subsidy for every child is important.

    FELDHOFF: Sure, but we’re not on top of things with fewer children in the system. This is going to see more presumably in the system.

    CLARE: Because of two things – number one, we’ve cut the cost of child care over the last two years. For the average family they’ve saved about seven grand on child care fees that they would otherwise have had to pay because of that change we made in the last couple of years. And because of this pay rise for educators we’ve now got about 100,000 more children in the system today than when we made those changes a couple of years ago. So, there’s more kids in early education and care, but still not all of the kids who need it. I’m talking about those kids from really poor and disadvantaged backgrounds, and also kids who might live in regional parts of Australia where there’s less likely to be a centre. That’s why another thing that we’re doing is rolling out a billion-dollar fund to build centres where they don’t exist.

    SCHILLER: Well, let’s get to some other issues. 891 ABC Radio Adelaide, Sonya and Jules at 20 past 7 with Jason Clare, the Federal Education Minister. Yeah, we’re hearing lots of reports of teachers who feel unsafe in the classroom. This is because of, you know, bullying or violent behaviour of their students and, let’s face it, parents as well who are emailing them. You know, I know from teachers that, you know, they’re constantly contacted by parents who are asking them to, you know, make sure their kids eat the right food. And because of these issues teacher retention has been kind of difficult in Australia. So how are you going to deal with these issues around teacher safety, around teacher workload that is affecting people wanting to become teachers? And if we don’t – everyone listening right now could think about that teacher that changed their lives, that put them on a course, that created a passion in them that might be the employment they’re currently in. How do we get the best and brightest to stay in teaching?

    CLARE: I’m glad you asked it and that you asked it in that way, because I think this is the most important job in the world. And it’s a harder job than it was 20 years ago. And you see that in some of the stories in the media today. This is really serious. It makes parents worry but also, it’s the reason why teachers leave the job they love. They’re attracted to this work because they want to educate children, they want to change lives. It’s that moment when that sort of invisible light bulb goes off and they know that they’ve helped someone learn something and understand something they never did. And then when there’s violence or bad behaviour in the classroom and it all becomes too much it can force people to leave the job.

    There are some good things happening. The ban of mobile phones in schools right across the country has had a massive impact. I was talking to Blair Boyer, the South Australian Education Minister, last night. He made the point that kids are more attentive in the classroom now because they’re not distracted by the phone, they’re focused on the teacher. Kids are talking to each other and playing more in the playground than ever before because they’re not doing what adults do – look at their phone. He again got a complaint from students the other day that they’re bored now and that they want more clubs and things to do at lunchtime because they’re not looking at their phones; they’re actually –

    SCHILLER: But the problem goes further than that, though, doesn’t it?

    CLARE: It’s deeper than that. I just use that as one example. Another one is vaping. You ask teachers and principals they’ll tell you vaping can often be the cause of a lot of problems in schools. We’ve seen a 50 per cent reduction in suspensions in South Australian schools in the last couple of months because of the crackdown on vaping. But none of that means that the job is done. This is a serious issue. It’s one of the things we’ll talk about today, about what more tools can we give teachers, both when they’re training at uni to manage bad behaviour, manage children with complex behavioural issues, but also what we can do in the classroom.

    FELDHOFF: Do we need more SSOs – I’m assuming that’s the term now still – SSOs in schools now to deal with some of these behavioural issues that are often medically based?

    CLARE: It’s part of it. Often it will be somebody who’s providing special support for people with complex issues. Autism is a classic example of that. Could I just add on to that, because it’s also something in the media today, around bullying generally. Bullying at schools is different today than it was when we were at school. It’s not just push and shove or stealing the lunch money, it can often be what happens online. And it’s not necessarily what happens on the laptop in the classroom, it’s what happens at home. And there’s stories in the paper today about deep fakes. I can’t think of anything more horrific or terrifying than this, but when one student cut and pastes the face of another student and then puts it on to a nude body and then puts it on to the internet to bully or harass other students, but not just other students, female teachers as well. And that’s another thing that’s causing teachers to leave the profession, and young people, it’s affecting their mental health and wellbeing.

    SCHILLER: I mean, is this a police matter, do you think?

    CLARE: It is.

    SCHILLER: Because, I mean, you’ve not only got that, you’ve got explicit pictures being taken of other students on mobile phones that are shared, which, let’s face it, is a criminal offence. So, do you have to get police involved in that?

    CLARE: Yes.

    SCHILLER: And charge students to make them realise how serious this is?

    CLARE: There’s a couple of things you need to do. The eSafety Commissioner today has released a tool kit for schools about how to manage this. We’re going to get her to brief Education Ministers in a couple of months about this as well. She’s made the point, number one, ring the police. Number two, here are some tools to help with this. But we also want to set national standards around how do we deal with this, and that’s another thing that we’ll be discussing at the meeting today.

    FELDHOFF: Now, we are fast running out of time. Can I throw a couple of questions at you for really quick answers?

    CLARE: Go for it.

    FELDHOFF: First of all, Adelaide University, we’re going to see that come into place in January next year. I know this week the domestic numbers are increased. What about the international student numbers in terms of how that might impact this new university which relies on that economic injection?

    CLARE: The good news this week was the number of Australian students starting a uni degree is at record levels, the highest it’s ever been, except for COVID. And this new university, when it comes together next year, will be the biggest educator of Aussie students in the country.

    FELDHOFF: In the country?

    CLARE: In the country. This is going to be a seriously big university when it comes to educating Australian students. But they’ll educate international students as well.

    FELDHOFF: And that’s important for the economic bottom line of that university, too, isn’t it?

    CLARE: Absolutely, as for all universities. All universities to some extent educate students from the other side of the world who come here for an education. Doesn’t just make the uni money, it means that young people who come here and fall in love with Australia take that love for Australia back home with them. We’re setting numbers for different universities about how to do that. That is rolling out well and we’ve set a special number for the merged university to take into account the fact that it’s merging together next year.

    FELDHOFF: And very quickly, should HECS debts cuts be visible on your bill by now?

    CLARE: They’ll be visible very soon or as soon as possible. I’ve got to introduce a bill into the Parliament when Federal Parliament sits on the 22nd of July, so just about a month’s time. That will cut everyone’s HECS debt by 20 per cent. It’s got to pass the Parliament and then we’ve got to get the Tax Office to cut that off. But I guess the important message for anyone with a HECS debt listening, you don’t have to do anything; it will all happen automatically.

    SCHILLER: And just looking at the text line before you go, Minister – where with Jason Clare, federal Education Minister, 26 minutes past 7, 891 – look, many people are worried about the for-profit childcare centres. You know, there’s texts coming through that, you know, that there’s a childcare centre in Adelaide that has not met standards for 10 years. Other people are talking about bullying in schools. Teachers are also being bullied. Students don’t understand the constant harassment, even low-level harassment, of bullying of teachers, and it’s exhausting teachers. And I think parents as well are getting involved at this level, too. So, yeah, lots of issues for you to discuss, you’d have to say?

    CLARE: And it tells me that the agenda today is on the money. It’s the issues that parents care about and teachers care about, quality and safety in child care –

    SCHILLER: Because no-one should be in child care to, you know, primarily to make a profit. I mean, primarily it’s kids’ safety –

    CLARE: They should be there to care for and educate our children, right? That is number one. We’re talking about that, but we’re also focused on behaviour and bullying in our schools and outside of our schools, but how do we build our teacher workforce. We still don’t have enough teachers. And also the implementation of the agreement that we signed last year, the extra billion dollars for schools in South Australia, an extra $16 billion dollars across the country. Today we start the work on the implementation of that agreement.

    SCHILLER: Jason Clare, thank you so much for your company. He’s meeting with the state education ministers today. At 28 minutes past 7.
     

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Cats at 40: a dazzling cast – stuck in an outdated show

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Karen Cummings, Lecturer in Singing, University of Sydney

    The star of the 40th anniversary production of Cats – which premiered at the Theatre Royal Sydney last week – is the performing ensemble.

    Some ensemble scenes, such as The Jellicle Ball, offered the same joy and exhilaration as the original 1985 production. In these moments of song and dance, the invisible connection between the performers’ hearts, voices and bodies, and those in the audience, is truly felt. There is still magic here.

    Yet, 40 years on, it’s clear other aspects of the show have become too tired for modern audiences.

    Comfort for frightening times

    By today’s standards, Cats is a modest show where the biggest investment is in the extraordinary performers and performances.

    But back in 1985, when it first premiered in Australia, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical was at the forefront of a wave of mega-musicals that swept the world. A review published in the Los Angeles Times that year called it “one of the most imaginative and eye-catching musicals of the century”.

    Cats ran for decades, all around the world. On the West End it ran for 21 years and 8,949 performances. On Broadway, it replaced A Chorus Line as the longest-running musical, playing for 18 years.

    First performed in London in 1981, the show is based on a set of poems from T.S. Eliot’s Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats (1939). Some may know the poems from their primary school elocution classes (we both did).

    Eliot wrote Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats in the period between the two world wars, when the world was teetering on the edge of fascism. It spoke to an audience that was probably eager to escape from its frightening reality.

    Commitment lifts the show

    In the musical, the cats move between songs and ensembles that describe the characteristics of each individual. The musical styles include rock, classical, pop, jazz, musical hall, blues and everything in between. Each cat has a specific musical and movement language.

    The committed and exuberant performers lift the show. Gabryel Thomas, who plays Grizabella, brings new life and intense musicality in her singing of the iconic song Memory.

    Axel Alverez performs the role of Mr. Mistoffelees with exuberance and charisma. And Todd McKenney’s charming and nuanced characterisation of Bustopher Jones makes him an audience favourite.

    The cameo roles feature strong performances by well-known music theatre performers, such as Lucy Maunder as Jellylorum, along with some newer faces, such as Claudia Hastings as White Cat.

    Gabriyel Thomas plays the outcast glamour cat Grizabella.
    Daniel Boud

    Stagnation or reinvention?

    In this re-launch, the score, direction and choreography are almost identical to what we saw back in 1985.

    The dancing and choreography are the heart and soul of the show, just as they were back then. For those who appreciate performance, this alone will make Cats worth seeing.

    Yet, the quality of the performances couldn’t completely make up for the tired and largely unchanged musical score. The 80s style synthesisers and guitars, and reduced orchestration, are oddly nostalgic, but in an unsatisfying way.

    Nostalgia is big business, and no doubt this production taps into this. As music journalist Peter C Baker wrote in an article last year:

    More and more of what we’re offered […] feels motivated by the logic that what people want, or can most easily be sold, is what they already liked before.

    At the same time, there’s much discussion these days about reinterpretations of classic musicals and opera – which are often a gamble.

    In the 2024 re-imagined New York production of Cats, Cats: The Jellicle Ball, the gamble paid off. The Jellicle Ball was set in a queer ballroom culture where competitive performers rehearse on a catwalk.

    The show premiered to wide acclaim, with some reviewers saying Cats finally made sense. As reviewer Jeanine T. Abraham put it:

    The ballroom version takes this story into the twenty-first century with flavor, sass, and reverence for the Black Queer Ballroom community who created this joyous form out of so much pain and trauma.

    This positive reception was far removed from the very badly reviewed 2019 feature film starring James Corden.

    Cats is a musical that has always been controversial – both celebrated and derided, depending on who you ask.

    What makes a show spectacular?

    Since around the mid 1980s, audiences have become acclimatised to the spectacular. Whether it’s Wicked, the Olympic ceremonies, or Kendrick Lamar’s Superbowl halftime show, we’ve come to expect spectacle and jaw-dropping visual effects. But Cats is not that kind of show.

    Rather, it deals with the idea of community, and of a world where particular kinds of difference are accepted and others are rejected. The narcissistic elderly male cats are revered, while the glamour cat Grizabella is an outcast. A utopian ending brings reconciliation for all.

    Cats is a musical that defied expectations. Many initially predicted it would flop, and the song Memory was the only real hit. Yet it enjoyed enormous success.

    In 2025, the show leans heavily on its 30 or so performers who still manage to transport us to another world, despite the dated music and lack of story. The success of future interpretations will likely come down to how well those gaps can be filled.

    The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Cats at 40: a dazzling cast – stuck in an outdated show – https://theconversation.com/cats-at-40-a-dazzling-cast-stuck-in-an-outdated-show-256881

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Travelling with food allergies? These 8 tips can help you stay safer in the skies

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jennifer Koplin, Evidence and Translation Lead, National Allergy Centre of Excellence; Chief Investigator, Centre of Food Allergy Research; Associate Professor and Group Leader, Childhood Allergy & Epidemiology Group, Child Health Research Centre, The University of Queensland

    Anchiy/Getty Images

    With the school holidays approaching, many families will be travelling, including on planes interstate and overseas. But travel can pose unique challenges for people with serious food allergies.

    Research shows air travel is a significant source of anxiety for people living with or caring for someone with a food allergy. In a global survey of 4,704 people with food allergies and their caregivers published in 2024, 98% said having a food allergy adds anxiety to air travel.

    Fortunately, there are things you can do to help keep yourself or children with food allergies safe in the skies.

    What are the concerns about plane travel with allergies?

    Reassuringly, documented allergic reactions during flights are very rare. A 2023 review that combined data from 17 studies estimated about seven in every 10 million passengers had an allergic reaction while flying.

    While many people have more mild food allergies, some are at risk of anaphylaxis (a life-threatening allergic reaction) and need to carry adrenaline with them at all times in the form of an EpiPen or Anapen. The review found reports of severe reactions needing adrenaline were even rarer – about eight cases per 100 million passengers.

    In fact, this study concluded people were less likely to experience an allergic reaction on a plane than in their everyday lives. However, some of this might be due to the precautions passengers with food allergies already take.

    People with food allergies are sometimes worried about food particles travelling in the air of the plane cabin and causing a reaction.

    Thankfully, research has shown this risk is very low. It’s difficult for food proteins (the part of the food that causes the allergic reaction) to become airborne. And if they do, air filters fitted on large commercial planes can remove any airborne food particles quickly from the cabin air.

    Peanuts are one of the foods commonly associated with anaphylaxis. Studies that have tested opening and shaking containers containing peanuts and de-shelling peanuts found peanut proteins were only detected directly above the container, at a low level, and for a short period of time.

    Other studies have found airborne peanut was not detected when eating peanuts in a confined space. And studies found no severe reactions among people with peanut allergy when peanut butter or peanuts were held close to their face or kept in a bowl close by in a small room.

    A bigger risk for reactions is the food protein ending up on a seat or tray table. However, casual contact with food crumbs or smears is highly unlikely to cause a severe allergic reaction. This type of contact can cause mild to moderate skin reactions that can be treated with antihistamines if needed.

    Staying safe on a plane with allergies

    For people at risk of anaphylaxis:

    1. take your adrenaline in your hand luggage (not your checked baggage). Store it under the seat in front of you or in the seat pocket so it’s in easy reach

    2. carry a travel plan and action plan for anaphylaxis, completed and signed by a medical professional, or similar documentation, showing the traveller’s food allergy status and what to do in an emergency. (Templates of these plans are available via the Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy)

    3. let the flight crew know you have an allergy and indicate the location of your adrenaline and anaphylaxis action plan. This is particularly important for people travelling alone, since anaphylaxis can be mistaken for other non-allergic symptoms, which could lead to a delay in receiving adrenaline.

