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feat: adds vice.com route #15694
Involved Issue / èŻ„ PR çžć ł Issue
Close #15694
Example for the Proposed Route(s) / è·Żç±ć°ćç€șäŸ
/vice/politics/true/en
/vice/politics/true
/vice/politics/false
New RSS Route Checklist / æ° RSS è·Żç±æŁæ„èĄš
- [x] New Route / æ°çè·Żç±
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- [ ] Anti-bot or rate limit / ćçŹ/éąçéć¶
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- [x] Date and time / æ„æćæ¶éŽ
- [x] Parsed / ćŻä»„è§Łæ
- [x] Correct time zone / æ¶ćșæŁçĄź
- [ ] New package added / æ·»ć äșæ°çć
- [ ]
Puppeteer
Note / èŻŽæ
New route for vice.com (seriously messed up the last PR)
Successfully generated as following:
http://localhost:1200/vice/politics/true/en - Success âïž
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<title>Australia's Massive Military Budget</title>
<description><div class="article__header article__header--bordered"><div class="article__header__rubric"><a class="article__header__rubric__label article__header__rubric__link" href="https://vice.com/en/topic/australia-today">Australia Today</a></div><span data-direction="down" data-article-id="66444ef0fc3a24f9da345607" data-article-locale="en_au" data-article-title="Australia's Massive Military Budget" data-article-description="The 2025 federal budget was announced this week. This is how much the Australian government spends on the military." data-article-url="/en/article/93kjk3/military-budget"><div class="smart-header smart-header--light article__header__title"><h1 class="smart-header__hed smart-header__hed--size-2">Australia's Massive Military Budget</h1></div></span><div class="article__header__ad-section"><div class="article__header__ad-section__content"><span class="vice-ad"><div class="vice-ad__container sponsored-slot" data-reactroot=""><div id="sponsored-article-93kjk3" class="vice-ad__ad htlad-longform-sponsored-article" data-ad-unit-path="/16916245/oo_web/vice/article" data-unit="/16916245/oo_web/vice/article" data-change-correlator="false" data-slot-id="longform-sponsored-article" data-targeting="{&quot;topic&quot;:&quot;australia-today&quot;,&quot;keywords&quot;:[&quot;politics&quot;,&quot;australia&quot;],&quot;aid&quot;:&quot;military-budget&quot;,&quot;pagetype&quot;:&quot;short-form&quot;,&quot;country&quot;:&quot;en&quot;,&quot;brand_name&quot;:&quot;vice&quot;,&quot;section_name&quot;:&quot;null&quot;,&quot;utm_source&quot;:&quot;&quot;}"></div></div></span></div></div><div class="article__header__dek-contributions"><div class="article__header__dek">The 2025 federal budget was announced this week. This is how much the Australian government spends on the military.</div><div class="contributors"><div class="contributor"><a class="avatar avatar__link avatar__small contributor__image" href="https://vice.com/en/contributor/aleksandra-bliszczyk"><img class="avatar__img" src="https://video-images.vice.com/contributors/5ba88044456ac40007b7aff6/lede/1712539419728-screenshot-2024-04-08-at-112258-am.png?crop=0.8511xw:0.8108xh;0.0319xw,0xh&amp;resize=100:*" alt="Aleksandra Bliszczyk" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></a><div class="contributor__meta"><div><span class="contributor__meta__prefix">by </span><a href="https://vice.com/en/contributor/aleksandra-bliszczyk">Aleksandra Bliszczyk</a></div></div></div></div><div class="article__header__datebar"><div class="article__header__datebar__date--original"><time datetime="2024-05-16T07:01:04.449Z" itemprop="datePublished">May 16, 2024, 7:01am</time></div><span class="article__socialize"><ul><li><button aria-label="facebook" 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1.94-.101.99.165 1.92 1.568 3.708 1.568 1.66 0 2.652-1.41 3.605-1.568.552-.091 1.026-.062 1.556.04.365.072.692.112.796-.246.091-.31.147-.702.216-.795.68-.106 2.235-.375 2.274-1.066a.353.353 0 0 0-.294-.367c-2.234-.368-3.725-2.923-3.484-3.491.167-.394.887-.535 1.197-.657.577-.227.866-.507.86-.83-.008-.415-.507-.662-.874-.662-.373 0-.91.442-1.344.203.068-1.202.236-2.9-.189-3.85C12.067.91 10.28 0 8.491 0 6.714 0 4.939.898 4.129 2.714z"></path></defs><g fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd"><path class="social-icon-secondary" fill="#fff" d="M-577-50h917V70h-917z"></path><mask id="social-icon-snap_share-snapchat-b" fill="#fff"><use xlink:href="#social-icon-snap_share-snapchat-a"></use></mask><g class="social-icon-primary" fill="#000" mask="url(#social-icon-snap_share-snapchat-b)"><path d="M0 0h17v16H0z"></path></g></g></svg><span class="article__socialize__share__text">Snap</span></button></span></li></ul></span></div></div></div><div class="short-form__body"><div class="short-form__body__article-body"><div class="short-form__body__article-lede-image"><div><picture class="responsive-image lazyloader--lazy lazyloader--lowres"><source media="(min-width: 1000px)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/articles/66444ef0fc3a24f9da345607/lede/1715842120352-gettyimages-1436363944.jpeg?crop=1xw:0.845356176735798xh;center,center&amp;resize=20:*" width="500" height="281.25"><source media="(min-width: 700px)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/articles/66444ef0fc3a24f9da345607/lede/1715842120352-gettyimages-1436363944.jpeg?crop=1xw:0.845356176735798xh;center,center&amp;resize=20:*" width="600" height="337.5"><source media="(min-width: 0px)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/articles/66444ef0fc3a24f9da345607/lede/1715842120352-gettyimages-1436363944.jpeg?crop=1xw:0.845356176735798xh;center,center&amp;resize=20:*" width="300" height="168.75"><img class="responsive-image__img" alt="military-budget" decoding="async" loading="eager" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></picture></div></div><div data-component="BodyComponentRenderer" class="article__body-components"><span class="abc__textblock size--article" data-component="TextBlock"><p>The 2025 federal budget announced on Tuesday <a href="https://www.minister.defence.gov.au/media-releases/2024-05-14/generational-investment-australias-defence" target="_blank"><span>committed an additional $50.3 billion</span></a> to defence over the next decade, bringing our 10-year defence spending to $764.6 billion.</p></span><span class="abc__textblock size--article" data-component="TextBlock"><p>$764.6 billion is an extraordinary amount of money, more than double the initial <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/k7z5by/stage-three-tax-cuts-change">cost of the controversial stage 3 tax cuts</a> that have since been amended.</p></span><span><div class="adph adph--border"><div class="ac-w-ph__dsc">Advertisement</div><div class="ac-w-ph"><div class="ph ph-shortform-top"><div class="vice-ad__container"><span class="vice-ad"></span></div></div></div></div></span><span class="abc__textblock size--article" data-component="TextBlock"><p>To put $700 billion in perspective â making undergraduate university degrees completely free for all domestic students would cost about $7 billion a year or $70 billion over 10 years, <a href="https://futurework.org.au/report/at-the-crossroads/" target="_blank"><span>according to the Australia Institute</span></a>. Just 10 per cent of the defence budget.</p></span><span class="abc__textblock size--article" data-component="TextBlock"><p>With the new federal budget, the annual defence bill will hit a record of $53 billion this year, <a href="https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/pubs/rp/BudgetReview202021/AustralianGovernmentExpenditure" target="_blank"><span>up from $39 billion last year</span></a>, and is projected to surpass $100 billion annually by 2033, or 2.4 per cent of our GDP.</p></span><span class="abc__textblock size--article" data-component="TextBlock"><p>This is part of a massive defence shakeup to âkeep Australia safeâ amid what the <a href="https://twitter.com/RichardMarlesMP/status/1780423930035253415/photo/1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1780423930035253415%7Ctwgr%5E26106fef105a8d5f345bf2bd806c321fc1f57b4e%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sbs.com.au%2Fnews%2Farticle%2Faustralias-defence-budget-set-to-increase-by-50-billion-over-the-next-decade%2F04c2x7teq" target="_blank"><span>Defence Minister Richard Marles called</span></a> the most challenging strategic environment since World War II.</p></span><span class="abc__textblock size--article" data-component="TextBlock"><p>So, just looking at the bonuses included in this budget, defence got an extra $5 billion for this year alone.</p></span><span><div class="adph adph--border"><div class="ac-w-ph__dsc">Advertisement</div><div class="ac-w-ph"><div class="ph ph-shortform-scroll"><div class="vice-ad__container"><span class="vice-ad"></span></div></div></div></div></span><span class="abc__textblock size--article" data-component="TextBlock"><p>Thatâs more than Commonwealth Rent Assistance that, for just this year, <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@viceautoday/video/7369016467712527624" target="_blank"><span>gets an extra $500 million</span></a>; more than the $600 million boost to Services Australia, for more staff to help manage the backlog of people trying to access welfare payments; more than the <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@viceautoday/video/7365670312584678664" target="_blank"><span>changes to HECS indexation</span></a> thatâll cost about $3 billion in foregone revenue; and more than the $3.5 billion cost of living relief package in the form of $300 electricity bill rebates for every household.</p></span><div class="abc__article_embed" data-component="RelatedArticleBlock"><div class="vice-card vice-card--light"><div class="vice-card__content"><div class="vice-card-rubric vice-card-rubric--light vice-card__vice-card-rubric"><a class="vice-card-rubric__label vice-card-rubric__link" href="https://vice.com/en/topic/australia-today">Australia Today</a></div><h3 class="vice-card-hed vice-card-hed--light vice-card__vice-card-hed"><a rel="" target="" href="https://vice.com/en/article/n7eyv8/nsw-police-palestine-thin-blue-line" class="vice-card-hed__link">New Report Documents Police Misuse of Power at Weekly Palestine Rallies</a></h3><div class="vice-card-details vice-card-details--light vice-card__vice-card-details"><div class="vice-card-details__byline">Aleksandra Bliszczyk</div><time class="vice-card-details__pub-date" datetime="2024-03-27T04:12">03.27.24</time></div></div><div class="vice-card-image vice-card__vice-card-image"><a rel="" target="" href="https://vice.com/en/article/n7eyv8/nsw-police-palestine-thin-blue-line" class="vice-card-image__link" tabindex="-1"><div class="vice-card-image__placeholder-image placeholder-image--16-9--sm placeholder-image--16-9--md placeholder-image--16-9--lg"><div><picture class="responsive-image lazyloader--lazy"><source 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srcset="data://image/png;base64,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?resize=" width="200" height="112.5"><img class="responsive-image__img" alt="" decoding="async" loading="eager" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></picture></div></div></a></div></div></div><span class="abc__textblock size--article" data-component="TextBlock"><p>Also compare the $5 extra billion dollars for defence with the <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@viceautoday/video/7367169227117153554" target="_blank"><span>extra $50 million for endometriosis consultation subsidies</span></a>, or the extra $73 million a year to mental health, to establish a national digital mental health referral service, or the $185 million per year to domestic violence victims, <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@viceautoday/video/7363923077400366344" target="_blank"><span>going to the Leaving Violence Program</span></a> that offers $5000 payments to people fleeing abusive homes.</p></span><span class="abc__textblock size--article" data-component="TextBlock"><p>To explain a couple of those furtherâŠ</p></span><span class="abc__textblock size--article" data-component="TextBlock"><p>Rent Assistance is going up â $19 a fortnight for singles as part of the government's plan to tackle the housing and <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/4a3mvp/coles-woolies-prices-fines">cost of living</a> crisis in its 2025 federal budget.</p></span><span><div class="adph adph--border"><div class="ac-w-ph__dsc">Advertisement</div><div class="ac-w-ph"><div class="ph ph-shortform-scroll"><div class="vice-ad__container"><span class="vice-ad"></span></div></div></div></div></span><span class="abc__textblock size--article" data-component="TextBlock"><p>The maximum Commonwealth Rent Assistance payment will increase by 10 per cent from September this year, which will benefit about 1 million recipients on that rate.</p></span><span class="abc__textblock size--article" data-component="TextBlock"><p>The current highest payment for a single person is $188.20 a fortnight, or $125.47 for a single person in a <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/5d9a7q/sharehouse-demand-sydney-melbourne-rental">sharehouse</a>, and those will go up $18.80.</p></span><span class="abc__textblock size--article" data-component="TextBlock"><p>For families or parents with three or more children it will go up $25 a fortnight to $274.90 a fortnight. </p></span><span class="abc__textblock size--article" data-component="TextBlock"><p>This is also before the payments are indexed according to inflation which treasurer Jim Chalmers will add another 5 per cent. to all payments.</p></span><span class="abc__textblock size--article" data-component="TextBlock"><p>It will cost the government an additional $1.9 billion over the next five years.</p></span><span class="abc__textblock size--article" data-component="TextBlock"><p>The government will also wipe $3 billion of student debt by changing the way itâs indexed. </p></span><span class="abc__textblock size--article" data-component="TextBlock"><p>The new move caps the rate of indexation to make sure your debt canât rise faster than your <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/bvjkxq/award-wage-pay-rise">wages</a>. So currently HECS or HELP loans rise a percentage every year according to the CPI, the consumer price index. Thatâs the measure of how the cost of goods and services rise over time. But the WPI, the wage price index measures the rate, on average, of wage growth. So now the government will introduce legislation that means student loan indexation will be calculated on whichever is lower each year, the CPI or the WPI.</p></span><span class="abc__textblock size--article" data-component="TextBlock"><p>The policy will also be backdated to June 1, 2023, which means last year's historically high 7.1 per cent indexation will be more than halved to the WPI of of the time which was 3.2 per cent.</p></span><span class="abc__textblock size--article" data-component="TextBlock"><p>This will cancel hundreds if not thousands of dollars from most peopleâs HECS debts and mean indexation this year and in future years will be lower than expected and mean that theyâll never grow so fast to the point where the growth outpaces the mandatory repayments from your paychecks.&nbsp;</p></span><span class="abc__textblock size--article" data-component="TextBlock"><p><em>Aleksandra Bliszczyk is the Deputy Editor of VICE Australia. Follow her on<a href="https://www.instagram.com/aleksbliszczyk/?hl=en" target="_blank"> Instagram</a>.</em></p></span></div><div class="article__tagged"><div class="tags"><span class="tags__label">Tagged:</span><span class="tags__taglist"><span class="tags__item"><a class="tags__item--link" href="https://vice.com/en/topic/politics">Politics</a></span><span class="tags__item"><a class="tags__item--link" href="https://vice.com/en/topic/australia">Australia</a></span></span></div></div><div class="user-newsletter-signup user-newsletter-signup--light article-newsletter-signup"><div class="user-newsletter user-newsletter--light"><div class="user-newsletter__content"><div class="user-newsletter__heading"><h3 class="user-newsletter__title">ONE EMAIL. ONE STORY. EVERY WEEK. 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This is how much the Australian government spends on the military." data-article-url="/en/article/93kjk3/military-budget"><div style="height:40px"></div></span></div><div class="short-form__body__right-rail"><div class="related-sidebar sticky-wrapper sticky-wrapper--auto-fit"></div></div></div></description>
<link>https://vice.com/en/article/93kjk3/military-budget</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://vice.com/en/article/93kjk3/military-budget</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 16 May 2024 07:01:04 GMT</pubDate>
<author>Aleksandra Bliszczyk</author>
</item>
<item>
<title>The Government Is Making Porn a Scapegoat for Rising Violence Against Women</title>
<description><div class="article__header article__header--bordered"><div class="article__header__rubric"><a class="article__header__rubric__label article__header__rubric__link" href="https://vice.com/en/topic/australia-today">Australia Today</a></div><span data-direction="down" data-article-id="6632f151934d4280f82fc7a7" data-article-locale="en_au" data-article-title="The Government Is Making Porn a Scapegoat for Rising Violence Against Women" data-article-description="If your child is seeking out so-called âviolent pornographyâ, perhaps thereâs a gap in their learning about sex and sexuality that the education system or a guardian has failed to fill.&nbsp;" data-article-url="/en/article/m7bngy/government-porn-violence-against-women"><div class="smart-header smart-header--light article__header__title"><h1 class="smart-header__hed smart-header__hed--size-2">The Government Is Making Porn a Scapegoat for Rising Violence Against Women</h1></div></span><div class="article__header__ad-section"><div class="article__header__ad-section__content"><span class="vice-ad"><div class="vice-ad__container sponsored-slot" data-reactroot=""><div id="sponsored-article-m7bngy" class="vice-ad__ad htlad-longform-sponsored-article" data-ad-unit-path="/16916245/oo_web/vice/article" data-unit="/16916245/oo_web/vice/article" data-change-correlator="false" data-slot-id="longform-sponsored-article" data-targeting="{&quot;topic&quot;:&quot;australia-today&quot;,&quot;keywords&quot;:[&quot;politics&quot;,&quot;australia&quot;,&quot;sex&quot;,&quot;porn&quot;,&quot;sex-work&quot;],&quot;aid&quot;:&quot;government-porn-violence-against-women&quot;,&quot;pagetype&quot;:&quot;short-form&quot;,&quot;country&quot;:&quot;en&quot;,&quot;brand_name&quot;:&quot;vice&quot;,&quot;section_name&quot;:&quot;null&quot;,&quot;utm_source&quot;:&quot;&quot;}"></div></div></span></div></div><div class="article__header__dek-contributions"><div class="article__header__dek">If your child is seeking out so-called âviolent pornographyâ, perhaps thereâs a gap in their learning about sex and sexuality that the education system or a guardian has failed to fill.&nbsp;</div><div class="contributors"><div class="contributor"><a class="avatar avatar__link avatar__small contributor__image" href="https://vice.com/en/contributor/darcy-deviant"><div class="avatar__default">DD</div></a><div class="contributor__meta"><div><span class="contributor__meta__prefix">by </span><a href="https://vice.com/en/contributor/darcy-deviant">Darcy Deviant</a></div></div></div></div><div class="article__header__datebar"><div class="article__header__datebar__date--original"><time datetime="2024-05-02T03:25:24.270Z" itemprop="datePublished">May 2, 2024, 3:25am</time></div><span class="article__socialize"><ul><li><button aria-label="facebook" class="react-share__ShareButton article__socialize__share" 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1.556.04.365.072.692.112.796-.246.091-.31.147-.702.216-.795.68-.106 2.235-.375 2.274-1.066a.353.353 0 0 0-.294-.367c-2.234-.368-3.725-2.923-3.484-3.491.167-.394.887-.535 1.197-.657.577-.227.866-.507.86-.83-.008-.415-.507-.662-.874-.662-.373 0-.91.442-1.344.203.068-1.202.236-2.9-.189-3.85C12.067.91 10.28 0 8.491 0 6.714 0 4.939.898 4.129 2.714z"></path></defs><g fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd"><path class="social-icon-secondary" fill="#fff" d="M-577-50h917V70h-917z"></path><mask id="social-icon-snap_share-snapchat-b" fill="#fff"><use xlink:href="#social-icon-snap_share-snapchat-a"></use></mask><g class="social-icon-primary" fill="#000" mask="url(#social-icon-snap_share-snapchat-b)"><path d="M0 0h17v16H0z"></path></g></g></svg><span class="article__socialize__share__text">Snap</span></button></span></li></ul></span></div></div></div><div class="short-form__body"><div class="short-form__body__article-body"><div class="short-form__body__article-lede-image"><div><picture class="responsive-image lazyloader--lazy lazyloader--lowres"><source media="(min-width: 1000px)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/articles/6632f151934d4280f82fc7a7/lede/1714618063713-gettyimages-2150387211.jpeg?crop=1xw:0.8426xh;0xw,0xh&amp;resize=20:*" width="500" height="281.25"><source media="(min-width: 700px)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/articles/6632f151934d4280f82fc7a7/lede/1714618063713-gettyimages-2150387211.jpeg?crop=1xw:0.8426xh;0xw,0xh&amp;resize=20:*" width="600" height="337.5"><source media="(min-width: 0px)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/articles/6632f151934d4280f82fc7a7/lede/1714618063713-gettyimages-2150387211.jpeg?crop=1xw:0.8426xh;0xw,0xh&amp;resize=20:*" width="300" height="168.75"><img class="responsive-image__img" alt="government-porn-violence-against-women" decoding="async" loading="eager" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></picture></div></div><div data-component="BodyComponentRenderer" class="article__body-components"><span class="abc__textblock size--article" data-component="TextBlock"><p>On Wednesday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced a $925 million initiative to help people flee abusive relationships after a recent uptick in violence against women in Australia. State, territory and federal leaders, who met for an urgent national cabinet meeting following nationwide rallies, also committed to implementing a series of interventions to address young peopleâs access to extreme online misogyny; which specifically cited âviolent <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/topic/porn">pornography</a>â.</p></span><span><div class="adph adph--border"><div class="ac-w-ph__dsc">Advertisement</div><div class="ac-w-ph"><div class="ph ph-shortform-top"><div class="vice-ad__container"><span class="vice-ad"></span></div></div></div></div></span><span class="abc__textblock size--article" data-component="TextBlock"><p>As a sex worker, the most concerning part of this conversation is the use of the sex industry as a political scapegoat for menâs violence.&nbsp;</p></span><span class="abc__textblock size--article" data-component="TextBlock"><p>Letâs be clear: the porn industry was never created to provide <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/y3vvqw/we-asked-people-about-their-terrible-high-school-sex-ed-experiences">sex education</a> to children. But letâs also be honest: if your child is actively seeking out pornography, or so-called âviolent pornographyâ, perhaps thereâs a gap in their learning about sex and sexuality that the education system or a guardian has failed to fill.&nbsp;</p></span><span class="abc__textblock size--article" data-component="TextBlock"><p>To prioritise limiting young peopleâs access to pornography and framing certain categories as âviolentâ shows how quickly Australian politicians, <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/88xevp/why-talking-about-sex-is-awkward">educators</a> and parents position themselves as the moral arbiters of sex work, rather than having honest and brave conversations with their kids about consent and sex.&nbsp;</p></span><span class="abc__textblock size--article" data-component="TextBlock"><p>Not only do these sentiments perpetuate vilifying and victimising narratives about sex workers, they also simultaneously shift the responsibility of teaching young people about boundaries onto the very pornographers they claim to exhibit âviolenceâ.&nbsp;</p></span><div class="article__embed-component" data-component="OEmbedBlock"><div class="article__embed-component__content"><div style="max-width: 605px;"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 104.259%; padding-top: 120px;"><iframe src="https://oembed.vice.com/vLAkjup?app=1" style="top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; border: 0;" allowfullscreen="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></iframe></div></div></div></div><span class="abc__textblock size--article" data-component="TextBlock"><p>Pornography <em>can</em> be a way for young people to learn and explore their sexuality in ways the current education system and discussions with their peers do not allow. This is not an endorsement, but it should be an opportunity to work out where we are letting children down on their journeys to self-discovery.</p></span><span><div class="adph adph--border"><div class="ac-w-ph__dsc">Advertisement</div><div class="ac-w-ph"><div class="ph ph-shortform-scroll"><div class="vice-ad__container"><span class="vice-ad"></span></div></div></div></div></span><div class="abc__article_embed" data-component="RelatedArticleBlock"><div class="vice-card vice-card--light"><div class="vice-card__content"><div class="vice-card-rubric vice-card-rubric--light vice-card__vice-card-rubric"><a class="vice-card-rubric__label vice-card-rubric__link" href="https://vice.com/en/topic/sex">Sex</a></div><h3 class="vice-card-hed vice-card-hed--light vice-card__vice-card-hed"><a rel="" target="" href="https://vice.com/en/article/qjk3xb/men-mistakes-made-without-sex-ed" class="vice-card-hed__link">Men on the Mistakes They Could've Avoided With Proper Sex Ed</a></h3><div class="vice-card-details vice-card-details--light vice-card__vice-card-details"><div class="vice-card-details__byline">Ruxandra PÄtraÈcu-Maian</div><time class="vice-card-details__pub-date" datetime="2023-10-09T07:45">10.09.23</time></div></div><div class="vice-card-image vice-card__vice-card-image"><a rel="" target="" href="https://vice.com/en/article/qjk3xb/men-mistakes-made-without-sex-ed" class="vice-card-image__link" tabindex="-1"><div class="vice-card-image__placeholder-image placeholder-image--16-9--sm placeholder-image--16-9--md placeholder-image--16-9--lg"><div><picture class="responsive-image lazyloader--lazy"><source media="(min-width: 1000px)" 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width="200" height="112.5"><img class="responsive-image__img" alt="" decoding="async" loading="eager" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></picture></div></div></a></div></div></div><span class="abc__textblock size--article" data-component="TextBlock"><p>Additionally, blanket views that all adult content is harmful or has harmful potential, and attempting to restrict young peopleâs access to it, often results in more barriers for sex workers online. Anti-trafficking laws that hold porn websites liable for promoting or facilitating sex work and trafficking introduced in the US in 2018 have been<a href="https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/5050/sex-workers-endangered-fosta-sesta-porn-us-free-speech-woodhull/" target="_blank"> <span>criticised for endangering sex workers further.</span></a> The<a href="https://scarletalliance.org.au/library/response-to-the-esafetys-call-for-evidence-on-age-verification/" target="_blank"> <span>UKâs implementation of age-verification systems online</span></a> has also been slammed by the sex work industry for over-regulation.&nbsp;</p></span><span class="abc__textblock size--article" data-component="TextBlock"><p>Can I suggest just getting better parental controls on your devices?</p></span><span class="abc__textblock size--article" data-component="TextBlock"><p>This is not the first time the responsibility of shaping well-behaved young men has been put on the sex industry. Last year, senior Liberal Party member Sussan Ley suggested<a href="https://womensagenda.com.au/politics/sussan-ley-misses-fundamental-point-in-calling-for-strip-club-ban/" target="_blank"> <span>a âpauseâ on the opening of new strip clubs</span></a>, citing concerns over the roles theses premises have in influencing young menâs attitudes towards women.&nbsp;</p></span><span class="abc__textblock size--article" data-component="TextBlock"><p>But Leyâs attitude ignores the involvement of an autonomous, consenting person in the scenario.</p></span><span><div class="adph adph--border"><div class="ac-w-ph__dsc">Advertisement</div><div class="ac-w-ph"><div class="ph ph-shortform-scroll"><div class="vice-ad__container"><span class="vice-ad"></span></div></div></div></div></span><div class="abc__article_embed" data-component="RelatedArticleBlock"><div class="vice-card vice-card--light"><div class="vice-card__content"><div class="vice-card-rubric vice-card-rubric--light vice-card__vice-card-rubric"><a class="vice-card-rubric__label vice-card-rubric__link" href="https://vice.com/en/topic/sex">Sex</a></div><h3 class="vice-card-hed vice-card-hed--light vice-card__vice-card-hed"><a rel="" target="" href="https://vice.com/en/article/dy3ex7/how-to-have-sex" class="vice-card-hed__link">How to Fuck 101: Sex Workers Give Their Fundamental Sex Advice</a></h3><div class="vice-card-details vice-card-details--light vice-card__vice-card-details"><div class="vice-card-details__byline">Rachel Barker</div><time class="vice-card-details__pub-date" datetime="2023-12-21T00:05">12.21.23</time></div></div><div class="vice-card-image vice-card__vice-card-image"><a rel="" target="" href="https://vice.com/en/article/dy3ex7/how-to-have-sex" class="vice-card-image__link" tabindex="-1"><div class="vice-card-image__placeholder-image placeholder-image--16-9--sm placeholder-image--16-9--md placeholder-image--16-9--lg"><div><picture class="responsive-image lazyloader--lazy"><source media="(min-width: 1000px)" 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width="400" height="225"><source media="(min-width: 0px)" srcset="data://image/png;base64,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?resize=" width="200" height="112.5"><img class="responsive-image__img" alt="" decoding="async" loading="eager" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></picture></div></div></a></div></div></div><span class="abc__textblock size--article" data-component="TextBlock"><p>I argue to Sussan Ley that any man who attends <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/y3wbb7/how-nzs-strippers-collectivised-against-allegations-of-bullying-and-harassment-at-work">strip clubs</a> as a ritualistic baptism into manhood will learn lifelong lessons about boundaries should they ever touch a dancer in a place they havenât consented to.</p></span><span class="abc__textblock size--article" data-component="TextBlock"><p>The sex industry is not a handbook to intimacy that your child is a perceived victim of, and we should not be enabling men to blame their bad behaviour on porn consumption.&nbsp;</p></span><span class="abc__textblock size--article" data-component="TextBlock"><p>All Australians, not just sex workers, should be mature enough to educate themselves and their children that the <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/qjvnem/vice-visits-the-australian-adult-industry-awards">adult industry</a> and porn are built on fantasy, and thatâs okay.&nbsp;</p></span><span class="abc__textblock size--article" data-component="TextBlock"><p>When looking at menâs violence against women â very much a reality â letâs look at real solutions.&nbsp;</p></span><span class="abc__textblock size--article" data-component="TextBlock"><p>The $925 million pledge <em>over five years,</em> while<a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-05-01/new-coercive-control-ad-campaign-launched-by-nsw-government/103787754" target="_blank"> <span>frontline services are desperate for funding</span></a>, is seriously inadequate. And the <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/jgpkeb/employers-sex-work-cost-of-living">cost of living</a> is continuously rising â making financial hardship a major contributing factor to womenâs inability to escape violent relationships. Meanwhile, the government also<a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/defence-spending-australia-national-strategy-integrated-investment-program/bceed0f7-971a-4c9b-bcb4-d4d76931c070" target="_blank"> <span>pledged a $50 billion boost to defence</span></a> over the next decade and Australiaâs own parliament canât even get its<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/media/2023/dec/08/bruce-lehrmann-brittany-higgins-parliament-house-defamation-trial-grips-australia-ntwnfb" target="_blank"> <span>sexual misconduct problem under control</span></a>.&nbsp;</p></span><span class="abc__textblock size--article" data-component="TextBlock"><p>So who really is to blame?</p></span><span class="abc__textblock size--article" data-component="TextBlock"><p><em>Darcy Deviant is a sex worker and writer based in Melbourne. Follow Darcy on Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/hole___money/" target="_blank">here</a>.</em></p></span></div><div class="article__tagged"><div class="tags"><span class="tags__label">Tagged:</span><span class="tags__taglist"><span class="tags__item"><a class="tags__item--link" href="https://vice.com/en/topic/politics">Politics</a></span><span class="tags__item"><a class="tags__item--link" href="https://vice.com/en/topic/australia">Australia</a></span><span class="tags__item"><a class=&q
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<title>Australia's Massive Military Budget</title>
