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Monika Merkes PhD Ⓥ

@monikamerkes.bsky.social
3K followers 2.4K following 1K posts

We must transition to #CleanEnergy & a #PlantBased food system, protecting and restoring ecosystems. #PublicHealth #CovidIsNotOver #FactsMatter #science #democracy #auspol #vegan #dogs. Criticism of Israel's atrocities is not antisemitism. Melbourne, Aus.

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Monika Merkes PhD Ⓥ @monikamerkes.bsky.social · 12h
#auspol www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
theguardian.com
Is Anthony Albanese destined to be the most disappointing prime minister ever? | First Dog on the Moon
How could this happen?
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Monika Merkes PhD Ⓥ @monikamerkes.bsky.social · 13h
"While 99% of us are paying more for food, and many are making decisions about enough food or some other essentials, the 1% who own Coles and Woolies are laughing.” Don't most Australians have shares in C & W via their superfunds? #auspol www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
theguardian.com
Max Chandler-Mather pitches Mamdani-style $25bn plan to nationalise 200 Coles and Woolworths supermarkets
Former MP and Greens Institute head says proposal for publicly owned supermarket chain will ease grocery prices
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Independent Media Australia. @indymediaaus.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 04/10/2026
Governments know how dangerous climate collapse is. Why aren’t they telling us? pearlsandirritations.com/e/daily/20… #Auspol
pearlsandirritations.com
Governments know how dangerous climate collapse is. Why aren’t they telling us?
British intelligence warns that climate and ecosystem collapse could drive conflict, migration, famine and economic instability. Yet governments continue to conceal the full scale of the threat.
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Kammassakomhi Kammadayado @kammassakomhi.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
Dairy and the beef industry should not exist on a planet facing catastrophic decline due to climate crisis. #auspol
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Independent Media Australia. @indymediaaus.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 04/10/2026
Three leaders, one reminder: moral courage is not dead in politics – Message from the Editor pearlsandirritations.com/e/daily/20… #Auspol
pearlsandirritations.com
Three leaders, one reminder: moral courage is not dead in politics – Message from the Editor
When I wrote my very first editor's message 19 months ago, I said that P&I expected leaders to display the moral courage required if we are to tackle existential threats. I have been reminded how true this is every week. You expect courage and intelligence in those who purport to lead, and you make that crystal clear in the letters and articles we publish daily, and increasingly in the social media discussions they prompt.
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MarcPieterse @marcpieterse.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
1/2 🎣 This floating factory processes tens of thousands of fish every day. Every one of them can feel pain and fear. 🌱 Choosing plant-based is the most direct way to stop funding it. #GoVegan #Fishing #OceanLife #Overfishing #PlantBased
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Monika Merkes PhD Ⓥ @monikamerkes.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
😁
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AliceK @coalisdead.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
“The time for reports has passed The time for action is now It’s our turn to face the monsters of our time” Esben Barth Eide, Norways foreign minister addresses the UN general assembly. #auspol johnmenadue.com/post/2026/10...
johnmenadue.com
The time of monsters: why the UN must reform to survive
Minister of Foreign Affairs Espen Barth Eide delivered Norway's statement during the general debate of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly. His speech highlighted how international law is erod...
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Briony Kidd @brionykidd.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
What the Greens mean by saying they want to 'replace Labor'. www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOwZ... #auspol #politas
youtube.com
What Does Replacing Labor Actually Mean?
YouTube video by Australian Greens
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David Tomkins 🦋 @davidctomkins.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
The New South Wales independent planner has approved the biggest coalmine project to ever go before it, allowing mining to continue until 2045 at a Hunter Valley project described by climate groups as a “carbon bomb”. #climatecrisis #auspol @albomp.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
theguardian.com
Approval of biggest coal project in NSW planning commission’s history described as ‘infamous betrayal’
Independent Planning Commission says climate change impacts from Hunter Valley project will be ‘outweighed’ by economic benefits
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Monika Merkes PhD Ⓥ @monikamerkes.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
“The estimate of the total amount of rubble in Gaza is 61m tonnes. It is approximately 20 times the amount of rubble generated in all wars across the world over the last 18 years” #genocide #auspol
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AthenaCQLeD @athenacqled.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Another crime against humanity... Unimaginable #auspol
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Emerge Australia @emergeaustralia.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Introducing Emerge Australia’s latest Research Digest – easy-to-read summaries of new ME/CFS and Long COVID research, delivered monthly to your inbox. 🧠✨ Subscribe or browse past editions (incl. audio): zurl.co/cHrKk
Promotional graphic for Emerge Australia’s Research Digest showing a close-up of a person holding a magnifying glass over paperwork; text reads “Emerge Australia’s Research Digest” and “The latest ME/CFS and long Covid research delivered to your inbox every month,” with the Emerge Australia logo.