    For people with food allergies generally:

    1. let the airline know you have a food allergy and ask about their food and medication policies when booking or before travelling

    2. take allergy-safe food from home. Airlines don’t guarantee allergy-safe food will be available, and not all food supplied on a plane will have an ingredient label (but check liquid restrictions and be aware of potential restrictions on taking fresh food across borders)

    3. wipe down surfaces such as the seat, armrests and tray table with wet wipes when boarding. You can request early boarding from airlines to do this

    4. wash your hands before eating (wet wipes and handwashing with soap are more effective than plain water or hand sanitiser)

    5. you may choose to sit a child with food allergy away from areas where food or drink will be passed over the top of them (for example, next to a window or between family members). Tell passengers sitting next to your child about their allergy so they don’t offer to share food or drink

    6. if you think you’re experiencing an allergic reaction, let the flight crew know immediately.

    Most people with food allergies feel anxiety about plane travel.
    joo830908/Shutterstock

    What can other passengers and airlines do?

    If you’re travelling, you could wipe down surfaces around you at the end of the flight. Remove rubbish from seatbacks and other areas around your seat and aisle before disembarking.

    Also, ask about allergies before offering to share any food with your neighbours during the flight (and check with parents before offering anything to their children).

    Airlines, meanwhile, should have clear policies relating to food allergies easily available and consistently applied by ground staff and cabin crew, such as allowing early boarding on request.

    The patient support organisation Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia has a Food Allergy Travel Hub with advice on how to stay safe when travelling with food allergies.

    Jennifer Koplin receives funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia. She is a member of the Executive Committee for the National Allergy Centre of Excellence (NACE), which is supported by funding from the Australian government.

    Christopher Warren receives institutional research funding from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, Food Allergy Research and Education, Genentech Inc, and The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

    Desalegn Markos Shifti is supported by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)-funded Centre for Food Allergy Research (CFAR) Postdoctoral Funding.

    – ref. Travelling with food allergies? These 8 tips can help you stay safer in the skies – https://theconversation.com/travelling-with-food-allergies-these-8-tips-can-help-you-stay-safer-in-the-skies-258387

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Bonamici, Fitzpatrick, Dingell, Bacon Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Expand Access to Mental Health Care for Educators, School Staff

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Suzanne Bonamici (1st District Oregon)

    WASHINGTON, DC [06/26/25] – Today Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Debbie Dingell (D-MI), and Don Bacon (R-NE 02) introduced bipartisan legislation to improve access to mental health care for teachers and school staff.

    Educators are more likely to report symptoms of depression than other adults, but schools are often not equipped with specific resources to address staff mental health challenges. The Supporting the Mental Health of Educators and Staff Act will address ongoing mental health needs in public education, which have increased in recent years because of the COVID-19 pandemic, widespread teacher shortages, difficult working conditions, and student behavior issues. 

    “Our education system cannot function without the hard work of teachers and school support staff,” said Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici. “Unfortunately, too many dedicated professionals are experiencing burnout and leaving the education workforce. The bipartisan Supporting the Mental Health of Educators and Staff Act will expand access to mental health care for educators and school staff so they can receive the support they need and continue to serve students.”

    “A school is only as strong as the people who serve in it. Our educators are mentors, protectors, and community builders—and too often, silently shouldering the weight of burnout, trauma, and stress,” said Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick. “This bipartisan legislation delivers the mental health support they have long needed and deserved. When we care for those who care for our kids, we are not just protecting their well-being—we are investing in the future of every student they serve and inspire.”

    “Teachers have some of the most important roles encouraging children to reach their full potential and supporting, shaping, and inspiring the next generation of leaders,” said Congresswoman Debbie Dingell. “Too often the needs and wellbeing of teachers are overlooked, leading to burnout. We must make sure educators have the support they need and deserve to do their jobs.”

    “The mental health crisis in our country requires immediate action, particularly within our education system where both students and staff are struggling,” said Representative Don Bacon. “The bipartisan Supporting the Mental Health of Educators and Staff Act will strengthen mental health resources for our educators while creating evidence-based approaches that destigmatize seeking help and support.”

    The legislation has been endorsed by: the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), the American Psychological Association, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP), the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), the National Council on Teacher Quality, Teach for America, and The Education Trust.

    “Educators are frontline responders to our students’ most urgent social and emotional needs, which have only increased in recent years,” said AFT President Randi Weingarten. “Less than half of schools reported having the resources they need to help kids. That leaves teachers with the immense responsibility of supporting kids in crisis, and it takes an emotional toll – that stress, on top of the ongoing struggle for resources, increased paperwork, overcrowded classrooms, and stagnant wages make teachers’ mental health a growing concern. Representative Bonamici’s Supporting the Mental Health of Educators and Staff Act commits resources to reduce educator stress, promote teacher wellbeing, and create the foundation for teacher longevity, which is good for students, too. This is how we keep teachers in the classroom—by giving them what they need to attain the same kind of joy, fulfillment, and calm that they ensure for our kids on a daily basis. The AFT supports this legislation and calls for its swift passage.”

    “Our teachers and school support staff do so much to help in the development of our children,” said National Alliance on Mental Illness’s Chief Advocacy Officer Hannah Wesolowski. “They serve in one of the most difficult, although often one of the most rewarding, professions and play a significant role in our kids’ lives. We must provide them with the information and resources they need to care for their own mental health. This bill is an important step in providing our educators and school staff with the tools they need to support their mental wellbeing.”

    “NAESP proudly endorses the Supporting the Mental Health of Educators and Staff Act,” said L. Earl Franks, Ed.D., CAE, Executive Director of the National Association of Elementary School Principals. “While school leaders dedicate themselves to supporting their students’ mental well-being, we must also prioritize the mental health of their staff too. When educators demonstrate self-care practices, they are not only taking care of their own well-being but also creating positive examples for their students to follow. We applaud Congresswoman Bonamici’s leadership on this important issue and look forward to working with her and other congressional supporters to pass this legislation.”

    “School leaders urgently need comprehensive tools to support their staff’s mental health, and this act would provide exactly that foundation,” said National Association of Secondary School Principals CEO Ronn Nozoe. “When we invest in educator wellbeing, we strengthen the entire school community and ultimately improve outcomes for students. NASSP is grateful to Representative Bonamici for this critical and compassionate legislation.”

    The Supporting the Mental Health of Educators and Staff Act will increase access to critical resources by designing and scaling up evidence-based approaches to addressing the mental health needs of the education workforce across the United States. It will:

    • Require coordination between federal agencies to develop best practices for (1) preventing suicide and improving mental health and resiliency among education professionals; and (2) training education professionals in appropriate strategies to promote their mental health;
    • Destigmatize mental health care among the education workforce by designing and disseminating an education and awareness initiative encouraging education professionals to use mental health and substance use disorder services;
    • Provide direct support to educators and school staff members by establishing programs to promote mental health among the education professional workforce; and
    • Promote accountability for federal resources for new programs.

    The full text of the legislation can be found here.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: 1 in 5 community footy umpires have been assaulted, while others cop death threats: new research

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alyson Crozier, Senior Lecturer, Exercise and Sport Psychology, University of South Australia

    Scott Barbour/Getty Images

    Umpires’ decisions often upset sports fans, especially during a close contest.

    At most games, spectators boo loudly, coaches throw their hands up in frustration and players can yell or even physically intimidate officials.

    It seems abusing umpires is acceptable. But why? It’s certainly not something generally tolerated in other workplaces.

    Without umpires, games simply couldn’t go ahead.

    That’s why we sought to shed light on the situation by researching what it’s really like to be an Australian rules umpire.

    Not for the faint-hearted

    Umpires (also called referees or match officials) apply the rules of their respective sports to ensure fair and safe competitions for all players.

    They participate in training and accreditation programs to learn rules and apply them based on the demands of the game.

    They need to be physically fit and position themselves appropriately around the playing field.

    But many sport organisations are struggling to provide enough qualified officials at grassroots levels. Between 1993 and 2010, there was a 28% decline in active sport officials in Australia.

    Football Australia, soccer’s governing body here, boasts 11,000 officials but estimates around 4,200 leave their roles every year.

    In many sports, teenagers are increasingly stepping in to umpire junior and senior games to back-fill shortages.

    However, Australian rules football appears to be defying this trend – the number of community umpires surpassed 20,000 for the first time in 2024. This is an 18% increase in umpire registrations compared to 2023, largely driven by a 31% rise in registrations by women and girls.

    Despite these record numbers, the Australian Football League (AFL), and many sports organisations including Rugby Australia and the A-League, are worried about retaining officials.

    Abuse towards officials is one of the primary areas of concern.

    Our research focused particularly on what was happening in Australian rules football.

    Abuse and even death threats

    We surveyed 356 umpires across all levels of Australian rules football competition to examine their experiences of abuse.

    Almost half reported receiving regular verbal abuse (name-calling, insults, swearing and threats). Worryingly, 21% said they had experienced physical abuse (pushing, hitting, or assault).

    As one state-level umpire remarked:

    Over time, you end up developing a thick skin.

    Encouragingly, most umpires knew the process to officially report any abuse received, with more than half indicating they had formally reported at least one incident of abuse.

    While many felt supported through the reporting process, only 62% were satisfied with the outcome.

    As one state-league umpire recalled:

    I was assaulted two years ago by a spectator. Lucky I was bigger than him. I was disappointed he only got a one-year suspension from attending games.

    Further, a senior community football umpire commented:

    I was threatened with my life this year and the league did nothing about it.

    What can be done?

    Many respondents commented on the need to support young umpires to have positive experiences.

    One potential strategy is to make it clearer when officials are underage.

    As one example, Netball Victoria provides a green band or scrunchie to any umpire under the age of 18 to promote respect from players, coaches and spectators.

    Other codes could look to implement similar strategies.

    Most of our responding umpires called for the introduction of tougher penalties in games and through tribunal systems.

    Some called for clubs to be fined or spectators banned for repeated incidents of abuse.

    Others commended the AFL’s stricter interpretation of umpire abuse in 2022, which mandated a 50-metre penalty for any player showing dissent.

    Additionally, umpires felt clubs needed to take greater responsibility for the actions of players, coaches and spectators.

    One umpire told us:

    Cultural change needs to come from within clubs because top-down campaigns encouraging respect don’t change hearts and minds.

    This could be in the form of creating a positive club culture and zero-tolerance abuse policies.

    In our research, umpires said it was crucial that governing bodies communicated both the level of evidence required to report abuse, and how tribunals worked.

    As younger officials may not know the process, having this information embedded in umpire training may help umpires feel more supported in reporting abuse.

    Equally, appropriate penalties must be handed down to ensure umpires have faith in the reporting system.

    While the number of Australian rules football umpires has increased in recent years, these numbers can also decrease quickly.

    If we want to retain umpires for the medium and long-term, we need governing bodies such as the AFL to address the frequency and severity with which umpire abuse occurs.

    As one umpire commented:

    Cases of abuse need to have consequences, not just a slap on the wrist. Why would anyone want to go out and be abused for two hours?

    The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. 1 in 5 community footy umpires have been assaulted, while others cop death threats: new research – https://theconversation.com/1-in-5-community-footy-umpires-have-been-assaulted-while-others-cop-death-threats-new-research-257804

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: The NDIA is changing how it pays for disability supports. What does that mean for rural communities?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Edward Johnson, Lecturer in Social Entrepreneurship and Co-Founder of Umbo, University of Sydney

    Shutterstock

    Each year, the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) reviews its pricing rules to ensure services funded under the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) remain sustainable.

    This year’s annual pricing review outlines changes that will take effect from July 1 2025.

    Among the updates are changes to therapy pricing, travel reimbursement, and rural loadings. The NDIA says this will bring NDIS pricing in line with other government schemes and private health insurance.

    But what do these changes mean for people outside the big cities?

    What’s changing

    Key changes include:

    • adjusted therapy support rates, including a $10 per hour reduction for physiotherapists to $183.99 per hour.

    • travel reimbursement for therapists will be halved (from 100% to 50% of the hourly rate during any time spent travelling)

    • price loadings for some rural and remote areas will be removed.

    The NDIA justifies these decisions with a dataset that includes the average of hourly rates from Medicare, private health claims, and 13 other government programs.

    The agency says some NDIS therapy prices exceed mainstream equivalents by up to 68%.

    Why pricing comparisons don’t always translate to rural services

    While these comparisons might make sense for metropolitan clinics, they do not capture the realities of service delivery in rural and remote areas.

    For example, allied health professionals such as physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and speech pathologists in cities can see multiple clients in a row at one location (although this isn’t always realistic or best practice in cities either).

    In contrast, rural and remote providers may drive hundreds of kilometres between appointments. Much of their time, including travel, planning, and follow-up, is essential but often unbilled.

    So while $193.99 (soon $183.99) per hour for physiotherapy might look generous, it does not reflect what is left after factoring in travel and unpaid care coordination.

    Disabilities are complex and often lifelong, so clinical support is time-consuming. However, that is something clinicians are passionate about – therapists so often squirm at the thought of billing our clients for anything other than direct clinical services.

    The NDIA’s own data confirm most therapy providers are small operators. In fact, 90% are unregistered, and many serve fewer than five participants.

    The result is a fragile “market”, particularly in towns with limited infrastructure. If pricing makes it unviable for local clinicians to offer services, the only remaining options may involve families travelling long distances or forgoing support entirely. This has knock-on effects for local economies and contributes to professional burnout and workforce shortages.

    What this means for rural families

    For families living in towns with limited services, travel is not optional. It is a lifeline. If providers cannot afford to travel, many people with disability simply go without.

    Telepractice can be used in some clinical situations, but not all. The most effective kind of telepractice also includes support from local clinicians and coworkers, and ideally a mix of in-person and online consultations.

    One family I worked with during my PhD research lived four hours from the nearest regional centre. After an 18-month wait, their child’s therapy appointment was cancelled twice due to workforce shortages. They eventually paid privately for a service in another state.

    This story is not unusual. Many families said they did not necessarily want more funding; they just wanted support delivered in ways that worked for them. Being able to access help locally allowed their children to remain part of the school community and reduced pressure on carers already juggling other responsibilities. Clinicians, communities, and families are continuing to tell very similar stories.

    It is essential clinicians are able to travel to meet with NDIS clients in regional areas.
    Shutterstock

    Is there a better way?

    My research found rural families preferred flexible models that blended telepractice with local capacity-building. These hybrid approaches worked well when supported by policy that allowed for coordination, community involvement, and some in-person time. They were not luxury add-ons. They were what made services possible.

    There is also a long-term benefit in supporting local service ecosystems. When therapists can build relationships within a community, they are more likely to stay, collaborate with other professionals, and mentor early-career clinicians.

    This helps reduce churn and provides continuity of care. However, with travel reimbursement and rural loadings cut, sustaining these models becomes more difficult.

    What happens next?

    The NDIA’s strategy includes a shift toward “differentiated pricing”, which could eventually support more tailored approaches. The Department of Social Services has also promised to offer “foundational supports” outside the NDIS, but it is currently unclear what the nature of these supports will be. Right now, though, rural communities are being asked to absorb the reduced funding and limited flexibility. Without further adjustment, these changes risk widening the gap between metropolitan and non-metropolitan service access.

    A single national price does not guarantee equal access. Equity comes from recognising and responding to different contexts. For rural and remote Australians living with disability, that recognition is long overdue.

    Until then, it will be up to 7 million rural Australians to make it work for themselves in places where resources are already stretched thin.