<description><div class="article__header article__header--bordered"><div class="article__header__rubric"><a class="article__header__rubric__label article__header__rubric__link" href="https://vice.com/en/topic/australia-today">Australia Today</a></div><span data-direction="down" data-article-id="66444ef0fc3a24f9da345607" data-article-locale="en_au" data-article-title="Australia's Massive Military Budget" data-article-description="The 2025 federal budget was announced this week. This is how much the Australian government spends on the military." data-article-url="/en/article/93kjk3/military-budget"><div class="smart-header smart-header--light article__header__title"><h1 class="smart-header__hed smart-header__hed--size-2">Australia's Massive Military Budget</h1></div></span><div class="article__header__ad-section"><div class="article__header__ad-section__content"><span class="vice-ad"><div class="vice-ad__container sponsored-slot" data-reactroot=""><div id="sponsored-article-93kjk3" class="vice-ad__ad htlad-longform-sponsored-article" data-ad-unit-path="/16916245/oo_web/vice/article" data-unit="/16916245/oo_web/vice/article" data-change-correlator="false" data-slot-id="longform-sponsored-article" data-targeting="{&quot;topic&quot;:&quot;australia-today&quot;,&quot;keywords&quot;:[&quot;politics&quot;,&quot;australia&quot;],&quot;aid&quot;:&quot;military-budget&quot;,&quot;pagetype&quot;:&quot;short-form&quot;,&quot;country&quot;:&quot;en&quot;,&quot;brand_name&quot;:&quot;vice&quot;,&quot;section_name&quot;:&quot;null&quot;,&quot;utm_source&quot;:&quot;&quot;}"></div></div></span></div></div><div class="article__header__dek-contributions"><div class="article__header__dek">The 2025 federal budget was announced this week. This is how much the Australian government spends on the military.</div><div class="contributors"><div class="contributor"><a class="avatar avatar__link avatar__small contributor__image" href="https://vice.com/en/contributor/aleksandra-bliszczyk"><img class="avatar__img" src="https://video-images.vice.com/contributors/5ba88044456ac40007b7aff6/lede/1712539419728-screenshot-2024-04-08-at-112258-am.png?crop=0.8511xw:0.8108xh;0.0319xw,0xh&amp;resize=100:*" alt="Aleksandra Bliszczyk" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></a><div class="contributor__meta"><div><span class="contributor__meta__prefix">by </span><a href="https://vice.com/en/contributor/aleksandra-bliszczyk">Aleksandra Bliszczyk</a></div></div></div></div><div class="article__header__datebar"><div class="article__header__datebar__date--original"><time datetime="2024-05-16T07:01:04.449Z" itemprop="datePublished">May 16, 2024, 7:01am</time></div><span class="article__socialize"><ul><li><button aria-label="facebook" 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1.94-.101.99.165 1.92 1.568 3.708 1.568 1.66 0 2.652-1.41 3.605-1.568.552-.091 1.026-.062 1.556.04.365.072.692.112.796-.246.091-.31.147-.702.216-.795.68-.106 2.235-.375 2.274-1.066a.353.353 0 0 0-.294-.367c-2.234-.368-3.725-2.923-3.484-3.491.167-.394.887-.535 1.197-.657.577-.227.866-.507.86-.83-.008-.415-.507-.662-.874-.662-.373 0-.91.442-1.344.203.068-1.202.236-2.9-.189-3.85C12.067.91 10.28 0 8.491 0 6.714 0 4.939.898 4.129 2.714z"></path></defs><g fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd"><path class="social-icon-secondary" fill="#fff" d="M-577-50h917V70h-917z"></path><mask id="social-icon-snap_share-snapchat-b" fill="#fff"><use xlink:href="#social-icon-snap_share-snapchat-a"></use></mask><g class="social-icon-primary" fill="#000" mask="url(#social-icon-snap_share-snapchat-b)"><path d="M0 0h17v16H0z"></path></g></g></svg><span class="article__socialize__share__text">Snap</span></button></span></li></ul></span></div></div></div><div class="short-form__body"><div class="short-form__body__article-body"><div class="short-form__body__article-lede-image"><div><picture class="responsive-image lazyloader--lazy lazyloader--lowres"><source media="(min-width: 1000px)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/articles/66444ef0fc3a24f9da345607/lede/1715842120352-gettyimages-1436363944.jpeg?crop=1xw:0.845356176735798xh;center,center&amp;resize=20:*" width="500" height="281.25"><source media="(min-width: 700px)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/articles/66444ef0fc3a24f9da345607/lede/1715842120352-gettyimages-1436363944.jpeg?crop=1xw:0.845356176735798xh;center,center&amp;resize=20:*" width="600" height="337.5"><source media="(min-width: 0px)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/articles/66444ef0fc3a24f9da345607/lede/1715842120352-gettyimages-1436363944.jpeg?crop=1xw:0.845356176735798xh;center,center&amp;resize=20:*" width="300" height="168.75"><img class="responsive-image__img" alt="military-budget" decoding="async" loading="eager" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></picture></div></div><div data-component="BodyComponentRenderer" class="article__body-components"><span class="abc__textblock size--article" data-component="TextBlock"><p>The 2025 federal budget announced on Tuesday <a href="https://www.minister.defence.gov.au/media-releases/2024-05-14/generational-investment-australias-defence" target="_blank"><span>committed an additional $50.3 billion</span></a> to defence over the next decade, bringing our 10-year defence spending to $764.6 billion.</p></span><span class="abc__textblock size--article" data-component="TextBlock"><p>$764.6 billion is an extraordinary amount of money, more than double the initial <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/k7z5by/stage-three-tax-cuts-change">cost of the controversial stage 3 tax cuts</a> that have since been amended.</p></span><span><div class="adph adph--border"><div class="ac-w-ph__dsc">Advertisement</div><div class="ac-w-ph"><div class="ph ph-shortform-top"><div class="vice-ad__container"><span class="vice-ad"></span></div></div></div></div></span><span class="abc__textblock size--article" data-component="TextBlock"><p>To put $700 billion in perspective â making undergraduate university degrees completely free for all domestic students would cost about $7 billion a year or $70 billion over 10 years, <a href="https://futurework.org.au/report/at-the-crossroads/" target="_blank"><span>according to the Australia Institute</span></a>. Just 10 per cent of the defence budget.</p></span><span class="abc__textblock size--article" data-component="TextBlock"><p>With the new federal budget, the annual defence bill will hit a record of $53 billion this year, <a href="https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/pubs/rp/BudgetReview202021/AustralianGovernmentExpenditure" target="_blank"><span>up from $39 billion last year</span></a>, and is projected to surpass $100 billion annually by 2033, or 2.4 per cent of our GDP.</p></span><span class="abc__textblock size--article" data-component="TextBlock"><p>This is part of a massive defence shakeup to âkeep Australia safeâ amid what the <a href="https://twitter.com/RichardMarlesMP/status/1780423930035253415/photo/1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1780423930035253415%7Ctwgr%5E26106fef105a8d5f345bf2bd806c321fc1f57b4e%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sbs.com.au%2Fnews%2Farticle%2Faustralias-defence-budget-set-to-increase-by-50-billion-over-the-next-decade%2F04c2x7teq" target="_blank"><span>Defence Minister Richard Marles called</span></a> the most challenging strategic environment since World War II.</p></span><span class="abc__textblock size--article" data-component="TextBlock"><p>So, just looking at the bonuses included in this budget, defence got an extra $5 billion for this year alone.</p></span><span><div class="adph adph--border"><div class="ac-w-ph__dsc">Advertisement</div><div class="ac-w-ph"><div class="ph ph-shortform-scroll"><div class="vice-ad__container"><span class="vice-ad"></span></div></div></div></div></span><span class="abc__textblock size--article" data-component="TextBlock"><p>Thatâs more than Commonwealth Rent Assistance that, for just this year, <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@viceautoday/video/7369016467712527624" target="_blank"><span>gets an extra $500 million</span></a>; more than the $600 million boost to Services Australia, for more staff to help manage the backlog of people trying to access welfare payments; more than the <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@viceautoday/video/7365670312584678664" target="_blank"><span>changes to HECS indexation</span></a> thatâll cost about $3 billion in foregone revenue; and more than the $3.5 billion cost of living relief package in the form of $300 electricity bill rebates for every household.</p></span><div class="abc__article_embed" data-component="RelatedArticleBlock"><div class="vice-card vice-card--light"><div class="vice-card__content"><div class="vice-card-rubric vice-card-rubric--light vice-card__vice-card-rubric"><a class="vice-card-rubric__label vice-card-rubric__link" href="https://vice.com/en/topic/australia-today">Australia Today</a></div><h3 class="vice-card-hed vice-card-hed--light vice-card__vice-card-hed"><a rel="" target="" href="https://vice.com/en/article/n7eyv8/nsw-police-palestine-thin-blue-line" class="vice-card-hed__link">New Report Documents Police Misuse of Power at Weekly Palestine Rallies</a></h3><div class="vice-card-details vice-card-details--light vice-card__vice-card-details"><div class="vice-card-details__byline">Aleksandra Bliszczyk</div><time class="vice-card-details__pub-date" datetime="2024-03-27T04:12">03.27.24</time></div></div><div class="vice-card-image vice-card__vice-card-image"><a rel="" target="" href="https://vice.com/en/article/n7eyv8/nsw-police-palestine-thin-blue-line" class="vice-card-image__link" tabindex="-1"><div class="vice-card-image__placeholder-image placeholder-image--16-9--sm placeholder-image--16-9--md placeholder-image--16-9--lg"><div><picture class="responsive-image lazyloader--lazy"><source media="(min-width: 1000px)" 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srcset="data://image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAABAAAAAJCAMAAAAM9FwAAAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAyNpVFh0WE1MOmNvbS5hZG9iZS54bXAAAAAAADw/eHBhY2tldCBiZWdpbj0i77u/IiBpZD0iVzVNME1wQ2VoaUh6cmVTek5UY3prYzlkIj8+IDx4OnhtcG1ldGEgeG1sbnM6eD0iYWRvYmU6bnM6bWV0YS8iIHg6eG1wdGs9IkFkb2JlIFhNUCBDb3JlIDUuNi1jMTQwIDc5LjE2MDQ1MSwgMjAxNy8wNS8wNi0wMTowODoyMSAgICAgICAgIj4gPHJkZjpSREYgeG1sbnM6cmRmPSJodHRwOi8vd3d3LnczLm9yZy8xOTk5LzAyLzIyLXJkZi1zeW50YXgtbnMjIj4gPHJkZjpEZXNjcmlwdGlvbiByZGY6YWJvdXQ9IiIgeG1sbnM6eG1wPSJodHRwOi8vbnMuYWRvYmUuY29tL3hhcC8xLjAvIiB4bWxuczp4bXBNTT0iaHR0cDovL25zLmFkb2JlLmNvbS94YXAvMS4wL21tLyIgeG1sbnM6c3RSZWY9Imh0dHA6Ly9ucy5hZG9iZS5jb20veGFwLzEuMC9zVHlwZS9SZXNvdXJjZVJlZiMiIHhtcDpDcmVhdG9yVG9vbD0iQWRvYmUgUGhvdG9zaG9wIENDIChNYWNpbnRvc2gpIiB4bXBNTTpJbnN0YW5jZUlEPSJ4bXAuaWlkOjQ2QjUwODI3MUI1NTExRTk5RjE3QTJDRDlCQzU1MDg0IiB4bXBNTTpEb2N1bWVudElEPSJ4bXAuZGlkOjQ2QjUwODI4MUI1NTExRTk5RjE3QTJDRDlCQzU1MDg0Ij4gPHhtcE1NOkRlcml2ZWRGcm9tIHN0UmVmOmluc3RhbmNlSUQ9InhtcC5paWQ6NDZCNTA4MjUxQjU1MTFFOTlGMTdBMkNEOUJDNTUwODQiIHN0UmVmOmRvY3VtZW50SUQ9InhtcC5kaWQ6NDZCNTA4MjYxQjU1MTFFOTlGMTdBMkNEOUJDNTUwODQiLz4gPC9yZGY6RGVzY3JpcHRpb24+IDwvcmRmOlJERj4gPC94OnhtcG1ldGE+IDw/eHBhY2tldCBlbmQ9InIiPz5A+02rAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAAAXRSTlMAQObYZgAAAA5JREFUeNpiYBikACDAAACZAAGHvThgAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC?resize=" width="200" height="112.5"><img class="responsive-image__img" alt="" decoding="async" loading="eager" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></picture></div></div></a></div></div></div><span class="abc__textblock size--article" data-component="TextBlock"><p>Also compare the $5 extra billion dollars for defence with the <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@viceautoday/video/7367169227117153554" target="_blank"><span>extra $50 million for endometriosis consultation subsidies</span></a>, or the extra $73 million a year to mental health, to establish a national digital mental health referral service, or the $185 million per year to domestic violence victims, <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@viceautoday/video/7363923077400366344" target="_blank"><span>going to the Leaving Violence Program</span></a> that offers $5000 payments to people fleeing abusive homes.</p></span><span class="abc__textblock size--article" data-component="TextBlock"><p>To explain a couple of those furtherâŠ</p></span><span class="abc__textblock size--article" data-component="TextBlock"><p>Rent Assistance is going up â $19 a fortnight for singles as part of the government's plan to tackle the housing and <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/4a3mvp/coles-woolies-prices-fines">cost of living</a> crisis in its 2025 federal budget.</p></span><span><div class="adph adph--border"><div class="ac-w-ph__dsc">Advertisement</div><div class="ac-w-ph"><div class="ph ph-shortform-scroll"><div class="vice-ad__container"><span class="vice-ad"></span></div></div></div></div></span><span class="abc__textblock size--article" data-component="TextBlock"><p>The maximum Commonwealth Rent Assistance payment will increase by 10 per cent from September this year, which will benefit about 1 million recipients on that rate.</p></span><span class="abc__textblock size--article" data-component="TextBlock"><p>The current highest payment for a single person is $188.20 a fortnight, or $125.47 for a single person in a <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/5d9a7q/sharehouse-demand-sydney-melbourne-rental">sharehouse</a>, and those will go up $18.80.</p></span><span class="abc__textblock size--article" data-component="TextBlock"><p>For families or parents with three or more children it will go up $25 a fortnight to $274.90 a fortnight. </p></span><span class="abc__textblock size--article" data-component="TextBlock"><p>This is also before the payments are indexed according to inflation which treasurer Jim Chalmers will add another 5 per cent. to all payments.</p></span><span class="abc__textblock size--article" data-component="TextBlock"><p>It will cost the government an additional $1.9 billion over the next five years.</p></span><span class="abc__textblock size--article" data-component="TextBlock"><p>The government will also wipe $3 billion of student debt by changing the way itâs indexed. </p></span><span class="abc__textblock size--article" data-component="TextBlock"><p>The new move caps the rate of indexation to make sure your debt canât rise faster than your <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/bvjkxq/award-wage-pay-rise">wages</a>. So currently HECS or HELP loans rise a percentage every year according to the CPI, the consumer price index. Thatâs the measure of how the cost of goods and services rise over time. But the WPI, the wage price index measures the rate, on average, of wage growth. So now the government will introduce legislation that means student loan indexation will be calculated on whichever is lower each year, the CPI or the WPI.</p></span><span class="abc__textblock size--article" data-component="TextBlock"><p>The policy will also be backdated to June 1, 2023, which means last year's historically high 7.1 per cent indexation will be more than halved to the WPI of of the time which was 3.2 per cent.</p></span><span class="abc__textblock size--article" data-component="TextBlock"><p>This will cancel hundreds if not thousands of dollars from most peopleâs HECS debts and mean indexation this year and in future years will be lower than expected and mean that theyâll never grow so fast to the point where the growth outpaces the mandatory repayments from your paychecks.&nbsp;</p></span><span class="abc__textblock size--article" data-component="TextBlock"><p><em>Aleksandra Bliszczyk is the Deputy Editor of VICE Australia. Follow her on<a href="https://www.instagram.com/aleksbliszczyk/?hl=en" target="_blank"> Instagram</a>.</em></p></span></div><div class="article__tagged"><div class="tags"><span class="tags__label">Tagged:</span><span class="tags__taglist"><span class="tags__item"><a class="tags__item--link" href="https://vice.com/en/topic/politics">Politics</a></span><span class="tags__item"><a class="tags__item--link" href="https://vice.com/en/topic/australia">Australia</a></span></span></div></div><div class="user-newsletter-signup user-newsletter-signup--light article-newsletter-signup"><div class="user-newsletter user-newsletter--light"><div class="user-newsletter__content"><div class="user-newsletter__heading"><h3 class="user-newsletter__title">ONE EMAIL. ONE STORY. EVERY WEEK. SIGN UP FOR THE VICE NEWSLETTER.</h3></div><form class="user-newsletter__form" novalidate=""><div class="user-newsletter__form__wrap"><input type="email" name="email" id="email" class="user-newsletter__form__input" value="" placeholder="Your email address"><label class="user-newsletter__form__label" for="email">Your Email:</label> </div><button aria-label="newsletter submit button" type="submit" class="vice-button vice-button--black user-newsletter__submit">Subscribe</button></form><p class="user-newsletter__terms">By signing up, you agree to the<!-- --> <a href="https://vice-web-statics-cdn.vice.com/privacy-policy/en_us/page/terms-of-use.html">Terms of Use</a> <!-- -->and<!-- --> <a href="https://vice-web-statics-cdn.vice.com/privacy-policy/en_us/page/privacy-policy.html">Privacy Policy</a> <!-- -->&amp; to receive electronic communications from Vice Media Group, which may include marketing promotions, advertisements and sponsored content.</p></div></div></div><span data-direction="up" data-article-id="66444ef0fc3a24f9da345607" data-article-locale="en_au" data-article-title="Australia's Massive Military Budget" data-article-description="The 2025 federal budget was announced this week. This is how much the Australian government spends on the military." data-article-url="/en/article/93kjk3/military-budget"><div style="height:40px"></div></span></div><div class="short-form__body__right-rail"><div class="related-sidebar sticky-wrapper sticky-wrapper--auto-fit"></div></div></div></description>
<link>https://vice.com/en/article/93kjk3/military-budget</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://vice.com/en/article/93kjk3/military-budget</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 16 May 2024 07:01:04 GMT</pubDate>
<author>Aleksandra Bliszczyk</author>
</item>
<item>
<title>The Government Is Making Porn a Scapegoat for Rising Violence Against Women</title>
<description><div class="article__header article__header--bordered"><div class="article__header__rubric"><a class="article__header__rubric__label article__header__rubric__link" href="https://vice.com/en/topic/australia-today">Australia Today</a></div><span data-direction="down" data-article-id="6632f151934d4280f82fc7a7" data-article-locale="en_au" data-article-title="The Government Is Making Porn a Scapegoat for Rising Violence Against Women" data-article-description="If your child is seeking out so-called âviolent pornographyâ, perhaps thereâs a gap in their learning about sex and sexuality that the education system or a guardian has failed to fill.&nbsp;" data-article-url="/en/article/m7bngy/government-porn-violence-against-women"><div class="smart-header smart-header--light article__header__title"><h1 class="smart-header__hed smart-header__hed--size-2">The Government Is Making Porn a Scapegoat for Rising Violence Against Women</h1></div></span><div class="article__header__ad-section"><div class="article__header__ad-section__content"><span class="vice-ad"><div class="vice-ad__container sponsored-slot" data-reactroot=""><div id="sponsored-article-m7bngy" class="vice-ad__ad htlad-longform-sponsored-article" data-ad-unit-path="/16916245/oo_web/vice/article" data-unit="/16916245/oo_web/vice/article" data-change-correlator="false" data-slot-id="longform-sponsored-article" data-targeting="{&quot;topic&quot;:&quot;australia-today&quot;,&quot;keywords&quot;:[&quot;politics&quot;,&quot;australia&quot;,&quot;sex&quot;,&quot;porn&quot;,&quot;sex-work&quot;],&quot;aid&quot;:&quot;government-porn-violence-against-women&quot;,&quot;pagetype&quot;:&quot;short-form&quot;,&quot;country&quot;:&quot;en&quot;,&quot;brand_name&quot;:&quot;vice&quot;,&quot;section_name&quot;:&quot;null&quot;,&quot;utm_source&quot;:&quot;&quot;}"></div></div></span></div></div><div class="article__header__dek-contributions"><div class="article__header__dek">If your child is seeking out so-called âviolent pornographyâ, perhaps thereâs a gap in their learning about sex and sexuality that the education system or a guardian has failed to fill.&nbsp;</div><div class="contributors"><div class="contributor"><a class="avatar avatar__link avatar__small contributor__image" href="https://vice.com/en/contributor/darcy-deviant"><div class="avatar__default">DD</div></a><div class="contributor__meta"><div><span class="contributor__meta__prefix">by </span><a href="https://vice.com/en/contributor/darcy-deviant">Darcy Deviant</a></div></div></div></div><div class="article__header__datebar"><div class="article__header__datebar__date--original"><time datetime="2024-05-02T03:25:24.270Z" itemprop="datePublished">May 2, 2024, 3:25am</time></div><span class="article__socialize"><ul><li><button aria-label="facebook" class="react-share__ShareButton article__socialize__share" 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class="responsive-image lazyloader--lazy lazyloader--lowres"><source media="(min-width: 1000px)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/articles/6632f151934d4280f82fc7a7/lede/1714618063713-gettyimages-2150387211.jpeg?crop=1xw:0.8426xh;0xw,0xh&amp;resize=20:*" width="500" height="281.25"><source media="(min-width: 700px)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/articles/6632f151934d4280f82fc7a7/lede/1714618063713-gettyimages-2150387211.jpeg?crop=1xw:0.8426xh;0xw,0xh&amp;resize=20:*" width="600" height="337.5"><source media="(min-width: 0px)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/articles/6632f151934d4280f82fc7a7/lede/1714618063713-gettyimages-2150387211.jpeg?crop=1xw:0.8426xh;0xw,0xh&amp;resize=20:*" width="300" height="168.75"><img class="responsive-image__img" alt="government-porn-violence-against-women" decoding="async" loading="eager" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></picture></div></div><div data-component="BodyComponentRenderer" class="article__body-components"><span class="abc__textblock size--article" data-component="TextBlock"><p>On Wednesday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced a $925 million initiative to help people flee abusive relationships after a recent uptick in violence against women in Australia. State, territory and federal leaders, who met for an urgent national cabinet meeting following nationwide rallies, also committed to implementing a series of interventions to address young peopleâs access to extreme online misogyny; which specifically cited âviolent <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/topic/porn">pornography</a>â.</p></span><span><div class="adph adph--border"><div class="ac-w-ph__dsc">Advertisement</div><div class="ac-w-ph"><div class="ph ph-shortform-top"><div class="vice-ad__container"><span class="vice-ad"></span></div></div></div></div></span><span class="abc__textblock size--article" data-component="TextBlock"><p>As a sex worker, the most concerning part of this conversation is the use of the sex industry as a political scapegoat for menâs violence.&nbsp;</p></span><span class="abc__textblock size--article" data-component="TextBlock"><p>Letâs be clear: the porn industry was never created to provide <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/y3vvqw/we-asked-people-about-their-terrible-high-school-sex-ed-experiences">sex education</a> to children. But letâs also be honest: if your child is actively seeking out pornography, or so-called âviolent pornographyâ, perhaps thereâs a gap in their learning about sex and sexuality that the education system or a guardian has failed to fill.&nbsp;</p></span><span class="abc__textblock size--article" data-component="TextBlock"><p>To prioritise limiting young peopleâs access to pornography and framing certain categories as âviolentâ shows how quickly Australian politicians, <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/88xevp/why-talking-about-sex-is-awkward">educators</a> and parents position themselves as the moral arbiters of sex work, rather than having honest and brave conversations with their kids about consent and sex.&nbsp;</p></span><span class="abc__textblock size--article" data-component="TextBlock"><p>Not only do these sentiments perpetuate vilifying and victimising narratives about sex workers, they also simultaneously shift the responsibility of teaching young people about boundaries onto the very pornographers they claim to exhibit âviolenceâ.&nbsp;</p></span><div class="article__embed-component" data-component="OEmbedBlock"><div class="article__embed-component__content"><div style="max-width: 605px;"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 104.259%; padding-top: 120px;"><iframe src="https://oembed.vice.com/vLAkjup?app=1" style="top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; border: 0;" allowfullscreen="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></iframe></div></div></div></div><span class="abc__textblock size--article" data-component="TextBlock"><p>Pornography <em>can</em> be a way for young people to learn and explore their sexuality in ways the current education system and discussions with their peers do not allow. This is not an endorsement, but it should be an opportunity to work out where we are letting children down on their journeys to self-discovery.</p></span><span><div class="adph adph--border"><div class="ac-w-ph__dsc">Advertisement</div><div class="ac-w-ph"><div class="ph ph-shortform-scroll"><div class="vice-ad__container"><span class="vice-ad"></span></div></div></div></div></span><div class="abc__article_embed" data-component="RelatedArticleBlock"><div class="vice-card vice-card--light"><div class="vice-card__content"><div class="vice-card-rubric vice-card-rubric--light vice-card__vice-card-rubric"><a class="vice-card-rubric__label vice-card-rubric__link" href="https://vice.com/en/topic/sex">Sex</a></div><h3 class="vice-card-hed vice-card-hed--light vice-card__vice-card-hed"><a rel="" target="" href="https://vice.com/en/article/qjk3xb/men-mistakes-made-without-sex-ed" class="vice-card-hed__link">Men on the Mistakes They Could've Avoided With Proper Sex Ed</a></h3><div class="vice-card-details vice-card-details--light vice-card__vice-card-details"><div class="vice-card-details__byline">Ruxandra PÄtraÈcu-Maian</div><time class="vice-card-details__pub-date" datetime="2023-10-09T07:45">10.09.23</time></div></div><div class="vice-card-image vice-card__vice-card-image"><a rel="" target="" href="https://vice.com/en/article/qjk3xb/men-mistakes-made-without-sex-ed" class="vice-card-image__link" tabindex="-1"><div class="vice-card-image__placeholder-image placeholder-image--16-9--sm placeholder-image--16-9--md placeholder-image--16-9--lg"><div><picture class="responsive-image lazyloader--lazy"><source media="(min-width: 1000px)" 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srcset="data://image/png;base64,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?resize=" width="200" height="112.5"><img class="responsive-image__img" alt="" decoding="async" loading="eager" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></picture></div></div></a></div></div></div><span class="abc__textblock size--article" data-component="TextBlock"><p>Additionally, blanket views that all adult content is harmful or has harmful potential, and attempting to restrict young peopleâs access to it, often results in more barriers for sex workers online. Anti-trafficking laws that hold porn websites liable for promoting or facilitating sex work and trafficking introduced in the US in 2018 have been<a href="https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/5050/sex-workers-endangered-fosta-sesta-porn-us-free-speech-woodhull/" target="_blank"> <span>criticised for endangering sex workers further.</span></a> The<a href="https://scarletalliance.org.au/library/response-to-the-esafetys-call-for-evidence-on-age-verification/" target="_blank"> <span>UKâs implementation of age-verification systems online</span></a> has also been slammed by the sex work industry for over-regulation.&nbsp;</p></span><span class="abc__textblock size--article" data-component="TextBlock"><p>Can I suggest just getting better parental controls on your devices?</p></span><span class="abc__textblock size--article" data-component="TextBlock"><p>This is not the first time the responsibility of shaping well-behaved young men has been put on the sex industry. Last year, senior Liberal Party member Sussan Ley suggested<a href="https://womensagenda.com.au/politics/sussan-ley-misses-fundamental-point-in-calling-for-strip-club-ban/" target="_blank"> <span>a âpauseâ on the opening of new strip clubs</span></a>, citing concerns over the roles theses premises have in influencing young menâs attitudes towards women.&nbsp;</p></span><span class="abc__textblock size--article" data-component="TextBlock"><p>But Leyâs attitude ignores the involvement of an autonomous, consenting person in the scenario.</p></span><span><div class="adph adph--border"><div class="ac-w-ph__dsc">Advertisement</div><div class="ac-w-ph"><div class="ph ph-shortform-scroll"><div class="vice-ad__container"><span class="vice-ad"></span></div></div></div></div></span><div class="abc__article_embed" data-component="RelatedArticleBlock"><div class="vice-card vice-card--light"><div class="vice-card__content"><div class="vice-card-rubric vice-card-rubric--light vice-card__vice-card-rubric"><a class="vice-card-rubric__label vice-card-rubric__link" href="https://vice.com/en/topic/sex">Sex</a></div><h3 class="vice-card-hed vice-card-hed--light vice-card__vice-card-hed"><a rel="" target="" href="https://vice.com/en/article/dy3ex7/how-to-have-sex" class="vice-card-hed__link">How to Fuck 101: Sex Workers Give Their Fundamental Sex Advice</a></h3><div class="vice-card-details vice-card-details--light vice-card__vice-card-details"><div class="vice-card-details__byline">Rachel Barker</div><time class="vice-card-details__pub-date" datetime="2023-12-21T00:05">12.21.23</time></div></div><div class="vice-card-image vice-card__vice-card-image"><a rel="" target="" href="https://vice.com/en/article/dy3ex7/how-to-have-sex" class="vice-card-image__link" tabindex="-1"><div class="vice-card-image__placeholder-image placeholder-image--16-9--sm placeholder-image--16-9--md placeholder-image--16-9--lg"><div><picture class="responsive-image lazyloader--lazy"><source 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width="200" height="112.5"><img class="responsive-image__img" alt="" decoding="async" loading="eager" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></picture></div></div></a></div></div></div><span class="abc__textblock size--article" data-component="TextBlock"><p>I argue to Sussan Ley that any man who attends <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/y3wbb7/how-nzs-strippers-collectivised-against-allegations-of-bullying-and-harassment-at-work">strip clubs</a> as a ritualistic baptism into manhood will learn lifelong lessons about boundaries should they ever touch a dancer in a place they havenât consented to.</p></span><span class="abc__textblock size--article" data-component="TextBlock"><p>The sex industry is not a handbook to intimacy that your child is a perceived victim of, and we should not be enabling men to blame their bad behaviour on porn consumption.&nbsp;</p></span><span class="abc__textblock size--article" data-component="TextBlock"><p>All Australians, not just sex workers, should be mature enough to educate themselves and their children that the <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/qjvnem/vice-visits-the-australian-adult-industry-awards">adult industry</a> and porn are built on fantasy, and thatâs okay.&nbsp;</p></span><span class="abc__textblock size--article" data-component="TextBlock"><p>When looking at menâs violence against women â very much a reality â letâs look at real solutions.&nbsp;</p></span><span class="abc__textblock size--article" data-component="TextBlock"><p>The $925 million pledge <em>over five years,</em> while<a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-05-01/new-coercive-control-ad-campaign-launched-by-nsw-government/103787754" target="_blank"> <span>frontline services are desperate for funding</span></a>, is seriously inadequate. And the <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/jgpkeb/employers-sex-work-cost-of-living">cost of living</a> is continuously rising â making financial hardship a major contributing factor to womenâs inability to escape violent relationships. Meanwhile, the government also<a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/defence-spending-australia-national-strategy-integrated-investment-program/bceed0f7-971a-4c9b-bcb4-d4d76931c070" target="_blank"> <span>pledged a $50 billion boost to defence</span></a> over the next decade and Australiaâs own parliament canât even get its<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/media/2023/dec/08/bruce-lehrmann-brittany-higgins-parliament-house-defamation-trial-grips-australia-ntwnfb" target="_blank"> <span>sexual misconduct problem under control</span></a>.&nbsp;</p></span><span class="abc__textblock size--article" data-component="TextBlock"><p>So who really is to blame?</p></span><span class="abc__textblock size--article" data-component="TextBlock"><p><em>Darcy Deviant is a sex worker and writer based in Melbourne. Follow Darcy on Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/hole___money/" target="_blank">here</a>.</em></p></span></div><div class="article__tagged"><div class="tags"><span class="tags__label">Tagged:</span><span class="tags__taglist"><span class="tags__item"><a class="tags__item--link" href="https://vice.com/en/topic/politics">Politics</a></span><span class="tags__item"><a class="tags__item--link" href="https://vice.com/en/topic/australia">Australia</a></span><span class="tags__item"><a class=&quo
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<title>The Government Is Making Porn a Scapegoat for Rising Violence Against Women</title>
<description>If your child is seeking out so-called âviolent pornographyâ, perhaps thereâs a gap in their learning about sex and sexuality that the education system or a guardian has failed to fill.&nbsp;</description>
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<description>And will it make a difference to Aotearoaâs political outlook? </description>
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<description>The ACTU's submission to the annual pay review will push for a 5 per cent pay rise to minimum and award wage workers. </description>
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<description>The reasoning behind the Victorian government's plan to demolish, privatise and rebuild all 44 of its public housing towers will be the subject of a new parliamentary inquiry. </description>
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<title>Trumpâs Master Plan to Defeat His Criminal Cases Isnât Working</title>
<description>The former presidentâs strategy to delay all his cases until after the election isnât going according to plan, following a series of legal defeats.</description>
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<description>The former president, clearly nervous about the pop star endorsing Joe Biden, is now taking credit for making Swift rich.</description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 07 Feb 2024 15:13:34 GMT</pubDate>
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<title>I Tried Rishi Sunak's 36-Hour Fast Diet</title>
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<title>Australia's Massive Military Budget</title>
