Unexpectedly, Patrick’s mum became critically ill while we were India. We have been bedside with her for a week since our return, gathering with family. Her recovery is slow but progressing.
There has been so much love expressed within the family, with cousins, aunties, uncles, grandchildren, parents all reconnecting, and as the hospital is full of Nepali and Indian nurses so we haven’t experienced reverse culture shock. The Manali wool in ICU has also been our long thread back to India.
During this week we have also been aware of a looming deadline; September 30, for submissions to the Communications Legislation Amendment (Combatting Misinformation and Disinformation) Bill 2024. In the quiet times sitting bedside in the ICU, Patrick has been penning a submission. We present his main points here.
In brighter news – news about a world that we know is possible – our friends at Happen Films published this short portrait of Woody yesterday.
Our favourite line in the film is, “I don’t decide what to learn, I just discover things.” Good onya, Woody!
In further helping create a world that we know is possible, where beautiful things are discovered, we’re teaching on two upcoming permaculture courses. This in-person course, and this online one. Come join us!
Glad you are home safe with your family. Patrick’s written document is very sane and clear. I smiled all the way through Woody’s day – he is a delight and an inspiration! I bet it’s so good to be home. X
Woody! What a delight!
Hello Jessie! 😀
thanks Rachel!
Dear Patrick and family, My kind thoughts are with you both during your recent epic journey and now on your return.
Regarding the proposed legislation: so many times during the past 3 years in particular there have been clarion calls from concerned citizens concerning restrictions on civil and personal rights that have been dismissed by “authorities” as being conspiratorial. At the same time government agencies (with political input) have made dictatorial pronouncements that ultimately prove to be incorrect and in fact constitute mis-information. The proposed legislation confirms my view that where a government lacks credibility it employs censorship and coercion to avoid transparency and liability. I totally support your letter of concern.
Thanks Peter, Krishnamurti speaks about distilling things to their essence in order for them to be seen universally. In a world without propaganda this is possible, and thus so is peace.
Thank you for a delightful short film into your world Love Aunty Lynda
Thanks Lynda!
Patrick;
In support of your letter of protest I take the liberty of showing you this SubStack post.
I’m certain that you and your readers will find it informative. The author is Australian. rebekahbarnett@substack.com
cheers,
Peter
Thanks Peter, yes we’ve been following Rebekah and many other independent journos commentators on Substack for the past three or so years. We did a post a few years back about the necessity for each of us to grow our own media ecology, listening to diverse voices so as to break down the reductive echo-chambers.
Woody is the best ..lm sure you must be proud of him
He’s a joy, Jen, much of the time…😂
A beautiful day in the life of Woody. Thank you for sharing this with us Woody. I often think that one of my boys would have loved to have been home schooled too. I’ve always admired your curious nature and your interest in the world and the everyone in it. It is a joy to behold.
Thanks Ali ❤️🙏🏽
This is so beautiful! I love this so much! Thank you! x
❤️
All the best to your mother Patrick. As it happens, mine is in hospital currently too – recovering form a mastectomy. May they both have a speedy and full recovery.
Can’t wait to share the video about Woody with my own ten year old son. He’ll love it!
Sending hugs to your mum, Richard.
Thank you Patrick for taking the time to craft a clear and eloquent submission to Parliament.
And thank you both for sharing a wee insight into your gorgeous wee fella. You must be incredibly proud of him.
My own homeschooled 11year old boy watched this with me this morning and he grinned the whole way through.
He said “I feel like he’d be my friend”
We discussed the lovely idea of planting a tree for a project in 15 years time with your father.
And a 26 year old Woody having learnt his craft and refined his skill, then harvesting his timber and working alongside Patrick to make a bow for a full circle back to hunting rabbits!
May your tree grow strong and true and your pelts be plentiful Woody.
Peace be upon your Mother Patrick.
xC
Thanks for your well wishes and gratitude, Caroline ❤️
May a stellar peace come upon us all…
Indeed.