    I am a co-founder of Umbo Pty Ltd (an NDIS therapy provider which provides telepractice services)

    – ref. The NDIA is changing how it pays for disability supports. What does that mean for rural communities? – https://theconversation.com/the-ndia-is-changing-how-it-pays-for-disability-supports-what-does-that-mean-for-rural-communities-259148

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Supreme Court rules that states may deny people covered by Medicaid the freedom to choose Planned Parenthood as their health care provider

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Naomi Cahn, Professor of Law, University of Virginia

    Abortion-rights demonstrators holds a sign in front of the Supreme Court building in Washington as the Medina v. Planned Parenthood South Atlantic case is heard on April 2, 2025. Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call via Getty Images

    Having the freedom to choose your own health care provider is something many Americans take for granted. But the U.S. Supreme Court’s conservative supermajority ruled on June 25, 2025, in a 6-3 decision that people who rely on Medicaid for their health insurance don’t have that right.

    The case, Medina v. Planned Parenthood South Atlantic, is focused on a technical legal issue: whether people covered by Medicaid have the right to sue state officials for preventing them from choosing their health care provider. In his majority opinion, Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote that they don’t because the Medicaid statute did not “clearly and unambiguously” give individuals that right.

    As law professors who teach courses about health and poverty law as well as reproductive justice, we think this ruling could restrict access to health care for the more than 78 million Americans who get their health insurance coverage through the Medicaid program.

    Excluding Planned Parenthood

    The case started with a predicament for South Carolina resident Julie Edwards, who is enrolled in Medicaid. After Edwards struggled to get contraceptive services, she was able to receive care from a Planned Parenthood South Atlantic clinic in Columbia, South Carolina.

    Planned Parenthood, an array of nonprofits with roots that date back more than a century, is among the nation’s top providers of reproductive services. It operates two clinics in South Carolina, where patients can get physical exams, cancer screenings, contraception and other services. It also provides same-day appointments and keeps long hours.

    In July 2018, however, South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster issued an executive order that barred Medicaid reimbursement for health care providers in the state that offer abortion care.

    That meant Planned Parenthood, a longtime target of conservatives’ ire, would no longer be reimbursed for any type of care for Medicaid patients, preventing Edwards from transferring all her gynecological care to that office as she had hoped to do.

    Planned Parenthood and Edwards sued South Carolina. They argued that the state was violating the federal Medicare and Medicaid Act, which Congress passed in 1965, by not letting Edwards obtain care from the provider of her choice.

    A ‘free-choice-of-provider’ requirement

    Medicaid, which mainly covers low-income people, their children and people with disabilities, operates as a partnership between the federal government and the states. Congress passed the law that led to its creation based on its power under the Constitution’s spending clause, which allows Congress to subject federal funds to certain requirements.

    Two years later, due to concerns that states were restricting which providers Medicaid recipients could choose, Congress added a “free-choice-of-provider” requirement to the program. It states that people enrolled in Medicaid “may obtain such assistance from any institution, agency, community pharmacy, or person, qualified to perform the service or services required.”

    While the Medicaid statute does not, by itself, allow people enrolled in that program to enforce this free-choice clause, the question at the core of this case was whether another federal statute, known as Section 1983, did give them a right to sue.

    The Supreme Court has long recognized that Section 1983 protects an individual’s ability to sue when their rights under a federal statute have been violated. In fact, in 2023, it found such a right under the Medicaid Nursing Home Reform Act. The court held that Section 1983 confers the right to sue when a statute’s provisions “unambiguously confer individual federal rights.”

    In Medina, however, the court found that there was no right to sue. Instead, the court emphasized that “the typical remedy” is for the federal government to cut off Medicaid funds to a state if a state is not complying with the Medicaid statute.

    The ruling overturned lower-court decisions in favor of Edwards. It also expressly rejected the Supreme Court’s earlier rulings, which the majority criticized as taking a more “expansive view of its power to imply private causes of action to enforce federal laws.”

    Planned Parenthood clinics, like this one in Los Angeles, are located across the United States.
    Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images

    Restricting Medicaid funds

    This dispute is just one chapter in the long fight over access to abortion in the U.S. In addition to the question of whether it should be legal, proponents and opponents of abortion rights have battled over whether the government should pay for it – even if that funding happens indirectly.

    Through a federal law known as the Hyde Amendment, Medicaid cannot reimburse health care providers for the cost of abortions, with a few exceptions: when a patient’s life is at risk, or her pregnancy is due to rape or incest. Some states do cover abortion when their laws allow it, without using any federal funds.

    As a result, Planned Parenthood rarely gets any federal Medicaid funds for abortions.

    McMaster explained that he removed “abortion clinics,” including Planned Parenthood, from the South Carolina Medicaid program because he didn’t want state funds to indirectly subsidize abortions.

    After the Supreme Court ruled on this case, McMaster said he had taken “a stand to protect the sanctity of life and defend South Carolina’s authority and values – and today, we are finally victorious.”

    But only about 4% of Planned Parenthood’s services nationwide were related to abortion, as of 2022. Its most common service is testing for sexually transmitted diseases. Across the nation, Planned Parenthood provides health care to more than 2 million patients per year, most of whom have low incomes.

    South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster stands outside the Supreme Court building in Washington in April 2025 and speaks about this case.
    Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images

    Consequences beyond South Carolina

    This ruling’s consequences are not limited to Medicaid access in South Carolina.

    It may make it harder for individuals to use Section 1983 to bring claims under any federal statute. As Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, joined by Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan, wrote in her dissent, the court “continues the project of stymying one of the country’s great civil rights laws.”

    Enacted in 1871, the civil rights law has been invoked to challenge violations of rights by state officials against individuals. Jackson wrote that the court now limits the ability to use Section 1983 to vindicate personal rights only if the statutes use the correct “magic words.”

    The dissent also criticized the majority decision as likely “to result in tangible harm to real people.” Not only will it potentially deprive “Medicaid recipients in South Carolina of their only meaningful way of enforcing a right that Congress has expressly granted to them,” Jackson wrote, but it could also “strip those South Carolinians – and countless other Medicaid recipients around the country – of a deeply personal freedom: the ‘ability to decide who treats us at our most vulnerable.’”

    The decision could also have far-reaching consequences. Arkansas, Missouri and Texas have already barred Planned Parenthood from getting reimbursed by Medicaid for any kind of health care. More states could follow suit.

    In addition, given Planned Parenthood’s role in providing contraceptive care, disqualifying it from Medicaid could restrict access to health care and increase the already-high unintended pregnancy rate in America.

    States could also try to exclude providers based on other characteristics, such as whether their employees belong to unions or if they provide their patients with gender-affirming care, further restricting patients’ choices.

    With this ruling, the court is allowing a patchwork of state exclusions of Planned Parenthood and other medical providers from the Medicaid program that could soon resemble the patchwork already seen with abortion access.

    Portions of this article first appeared in another article published on April 2, 2025.

    The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Supreme Court rules that states may deny people covered by Medicaid the freedom to choose Planned Parenthood as their health care provider – https://theconversation.com/supreme-court-rules-that-states-may-deny-people-covered-by-medicaid-the-freedom-to-choose-planned-parenthood-as-their-health-care-provider-259953

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Footy umpires blow the whistle on abuse

    Source:

    27 June 2025

    Getty Images

    Almost half of all Australian Rules Football (AFL) umpires have experienced verbal abuse such as ridiculing, humiliation or aggressive remarks, threats or gestures, at least every couple of games, according to new research by the University of South Australia.

    The survey of more than 350 umpires from 2021 to 2022 has identified that one in five umpires (21%) reported having also experienced some form of physical abuse, whether it be invasion of personal space, pushing, or punching by players, coaches, parents or general spectators.

    Twelve per cent of those surveyed umpired in community junior football, 80% umpired in community senior football and 8% umpired in state league and talent pathway.

    The study was conducted by UniSA’s Dr Jamie Cleland, and Dr Alyson Crozier, experts in sports management and sports psychology respectively, in a bid to examine the extent of abuse towards match officials, particularly at the youth and grassroots levels, and the reasons for poor retention of umpires in the sport.

    Dr Crozier says poor behaviour by clubs, parents or spectators can filter down to the youth and grassroots levels where umpires aren’t protected by security like elite AFL umpires and can face verbal and physical hostility when their decisions are disputed.

    “Spectators, players and coaches tend to strongly identify with their team, whereas umpires are viewed as an external authority figure – and this creates an ‘us versus them’ mindset,” she says.

    “This then can lead to dehumanisation and justification of aggressive behaviour towards umpires as they’re seen as a threat to the team’s success. Professional AFL umpires are conditioned to expect abuse on the field and understand it as being part of the game.

    “But while uMpires may expect the abuse, it doesn’t make the experience ‘right’. Workplaces outside of umpiring wouldn’t tolerate the levels of abuse experienced by some umpires in Aussie Rules; in no other workplace would it be considered acceptable, and it shouldn’t be acceptable for footy umpires either.”

    Of the research participants, 91% identified as male and 80% of them umpired in community senior football. 21% said they received verbal abuse every game, 28% said every couple of games and 38% said a couple of times a season.

    One umpire in community senior football commented how it “had been the worst year for myself personally as far as coach and supporter abuse – I was threatened with my life this year and the league did nothing about it”.

    Another community senior football umpire shared their account of being physically attacked. “I was assaulted two years ago by a spectator. Lucky I was bigger than him. I was disappointed he only got a one-year suspension from attending games,” they said.

    More than half of participants (53%) had reported at least one incident of abuse to the relevant authority and of those who had reported abuse, 73% felt supported through the process, with 62% satisfied with the eventual disciplinary outcome.

    Dr Crozier says a number of the umpires in the study commented positively on the AFL’s 50m penalty for players who show dissent towards an umpire, such as challenging an umpire verbally or physically after a decision has been made on the field.

    “However, although some umpires recognised how their experiences had improved after the introduction of the dissent rule, for the majority, the top-down approach still wasn’t influencing bottom-up behaviour change at the youth and grass rooms levels. It’s at these levels where mass participation occurs that umpires are significantly outnumbered and not sufficiently protected from harm,” she says.

    “Umpires told us they need to be communicated with before and after cases of misconduct against clubs, players and spectators, not only for their own health and wellbeing, but because they’re more likely to keep umpiring if they feel supported and valued.”

    The researchers suggested technology could enhance the reporting process for bad behaviour, using real time mobile apps to log incidents immediately after a match. Various sporting leagues globally are trialling body cameras for game officials to reduce the level of abuse they face.

    An article on the topic is published on The Conversation. It can be republished online or in print for free, provided you follow these guidelines.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Shaheen, Ernst Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Create First-of-its-Kind Program to Make Child Care More Accessible for Military Families

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Hampshire Jeanne Shaheen

    (Washington, DC) – U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Joni Ernst (R-IA), senior members of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, are introducing bipartisan legislation to respond to the shortage of child care availability across the country, particularly for military families. The Senators’ bill proposes a first-of-its-kind Department of Defense-led pilot program to support workforce development opportunities for child care providers and to add capacity to the child care sector by increasing recruitment, retention and training of child care staff.

    “Too many parents are put in difficult situations when they don’t have access to the quality, affordable care they need for their kids—a problem that is especially acute for military families who face even higher barriers to finding child care,” said Senator Shaheen. “That’s why I’m proud to join with my colleague, Senator Ernst, to introduce bipartisan legislation that would create a first-of-its-kind Department of Defense-led pilot program to strengthen workforce development opportunities for providers with the goal of increasing the amount of available child care slots in a local communities.”

    “As a mom and a grandma, I know how important our next generation is, and our military servicemembers deserve high-quality, affordable child care,” said Senator Ernst. “The Expanding Child Care for Military Families Act will bolster the Department of Defense’s partnership with local organizations to provide care and education for military kids while their parents train and prepare to protect our great nation.”

    Specifically, the Expanding Child Care for Military Families Act would:

    • Enable the Department of Defense (DoD) to enter into partnerships with both private and public child care providers on or near DoD installations.
    • Require the Department to provide certification and training opportunities and to participate in recruitment and retention programs for participating child care providers.
    • Give the DoD the authority to enter into a partnership agreement with AmeriCorps to allow AmeriCorps volunteers to be placed at child care providers participating in the DoD pilot program.
    • Assess current administrative resources available to families to identify areas of improvement for child care enrollment procedures.
    • Encourage DoD to recruit and offer training and certification to eligible military spouses.
    • Identify areas with high unmet need for child care and increase access to child care in these areas.

    Senator Shaheen has been a leader in advocating for more affordable and accessible child care, including by delivering more than $77 million to New Hampshire through the American Rescue Plan and other COVID relief laws to the Granite State. Since then, Shaheen had urged state and local officials to distribute those federal funds, especially in communities that lack access to child care. Shaheen recently helped introduced the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit Enhancement Act which would permanently expand the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit (CDCTC). She also introduced the Child Care Availability and Affordability Act and the Child Care Workforce Act—bipartisan, bicameral legislation that together form a bold proposal to make child care more affordable and accessible by strengthening existing tax credits to lower child care costs and increase the supply of child care providers. The bill includes language from Shaheen’s Right Start Child Care and Education Act legislation. In April, Shaheen visited the YMCA of Greater Nashua’s Merrimack Branch to highlight the Granite State’s shortage of child care providers and to discuss her recent legislative efforts to address the child care affordability crisis.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Shaheen, Ernst Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Create First-of-its-Kind Program to Make Child Care More Accessible for Military Families

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Hampshire Jeanne Shaheen

    (Washington, DC) – U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Joni Ernst (R-IA), senior members of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, are introducing bipartisan legislation to respond to the shortage of child care availability across the country, particularly for military families. The Senators’ bill proposes a first-of-its-kind Department of Defense-led pilot program to support workforce development opportunities for child care providers and to add capacity to the child care sector by increasing recruitment, retention and training of child care staff.

    “Too many parents are put in difficult situations when they don’t have access to the quality, affordable care they need for their kids—a problem that is especially acute for military families who face even higher barriers to finding child care,” said Senator Shaheen. “That’s why I’m proud to join with my colleague, Senator Ernst, to introduce bipartisan legislation that would create a first-of-its-kind Department of Defense-led pilot program to strengthen workforce development opportunities for providers with the goal of increasing the amount of available child care slots in a local communities.”

    “As a mom and a grandma, I know how important our next generation is, and our military servicemembers deserve high-quality, affordable child care,” said Senator Ernst. “The Expanding Child Care for Military Families Act will bolster the Department of Defense’s partnership with local organizations to provide care and education for military kids while their parents train and prepare to protect our great nation.”

    Specifically, the Expanding Child Care for Military Families Act would:

    • Enable the Department of Defense (DoD) to enter into partnerships with both private and public child care providers on or near DoD installations.
    • Require the Department to provide certification and training opportunities and to participate in recruitment and retention programs for participating child care providers.
    • Give the DoD the authority to enter into a partnership agreement with AmeriCorps to allow AmeriCorps volunteers to be placed at child care providers participating in the DoD pilot program.
    • Assess current administrative resources available to families to identify areas of improvement for child care enrollment procedures.
    • Encourage DoD to recruit and offer training and certification to eligible military spouses.
    • Identify areas with high unmet need for child care and increase access to child care in these areas.