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Denis - The COVID Info Guy @thecovidinfoguy.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Bezisterim showed promising results for people with more severe Long COVID, improving fatigue, brain fog, cognition and PEM. It didn’t show a significant benefit across everyone in the trial, but the results were encouraging enough to move toward a larger Phase III study. #LongCOVID
healthrising.org
Bezisterim - the Best Long COVID Drug Trial Yet? BioVie Aims for a Big, Phase III Trial - Health Rising
Bezisterim produces moderate and broad treatment effects in several different long COVID subsets. BioVie, the drug manufacturer, hopes to move forward with a big phase III trial.
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Monika Merkes PhD Ⓥ @monikamerkes.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
How cruel to have kept this woman for 14 months in custody. #auspol www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
theguardian.com
Cheers as murder charge dismissed for Queensland woman who helped terminally ill husband die
Kylie Ellina Truswell-Mobbs, 52, walks out of court after receiving suspended sentence over 2023 death of David Ronald Mobbs
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Senator David Shoebridge @davidshoebridge.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Still so little information from the Albanese Government over what data they are planning to hand over to Trump. Every level of this Government is just addicted to secrecy. This agreement will cover our information, surely the public should know about negotiations.
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Monika Merkes PhD Ⓥ @monikamerkes.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Isn't this a form of child abuse? www.theguardian.com/world/2026/s...
theguardian.com
Specialist coaches and hours of practice a day: the making of China’s six-year-old Rubik’s Cube prodigy
Mother of Lian Yunzhi says world record a ‘dream come true’ for child who now gets autograph requests from fellow students
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Annie Leymarie @annieleymarie.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
"Obesity and climate change: co-crises with common solutions": www.frontiersin.org/journals/sci...
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Robert Reich @rbreich.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
DoorDash spent $1.4M trying to stop Zohran Mamdani from becoming mayor. This week's historic $131.5M enforcement action against DoorDash for underpaying NYC delivery workers shows why. Yet another reminder that the only thing that can beat organized money is organized people.
theintercept.com
DoorDash Spent $1.4 Million Trying to Stop Mamdani From Becoming Mayor. Now We Know Why.
In a wage-theft settlement, DoorDash now has to pay its workers around 100 times what it spent trying to beat Zohran Mam
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Robynne @haddagutful.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Palestinians in Masafer Yatta are surviving without water after Israeli settlers cut off a lifeline mondoweiss.net/2026/09/pale...
mondoweiss.net
Palestinians in Masafer Yatta are surviving without water after Israeli settlers cut off a lifeline
In Masafer Yatta in the southern occupied West Bank, Israeli settlers are accelerating their attacks on Palestinian farmers and herders in the area by cutting off their water supply.
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Monika Merkes PhD Ⓥ @monikamerkes.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
European leaders warn of Russian threat. By Laura Tingle. #auspol www.abc.net.au/news/2026-09...
abc.net.au
A dangerous new reality is taking hold in Europe
One after the other they lined up to speak: National leaders warning of increasing imminent danger to their countries.
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Dr Monique Ryan @mon4kooyong.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Victoria Police prepare for a 20 percent spike in violence against women on Grand Final day, making it one of the busiest weekends of the year.
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Monika Merkes PhD Ⓥ @monikamerkes.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Another house of horrors. "... two lines will process 15,000 birds an hour as chickens fly through state-of-the-art chilling systems and automated packing machines en route to supermarkets across the state." #auspol #AnimalProtection www.theguardian.com/world/2026/s...
theguardian.com
Australia’s newest chicken factory looks like a modern art gallery – but will it improve animal welfare?