<description><figure><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/articles/66444ef0fc3a24f9da345607/lede/1715842120352-gettyimages-1436363944.jpeg" alt="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"><figcaption></figcaption></figure> <p>The 2025 federal budget announced on Tuesday <a href="https://www.minister.defence.gov.au/media-releases/2024-05-14/generational-investment-australias-defence"><span>committed an additional $50.3 billion</span></a> to defence over the next decade, bringing our 10-year defence spending to $764.6 billion.</p> <p>$764.6 billion is an extraordinary amount of money, more than double the initial <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/k7z5by/stage-three-tax-cuts-change">cost of the controversial stage 3 tax cuts</a> that have since been amended.</p> <p>To put $700 billion in perspective â making undergraduate university degrees completely free for all domestic students would cost about $7 billion a year or $70 billion over 10 years, <a href="https://futurework.org.au/report/at-the-crossroads/"><span>according to the Australia Institute</span></a>. Just 10 per cent of the defence budget.</p> <p>With the new federal budget, the annual defence bill will hit a record of $53 billion this year, <a href="https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/pubs/rp/BudgetReview202021/AustralianGovernmentExpenditure"><span>up from $39 billion last year</span></a>, and is projected to surpass $100 billion annually by 2033, or 2.4 per cent of our GDP.</p> <p>This is part of a massive defence shakeup to âkeep Australia safeâ amid what the <a href="https://twitter.com/RichardMarlesMP/status/1780423930035253415/photo/1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1780423930035253415%7Ctwgr%5E26106fef105a8d5f345bf2bd806c321fc1f57b4e%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sbs.com.au%2Fnews%2Farticle%2Faustralias-defence-budget-set-to-increase-by-50-billion-over-the-next-decade%2F04c2x7teq"><span>Defence Minister Richard Marles called</span></a> the most challenging strategic environment since World War II.</p> <p>So, just looking at the bonuses included in this budget, defence got an extra $5 billion for this year alone.</p> <p>Thatâs more than Commonwealth Rent Assistance that, for just this year, <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@viceautoday/video/7369016467712527624"><span>gets an extra $500 million</span></a>; more than the $600 million boost to Services Australia, for more staff to help manage the backlog of people trying to access welfare payments; more than the <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@viceautoday/video/7365670312584678664"><span>changes to HECS indexation</span></a> thatâll cost about $3 billion in foregone revenue; and more than the $3.5 billion cost of living relief package in the form of $300 electricity bill rebates for every household.</p> <div><p>At least one NSW Police officer was seen wearing âthin blue lineâ Australian flag patch at a pro-Palestine rally in Sydneyâs Port Botany on Sunday, where 19 people were arrested.</p> <p>Legal Observers New South Wales (LONSW), who attended the rally to witness and document interactions between <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/5d9qkq/melbourne-students-school-strike-for-palestine" target="_blank">activists</a> and police, said âseveralâ officers wore the patches displaying the iconography that has been co-opted by and is now associated with far-right extremist movements.</p> <p>They reported âmany of these officers were the most aggressive with protestorsâ, who were there to blockade Israeli shipping company ZIM that uses the docks. ZIM has been associated with the Israeli military and its killing of Palestinians in Gaza.</p> <p>LONSW also accused police of demonstrating excessive force, throwing several protestors to the ground, using restraint techniques associated with restraint asphyxia, and âviolently pushing manyâ before arresting people for disrupting commerce and trade under <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/jg5nn4/nsw-police-anti-protest-laws" target="_blank">NSWâs harsh anti-protest laws</a>.</p> <p>NSW Police told <i>Guardian Australia</i> the force had ânot received any reports of an officer wearing the patch which is not part of the standard NSWPF uniformâ and that the force respected peopleâs right to protest at the port.</p> <p>But NSW Council for Civil Liberties president Lydia Shelly said the policing of protests in NSW was now âout of controlâ.</p> <div class="article__embed article__embed--vice" data-related-article="true" data-children-count="0"><iframe src="https://www.vice.com/en_au/embed/article/v7bnd8/embed" frameborder="0" style="border:0px none;margin:0px" allowfullscreen="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></iframe></div> <p>âWe are extremely concerned that at the Port Botany protest, Legal Observers NSW observed several police officers wearing a patch that is not part of the standard police issued uniform which has been associated with right-wing extremism,â she said in a <a href="https://www.nswccl.org.au/media_statement_police_response_to_antigenocide_protests" target="_blank">statement</a>.</p> <p>âWe have called on the Premier, the Attorney General and the Police Commissioner to meet with us to discuss concerns about police conduct towards peaceful protestors and legal observers [and] so far, our requests have been denied.â</p> <h2>Misuse of police powers at weekly free Palestine rallies</h2> <p>Legal Observers NSW has attended 14 <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/g5y849/thousands-rally-across-australia-in-solidarity-with-palestine-israel-war" target="_blank">weekly free Palestine street rallies</a> in Sydneyâs CBD and several actions at Port Botany since October and over those months has complied a eight-page report, documenting police behaviour towards protestors including instances of misuse of police powers.</p> <p>âThe <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/3ak4z9/what-have-free-palestine-rallies-australia-achieved" target="_blank">policing of these rallies</a> has been marked by ubiquitous surveillance, police and state pushback and the deployment of higher than usual levels of police resources, including a new protest-focused taskforce âOperation Mealingâ and&nbsp;pro-Palestinian activity focused âOperation Shelterâ, the report reads.</p> <p>Many incidents of misuse of powers in the report document police violence, but many cases of non-violent misuse of powers are also reported, including police asking protestors to remove face coverings, employing mobile CCTV towers at protests, and stopping cars displaying <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/n7eyj8/womad-ziggy-marley-palestine" target="_blank">Palestinian flags</a>, requiring them to remove the flags, then issuing fines for minor infringements such as P plates being tucked under a number plate as the reason for the stop.</p> <p>The report also notes the NSW Police presence at Sydneyâs weekly pro-Palestine rallies is 100-150 officers at the cost of $220,000 a week, despite no incidents of violence or disturbances occurring at the protests.</p> <p>One example the report singles out is as many as 50 police being deployed to guard the <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/epv7qz/mcdonalds-sales-misinformation-israel-boycott" target="_blank">Starbucks</a> on Elizabeth Street despite no incidents occurring in relation to the location.</p> <p>âThe reliance on high visibility policing unduly criminalises protestors and puts them at risk of police assault,â Adam al-Hayek, a spokesperson for LONSW, told VICE.</p> <div class="article__embed article__embed--vice" data-related-article="true" data-children-count="0"><iframe src="https://www.vice.com/en_au/embed/article/epv9gp/embed" frameborder="0" style="border:0px none;margin:0px" allowfullscreen="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></iframe></div> <p>âThe weekly street rallies are well-managed by marshals and do not require the deployment of 100-150 police officers whose primary function appears to be surveilling and harassing protestors.â</p> <p>NSW Greens MP Sue Higginson said the report painted a dark picture of the state of the police force.</p> <p>âThe findings released in todayâs independent observer report are deeply worrying and point to the creeping militarisation and criminalisation in response to peaceful protestors from the NSW Police Force,â Higginson told VICE.</p> <p>âThe highly-militarised state of police deployment we have seen week after week at an event that has consistently been compliant, peaceful and driven by <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/ak39zj/cancelled-palestine-visas-australia" target="_blank">Palestinian community</a> members and families is plainly out of proportion.</p> <p>âItâs time for our police to work with, not against, all members of the community. We want a policing regime that supports healthy, peaceful, democratic action. To achieve this we must demilitarise and deweaponise our general duty police and urgently begin the serious reforms needed to move us towards a policing-by-consent model that supports the integrity of both officers and community members.â</p> <p><i>Aleksandra Bliszczyk is the Deputy Editor of VICE Australia. Follow her on<a href="https://www.instagram.com/aleksbliszczyk/?hl=en" target="_blank"> Instagram</a>.</i></p> <p><i>Get the story that matters most each day. <a href="https://pedestrian.us1.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=2c631b380f2015e8f93fcbc5b&amp;id=77eb92cd03" target="_blank">Subscribe to Australia Todayâs daily newsletter here</a>.</i></p></div> <p>Also compare the $5 extra billion dollars for defence with the <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@viceautoday/video/7367169227117153554"><span>extra $50 million for endometriosis consultation subsidies</span></a>, or the extra $73 million a year to mental health, to establish a national digital mental health referral service, or the $185 million per year to domestic violence victims, <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@viceautoday/video/7363923077400366344"><span>going to the Leaving Violence Program</span></a> that offers $5000 payments to people fleeing abusive homes.</p> <p>To explain a couple of those furtherâŠ</p> <p>Rent Assistance is going up â $19 a fortnight for singles as part of the government's plan to tackle the housing and <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/4a3mvp/coles-woolies-prices-fines">cost of living</a> crisis in its 2025 federal budget.</p> <p>The maximum Commonwealth Rent Assistance payment will increase by 10 per cent from September this year, which will benefit about 1 million recipients on that rate.</p> <p>The current highest payment for a single person is $188.20 a fortnight, or $125.47 for a single person in a <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/5d9a7q/sharehouse-demand-sydney-melbourne-rental">sharehouse</a>, and those will go up $18.80.</p> <p>For families or parents with three or more children it will go up $25 a fortnight to $274.90 a fortnight. </p> <p>This is also before the payments are indexed according to inflation which treasurer Jim Chalmers will add another 5 per cent. to all payments.</p> <p>It will cost the government an additional $1.9 billion over the next five years.</p> <p>The government will also wipe $3 billion of student debt by changing the way itâs indexed. </p> <p>The new move caps the rate of indexation to make sure your debt canât rise faster than your <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/bvjkxq/award-wage-pay-rise">wages</a>. So currently HECS or HELP loans rise a percentage every year according to the CPI, the consumer price index. Thatâs the measure of how the cost of goods and services rise over time. But the WPI, the wage price index measures the rate, on average, of wage growth. So now the government will introduce legislation that means student loan indexation will be calculated on whichever is lower each year, the CPI or the WPI.</p> <p>The policy will also be backdated to June 1, 2023, which means last year's historically high 7.1 per cent indexation will be more than halved to the WPI of of the time which was 3.2 per cent.</p> <p>This will cancel hundreds if not thousands of dollars from most peopleâs HECS debts and mean indexation this year and in future years will be lower than expected and mean that theyâll never grow so fast to the point where the growth outpaces the mandatory repayments from your paychecks.&nbsp;</p> <p><em>Aleksandra Bliszczyk is the Deputy Editor of VICE Australia. Follow her on<a href="https://www.instagram.com/aleksbliszczyk/?hl=en"> Instagram</a>.</em></p> </description>
<link>https://vice.com/en/article/93kjk3/military-budget</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://vice.com/en/article/93kjk3/military-budget</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 16 May 2024 07:01:04 GMT</pubDate>
<author>Aleksandra Bliszczyk, Aleksandra Bliszczyk</author>
<category>Australia Today</category>
<category>Politics</category>
<category>Australia</category>
</item>
<item>
<title>The Government Is Making Porn a Scapegoat for Rising Violence Against Women</title>
<description><figure><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/articles/6632f151934d4280f82fc7a7/lede/1714618063713-gettyimages-2150387211.jpeg" alt="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"><figcaption></figcaption></figure> <p>On Wednesday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced a $925 million initiative to help people flee abusive relationships after a recent uptick in violence against women in Australia. State, territory and federal leaders, who met for an urgent national cabinet meeting following nationwide rallies, also committed to implementing a series of interventions to address young peopleâs access to extreme online misogyny; which specifically cited âviolent <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/topic/porn">pornography</a>â.</p> <p>As a sex worker, the most concerning part of this conversation is the use of the sex industry as a political scapegoat for menâs violence.&nbsp;</p> <p>Letâs be clear: the porn industry was never created to provide <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/y3vvqw/we-asked-people-about-their-terrible-high-school-sex-ed-experiences">sex education</a> to children. But letâs also be honest: if your child is actively seeking out pornography, or so-called âviolent pornographyâ, perhaps thereâs a gap in their learning about sex and sexuality that the education system or a guardian has failed to fill.&nbsp;</p> <p>To prioritise limiting young peopleâs access to pornography and framing certain categories as âviolentâ shows how quickly Australian politicians, <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/88xevp/why-talking-about-sex-is-awkward">educators</a> and parents position themselves as the moral arbiters of sex work, rather than having honest and brave conversations with their kids about consent and sex.&nbsp;</p> <p>Not only do these sentiments perpetuate vilifying and victimising narratives about sex workers, they also simultaneously shift the responsibility of teaching young people about boundaries onto the very pornographers they claim to exhibit âviolenceâ.&nbsp;</p> <div style="max-width: 605px;"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 104.259%; padding-top: 120px;"><iframe src="https://oembed.vice.com/vLAkjup?app=1" style="top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; border: 0;" allowfullscreen="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></iframe></div></div> <p>Pornography <em>can</em> be a way for young people to learn and explore their sexuality in ways the current education system and discussions with their peers do not allow. This is not an endorsement, but it should be an opportunity to work out where we are letting children down on their journeys to self-discovery.</p> <div><p><i>This article originally appeared on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.vice.com/ro" target="_blank">VICE Romania</a>.</i></p> <p>I remember clearly how awkward <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/topic/sex" target="_blank">sex</a> and sex education seemed to me during high school. Since then, I've met guys who couldn't find the <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/topic/clitoris" target="_blank">clit</a> and would be intimidated if I showed them or told them what to do with it. After a while, I didn't even bother trying to explain unless there was a connection between us. Iâve also met guys who felt awkward when I asked them to stop. And Iâve always been struck by how often they tried to avoid any discussions about <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/topic/std" target="_blank">STDs</a>.</p> <p>Letâs face it: Most of these situations could have been avoided if theyâd received proper <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/topic/sex-education" target="_blank">sex education</a> in their school years. So I asked a few guys about the times they think sex ed would have saved them from making embarrassing, and sometimes terrible, mistakes. They shared their stories, using fake names for privacy reasons.</p> <h2>âI wish someone had told me that sperm doesn't travel through waterâ</h2> <p>âI was 19-years-old, my girlfriend was 17, and weâd been together for some time. Iâd never done anything sexual except for some intense touching. One evening we were home alone because her parents had gone on vacation, so we organised something romantic like in the movies. We filled the tub with water and bubbles, got undressed, and got in. We started kissing and caressing each other until, at some point, I ejaculated in the water.</p> <p>Her vagina was far away, but we both freaked out and couldn't sleep all night. The next morning, we went to the pharmacy to get the <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/d3a99m/morning-after-pill-plan-b-history-morality-emergency" target="_blank">morning-after pill</a>. I wish someone had told me that sperm doesn't travel through water and that it's almost impossible to get pregnant from a distance. We wouldâve both avoided a really bad fright.â - <i>Iustin, 26</i></p> <h2>âI thought women peed through their clitorisâ</h2> <p>âWhen I was a teenager, I thought women peed through their clitoris, so I would only stimulate it with my hands, never with my mouth. During the same period, when my then-girlfriend complained about her breasts hurting during ovulation, I suggested I should milk them to ease the pain. It just shows how much I knew about the female body at the time.â - <i>Mircea, 32</i></p> <h2>âI wish someone had told me that I needed to use a lot of lube and not pressure myself to take it all inâ</h2> <p>âI had one of my first sexual experiences â maybe even the first â when I was studying in Spain. I wanted to try anal sex with a man, but I was a bit reluctant. So one night I went out, got really drunk, flirted with a guy at the club, and then went home with him.</p> <div class="article__embed article__embed--vice" data-related-article="true" data-children-count="0"><iframe src="https://www.vice.com/en_uk/embed/article/k7w8qz/embed" frameborder="0" style="border:0px none;margin:0px" allowfullscreen="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></iframe></div> <p>In the room, I realised he had a really big penis, but I was drunk and didn't feel the discomfort. When I got home the next day, I realised I had some bad anal fissures and my anus hurt for a week.</p> <p>Because Iâd never had similar interactions before, I didn't know I was supposed to be careful and take it slow. Luckily, I could find information on the Internet, but I wish someone had told me I needed to use a lot of lube and not pressure myself to take it all in. I also would have liked someone to explain to me how to do an enema, so that I wouldn't get stomach pain or discharge.â <i>- Tony, 27</i></p> <h2>âI had to pay the price for my ignoranceâ</h2> <p>âWhen I think of sex education, I remember a teacher doing a demonstration with a banana and a condom in uni, but thatâs pretty much it. I grew up without a father, and my mum and I never talked about sex. I learnt from older friends and from my own experience. Unfortunately, sometimes I had to pay the price for my ignorance.</p> <div class="article__embed article__embed--vice" data-related-article="true" data-children-count="0"><iframe src="https://www.vice.com/en_uk/embed/article/m7vyk4/embed" frameborder="0" style="border:0px none;margin:0px" allowfullscreen="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></iframe></div> <p>At one point, a girl from another city, who Iâd partied with in the past, came to visit me. That night, we both drank too much and I was rougher than usual in bed. I had tried choking and butt slapping before, but this time I slapped her in the face. I didn't want to hurt her; I was just playing a fantasy.</p> <p>When I talked to her later, I realised how much my behaviour had shocked her. She was shocked at how ignorant I was about boundaries and consent. At the time, I didn't realise that it was a potentially sensitive situation we should have discussed beforehand, and that, without consent, my sex play was abusive and dehumanising towards her.</p> <p>Over time, I've learnt that itâs essential to get informed beforehand and that sex education is a lifelong process.â <i>- Vlad, 33</i></p></div> <p>Additionally, blanket views that all adult content is harmful or has harmful potential, and attempting to restrict young peopleâs access to it, often results in more barriers for sex workers online. Anti-trafficking laws that hold porn websites liable for promoting or facilitating sex work and trafficking introduced in the US in 2018 have been<a href="https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/5050/sex-workers-endangered-fosta-sesta-porn-us-free-speech-woodhull/"> <span>criticised for endangering sex workers further.</span></a> The<a href="https://scarletalliance.org.au/library/response-to-the-esafetys-call-for-evidence-on-age-verification/"> <span>UKâs implementation of age-verification systems online</span></a> has also been slammed by the sex work industry for over-regulation.&nbsp;</p> <p>Can I suggest just getting better parental controls on your devices?</p> <p>This is not the first time the responsibility of shaping well-behaved young men has been put on the sex industry. Last year, senior Liberal Party member Sussan Ley suggested<a href="https://womensagenda.com.au/politics/sussan-ley-misses-fundamental-point-in-calling-for-strip-club-ban/"> <span>a âpauseâ on the opening of new strip clubs</span></a>, citing concerns over the roles theses premises have in influencing young menâs attitudes towards women.&nbsp;</p> <p>But Leyâs attitude ignores the involvement of an autonomous, consenting person in the scenario.</p> <div><p>Being good at sex is somewhat of a myth, but if thereâs anyone whoâs got a handle of how to <i>have good sex</i> itâs the people who work in one of the worldâs most ancient jobs. We wanted some straightforward tips on fingering, dick sucking, oral and standard bouncing â so we asked. These tips arenât about to turn you into a <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/akexbg/how-to-make-a-sex-tape-according-to-a-former-porn-star" target="_blank">porn star</a>, but you might be surprised by the <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/5d38zk/missionary-sex-position-vice-guide" target="_blank">fundamentals of sex</a> that youâve missed.</p> <p>Needless to say, itâs better to ask the specific person youâre sleeping with what <i>they</i> like â all sexual experiences are subjective â but sleeping with tens if not hundreds of people for work does give you a few clues as to what gets <i>most</i> people off. Itâs all well and good to tell people that âconfidence is keyâ or to just âenjoy themselvesâ, but it turns out there are more than a few ways to turn a trick that can be applied to anyoneâs everyday sex life.</p> <p>We went to <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/n7zxy8/a-glossary-of-sex-worker-terminology" target="_blank">the experts</a>: in this case, sex workers Lily, Mia, Samantha and Becca of PĆnekeâs The Bedroom, and hereâs what they had to sayâŠ</p> <h2>Letâs get some basic sex dos and donâts out of the way:</h2> <p>Having good hygiene is a given (including good breath). Commenting on someoneâs weight or appearance is a no-go unless itâs an absolute compliment.</p> <p>And there are a few areas that unquestionably require discussion:</p> <p>Anal or butt play? <i>Discuss it.</i></p> <p>Anything that <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/jgmv48/what-is-kinky-sex" target="_blank">leaves a mark</a>? <i>Discuss it.</i>&nbsp;Bites, bruises and rope burns can put someone in an uncomfortable situation at work or home, so making sure the person being marked is ok with it is a must.</p> <p>Where youâre gonna <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/epz8n4/my-sex-life-with-a-semen-allergy" target="_blank">cum</a>? <i>Discuss it.</i>&nbsp;Thereâs nothing less sexy than someone ruining your makeup or freshly washed hair. And if the <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/3adjv9/how-to-make-safer-sex-hot" target="_blank">contraceptive situation</a> hasnât been made clear, not double checking that your landing pad is approved could end in genuine disaster.</p> <p>With that aside, letâs get into some of the specifics. Hereâs what our sex-work overseers had to say:</p> <h2>HOW TO: HANDJOBS</h2> <p><i>âI always start slow. Be aware of how sensitive their area is and really ease into it. Remember how many nerve endings there are. It is friction!â</i> - Mia</p> <p><i>âUse saliva and lube.â</i>&nbsp; - Samantha</p> <p><i>âIf the handjob goes on too long men [can] lose sensitivity, so you're actually better to stop doing the handjob altogether. Give it a rest and then try again.â</i> - Lily</p> <p><i>âEven if you're not being touched, they want to see that you're into them being aroused. They want to see you turned on as well.â</i> - Samantha</p> <h2>HOW TO: FINGERING</h2> <p><i>âDonât finger a dry pussy really hard. Youâll <a href="https://www.medicinenet.com/can_you_get_thrush_sexually/article.htm" target="_blank">give them thrush.</a>â</i> - Lily</p> <div class="article__embed article__embed--vice" data-related-article="true" data-children-count="0"><iframe src="https://www.vice.com/en_nz/embed/article/93k8dv/embed" frameborder="0" style="border:0px none;margin:0px" allowfullscreen="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></iframe></div> <p><i>âI love my butt being played with, but if youâre gonna put your finger in my butt then in my pussy, all Iâm thinking is urine infection. So donât do that. Itâs hygiene yâknow.â&nbsp; -</i> Mia</p> <p><i>âDefinitely donât start by shoving three fingers in someone at once. You can build up to it, but thatâs not a sexy way to start.â</i> - Becca</p> <p><i>âA finger and clitoral rub at the same time is the best. Fingers in, thumb on clit.â</i> - Lily</p> <p><i>âDonât shove your knuckles into the coochie because they donât do anything.â</i> - Mia</p> <h2>HOW TO SUCK DICK</h2> <p><i>âUse your hand at the base like it's half-hand-job-half-blow-job. Just using your mouth, a lot of men wonât cum.â -</i> Lily</p> <p><i>âGo from the outside, inwards. Lead up from touching the thighs and then you move in and stimulate them⊠A lot of guys like the balls.â</i> - Samantha</p> <p><i>âThe men say it feels better without the condom. Supposedly thereâs a lot of sensitivity lost.â -</i> Lily</p> <p><i>âI think the wetter the better. The more saliva, the more it feels like a pussy.â -</i> Lily</p> <h2>HOW TO EAT SOMEONE OUT</h2> <p><i>âWith facial hair, the smoother the better, or be hairy. But prickly hurts. Itâs like sandpaper.â -</i> Mia</p> <p><i>âDoing the alphabet with your tongue, that was a Cosmopolitan tip⊠donât do that. Donât motorboat. Donât bite. Donât blow. Donât hum. Thatâs another Cosmo tip. It's just weird.â</i> - Lily</p> <p><i>âYouâre sensitive in areas that arenât normally touched, so incorporate the inner thighs, or holding the hips and touching those creases. Do all that kind of stuff as the lead-up, outside of the vagina, and then slowly work your way in.â</i> - Samantha</p> <p><i>âPutting your tongue into the actual vagina doesnât feel that good⊠Itâs not a dick. You wouldnât make someone cum from it.â</i> - Becca</p> <p><i>âThe person needs to be honest if theyâre not into [eating me out]. Because I can tell if theyâre not enjoying it and then I feel like Iâm torturing them.â</i> - Samantha</p> <h2>HOW TO HAVE INTERCOURSE</h2> <p><i>âReplicating what youâve seen in porn is really dangerous and also really obvious. You should never come straight into a sexual encounter with someone you donât know well and choke and slap them. Itâs embarrassing and uncomfortable.â</i> - Becca</p> <div class="article__embed article__embed--vice" data-related-article="true" data-children-count="0"><iframe src="https://www.vice.com/en_nz/embed/article/7kxwnb/embed" frameborder="0" style="border:0px none;margin:0px" allowfullscreen="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></iframe></div> <p><i>âIf there's a massive size difference between you and your partner, be aware to hold your own weight when youâre on top. It happened to me with a partner who was bigger than me, and heâd rest all his weight on me and Iâd start panicking because I couldnât breathe.â</i> - Samantha</p> <p><i>âJackhammering can be painful if youâre not in the mood for it. Just be aware. They have a pelvic bone. They have a cervix. And youâre banging up against it.â -</i> Becca</p> <p><i>âIf sheâs invested in lingerie let her wear it for ten minutes. If sheâs feeling sexy and sheâs dolled herself up, a suspender belt, stockings, donât just rip it off straight away. Make her feel beautiful in what sheâs wearing. And then sheâll want to dress up for you more because youâve shown you appreciate it.â</i> - Lily</p> <p><i>âKiss during sex! It makes you feel so rejected if someone stops kissing you as soon as you start fucking. Itâs awkward.â</i> - Becca</p> <h2>THE âFEEL GOODâ FACTOR</h2> <p><i>âYou've got to be able to pick up what they're feeling. You need to be very in tune with other people. In real layman's examples, itâs whether you'd say like, âI want you to fuck meâ or âI want to make love to youâ. It's a bit of emotional intelligence.â</i> - Samantha</p> <p><i>âI think if one person stands to gain more from the experience than the other, then it's not something that's gonna be enjoyable</i>.â - Mia</p> <p><i>"You can ask what they want without it ruining the mood. Just saying, âDoes it feel good?â âDo you want it faster?â or âWhat can I do for you?â It's not embarrassing.â</i> - Samantha</p> <p>In the end, everyone will have some <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/5d9g8b/worst-std-stories" target="_blank">mortifying moments</a> in their sexual lives and everyone will feel things <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/7kb9zx/how-an-extreme-new-curve-in-my-penis-changed-my-sex-life-peyronies-disease" target="_blank">differently</a> â and thatâs okay folks! We learn, we grow, we throb with undulating desire.</p> <p>We hope the wise words of our sex-worker friends can help you feel on top of the basics so that you know the sex youâre having feels good for everyone involved, inside <i>and</i> out.</p> <p><i>Rachel Barker is a writer / producer at VICE NZ in Aotearoa. You can find her @rachellydiab on IG and Letterboxd and see her film criticism on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@girlonfilm4551" target="_blank">Youtube</a>.</i></p></div> <p>I argue to Sussan Ley that any man who attends <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/y3wbb7/how-nzs-strippers-collectivised-against-allegations-of-bullying-and-harassment-at-work">strip clubs</a> as a ritualistic baptism into manhood will learn lifelong lessons about boundaries should they ever touch a dancer in a place they havenât consented to.</p> <p>The sex industry is not a handbook to intimacy that your child is a perceived victim of, and we should not be enabling men to blame their bad behaviour on porn consumption.&nbsp;</p> <p>All Australians, not just sex workers, should be mature enough to educate themselves and their children that the <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/qjvnem/vice-visits-the-australian-adult-industry-awards">adult industry</a> and porn are built on fantasy, and thatâs okay.&nbsp;</p> <p>When looking at menâs violence against women â very much a reality â letâs look at real solutions.&nbsp;</p> <p>The $925 million pledge <em>over five years,</em> while<a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-05-01/new-coercive-control-ad-campaign-launched-by-nsw-government/103787754"> <span>frontline services are desperate for funding</span></a>, is seriously inadequate. And the <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/jgpkeb/employers-sex-work-cost-of-living">cost of living</a> is continuously rising â making financial hardship a major contributing factor to womenâs inability to escape violent relationships. Meanwhile, the government also<a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/defence-spending-australia-national-strategy-integrated-investment-program/bceed0f7-971a-4c9b-bcb4-d4d76931c070"> <span>pledged a $50 billion boost to defence</span></a> over the next decade and Australiaâs own parliament canât even get its<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/media/2023/dec/08/bruce-lehrmann-brittany-higgins-parliament-house-defamation-trial-grips-australia-ntwnfb"> <span>sexual misconduct problem under control</span></a>.&nbsp;</p> <p>So who really is to blame?</p> <p><em>Darcy Deviant is a sex worker and writer based in Melbourne. Follow Darcy on Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/hole___money/">here</a>.</em></p> </description>
<link>https://vice.com/en/article/m7bngy/government-porn-violence-against-women</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://vice.com/en/article/m7bngy/government-porn-violence-against-women</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 02 May 2024 03:25:24 GMT</pubDate>
<author>Aleksandra Bliszczyk, Darcy Deviant</author>
<category>Australia Today</category>
<category>Politics</category>
<category>Australia</category>
<category>Sex</category>
<category>porn</category>
<category>sex work</category>
</item>
<item>
<title>How Long Until the Majority of Voters Are Gen Y and Gen Z?</title>
<description><figure><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/articles/6631aefa934d4280f82fc24a/lede/1714536022813-istock-1530809356.jpeg" alt="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"><figcaption>Image credit: istock</figcaption></figure> <p>From Brexit to Aotearoaâs own cannabis referendum, weâve seen older generations have the dominant vote on issues that will outlive them.&nbsp;</p> <p>The complaint often lobbied in these situations is that young voters are left living in the world created by those soon to leave it. And right now young people are a minority, fighting against an older class who (depending on who you ask) doesnât care for our future.&nbsp;</p> <p>About a quarter of the 3,688,292 total New Zealanders enrolled in last year's election are over 70.&nbsp;</p> <p>And Gen Y and Gen Z <em>are</em> currently the minority of eligible voters in New Zealand â with 1,598,352 18-44 year olds and 2,089,940 45+ year olds enrolled for the 2023 election.&nbsp;</p> <p>So how long will it be until we make up the majority? A change in the majority generation that makes up a voting block will definitely change how politicians approach policy, but is it really down to, well⊠how much time it takes for older people to die?</p> <p>People born into Generations Y and Z are currently between 12 and 43. This means most of us already <em>are</em> voting â or at least have the ability to.&nbsp;</p> <p>Last year, 452,882 eligible people between 18-44 didnât vote. Will the New Zealanders turning 18 in the next 6 years have the power to bring up those numbers? Itâs unlikely.&nbsp;</p> <div><p>Growing up in Australia, Anzac Day usually means chewy oat biscuits, poppy pins, excursions, trumpets and pretending to fathom what war was like 100 years ago after your teachers tell you to reflect on soldiersâ service and sacrifice during the minuteâs silence.</p> <p>But this year, a <a href="https://www.instagram.com/teachers4palestine_vic/?hl=en" target="_blank">collective</a> of pro-<a href="https://www.vice.com/en/topic/palestine" target="_blank">Palestine</a> school teachers in Victoria is challenging the ways our World War I soldiers are remembered and what aspects of our military history have long been left out of classrooms.&nbsp;</p> <p>The Teachers and <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/5d9qkq/melbourne-students-school-strike-for-palestine" target="_blank">School</a> Staff for Palestine group has this week called for the âAnzac mythologyâ to be âdismantledâ to make way for ârigorous, critical and empowering educationâ around campaigns and massacres in Palestine during WWI.</p> <p>âWe won't be used to convey myths that serve to normalise militarism, we won't use teaching and learning material designed to gloss over the violent imprint that <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/qjv58b/aid-workers-one-australian-killed-in-gaza-after-delivering-food" target="_blank">Australia has left in Palestine</a>,â Lucy Honan, a Teachers and School Staff for Palestine member and secondary history teacher, told VICE.&nbsp;</p> <p>âStudents should have an opportunity to question the official legend that Anzacs were sacrificing their lives for freedom, and think critically about Australia's commitment to the imperialist powers that lay the ground for the creation of Israel, and think about the consequences of this for Palestinians.â</p> <p>In recent months, the group has organised solidarity actions in schools, campaigned to remove <a href="https://www.theeducatoronline.com/k12/news/teachers-launch-boycott-of-stem-programs-funded-by-weapons-companies/284214#:~:text=%E2%80%9CThe%20Victorian%20Education%20Department%20is,School%20Staff%20for%20Palestine%20said." target="_blank">STEM programs sponsored by weapons manufacturers</a> from schools and published teaching materials including a booklet about Anzac campaigns in Palestine that lay the foundation for the creation of Israel.</p> <p>The teaching materials were compiled by the group through weeks of research, in response to âa dearth of teaching resources about the Anzacs in Palestine,â Honan said.</p> <p>âOur students want answers. What is happening in Gaza and why, who is implicated â and why are we being told we can't talk about it at school?â</p> <p>Victorian Education Minister Ben Carroll <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-11-27/victoria-teachers-palestine-solidarity-education-minister/103154342" target="_blank">warned state school teachers late last year</a> not to be political or participate in pro-Palestinian advocacy in schools and said such action was âinflammatory, it's divisive and only sows more seeds of disharmony in our communityâ.</p> <p>Honan said she wasnât surprised by these warnings but that they were contradictory.</p> <p>âBecause we refused to be neutral about the genocide in Gaza, we have been accused by politicians and the Education Department of being too political,â she said.</p> <p>âAnd yet, the agenda of militarism and unthinking nationalism in our schools is overwhelming.â</p> <p>Teachers and School Staff for Palestine hope their resources will help and encourage teachers to think more critically about their history curriculums and allow students the opportunity to question what they are taught and why.</p> <p>âLet teachers teach honestly,â she said.</p> <p>âTeachers must be empowered and supported to teach about Palestine.â</p> <h2>What did the Anzacs do in Palestine?&nbsp;</h2> <p>In 1917, the <a href="https://anzacportal.dva.gov.au/wars-and-missions/ww1/where-australians-served/sinai-and-palestine" target="_blank">ANZACs invaded Palestine</a> to fight the Ottoman Army and, after the third Battle of Gaza on October 31, successfully took control of the land and the people in the name of the British Empire.</p> <p>The final battle of Gaza also included the Allied attack on Beersheba, which had a majority Palestinian Arab population and was captured from the Ottoman Empire.&nbsp;</p> <h2>The Sarafand al-âAmar massacre</h2> <p>The following year, the three brigades of the Anzac Mounted Division remained camped in Palestine waiting for demobilisation, when one Anzac was shot and killed.</p> <p>The troops suspected Palestinians from the town of Sarafand al-âAmar were responsible and a group surrounded the town to demand justice. Their revenge was recorded as a <a href="https://nzhistory.govt.nz/page/anzac-troops-kill-arab-civilians-surafend" target="_blank">massacre of dozens of people</a> â <a href="https://www.palestinechronicle.com/the-sarafand-massacre-and-cover-up/" target="_blank">as many as 137</a> â who were bludgeoned and stabbed to death. The Anzacs then burned the town and nearby camps until the remaining residents were imprisoned or had fled and the town was destroyed.