The PR Blog

On Tuesday morning, when I went to use my Twitter account, I was greeted by a different screen than normal. It contained one single tweet of mine, beneath which was a large red button labeled “Remove.” I had violated Twitter guidelines, because of which I was blocked from using my account. The two options were to remove the offending tweet or to appeal. I chose to appeal. ( by Dr Michael Brown)

Back in December 2019, White Island erupted. My heart reached out to those that had been caught up in this very frightening and dangerous situation.

A place that used to be known for tourists taking selfies and the harvesting of sulfur suddenly gained worldwide attention as a scene of horror and terrible suffering. 

It might be a family failing that we always try and see the good in bad situations but that is the way we are. For me, just because a place is now remembered as the home of tragedy, I cannot help but remember when it was a place where my Dad ruined a perfectly good fishing trip. 

I remember when, over 45 years ago in about 1975,  my parents went fishing off White Island with my Uncle – my Mum’s brother.

Around the world, we are seeing massive amounts of money poured into Box Office Flops. They win Academy Awards and get glowing reviews from the " critics " but strangely enough, no one wants to watch the movie anymore.

We are tired of the nonsense and even the most star gazed observer has realised that it is all about lights, theatre, action and winning the Academy Award for best Actor in the category of politics and health.

In fact, many actors now just repeat the words made famous in other films and claim them as their own. 

In my work as Senior Lecturer at the Flysa Institute of Theatrical Studies, I teach my students about the importance of being earnest and how even the most seasoned politician can fall into the trap of releasing a remake of a classic without considering the repercussions of such a decision.

As time marches on, one lockdown turns into another and the world is still preoccupied with masks and mandatory misery, I have to wonder how and why we are being subjected to this mass hysteria and monumental manipulation of our mandated Rights?

Is it because we are justifiably frightened, or is it because the fear is fuelled by selective honesty?  After all, informed consent can only be given if that consent is given with full knowledge of things called FACTS. 

Only when we are in receipt of the FACTS can we make an informed decision about our future, our health, and that of our loved ones. Only then, can we give our informed consent.... or dissent. 

The leading British war historian, Liddell Hart, wrote in his book Through The Fog of War, published in 1938, referring to Monash:- Perhaps the strongest testimony to his capacity is the distance he went in spite of a tremendous compound handicap of prejudice, due partly to his Jewish origin, partly to the fact that he was an amateur soldier….                                                                                                                                    _________________________________________________________________________

Monash had no ambition to become a permanent soldier. He was a civilian at heart and wanted to return to that role. He did harbour thoughts of obtaining high office as a state Governor or even Governor General but his immediate future was cast when Bean visited Hughes and suggest he put him in charge of repatriation. Hughes is reluctant describing Monash as “a showy Jew” and preferred Birdwood who he described as “a man of kindness”. Bean persisted on the basis of Monash’s demonstrable organisational abilities.

In the 1970's, Pirate Radio Stations were all the rage. It was seen as a badge of honour to quietly admit to listening to Pirate Radio. As the internet becomes increasingly censored, are we going to turn the clock back to those heady days of defiance and consider buying a shortwave receiver? if not, what will be the modern-day equivalent of Pirate Radio?