Three million chickens a week will be processed at the state-of-the-art facility in Tamworth – a fifth of all those eaten nationwide
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Monika Merkes PhD Ⓥ @monikamerkes.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
And still not listening. #auspol www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
theguardian.com
The west is in freefall – and the worst part is that we were warned, but chose not to listen | Owen Jones
Endless pursuit of wealth and power by western leaders led us here. What strikes me most is how many saw what was coming, says Guardian columnist Owen Jones
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The Cathy Wilcox @cathywilcox.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Why would you trust an industry founded on theft to self-regulate?
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Pearls and Irritations @johnmenadue.com · 24/09/2026
Albanese is receiving a Global Citizen Award for his international leadership, but Australia has yet to sign the nuclear weapons ban treaty he once championed. Meanwhile, AUKUS is deepening our involvement in US military operations, Tilman Ruff writes. #auspol #AUKUS
pearlsandirritations.com
Albanese, AUKUS and the broken promise on nuclear weapons
As Albanese receives an international award for his leadership on security, Australia remains outside the nuclear weapons ban treaty he once championed. Meanwhile, expanding US military access raises new questions about Australia’s exposure to nuclear conflict.
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Monika Merkes PhD Ⓥ @monikamerkes.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Is it not possible to make AI companies legally liable for any damages caused? #auspol www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
theguardian.com
Anthony Albanese says OpenAI agent hacked Medicare and he expressed ‘extreme concern’ to Sam Altman
Prime minister says he expressed ‘disappointment’ to chief executive it had taken the company ‘way too long’ to inform him about the breach
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Monika Merkes PhD Ⓥ @monikamerkes.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
"The way that animals are treated in biomedical science is so incredibly horrific compared to anything that anybody’s doing in the field of animal communication.”
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Monika Merkes PhD Ⓥ @monikamerkes.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
"The nightmare scenario is one where we interrupt their communications and their lives at will, just for our entertainment”. Humans are already exploiting animals for our entertainment. AI will bring more of it. #animals www.theguardian.com/technology/n...
theguardian.com
Using AI to ‘talk to animals’ might make us feel clever – but what, if anything, does it do for them?
As animal behaviorists increasingly use AI in their research, they grapple with how to wield the technology responsibly
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Independent Media Australia. @indymediaaus.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 22/09/2026
Have ethics and morality become dispensable? pearlsandirritations.com/e/daily/20… #Auspol
pearlsandirritations.com
Have ethics and morality become dispensable?
As truth becomes subordinate to political narratives, democracy itself is at risk. From Australia to the US and Israel, defending ethical principles increasingly demands courage from those willing to speak.
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Monika Merkes PhD Ⓥ @monikamerkes.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
More animal cruelty at Tasmania's salmon farms. Perpetrated by multinational companies. Against seals. Shut this toxic industry down. #auspol www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
theguardian.com
More than 150,000 underwater explosives used to deter seals at Tasmanian salmon farms since 2016
Salmon companies operating in Tasmanian marine areas deployed almost 1,800 explosives in first half of 2026, government figures reveal
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Michael West @michaelwestbiz.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
A seat on the UN Security Council? Maybe Australia could adhere to international law to start #auspol michaelwest.com.au/palestine-on...
michaelwest.com.au
Palestine. One year on from recognition, what have Albo and Penny done? - Michael West
Today is “International Day of Peace” and the anniversary of Australia formally recognising Palestine. What has happened since? Shamikh Barda asks. PM Anthony Albanese is at the UN today, promoting Au...
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Annie Leymarie @annieleymarie.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Of the 223 lead authors in the IPCC working group III (mitigation of climate change), an investigation found 20 with strong conflict of interest concerns. "Authors’ conflict of interest declarations are not made public, & the conflict of interest committee provides no detail about its deliberation."
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Monika Merkes PhD Ⓥ @monikamerkes.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
p.dw.com/p/5MrVj
p.dw.com
In Indonesia's Borneo, hunters now shoot photos, not animals
Indonesian villagers can now earn money by photographing rare animals instead of hunting them. This conservation program protects endangered species while also creating new income opportunities.
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Robert Reich @rbreich.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
For those who have forgotten the past 40 years: Tax cuts for the rich ...don’t trickle down Boosting military spending ...doesn’t bring peace Slashing regulations ...doesn’t create jobs Folks, we’ve seen this all before.