&nbsp;</p> <h2>The creation of Israel&nbsp;</h2> <p>After the British Empire withdrew in 1947, it handed over what it called the âproblem of Palestineâ to the United Nations, ending the British Mandate and establishing the State of Israel. This was when the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians, known as Al Nakba (the catastrophe) began.</p> <p>Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly thanked Anzac soldiers for their service and for paving the way for the creation of the âState of Israelâ.</p> <p>âAnzac soldiers are part of the history and memory of Israel⊠and had not the Australians and New Zealanders overthrown Ottoman rule in Palestine and Syria, the <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2018/11/2/more-than-a-century-on-the-balfour-declaration-explained" target="_blank">Balfour Declaration</a> would have remained mere ink on paper,â <a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-australian-new-zealand-leaders-mark-landmark-wwi-battle/" target="_blank">he said on the 100th anniversary</a> of the battle of Beersheba, attended by the then-Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.</p> <p>Turnbull also spoke at the event and said âthe battle has become part of our history, part of our psycheâ.</p> <p>âHad the Ottoman rule in Palestine and Syria not been overthrown by the Australians and the New Zealanders, the Balfour Declaration would have been empty words.</p> <p>â[The battle] secured the victory that did not create the state of Israel, but enabled its creation,â Turnbull said.</p> <p><i>Aleksandra Bliszczyk is the Deputy Editor of VICE Australia. Follow her on<a href="https://www.instagram.com/aleksbliszczyk/?hl=en" target="_blank"> Instagram</a>.</i></p> <p><i>Get the story that matters most each day. <a href="https://pedestrian.us1.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=2c631b380f2015e8f93fcbc5b&amp;id=77eb92cd03" target="_blank">Subscribe to Australia Todayâs daily newsletter here</a>.</i></p></div> <p>In only 6 years time, the entirety of New Zealandâs âiGenerationâ (has anyone ever called it that?) will be eligible to vote. From that point, weâll theoretically take up about half of the voting body.&nbsp;</p> <p>In 15-20 years, about half of the older age group voters will drop off â or rather, we will encroach on their territory, becoming the main body of voters, with Gen Xers above us and Gen Alpha below.&nbsp;</p> <p>So, in the grand scheme of things, our time to shine is not too far away.&nbsp;</p> <p>Gen Z is arguably in competition with boomers for being the most vocal about their political views online. No generation can be defined by a singular political outlook, but you do get the sense â from perusing everything from X to TikTok to Instagram â that a minority of people under 25 fall into the liberal camp.&nbsp;</p> <p>Maybe itâs because of the echo chamber. Maybe itâs because Gen Y and Z either lean super vocal or say nothing at all.&nbsp;</p> <p>And maybe itâs because the glimmer of idealism has always been associated with youth â although, for a generation facing the 11th hour of climate change, the desperation for change is more than just a matter of preference.&nbsp;</p> <div><p class="article__text--dropcap">Thereâs something in the Indigenous experience, and perhaps in the experiences of all marginalised peoples, that makes us naturally, incredibly funny.</p> <p>In a world where our existence is challenged and our <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsoc.2021.613340/full#:~:text=Tino%20rangatiratanga%20can%20mean%20self,which%20fully%20encapsulates%20its%20meaning." target="_blank">tino rangatiratanga</a> is encroached upon, our humour persists. Thatâs because joy is resistance. In our shared humour we relish in an understanding that doesnât need to be explained, or toned down, or diluted.&nbsp;</p> <p>Iâve been a comic in Aotearoa professionally for almost four years, and in that time Iâve managed to surmise a couple of things.&nbsp;</p> <p>In 2021, I performed for the first time in the NZ International Comedy Fest as a member of Bull Rush, an improv group I still perform with. I remember going to the closing night event with my improv buddies and looking around the room. It wasnât entirely white: The Frickin Dangerous Bro boys, Pax Assadi, Jamaine Ross and James Roque were all there. And Angella Dravid and James Nokise were also present. At the time, I was one of only three Samoan performers in the festival.&nbsp;</p> <p>If youâve been on any Facebook comment thread or internet hellhole forum about New Zealand TV recently, youâd be aware that a lot of our programming, apparently, has fallen victim to the plague of âgoing wokeâ. And for many brown comedians, like myself, this means a small but significant increase in work.&nbsp;</p> <p>Many of us find ourselves being ushered into spaces to make things appear more colourful and inclusive. But in doing so we are loaded with the burden of being tokenised. Frankly, itâs exhausting. And harmful. It can feel like weâre simply there to shroud the reality of bias against our people. Being a token in any space hides a structural disengagement with the entirety of our culture, our <a href="https://teara.govt.nz/en/whakapapa-genealogy" target="_blank">whakapapa</a>, our laughter and our pain. By being here, on this stage, surely my presence signifies the end of racism in the New Zealand comedy industry, right?&nbsp;</p> <p>Not quite.&nbsp;</p> <p class="article__pull-quote">For a long time (and not just in Aotearoa) the term âaudiences'' has been synonymous with âwhite people.â</p> <p>The New Zealand Comedy Industry has always skewed towards a <a href="https://teara.govt.nz/en/cultural-go-betweens/page-2" target="_blank">pÄkehÄ</a> lens.&nbsp;</p> <p>Our nationâs most famous comic, William James Te Wehi Taitoko, changed his name to âBilly T Jamesâ because the pronunciation was easier for Australians. That name was rearranged and anglicised for the ease of pÄkehÄ ears and has since adorned our nation's most coveted comedy award, an act towards assimilation, so as not to deter his white audience.</p> <p>Over the decades, many revered comedians of colour have bent their personas to appease pÄkehÄ for career benefit, and in doing so fed into harm towards our communities. Some of Taitokoâs own work is often a talking point in the portrayal of MÄori identity for its part in enforcing harmful stereotypes.</p> <div class="article__embed" data-related-article="true" data-children-count="0"><div data-iframely-id="08dwnpC" class="article__embed article__embed--iframely"><div style="left:0;width:100%;height:0;position:relative;padding-bottom:56.25%"><iframe data-iframely-url="//oembed.vice.com/08dwnpC" data-img="" style="top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;position:absolute;border:0" allowfullscreen="" allow="encrypted-media *;" frameborder="0" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></iframe></div></div></div> <p>Racism, of course, is fuelled by normalisation in the media like this. One needs only to look towards <i>broâTownâs</i> Jeff Da Maori and <i>Summer Heights High</i>âs Jonah Takalua for their roles in proliferating harmful stereotypes and anti-Indigenous racism.</p> <p>For a long time (and not just in Aotearoa) the term âaudiences'' has been synonymous with âwhite peopleâ. And the people that regularly come to comedy events â or the ones held by the central industry â are predominantly pÄkehÄ.&nbsp;</p> <p>âComedyâ in Aotearoa is viewed as a âwhite thingâ by a lot of brown communities. There are multiple exceptions but there seems to be minimal representation for our communities in the most visible spaces. As a brown comedian who does improv comedy almost every Friday night, I comfortably say that brown audiences have not yet recognised their place in our audiences. And understandably so. Representation can foster a hostile environment when it reduces the vastness of our community into a token or caricature. In some cases, it can foster the longevity of the stereotype.&nbsp;</p> <p>And it is an exhausting conversation topic, particularly for the underrepresented. In the turning tide of âdiversity-hireâ culture, people of marginalised communities are burdened with responsibilities far beyond the call of our actual jobs. As my friend and collaborator Joel McCarthy once said after a particularly challenging call: âItâs fucking exhausting having to pioneer everythingâ.&nbsp;</p> <p>It <i>is</i> exhausting trying to figure out how to make a living in this industry while doing right by ourselves and by the people we stand with. These structures that coerce us into assimilating into (and making allowances for) pÄkehÄ culture are exhausting and, sometimes, dangerous. They can be dangerous to us who risk token elevation as a model minority, and to our communities, who continue to experience the very real and very relentless structural problems that cause collective harm.&nbsp;</p> <p>For some time now the New Zealand comedy industry has found itself pondering questions that many other institutions in this modern age also find themselves pondering.&nbsp;</p> <p>As we look at the massively evident disparity in representation, weâre forced to grapple with the intersections of our society and the way it uplifts a specific type of person above most others.&nbsp;</p> <p>But if tokenized MÄori and Pasifika are being hired for being palatable to a white sensibility, then what good does this really do for our communities? And if we signify to our communities that whiteness is aspirational, then what message are we sending? To fight for a single chair? The smallest chair at the table; the littlest token of funding; a gestural hui. If we operate from the assumption that our communities enjoy laughing, our scope becomes so much wider.&nbsp;</p> <p>Many of our most successful comedians are creating online. Creators like Janaye Henry, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/kumara_chipz/?hl=en" target="_blank">Kura Turuwhenua</a>, Timprovise and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/memoirsofamaori/?hl=en" target="_blank">Charde Heremaia</a> are meeting our audiences where they are. They ask the obvious question: If spaces like the theatre and the comedy club are inaccessible (both financially and geographically), then why not provide laughter in their homes?&nbsp;</p> <p>For decades, the comedy industry has clung to television as its path of ascension, but as the digital age shifts away from terrestrial television, so too do the audiences. Audiences want entertainment that speaks to their reality, that reflects themselves honestly. Itâs increasingly hard to do that on a platform where the viewership, and the funding, is gradually being taken away. Not to say these people donât draw audiences â Kura sold out her shows last year in the NZ Comedy Fest, and Tim sold an 80% house at Q Rangatira for a live record of his podcast âHonest To Who?â.</p> <p>But in a system that depends upon bums-on-seats, the hundreds of thousands of global audience members that are viewing and engaging with online content apparently donât speak to someoneâs comedic credibility.&nbsp;</p> <p>In cinema, television, and international media there has been some increased visibility for MÄori, Pasifika and POC comedians, as well as comedians from all backgrounds. Bubbah on <i>Taskmaster; </i>Courtney Dawson on <i>Celebrity Treasure Island</i>; Kalyani Nagarajan in <i>Raised By Refugees. </i>And thatâs just off the top of my head. But there are still significant (and obvious) milestones still to be reached. The industry may be improving, but there is a long â and necessary â way to go. And while these new opportunities are being embraced, the people tackling them have not appeared out of nowhere. They have been honing their skills, working, standing in the face of an industry that largely ignores them or asks them to play a specific role and That Role Only.</p> <p>In an essay written in 2019, Guy Williams posed the question: â<a href="https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/stage-and-theatre/112904284/guy-williams-where-are-all-the-maori-comedians" target="_blank">where are all the MÄori comedians?</a>â What youâre reading here is my attempt at responding to this pÄtai. In response to it, I find myself asking questions in return: Where are you looking for us? What efforts are you making to look for Indigenous Pacific comedians? In free backyard shows put on by comedians from our South Auckland communities? In the performing arts buildings in East Coast schools? In the under-resourced high school arts programmes? In brown arts collectives working by, and for, our communities? We are here. You will find us here.&nbsp;</p> <p>And for all we are doing to build our community, away from the pressures of stereotyping, tokenism and assimilation, we are not without challenges for funding.&nbsp;</p> <p>The question here isnât, and has never been, in regards to where we <i>are. </i>The question should be: where are you <i>looking </i>for us? Or where do you want us to be for you to acknowledge us? For funders to acknowledge our craft? And for those of us working in this industry: who do we have to be for our work to be acknowledged?&nbsp;</p> <p>When the New Zealand Comedy Industry is mostly centralised in one building in the heart of the Auckland CBD, the type of audience that gets drawn to these shows begins to narrow significantly. Whiteness, as a pervasive attitude, can feel unsafe for a lot of people. Colonial Patriarchy is another structure rooted in whiteness, and when we see a line up dominated by male comics who appease colonial and patriarchal tastes, we ought to ask if our venues are environments that welcome a full spectrum of talent and audience.&nbsp;</p> <p>If you ask me where all the MÄori comedians are, I will tell you that they are here, in Aotearoa. Whether or not we are acknowledged and supported is, of course, another question.</p> <p><i>Bailey Poching is a comedian, actor and writer based in TÄmaki Makaurau.</i></p></div> <p>&nbsp;So many people find themselves churning through the motions of an intensely liberal outlook in their teen years before easing up on a few of those beliefs when entering adulthood. Past arguments with parents who donât agree that âall landlords are morally corruptâ can make you feel a bit squeamish when youâre 35 and seeking renters to help you pay your mortgage.&nbsp;</p> <p>Thereâs also a shifting line in the sand when it comes to what we consider conservative and progressive. Famed feminist Germaine Greer shocked many when she made anti-trans comments in 2015, and it goes to show that being on the front line of a progressive school of thought doesnât mean youâll remain there.&nbsp;</p> <p>Victoria Universityâs Head of Political Science Simon Keller told VICE political opinions of young people will change as they get older. âPerhaps they will become more economically conservative, but I am confident that they never take what we presently regard as conservative positions on sexuality and gender,â said Keller.</p> <p>In the 2023 election, the age bracket with the highest percentage of voters was 65-69-year-olds.&nbsp; The lowest was <a href="https://elections.nz/democracy-in-nz/historical-events/2023-general-election/voter-turnout-statistics/">between 25 and 29</a> â young millennials and older Gen Z.&nbsp;</p> <p>Richard Shaw, Professor of Politics at Massey University, says âvoting and not voting are habit forming.â&nbsp;</p> <p>âIrrespective of the size of the GenY/Z cohort, if they're not used to voting they may just stay away from the formal political process â which would mean that older generations still have influence over electoral and other outcomes,â he says.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>So, sure, our time is gonna come â but whether we take advantage of that is another question entirely.&nbsp;</p> <p><em>Rachel Barker is a writer / producer at VICE NZ in Aotearoa. You can find her @rachellydiab on IG and Letterboxd and see her film criticism on<a href="https://www.youtube.com/@girlonfilm4551"> Youtube</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;</em></p> </description>
<link>https://vice.com/en/article/qjv5k5/how-long-until-the-majority-of-voters-are-gen-y-and-gen-z</link>
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<pubDate>Wed, 01 May 2024 04:19:52 GMT</pubDate>
<author>Rachel Barker, Brad Espos
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<title>Australia's Massive Military Budget</title>
<description><figure><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/articles/66444ef0fc3a24f9da345607/lede/1715842120352-gettyimages-1436363944.jpeg" alt="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"><figcaption></figcaption></figure> <p>The 2025 federal budget announced on Tuesday <a href="https://www.minister.defence.gov.au/media-releases/2024-05-14/generational-investment-australias-defence"><span>committed an additional $50.3 billion</span></a> to defence over the next decade, bringing our 10-year defence spending to $764.6 billion.</p> <p>$764.6 billion is an extraordinary amount of money, more than double the initial <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/k7z5by/stage-three-tax-cuts-change">cost of the controversial stage 3 tax cuts</a> that have since been amended.</p> <p>To put $700 billion in perspective â making undergraduate university degrees completely free for all domestic students would cost about $7 billion a year or $70 billion over 10 years, <a href="https://futurework.org.au/report/at-the-crossroads/"><span>according to the Australia Institute</span></a>. Just 10 per cent of the defence budget.</p> <p>With the new federal budget, the annual defence bill will hit a record of $53 billion this year, <a href="https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/pubs/rp/BudgetReview202021/AustralianGovernmentExpenditure"><span>up from $39 billion last year</span></a>, and is projected to surpass $100 billion annually by 2033, or 2.4 per cent of our GDP.</p> <p>This is part of a massive defence shakeup to âkeep Australia safeâ amid what the <a href="https://twitter.com/RichardMarlesMP/status/1780423930035253415/photo/1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1780423930035253415%7Ctwgr%5E26106fef105a8d5f345bf2bd806c321fc1f57b4e%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sbs.com.au%2Fnews%2Farticle%2Faustralias-defence-budget-set-to-increase-by-50-billion-over-the-next-decade%2F04c2x7teq"><span>Defence Minister Richard Marles called</span></a> the most challenging strategic environment since World War II.</p> <p>So, just looking at the bonuses included in this budget, defence got an extra $5 billion for this year alone.</p> <p>Thatâs more than Commonwealth Rent Assistance that, for just this year, <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@viceautoday/video/7369016467712527624"><span>gets an extra $500 million</span></a>; more than the $600 million boost to Services Australia, for more staff to help manage the backlog of people trying to access welfare payments; more than the <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@viceautoday/video/7365670312584678664"><span>changes to HECS indexation</span></a> thatâll cost about $3 billion in foregone revenue; and more than the $3.5 billion cost of living relief package in the form of $300 electricity bill rebates for every household.</p> <div><p>At least one NSW Police officer was seen wearing âthin blue lineâ Australian flag patch at a pro-Palestine rally in Sydneyâs Port Botany on Sunday, where 19 people were arrested.</p> <p>Legal Observers New South Wales (LONSW), who attended the rally to witness and document interactions between <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/5d9qkq/melbourne-students-school-strike-for-palestine" target="_blank">activists</a> and police, said âseveralâ officers wore the patches displaying the iconography that has been co-opted by and is now associated with far-right extremist movements.</p> <p>They reported âmany of these officers were the most aggressive with protestorsâ, who were there to blockade Israeli shipping company ZIM that uses the docks. ZIM has been associated with the Israeli military and its killing of Palestinians in Gaza.</p> <p>LONSW also accused police of demonstrating excessive force, throwing several protestors to the ground, using restraint techniques associated with restraint asphyxia, and âviolently pushing manyâ before arresting people for disrupting commerce and trade under <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/jg5nn4/nsw-police-anti-protest-laws" target="_blank">NSWâs harsh anti-protest laws</a>.</p> <p>NSW Police told <i>Guardian Australia</i> the force had ânot received any reports of an officer wearing the patch which is not part of the standard NSWPF uniformâ and that the force respected peopleâs right to protest at the port.</p> <p>But NSW Council for Civil Liberties president Lydia Shelly said the policing of protests in NSW was now âout of controlâ.</p> <div class="article__embed article__embed--vice" data-related-article="true" data-children-count="0"><iframe src="https://www.vice.com/en_au/embed/article/v7bnd8/embed" frameborder="0" style="border:0px none;margin:0px" allowfullscreen="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></iframe></div> <p>âWe are extremely concerned that at the Port Botany protest, Legal Observers NSW observed several police officers wearing a patch that is not part of the standard police issued uniform which has been associated with right-wing extremism,â she said in a <a href="https://www.nswccl.org.au/media_statement_police_response_to_antigenocide_protests" target="_blank">statement</a>.</p> <p>âWe have called on the Premier, the Attorney General and the Police Commissioner to meet with us to discuss concerns about police conduct towards peaceful protestors and legal observers [and] so far, our requests have been denied.â</p> <h2>Misuse of police powers at weekly free Palestine rallies</h2> <p>Legal Observers NSW has attended 14 <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/g5y849/thousands-rally-across-australia-in-solidarity-with-palestine-israel-war" target="_blank">weekly free Palestine street rallies</a> in Sydneyâs CBD and several actions at Port Botany since October and over those months has complied a eight-page report, documenting police behaviour towards protestors including instances of misuse of police powers.</p> <p>âThe <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/3ak4z9/what-have-free-palestine-rallies-australia-achieved" target="_blank">policing of these rallies</a> has been marked by ubiquitous surveillance, police and state pushback and the deployment of higher than usual levels of police resources, including a new protest-focused taskforce âOperation Mealingâ and&nbsp;pro-Palestinian activity focused âOperation Shelterâ, the report reads.</p> <p>Many incidents of misuse of powers in the report document police violence, but many cases of non-violent misuse of powers are also reported, including police asking protestors to remove face coverings, employing mobile CCTV towers at protests, and stopping cars displaying <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/n7eyj8/womad-ziggy-marley-palestine" target="_blank">Palestinian flags</a>, requiring them to remove the flags, then issuing fines for minor infringements such as P plates being tucked under a number plate as the reason for the stop.</p> <p>The report also notes the NSW Police presence at Sydneyâs weekly pro-Palestine rallies is 100-150 officers at the cost of $220,000 a week, despite no incidents of violence or disturbances occurring at the protests.</p> <p>One example the report singles out is as many as 50 police being deployed to guard the <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/epv7qz/mcdonalds-sales-misinformation-israel-boycott" target="_blank">Starbucks</a> on Elizabeth Street despite no incidents occurring in relation to the location.</p> <p>âThe reliance on high visibility policing unduly criminalises protestors and puts them at risk of police assault,â Adam al-Hayek, a spokesperson for LONSW, told VICE.</p> <div class="article__embed article__embed--vice" data-related-article="true" data-children-count="0"><iframe src="https://www.vice.com/en_au/embed/article/epv9gp/embed" frameborder="0" style="border:0px none;margin:0px" allowfullscreen="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></iframe></div> <p>âThe weekly street rallies are well-managed by marshals and do not require the deployment of 100-150 police officers whose primary function appears to be surveilling and harassing protestors.â</p> <p>NSW Greens MP Sue Higginson said the report painted a dark picture of the state of the police force.</p> <p>âThe findings released in todayâs independent observer report are deeply worrying and point to the creeping militarisation and criminalisation in response to peaceful protestors from the NSW Police Force,â Higginson told VICE.</p> <p>âThe highly-militarised state of police deployment we have seen week after week at an event that has consistently been compliant, peaceful and driven by <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/ak39zj/cancelled-palestine-visas-australia" target="_blank">Palestinian community</a> members and families is plainly out of proportion.</p> <p>âItâs time for our police to work with, not against, all members of the community. We want a policing regime that supports healthy, peaceful, democratic action. To achieve this we must demilitarise and deweaponise our general duty police and urgently begin the serious reforms needed to move us towards a policing-by-consent model that supports the integrity of both officers and community members.â</p> <p><i>Aleksandra Bliszczyk is the Deputy Editor of VICE Australia. Follow her on<a href="https://www.instagram.com/aleksbliszczyk/?hl=en" target="_blank"> Instagram</a>.</i></p> <p><i>Get the story that matters most each day. <a href="https://pedestrian.us1.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=2c631b380f2015e8f93fcbc5b&amp;id=77eb92cd03" target="_blank">Subscribe to Australia Todayâs daily newsletter here</a>.</i></p></div> <p>Also compare the $5 extra billion dollars for defence with the <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@viceautoday/video/7367169227117153554"><span>extra $50 million for endometriosis consultation subsidies</span></a>, or the extra $73 million a year to mental health, to establish a national digital mental health referral service, or the $185 million per year to domestic violence victims, <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@viceautoday/video/7363923077400366344"><span>going to the Leaving Violence Program</span></a> that offers $5000 payments to people fleeing abusive homes.</p> <p>To explain a couple of those furtherâŠ</p> <p>Rent Assistance is going up â $19 a fortnight for singles as part of the government's plan to tackle the housing and <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/4a3mvp/coles-woolies-prices-fines">cost of living</a> crisis in its 2025 federal budget.</p> <p>The maximum Commonwealth Rent Assistance payment will increase by 10 per cent from September this year, which will benefit about 1 million recipients on that rate.</p> <p>The current highest payment for a single person is $188.20 a fortnight, or $125.47 for a single person in a <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/5d9a7q/sharehouse-demand-sydney-melbourne-rental">sharehouse</a>, and those will go up $18.80.</p> <p>For families or parents with three or more children it will go up $25 a fortnight to $274.90 a fortnight. </p> <p>This is also before the payments are indexed according to inflation which treasurer Jim Chalmers will add another 5 per cent. to all payments.</p> <p>It will cost the government an additional $1.9 billion over the next five years.</p> <p>The government will also wipe $3 billion of student debt by changing the way itâs indexed. </p> <p>The new move caps the rate of indexation to make sure your debt canât rise faster than your <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/bvjkxq/award-wage-pay-rise">wages</a>. So currently HECS or HELP loans rise a percentage every year according to the CPI, the consumer price index. Thatâs the measure of how the cost of goods and services rise over time. But the WPI, the wage price index measures the rate, on average, of wage growth. So now the government will introduce legislation that means student loan indexation will be calculated on whichever is lower each year, the CPI or the WPI.</p> <p>The policy will also be backdated to June 1, 2023, which means last year's historically high 7.1 per cent indexation will be more than halved to the WPI of of the time which was 3.2 per cent.</p> <p>This will cancel hundreds if not thousands of dollars from most peopleâs HECS debts and mean indexation this year and in future years will be lower than expected and mean that theyâll never grow so fast to the point where the growth outpaces the mandatory repayments from your paychecks.&nbsp;</p> <p><em>Aleksandra Bliszczyk is the Deputy Editor of VICE Australia. Follow her on<a href="https://www.instagram.com/aleksbliszczyk/?hl=en"> Instagram</a>.</em></p> </description>
<link>https://vice.com/en/article/93kjk3/military-budget</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://vice.com/en/article/93kjk3/military-budget</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 16 May 2024 07:01:04 GMT</pubDate>
<author>Aleksandra Bliszczyk, Aleksandra Bliszczyk</author>
<category>Australia Today</category>
<category>Politics</category>
<category>Australia</category>
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<item>
<title>The Government Is Making Porn a Scapegoat for Rising Violence Against Women</title>
<description><figure><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/articles/6632f151934d4280f82fc7a7/lede/1714618063713-gettyimages-2150387211.jpeg" alt="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"><figcaption></figcaption></figure> <p>On Wednesday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced a $925 million initiative to help people flee abusive relationships after a recent uptick in violence against women in Australia. State, territory and federal leaders, who met for an urgent national cabinet meeting following nationwide rallies, also committed to implementing a series of interventions to address young peopleâs access to extreme online misogyny; which specifically cited âviolent <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/topic/porn">pornography</a>â.</p> <p>As a sex worker, the most concerning part of this conversation is the use of the sex industry as a political scapegoat for menâs violence.&nbsp;</p> <p>Letâs be clear: the porn industry was never created to provide <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/y3vvqw/we-asked-people-about-their-terrible-high-school-sex-ed-experiences">sex education</a> to children. But letâs also be honest: if your child is actively seeking out pornography, or so-called âviolent pornographyâ, perhaps thereâs a gap in their learning about sex and sexuality that the education system or a guardian has failed to fill.&nbsp;</p> <p>To prioritise limiting young peopleâs access to pornography and framing certain categories as âviolentâ shows how quickly Australian politicians, <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/88xevp/why-talking-about-sex-is-awkward">educators</a> and parents position themselves as the moral arbiters of sex work, rather than having honest and brave conversations with their kids about consent and sex.&nbsp;</p> <p>Not only do these sentiments perpetuate vilifying and victimising narratives about sex workers, they also simultaneously shift the responsibility of teaching young people about boundaries onto the very pornographers they claim to exhibit âviolenceâ.&nbsp;</p> <div style="max-width: 605px;"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 104.259%; padding-top: 120px;"><iframe src="https://oembed.vice.com/vLAkjup?app=1" style="top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; border: 0;" allowfullscreen="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></iframe></div></div> <p>Pornography <em>can</em> be a way for young people to learn and explore their sexuality in ways the current education system and discussions with their peers do not allow. This is not an endorsement, but it should be an opportunity to work out where we are letting children down on their journeys to self-discovery.</p> <div><p><i>This article originally appeared on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.vice.com/ro" target="_blank">VICE Romania</a>.</i></p> <p>I remember clearly how awkward <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/topic/sex" target="_blank">sex</a> and sex education seemed to me during high school. Since then, I've met guys who couldn't find the <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/topic/clitoris" target="_blank">clit</a> and would be intimidated if I showed them or told them what to do with it. After a while, I didn't even bother trying to explain unless there was a connection between us. Iâve also met guys who felt awkward when I asked them to stop. And Iâve always been struck by how often they tried to avoid any discussions about <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/topic/std" target="_blank">STDs</a>.</p> <p>Letâs face it: Most of these situations could have been avoided if theyâd received proper <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/topic/sex-education" target="_blank">sex education</a> in their school years. So I asked a few guys about the times they think sex ed would have saved them from making embarrassing, and sometimes terrible, mistakes. They shared their stories, using fake names for privacy reasons.</p> <h2>âI wish someone had told me that sperm doesn't travel through waterâ</h2> <p>âI was 19-years-old, my girlfriend was 17, and weâd been together for some time. Iâd never done anything sexual except for some intense touching. One evening we were home alone because her parents had gone on vacation, so we organised something romantic like in the movies. We filled the tub with water and bubbles, got undressed, and got in. We started kissing and caressing each other until, at some point, I ejaculated in the water.</p> <p>Her vagina was far away, but we both freaked out and couldn't sleep all night. The next morning, we went to the pharmacy to get the <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/d3a99m/morning-after-pill-plan-b-history-morality-emergency" target="_blank">morning-after pill</a>. I wish someone had told me that sperm doesn't travel through water and that it's almost impossible to get pregnant from a distance. We wouldâve both avoided a really bad fright.â - <i>Iustin, 26</i></p> <h2>âI thought women peed through their clitorisâ</h2> <p>âWhen I was a teenager, I thought women peed through their clitoris, so I would only stimulate it with my hands, never with my mouth. During the same period, when my then-girlfriend complained about her breasts hurting during ovulation, I suggested I should milk them to ease the pain. It just shows how much I knew about the female body at the time.â - <i>Mircea, 32</i></p> <h2>âI wish someone had told me that I needed to use a lot of lube and not pressure myself to take it all inâ</h2> <p>âI had one of my first sexual experiences â maybe even the first â when I was studying in Spain. I wanted to try anal sex with a man, but I was a bit reluctant. So one night I went out, got really drunk, flirted with a guy at the club, and then went home with him.</p> <div class="article__embed article__embed--vice" data-related-article="true" data-children-count="0"><iframe src="https://www.vice.com/en_uk/embed/article/k7w8qz/embed" frameborder="0" style="border:0px none;margin:0px" allowfullscreen="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></iframe></div> <p>In the room, I realised he had a really big penis, but I was drunk and didn't feel the discomfort. When I got home the next day, I realised I had some bad anal fissures and my anus hurt for a week.</p> <p>Because Iâd never had similar interactions before, I didn't know I was supposed to be careful and take it slow. Luckily, I could find information on the Internet, but I wish someone had told me I needed to use a lot of lube and not pressure myself to take it all in. I also would have liked someone to explain to me how to do an enema, so that I wouldn't get stomach pain or discharge.