    Senator Shaheen has been a leader in advocating for more affordable and accessible child care, including by delivering more than $77 million to New Hampshire through the American Rescue Plan and other COVID relief laws to the Granite State. Since then, Shaheen had urged state and local officials to distribute those federal funds, especially in communities that lack access to child care. Shaheen recently helped introduced the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit Enhancement Act which would permanently expand the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit (CDCTC). She also introduced the Child Care Availability and Affordability Act and the Child Care Workforce Act—bipartisan, bicameral legislation that together form a bold proposal to make child care more affordable and accessible by strengthening existing tax credits to lower child care costs and increase the supply of child care providers. The bill includes language from Shaheen’s Right Start Child Care and Education Act legislation. In April, Shaheen visited the YMCA of Greater Nashua’s Merrimack Branch to highlight the Granite State’s shortage of child care providers and to discuss her recent legislative efforts to address the child care affordability crisis.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Northland News – Te Aupōuri wins big at 2025 Whakamānawa ā Taiao – Environmental Awards

    Source: Northland Regional Council

    After years of protecting and reinvigorating the vast and variable whenua of their beloved Te Aupōuri, Oranga Whenua Oranga Tangata Taiao’s hard mahi has paid off, winning two top awards at this year’s Northland Regional Council Whakamānawa ā Taiao – Environmental Awards.
    Te Rūnanga Nui O Te Aupōuri’s kaitiaki arm, Oranga Whenua Oranga Tangata Taiao, were the big winners of Thursday night’s biennial awards ceremony held at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, taking out not only the Kaitiakitanga award, but the overall Te Tohu Matua- Supreme Award (subs: Thursday, June 26).
    Over the past several years, the team of 12 has installed 16,250 meters of fencing, restored 0.625 hectares of wetland, planted more than 120,000 native plants and captured 2288 invasive species.
    During that time, they also developed essential work skills and achieved significant conservation outcomes, like bringing back the critically endangered Ultriculis australis and declining long-fin tuna.
    Their ‘holistic approach to protecting te taiao’, award judges said, had resulted in significantly improving the wellbeing of their whenua.
    The judges were also impressed at how their kaupapa had strengthened connections between their iwi and their whenua, had fostered environmental awareness amongst local kura and engaged the community in sustainable land management practices.
    Oranga Whenua Oranga Tangata Taiao lead Niki Conrad says the group is happy and humbled by the accolades.
    “A lot of people are doing some really good work out there and it’s great to be recognised, especially when we are from way up north and a lot of our work is behind the scenes.”
    “We’re sticking true to our kaupapa and all our kaimahi are invested in it.” 
    The awards – held for the sixth time – recognise individuals, groups and organisations making a difference for Northland’s environment.
    According to the judges, competition was fierce across all award categories this year thanks to the high calibre of applications.
    Council Deputy Chair Tui Shortland says she is excited to see the number of incredible projects protecting te taiao across Northland and that the awards are NRC’s way of recognising and celebrating that kaitiakitanga in action.
    Councillor Shortland also congratulated the Oranga Whenua Oranga Tangata Taiao team and says she commended them for the important improvement to the wellbeing of their lands, which were of cultural, social, and environmental significance.
    “Oranga Whenua Oranga Tangata have created employment opportunities for 12 local Te Aupouri iwi members, developing essential skills and achieving notable conservation outcomes,” Shortland says.
    “The project has also involved whānau, hapū, and iwi and enhanced self-confidence, pride, and well-being through activities that deepen understanding of whakapapa, tūpuna heritage, and historical sites.
    “They have also collaborated with Te Kura o Te Kao to carve and erect pou at significant sites, which further underscores their commitment to cultural preservation and environmental stewardship.”
    Other winners:
    Piroa Conservation Trust; Environmental action in water quality improvement.
    The Piroa Conservation Trust is a coalition of over 30 community-led conservation groups dedicated to restoring biodiversity in Bream Bay and surrounding areas.
    The group demonstrated lots of measurable outcomes, high levels of community involvement and an impressive scope of initiatives.
    These included riparian planting (with 10,000 plants already in the ground), water quality testing, wetland restoration and fencing were key to the success of the Wai Tuwhera project, with water quality data being consistently measured.
    The trust has strong relationships with iwi, hapū and community groups, working with Patuharakeke and in partnership with Whitebait Connection and NZ Landcare Trust, and has been thoughtful in seeking ways to engage directly with farmers.   
    A strong focus on educational outreach, including workshops and school programmes, has raised awareness and educated the community about the importance of water quality.
    The trust has also been active on social media, ensuring their activities gain recognition across Te Taitokerau and thought of innovations to develop their reach, for example distributing “riparian gift packs”.
    Trustee and group founder Ann Neill says winning the award is an amazing privilege.
    Highly commended in the water quality category was Tiaki Nga Wai O Hokianga.
    Weed Action Native Habitat Restoration Trust; Environmental action in the community.
    The trust’s application demonstrates the depth of its engagement and success in drawing in the community to its mahi. Its range covers a very wide geographic area and it is tackling a huge weed control problem – this is a massive commitment and requires an enormous amount of work. 
     The trust has made great connections across the community and has a very good relationship with iwi/hapū, including with Aki Tai Here. They have a good set of well-recorded measurable outcomes.
    Trust ecological advisor Mike Urlich says the recognition had left him “a bit emotional and just really stoked”. “It’s an acknowledgement of all the hard work that goes on.”
    Highly commended in the environmental action in the community category were Tiaki Nga Wai O Hokianga, Bream Head Conservation Trust Reserve Revegetation and Ngā Kaitiaki o te Ahi.
    Project Island Song; Environmental action to protect native life.
    This project has had an undoubted impact over time, having achieved 15 years of pest-free status and 40,000 trees planted. Long-term commitment is evident and the group’s mahi has made a huge difference to Pewhairangi Bay of Islands. 
    The group works with school groups, individuals, families and businesses and in partnership with hapū and the governing committee. The school involvement was especially inspirational, particularly with the small, isolated schools. 
    The group is working on pest control, returning lost species and clearly making good progress on tackling weeds too. 
    Project Island Song chair William Fuller says the group enjoys good community support and puts the group’s success down to the hard work of hundreds of volunteers over many years. “Everyone has a passion for restoring the bird song.”
    Highly commended in the environmental action to protect native life category were Piroa Conservation Trust, Weed Action Native Habitat Restoration Trust and Jill Mortensen. 
    Bay of Islands International Academy; Environmental action in education.
    This entry demonstrated an outstanding holistic approach, involving all levels and curriculum areas across the school and throughout their local community and hapū. The academy has successfully woven te ao Māori and sustainability throughout its mahi. 
    It was impressive to note the impact on students, who have been empowered to take ownership of environmental change. The academy has also ensured a multi-generational approach by enabling older students to teach younger students and enabling kaumatua as expert helpers. Its trapping programme is extensive.
    Spokesperson Lucy Miller says winning the award was a surprise but felt it was well-deserved.
    “All the kids have been taught to be kaitiaki of their land, the ocean that’s near them and to look after Purerua Peninsula.”
    Highly commended in the environmental action in education category were Whangārei Girls’ High School, Hurupaki School and Te Kura O Hato Hohepa Te Kamura.
    Mountains to Sea Conservation Trust; environmental leadership.
    Mountains to Sea has a broad focus on freshwater and marine ecosystems and the connection between them. Its application stood out for its very strong community partnerships, commitment to education and the cross-community development it fosters throughout its mahi. 
    The freshwater habitat restoration undertaken through its īnanga spawning program has had a huge impact – on protecting biodiversity across Te Taitokerau and enabling a widespread and consistent community engagement programme that upskills and inspires. The trust has active partnerships with iwi, hapū and schools and facilitate high levels of community volunteering.
    Spokesperson Kim Jones says people are doing some amazing work around Te Taitokerau and for the trust to be recognised with the award was awesome, amazing and humbling.
    Highly commended in this category was The Love Bittern Project.
    Earth Buddies; Youth Environmental Leader.
    Earth Buddies is an inspiring youth-led education programme designed and delivered by 25 students from Whangārei Girls’ High School’s kaiarahi (prefect) team and Environmental Committee. 
    The students have formed a partnership with Whangārei Primary School to provide bi-weekly environmental lessons to more than 150 students in Years 3 and 4. The lessons cover topics such as composting, climate change, and pest management.  
    Through these engaging sessions, the secondary students are not only helping to develop critical thinking in the younger generation but are also strengthening their own environmental knowledge. This initiative goes beyond the classroom by encouraging families to adopt eco-friendly practices and inviting parents/caregivers to take part in activities. 
    In helping to educate the next generation, Earth Buddies is contributing to long-term conservation and climate mitigation efforts in Whangārei and is a programme that could be replicated in other communities. 
    Group leader Stella Moreton says the group is very honoured and excited to be recognised.
    Highly commended in this category were Roman Makara – Taiao Club and India Clarke.
    Te Rūnanga Nui o Te Aupōuri – Oranga Whenua Oranga Tangata Taiao Team; Kaitiakitanga.
    Highly commended in this category were Patuharakeke Te Iwi Trust – Te Pou Taiao, Ngā Kaitiaki o te Ahi and Ngā Kaitiaki O Ngā Wai Māori.
    Tū Mai Rā Energy Northland; environmental action in business.
    Tū Mai Rā offers solar power solutions, aiming to harness the energy of the sun – Tū Mai Rā means to ‘Stand before the sun’. 
    This entry demonstrated commitment to the community – Tū Mai Rā is not subject to a regulatory requirement to provide electricity, it is doing it to benefit the community. This will have a positive impact on many people by improving climate resilience, and community resilience during natural hazards. A greater uptake of renewable energy will reduce greenhouse gases and resilience will be improved in remote areas. 
    Tū Mai Rā Energy is also providing employment and upskilling opportunities for locals, bringing more benefits to the community. Tū Mai Rā is an excellent application, which is portrayed by its achievement as the winners of the Tai Tokerau Māori Business Merit Award and receiving highly commended in the climate change category as well.
    Company director Ella Te Huia says keeping true to yourselves and what you believe in is the right thing to do.
    Patuharakeke Te Iwi Trust – Te Pou Taiao; environmental action to address climate change.
    Te Pou Taiao o Patuharakake (TPT) is preparing and supporting its people to adapt to a changing climate by equipping them with the tools and strategies to do so. 
    TPT has harnessed technology to begin to address the climate crisis and has developed a climate change risk assessment tool to visually illustrate the risks to Patuharekeke rohe. The toolbox features sea level rise modelling and identifies coastal flood hazard zones and erosion prone land. 
    The toolbox will be used to inform the Patuharakeke Hapū Environmental Management Plan (which is currently in its draft phase), incorporating both mātauranga Māori and western science within mitigation, adaptation and resilience strategies. 
    The levels of community engagement are excellent and its passion shines through in the application. Its approach to developing climate resilience through holistic thinking is impressive.
    Trust pou hautu Juliane Chetham says the trust has a fantastic team and sees a lot of young rangatahi taking a leadership role which is appropriate in the climate change arena.
    Highly commended in this category was Tū Mai Rā Energy Northland. 
    Piroa Conservation Trust; winner Kiwi Coast Special Award.
    Piroa Conservation Trust is a collaborative, forward thinking group which incorporates hapū, schools, community, DOC, businesses and a team of volunteers.
    A strong governance has helped guide direction to become a broad conservation group at the southern area of Northland. The vision for expansion of pest control and kiwi habitat will help the long-term survival of kiwi in Te Tai Tokerau, Northland.
    Project Island Song was highly commended in this category. 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: SOPA Announces the Winners of its 2025 Awards for Editorial Excellence

    Source: Society of Publishers in Asia (SOPA)

    Bloomberg’s Mishal Husain delivered the keynote address about image, voice and trust in the age of AI

    HONG KONG, June 26, 2025 – The Society of Publishers in Asia (SOPA), a Hong Kong-based not-for-profit organization dedicated to encouraging the highest standards in journalism, announced the winners of its prestigious annual Awards for Editorial Excellence. (full list of winners also available here:

    https://sopawards.com/the-sopa-awards/award-winners/)

    The awards recognize outstanding journalistic work from the past year in the Asia-Pacific region and were given out at a celebratory dinner in Hong Kong on Thursday June 26, marking the 27th consecutive year of the awards.

    Global, regional/local, and Chinese-language media outlets submitted more than 700 entries in 21 categories including Bahasa Indonesia, which has been part of the lineup for the past three years.

    Submissions from regional and local publications rose substantially from a year earlier, showing the growing voices of smaller publications around the region. To help showcase grassroots coverage, SOPA offered reduced entry fees to small media outlets and first-time entrants from a dozen countries and regions. Several took home prizes including Mekong Eye, which won the top regional/local award in Investigative Reporting for Cattle Hustle, and Hong Kong’s HK Feature got Honorable Mention in the Chinese-language Feature Writing category for ‘Democracy pineapple’ caught in political dilemma across the Taiwan Strait. Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism won the top regional/local award in Explanatory Reporting for Renewed Attention on Political Dynasties in the Philippines.

    China’s economy and tensions with the U.S. over technology continued to be a focus, while brewing issues on a number of fronts sparked an increase in India-related entries.

    Here are some highlights:

    EXCELLENCE IN REPORTING ON WOMEN’S ISSUES

    The New York Times with The Fuller Project won the top global award for The Brutality of Sugar, with judges calling it an “eye-opening” account “revealing the horrendous conditions facing women in India’s sugar industry.”

    The Wire won the top regional/local award for Breaking The Nets, which the judges said offered “a fascinating insight into the knock-on effects of India’s patriarchal society” and how women contend with them.EXCELLENCE IN AUDIO REPORTING

    Mongabay won the top regional/local award for Wild Frequencies: How listening to India’s animals inspires people to protect wildlife, which judges praised as showing how sounds are a clue to “whether an ecosystem is healthy or imperiled.”

    EXCELLENCE IN HUMAN RIGHTS REPORTING

    The Collective HK won the top Chinese-language award for Five Years After Anti-Extradition Law Amendment Bill Movement: How are they?, which focused on four personalities in the 2019 social movement in Hong Kong and the judges said is “full of drama” without “emotive writing.”

    EXCELLENCE IN FEATURE WRITING

    The Australian Financial Review won the top regional/local award for Inside the ‘unending chaos’ at Andrew Forrest’s Fortescue, which the judges called “an impressive portrait” of an Australian businessman involved in tackling climate change.

    Initium Media won the top Chinese-language group award for Chinese Fighting for Russia: Money, Thrill and Becoming Influencers, which the judges noted had “sparked significant attention and discussion.”

    EXCELLENCE IN TECHNOLOGY REPORTING

    Nikkei Asia won the top global award for China’s tech industry fights back, which the judges called “a well-reported exploration of China’s drive for tech primacy in the face of U.S. restrictions.”

    EXCELLENCE IN ARTS AND CULTURE REPORTING

    The Economist’s 1843 Magazine won the top global award for How I became the Taliban’s portrait artist, which the judges called “a gripping account” of how the author’s own kidnapping in Afghanistan showed an unexpected side of today’s Taliban.

    EXCELLENCE IN REPORTING BREAKING NEWS

    Reuters won the top global and regional/local award for South Korea’s martial law crisis, which judges said, “kept global audiences informed about one of the biggest breaking stories last year.”EXCELLENCE IN OPINION WRITING

    Singapore’s The Straits Times won the regional/local award for No country for young men: Where is Malaysia’s next generation of leaders? The judges said it “demystifies the complex web of personalities shaping Malaysian politics.”

    The judges selected Qianer Liu of The Information for the SOPA Award for Young Journalist citing her “unique insights into the tech competition between the U.S. and China.”

    The Wall Street Journal won the coveted SOPA Award for Public Service Journalism for A Vicious New Scam Industry Metastasizes that detailed the brutal reality of the global criminal enterprise of “pig butchering” cyber fraud.

    “Congratulations to all the winners, honorable mentions and finalists,” said Bill Ridgers, Asia Digital Editor at The Economist and Co-Chair of SOPA’s Editorial Committee. “The high quality of entries for the SOPA 2025 awards is proof that the media continues to perform a critical role in informing readers in Asia Pacific and elsewhere about this region and helping shape public discourse.”