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Monika Merkes PhD Ⓥ @monikamerkes.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
The far-right AFD keeps winning ground in German elections. Though less in Berlin. www.theguardian.com/world/2026/s...
theguardian.com
Friedrich Merz vows to stay in office after CDU ‘disaster’ in German state elections
Far-right AfD wins in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and leftwing Die Linke on course for victory in Berlin
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Senator David Shoebridge @davidshoebridge.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
The Prime Minister thought he may as well make it official - Labor is run by and for Newscorp and the 1% - so he has appointed former Newscorp exec under hard-right Lachlan Murdoch to plum NY diplomatic job
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Hypervisible @hypervisible.blacksky.app · 20/09/2026
🫡
ft.com
AI chatbots give wrong answers to financial queries ‘most of the time’
Report finds some chatbots ignored upcoming tax changes and hallucinated rules
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Monika Merkes PhD Ⓥ @monikamerkes.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
The Australian Government is also complicit in this atrocity. Selling weapons parts to Israel. Expressing 'concern' without following up with action. Letting the Zionist lobby dominate the public discussion around 'antisemitism'. #auspol
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Monika Merkes PhD Ⓥ @monikamerkes.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
"The real AI threat isn't what you think." A different perspective to what the msm tell us. #auspol www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOzi...
youtube.com
The real AI threat isn't what you think - Yanis Varoufakis & Wolfgang Munchau | The Econoclasts
YouTube video by UnHerd
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Monika Merkes PhD Ⓥ @monikamerkes.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
Data centres are neither good or bad, and hardly anyone would want to give up using the services that require the existence of data centres, or have our data stored offshore. This article explores how to make the best of the current situation. #aupol theconversation.com/what-does-a-...
theconversation.com
What does a good data centre future look like? And how do we get there?
The decisions we make today will shape Australia’s future for decades.
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Annie Leymarie @annieleymarie.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Wow! A real government agency that can compete with @thejuicemedia.com's Honest Government Ads!
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Robynne @haddagutful.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
michaelwest.com.au/cellebrite-g...
michaelwest.com.au
Cellebrite gets Government blessing to share your phone - Michael West
Cellebrite has government clearance for use by law enforcement agencies to pry into your personal life, and you can't stop them.
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Monika Merkes PhD Ⓥ @monikamerkes.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
'Scientists create mice with part-human brains' Abhorrent 'research' that's cruel and most likely as useless as most #AnimalExperimentation. www.theguardian.com/science/2026...
theguardian.com
Scientists create mice with part-human brains
Researchers hope to shed light on conditions such as schizophrenia, epilepsy, cerebral palsy, intellectual disability and rare forms of dementia
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Monika Merkes PhD Ⓥ @monikamerkes.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
'The Antony Loewenstein Podcast: Assal Rad on How Propaganda Hides in Plain Sight' Assal Rad’s recently published book 'Don't Say Palestine' deals with the media’s different language when reporting on Israelis vs Palestinians. #auspol #media www.youtube.com/watch?v=6j9U...
youtube.com
The Antony Loewenstein Podcast: Assal Rad on How Propaganda Hides in Plain Sight
YouTube video by Antony Loewenstein
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Jewish Council of Australia @jewishcouncilau.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
Proud to join our allies launching the Red Lines Package at Parliament yesterday – a suite of 4 bills that would ensure Australia doesn’t fund, arm, or invest in illegal settlements, war crimes, or genocide. As Jews we know too well what happens when the international community turns a blind eye.
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Andrew Wilkie MP @andrewwilkiemp.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
I was asked if the Government would take up the crossbench bill implementing the Red Lines package. The truth is we don’t need the credit, we just want the outcome: an end to Australia funding, arming or investing in illegal settlements, war crimes or genocide #auspol
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Caitlin Johnstone @caitoz.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
Macklemore's Tour Cancellation Shows Why Celebrities Don't Criticize Israel www.caitlinjohnst.one/p/macklemore...
caitlinjohnst.one
Macklemore's Tour Cancellation Shows Why Celebrities Don't Criticize Israel
Video reading by Tim Foley:
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Denise Difficult-Shrivell @deniseshrivell.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
Today is International Day of Democracy. Democracy is under threat globally, even here in Aust, where we have the structures but not always the practices. Every issue we face can be solved by active participation. No one is coming to save us but us. What will you do? 🙌 #auspol
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Michael West @michaelwestbiz.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
Israel funded the legal assault on Mary Kostakidis Stephanie Tran and Michael West reports. Read it here: michaelwest.com.au/israel-funded-th…
Michael West Media story graphic
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