â <i>- Tony, 27</i></p> <h2>âI had to pay the price for my ignoranceâ</h2> <p>âWhen I think of sex education, I remember a teacher doing a demonstration with a banana and a condom in uni, but thatâs pretty much it. I grew up without a father, and my mum and I never talked about sex. I learnt from older friends and from my own experience. Unfortunately, sometimes I had to pay the price for my ignorance.</p> <div class="article__embed article__embed--vice" data-related-article="true" data-children-count="0"><iframe src="https://www.vice.com/en_uk/embed/article/m7vyk4/embed" frameborder="0" style="border:0px none;margin:0px" allowfullscreen="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></iframe></div> <p>At one point, a girl from another city, who Iâd partied with in the past, came to visit me. That night, we both drank too much and I was rougher than usual in bed. I had tried choking and butt slapping before, but this time I slapped her in the face. I didn't want to hurt her; I was just playing a fantasy.</p> <p>When I talked to her later, I realised how much my behaviour had shocked her. She was shocked at how ignorant I was about boundaries and consent. At the time, I didn't realise that it was a potentially sensitive situation we should have discussed beforehand, and that, without consent, my sex play was abusive and dehumanising towards her.</p> <p>Over time, I've learnt that itâs essential to get informed beforehand and that sex education is a lifelong process.â <i>- Vlad, 33</i></p></div> <p>Additionally, blanket views that all adult content is harmful or has harmful potential, and attempting to restrict young peopleâs access to it, often results in more barriers for sex workers online. Anti-trafficking laws that hold porn websites liable for promoting or facilitating sex work and trafficking introduced in the US in 2018 have been<a href="https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/5050/sex-workers-endangered-fosta-sesta-porn-us-free-speech-woodhull/"> <span>criticised for endangering sex workers further.</span></a> The<a href="https://scarletalliance.org.au/library/response-to-the-esafetys-call-for-evidence-on-age-verification/"> <span>UKâs implementation of age-verification systems online</span></a> has also been slammed by the sex work industry for over-regulation.&nbsp;</p> <p>Can I suggest just getting better parental controls on your devices?</p> <p>This is not the first time the responsibility of shaping well-behaved young men has been put on the sex industry. Last year, senior Liberal Party member Sussan Ley suggested<a href="https://womensagenda.com.au/politics/sussan-ley-misses-fundamental-point-in-calling-for-strip-club-ban/"> <span>a âpauseâ on the opening of new strip clubs</span></a>, citing concerns over the roles theses premises have in influencing young menâs attitudes towards women.&nbsp;</p> <p>But Leyâs attitude ignores the involvement of an autonomous, consenting person in the scenario.</p> <div><p>Being good at sex is somewhat of a myth, but if thereâs anyone whoâs got a handle of how to <i>have good sex</i> itâs the people who work in one of the worldâs most ancient jobs. We wanted some straightforward tips on fingering, dick sucking, oral and standard bouncing â so we asked. These tips arenât about to turn you into a <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/akexbg/how-to-make-a-sex-tape-according-to-a-former-porn-star" target="_blank">porn star</a>, but you might be surprised by the <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/5d38zk/missionary-sex-position-vice-guide" target="_blank">fundamentals of sex</a> that youâve missed.</p> <p>Needless to say, itâs better to ask the specific person youâre sleeping with what <i>they</i> like â all sexual experiences are subjective â but sleeping with tens if not hundreds of people for work does give you a few clues as to what gets <i>most</i> people off. Itâs all well and good to tell people that âconfidence is keyâ or to just âenjoy themselvesâ, but it turns out there are more than a few ways to turn a trick that can be applied to anyoneâs everyday sex life.</p> <p>We went to <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/n7zxy8/a-glossary-of-sex-worker-terminology" target="_blank">the experts</a>: in this case, sex workers Lily, Mia, Samantha and Becca of PĆnekeâs The Bedroom, and hereâs what they had to sayâŠ</p> <h2>Letâs get some basic sex dos and donâts out of the way:</h2> <p>Having good hygiene is a given (including good breath). Commenting on someoneâs weight or appearance is a no-go unless itâs an absolute compliment.</p> <p>And there are a few areas that unquestionably require discussion:</p> <p>Anal or butt play? <i>Discuss it.</i></p> <p>Anything that <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/jgmv48/what-is-kinky-sex" target="_blank">leaves a mark</a>? <i>Discuss it.</i>&nbsp;Bites, bruises and rope burns can put someone in an uncomfortable situation at work or home, so making sure the person being marked is ok with it is a must.</p> <p>Where youâre gonna <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/epz8n4/my-sex-life-with-a-semen-allergy" target="_blank">cum</a>? <i>Discuss it.</i>&nbsp;Thereâs nothing less sexy than someone ruining your makeup or freshly washed hair. And if the <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/3adjv9/how-to-make-safer-sex-hot" target="_blank">contraceptive situation</a> hasnât been made clear, not double checking that your landing pad is approved could end in genuine disaster.</p> <p>With that aside, letâs get into some of the specifics. Hereâs what our sex-work overseers had to say:</p> <h2>HOW TO: HANDJOBS</h2> <p><i>âI always start slow. Be aware of how sensitive their area is and really ease into it. Remember how many nerve endings there are. It is friction!â</i> - Mia</p> <p><i>âUse saliva and lube.â</i>&nbsp; - Samantha</p> <p><i>âIf the handjob goes on too long men [can] lose sensitivity, so you're actually better to stop doing the handjob altogether. Give it a rest and then try again.â</i> - Lily</p> <p><i>âEven if you're not being touched, they want to see that you're into them being aroused. They want to see you turned on as well.â</i> - Samantha</p> <h2>HOW TO: FINGERING</h2> <p><i>âDonât finger a dry pussy really hard. Youâll <a href="https://www.medicinenet.com/can_you_get_thrush_sexually/article.htm" target="_blank">give them thrush.</a>â</i> - Lily</p> <div class="article__embed article__embed--vice" data-related-article="true" data-children-count="0"><iframe src="https://www.vice.com/en_nz/embed/article/93k8dv/embed" frameborder="0" style="border:0px none;margin:0px" allowfullscreen="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></iframe></div> <p><i>âI love my butt being played with, but if youâre gonna put your finger in my butt then in my pussy, all Iâm thinking is urine infection. So donât do that. Itâs hygiene yâknow.â&nbsp; -</i> Mia</p> <p><i>âDefinitely donât start by shoving three fingers in someone at once. You can build up to it, but thatâs not a sexy way to start.â</i> - Becca</p> <p><i>âA finger and clitoral rub at the same time is the best. Fingers in, thumb on clit.â</i> - Lily</p> <p><i>âDonât shove your knuckles into the coochie because they donât do anything.â</i> - Mia</p> <h2>HOW TO SUCK DICK</h2> <p><i>âUse your hand at the base like it's half-hand-job-half-blow-job. Just using your mouth, a lot of men wonât cum.â -</i> Lily</p> <p><i>âGo from the outside, inwards. Lead up from touching the thighs and then you move in and stimulate them⊠A lot of guys like the balls.â</i> - Samantha</p> <p><i>âThe men say it feels better without the condom. Supposedly thereâs a lot of sensitivity lost.â -</i> Lily</p> <p><i>âI think the wetter the better. The more saliva, the more it feels like a pussy.â -</i> Lily</p> <h2>HOW TO EAT SOMEONE OUT</h2> <p><i>âWith facial hair, the smoother the better, or be hairy. But prickly hurts. Itâs like sandpaper.â -</i> Mia</p> <p><i>âDoing the alphabet with your tongue, that was a Cosmopolitan tip⊠donât do that. Donât motorboat. Donât bite. Donât blow. Donât hum. Thatâs another Cosmo tip. It's just weird.â</i> - Lily</p> <p><i>âYouâre sensitive in areas that arenât normally touched, so incorporate the inner thighs, or holding the hips and touching those creases. Do all that kind of stuff as the lead-up, outside of the vagina, and then slowly work your way in.â</i> - Samantha</p> <p><i>âPutting your tongue into the actual vagina doesnât feel that good⊠Itâs not a dick. You wouldnât make someone cum from it.â</i> - Becca</p> <p><i>âThe person needs to be honest if theyâre not into [eating me out]. Because I can tell if theyâre not enjoying it and then I feel like Iâm torturing them.â</i> - Samantha</p> <h2>HOW TO HAVE INTERCOURSE</h2> <p><i>âReplicating what youâve seen in porn is really dangerous and also really obvious. You should never come straight into a sexual encounter with someone you donât know well and choke and slap them. Itâs embarrassing and uncomfortable.â</i> - Becca</p> <div class="article__embed article__embed--vice" data-related-article="true" data-children-count="0"><iframe src="https://www.vice.com/en_nz/embed/article/7kxwnb/embed" frameborder="0" style="border:0px none;margin:0px" allowfullscreen="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></iframe></div> <p><i>âIf there's a massive size difference between you and your partner, be aware to hold your own weight when youâre on top. It happened to me with a partner who was bigger than me, and heâd rest all his weight on me and Iâd start panicking because I couldnât breathe.â</i> - Samantha</p> <p><i>âJackhammering can be painful if youâre not in the mood for it. Just be aware. They have a pelvic bone. They have a cervix. And youâre banging up against it.â -</i> Becca</p> <p><i>âIf sheâs invested in lingerie let her wear it for ten minutes. If sheâs feeling sexy and sheâs dolled herself up, a suspender belt, stockings, donât just rip it off straight away. Make her feel beautiful in what sheâs wearing. And then sheâll want to dress up for you more because youâve shown you appreciate it.â</i> - Lily</p> <p><i>âKiss during sex! It makes you feel so rejected if someone stops kissing you as soon as you start fucking. Itâs awkward.â</i> - Becca</p> <h2>THE âFEEL GOODâ FACTOR</h2> <p><i>âYou've got to be able to pick up what they're feeling. You need to be very in tune with other people. In real layman's examples, itâs whether you'd say like, âI want you to fuck meâ or âI want to make love to youâ. It's a bit of emotional intelligence.â</i> - Samantha</p> <p><i>âI think if one person stands to gain more from the experience than the other, then it's not something that's gonna be enjoyable</i>.â - Mia</p> <p><i>"You can ask what they want without it ruining the mood. Just saying, âDoes it feel good?â âDo you want it faster?â or âWhat can I do for you?â It's not embarrassing.â</i> - Samantha</p> <p>In the end, everyone will have some <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/5d9g8b/worst-std-stories" target="_blank">mortifying moments</a> in their sexual lives and everyone will feel things <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/7kb9zx/how-an-extreme-new-curve-in-my-penis-changed-my-sex-life-peyronies-disease" target="_blank">differently</a> â and thatâs okay folks! We learn, we grow, we throb with undulating desire.</p> <p>We hope the wise words of our sex-worker friends can help you feel on top of the basics so that you know the sex youâre having feels good for everyone involved, inside <i>and</i> out.</p> <p><i>Rachel Barker is a writer / producer at VICE NZ in Aotearoa. You can find her @rachellydiab on IG and Letterboxd and see her film criticism on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@girlonfilm4551" target="_blank">Youtube</a>.</i></p></div> <p>I argue to Sussan Ley that any man who attends <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/y3wbb7/how-nzs-strippers-collectivised-against-allegations-of-bullying-and-harassment-at-work">strip clubs</a> as a ritualistic baptism into manhood will learn lifelong lessons about boundaries should they ever touch a dancer in a place they havenât consented to.</p> <p>The sex industry is not a handbook to intimacy that your child is a perceived victim of, and we should not be enabling men to blame their bad behaviour on porn consumption.&nbsp;</p> <p>All Australians, not just sex workers, should be mature enough to educate themselves and their children that the <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/qjvnem/vice-visits-the-australian-adult-industry-awards">adult industry</a> and porn are built on fantasy, and thatâs okay.&nbsp;</p> <p>When looking at menâs violence against women â very much a reality â letâs look at real solutions.&nbsp;</p> <p>The $925 million pledge <em>over five years,</em> while<a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-05-01/new-coercive-control-ad-campaign-launched-by-nsw-government/103787754"> <span>frontline services are desperate for funding</span></a>, is seriously inadequate. And the <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/jgpkeb/employers-sex-work-cost-of-living">cost of living</a> is continuously rising â making financial hardship a major contributing factor to womenâs inability to escape violent relationships. Meanwhile, the government also<a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/defence-spending-australia-national-strategy-integrated-investment-program/bceed0f7-971a-4c9b-bcb4-d4d76931c070"> <span>pledged a $50 billion boost to defence</span></a> over the next decade and Australiaâs own parliament canât even get its<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/media/2023/dec/08/bruce-lehrmann-brittany-higgins-parliament-house-defamation-trial-grips-australia-ntwnfb"> <span>sexual misconduct problem under control</span></a>.&nbsp;</p> <p>So who really is to blame?</p> <p><em>Darcy Deviant is a sex worker and writer based in Melbourne. Follow Darcy on Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/hole___money/">here</a>.</em></p> </description>
<link>https://vice.com/en/article/m7bngy/government-porn-violence-against-women</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://vice.com/en/article/m7bngy/government-porn-violence-against-women</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 02 May 2024 03:25:24 GMT</pubDate>
<author>Aleksandra Bliszczyk, Darcy Deviant</author>
<category>Australia Today</category>
<category>Politics</category>
<category>Australia</category>
<category>Sex</category>
<category>porn</category>
<category>sex work</category>
</item>
<item>
<title>How Long Until the Majority of Voters Are Gen Y and Gen Z?</title>
<description><figure><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/articles/6631aefa934d4280f82fc24a/lede/1714536022813-istock-1530809356.jpeg" alt="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"><figcaption>Image credit: istock</figcaption></figure> <p>From Brexit to Aotearoaâs own cannabis referendum, weâve seen older generations have the dominant vote on issues that will outlive them.&nbsp;</p> <p>The complaint often lobbied in these situations is that young voters are left living in the world created by those soon to leave it. And right now young people are a minority, fighting against an older class who (depending on who you ask) doesnât care for our future.&nbsp;</p> <p>About a quarter of the 3,688,292 total New Zealanders enrolled in last year's election are over 70.&nbsp;</p> <p>And Gen Y and Gen Z <em>are</em> currently the minority of eligible voters in New Zealand â with 1,598,352 18-44 year olds and 2,089,940 45+ year olds enrolled for the 2023 election.&nbsp;</p> <p>So how long will it be until we make up the majority? A change in the majority generation that makes up a voting block will definitely change how politicians approach policy, but is it really down to, well⊠how much time it takes for older people to die?</p> <p>People born into Generations Y and Z are currently between 12 and 43. This means most of us already <em>are</em> voting â or at least have the ability to.&nbsp;</p> <p>Last year, 452,882 eligible people between 18-44 didnât vote. Will the New Zealanders turning 18 in the next 6 years have the power to bring up those numbers? Itâs unlikely.&nbsp;</p> <div><p>Growing up in Australia, Anzac Day usually means chewy oat biscuits, poppy pins, excursions, trumpets and pretending to fathom what war was like 100 years ago after your teachers tell you to reflect on soldiersâ service and sacrifice during the minuteâs silence.</p> <p>But this year, a <a href="https://www.instagram.com/teachers4palestine_vic/?hl=en" target="_blank">collective</a> of pro-<a href="https://www.vice.com/en/topic/palestine" target="_blank">Palestine</a> school teachers in Victoria is challenging the ways our World War I soldiers are remembered and what aspects of our military history have long been left out of classrooms.&nbsp;</p> <p>The Teachers and <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/5d9qkq/melbourne-students-school-strike-for-palestine" target="_blank">School</a> Staff for Palestine group has this week called for the âAnzac mythologyâ to be âdismantledâ to make way for ârigorous, critical and empowering educationâ around campaigns and massacres in Palestine during WWI.</p> <p>âWe won't be used to convey myths that serve to normalise militarism, we won't use teaching and learning material designed to gloss over the violent imprint that <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/qjv58b/aid-workers-one-australian-killed-in-gaza-after-delivering-food" target="_blank">Australia has left in Palestine</a>,â Lucy Honan, a Teachers and School Staff for Palestine member and secondary history teacher, told VICE.&nbsp;</p> <p>âStudents should have an opportunity to question the official legend that Anzacs were sacrificing their lives for freedom, and think critically about Australia's commitment to the imperialist powers that lay the ground for the creation of Israel, and think about the consequences of this for Palestinians.â</p> <p>In recent months, the group has organised solidarity actions in schools, campaigned to remove <a href="https://www.theeducatoronline.com/k12/news/teachers-launch-boycott-of-stem-programs-funded-by-weapons-companies/284214#:~:text=%E2%80%9CThe%20Victorian%20Education%20Department%20is,School%20Staff%20for%20Palestine%20said." target="_blank">STEM programs sponsored by weapons manufacturers</a> from schools and published teaching materials including a booklet about Anzac campaigns in Palestine that lay the foundation for the creation of Israel.</p> <p>The teaching materials were compiled by the group through weeks of research, in response to âa dearth of teaching resources about the Anzacs in Palestine,â Honan said.</p> <p>âOur students want answers. What is happening in Gaza and why, who is implicated â and why are we being told we can't talk about it at school?â</p> <p>Victorian Education Minister Ben Carroll <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-11-27/victoria-teachers-palestine-solidarity-education-minister/103154342" target="_blank">warned state school teachers late last year</a> not to be political or participate in pro-Palestinian advocacy in schools and said such action was âinflammatory, it's divisive and only sows more seeds of disharmony in our communityâ.</p> <p>Honan said she wasnât surprised by these warnings but that they were contradictory.</p> <p>âBecause we refused to be neutral about the genocide in Gaza, we have been accused by politicians and the Education Department of being too political,â she said.</p> <p>âAnd yet, the agenda of militarism and unthinking nationalism in our schools is overwhelming.â</p> <p>Teachers and School Staff for Palestine hope their resources will help and encourage teachers to think more critically about their history curriculums and allow students the opportunity to question what they are taught and why.</p> <p>âLet teachers teach honestly,â she said.</p> <p>âTeachers must be empowered and supported to teach about Palestine.â</p> <h2>What did the Anzacs do in Palestine?&nbsp;</h2> <p>In 1917, the <a href="https://anzacportal.dva.gov.au/wars-and-missions/ww1/where-australians-served/sinai-and-palestine" target="_blank">ANZACs invaded Palestine</a> to fight the Ottoman Army and, after the third Battle of Gaza on October 31, successfully took control of the land and the people in the name of the British Empire.</p> <p>The final battle of Gaza also included the Allied attack on Beersheba, which had a majority Palestinian Arab population and was captured from the Ottoman Empire.&nbsp;</p> <h2>The Sarafand al-âAmar massacre</h2> <p>The following year, the three brigades of the Anzac Mounted Division remained camped in Palestine waiting for demobilisation, when one Anzac was shot and killed.</p> <p>The troops suspected Palestinians from the town of Sarafand al-âAmar were responsible and a group surrounded the town to demand justice. Their revenge was recorded as a <a href="https://nzhistory.govt.nz/page/anzac-troops-kill-arab-civilians-surafend" target="_blank">massacre of dozens of people</a> â <a href="https://www.palestinechronicle.com/the-sarafand-massacre-and-cover-up/" target="_blank">as many as 137</a> â who were bludgeoned and stabbed to death. The Anzacs then burned the town and nearby camps until the remaining residents were imprisoned or had fled and the town was destroyed.&nbsp;</p> <h2>The creation of Israel&nbsp;</h2> <p>After the British Empire withdrew in 1947, it handed over what it called the âproblem of Palestineâ to the United Nations, ending the British Mandate and establishing the State of Israel. This was when the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians, known as Al Nakba (the catastrophe) began.</p> <p>Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly thanked Anzac soldiers for their service and for paving the way for the creation of the âState of Israelâ.</p> <p>âAnzac soldiers are part of the history and memory of Israel⊠and had not the Australians and New Zealanders overthrown Ottoman rule in Palestine and Syria, the <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2018/11/2/more-than-a-century-on-the-balfour-declaration-explained" target="_blank">Balfour Declaration</a> would have remained mere ink on paper,â <a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-australian-new-zealand-leaders-mark-landmark-wwi-battle/" target="_blank">he said on the 100th anniversary</a> of the battle of Beersheba, attended by the then-Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.</p> <p>Turnbull also spoke at the event and said âthe battle has become part of our history, part of our psycheâ.</p> <p>âHad the Ottoman rule in Palestine and Syria not been overthrown by the Australians and the New Zealanders, the Balfour Declaration would have been empty words.</p> <p>â[The battle] secured the victory that did not create the state of Israel, but enabled its creation,â Turnbull said.</p> <p><i>Aleksandra Bliszczyk is the Deputy Editor of VICE Australia. Follow her on<a href="https://www.instagram.com/aleksbliszczyk/?hl=en" target="_blank"> Instagram</a>.</i></p> <p><i>Get the story that matters most each day. <a href="https://pedestrian.us1.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=2c631b380f2015e8f93fcbc5b&amp;id=77eb92cd03" target="_blank">Subscribe to Australia Todayâs daily newsletter here</a>.</i></p></div> <p>In only 6 years time, the entirety of New Zealandâs âiGenerationâ (has anyone ever called it that?) will be eligible to vote. From that point, weâll theoretically take up about half of the voting body.&nbsp;</p> <p>In 15-20 years, about half of the older age group voters will drop off â or rather, we will encroach on their territory, becoming the main body of voters, with Gen Xers above us and Gen Alpha below.&nbsp;</p> <p>So, in the grand scheme of things, our time to shine is not too far away.&nbsp;</p> <p>Gen Z is arguably in competition with boomers for being the most vocal about their political views online. No generation can be defined by a singular political outlook, but you do get the sense â from perusing everything from X to TikTok to Instagram â that a minority of people under 25 fall into the liberal camp.&nbsp;</p> <p>Maybe itâs because of the echo chamber. Maybe itâs because Gen Y and Z either lean super vocal or say nothing at all.&nbsp;</p> <p>And maybe itâs because the glimmer of idealism has always been associated with youth â although, for a generation facing the 11th hour of climate change, the desperation for change is more than just a matter of preference.&nbsp;</p> <div><p class="article__text--dropcap">Thereâs something in the Indigenous experience, and perhaps in the experiences of all marginalised peoples, that makes us naturally, incredibly funny.</p> <p>In a world where our existence is challenged and our <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsoc.2021.613340/full#:~:text=Tino%20rangatiratanga%20can%20mean%20self,which%20fully%20encapsulates%20its%20meaning." target="_blank">tino rangatiratanga</a> is encroached upon, our humour persists. Thatâs because joy is resistance. In our shared humour we relish in an understanding that doesnât need to be explained, or toned down, or diluted.&nbsp;</p> <p>Iâve been a comic in Aotearoa professionally for almost four years, and in that time Iâve managed to surmise a couple of things.&nbsp;</p> <p>In 2021, I performed for the first time in the NZ International Comedy Fest as a member of Bull Rush, an improv group I still perform with. I remember going to the closing night event with my improv buddies and looking around the room. It wasnât entirely white: The Frickin Dangerous Bro boys, Pax Assadi, Jamaine Ross and James Roque were all there. And Angella Dravid and James Nokise were also present. At the time, I was one of only three Samoan performers in the festival.&nbsp;</p> <p>If youâve been on any Facebook comment thread or internet hellhole forum about New Zealand TV recently, youâd be aware that a lot of our programming, apparently, has fallen victim to the plague of âgoing wokeâ. And for many brown comedians, like myself, this means a small but significant increase in work.&nbsp;</p> <p>Many of us find ourselves being ushered into spaces to make things appear more colourful and inclusive. But in doing so we are loaded with the burden of being tokenised. Frankly, itâs exhausting. And harmful. It can feel like weâre simply there to shroud the reality of bias against our people. Being a token in any space hides a structural disengagement with the entirety of our culture, our <a href="https://teara.govt.nz/en/whakapapa-genealogy" target="_blank">whakapapa</a>, our laughter and our pain. By being here, on this stage, surely my presence signifies the end of racism in the New Zealand comedy industry, right?&nbsp;</p> <p>Not quite.&nbsp;</p> <p class="article__pull-quote">For a long time (and not just in Aotearoa) the term âaudiences'' has been synonymous with âwhite people.â</p> <p>The New Zealand Comedy Industry has always skewed towards a <a href="https://teara.govt.nz/en/cultural-go-betweens/page-2" target="_blank">pÄkehÄ</a> lens.&nbsp;</p> <p>Our nationâs most famous comic, William James Te Wehi Taitoko, changed his name to âBilly T Jamesâ because the pronunciation was easier for Australians. That name was rearranged and anglicised for the ease of pÄkehÄ ears and has since adorned our nation's most coveted comedy award, an act towards assimilation, so as not to deter his white audience.</p> <p>Over the decades, many revered comedians of colour have bent their personas to appease pÄkehÄ for career benefit, and in doing so fed into harm towards our communities. Some of Taitokoâs own work is often a talking point in the portrayal of MÄori identity for its part in enforcing harmful stereotypes.</p> <div class="article__embed" data-related-article="true" data-children-count="0"><div data-iframely-id="08dwnpC" class="article__embed article__embed--iframely"><div style="left:0;width:100%;height:0;position:relative;padding-bottom:56.25%"><iframe data-iframely-url="//oembed.vice.com/08dwnpC" data-img="" style="top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;position:absolute;border:0" allowfullscreen="" allow="encrypted-media *;" frameborder="0" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></iframe></div></div></div> <p>Racism, of course, is fuelled by normalisation in the media like this. One needs only to look towards <i>broâTownâs</i> Jeff Da Maori and <i>Summer Heights High</i>âs Jonah Takalua for their roles in proliferating harmful stereotypes and anti-Indigenous racism.</p> <p>For a long time (and not just in Aotearoa) the term âaudiences'' has been synonymous with âwhite peopleâ. And the people that regularly come to comedy events â or the ones held by the central industry â are predominantly pÄkehÄ.&nbsp;</p> <p>âComedyâ in Aotearoa is viewed as a âwhite thingâ by a lot of brown communities. There are multiple exceptions but there seems to be minimal representation for our communities in the most visible spaces. As a brown comedian who does improv comedy almost every Friday night, I comfortably say that brown audiences have not yet recognised their place in our audiences. And understandably so. Representation can foster a hostile environment when it reduces the vastness of our community into a token or caricature. In some cases, it can foster the longevity of the stereotype.&nbsp;</p> <p>And it is an exhausting conversation topic, particularly for the underrepresented. In the turning tide of âdiversity-hireâ culture, people of marginalised communities are burdened with responsibilities far beyond the call of our actual jobs. As my friend and collaborator Joel McCarthy once said after a particularly challenging call: âItâs fucking exhausting having to pioneer everythingâ.&nbsp;</p> <p>It <i>is</i> exhausting trying to figure out how to make a living in this industry while doing right by ourselves and by the people we stand with. These structures that coerce us into assimilating into (and making allowances for) pÄkehÄ culture are exhausting and, sometimes, dangerous. They can be dangerous to us who risk token elevation as a model minority, and to our communities, who continue to experience the very real and very relentless structural problems that cause collective harm.&nbsp;</p> <p>For some time now the New Zealand comedy industry has found itself pondering questions that many other institutions in this modern age also find themselves pondering.&nbsp;</p> <p>As we look at the massively evident disparity in representation, weâre forced to grapple with the intersections of our society and the way it uplifts a specific type of person above most others.&nbsp;</p> <p>But if tokenized MÄori and Pasifika are being hired for being palatable to a white sensibility, then what good does this really do for our communities? And if we signify to our communities that whiteness is aspirational, then what message are we sending? To fight for a single chair? The smallest chair at the table; the littlest token of funding; a gestural hui. If we operate from the assumption that our communities enjoy laughing, our scope becomes so much wider.&nbsp;</p> <p>Many of our most successful comedians are creating online. Creators like Janaye Henry, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/kumara_chipz/?hl=en" target="_blank">Kura Turuwhenua</a>, Timprovise and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/memoirsofamaori/?hl=en" target="_blank">Charde Heremaia</a> are meeting our audiences where they are. They ask the obvious question: If spaces like the theatre and the comedy club are inaccessible (both financially and geographically), then why not provide laughter in their homes?&nbsp;</p> <p>For decades, the comedy industry has clung to television as its path of ascension, but as the digital age shifts away from terrestrial television, so too do the audiences. Audiences want entertainment that speaks to their reality, that reflects themselves honestly. Itâs increasingly hard to do that on a platform where the viewership, and the funding, is gradually being taken away. Not to say these people donât draw audiences â Kura sold out her shows last year in the NZ Comedy Fest, and Tim sold an 80% house at Q Rangatira for a live record of his podcast âHonest To Who?â.</p> <p>But in a system that depends upon bums-on-seats, the hundreds of thousands of global audience members that are viewing and engaging with online content apparently donât speak to someoneâs comedic credibility.&nbsp;</p> <p>In cinema, television, and international media there has been some increased visibility for MÄori, Pasifika and POC comedians, as well as comedians from all backgrounds. Bubbah on <i>Taskmaster; </i>Courtney Dawson on <i>Celebrity Treasure Island</i>; Kalyani Nagarajan in <i>Raised By Refugees. </i>And thatâs just off the top of my head. But there are still significant (and obvious) milestones still to be reached. The industry may be improving, but there is a long â and necessary â way to go. And while these new opportunities are being embraced, the people tackling them have not appeared out of nowhere. They have been honing their skills, working, standing in the face of an industry that largely ignores them or asks them to play a specific role and That Role Only.</p> <p>In an essay written in 2019, Guy Williams posed the question: â<a href="https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/stage-and-theatre/112904284/guy-williams-where-are-all-the-maori-comedians" target="_blank">where are all the MÄori comedians?</a>â What youâre reading here is my attempt at responding to this pÄtai. In response to it, I find myself asking questions in return: Where are you looking for us? What efforts are you making to look for Indigenous Pacific comedians? In free backyard shows put on by comedians from our South Auckland communities? In the performing arts buildings in East Coast schools? In the under-resourced high school arts programmes? In brown arts collectives working by, and for, our communities? We are here. You will find us here.&nbsp;</p> <p>And for all we are doing to build our community, away from the pressures of stereotyping, tokenism and assimilation, we are not without challenges for funding.&nbsp;</p> <p>The question here isnât, and has never been, in regards to where we <i>are. </i>The question should be: where are you <i>looking </i>for us? Or where do you want us to be for you to acknowledge us? For funders to acknowledge our craft? And for those of us working in this industry: who do we have to be for our work to be acknowledged?&nbsp;</p> <p>When the New Zealand Comedy Industry is mostly centralised in one building in the heart of the Auckland CBD, the type of audience that gets drawn to these shows begins to narrow significantly. Whiteness, as a pervasive attitude, can feel unsafe for a lot of people. Colonial Patriarchy is another structure rooted in whiteness, and when we see a line up dominated by male comics who appease colonial and patriarchal tastes, we ought to ask if our venues are environments that welcome a full spectrum of talent and audience.&nbsp;</p> <p>If you ask me where all the MÄori comedians are, I will tell you that they are here, in Aotearoa. Whether or not we are acknowledged and supported is, of course, another question.</p> <p><i>Bailey Poching is a comedian, actor and writer based in TÄmaki Makaurau.</i></p></div> <p>&nbsp;So many people find themselves churning through the motions of an intensely liberal outlook in their teen years before easing up on a few of those beliefs when entering adulthood. Past arguments with parents who donât agree that âall landlords are morally corruptâ can make you feel a bit squeamish when youâre 35 and seeking renters to help you pay your mortgage.&nbsp;</p> <p>Thereâs also a shifting line in the sand when it comes to what we consider conservative and progressive. Famed feminist Germaine Greer shocked many when she made anti-trans comments in 2015, and it goes to show that being on the front line of a progressive school of thought doesnât mean youâll remain there.&nbsp;</p> <p>Victoria Universityâs Head of Political Science Simon Keller told VICE political opinions of young people will change as they get older. âPerhaps they will become more economically conservative, but I am confident that they never take what we presently regard as conservative positions on sexuality and gender,â said Keller.</p> <p>In the 2023 election, the age bracket with the highest percentage of voters was 65-69-year-olds.&nbsp; The lowest was <a href="https://elections.nz/democracy-in-nz/historical-events/2023-general-election/voter-turnout-statistics/">between 25 and 29</a> â young millennials and older Gen Z.&nbsp;</p> <p>Richard Shaw, Professor of Politics at Massey University, says âvoting and not voting are habit forming.â&nbsp;</p> <p>âIrrespective of the size of the GenY/Z cohort, if they're not used to voting they may just stay away from the formal political process â which would mean that older generations still have influence over electoral and other outcomes,â he says.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>So, sure, our time is gonna come â but whether we take advantage of that is another question entirely.&nbsp;</p> <p><em>Rachel Barker is a writer / producer at VICE NZ in Aotearoa. You can find her @rachellydiab on IG and Letterboxd and see her film criticism on<a href="https://www.youtube.com/@girlonfilm4551"> Youtube</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;</em></p> </description>