    SOPA would like to thank Bloomberg’s Mishal Husain who spoke on image, voice and trust in the age of AI. Her keynote address will be available on SOPA’s YouTube channel from 28 June, 2025. (link: https://www.youtube.com/@sopaasia)

    We also extend thanks to our nearly 120 volunteer judges and to Karen Koh for being our Master of Ceremonies, and to the University of Hong Kong’s Journalism and Media Studies Centre, which has administered the awards since 2011.

    Critical to presenting the awards are our sponsors. Factiva is an Associate Sponsor and Telum Media is a Supporting Partner.

    Awards Ceremony Dinner photos can be accessed here:

    https://sopawards.com/awards-dinner-photos/

    About SOPA

    The Society of Publishers in Asia (SOPA) is a Hong Kong-based not-for-profit organization that was founded in 1982 to champion freedom of the press, promote excellence in journalism and endorse best practices for all local and regional publishing platforms in the Asia-Pacific region.

    Today, SOPA is the voice of Asia’s media and publishing industry, and continues to work to uphold media standards and freedoms while celebrating and supporting professional journalism and publishing. The SOPA Awards for Editorial Excellence are the annual,flagship awards, serving as a regional benchmark for quality, professional journalism and have been given out every year since 1999.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Beyond playgrounds: how less structured city spaces can nurture children’s creativity and independence

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jose Antonio Lara-Hernandez, Senior Researcher in Architecture, Auckland University of Technology

    Getty Images

    Children’s play is essential for their cognitive, physical and social development. But in cities, spaces to play are usually separated, often literally fenced off, from the rest of urban life.

    In our new study, we compare children’s use of such spaces in Auckland, New Zealand, and Venice, Italy. Our findings present a paradox: playgrounds built for safety can stifle creativity and mobility, while self-organising open spaces offer rich opportunities to explore and belong.

    In Auckland, places such as Taumata Reserve are a testimony to contemporary playground design – grassy, shaded, equipped with slides and swings, and buffered from traffic. Such places are an oasis cherished by caregivers for the sense of perceived safety they provide.

    Yet during our observations, we noted how these spaces function not necessarily as an oasis or a point for social encounter, but rather as isolated refuge islands, disconnected from the city’s everyday life. Children’s independent mobility and opportunities for diverse play activities remained limited and predefined.

    Children in urban spaces in Venice are free to find their own spontaneous activities.
    Antonio Lara-Hernandez, CC BY-SA

    Contrast this with Venice’s Santa Croce neighbourhood. Car-free streets and piazzas, such as Campo San Giacomo dell’Orio above, pulsate with life. We saw children play ball, draw on pavements, chase each other and even water plants. These spaces are shared inter-generational stages.

    To compare children’s experience, we measured the diversity of activities (a proxy for creativity). Auckland’s Taumata Reserve scored just 1.46. In contrast, Venice scored 2.33, with more than 2,600 spontaneous acts in the streets, reflecting a child-led play culture.

    Why this matters

    Play is not a luxury. It is a fundamental necessity of life to understand, navigate and adapt to the complexities of the world.

    From a deterministic perspective, contemporary Western cultures (such as in Europe and New Zealand) prescribe diverse benefits of play. This includes learning and developing resilience, spatial awareness and social skills.

    In Auckland, safety is the focus. While inclusion for children with special needs is understandable, it may inadvertently limit the collective capacity for vital and formative developmental experiences at the neighbourhood scale.

    Global research shows declining children’s mobility, linked to car dependency and adult-controlled routines. This reduces children’s activity radius, constrains confidence and diminishes connection to place. For one of us, a father of two, watching his daughters navigate parks underscores this: children need to be able to learn risk competency.

    Venice is a cultural model we can draw lessons from. Its pedestrian streets let children roam, climb statues and play hide-and-seek on bridges. This exposure to risks builds judgement, adaptability and agency. It also makes children co-creators of urban life.

    Children in Venice’s car-free piazza San Giacomo dell’Orio play ball, draw on pavements and chase each other.
    Authors provided, CC BY-SA

    Our study uses what we call “temporary appropriation” – when children use spaces in unplanned, creative ways – and a design framework called SPIRAL, which draws from individual experiences and cultural narratives to build public spaces.

    Auckland’s rules and fences curb this; Venice’s human-scale design invites it.
    Venice’s conditions foster risk competency in children and caregivers, strengthening community bonds through a culture of care. Auckland’s spaces for play are spatially fragmented, limiting social encounters and the risk-taking skills vital for development.

    Auckland’s playgrounds tend to be separated and limit the development of risk-taking skills.
    Shutterstock/Mary Star

    From a New Zealand perspective, it is also essential to recognise the significance of place-based belonging from a Māori worldview. Concepts such as whakapapa (genealogy), whenua (land) and whanaungatanga (relational ties) emphasise deep, inter-generational connections to place.

    In this view, play is not merely recreation but a cultural expression; a way for children to experience turangawaewae (a place to stand).

    What other cities can learn

    From our research, we can draw lessons for how urban spaces might be reimagined to better support children’s wellbeing and autonomy. This includes:

    • Designing public spaces with natural elements, “risky art”, loose parts and creative equipment for open-ended play that balances safety without compromising opportunities for discovery and risk-taking

    • reducing the number of cars and slowing speeds to achieve better outcomes for children

    • reclaiming streets so that all people and animals can have positive adventures

    • prioritising policies for car-free or traffic-calmed areas across neighbourhoods and in proximity to social places (schools, libraries, shops, parks) to contribute to a culture where safety is a collective responsibility and a commitment towards a stronger social cohesion

    • proactively involving children in urban design through place-making and temporary appropriation; it is their right to be heard and listened to through the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child

    • encouraging participatory co-design workshops and action-focused initiatives to harness children’s insights to design spaces that meet needs

    • considering nuanced and emotional indicators for success such as belonging, curiosity, joy and inter-generational exchange rather than just efficiency or maintenance cost

    • and collaboratively modifying the environment over time.

    We envision cities where children roam freely, invent and experience deeper and authentic belonging. Venice proves that shared public spaces help children enrich and shape cities, as much as the rest of the population does.

    Safe playgrounds are only a starting point. For healthy, regenerative and vibrant cities to work, we need to realise that children should have agency to shape the complex assemblage that cities really are. Let’s build urban futures where children don’t just play, but can have positive adventures.

    The choices we make today matter. We can either feed the fear or meet the cultural challenge together by embracing the positive adventures of life, with a sense of collective wellbeing, care and stewardship.

    Jose Antonio Lara-Hernandez received funding for the Horizon 2020 CRUNCH project and was a member of the curatorial team of the Italian Pavilion for the Venice Biennale 2021. He is a senior member of City Space Architecture and the International Society of City and Regional Planners.

    Gregor Mews has previously served as a founding director of the Australian Institute of Play and currently serves as a council board member of City Space Architecture as well as a member of the International Society of City and Regional Planners.

    – ref. Beyond playgrounds: how less structured city spaces can nurture children’s creativity and independence – https://theconversation.com/beyond-playgrounds-how-less-structured-city-spaces-can-nurture-childrens-creativity-and-independence-257481

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Computers tracking us, an ‘electronic collar’: Gilles Deleuze’s 1990 Postscript on the Societies of Control was eerily prescient

    Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Cameron Shackell, Sessional Academic, School of Information Systems, Queensland University of Technology

    Our cultural touchstones series looks at influential works.

    Gilles Deleuze was one of the most original and imaginative thinkers of postwar France. A lifelong teacher, he spent most of his career at the University of Paris VIII, influencing generations of students but largely shunning the mantle of public intellectual.

    His complex, creative books mix philosophy, literature, film and politics – not to give clear answers, but to spark new ways of thinking.

    Postscript on the Societies of Control, published 35 years ago in the countercultural L’Autre Journal is Deleuze at his most accessible and prophetic.

    Written at a time when the Cold War was ending, computers were becoming more common, and the internet was beginning to connect institutions, the essay describes the emergence of a new kind of society – one not ruled by a single stern voice but by the soft hum of networks.

    How societies work

    Postscript was written as an update to the work of Deleuze’s contemporary Michel Foucault, who had died in 1984. Deleuze called it a “postscript” not just because of its brevity (it’s only around 2,300 words in English translation) but to highlight he wasn’t refuting Foucault, just building on his work.

    Gilles Deleuze.
    Tintinades/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-NC-SA

    From the 18th to early 20th centuries, Foucault had argued, Western societies were “disciplinary societies”. Schools, factories, prisons and hospitals – institutions with walls, schedules, routines and clear expectations – moulded behaviour. People were trained, observed, tested and corrected as they passed from one institution to the next.



    Read more:
    ‘A dark masterpiece’: Foucault’s Discipline and Punish at 50

    But in the late 20th century, Deleuze saw something shifting. He thought the stodgy old disciplinary institutions were “in a generalized crisis” due to technological advances and a new form of capitalism that demanded more flexibility in workers and consumers.

    New systems of management and technology were starting to reshape people without sending them through traditional institutions. Deleuze wrote presciently, for example, that “perpetual training tends to replace the school, and continuous control to replace the examination”.

    In business, he saw a growing idea of “salary according to merit”, transforming work into “challenges, contests, and highly comic group sessions” – something much at odds with the old model of the standard wage and the assembly line. Traditional government institutions like hospitals and the classic factory were embracing the model of the corporation, driven always by a profit motive and the need for better human tools.

    To Deleuze, all this meant people were becoming more “free-floating” – they could be still playing socially useful roles but were being gently steered into them. This greater freedom, however, required a new system to keep everyone in line. He called this “modulation” to underline its dynamic, enveloping nature.

    Like nudging, but everywhere

    Deleuze described modulation as “a self-deforming cast that will continuously change from one moment to the other”. He meant that people were beginning to live in an environment where everything shape-shifts to encourage or discourage us in the right direction without explicitly putting up walls.

    A prime example of how modulation has since become commonplace is nudging – the use of psychological techniques, often subtle and data-driven, to shape people’s behaviour.

    Nudging didn’t really exist in 1990, but governments and tech companies use nudges all the time now. We’re nudged to eat healthier, buy, save, recycle, donate. Web sites use “dark patterns” – tricky designs that steer (or nudge) us toward certain choices. Social media feeds use algorithms to exclude us if we say the wrong thing. In fact, entire teams of behavioural scientists operate behind the scenes to manipulate many aspects of our lives.

    Nudges can be good and can save us from poor choices, but their newfound moral acceptability (sometimes called libertarian paternalism) is very much a clue that Deleuze’s control society has arrived.

    Control in your pocket

    Deleuze, who died in 1995, wrote Postscript before the advent of the smartphone, but he foresaw that an “electronic collar” would assume a central role in society. He envisaged a “computer that tracks each person’s position – licit or illicit – and effects a universal modulation.”

    Smartphones more than fit the bill. In the old disciplinary ways, they track where we go, what we search for, what we buy, how many steps we take, even how well we sleep. But if we apply Deleuze’s ideas to these phones, detailed surveillance is no longer their most important function. Our phones present and curate options.

    In effect, they shape how we see the world. When you scroll through news or social media, for instance, you’re reading about a version of the world built just for you, designed to keep you looking, clicking and reacting – and keep you very finely attuned to what is acceptable or dangerous behaviour.

    In Deleuze’s terms, this is pure modulation: not a forceful “No” but a softly spoken, “How about this?” Your phone doesn’t lock you in – it draws you in. It shapes what you see, rewards your cooperation, ignores your silence, and always keeps score. And it does this 24/7. You might unlock it hundreds of times a day. And each time it’s updated to guide your next move more precisely.

    At the same time our phones quietly turn us into a set of credentials useful for regulating physical access to workplaces, bank accounts, information: In the societies of control, writes Deleuze, “what is important is no longer either a signature or a number, but a code: the code is a password.”

    Data points not people?

    Deleuze warned that, in a control society: “Individuals have become ‘dividuals,’ and masses have become samples, data, markets, or ‘banks.’” A dividual to Deleuze is a person transformed into a set of data points and metrics.

    You are your credit rating, your search history, your likes and clicks – a different dataset to every institution. Such fragments are used to make decisions about you until they effectively replace you. In fact, for Deleuze a dividual has internalised this treatment and thinks of themselves as a net worth, a mortgage size, a car value – psychological anchors for control.

    He illustrates this point with healthcare, predicting a

    new medicine ‘without doctor or patient’ that singles out potential sick people and subjects at risk, which in no way attests to individuation.

    How many health decisions are now made for us collectively before we ever see a doctor? We should be grateful for advances in public health and epidemiology, but this has certainly impacted our individuality and how we are treated.

    Hard to detect

    An unsettling part of Deleuze’s perspective is that control doesn’t usually feel like control. It’s often dressed up as convenience, efficiency or progress. You set up internet-linked video cameras because then you can work from home. You agree to long terms and conditions because your banking app won’t work otherwise.

    One problem is there are no longer clear barriers we can rail against. As Deleuze said:

    In disciplinary societies one was always starting again (from school to the barracks, from the barracks to the factory), while in control societies one is never finished with anything.

    Control doesn’t always crush – it can enable. Digital networks bring real freedom, economic possibility, even joy. We move more easily – both mentally and geographically – than ever before. But while we move, it always inside a kind of invisible map shaped by capitalism.

    It’s no conspiracy because nobody has the whole map. So it’s difficult to work out exactly what action, if any, to take. As Deleuze concludes: “The coils of a serpent are even more complex than the burrows of a molehill.”

    So what can we do?

    Postscript doesn’t offer a political program beyond the sardonic comment that:

    Many young people strangely boast of being ‘motivated’ […] It’s up to them to discover what they’re being made to serve.

    There are ways to resist control. Some people demand more privacy or digital rights. Others opt out selectively – logging off, turning off, refusing to be nudged. Some look to art as a way of resisting its smooth grip. These acts – however small – may offer what Deleuze and his collaborator, the French psychiatrist and philosopher Félix Guattari, called lines of flight: creative ways to move not just against control, but beyond it.

    The real message of Postscript, however, is its invitation to consider a timeless perspective. Any society must have a way to make people useful. So, what kind of society do we want? What kinds of restrictions are we willing to live under? And, crucial to this current age, how explicit should control be?

    Cameron Shackell does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Computers tracking us, an ‘electronic collar’: Gilles Deleuze’s 1990 Postscript on the Societies of Control was eerily prescient – https://theconversation.com/computers-tracking-us-an-electronic-collar-gilles-deleuzes-1990-postscript-on-the-societies-of-control-was-eerily-prescient-254579

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NEA to recognize nine extraordinary individuals and organizations with its highest honor

    Source: US National Education Union

    Washington – For their exemplary work as advocates in, and outside of, their communities, nine extraordinary individuals and organizations will receive NEA’s highest and most prestigious award, the Human and Civil Rights (HRC) Awards, on July 2, at the Oregon Convention Center, in Portland, Ore.

    The theme of the 58th annual award dinner is “Building a Legacy for Collective Freedom: A Celebration of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion,” a timely acknowledgement of the current administration’s attempts to roll back progress on DEI initiatives, and more importantly, a recognition to the accomplishments of this year’s recipients.

    In 1966, the NEA and the American Teachers Association (ATA), a union for Black teachers at segregated schools in the south, merged into one organization. To carry on with the ATA tradition of honoring leaders of the civil rights movement, the NEA continued to sponsor the HRC awards ceremonies, holding the first award dinner of the merged Association in 1967.

    “This year’s recipients of the NEA Human and Civil Rights Awards are not just meeting the moment—they are redefining it,” said NEA President Becky Pringle. “They’re giving voice to the unheard, breaking barriers, defending the truth of our shared history, and preparing the activists of tomorrow to shine the light across the country. By standing firm against attacks on public education and rooting their deeds and actions in racial and social justice, they are reigniting the promise of democracy—one classroom at a time, one school at a time, one community at a time.”