What excellent post on all fronts. It’s great news to hear that Patrick’s mum is recovering after what must have been a stressful trip home.
Patrick’s response to the ‘Combatting Misinformation and Disinformation Bill 2024’ is thoughtful and intelligent. This seems to be a coordinated effort across most western governments and he’s dead right on the slide towards authoritarianism.
I saw this concerning video of John Kerry today on X talking to the WEF about his dislike of free speech –
https://x.com/alx/status/1840586499328238004?s=46&t=pLn3cyFNfYbqb-sVNf5aOQ
And finally, Woody’s video is just brilliant. I can’t wait to see what’s in his future. Very clever to work hard and reinvest his earnings on tools to make bigger and better things. There’s so many things in the video that demonstrate what a great kid he is, and he can bowl as well. Why did I think he was just a batsman?
And I can’t help but think Patrick consciously chose the sleeveless shirt for the movie just to show off his muscles.
Hope your mum is doing well.
Sending love.
Thanks Tim, yes it’s mind boggling the level of trust for government that exists within the Oz bourgeoisie, especially considering what has occurred since the Bush-Blair-Howard weapons of mass destruction bs, then Obama’s bailout of the banks and his enabling of the Democrats to take money from big [p]harma for the first time in 2014. All the bs wars and US backed killings and dead civilians that Oz governments have uncritically supported. Then the bs Covid response and all the injuries and ineffectiveness that has been covered up. Now a MaD gag bill! The empire must be losing its grip. What’s a bloke to do but grow his hair hippy length, pull on a sleeveless shirt and get out on the streets to busk with his family? Always loved your humour, Tim!
Patrick, your last post was a very sad post. Now I see why. Hope your mother recovering well. Here in Europe, we are basically sliding to a kind of shut off in our freedom as well. Silent with narrows of neo-fascism way’s singing by the far right. Seems the world his becoming falling a part in every corner. Look what WHO is negotiating for future pandemic. Well, I believe the great good news is in the end of your post. Seeing woody video is quite soothing. My daughters, gonna love! All the best for you guy´s
Thanks for your thoughts Tiago,
The rise of the far right is amplified in msm, while the greater threat, the rise of institutional fascism, which is being rolled out by western governments and industry, is what few are paying attention to. The case of the German government’s persecution of satirist CJ Hopkins is just one example. Julian Assange’s first speech since his release in Europe this week outlines what msm refuses to report (bc they are part of political corruption and intransigence to transparency). Court journalism kills democracy and promotes extremism in populations that feel unrepresented. The steering of our eyes to an exaggerated threat, while the real threat goes unreported is an old strategy. Glad you found some joy in Woody’s story. This is our future.
I applaud your engagement with mainstream politics. Far too many intelligent people lob grenades from outside the compound. Inside political parties the problems are profoundly mundane.
Misunderstandings and the emotional needs of individuals are invariably the source of most problems, not some sort of cartoonish wickedness as so often characterised by critics.
👍🏽
Hi Patrick, yes, I agree that we can’t trust in the most msm. I always doubt what journals like Guardian have to say, but today I found this article very scary and revelatory what institutional fascism are you talking about. When we see environmentalist and activist or seed savers like Vandana being record by corporations of pharma and chemicals I think institutional fascism are reaching his steps against those small but very powerful people on this world, try to scare them and chasing their data. Thanks again for your words.
https://www.lighthousereports.com/investigation/poison-pr/
Tiago
Thanks for this Lighthouse share, many examples of institutional fascism in it.
How precious to still have your mum, Patrick. Excellent submission, clear & succinct, a springboard for some good discussion here. And inspiring & heartening to see & hear Woody in action (after seeing so many photos). Modest, clear-eyed, down to earth, such grounded enthusiasm. Prompts reflections on the deadening inanity of the schooling so many of us endured & which explains much of the mindless complacency of mainstream culture. Blessings to you all.
Thanks Shane. It is precious to have mum. Yes, the industrial schooling system, like the industrial medical system gives with one hand and takes with the other.