<link>https://vice.com/en/article/qjv5k5/how-long-until-the-majority-of-voters-are-gen-y-and-gen-z</link>
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<pubDate>Wed, 01 May 2024 04:19:52 GMT</pubDate>
<author>Rachel Barker, Brad Esposito</auth
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<title>Just 17 Very Good and Extremely Weird VICE Stories About the Internet</title>
<description><figure><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/articles/6617b63a4aeeae23e2ee35ab/lede/1713786406356-7best-of-vice-1440x810.png" alt="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"><figcaption>ILLUSTRATION: HELEN FROST</figcaption></figure> <p>We all know the internet is a crazy place. The mess of it is compounded by the fact weâre all experiencing it in completely different ways: Boomers arguing in Facebook comments, zoomers whoâve never known life pre-dial-up, and millennials stuck, as ever, in the middle.</p> <p>The ~world wide web, for all its sins, has given the world some cracking content, and weâve devoted ourselves to diving into every viral happening and mishap. Like that story of the supremely well-endowed <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/wxeywy/the-untold-story-of-wood-the-well-endowed-man-from-those-coronavirus-texts">guy from the COVID texts</a>, or our ode to that unforgettable 00s <a href="https://www.vice.com/en_uk/article/a35evg/online-humour-random-internet-meme-2000s">âBadger, badger, mushroomâ</a> song, arguably the internetâs first meme?</p> <p>Weâve had a hand in creating these moments too, like the time VICE reporter Oobah Butler made his <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/434gqw/i-made-my-shed-the-top-rated-restaurant-on-tripadvisor">garden shed the top rated restaurant</a> on TripAdvisor. Or when a writer tried to <a href="https://www.vice.com/en_ca/article/a3jgj8/i-tried-to-join-the-illuminati-and-got-scammed">join the Illuminati</a>. We spend way too much time online, basically. Hydrate your eyeballs, grab your sippy cup and scroll through our best internet stories of the past three decades. Because letâs face it, your brain is already decaying â&nbsp;why not hasten along its demise?</p> <div><p>One evening Marie opened her younger brotherâs Oliverâs bedroom door to bring him a mug of tea. She was met with the typical stale smell of urine, cigarette smoke and alcohol, and the audible buzz of men shouting from her brotherâs <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/topic/gaming" target="_blank">gaming</a> headset. As she crept to the window with the intention of opening it, her brother shouted ârape herâ and laughed that bitches need to be raped and disposed of.</p> <p>Marie looked at the 20-year-old in horror, as heâd never spoken like this before. He didnât acknowledge her when she placed the mug next to him.&nbsp;</p> <p>Over the next few weeks Marie â who requested anonymity for both her and her brother due to concerns for their safety â set out to monitor Oliver. When he was gaming, sheâd listen outside his door to what he was saying semi-ironically over the headset. Along with slurs and typical internet <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/topic/4chan" target="_blank">4chan</a> slang she knew like âtriggeredâ and âcuckâ, she noted a few she didnât, including â<a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/7xmaze/learn-to-decode-the-secret-language-of-the-incel-subculture" target="_blank">foid</a>â, something she discovered was an <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/topic/incelshttps://www.vice.com/en/article/m7qqen/what-is-an-incel-how-incel-culture-grew-2010s" target="_blank">incel</a> term for women (âfemale humanoidâ).</p> <p>She also overheard Oliver debating rape statistics. âHe was talking about how men were always being <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/4w7mnj/damaging-myths-surrounding-rape-allegations-might-stop-victims-coming-forward" target="_blank">falsely accused of rape</a>,â she remembers. âFeminists were liars and not to be trusted. I was thinking how horrible this was specifically because weâd had discussions with my mum and him about how I was sexually harassed as a girl.â&nbsp;</p> <div class="article__embed article__embed--vice" data-related-article="true" data-children-count="0"><iframe src="https://www.vice.com/en_uk/embed/article/5dpyaa/embed" frameborder="0" style="border:0px none;margin:0px" allowfullscreen="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></iframe></div> <p>Marie told their mother what she had learned about her brother. The two women waited until Oliver came downstairs and steered him to the kitchen table for a discussion. Marie tentatively talked about what she knew about feminism, but Oliver became so incensed by the debate he threw a glass tumbler at the wall over their heads and charged to his bedroom. They didnât see him leave the room for two days.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>Half of young men in the UK <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/y3zxmy/gen-z-men-attitudes-towards-feminism" target="_blank">now believe</a> that feminism has âgone too far and makes it harder for men to succeedâ. These are the results of a significant study published in July 2020 by anti-extremism charity <a href="https://www.hopenothate.org.uk/" target="_blank">HOPE not Hate</a>. The study, <i>Young People in the Time of COVID-19</i>, surveyed 2,076 16- to 24-year-olds on their ideological beliefs.&nbsp;</p> <p>A growing number of experts across the fields of feminism and anti-extremism were already worried about a young male backlash against young women and their socio-political gains before the pandemic. In fact, HOPE not hate pursued this line of enquiry due to the troubling rise of anti-feminist sentiment theyâd noticed among this age group.&nbsp;</p> <p>Reading this might leave you wondering: what is happening to teenage boys and young men?</p> <p>âSexism in classrooms is nothing new, but the kind of distinctness of it being anti-feminist is something that we've seen in the classrooms, in our online tracking work,â says Rosie Carter, a senior policy officer at the charity.&nbsp;</p> <p>She explains that much of this represents the younger and younger recruitment of boys by the <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/topic/alt-right" target="_blank">alt right</a> and generalised spread of its ideology across social media and the internet. âThe number of issues that the alt right will talk about and look at has grown, and it's all part of a wider pushback against progressive norms â&nbsp;and in some ways it's scariest because of its mainstreaming.â</p> <p>From âincel liteâ culture â in which men wouldnât identify as incels come across and potentially engage with related material â to far-right grooming, elements of online life are having a broadly unexamined negative impact on the ways in which boys and men think and engage in the real world.&nbsp;</p> <p class="text-center">§</p> <p>âMen are trashâ has been a popular phrase and a hashtag since 2016 and since then, millennial and <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/topic/gen-z" target="_blank">Gen Z</a> men have challenged what they see as its reductionism. Meant originally by girls as a deliberately provocative throw-away statement is taken for, as one Urban Dictionary entry puts it, âa generalising and hateful phrase coined by a movement claiming to fight hate and bigotryâ.&nbsp;</p> <p>Ted, a 24-year-old from Kent, told me he might have felt sympathetic towards feminism before, âbut when you get put in the same bracket with the whole âmen are trashâ etcetera, then you think whatâs the point?â&nbsp;</p> <p>Reddit <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/9bkjpz/what-i-learned-spending-a" target="_blank">menâs rights forums</a> are littered with similar origin stories from young men: âI used to identify as a feminist but left the movement when I asked if there are any disadvantages men face. Instead of answering the question, people started taking shots at me,â one wrote. Another noted: âI could not understand the group hating.â</p> <p>What Carter found interesting about the HOPE not hate study results was that young people now were found to be more progressive than previous generations in the ways we stereotypically understand the cohort. They are widely pro-immigration, multiculturalism and are supportive of all sexuality and gender identities. âBut it was distinctly feminism,â Carter says. âItâs an ideology that boys are pushing back against, in the midst of changing social norms.â</p> <p>In all the public attitude research she does around the far right, âit always comes down to this idea of fairnessâ.&nbsp;</p> <p>âIf youâve always been at the top of the hierarchy, and suddenly someoneâs saying, âthatâs not how things should operate, your sense of fairness is tipped and you start looking for answers,ââ Carter says. âMen feel that they have to suddenly work twice as hard because they have to prove themselves.â&nbsp;</p> <p>The context leading up to this point matters: Millennial menâs reckoning with feminism happened hard and fast. It had to â it arrived in conjunction with that of millennial women. In the early 2010s, both millennial and feminist discourse were characterised by <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/qbxnbm/uni-lads-and-lad-culture-three-years-on-clive-martin" target="_blank">lad culture</a>, which predominantly appeared in conversations about male students and university. Its more minor iterations were hyper-masculinised group banter and exposing your genitals when pissed. At worst, it was casual sexual harassment, assault and rape.</p> <div class="article__media"><picture class="article__image"><source media="(max-width: 25em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1622114368053-dd339b.jpeg?resize=400:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1622114368053-dd339b.jpeg?resize=600:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 40.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1622114368053-dd339b.jpeg?resize=650:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1622114368053-dd339b.jpeg?resize=975:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 53.125em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1622114368053-dd339b.jpeg?resize=850:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1622114368053-dd339b.jpeg?resize=1275:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 65.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1622114368053-dd339b.jpeg?resize=1050:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1622114368053-dd339b.jpeg?resize=1575:* 2x"><source media="(min-width: 65.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1622114368053-dd339b.jpeg?resize=1050:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1622114368053-dd339b.jpeg?resize=1575:* 2x"><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1622114368053-dd339b.jpeg" alt="A 2013 protest in London calling on Tesco to stop stocking lads mags like " zoo"="" and="" "nuts""="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></picture><div class="article__image-caption">A 2013 protest in London calling on Tesco to stop stocking lads mags like "Zoo" and "Nuts". Both magazines folded in the 2010s. Photo: Guy Bell/Alamy Live News</div></div> <p>Meanwhile, a booming digital media industry published young womenâs voices on anything affecting them from emotional labour to abortion, amplified by an emerging age of social media. By the mid-2010s, layoffs and publication closures across the industry meant an already dying menâs media took a significant hit. In the UK, <i>FHM</i>, <i>Nuts</i>, <i>Zoo</i>, <i>Shortlist</i> and <i>Front</i> folded and the digital publications that were by lads for lads â&nbsp;<a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/jgejag/unilad-vs-ladbible-online-publishing" target="_blank">Unilad</a>, LADbible â were forced to change.&nbsp;</p> <p>Whether all this meant lad culture died â&nbsp;rather than warped and diverted elsewhere â&nbsp;is up for debate. Hussein Kesvani, a technology and online subculture journalist, argues: âI donât know whether lad culture has died; rather the general consensus is that you shouldnât try to market it.â He notes that Unilad, LADbible, joe.co.uk have lost their identity: âThey tried to keep lads on board but present themselves as socially aware and progressive. That model had a short half-life and just isnât resonant now.â&nbsp;</p> <p>In 2018, #MeToo provided women with an opportunity to talk about sex, dating and rape culture. Arguably, it also provided men in their 20s and 30s at the time to reconcile their own behaviour and review their encounters with women. It suggested a symbiotic relationship: Women speak, and men listen and are able to understand their masculinity through this outpouring.&nbsp;</p> <p>Whether it was ever that simple is increasingly questionable in hindsight.&nbsp;Were there enough spaces for the average man to consider his own gender role? Did straight men even care? And if what it meant to be a millennial woman defined what it meant to be a millennial man, where did that leave younger generations?</p> <p>When writing an <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/kz4kg3/british-teenagers-metoo-movement-gen-z-sexual-assault-call-out-culture" target="_blank">article back in 2019</a> in which I spoke to teenagers about <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/topic/metoo" target="_blank">#MeToo</a>, I found that they felt they werenât part of it, and didnât know what it was or how it affected them. Recent feminist battles have included the gender pay gap and workplace sexism, which are unlikely to register to a generation coming of age into unemployment, freelancing or wannabe entrepreneurship.&nbsp;</p> <p>Millennials were the last generation to genuinely care about menâs publications. For at least half a century, menâs media set the goalposts for behaviour. When it died in the 2010s, the vacuum was filled by brands and social media â&nbsp;where masculinity is only ever implicit or rarely addressed â&nbsp;and incel and alt-right adjacent culture.&nbsp;</p> <p>For Kesvani, the issue of anti-feminist boys stems from the fact thereâs no real blueprint from menâs media or society-at-large for how to be a young man now. âThe lack of blueprint is to do with economic and material reasons, but also cultural reasons too, and cultural reasons can be so hard to define.â&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p class="text-center">§</p> <p>Before the pandemic, womenâs rights campaigner Laura Bates visited one or two schools a week to speak with students about gender inequality. For a decade, the responses would range from shock to giggles, but on the whole, pupils of all genders would be attentive and engaged.&nbsp;</p> <p>A couple of years ago, something changed: A boy sat in the front row, noticeably nervous but excited. Through Batesâs usual routine, he gleefully interrupted to debunk what she was saying with false statistics about rape and claiming men were more likely to be victims. This became the new normal.</p> <p>âBoys were arriving pre-prepared, pre-conditioned almost and they often had things written down that theyâd brought with them as if they were primed in advance,â she says. âThe same arguments were appearing everywhere from inner city London to rural Scotland.â The arguments were factually incorrect, amounting to little more than conspiracy theories and fake news â incorrect ideas and figures about the <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/topic/gender-pay-gap" target="_blank">gender pay gap</a>, false rape allegations and men being more likely to be victims of domestic violence.&nbsp;</p> <p>Bates began to ask the boys where they were learning this material. They always told her âonlineâ. They showed her memes, images and jokes that werenât obviously or directly from manosphere communities but regurgitated their ideologies.</p> <p>This material is so readily available online that itâs practically an omnipresent part of existing in certain areas of the internet â part of an incel lite culture that is almost post-organisational. The online growth of the far right is a significant problem not least because of, as is Batesâ main concern, the number of âneutral boysâ â ones who arenât on menâs rights forums or actively feminist â who are being swayed by the more extremist ideas about women without realising it. &nbsp;</p> <p>Another problem is that extremist groups are accessing boys at younger ages. âIâve read manifestos from leaders of these communities explicitly saying boys as 10 or 11 ought to be their main targets, describing the use of memes and images as a delivery system to get these misogynistic ideas to take hold,â Bates says.&nbsp;</p> <p>The boys and men she interviewed for her latest book <i><a href="https://www.simonandschuster.co.uk/books/Men-Who-Hate-Women/Laura-Bates/9781398504653" target="_blank">Men Who Hate Women</a></i> were as young as 11 when they became involved with such communities on 4chan or YouTube by âgoing down algorithmically supported rabbit holesâ until they reached darker content.</p> <p>One popular method of teen recruitment is through gaming. Recruiters use sites and games as a âhunting groundâ, Bates says, since this is where young men are gathering. âThey can reach them without supervision, particularly boys who are playing multiplayer online games over headphones with people theyâve never met before.â&nbsp;</p> <p>Bates describes the method as subtle: âThey start by dropping sexist jokes into the conversation to see if theyâre receptive and escalate it to private chats, which are obviously meant for people to share gaming tactics, but theyâre using them to groom boys and eventually direct them to these more extreme communities.â&nbsp;</p> <p>Marie and her family are convinced this was how Oliver was targeted. Soon after he began speaking with his new gaming friends every night until the early hours, Marie says his behaviour changed and they started âlosing himâ. He told Marie that his friends were men from all over the world, mostly older, refusing to provide any more information.&nbsp;</p> <div class="article__media"><picture class="article__image"><source media="(max-width: 25em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1622114969778-f4my8j.jpeg?resize=400:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1622114969778-f4my8j.jpeg?resize=600:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 40.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1622114969778-f4my8j.jpeg?resize=650:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1622114969778-f4my8j.jpeg?resize=975:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 53.125em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1622114969778-f4my8j.jpeg?resize=850:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1622114969778-f4my8j.jpeg?resize=1275:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 65.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1622114969778-f4my8j.jpeg?resize=1050:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1622114969778-f4my8j.jpeg?resize=1575:* 2x"><source media="(min-width: 65.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1622114969778-f4my8j.jpeg?resize=1050:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1622114969778-f4my8j.jpeg?resize=1575:* 2x"><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1622114969778-f4my8j.jpeg" alt="men's rights graffiti in london" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></picture><div class="article__image-caption">Men's rights graffiti â&nbsp;now removed â&nbsp;on Millennium Bridge in London, 2015. Photo: Paul Nichols / Alamy Stock Photo</div></div> <p>If we consider that the far right spans incels, menâs rights activists, <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/gyk37y/pickup-artist-study-rachel-oneill-seduction-book" target="_blank">pick-up artists</a> as well as neo-Nazism and alt-right splinter groups, women-hating can be a way to recruit across the board. HOPE not hate found in their study that the young men who feel that feminism has gone too far were also twice as likely to think that jokes about race or religion were acceptable and twice as likely to think that discrimination against white people is as big a problem as discrimination against Black people.&nbsp;</p> <p>âThe far right has increasingly spread, the number of issues theyâll talk about and itâs all part of a wider pushback against progressive norms,â says Carter. Similarly, once youâre within the far-right, that allows you to engage in hate towards other communities. Activists in different groups will feed boys into the others, referring them along.</p> <p>John, 21, was radicalised by the far right when he was in his late teens. He spent two long years in his bedroom in the north of England learning about far-right ideology online and trolling feminists. Mostly he would infiltrate feminist groups or use multiple anonymous Twitter accounts to verbally abuse or harass women any time anything to do with women or feminists were trending or performing well on the platform.&nbsp;</p> <p>âWe knew we could wind them up and provoke those groups easily,â he says today. âThis is gonna sound really daft, but I donât think it was anti-feminism. I was just bored and that was the person I was then. It wasnât that I had a really aggressive mentality towards women or really hated them, it was just about causing a riot.â No one explicitly told him to do it, he says â it was just part of the online culture he grew up in.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>John has his own theories about why boys are successfully groomed by the far-right more than girls. Stereotypically, he thinks boys are angrier, and seek release of anger and frustration. Some do it at football matches, others by participating in sport. âBut some lads never find that release, so a lot of the time people join the far right just because theyâre angry about a situation and donât know what to do with that frustration. It isnât just about hating a certain type of person. At times, it can be a cover for something else. And that cover is the worst thing possible.â</p> <p class="text-center">§</p> <p>How do you <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/mvkn7b/far-right-extremism-deradicalisation-programmes" target="_blank">deradicalise</a> an anti-feminist? Itâs a painstakingly delicate and complex process. At <a href="https://exituk.org/" target="_blank">Exit UK</a>, the leading organisation in the UK for supporting those wanting to leave the far right and their families, every boy or young man will be matched with a mentor. The mentor will deconstruct their ideology slowly over a series of sessions. What they tell boys with woman-hating ideology is simple: What does your mum or sister do for you on a personal day-to-day level? Then they ask: How would you feel if men were talking about your mum or sister in the way you do?</p> <p>But one false step from the mentor and that young man is lost. Exit UK say those that leave are never seen again and very likely return to their hateful community with a hunger to become more extreme.</p> <p>There has been an explosion in referrals over the pandemic. Although involvement with the far right will differ from referral to referral Exit UK had 90 people contact them over 2019. From April of 2020 to February 2021, they had contact with 350 people seeking help.</p> <p>Nigel Bromage, the founder of the company and a former far right member, says he commonly sees a mix of internet irony, 4chan humour and one-upmanship in what boys do and say. âForums will start with sick comments and become more extreme, so by page eight theyâre talking about using rape as a weapon to degrade women.â</p> <div class="article__embed article__embed--vice" data-related-article="true" data-children-count="0"><iframe src="https://www.vice.com/en_uk/embed/article/3aqdwb/embed" frameborder="0" style="border:0px none;margin:0px" allowfullscreen="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></iframe></div> <p>Lonely young men without girlfriends are prime targets. âThey think âIâd like a girlfriendâ and the far right says âWell, you canât get a girlfriend because all the girls have become feminists and left wing.ââ</p> <p>Sometimes referrals come from a young man directly who is aware that he has become brainwashed. Often it will be a family member who refers the younger boys. Sometimes a school will refer them. When Johnâs mother Sarah realised her son had been radicalised, she spoke to a teacher she trusted who watched for signs of him recruiting others at school. Then that teacher, with Sarahâs permission, was able to call Exit UK for a referral.</p> <p>The strain on families with a radicalised family member is significant, and thatâs&nbsp;before considering the potential danger family members themselves are in. Sarah says that John even made an attempt to radicalise her, trying to draw her in with far-right information at home. When she disagreed with him or challenged his views, heâd become angry and agitated.&nbsp;</p> <p>âMany, many nights I lay awake thinking, am I the cause of this?â she says. âEvery mother with a child thatâs been involved with the far right in some way does question themselves and feel responsible. Itâs sad because itâs not their fault, itâs the far right â theyâre very manipulative and selective.â Exit UK has a family support programme to help families and teach them how to have difficult conversations with the radicalised member, who can become angry when confronted.</p> <p>Sarah remembers waiting at home when John was having his first meeting with his mentor. âI expected him to go off the wall and was waiting on tenterhooks all day for that call to say heâd lost his mind.â Instead he returned and they had the first proper conversation Sarah can remember having with her son in years.&nbsp;</p> <p>Today John is polite, his tone bright and friendly down the phone. He describes the relationship he had with his mentor as empathetic and honest. âThere was no predetermined mentality about me. With other people, I felt like they were already judging me and had a default view about me because of the views I had.â&nbsp;</p> <p>Bromage says that mentors are trained to temporarily remove themselves from a difficult conversation if they donât know how to answer â tell the individual they need to make a quick cup of tea or use the bathroom to give themselves time to plan an answer.&nbsp;</p> <p>Due to the rising case load over the pandemic, Exit UK is rapidly training more volunteers to take phone sessions. Bromage is currently deeply concerned that the virus has meant he and other workers are unable to meet men in person, as this is where the most effective work is done; in the physical world, away from a screen.</p> <p>âEngaging online is not the same as a coffee&nbsp;and a chat,â says Bromage. âIt's not as personal, and in many cases it does make things harder to gauge body language, understanding and emotion. Face-to-face engagement helps people relax, they&nbsp;can see those they are speaking to are ordinary people, who simply care and want to bring people away from extremism and danger.â</p> <p class="text-center">§</p> <p>Obviously, not all teenage boys are misogynistic, and Bates is mindful to say that â âbut these movements,â she argues, âhave taken hold much more quickly and more effectively than our current total lack of societal awareness of them would suggestâ.&nbsp;</p> <p>The effect the pandemic will have had on this issue cannot be ignored. Carter is concerned about the context of the early 2020s, pointing to the interest in <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/v7gz53/the-conspiracy-singularity-has-arrived" target="_blank">conspiracy theories</a> and widespread <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/xg8b7j/how-youth-unemployment-impacted-by-coronavirus" target="_blank">youth unemployment</a> rates. âIsolation, feeling hopeless, feeling out of control and that things arenât right â&nbsp;that is the context that we see an increase in people looking to the far right,â she says, adding that work must be done in a post-pandemic landscape around youth unemployment and deprivation.&nbsp;</p> <p>Hope is an important word. Carter believes change can happen when we collectively challenge the prevalence of extremist material on social media platforms and provide education on the topic at a school-level. The way in which all these different far-right inclinations intertwine towards anti-progressiveness means we shouldnât just attempt to tackle anti-feminism alone, either. Teaching should address issues of racism, <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/topic/anti-semitism" target="_blank">anti-semitism</a>, violence and misinformation.</p> <p>Sharing the story of her sonâs extremist views with the school was what gave Sarah hope. âDo not sit on it or try to deal with it on your own,â she advises others in her position. âBy doing so youâre allowing the far right to tighten their grip on your child.â</p> <p>At the end of our call, Bates and I talk about one of these anti-women communities whose information is reaching boys, <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/7bdwyx/inside-the-global-collective-of-straight-male-separatists" target="_blank">Men Going Their Own Way</a> (MGTOW). Level one of their plan for separatism from women involves rejecting marriage and cohabitation, level two rejects long-term relationships with women, three rejects all relationships with women, four is a refusal to do more than necessary for survival and avoid taxation wherever possible and five is to drop out of society altogether.&nbsp;</p> <p>Doesnât this map perfectly onto how someone retreats into their own shell by spending vast amounts of time online, I say. Bates agrees: âI think the tragedy is that if you were on that path there might be real opportunities for intervention. Communities seize upon very real issues, one of them being male <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/topic/mental-health" target="_blank">mental health</a>. These issues make it much easier for the manosphere to pull them in and to take away their hope.â</p> <p><i><b><a href="https://twitter.com/hannahrosewens" target="_blank">@hannahrosewens</a></b></i>&nbsp;&nbsp;</p></div> <div><p>Once upon a time, long before I began selling my face by the acre for features on VICE dot com, I worked other jobs. There was one in particular that really had an impact on me: writing fake reviews on TripAdvisor. Restaurant owners would pay me ÂŁ10 and I'd write a positive review of their place, despite never eating there. Over time, I became obsessed with monitoring the ratings of these businesses. Their fortunes would genuinely turn, and I was the catalyst. </p> <p>This convinced me that TripAdvisor was a false reality â that the meals never took place; that the reviews were all written by other people like me. However, they're not, of course â they're almost all completely genuine. And there was one other factor that seemed impossible to fake: the restaurants themselves. So I moved on.</p> <div class="article__embed article__embed--vice" data-related-article="true"><iframe src="https://www.vice.com/en_uk/embed/article/ywyvwv/oobah-butlers-new-book-how-to-bullsht-your-way-to-number-1?utm_source=stylizedembed_vice.com&amp;utm_campaign=434gqw&amp;site=vice" frameborder="0" style="border:0px none;margin:0px;" allowfullscreen="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></iframe></div><p>And then, one day, sitting in the shed I live in, I had a revelation: within the current climate of misinformation, and society's willingness to believe absolute bullshit, maybe a fake restaurant <i>is</i> possible? Maybe it's exactly the kind of place that could be a hit? </p><hr><p><b><i>WATCH: </i></b><i>The full video of the Shed At Dulwich</i><br></p> <div data-iframely-id="Ld4tEcZ" data-embedded-url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqPARIKHbN8&amp;t=713s" class="article__embed article__embed--iframely"><div style="left:0;width:100%;height:0;position:relative;padding-bottom:56.2493%;" data-iframely-smart-iframe="true"><iframe data-img="" data-iframely-url="//oembed.vice.com/Ld4tEcZ?playerjs=true" style="border:0;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;position:absolute;" allowfullscreen="" data-iframely-smart-iframe="true" frameborder="0" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></iframe></div></div><hr><p>In that moment, it became my mission. With the help of fake reviews, mystique and nonsense, I was going to do it: turn my shed into London's top-rated restaurant on TripAdvisor.</p> <h2>SETTING UP "THE SHED AT DULWICH" â APRIL, 2017</h2> <div class="article__media"> <picture class="article__image"><source media="(max-width: 25em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511976183044-IMG_5746.jpeg?resize=400:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511976183044-IMG_5746.jpeg?resize=600:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 40.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511976183044-IMG_5746.jpeg?resize=650:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511976183044-IMG_5746.jpeg?resize=975:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 53.125em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511976183044-IMG_5746.jpeg?resize=850:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511976183044-IMG_5746.jpeg?resize=1275:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 65.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511976183044-IMG_5746.jpeg?resize=1050:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511976183044-IMG_5746.jpeg?resize=1575:* 2x"><source media="(min-width: 65.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511976183044-IMG_5746.jpeg?resize=1050:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511976183044-IMG_5746.jpeg?resize=1575:* 2x"><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511976183044-IMG_5746.jpeg" alt="1511976183044-IMG_5746" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></picture> <div class="article__image-caption"></div> </div> <p>First of all, let me introduce you to my site: a shed in a south London garden. </p> <p>To get started, I need to get verified, and to do that I need a phone.</p> <div class="article__media"> <picture class="article__image"><source media="(max-width: 25em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511976520422-24169724_1763992326967685_1811006811_o.jpeg?resize=400:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511976520422-24169724_1763992326967685_1811006811_o.jpeg?resize=600:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 40.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511976520422-24169724_1763992326967685_1811006811_o.jpeg?resize=650:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511976520422-24169724_1763992326967685_1811006811_o.jpeg?resize=975:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 53.125em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511976520422-24169724_1763992326967685_1811006811_o.jpeg?resize=850:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511976520422-24169724_1763992326967685_1811006811_o.jpeg?resize=1275:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 65.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511976520422-24169724_1763992326967685_1811006811_o.jpeg?resize=1050:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511976520422-24169724_1763992326967685_1811006811_o.jpeg?resize=1575:* 2x"><source media="(min-width: 65.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511976520422-24169724_1763992326967685_1811006811_o.jpeg?resize=1050:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511976520422-24169724_1763992326967685_1811006811_o.jpeg?resize=1575:* 2x"><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511976520422-24169724_1763992326967685_1811006811_o.jpeg" alt="1511976520422-24169724_1763992326967685_1811006811_o" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></picture> <div class="article__image-caption"></div> </div> <p>One ÂŁ10 burner later and "The Shed at Dulwich" officially exists. Now, I need to list an address â but doing so makes easy work for any skeptical fact checkers. Plus, I don't technically have a door. Instead, I just list the road and call The Shed an "appointment-only restaurant". </p> <p>Onto my online presence: I buy a domain and build <a href="https://www.theshedatdulwich.com/" target="_blank">a website</a>. Hot spots are all about quirks, so to cut through the noise I need a concept silly enough to infuriate your dad. A concept like naming all of our dishes after moods.