    Meet the 2025 NEA Human and Civil Rights Awards Recipients

    These NEA allies and partners received HCR awards for leading with courage, creativity, and commitment to advancing social and racial justice:

    A Modern Day MLK

    Leshun “Ship” Collins dedicates his time at Orange High School in Pepper Pike, Ohio to more than just his role as a health and physical education instructor. He has spent the past two decades mentoring young African American men to see their full potential in spite of typical societal perceptions by connecting their pride in their identity to academic achievement.

    The Male Minority Leadership Group, an afterschool mentorship program Collins created, offers a safe space young Black men to bond over their commonalities and embrace their differences. He hopes that they will learn to take control of their destiny through his program.

    As a board member of the Cleveland Rape Crisis Center, Collin is also dedicated to respecting and protecting women. His initiative, the White Ribbon Campaign, focuses on the issue of domestic abuse. Collins uses his allyship to support women by raising awareness and advocating for gender equality.

    Collins is the recipient of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Award, a fitting honor for the community activist.

    Teaching Her Story So It’s Never Repeated

    Holocaust survivor and educator Maude Dahme is committed to teaching young people to stand up for what they believe in. Her own education as a child was interrupted when the German occupation of Holland ordered her and her family into a detention center.

    In 1950, Dahme immigrated to New Jersey, where she started her teaching career. For twenty years, Dahme was a member of the New Jersey Board of Education. For five of those years, she served as president and used her leadership role to implement Holocaust education into the curriculum. As a New Jersey Education Association member, she spends her summers at teacher seminars and visiting concentration camps around the world.

    Dahne is the embodiment of the word “resilient.” Her decision to use her story to teach the younger generation how to accept differences so that the history she teaches them is never repeated is why she was chosen as the recipient of the Dorros Peace and International Understanding Award.

    Breaking Glass Ceilings

    Marissa Winmill, one of the nation’s most influential figures in advancing academic opportunities for young women, strives to create future female icons. Her unrelenting will to break barriers for young women is why she is the recipient of the Mary Hatwood Futrell Award.

    Her position as a board member for the Washington Professional Educator Standards Board has allowed her to propose policies to benefit both female instructors and their students. While teaching at Washington’s Kent-Meridian High School, Winmill started a Girls Who Code club, giving female students access to tools needed to succeed in STEM fields.

    Her initiatives ensure that teenage girls are never denied access to the opportunities they need to reach their full potential show that she is following in the footsteps of former NEA President Mary Hatwood Futrell.

    The Activists of Today and Tomorrow

    Marta Silva is the recipient of the George I. Sánchez Memorial Award. In her role as a heritage language instructor at Olathe North High School in Kentucky and as the creator of the Heritage Language program, an initiative in her district to level the playing field for Hispanic students by promoting translation and interpretation skills, and career training practices, she empowers Latino students to pursue higher education and push through barriers.

    Elise Carter, one of the few African American educators in her district, in Fort Thomas, Kentucky, is carrying on the “Father of Black History’s” mission to advance African American culture, which has earned her the Carter G. Woodson Memorial Award. Carter created an innovative Social Equity course and stood firm when community leaders criticized it as critical race theory. Through years of persistence, she ensured that Black history and principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion remained part of her district’s curriculum.

    Jesús Valle is the recipient of the Wilma Mankiller Memorial Award. Through his work as a tenured professor of Native American Studies at Sacramento’s American River College, as well as his initiative of creating the Native Resource Center for Northern California Indigenous youth, he has advocated for inclusivity, pride and dignity, strengthening Native communities.

    The Showing Up for Education-Kansas City, Education Core (SURJ-KC) is an organization that consists of locally-based white educators in Kansas City seeking to educate themselves on the effects racism and white supremacy has on the public school system. SURJ-KC also creates space in its community for other individuals to gain an understanding of racial injustices by hosting public forums and panel discussions led by diverse speakers. SURJ-KC exemplifies the true allyship that is needed to dismantle harmful systems and ideologies, earning it the H. Councill Trenholm Memorial Award.

    The Mississippi Minority Farmers Alliance of North Mississippi (MMFA) is the recipient of the Reg Weaver Human and Civil Rights Award. Founded by a small group of Black farmers, the MMFA has supported marginalized farmers and brought equity to the world of agriculture.

    As the most developed school in the United States to teach an Indigenous language, Ke Kula ‘O Nāwahīokalani ‘Ōpu ‘U Iki Public Charter School is making a way for Asian American and Pacific Islander youth to embrace their culture by keeping the Hawai’ian language alive. Because of the school’s commitment to reject attempts of assimilation and instead celebrate their students’ Hawai’ian identities, it is the recipient of the Ellison S. Onizuka Memorial Award.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: NATO’s 5% of GDP defence target ramps up pressure on Australia to spend vastly more

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jennifer Parker, Adjunct Fellow, Naval Studies at UNSW Canberra, and Expert Associate, National Security College, Australian National University

    After lobbying by US President Donald Trump, NATO leaders have promised to boost annual defence spending to 5% of their countries’ gross domestic product (GDP) by 2035.

    A NATO statement released this week said:

    United in the face of profound security threats and challenges, in particular the long-term threat posed by Russia to Euro-Atlantic security and the persistent threat of terrorism, allies commit to invest 5% of GDP annually on core defence requirements as well as defence-and security-related spending by 2035.

    This development comes at a tricky time for the Albanese government. It has so far batted away suggestions Australia should increase its defence spending from current levels of around 2% of gross domestic product (GDP), or almost A$59 billion per year (and projected to reach 2.33% of GDP by 2033–34). Trump has called on Australia to increase this to about 3.5%.

    With this NATO agreement, global security deteriorating and defence capability gaps obvious, pressure is mounting on the Australian government to increase defence spending further.

    Pressure from Trump

    A long‑time critic of NATO, Trump and his key officials have castigated NATO’s readiness and spending.

    Meanwhile, Russia’s war on Ukraine, now in its fourth year, and a spate of suspected Russian sabotage across Europe have sharpened concerns about allied preparedness.

    Against this backdrop, the NATO summit saw Trump publicly reaffirms US commitment to the alliance, and European members pledged to lift defence spending.

    What exactly did NATO promise and why?

    The headlines say NATO members agreed to increase annual defence spending to 5% of GDP by 2035.

    In fact, the actual agreement is more nuanced.

    The summit communique, notably shorter than in previous years, broke the pledge down into two parts.

    The first is 3.5% of GDP on what is considered traditional defence spending: ships, tanks, bullets, people and so on.

    The second part – the remaining 1.5% of GDP – is to

    protect our critical infrastructure, defend our networks, ensure our civil preparedness and resilience, unleash innovation, and strengthen our defence industrial base.

    Exactly what strategic resilience initiatives this money will be spent on is up to the individual member nation.

    It might be tempting to paint NATO’s commitment to increased defence spending as evidence of European NATO partners bowing to US political pressure.

    But it’s more than that. It is a direct response to the increased threat posed by Russia to Europe, and perhaps an insurance policy against any doubts European NATO partners may have about the US reliability and enduring commitment to the 76-year-old alliance between the US and Europe.

    However, not all countries are keen on the defence spending commitment, with notable reservations from Spain and Belgium.

    These two countries are yet to meet NATO’s 2014 commitment to spend 2% of GDP on defence.

    What’s all this mean for Australia?

    The commitment to hike NATO defence spending will have an indirect impact on Australia’s own beleaguered defence spending debate.

    As mentioned, Australia’s main strategic ally – the US – has pressured Australia to hike defence spending to 3.5% of GDP, up from around 2.02% of GDP this financial year (which the government projects will reach 2.33% by 2033–34).

    Australia is not the only Indo-Pacific partner being pushed to spend more on defence. Japan is too.

    This is consistent with US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth’s Shangri-La speech in May, when he urged Asian allies to step up on defence spending, pointing to Europe as the model.

    The NATO announcement will likely embolden the US to apply greater pressure on the Australia to increase defence spending.

    Trump’s strategy towards NATO has clearly been to sow ambiguity in the minds of European countries as to the US’ commitment to NATO, to get them to come to the table on defence spending.

    This may well be a future Australia faces, too. It could mean a bumpy road ahead for Australia and its most crucial alliance partner.

    Where to from here?

    Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has said Australia will determine its own level of defence spending, and that arbitrary GDP limits are unhelpful. Defence spending, he argues, should be based on capability needs, not demands from allies.

    And he is right, to a point.

    That said, allies have a right to have an expectation all parties in the alliance are holding up their end of the bargain.

    Australian defence spending should be based on the capabilities it needs to resource its stated defence strategy and defend its core interests. Currently, in my view, Australia’s defence capability does not match its current strategy.

    There are clear gaps in Australia’s defence capabilities, including:

    • its aged naval capability
    • a lack of mine warfare, replenishment and survey capabilities
    • a limited ability to protect critical infrastructure against missile attack
    • space capabilities.

    These are key risks, at the moment of possibly most significant strategic circumstances since the second world war.

    In the event of a major crisis or conflict in the region, Australia would not presently be able to defend itself for a prolonged period. To address this requires structural reform and defence investment.

    In response to this week’s NATO announcement, Defence Minister Richard Marles said:

    We have gone about the business of not chasing a number, but thinking about what is our capability need, and then resourcing it.

    During the election campaign both the prime minister and defence minister left the door open to increasing defence spending.

    The real unknown is how long it will take to make it happen, and how much damage it may do in the meantime to Australia’s relationship with the US and overall defence-preparedness.

    Jennifer Parker is affiliated with UNSW Canberra and ANU’s National Security College.

    – ref. NATO’s 5% of GDP defence target ramps up pressure on Australia to spend vastly more – https://theconversation.com/natos-5-of-gdp-defence-target-ramps-up-pressure-on-australia-to-spend-vastly-more-259886

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Reporting and monitoring – ACE in Schools

    Source: Tertiary Education Commission

    Last updated 18 February 2025
    Last updated 18 February 2025

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    This page covers reporting and monitoring requirements for Adult and Community Education (ACE) in Schools funding.
    This page covers reporting and monitoring requirements for Adult and Community Education (ACE) in Schools funding.

    Reporting
    If you receive ACE (Schools) funding, you must submit:

    a progress report for the period 1 January to 31 May no later than 10 working days after 31 May; and
    a progress report for the period 1 January to 30 September no later than 10 working days after 30 September; and
    a final report for the period 1 January to 31 December no later than 31 January of the following year. 

    Each progress report and the final report must:

    be completed and submitted in accordance with the template that we will provide to you; and
    relate to the specific delivery commitments outlined in your Investment Plan. 

    If you receive ACE (Schools) funding to support ACE coordination you must submit to us:

    an interim report on expenditure for the period 1 January to 30 September no later than 10 working days after 30 September; and
    a final report on expenditure for the period 1 January to 31 December no later than 31 January of the following year. 

    For details about the information we require you to report, please refer to Other Fund Actuals.
    Templates for the two progress reports and one final report are available for tertiary education organisations (TEOs) to complete and submit by the due dates on DXP Ngā Kete. 
    Individual learner data
    Schools must collect and retain accurate data on each learner enrolment, including demographic information at the time of enrolment, and up-to-date records of learner attendance. This data is required for audit purposes, but you do not need to submit it to us with the full year Actuals Report unless you are voluntarily reporting National Student Numbers (NSNs).
    You should also collect and retain learner outcomes data for each course, including in relation to the intended outcomes, and whether or not you achieved these.
    National Student Number (NSN) reporting
    From 1 January 2023, education organisations that deliver under the ACE in Communities or ACE in Schools fund can voluntarily report their learners’ NSNs. This is to enable further research into ACE learners and assist in monitoring learner outcomes and pathways.
    Monitoring
    We monitor school performance to understand school performance in the sector, and to inform our decisions about future funding they may receive.
    We monitor schools funded through ACE against the following:

    commitments:

    number of learners and hours of delivery (contracted and delivered),
    hours of learner attendance,
    delivery sites, and

    performance indicators:

    course completion rates – whether learners attend on average at least 80 percent of tuition time across funded courses, and
    priority learner groups.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Reporting and monitoring – English Language Teaching

    Source: Tertiary Education Commission

    Last updated 18 February 2025
    Last updated 18 February 2025

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    This page provides information about tertiary education organisations’ (TEOs’) reporting on English Language Teaching – Intensive Literacy and Numeracy (ELT ILN) delivery, and how we monitor their performance.
    This page provides information about tertiary education organisations’ (TEOs’) reporting on English Language Teaching – Intensive Literacy and Numeracy (ELT ILN) delivery, and how we monitor their performance.

    TEOs with an indicative allocation of ELT ILN funding submit a completed mix of provision (MoP) template to us via DXP Ngā Kete. 
    We approve the MoP through the Investment Plan (Plan) approval process.
    We monitor TEOs’ reported delivery against these commitments and other requirements and expectations that we set TEOs.
    Reporting
    If you receive ELT ILN funding, you must submit:  

    a progress report for the period 1 January to 31 May no later than 10 working days after 31 May; and 
    a progress report for the period 1 January to 30 September no later than 10 working days after 30 September; and
    a final report for the period 1 January to 31 December no later than 31 January of the following year. 

    Each progress report and the final report must:

    be submitted in accordance with the template that we will provide to you; and
    relate to the specific outcomes outlined in your Investment Plan.

    For details about the information we require you to report, please refer to Other Fund Actuals.
    Templates for the two progress reports and one final report are available for TEOs to complete and submit by the due dates on DXP Ngā Kete.
    Monitoring
    We monitor TEO performance and practices to understand their performance in the sector, and to inform our decisions about future funding they may receive.
    We monitor a TEO’s:

    achievement of MoP delivery commitments
    compliance with ELT funding conditions for the relevant year
    compliance with legislative requirements
    hours and intensity of delivery, and
    achievement of other expectations that we communicate to TEOs.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Reporting and monitoring – Intensive Literacy and Numeracy

    Source: Tertiary Education Commission

    Last updated 18 February 2025
    Last updated 18 February 2025

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    This page provides information about tertiary education organisations’ (TEOs’) reporting on Intensive Literacy and Numeracy (ILN) delivery, and our monitoring of their performance.
    This page provides information about tertiary education organisations’ (TEOs’) reporting on Intensive Literacy and Numeracy (ILN) delivery, and our monitoring of their performance.

    TEOs with an indicative allocation of ILN funding submit a completed Mix of Provision (MoP) template to us via DXP Ngā Kete.
    We approve the MoP through the Investment Plan approval process.
    We monitor TEOs’ reported delivery against these commitments and other requirements and expectations that we set.
    Reporting
    If you receive ILN funding, you must submit:

    a progress report for the period 1 January to 31 May no later than 10 working days after 31 May; and
    a progress report for the period 1 January to 30 September no later than 10 working days after 30 September; and
    a final report for the period 1 January to 31 December no later than 31 January of the following year.

    Each progress report and the final report must:

    be submitted in accordance with the template that we will provide to you; and
    relate to the specific delivery commitments outlined in your Investment Plan. 

    For details about the information we require you to report please refer to Other Fund Actuals.
    Templates for the two progress reports and one final report are available for TEOs to complete and submit by the due dates on DXP Ngā Kete.
    Monitoring
    We monitor TEO performance and practices to understand their performance in the sector, and to inform our decisions about future funding they may receive.
    We monitor a TEO’s:

    achievement of MoP delivery commitments
    compliance with ILN funding conditions for the relevant year
    compliance with legislative requirements
    hours and intensity of delivery, and
    achievement of other expectations that we communicate to TEOs.