</p> <div class="article__media"> <picture class="article__image"><source media="(max-width: 25em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511976962234-shed3.png?resize=400:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511976962234-shed3.png?resize=600:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 40.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511976962234-shed3.png?resize=650:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511976962234-shed3.png?resize=975:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 53.125em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511976962234-shed3.png?resize=850:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511976962234-shed3.png?resize=1275:* 2x"><source media="(min-width: 53.125em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511976962234-shed3.png?resize=938:*"><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511976962234-shed3.png" alt="1511976962234-shed3" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></picture> <div class="article__image-caption"></div> </div> <p>Now, some soft focus images of those delicious dishes. </p> <div class="article__media"> <picture class="article__image"><source media="(max-width: 25em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977381295-ChrisBethell-1.jpeg?resize=400:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977381295-ChrisBethell-1.jpeg?resize=600:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 40.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977381295-ChrisBethell-1.jpeg?resize=650:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977381295-ChrisBethell-1.jpeg?resize=975:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 53.125em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977381295-ChrisBethell-1.jpeg?resize=850:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977381295-ChrisBethell-1.jpeg?resize=1275:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 65.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977381295-ChrisBethell-1.jpeg?resize=1050:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977381295-ChrisBethell-1.jpeg?resize=1575:* 2x"><source media="(min-width: 65.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977381295-ChrisBethell-1.jpeg?resize=1050:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977381295-ChrisBethell-1.jpeg?resize=1575:* 2x"><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977381295-ChrisBethell-1.jpeg" alt="1511977381295-ChrisBethell-1" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></picture> <div class="article__image-caption">Photo: Chris Bethell</div> </div> <p>You'd eat this, wouldn't you?</p> <div class="article__media"> <picture class="article__image"><source media="(max-width: 25em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977409280-ChrisBethell-2.jpeg?resize=400:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977409280-ChrisBethell-2.jpeg?resize=600:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 40.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977409280-ChrisBethell-2.jpeg?resize=650:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977409280-ChrisBethell-2.jpeg?resize=975:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 53.125em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977409280-ChrisBethell-2.jpeg?resize=850:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977409280-ChrisBethell-2.jpeg?resize=1275:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 65.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977409280-ChrisBethell-2.jpeg?resize=1050:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977409280-ChrisBethell-2.jpeg?resize=1575:* 2x"><source media="(min-width: 65.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977409280-ChrisBethell-2.jpeg?resize=1050:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977409280-ChrisBethell-2.jpeg?resize=1575:* 2x"><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977409280-ChrisBethell-2.jpeg" alt="1511977409280-ChrisBethell-2" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></picture> <div class="article__image-caption">Photo: Chris Bethell</div> </div> <p>Probably best not to.</p> <div class="article__media"> <picture class="article__image"><source media="(max-width: 25em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977429821-ChrisBethell-5.jpeg?resize=400:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977429821-ChrisBethell-5.jpeg?resize=600:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 40.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977429821-ChrisBethell-5.jpeg?resize=650:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977429821-ChrisBethell-5.jpeg?resize=975:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 53.125em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977429821-ChrisBethell-5.jpeg?resize=850:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977429821-ChrisBethell-5.jpeg?resize=1275:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 65.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977429821-ChrisBethell-5.jpeg?resize=1050:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977429821-ChrisBethell-5.jpeg?resize=1575:* 2x"><source media="(min-width: 65.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977429821-ChrisBethell-5.jpeg?resize=1050:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977429821-ChrisBethell-5.jpeg?resize=1575:* 2x"><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977429821-ChrisBethell-5.jpeg" alt="1511977429821-ChrisBethell-5" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></picture> <div class="article__image-caption">Photo: Chris Bethell</div> </div> <p>No, OK, how aboutâ</p> <div class="article__media"> <picture class="article__image"><source media="(max-width: 25em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977465232-ChrisBethell-6.jpeg?resize=400:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977465232-ChrisBethell-6.jpeg?resize=600:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 40.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977465232-ChrisBethell-6.jpeg?resize=650:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977465232-ChrisBethell-6.jpeg?resize=975:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 53.125em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977465232-ChrisBethell-6.jpeg?resize=850:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977465232-ChrisBethell-6.jpeg?resize=1275:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 65.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977465232-ChrisBethell-6.jpeg?resize=1050:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977465232-ChrisBethell-6.jpeg?resize=1575:* 2x"><source media="(min-width: 65.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977465232-ChrisBethell-6.jpeg?resize=1050:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977465232-ChrisBethell-6.jpeg?resize=1575:* 2x"><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977465232-ChrisBethell-6.jpeg" alt="1511977465232-ChrisBethell-6" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></picture> <div class="article__image-caption">Photo: Chris Bethell</div> </div> <p>This sponge covered in paint, with quenelles of shaving foam.</p> <div class="article__media"> <picture class="article__image"><source media="(max-width: 25em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977539129-ChrisBethell-3.jpeg?resize=400:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977539129-ChrisBethell-3.jpeg?resize=600:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 40.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977539129-ChrisBethell-3.jpeg?resize=650:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977539129-ChrisBethell-3.jpeg?resize=975:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 53.125em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977539129-ChrisBethell-3.jpeg?resize=850:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977539129-ChrisBethell-3.jpeg?resize=1275:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 65.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977539129-ChrisBethell-3.jpeg?resize=1050:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977539129-ChrisBethell-3.jpeg?resize=1575:* 2x"><source media="(min-width: 65.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977539129-ChrisBethell-3.jpeg?resize=1050:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977539129-ChrisBethell-3.jpeg?resize=1575:* 2x"><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977539129-ChrisBethell-3.jpeg" alt="1511977539129-ChrisBethell-3" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></picture> <div class="article__image-caption"></div> </div> <p>Youâre getting it: this isn't what it looks like. </p> <div class="article__media"> <picture class="article__image"><source media="(max-width: 25em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977598728-ChrisBethell-4.jpeg?resize=400:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977598728-ChrisBethell-4.jpeg?resize=600:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 40.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977598728-ChrisBethell-4.jpeg?resize=650:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977598728-ChrisBethell-4.jpeg?resize=975:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 53.125em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977598728-ChrisBethell-4.jpeg?resize=850:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977598728-ChrisBethell-4.jpeg?resize=1275:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 65.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977598728-ChrisBethell-4.jpeg?resize=1050:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977598728-ChrisBethell-4.jpeg?resize=1575:* 2x"><source media="(min-width: 65.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977598728-ChrisBethell-4.jpeg?resize=1050:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977598728-ChrisBethell-4.jpeg?resize=1575:* 2x"><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977598728-ChrisBethell-4.jpeg" alt="1511977598728-ChrisBethell-4" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></picture> <div class="article__image-caption"></div> </div> <p>It's an egg resting on my foot.</p> <p>With the concept, logo (thank you, Tristan Cross) and menu nailed down, it all comes together. <br></p> <p>I submit my TripAdvisor forms; the rest is up to God. </p> <p>On the 5th of May, 2017, I wake up to an email:</p><p class="article__blockquote">Hello,</p> <p class="article__blockquote">Weâre excited to tell you that your listing request has been approved and is on our site for everyone to see.</p> <p class="article__blockquote">[âŠ]</p> <p class="article__blockquote">Thank you for giving us this opportunity to let the TripAdvisor community know about The Shed at Dulwich. </p> <p class="article__blockquote">Best Regards,<br>The TripAdvisor Support Team </p> <p>No, TripAdvisor, I want to thank you for giving me this opportunity to let the community know about The Shed at Dulwich. </p> <h2>GETTING THE SHED TO NUMBER ONE</h2> <p>I start out ranked at 18,149, the worst restaurant in London, according to TripAdvisor. So I'm going to need a lot of reviews. Reviews written by real people on different computers, so the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2aCPXQzChE&amp;t=" target="_blank">anti-scammer technology</a> TripAdvisor utilises doesn't pick up on my hoax.</p> <p>I need convincing reviews, like this one:</p><div class="article__media"><picture class="article__image"><source media="(max-width: 25em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1512493421618-review1.png?resize=400:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1512493421618-review1.png?resize=600:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 40.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1512493421618-review1.png?resize=650:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1512493421618-review1.png?resize=975:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 53.125em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1512493421618-review1.png?resize=850:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1512493421618-review1.png?resize=1275:* 2x"><source media="(min-width: 53.125em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1512493421618-review1.png?resize=1000:*"><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1512493421618-review1.png" alt="1512493421618-review1" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></picture><div class="article__image-caption">(I've mocked up all the screenshots from TripAdvisor btw, because our legal department told me to)</div></div> <p>And not like this:</p> <div class="article__media"> <picture class="article__image"><source media="(max-width: 25em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511978543667-Screen-Shot-2017-10-02-at-164026.png?resize=400:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511978543667-Screen-Shot-2017-10-02-at-164026.png?resize=600:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 40.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511978543667-Screen-Shot-2017-10-02-at-164026.png?resize=650:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511978543667-Screen-Shot-2017-10-02-at-164026.png?resize=975:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 53.125em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511978543667-Screen-Shot-2017-10-02-at-164026.png?resize=850:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511978543667-Screen-Shot-2017-10-02-at-164026.png?resize=1275:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 65.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511978543667-Screen-Shot-2017-10-02-at-164026.png?resize=1050:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511978543667-Screen-Shot-2017-10-02-at-164026.png?resize=1575:* 2x"><source media="(min-width: 65.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511978543667-Screen-Shot-2017-10-02-at-164026.png?resize=1050:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511978543667-Screen-Shot-2017-10-02-at-164026.png?resize=1575:* 2x"><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511978543667-Screen-Shot-2017-10-02-at-164026.png" alt="1511978543667-Screen-Shot-2017-10-02-at-164026" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></picture> <div class="article__image-caption"></div> </div> <p>The celebrity endorsement Shaun Williamson sends me after I meet him in a pub, thoroughly explain my concept and ask for a photo of him eating fancy food in a fancy place, but instead receive one of him eating a roast dinner with a side of chips. </p><p>So I contact friends and acquaintances, and put them to work. </p> <h2>CLIMBING THE RANKS</h2> <p>The first couple of weeks are easy: we crack the top 10,000 in no time, but I don't expect much in the way of inquiries quite yet. Then, one morning, something extraordinary happens: The Shed's burner phone goes off. Startled and hungover, I pick up.</p> <p>"Hello? Is that The Shed?"</p> <p>"⊠Yes?" I sound like a radiator that needs bleeding. </p> <p>"I've heard so much about your restaurant... I know itâs a long shot, as you get booked up so quickly, but I donât suppose you have a table tonight?" </p> <p>Panicking, I abruptly respond: "Sorry, but we're fully booked for the next six weeks" and slam down the phone. I'm stunned. A day later, I feel another vibration: a 70th birthday booking. Four months in advance. Nine people.</p> <div class="article__media"> <picture class="article__image"><source media="(max-width: 25em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511980463339-phone.png?resize=400:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511980463339-phone.png?resize=600:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 40.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511980463339-phone.png?resize=650:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511980463339-phone.png?resize=975:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 53.125em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511980463339-phone.png?resize=850:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511980463339-phone.png?resize=1275:* 2x"><source media="(min-width: 53.125em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511980463339-phone.png?resize=940:*"><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511980463339-phone.png" alt="1511980463339-phone" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></picture> <div class="article__image-caption"></div> </div> <p>Emails? I check my computer: tens of "appointment" requests await. A boyfriend tries to use his girlfriend's job at a children's hospital for leverage. TV executives use their work emails. </p><div class="article__media"><picture class="article__image"><source media="(max-width: 25em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1512555502216-1hos.png?resize=400:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1512555502216-1hos.png?resize=600:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 40.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1512555502216-1hos.png?resize=650:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1512555502216-1hos.png?resize=975:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 53.125em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1512555502216-1hos.png?resize=850:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1512555502216-1hos.png?resize=1275:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 65.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1512555502216-1hos.png?resize=1050:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1512555502216-1hos.png?resize=1575:* 2x"><source media="(min-width: 65.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1512555502216-1hos.png?resize=1050:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1512555502216-1hos.png?resize=1575:* 2x"><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1512555502216-1hos.png" alt="1512555502216-1hos" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></picture><div class="article__image-caption"></div></div> <p>Seemingly overnight, we're now at #1,456. The Shed at Dulwich has suddenly become appealing. How?</p> <p>I realise what it is: the appointments, lack of address and general exclusivity of this place is so alluring that people canât see sense. Theyâre looking at photos of the sole of my foot, drooling. Over the coming months, The Shed's phone rings incessantly.</p><div data-iframely-id="3G3SWxB" data-embedded-url="https://www.youtube.com/embed/052P_nr1Z_w" class="article__embed article__embed--iframely"><div style="left:0;width:100%;height:0;position:relative;padding-bottom:56.2493%;" data-iframely-smart-iframe="true"><iframe data-img="" data-iframely-url="//oembed.vice.com/3G3SWxB?playerjs=true" style="border:0;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;position:absolute;" allowfullscreen="" data-iframely-smart-iframe="true" frameborder="0" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></iframe></div></div> <h2>THINGS ARE GETTING A BIT OUT OF CONTROL</h2> <p>By the end of August, weâre at #156.</p> <div class="article__media"><picture class="article__image"><source media="(max-width: 25em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1512579956603-156shed.png?resize=400:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1512579956603-156shed.png?resize=600:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 40.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1512579956603-156shed.png?resize=650:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1512579956603-156shed.png?resize=975:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 53.125em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1512579956603-156shed.png?resize=850:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1512579956603-156shed.png?resize=1275:* 2x"><source media="(min-width: 53.125em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1512579956603-156shed.png?resize=916:*"><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1512579956603-156shed.png" alt="1512579956603-156shed" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></picture><div class="article__image-caption"><br></div></div><p>And things are starting to get a little out of hand. </p> <div class="article__media"> <picture class="article__image"><source media="(max-width: 25em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511983398488-sample.png?resize=400:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511983398488-sample.png?resize=600:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 40.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511983398488-sample.png?resize=650:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511983398488-sample.png?resize=975:* 2x"><source media="(min-width: 40.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511983398488-sample.png?resize=651:*"><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511983398488-sample.png" alt="1511983398488-sample" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></picture> <div class="article__image-caption"></div> </div> <p>First, companies start using the estimated location of The Shed on Google Maps to get their free samples to me. Then people who want to work at The Shed get in touch, in significant numbers. Then I get an email fro
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<title>Australia's Massive Military Budget</title>
<description><figure><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/articles/66444ef0fc3a24f9da345607/lede/1715842120352-gettyimages-1436363944.jpeg" alt="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"><figcaption></figcaption></figure> <p>The 2025 federal budget announced on Tuesday <a href="https://www.minister.defence.gov.au/media-releases/2024-05-14/generational-investment-australias-defence"><span>committed an additional $50.3 billion</span></a> to defence over the next decade, bringing our 10-year defence spending to $764.6 billion.</p> <p>$764.6 billion is an extraordinary amount of money, more than double the initial <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/k7z5by/stage-three-tax-cuts-change">cost of the controversial stage 3 tax cuts</a> that have since been amended.</p> <p>To put $700 billion in perspective â making undergraduate university degrees completely free for all domestic students would cost about $7 billion a year or $70 billion over 10 years, <a href="https://futurework.org.au/report/at-the-crossroads/"><span>according to the Australia Institute</span></a>. Just 10 per cent of the defence budget.</p> <p>With the new federal budget, the annual defence bill will hit a record of $53 billion this year, <a href="https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/pubs/rp/BudgetReview202021/AustralianGovernmentExpenditure"><span>up from $39 billion last year</span></a>, and is projected to surpass $100 billion annually by 2033, or 2.4 per cent of our GDP.</p> <p>This is part of a massive defence shakeup to âkeep Australia safeâ amid what the <a href="https://twitter.com/RichardMarlesMP/status/1780423930035253415/photo/1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1780423930035253415%7Ctwgr%5E26106fef105a8d5f345bf2bd806c321fc1f57b4e%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sbs.com.au%2Fnews%2Farticle%2Faustralias-defence-budget-set-to-increase-by-50-billion-over-the-next-decade%2F04c2x7teq"><span>Defence Minister Richard Marles called</span></a> the most challenging strategic environment since World War II.</p> <p>So, just looking at the bonuses included in this budget, defence got an extra $5 billion for this year alone.</p> <p>Thatâs more than Commonwealth Rent Assistance that, for just this year, <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@viceautoday/video/7369016467712527624"><span>gets an extra $500 million</span></a>; more than the $600 million boost to Services Australia, for more staff to help manage the backlog of people trying to access welfare payments; more than the <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@viceautoday/video/7365670312584678664"><span>changes to HECS indexation</span></a> thatâll cost about $3 billion in foregone revenue; and more than the $3.5 billion cost of living relief package in the form of $300 electricity bill rebates for every household.</p> <div><p>At least one NSW Police officer was seen wearing âthin blue lineâ Australian flag patch at a pro-Palestine rally in Sydneyâs Port Botany on Sunday, where 19 people were arrested.</p> <p>Legal Observers New South Wales (LONSW), who attended the rally to witness and document interactions between <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/5d9qkq/melbourne-students-school-strike-for-palestine" target="_blank">activists</a> and police, said âseveralâ officers wore the patches displaying the iconography that has been co-opted by and is now associated with far-right extremist movements.</p> <p>They reported âmany of these officers were the most aggressive with protestorsâ, who were there to blockade Israeli shipping company ZIM that uses the docks. ZIM has been associated with the Israeli military and its killing of Palestinians in Gaza.</p> <p>LONSW also accused police of demonstrating excessive force, throwing several protestors to the ground, using restraint techniques associated with restraint asphyxia, and âviolently pushing manyâ before arresting people for disrupting commerce and trade under <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/jg5nn4/nsw-police-anti-protest-laws" target="_blank">NSWâs harsh anti-protest laws</a>.</p> <p>NSW Police told <i>Guardian Australia</i> the force had ânot received any reports of an officer wearing the patch which is not part of the standard NSWPF uniformâ and that the force respected peopleâs right to protest at the port.</p> <p>But NSW Council for Civil Liberties president Lydia Shelly said the policing of protests in NSW was now âout of controlâ.</p> <div class="article__embed article__embed--vice" data-related-article="true" data-children-count="0"><iframe src="https://www.vice.com/en_au/embed/article/v7bnd8/embed" frameborder="0" style="border:0px none;margin:0px" allowfullscreen="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></iframe></div> <p>âWe are extremely concerned that at the Port Botany protest, Legal Observers NSW observed several police officers wearing a patch that is not part of the standard police issued uniform which has been associated with right-wing extremism,â she said in a <a href="https://www.nswccl.org.au/media_statement_police_response_to_antigenocide_protests" target="_blank">statement</a>.</p> <p>âWe have called on the Premier, the Attorney General and the Police Commissioner to meet with us to discuss concerns about police conduct towards peaceful protestors and legal observers [and] so far, our requests have been denied.â</p> <h2>Misuse of police powers at weekly free Palestine rallies</h2> <p>Legal Observers NSW has attended 14 <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/g5y849/thousands-rally-across-australia-in-solidarity-with-palestine-israel-war" target="_blank">weekly free Palestine street rallies</a> in Sydneyâs CBD and several actions at Port Botany since October and over those months has complied a eight-page report, documenting police behaviour towards protestors including instances of misuse of police powers.</p> <p>âThe <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/3ak4z9/what-have-free-palestine-rallies-australia-achieved" target="_blank">policing of these rallies</a> has been marked by ubiquitous surveillance, police and state pushback and the deployment of higher than usual levels of police resources, including a new protest-focused taskforce âOperation Mealingâ and&nbsp;pro-Palestinian activity focused âOperation Shelterâ, the report reads.</p> <p>Many incidents of misuse of powers in the report document police violence, but many cases of non-violent misuse of powers are also reported, including police asking protestors to remove face coverings, employing mobile CCTV towers at protests, and stopping cars displaying <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/n7eyj8/womad-ziggy-marley-palestine" target="_blank">Palestinian flags</a>, requiring them to remove the flags, then issuing fines for minor infringements such as P plates being tucked under a number plate as the reason for the stop.</p> <p>The report also notes the NSW Police presence at Sydneyâs weekly pro-Palestine rallies is 100-150 officers at the cost of $220,000 a week, despite no incidents of violence or disturbances occurring at the protests.</p> <p>One example the report singles out is as many as 50 police being deployed to guard the <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/epv7qz/mcdonalds-sales-misinformation-israel-boycott" target="_blank">Starbucks</a> on Elizabeth Street despite no incidents occurring in relation to the location.</p> <p>âThe reliance on high visibility policing unduly criminalises protestors and puts them at risk of police assault,â Adam al-Hayek, a spokesperson for LONSW, told VICE.</p> <div class="article__embed article__embed--vice" data-related-article="true" data-children-count="0"><iframe src="https://www.vice.com/en_au/embed/article/epv9gp/embed" frameborder="0" style="border:0px none;margin:0px" allowfullscreen="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></iframe></div> <p>âThe weekly street rallies are well-managed by marshals and do not require the deployment of 100-150 police officers whose primary function appears to be surveilling and harassing protestors.â</p> <p>NSW Greens MP Sue Higginson said the report painted a dark picture of the state of the police force.</p> <p>âThe findings released in todayâs independent observer report are deeply worrying and point to the creeping militarisation and criminalisation in response to peaceful protestors from the NSW Police Force,â Higginson told VICE.</p> <p>âThe highly-militarised state of police deployment we have seen week after week at an event that has consistently been compliant, peaceful and driven by <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/ak39zj/cancelled-palestine-visas-australia" target="_blank">Palestinian community</a> members and families is plainly out of proportion.</p> <p>âItâs time for our police to work with, not against, all members of the community. We want a policing regime that supports healthy, peaceful, democratic action. To achieve this we must demilitarise and deweaponise our general duty police and urgently begin the serious reforms needed to move us towards a policing-by-consent model that supports the integrity of both officers and community members.â</p> <p><i>Aleksandra Bliszczyk is the Deputy Editor of VICE Australia. Follow her on<a href="https://www.instagram.com/aleksbliszczyk/?hl=en" target="_blank"> Instagram</a>.</i></p> <p><i>Get the story that matters most each day. <a href="https://pedestrian.us1.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=2c631b380f2015e8f93fcbc5b&amp;id=77eb92cd03" target="_blank">Subscribe to Australia Todayâs daily newsletter here</a>.</i></p></div> <p>Also compare the $5 extra billion dollars for defence with the <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@viceautoday/video/7367169227117153554"><span>extra $50 million for endometriosis consultation subsidies</span></a>, or the extra $73 million a year to mental health, to establish a national digital mental health referral service, or the $185 million per year to domestic violence victims, <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@viceautoday/video/7363923077400366344"><span>going to the Leaving Violence Program</span></a> that offers $5000 payments to people fleeing abusive homes.</p> <p>To explain a couple of those furtherâŠ</p> <p>Rent Assistance is going up â $19 a fortnight for singles as part of the government's plan to tackle the housing and <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/4a3mvp/coles-woolies-prices-fines">cost of living</a> crisis in its 2025 federal budget.</p> <p>The maximum Commonwealth Rent Assistance payment will increase by 10 per cent from September this year, which will benefit about 1 million recipients on that rate.</p> <p>The current highest payment for a single person is $188.20 a fortnight, or $125.47 for a single person in a <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/5d9a7q/sharehouse-demand-sydney-melbourne-rental">sharehouse</a>, and those will go up $18.80.</p> <p>For families or parents with three or more children it will go up $25 a fortnight to $274.90 a fortnight. </p> <p>This is also before the payments are indexed according to inflation which treasurer Jim Chalmers will add another 5 per cent. to all payments.</p> <p>It will cost the government an additional $1.9 billion over the next five years.</p> <p>The government will also wipe $3 billion of student debt by changing the way itâs indexed. </p> <p>The new move caps the rate of indexation to make sure your debt canât rise faster than your <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/bvjkxq/award-wage-pay-rise">wages</a>. So currently HECS or HELP loans rise a percentage every year according to the CPI, the consumer price index. Thatâs the measure of how the cost of goods and services rise over time. But the WPI, the wage price index measures the rate, on average, of wage growth. So now the government will introduce legislation that means student loan indexation will be calculated on whichever is lower each year, the CPI or the WPI.</p> <p>The policy will also be backdated to June 1, 2023, which means last year's historically high 7.1 per cent indexation will be more than halved to the WPI of of the time which was 3.2 per cent.</p> <p>This will cancel hundreds if not thousands of dollars from most peopleâs HECS debts and mean indexation this year and in future years will be lower than expected and mean that theyâll never grow so fast to the point where the growth outpaces the mandatory repayments from your paychecks.&nbsp;</p> <p><em>Aleksandra Bliszczyk is the Deputy Editor of VICE Australia. Follow her on<a href="https://www.instagram.com/aleksbliszczyk/?hl=en"> Instagram</a>.</em></p> </description>
<link>https://vice.com/en/article/93kjk3/military-budget</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://vice.com/en/article/93kjk3/military-budget</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 16 May 2024 07:01:04 GMT</pubDate>
<author>Aleksandra Bliszczyk, Aleksandra Bliszczyk</author>
<category>Australia Today</category>
<category>Politics</category>
<category>Australia</category>
</item>
<item>
<title>The Government Is Making Porn a Scapegoat for Rising Violence Against Women</title>