    Funding conditions by year

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Reporting and monitoring – Refugee English

    Source: Tertiary Education Commission

    Last updated 18 February 2025
    Last updated 18 February 2025

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    This page provides information about tertiary education organisations’ (TEOs’) reporting on English Language Teaching Refugee English Fund (Refugee English) Fund delivery, and our monitoring of their performance.
    This page provides information about tertiary education organisations’ (TEOs’) reporting on English Language Teaching Refugee English Fund (Refugee English) Fund delivery, and our monitoring of their performance.

    Reporting
    If you receive Refugee English funding, you must submit:  

    a progress report for the period 1 January to 31 May no later than 10 working days after 31 May;
    a progress report for the period 1 January to 30 September no later than 10 working days after 30 September; and
    a final report for the period 1 January to 31 December no later than 31 January of the following year. 

    Each progress report and the final report must:

    be submitted in accordance with the template that we will provide to you; and
    relate to the specific outcomes in your Investment Plan.

    For details about the information we require you to report, please refer to Other Fund Actuals.
    Templates for the two progress reports and one final report are available for TEOs to complete and submit by the due dates on DXP Ngā Kete.
    The reports relate to the specific delivery commitments outlined in your Investment Plan. The reports cover the funded calendar year; they are cumulative and build on the information supplied in the previous reporting period for the funding year. After you have submitted a progress report, we will release it back to you for further data entry (ie, the cumulative information).
    Monitoring
    We monitor TEO performance and practices to understand their performance in the sector, and to inform our decisions about future funding they may receive.
    We monitor a TEO’s:

    achievement of mix of provision (MoP) delivery commitments
    compliance with Refugee English funding conditions for the relevant year
    compliance with legislative requirements, and
    achievement of other expectations that we communicate to TEOs.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Stein On Budget Impasse

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: Governor Stein On Budget Impasse

    Governor Stein On Budget Impasse
    lsaito

    Raleigh, NC

    Today Governor Stein released the following statement after the General Assembly adjourned without passing a budget: 

    “The Senate and the House failed to come together to meet the needs of North Carolinians before the start of the new budget year. While I am gratified that the legislature took action to get more Helene funding out the door, we face many other urgent challenges across the state that need to be addressed through a fiscally responsible, full budget. Our teachers, law enforcement, and other state employees deserve real pay raises so we can recruit and retain the best. In addition, at a time when the federal government is proposing severe cuts to Medicaid, leaving Raleigh without taking steps to fully fund North Carolina’s Medicaid program is irresponsible. I stand ready to work with the General Assembly to invest in our people and expand opportunities so every person can succeed.” 

    Jun 26, 2025

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Stein On Budget Impasse

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: Governor Stein On Budget Impasse

    Governor Stein On Budget Impasse
    lsaito

    Raleigh, NC

    Today Governor Stein released the following statement after the General Assembly adjourned without passing a budget: 

    “The Senate and the House failed to come together to meet the needs of North Carolinians before the start of the new budget year. While I am gratified that the legislature took action to get more Helene funding out the door, we face many other urgent challenges across the state that need to be addressed through a fiscally responsible, full budget. Our teachers, law enforcement, and other state employees deserve real pay raises so we can recruit and retain the best. In addition, at a time when the federal government is proposing severe cuts to Medicaid, leaving Raleigh without taking steps to fully fund North Carolina’s Medicaid program is irresponsible. I stand ready to work with the General Assembly to invest in our people and expand opportunities so every person can succeed.” 

    Jun 26, 2025

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Jayapal, Frost Introduce Legislation to Decriminalize Homelessness

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (7th District of Washington)

    WASHINGTON, DC — U.S. Representatives Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) and Maxwell Frost (FL-10) are introducing legislation on the one-year anniversary of the disastrous City of Grants Pass v. Johnson decision, which allows cities to criminalize homelessness. The Housing Not Handcuffs Act aims to prohibit the criminalization of homeless persons on public lands when there is nowhere else to go. 

    “Every single person in the richest country in the world should be able to have a roof over their head and a safe place to sleep, it’s that simple,” said Jayapal. “There is nowhere in this country where you can pay rent on a minimum wage salary. By criminalizing aspects of homelessness, cities and states across this country are only creating greater barriers for people to access housing — something that is already far too scarce. Fining people who already can’t afford to live makes no sense and will only result in longer-term homelessness.”

    “Since the Grants Pass decision, cities across the country have passed nearly 220 bills to criminalize homelessness, including in my own district. These policies don’t solve homelessness instead they dehumanize our unhoused, saddle them with criminal records, and make it even harder for them to find stable housing. It’s a vicious cycle that the Housing Not Handcuffs Act seeks to end,” said Rep. Maxwell Frost. “At a time when the cost of living is at an all-time high and Trump’s Big Ugly Bill will only help the rich get richer and the working poor get poorer— we’re fighting to make sure everyone has access to safe, decent, and affordable housing, not handcuffs.”

    In 2024, homelessness increased by 18 percent nationwide, with a record high of 771,480 people experiencing homelessness. At the same time, there is a nationwide shortage of 200,000 shelter beds and a shortage of 7.1 million affordable and available rental homes. 

    Since the Grants Pass ruling, over 260 anti-homeless laws have been passed by cities and states. Criminalizing homelessness creates greater barriers to accessing housing. Typically, these punishments come with fines, which create further financial strain on people who can already not afford the basics, and may create a criminal record, making it more difficult to get a job or apply for housing. 

    The Housing Not Handcuffs Act will ensure that people who are homeless cannot be criminally or civilly punished for:

    • Living on federal lands unless safe, decent, accessible shelter is available;
    • Asking for or sharing food, water, money, or other donations in public places;
    • Praying, meditating, or practicing religion in public spaces;
    • Occupying a lawfully parked motor vehicle;
    • Storing their possessions and enjoying privacy in their personal property to the same degree as property in a private dwelling.

    The legislation is sponsored by Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03), Sylvia Garcia (TX-29), Henry C. “Hank” Johnson (GA-04), Jr (GA-04), Summer Lee (PA-12), James P. McGovern (MA-02), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-AL), Delia Ramirez (IL-03), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), and Nydia M. Velázquez (NY-07).

    It is also endorsed by A Way Home America; American Civil Liberties Union; Catalyst Montana; Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund; Ending Community Homelessness Coalition (ECHO); Equal Justice Under Law ; Fines & Fees Justice Center; Fund for Empowerment; Funders Together to End Homelessness; Health Students Taking Action Together (H-STAT); Homeless Action Center; Homeless and Housing Coalition of Kentucky; Homeless Rights Advocacy Project; Hygiene4All; Invisible People; Justice in Aging; Juvenile Law Center; Kairos Center for Religions, Rights and Social Justice; Law Enforcement Action Partnership; Legal Action Center; Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency; Miriam’s Kitchen; Mountain State Justice, Inc.; National Alliance to End Homelessness; National Coalition for the Homeless; National Harm Reduction Coalition; National Health Care for the Homeless Council; National HIV/AIDS Housing Coalition; National Homelessness Law Center, National Housing Law Project; National Low Income Housing Coalition; National Network to End Domestic Violence; National Vehicle Residency Collective ; One Love World ; Open Table Nashville ; People’s Action; Prison Policy Initiative; RESULTS Educational Fund; Sexual Violence Law Center; Southern Poverty Law Center; Street Books; Street Democracy; University of Miami School of Law Human Rights Clinic; VOCAL-TX; Voice of the Experienced; Voters Organized to Educate; Western Regional Advocacy Project.

    Issues: Housing, Transportation, & Infrastructure, Public Safety & Criminal Justice

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Beyond the big leagues: Concussion care in community sports

    Source:

    27 June 2025

    As sport-related concussions continue to spark global concern, researchers at the University of South Australia (UniSA) are turning their attention to a largely overlooked group – non-professional athletes – calling for more rigorous return-to-play assessments to protect everyday players.

    In a new study, researchers suggest that current return-to-play protocols for semi-elite and community sport athletes might not be enough to ensure the safety of players following a concussion.

    A sports-related concussion is traumatic brain injury that occurs when a hit to the head, neck or body causes a sudden jolt to the brain. It can lead to a range of symptoms, with or without a loss of consciousness.

    Lead author, UniSA’s Dr Hunter Bennett, says repeated concussions have a host of long-term health effects.

    “Concussions are one of the most common injuries across all sorts of sports. But while many sporting organisations have guidelines that dictate the minimum time a player must wait before returning to play, they may not always be enough ensure a full recovery,” Dr Hunter says.

    “In the short-term, returning to sport before a concussion has properly healed can lead to impaired balance, coordination and reaction time, which can increase the risk of injury during sport.

    “In the long-term, the risks are even more serious – from cognitive impairment to neurodegenerative diseases like motor neuron disease, Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease, as well as chronic traumatic encephalopathy.

    “Community sportspeople, including children, are particularly vulnerable, as they don’t have the same access to medical support as professional athletes.”

    Dr Bennett says return-to-play decisions for non-professional players should go beyond symptom checks.

    “Instead, they should include symptom-based assessments that test balance, memory, and coordination – key areas affected by concussion ­– in conjunction with personalised rehabilitation plans to support recovery and reduce the risk of reinjury.”

    The Australian Institute of Sport recommends that the earliest a non-professional player can return to play is 21 days after a concussion. For elite players in the AFL or Rugby Australia, the minimum is 12 days.

    But even with those timelines, Dr Bennett says, there are still gaps in how concussions may be assessed and managed at community and school sport levels.

    “There’s a lot of variation in how potential concussions are handled at local levels. And while the intention is always to support and protect the player, sometimes the necessary precautions are not instigated,” Dr Bennett says.

    “Even at professional levels, some research suggests that more than 60% of sports physicians and trainers report feeling pressure from athletes to clear them early, and more than half say they’ve felt pushback from coaches.

    “We know all players – whether professional or not – want to return to their sport as soon as possible, but it’s essential that we take a cautious and individualised approach.

    “Upskilling team clubs, schools and community sports groups to better recognise the signs of concussion, follow proper protocols, and prioritise player wellbeing is key to creating a safer sporting culture at every level.

    “Because when it comes to concussion, it’s not just about getting back on the field – it’s about protecting long-term brain health.”

    …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

    Contact for interview:  Dr Hunter Bennett E: Hunter.Bennett@unisa.edu.au
    Media contact: Annabel Mansfield M: +61 479 182 489 E: Annabel.Mansfield@unisa.edu.au

    Other articles you may be interested in

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ciscomani Leads Effort to Honor Former Arizona Congressman Jim Kolbe

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Juan Ciscomani (Arizona)

    TUCSON, AZ — U.S. Congressman Juan Ciscomani reintroduced a bipartisan effort to honor former Congressman Jim Kolbe by naming a post office after him in Patagonia, AZ. 

    Reintroduction of the legislation is timed to coincide with what would have been Kolbe’s 83rd birthday on Saturday, June 28.  

    Kolbe represented southeastern Arizona for eleven terms, from 1985 to 2007, and was one of Arizona’s most respected members of Congress. Like Ciscomani, Kolbe served on the powerful House Appropriations Committee, rising to chairman of one of the committee’s twelve subcommittees. 

    “Jim Kolbe lived a life of service dedicated to not only our state but our country as a whole,” said Ciscomani. “He was a Navy veteran who represented Arizona as a true statesman, leading in foreign affairs, trade, and fiscal discipline, while staying true to his values. He continues to inspire my own service in Congress and his impactful leadership will long be remembered.” 

    Ciscomani’s legislation would rename the post office located at 100 North Taylor Lane in Patagonia, Arizona, as the Jim Kolbe Memorial Post Office. Kolbe grew up in Patagonia, attending Patagonia Elementary School and Patagonia Union High School.  

    Prior to his election to the House of Representatives, former Congressman Kolbe served in the Navy from 1967 – 1977 and the Arizona state legislature from 1977 – 1982.  

    Ciscomani is joined by Reps. Abe Hamadeh (R-AZ), David Schweikert (R-AZ), Greg Stanton (D-AZ), and Yassamin Ansari (D-AZ) in this effort. 
     

    Read the full bill text here. 
    In January 2023, Congressman Ciscomani gave his maiden floor speech honoring Kolbe following his death in December 2022. 

    ### 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: One bad rainstorm away from disaster: why proposed changes to forestry rules won’t solve the ‘slash’ problem

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mark Bloomberg, Adjunct Senior Fellow, Te Kura Ngahere-New Zealand School of Forestry, University of Canterbury

    Murry Cave/Gisborne District Council, CC BY-SA

    The biggest environmental problems for commercial plantation forestry in New Zealand’s steep hill country are discharges of slash (woody debris left behind after logging) and sediment from clear-fell harvests.

    During the past 15 years, there have been 15 convictions of forestry companies for slash and sediment discharges into rivers, on land and along the coastline.

    Such discharges are meant to be controlled by the National Environmental Standards for Commercial Forestry, which set environmental rules for forestry activities such as logging roads and clear-fell harvesting. The standards are part of the Resource Management Act (RMA), which the government is reforming.

    The government revised the standards’ slash-management rules in 2023 after Cyclone Gabrielle. But it it is now consulting on a proposal to further amend the standards because of cost, uncertainty and compliance issues.

    We believe the proposed changes fail to address the core reasons for slash and sediment discharges.

    We recently analysed five convictions of forestry companies under the RMA for illegal discharges. Based on this analysis, which has been accepted for publication in the New Zealand Journal of Forestry, we argue that the standards should set limits to the size and location of clear-felling areas on erosion-susceptible land.

    Why the courts convicted 5 forestry companies

    In the aftermath of destructive storms in the Gisborne district during June 2018, five forestry companies were convicted for breaches of the RMA for discharges of slash and sediment from their clear-fell harvesting operations. These discharges resulted from landslides and collapsed earthworks (including roads).

    There has been a lot of criticism of forestry’s performance during these storms and subsequent events such as Cyclone Gabrielle. However, little attention has been given to why the courts decided to convict the forestry companies for breaches of the RMA.

    The courts’ decisions clearly explain why the sediment and slash discharges happened, why the forestry companies were at fault, and what can be done to prevent these discharges in future on erosion-prone land.

    New Zealand’s plantation forest land is ranked for its susceptibility to erosion using a four-colour scale, from green (low) to red (very high). Because of the high erosion susceptibility, additional RMA permissions (consents) for earthworks and harvesting are required on red-ranked areas.

    This map shows areas with the highest and lowest susceptibility to erosion.
    David Palmer/Te Uru Rākau, CC BY-SA

    New Zealand-wide, only 7% of plantation forests are on red land. A further 17% are on orange (high susceptibility) land. But in the Gisborne district, 55% of commercial forests are on red land. This is why trying to manage erosion is such a problem in Gisborne’s forests.

    Key findings from the forestry cases

    In all five cases, the convicted companies had consents from the Gisborne District Council to build logging roads and clear-fell large areas covering hundreds or even thousands of hectares.

    A significant part of the sediment and slash discharges originated from landslides that were primed to occur after the large-scale clear-fell harvests. But since the harvests were lawful, these landslides were not relevant to the decision to convict.

    Instead, all convictions were for compliance failures where logging roads and log storage areas collapsed or slash was not properly disposed of, even though these only partly contributed to the collective sediment and slash discharges downstream.

    The court concluded that:

    1. Clear-fell harvesting on land highly susceptible to erosion required absolute compliance with resource consent conditions. Failures to correctly build roads or manage slash contributed to slash and sediment discharges downstream.

    2. Even with absolute compliance, clear-felling on such land was still risky. This was because a significant portion of the discharges were due to the lawful activity of cutting down trees and removing them, leaving the land vulnerable to landslides and other erosion.

    The second conclusion is critical. It means that even if forestry companies are fully compliant with the standards and consents, slash and sediment discharges can still happen after clear-felling. And if this happens, councils can require companies to clean up these discharges and prevent them from happening again.

    This is not a hypothetical scenario. Recently, the Gisborne District Council successfully applied to the Environment Court for enforcement orders requiring clean-up of slash deposits and remediation of harvesting sites. If the forestry companies fail to comply, they can be held in contempt of court.

    A typical scale of clear-felling affected by the June 2018 storms.
    Murry Cave/Gisborne District Council, CC BY-SA

    Regulations are not just red tape

    This illustrates a major problem with the standards that applies to erosion-susceptible forest land everywhere in New Zealand, not just in the Gisborne district. Regulations are not just “red tape”. They provide certainty to businesses that as long as they are compliant, their activities should be free from legal prosecution and enforcement.

    The courts’ decisions and council enforcement actions show that forestry companies can face considerable legal risk, even if compliant with regulatory requirements for earthworks and harvesting.

    Clear-felled forests on erosion-prone land are one bad rainstorm away from disaster. But with well planned, careful harvesting of small forest areas, this risk can be kept at a tolerable level.

    However, the standards and the proposed amendments do not require small clear-fell areas on erosion-prone land. If this shortcoming is not fixed, communities and ecosystems will continue to bear the brunt of the discharges from large-scale clear-fell harvests.

    To solve this problem, the standards must proactively limit the size and location of clear-felling areas on erosion-prone land. This will address the main cause of catastrophic slash and sediment discharges from forests, protecting communities and ecosystems. And it will enable forestry companies to plan their harvests with greater confidence that they will not be subject to legal action.

    Mark Bloomberg receives funding from the government’s Envirolink fund and from local authorities and forestry companies. He is a member of the NZ Institute of Forestry and the NZ Society of Soil Science.

    Steve Urlich does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. One bad rainstorm away from disaster: why proposed changes to forestry rules won’t solve the ‘slash’ problem – https://theconversation.com/one-bad-rainstorm-away-from-disaster-why-proposed-changes-to-forestry-rules-wont-solve-the-slash-problem-258280

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: The drought in southern Australia is not over – it just looks that way

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew B. Watkins, Associate research scientist, School of Earth, Atmopshere & Environment, Monash University

    Andrew Watkins

    How often do you mow your lawn in winter? That may seem like an odd way to start a conversation about drought. But the answer helps explain why our current drought has not broken, despite recent rain – and why spring lamb may be more expensive this year.

    Southern Australia has been short of rain for 16 months. Western Victoria, the agricultural regions of South Australia (including Adelaide) and even parts of western Tasmania are suffering record dry conditions. Those rainfall measurements began in 1900 (126 years ago).

    Large parts of southeastern Australia have experienced the lowest rainfall on record over the past 16 months. Serious deficiency means among the driest 10% of such periods on record, Severe deficiency means among the driest 5%.
    Bureau of Meteorology

    Fewer and less intense rain-bearing weather systems have been crossing the southern coastline since February 2024, compared to normal. Put simply, the land has not received enough big dumps of rain.

    But June has finally brought rain to some drought-affected regions. There’s even an emerald green tinge to the fields in certain agricultural areas. But it’s now too cold for plants to really grow fast, meaning farmers will be carting hay and buying extra feed for livestock until the weather warms in spring.

    Lambs in the Adelaide Hills have little to eat without extra feed.
    Saskia Jones

    Too little, too late

    This month, some areas received good rainfall – including places near Melbourne and, to a lesser degree, Adelaide. City people may be forgiven for thinking the drought has broken and farmers are rejoicing. But drought is not that simple.

    Unfortunately, the rainfall was inconsistent, especially further inland. The coastal deluge in parts of southern Australia in early June didn’t extend far north. Traditionally, the start of the winter crop-growing season is marked by 25mm of rain over three days – a so-called “autumn break”. But many areas didn’t receive the break this year.

    The lack of rain (meteorological drought) compounded the lack of water in the soil for crops and pasture (agricultural drought). Parts of Western Australia, SA, Victoria, Tasmania and southern New South Wales had little moisture left in their soils. So some rain is quickly soaked up as it drains into deeper soils.

    To make matters worse, autumn was the warmest on record for southern Australia, following its second-warmest summer on record. This can increase the “thirst” of the atmosphere, meaning any water on the surface is more likely to evaporate. Recent thirsty droughts, such as the 2017–19 Tinderbox Drought in NSW, were particularly hard-hitting.

    Some areas may have experienced “flash drought”, which is when the landscape and vegetation dry up far quicker than you would expect from the lack of rain alone. By May, areas of significantly elevated evaporative stress were present in southeastern SA, Victoria, southern NSW and northern Tasmania.

    In late May and early June, and again this week, there have been winter dust storms in SA. Such dust storms are a bad sign of how dry the ground has become.

    Some regions no longer have enough water to fill rivers and dams (hydrological drought). Water restrictions have been introduced in parts of southwest Victoria and Tasmania. The bureau’s streamflow forecast does not look promising.

    The landscape near Mortlake in western Victoria was still dry in late May. Typically the autumn break (first post-summer rain event of more than 25 mm) occurs here by early May.
    Andrew Watkins

    A green drought

    Remember that lawn mowing analogy? The winter chill has already set in across the south. This means it’s simply too cold for any vigorous new grass growth, and why you are not mowing your lawn very often at the moment.

    Cool temperatures, rather than just low rainfall, also limit pasture growth. While from a distance the rain has added an emerald sheen to some of the landscape, it’s often just a green tinge. Up close, it’s clear there is very limited new growth.

    Rather than abundant and vigorous new shoots, there’s just a little bit of green returning to surviving grasses. This means there’s very limited feed for livestock. To make matters worse, sometimes the green comes from better-adapted winter weeds.

    There will be a lot of hay carting, regardless of rainfall, until spring when the soils start to warm up once again and new growth returns. This all adds up to fewer stock kept in paddocks or a big extra cost in time and money for farmers – and ultimately, a more expensive spring lamb barbecue.

    Is this climate change?

    Southern Australia (southern WA, SA, Tasmania, Victoria and southern NSW) used to experience almost weekly rain events in autumn and early winter. Cold fronts and deep low-pressure systems rolling in from the west brought the bulk of the rainfall.

    Now there is a far more sporadic pattern in these regions. Rainfall in the April to October crop and pasture growing season has declined by around 10–20% since the middle of last century. The strongest drying trend is evident during the crucial months between April and July.

    Further reductions in southern growing season rainfall are expected by the end of this century, especially in southwestern Australia. Southeastern regions, including southern Victoria, parts of SA and northern Tasmania, also show a consistent drying trend, with a greater time spent in drought every decade.

    Drought is complex. Just because it’s raining doesn’t always mean it has rained enough, or at the right time, or in the right place. To make matters worse, a green drought can even deceive us into thinking everything is fine.

    Breaking the meteorological drought will require consistent rainfall over several months. Breaking the agricultural drought will also require more warmth in the soils. Outlooks suggest we may have to wait for spring.

    This article includes scientific contributions from David Jones and Pandora Hope from the Australian Bureau of Meteorology.



    Read more:
    Why is southern Australia in drought – and when will it end?

    Ailie Gallant receives funding from the Australian Research Council and the National Environmental Science Program Climate Systems Hub.

    Pallavi Goswami works at Monash University. She receives funding from the National Environmental Science Program, Climate Systems Hub.

    Andrew B. Watkins does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. The drought in southern Australia is not over – it just looks that way – https://theconversation.com/the-drought-in-southern-australia-is-not-over-it-just-looks-that-way-259543

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Lung cancer screening is about to start. What you need to know if you smoke or have quit

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ian Olver, Adjunct Professsor, School of Psychology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide

    Magic mine/Shutterstock

    From July, eligible Australians will be screened for lung cancer as part of the nation’s first new cancer screening program for almost 20 years.

    The program aims to detect lung cancer early, before symptoms emerge and cancer spreads. This early detection and treatment is predicted to save lives.

    Why lung cancer?

    Lung cancer is Australia’s fifth most diagnosed cancer but causes the greatest number of cancer deaths.

    It’s more common in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, rural and remote Australians, and lower income groups than in the general population.

    Overall, less than one in five patients with lung cancer will survive five years. But for those diagnosed when the cancer is small and has not spread, two-thirds of people survive five years.

    Who is eligible?

    The lung cancer screening program only targets people at higher risk of lung cancer, based on their smoking history and their age. This is different to a population-wide screening program, such as screening for bowel cancer, which is based on age alone.

    The lung cancer program screens people 50-70 years old with no signs or symptoms of lung cancer such as breathlessness, a persisting cough, coughing up blood, chest pain, becoming very tired or losing weight.

    To be eligible, current smokers must also have a history of at least 30 “pack years”. To calculate this you multiply the number of packets (of 20 cigarettes) you smoke a day by the number of years you’ve been smoking them.

    For instance, if you smoke one packet (20 cigarettes) a day for a year that is one pack year. Smoking two packets a day for six months (half a year) is also a pack year.

    People who have quit smoking in the past ten years but have accumulated 30 or more pack years before quitting are also eligible.

    Heavy smokers aged 50-70 may be eligible for screening.
    Gyorgy Barna/Shutterstock

    What does screening involve?

    Ask your GP or health worker if you are eligible. If you are, you will be referred for a low-dose computed tomography (CT) scan. This uses much lower doses of x-rays than a regular CT but is enough to find nodules in the lung. These are small lumps which could be clumps of cancer cells, inflammatory cells or scarring from old infections.

    Imaging involves lying on a table for 10-15 minutes while the scanner takes images of your chest. So people must also be able to lie flat in a scanner to be part of the program.

    After the scan, the results are sent to you, your GP and the National Cancer Screening Register. You’ll be contacted if the scan is normal and will then be reminded in two years’ time to screen again.

    If your scan has findings that need to be followed, you will be sent back to your GP who may arrange a further scan in three to 12 months.

    If lung cancer is suspected, you will be referred to a lung specialist for further tests.

    What are the benefits and risks?

    International trials show screening people at high risk of lung cancer reduces their chance of dying prematurely from it, and the benefits outweigh any harm.

    The aim is to save lives by increasing the detection of stage 1 disease (a small cancer, 4 centimetres or less, confined to the lung), which has a greater chance of being treated successfully.

    The risks of radiation exposure are minimised by using low-dose CT screening.

    The other greatest risk is a false positive. This is where the imaging suggests cancer, but further tests rule it out. This varies across studies from almost one in ten to one in two of those having their first scan. If imaging suggests cancer, this usually requires a repeat scan. But about one in 100 of those whose imaging suggests cancer but were later found not to have it have invasive biopsies. This involves taking a sample of the nodule to see if it contains cancerous cells.

    Some people will be diagnosed with a cancer that will never cause a problem in their lifetime, for instance because it is slow growing or they are likely to die of other illnesses first. This so-called overdiagnosis varies from none to two-thirds of lung cancers diagnosed, depending on the study.

    Imaging involves a low-dose CT scan.
    Peakstock/Shutterstock

    How much will it cost?

    The Australian government has earmarked A$264 million over four years to screen for lung cancer, and $101 million a year after that.

    The initial GP consultation will be free if your GP bulk bills, or if not you may be charged an out-of-pocket fee for the consultation. This may be a barrier to the uptake of screening. Subsequent investigations and consultations will be billed as usual.

    There will be no cost for the low-dose CT scans.

    What should I do?

    If you are 50-70 and a heavy smoker see your GP about screening for lung cancer. But the greater gain in terms of reducing your risk of lung cancer is to also give up smoking.

    If you’ve already given up smoking, you’ve already reduced your risk of lung cancer. However, since lung cancer can take several years to develop or show on a CT scan, see your GP if you were once a heavy smoker but have quit in the past ten years to see if you are eligible for screening.

    This is the first article in our ‘Finding lung cancer’ series, which explores Australia’s first new cancer screening program in almost 20 years.

    More information about the program is available. If you need support to quit smoking, call Quitline on 13 78 48.

    Ian Olver receives funding from the Australian Research Council.

    – ref. Lung cancer screening is about to start. What you need to know if you smoke or have quit – https://theconversation.com/lung-cancer-screening-is-about-to-start-what-you-need-to-know-if-you-smoke-or-have-quit-253227

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Murray Calls on White House to Reverse Reported Hiring of Anti-Vax Conspiracy Theorist Lyn Redwood to CDC

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray
    ICYMI: Murray Calls for Kennedy to Reinstate Fired ACIP Members or Delay Meeting Until New Members Appropriately Vetted; Calls Out Elevation of Conspiracy Theorist like Redwood
    ICYMI: At HELP Hearing, Senator Murray Presses CDC Nominee on Commitment to Scientific Integrity, Vaccine Access, as RFK Jr. Fires ACIP Members, Pushes Vaccine Conspiracies
    Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), a senior Member and former Chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, issued the following statement in response to news reports that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) planned to hired notorious anti-vaccine extremist Lyn Redwood, former longtime President of RFK Jr.’s Children’s Health Defense, to help oversee vaccine safety.
    “Republicans and Democrats should both be deeply disturbed by the news that our government plans to appoint another anti-vax extremist to allegedly help oversee vaccine safety at our nation’s premier public health agency. This is as disturbing as it gets, and we cannot become numb to it. I’m calling on the White House to immediately reverse this decision. This White House must not give more conspiracy theorists like Redwood a platform to disseminate even more dangerous lies about vaccines—she’s going to get kids killed because their parents will be too afraid to protect their children against preventable diseases like Measles.
    “Vaccines work—they are safe, effective, and lifesaving. We cannot allow a few truly deranged individuals to distort the plain truth and facts around vaccines so badly. I know that my Republican colleagues know this is wrong—now is not the time to be silent. Kids’ lives are on the line. Anti-vaccine conspiracy theorist Lyn Redwood has no place serving as a health advisor at CDC—or anywhere in the Department.” 
    Senator Murray forcefully opposed the nomination of notorious anti-vaccine activist RFK Jr. to be Secretary of HHS, and she has long worked to combat vaccine skepticism and highlight the importance of scientific research and vaccines. Murray was also a leading voice against the nomination of Dr. Dave Weldon to lead CDC, repeatedly speaking up about her serious concerns with the nominee immediately after their meeting. In 2019, Senator Murray co-led a bipartisan hearing in the HELP Committee on vaccine hesitancy and spoke about the importance of addressing vaccine skepticism and getting people the facts they need to keep their families and communities safe and healthy. Ahead of the 2019 hearing, as multiple states were facing measles outbreaks in under-vaccinated areas, Murray sent a bipartisan letter with former HELP Committee Chair Lamar Alexander pressing Trump’s CDC Director and HHS Assistant Secretary for Health on their efforts to promote vaccination and vaccine confidence.
    Senator Murray has been a leading voice in Congress against RFK Jr.’s dismantling of HHS and attacks on America’s public health infrastructure, raising the alarm over HHS’ unilateral reorganization plan and slamming the closure of the HHS Region 10 office in Seattle and the CDC’s National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Spokane Research Laboratory. Senator Murray has sent oversight letters and hosted numerous press conferences and events to lay out how the administration’s reckless gutting of HHS is risking Americans’ health and safety and will set our country back decades, and lifting up the voices of HHS employees who were fired for no reason and through no fault of their own.

    MIL OSI USA News –