<description><figure><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/articles/6632f151934d4280f82fc7a7/lede/1714618063713-gettyimages-2150387211.jpeg" alt="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"><figcaption></figcaption></figure> <p>On Wednesday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced a $925 million initiative to help people flee abusive relationships after a recent uptick in violence against women in Australia. State, territory and federal leaders, who met for an urgent national cabinet meeting following nationwide rallies, also committed to implementing a series of interventions to address young peopleâs access to extreme online misogyny; which specifically cited âviolent <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/topic/porn">pornography</a>â.</p> <p>As a sex worker, the most concerning part of this conversation is the use of the sex industry as a political scapegoat for menâs violence.&nbsp;</p> <p>Letâs be clear: the porn industry was never created to provide <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/y3vvqw/we-asked-people-about-their-terrible-high-school-sex-ed-experiences">sex education</a> to children. But letâs also be honest: if your child is actively seeking out pornography, or so-called âviolent pornographyâ, perhaps thereâs a gap in their learning about sex and sexuality that the education system or a guardian has failed to fill.&nbsp;</p> <p>To prioritise limiting young peopleâs access to pornography and framing certain categories as âviolentâ shows how quickly Australian politicians, <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/88xevp/why-talking-about-sex-is-awkward">educators</a> and parents position themselves as the moral arbiters of sex work, rather than having honest and brave conversations with their kids about consent and sex.&nbsp;</p> <p>Not only do these sentiments perpetuate vilifying and victimising narratives about sex workers, they also simultaneously shift the responsibility of teaching young people about boundaries onto the very pornographers they claim to exhibit âviolenceâ.&nbsp;</p> <div style="max-width: 605px;"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 104.259%; padding-top: 120px;"><iframe src="https://oembed.vice.com/vLAkjup?app=1" style="top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; border: 0;" allowfullscreen="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></iframe></div></div> <p>Pornography <em>can</em> be a way for young people to learn and explore their sexuality in ways the current education system and discussions with their peers do not allow. This is not an endorsement, but it should be an opportunity to work out where we are letting children down on their journeys to self-discovery.</p> <div><p><i>This article originally appeared on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.vice.com/ro" target="_blank">VICE Romania</a>.</i></p> <p>I remember clearly how awkward <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/topic/sex" target="_blank">sex</a> and sex education seemed to me during high school. Since then, I've met guys who couldn't find the <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/topic/clitoris" target="_blank">clit</a> and would be intimidated if I showed them or told them what to do with it. After a while, I didn't even bother trying to explain unless there was a connection between us. Iâve also met guys who felt awkward when I asked them to stop. And Iâve always been struck by how often they tried to avoid any discussions about <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/topic/std" target="_blank">STDs</a>.</p> <p>Letâs face it: Most of these situations could have been avoided if theyâd received proper <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/topic/sex-education" target="_blank">sex education</a> in their school years. So I asked a few guys about the times they think sex ed would have saved them from making embarrassing, and sometimes terrible, mistakes. They shared their stories, using fake names for privacy reasons.</p> <h2>âI wish someone had told me that sperm doesn't travel through waterâ</h2> <p>âI was 19-years-old, my girlfriend was 17, and weâd been together for some time. Iâd never done anything sexual except for some intense touching. One evening we were home alone because her parents had gone on vacation, so we organised something romantic like in the movies. We filled the tub with water and bubbles, got undressed, and got in. We started kissing and caressing each other until, at some point, I ejaculated in the water.</p> <p>Her vagina was far away, but we both freaked out and couldn't sleep all night. The next morning, we went to the pharmacy to get the <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/d3a99m/morning-after-pill-plan-b-history-morality-emergency" target="_blank">morning-after pill</a>. I wish someone had told me that sperm doesn't travel through water and that it's almost impossible to get pregnant from a distance. We wouldâve both avoided a really bad fright.â - <i>Iustin, 26</i></p> <h2>âI thought women peed through their clitorisâ</h2> <p>âWhen I was a teenager, I thought women peed through their clitoris, so I would only stimulate it with my hands, never with my mouth. During the same period, when my then-girlfriend complained about her breasts hurting during ovulation, I suggested I should milk them to ease the pain. It just shows how much I knew about the female body at the time.â - <i>Mircea, 32</i></p> <h2>âI wish someone had told me that I needed to use a lot of lube and not pressure myself to take it all inâ</h2> <p>âI had one of my first sexual experiences â maybe even the first â when I was studying in Spain. I wanted to try anal sex with a man, but I was a bit reluctant. So one night I went out, got really drunk, flirted with a guy at the club, and then went home with him.</p> <div class="article__embed article__embed--vice" data-related-article="true" data-children-count="0"><iframe src="https://www.vice.com/en_uk/embed/article/k7w8qz/embed" frameborder="0" style="border:0px none;margin:0px" allowfullscreen="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></iframe></div> <p>In the room, I realised he had a really big penis, but I was drunk and didn't feel the discomfort. When I got home the next day, I realised I had some bad anal fissures and my anus hurt for a week.</p> <p>Because Iâd never had similar interactions before, I didn't know I was supposed to be careful and take it slow. Luckily, I could find information on the Internet, but I wish someone had told me I needed to use a lot of lube and not pressure myself to take it all in. I also would have liked someone to explain to me how to do an enema, so that I wouldn't get stomach pain or discharge.â <i>- Tony, 27</i></p> <h2>âI had to pay the price for my ignoranceâ</h2> <p>âWhen I think of sex education, I remember a teacher doing a demonstration with a banana and a condom in uni, but thatâs pretty much it. I grew up without a father, and my mum and I never talked about sex. I learnt from older friends and from my own experience. Unfortunately, sometimes I had to pay the price for my ignorance.</p> <div class="article__embed article__embed--vice" data-related-article="true" data-children-count="0"><iframe src="https://www.vice.com/en_uk/embed/article/m7vyk4/embed" frameborder="0" style="border:0px none;margin:0px" allowfullscreen="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></iframe></div> <p>At one point, a girl from another city, who Iâd partied with in the past, came to visit me. That night, we both drank too much and I was rougher than usual in bed. I had tried choking and butt slapping before, but this time I slapped her in the face. I didn't want to hurt her; I was just playing a fantasy.</p> <p>When I talked to her later, I realised how much my behaviour had shocked her. She was shocked at how ignorant I was about boundaries and consent. At the time, I didn't realise that it was a potentially sensitive situation we should have discussed beforehand, and that, without consent, my sex play was abusive and dehumanising towards her.</p> <p>Over time, I've learnt that itâs essential to get informed beforehand and that sex education is a lifelong process.â <i>- Vlad, 33</i></p></div> <p>Additionally, blanket views that all adult content is harmful or has harmful potential, and attempting to restrict young peopleâs access to it, often results in more barriers for sex workers online. Anti-trafficking laws that hold porn websites liable for promoting or facilitating sex work and trafficking introduced in the US in 2018 have been<a href="https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/5050/sex-workers-endangered-fosta-sesta-porn-us-free-speech-woodhull/"> <span>criticised for endangering sex workers further.</span></a> The<a href="https://scarletalliance.org.au/library/response-to-the-esafetys-call-for-evidence-on-age-verification/"> <span>UKâs implementation of age-verification systems online</span></a> has also been slammed by the sex work industry for over-regulation.&nbsp;</p> <p>Can I suggest just getting better parental controls on your devices?</p> <p>This is not the first time the responsibility of shaping well-behaved young men has been put on the sex industry. Last year, senior Liberal Party member Sussan Ley suggested<a href="https://womensagenda.com.au/politics/sussan-ley-misses-fundamental-point-in-calling-for-strip-club-ban/"> <span>a âpauseâ on the opening of new strip clubs</span></a>, citing concerns over the roles theses premises have in influencing young menâs attitudes towards women.&nbsp;</p> <p>But Leyâs attitude ignores the involvement of an autonomous, consenting person in the scenario.</p> <div><p>Being good at sex is somewhat of a myth, but if thereâs anyone whoâs got a handle of how to <i>have good sex</i> itâs the people who work in one of the worldâs most ancient jobs. We wanted some straightforward tips on fingering, dick sucking, oral and standard bouncing â so we asked. These tips arenât about to turn you into a <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/akexbg/how-to-make-a-sex-tape-according-to-a-former-porn-star" target="_blank">porn star</a>, but you might be surprised by the <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/5d38zk/missionary-sex-position-vice-guide" target="_blank">fundamentals of sex</a> that youâve missed.</p> <p>Needless to say, itâs better to ask the specific person youâre sleeping with what <i>they</i> like â all sexual experiences are subjective â but sleeping with tens if not hundreds of people for work does give you a few clues as to what gets <i>most</i> people off. Itâs all well and good to tell people that âconfidence is keyâ or to just âenjoy themselvesâ, but it turns out there are more than a few ways to turn a trick that can be applied to anyoneâs everyday sex life.</p> <p>We went to <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/n7zxy8/a-glossary-of-sex-worker-terminology" target="_blank">the experts</a>: in this case, sex workers Lily, Mia, Samantha and Becca of PĆnekeâs The Bedroom, and hereâs what they had to sayâŠ</p> <h2>Letâs get some basic sex dos and donâts out of the way:</h2> <p>Having good hygiene is a given (including good breath). Commenting on someoneâs weight or appearance is a no-go unless itâs an absolute compliment.</p> <p>And there are a few areas that unquestionably require discussion:</p> <p>Anal or butt play? <i>Discuss it.</i></p> <p>Anything that <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/jgmv48/what-is-kinky-sex" target="_blank">leaves a mark</a>? <i>Discuss it.</i>&nbsp;Bites, bruises and rope burns can put someone in an uncomfortable situation at work or home, so making sure the person being marked is ok with it is a must.</p> <p>Where youâre gonna <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/epz8n4/my-sex-life-with-a-semen-allergy" target="_blank">cum</a>? <i>Discuss it.</i>&nbsp;Thereâs nothing less sexy than someone ruining your makeup or freshly washed hair. And if the <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/3adjv9/how-to-make-safer-sex-hot" target="_blank">contraceptive situation</a> hasnât been made clear, not double checking that your landing pad is approved could end in genuine disaster.</p> <p>With that aside, letâs get into some of the specifics. Hereâs what our sex-work overseers had to say:</p> <h2>HOW TO: HANDJOBS</h2> <p><i>âI always start slow. Be aware of how sensitive their area is and really ease into it. Remember how many nerve endings there are. It is friction!â</i> - Mia</p> <p><i>âUse saliva and lube.â</i>&nbsp; - Samantha</p> <p><i>âIf the handjob goes on too long men [can] lose sensitivity, so you're actually better to stop doing the handjob altogether. Give it a rest and then try again.â</i> - Lily</p> <p><i>âEven if you're not being touched, they want to see that you're into them being aroused. They want to see you turned on as well.â</i> - Samantha</p> <h2>HOW TO: FINGERING</h2> <p><i>âDonât finger a dry pussy really hard. Youâll <a href="https://www.medicinenet.com/can_you_get_thrush_sexually/article.htm" target="_blank">give them thrush.</a>â</i> - Lily</p> <div class="article__embed article__embed--vice" data-related-article="true" data-children-count="0"><iframe src="https://www.vice.com/en_nz/embed/article/93k8dv/embed" frameborder="0" style="border:0px none;margin:0px" allowfullscreen="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></iframe></div> <p><i>âI love my butt being played with, but if youâre gonna put your finger in my butt then in my pussy, all Iâm thinking is urine infection. So donât do that. Itâs hygiene yâknow.â&nbsp; -</i> Mia</p> <p><i>âDefinitely donât start by shoving three fingers in someone at once. You can build up to it, but thatâs not a sexy way to start.â</i> - Becca</p> <p><i>âA finger and clitoral rub at the same time is the best. Fingers in, thumb on clit.â</i> - Lily</p> <p><i>âDonât shove your knuckles into the coochie because they donât do anything.â</i> - Mia</p> <h2>HOW TO SUCK DICK</h2> <p><i>âUse your hand at the base like it's half-hand-job-half-blow-job. Just using your mouth, a lot of men wonât cum.â -</i> Lily</p> <p><i>âGo from the outside, inwards. Lead up from touching the thighs and then you move in and stimulate them⊠A lot of guys like the balls.â</i> - Samantha</p> <p><i>âThe men say it feels better without the condom. Supposedly thereâs a lot of sensitivity lost.â -</i> Lily</p> <p><i>âI think the wetter the better. The more saliva, the more it feels like a pussy.â -</i> Lily</p> <h2>HOW TO EAT SOMEONE OUT</h2> <p><i>âWith facial hair, the smoother the better, or be hairy. But prickly hurts. Itâs like sandpaper.â -</i> Mia</p> <p><i>âDoing the alphabet with your tongue, that was a Cosmopolitan tip⊠donât do that. Donât motorboat. Donât bite. Donât blow. Donât hum. Thatâs another Cosmo tip. It's just weird.â</i> - Lily</p> <p><i>âYouâre sensitive in areas that arenât normally touched, so incorporate the inner thighs, or holding the hips and touching those creases. Do all that kind of stuff as the lead-up, outside of the vagina, and then slowly work your way in.â</i> - Samantha</p> <p><i>âPutting your tongue into the actual vagina doesnât feel that good⊠Itâs not a dick. You wouldnât make someone cum from it.â</i> - Becca</p> <p><i>âThe person needs to be honest if theyâre not into [eating me out]. Because I can tell if theyâre not enjoying it and then I feel like Iâm torturing them.â</i> - Samantha</p> <h2>HOW TO HAVE INTERCOURSE</h2> <p><i>âReplicating what youâve seen in porn is really dangerous and also really obvious. You should never come straight into a sexual encounter with someone you donât know well and choke and slap them. Itâs embarrassing and uncomfortable.â</i> - Becca</p> <div class="article__embed article__embed--vice" data-related-article="true" data-children-count="0"><iframe src="https://www.vice.com/en_nz/embed/article/7kxwnb/embed" frameborder="0" style="border:0px none;margin:0px" allowfullscreen="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></iframe></div> <p><i>âIf there's a massive size difference between you and your partner, be aware to hold your own weight when youâre on top. It happened to me with a partner who was bigger than me, and heâd rest all his weight on me and Iâd start panicking because I couldnât breathe.â</i> - Samantha</p> <p><i>âJackhammering can be painful if youâre not in the mood for it. Just be aware. They have a pelvic bone. They have a cervix. And youâre banging up against it.â -</i> Becca</p> <p><i>âIf sheâs invested in lingerie let her wear it for ten minutes. If sheâs feeling sexy and sheâs dolled herself up, a suspender belt, stockings, donât just rip it off straight away. Make her feel beautiful in what sheâs wearing. And then sheâll want to dress up for you more because youâve shown you appreciate it.â</i> - Lily</p> <p><i>âKiss during sex! It makes you feel so rejected if someone stops kissing you as soon as you start fucking. Itâs awkward.â</i> - Becca</p> <h2>THE âFEEL GOODâ FACTOR</h2> <p><i>âYou've got to be able to pick up what they're feeling. You need to be very in tune with other people. In real layman's examples, itâs whether you'd say like, âI want you to fuck meâ or âI want to make love to youâ. It's a bit of emotional intelligence.â</i> - Samantha</p> <p><i>âI think if one person stands to gain more from the experience than the other, then it's not something that's gonna be enjoyable</i>.â - Mia</p> <p><i>"You can ask what they want without it ruining the mood. Just saying, âDoes it feel good?â âDo you want it faster?â or âWhat can I do for you?â It's not embarrassing.â</i> - Samantha</p> <p>In the end, everyone will have some <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/5d9g8b/worst-std-stories" target="_blank">mortifying moments</a> in their sexual lives and everyone will feel things <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/7kb9zx/how-an-extreme-new-curve-in-my-penis-changed-my-sex-life-peyronies-disease" target="_blank">differently</a> â and thatâs okay folks! We learn, we grow, we throb with undulating desire.</p> <p>We hope the wise words of our sex-worker friends can help you feel on top of the basics so that you know the sex youâre having feels good for everyone involved, inside <i>and</i> out.</p> <p><i>Rachel Barker is a writer / producer at VICE NZ in Aotearoa. You can find her @rachellydiab on IG and Letterboxd and see her film criticism on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@girlonfilm4551" target="_blank">Youtube</a>.</i></p></div> <p>I argue to Sussan Ley that any man who attends <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/y3wbb7/how-nzs-strippers-collectivised-against-allegations-of-bullying-and-harassment-at-work">strip clubs</a> as a ritualistic baptism into manhood will learn lifelong lessons about boundaries should they ever touch a dancer in a place they havenât consented to.</p> <p>The sex industry is not a handbook to intimacy that your child is a perceived victim of, and we should not be enabling men to blame their bad behaviour on porn consumption.&nbsp;</p> <p>All Australians, not just sex workers, should be mature enough to educate themselves and their children that the <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/qjvnem/vice-visits-the-australian-adult-industry-awards">adult industry</a> and porn are built on fantasy, and thatâs okay.&nbsp;</p> <p>When looking at menâs violence against women â very much a reality â letâs look at real solutions.&nbsp;</p> <p>The $925 million pledge <em>over five years,</em> while<a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-05-01/new-coercive-control-ad-campaign-launched-by-nsw-government/103787754"> <span>frontline services are desperate for funding</span></a>, is seriously inadequate. And the <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/jgpkeb/employers-sex-work-cost-of-living">cost of living</a> is continuously rising â making financial hardship a major contributing factor to womenâs inability to escape violent relationships. Meanwhile, the government also<a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/defence-spending-australia-national-strategy-integrated-investment-program/bceed0f7-971a-4c9b-bcb4-d4d76931c070"> <span>pledged a $50 billion boost to defence</span></a> over the next decade and Australiaâs own parliament canât even get its<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/media/2023/dec/08/bruce-lehrmann-brittany-higgins-parliament-house-defamation-trial-grips-australia-ntwnfb"> <span>sexual misconduct problem under control</span></a>.&nbsp;</p> <p>So who really is to blame?</p> <p><em>Darcy Deviant is a sex worker and writer based in Melbourne. Follow Darcy on Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/hole___money/">here</a>.</em></p> </description>
<link>https://vice.com/en/article/m7bngy/government-porn-violence-against-women</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://vice.com/en/article/m7bngy/government-porn-violence-against-women</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 02 May 2024 03:25:24 GMT</pubDate>
<author>Aleksandra Bliszczyk, Darcy Deviant</author>
<category>Australia Today</category>
<category>Politics</category>
<category>Australia</category>
<category>Sex</category>
<category>porn</category>
<category>sex work</category>
</item>
<item>
<title>How Long Until the Majority of Voters Are Gen Y and Gen Z?</title>
<description><figure><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/articles/6631aefa934d4280f82fc24a/lede/1714536022813-istock-1530809356.jpeg" alt="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"><figcaption>Image credit: istock</figcaption></figure> <p>From Brexit to Aotearoaâs own cannabis referendum, weâve seen older generations have the dominant vote on issues that will outlive them.&nbsp;</p> <p>The complaint often lobbied in these situations is that young voters are left living in the world created by those soon to leave it. And right now young people are a minority, fighting against an older class who (depending on who you ask) doesnât care for our future.&nbsp;</p> <p>About a quarter of the 3,688,292 total New Zealanders enrolled in last year's election are over 70.&nbsp;</p> <p>And Gen Y and Gen Z <em>are</em> currently the minority of eligible voters in New Zealand â with 1,598,352 18-44 year olds and 2,089,940 45+ year olds enrolled for the 2023 election.&nbsp;</p> <p>So how long will it be until we make up the majority? A change in the majority generation that makes up a voting block will definitely change how politicians approach policy, but is it really down to, well⊠how much time it takes for older people to die?</p> <p>People born into Generations Y and Z are currently between 12 and 43. This means most of us already <em>are</em> voting â or at least have the ability to.&nbsp;</p> <p>Last year, 452,882 eligible people between 18-44 didnât vote. Will the New Zealanders turning 18 in the next 6 years have the power to bring up those numbers? Itâs unlikely.&nbsp;</p> <div><p>Growing up in Australia, Anzac Day usually means chewy oat biscuits, poppy pins, excursions, trumpets and pretending to fathom what war was like 100 years ago after your teachers tell you to reflect on soldiersâ service and sacrifice during the minuteâs silence.</p> <p>But this year, a <a href="https://www.instagram.com/teachers4palestine_vic/?hl=en" target="_blank">collective</a> of pro-<a href="https://www.vice.com/en/topic/palestine" target="_blank">Palestine</a> school teachers in Victoria is challenging the ways our World War I soldiers are remembered and what aspects of our military history have long been left out of classrooms.&nbsp;</p> <p>The Teachers and <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/5d9qkq/melbourne-students-school-strike-for-palestine" target="_blank">School</a> Staff for Palestine group has this week called for the âAnzac mythologyâ to be âdismantledâ to make way for ârigorous, critical and empowering educationâ around campaigns and massacres in Palestine during WWI.</p> <p>âWe won't be used to convey myths that serve to normalise militarism, we won't use teaching and learning material designed to gloss over the violent imprint that <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/qjv58b/aid-workers-one-australian-killed-in-gaza-after-delivering-food" target="_blank">Australia has left in Palestine</a>,â Lucy Honan, a Teachers and School Staff for Palestine member and secondary history teacher, told VICE.&nbsp;</p> <p>âStudents should have an opportunity to question the official legend that Anzacs were sacrificing their lives for freedom, and think critically about Australia's commitment to the imperialist powers that lay the ground for the creation of Israel, and think about the consequences of this for Palestinians.â</p> <p>In recent months, the group has organised solidarity actions in schools, campaigned to remove <a href="https://www.theeducatoronline.com/k12/news/teachers-launch-boycott-of-stem-programs-funded-by-weapons-companies/284214#:~:text=%E2%80%9CThe%20Victorian%20Education%20Department%20is,School%20Staff%20for%20Palestine%20said." target="_blank">STEM programs sponsored by weapons manufacturers</a> from schools and published teaching materials including a booklet about Anzac campaigns in Palestine that lay the foundation for the creation of Israel.</p> <p>The teaching materials were compiled by the group through weeks of research, in response to âa dearth of teaching resources about the Anzacs in Palestine,â Honan said.</p> <p>âOur students want answers. What is happening in Gaza and why, who is implicated â and why are we being told we can't talk about it at school?â</p> <p>Victorian Education Minister Ben Carroll <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-11-27/victoria-teachers-palestine-solidarity-education-minister/103154342" target="_blank">warned state school teachers late last year</a> not to be political or participate in pro-Palestinian advocacy in schools and said such action was âinflammatory, it's divisive and only sows more seeds of disharmony in our communityâ.</p> <p>Honan said she wasnât surprised by these warnings but that they were contradictory.</p> <p>âBecause we refused to be neutral about the genocide in Gaza, we have been accused by politicians and the Education Department of being too political,â she said.</p> <p>âAnd yet, the agenda of militarism and unthinking nationalism in our schools is overwhelming.â</p> <p>Teachers and School Staff for Palestine hope their resources will help and encourage teachers to think more critically about their history curriculums and allow students the opportunity to question what they are taught and why.</p> <p>âLet teachers teach honestly,â she said.</p> <p>âTeachers must be empowered and supported to teach about Palestine.â</p> <h2>What did the Anzacs do in Palestine?&nbsp;</h2> <p>In 1917, the <a href="https://anzacportal.dva.gov.au/wars-and-missions/ww1/where-australians-served/sinai-and-palestine" target="_blank">ANZACs invaded Palestine</a> to fight the Ottoman Army and, after the third Battle of Gaza on October 31, successfully took control of the land and the people in the name of the British Empire.</p> <p>The final battle of Gaza also included the Allied attack on Beersheba, which had a majority Palestinian Arab population and was captured from the Ottoman Empire.&nbsp;</p> <h2>The Sarafand al-âAmar massacre</h2> <p>The following year, the three brigades of the Anzac Mounted Division remained camped in Palestine waiting for demobilisation, when one Anzac was shot and killed.</p> <p>The troops suspected Palestinians from the town of Sarafand al-âAmar were responsible and a group surrounded the town to demand justice. Their revenge was recorded as a <a href="https://nzhistory.govt.nz/page/anzac-troops-kill-arab-civilians-surafend" target="_blank">massacre of dozens of people</a> â <a href="https://www.palestinechronicle.com/the-sarafand-massacre-and-cover-up/" target="_blank">as many as 137</a> â who were bludgeoned and stabbed to death. The Anzacs then burned the town and nearby camps until the remaining residents were imprisoned or had fled and the town was destroyed.&nbsp;</p> <h2>The creation of Israel&nbsp;</h2> <p>After the British Empire withdrew in 1947, it handed over what it called the âproblem of Palestineâ to the United Nations, ending the British Mandate and establishing the State of Israel. This was when the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians, known as Al Nakba (the catastrophe) began.</p> <p>Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly thanked Anzac soldiers for their service and for paving the way for the creation of the âState of Israelâ.</p> <p>âAnzac soldiers are part of the history and memory of Israel⊠and had not the Australians and New Zealanders overthrown Ottoman rule in Palestine and Syria, the <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2018/11/2/more-than-a-century-on-the-balfour-declaration-explained" target="_blank">Balfour Declaration</a> would have remained mere ink on paper,â <a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-australian-new-zealand-leaders-mark-landmark-wwi-battle/" target="_blank">he said on the 100th anniversary</a> of the battle of Beersheba, attended by the then-Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.</p> <p>Turnbull also spoke at the event and said âthe battle has become part of our history, part of our psycheâ.</p> <p>âHad the Ottoman rule in Palestine and Syria not been overthrown by the Australians and the New Zealanders, the Balfour Declaration would have been empty words.</p> <p>â[The battle] secured the victory that did not create the state of Israel, but enabled its creation,â Turnbull said.</p> <p><i>Aleksandra Bliszczyk is the Deputy Editor of VICE Australia. Follow her on<a href="https://www.instagram.com/aleksbliszczyk/?hl=en" target="_blank"> Instagram</a>.</i></p> <p><i>Get the story that matters most each day. <a href="https://pedestrian.us1.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=2c631b380f2015e8f93fcbc5b&amp;id=77eb92cd03" target="_blank">Subscribe to Australia Todayâs daily newsletter here</a>.</i></p></div> <p>In only 6 years time, the entirety of New Zealandâs âiGenerationâ (has anyone ever called it that?) will be eligible to vote. From that point, weâll theoretically take up about half of the voting body.&nbsp;</p> <p>In 15-20 years, about half of the older age group voters will drop off â or rather, we will encroach on their territory, becoming the main body of voters, with Gen Xers above us and Gen Alpha below.&nbsp;</p> <p>So, in the grand scheme of things, our time to shine is not too far away.&nbsp;</p> <p>Gen Z is arguably in competition with boomers for being the most vocal about their political views online. No generation can be defined by a singular political outlook, but you do get the sense â from perusing everything from X to TikTok to Instagram â that a minority of people under 25 fall into the liberal camp.&nbsp;</p> <p>Maybe itâs because of the echo chamber. Maybe itâs because Gen Y and Z either lean super vocal or say nothing at all.&nbsp;</p> <p>And maybe itâs because the glimmer of idealism has always been associated with youth â although, for a generation facing the 11th hour of climate change, the desperation for change is more than just a matter of preference.&nbsp;</p> <div><p class="article__text--dropcap">Thereâs something in the Indigenous experience, and perhaps in the experiences of all marginalised peoples, that makes us naturally, incredibly funny.</p> <p>In a world where our existence is challenged and our <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsoc.2021.613340/full#:~:text=Tino%20rangatiratanga%20can%20mean%20self,which%20fully%20encapsulates%20its%20meaning." target="_blank">tino rangatiratanga</a> is encroached upon, our humour persists. Thatâs because joy is resistance. In our shared humour we relish in an understanding that doesnât need to be explained, or toned down, or diluted.&nbsp;</p> <p>Iâve been a comic in Aotearoa professionally for almost four years, and in that time Iâve managed to surmise a couple of things.&nbsp;</p> <p>In 2021, I performed for the first time in the NZ International Comedy Fest as a member of Bull Rush, an improv group I still perform with. I remember going to the closing night event with my improv buddies and looking around the room. It wasnât entirely white: The Frickin Dangerous Bro boys, Pax Assadi, Jamaine Ross and James Roque were all there. And Angella Dravid and James Nokise were also present. At the time, I was one of only three Samoan performers in the festival.&nbsp;</p> <p>If youâve been on any Facebook comment thread or internet hellhole forum about New Zealand TV recently, youâd be aware that a lot of our programming, apparently, has fallen victim to the plague of âgoing wokeâ. And for many brown comedians, like myself, this means a small but significant increase in work.&nbsp;</p> <p>Many of us find ourselves being ushered into spaces to make things appear more colourful and inclusive. But in doing so we are loaded with the burden of being tokenised. Frankly, itâs exhausting. And harmful. It can feel like weâre simply there to shroud the reality of bias against our people. Being a token in any space hides a structural disengagement with the entirety of our culture, our <a href="https://teara.govt.nz/en/whakapapa-genealogy" target="_blank">whakapapa</a>, our laughter and our pain. By being here, on this stage, surely my presence signifies the end of racism in the New Zealand comedy industry, right?&nbsp;</p> <p>Not quite.&nbsp;</p> <p class="article__pull-quote">For a long time (and not just in Aotearoa) the term âaudiences'' has been synonymous with âwhite people.â</p> <p>The New Zealand Comedy Industry has always skewed towards a <a href="https://teara.govt.nz/en/cultural-go-betweens/page-2" target="_blank">pÄkehÄ</a> lens.&nbsp;</p> <p>Our nationâs most famous comic, William James Te Wehi Taitoko, changed his name to âBilly T Jamesâ because the pronunciation was easier for Australians. That name was rearranged and anglicised for the ease of pÄkehÄ ears and has since adorned our nation's most coveted comedy award, an act towards assimilation, so as not to deter his white audience.</p> <p>Over the decades, many revered comedians of colour have bent their personas to appease pÄkehÄ for career benefit, and in doing so fed into harm towards our communities. Some of Taitokoâs own work is often a talking point in the portrayal of MÄori identity for its part in enforcing harmful stereotypes.</p> <div class="article__embed" data-related-article="true" data-children-count="0"><div data-iframely-id="08dwnpC" class="article__embed article__embed--iframely"><div style="left:0;width:100%;height:0;position:relative;padding-bottom:56.25%"><iframe data-iframely-url="//oembed.vice.com/08dwnpC" data-img="" style="top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;position:absolute;border:0" allowfullscreen="" allow="encrypted-media *;" frameborder="0" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></iframe></div></div></div> <p>Racism, of course, is fuelled by normalisation in the media like this. One needs only to look towards <i>broâTownâs</i> Jeff Da Maori and <i>Summer Heights High</i>âs Jonah Takalua for their roles in proliferating harmful stereotypes and anti-Indigenous racism.</p> <p>For a long time (and not just in Aotearoa) the term âaudiences'' has been synonymous with âwhite peopleâ. And the people that regularly come to comedy events â or the ones held by the central industry â are predominantly pÄkehÄ.&nbsp;</p> <p>âComedyâ in Aotearoa is viewed as a âwhite thingâ by a lot of brown communities. There are multiple exceptions but there seems to be minimal representation for our communities in the most visible spaces. As a brown comedian who does improv comedy almost every Friday night, I comfortably say that brown audiences have not yet recognised their place in our audiences. And understandably so. Representation can foster a hostile environment when it reduces the vastness of our community into a token or caricature. In some cases, it can foster the longevity of the stereotype.&nbsp;</p> <p>And it is an exhausting conversation topic, particularly for the underrepresented. In the turning tide of âdiversity-hireâ culture, people of marginalised communities are burdened with responsibilities far beyond the call of our actual jobs. As my friend and collaborator Joel McCarthy once said after a particularly challenging call: âItâs fucking exhausting having to pioneer everythingâ.&nbsp;</p> <p>It <i>is</i> exhausting trying to figure out how to make a living in this industry while doing right by ourselves and by the people we stand with. These structures that coerce us into assimilating into (and making allowances for) pÄkehÄ culture are exhausting and, sometimes, dangerous. They can be dangerous to us who risk token elevation as a model minority, and to our communities, who continue to experience the very real and very relentless structural problems that cause collective harm.&nbsp;</p> <p>For some time now the New Zealand comedy industry has found itself pondering questions that many other institutions in this modern age also find themselves pondering.&nbsp;</p> <p>As we look at the massively evident disparity in representation, weâre forced to grapple with the intersections of our society and the way it uplifts a specific type of person above most others.&nbsp;</p> <p>But if tokenized MÄori and Pasifika are being hired for being palatable to a white sensibility, then what good does this really do for our communities? And if we signify to our communities that whiteness is aspirational, then what message are we sending? To fight for a single chair? The smallest chair at the table; the littlest token of funding; a gestural hui. If we operate from the assumption that our communities enjoy laughing, our scope becomes so much wider.&nbsp;</p> <p>Many of our most successful comedians are creating online. Creators like Janaye Henry, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/kumara_chipz/?hl=en" target="_blank">Kura Turuwhenua</a>, Timprovise and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/memoirsofamaori/?hl=en" target="_blank">Charde Heremaia</a> are meeting our audiences where they are. They ask the obvious question: If spaces like the theatre and the comedy club are inaccessible (both financially and geographically), then why not provide laughter in their homes?&nbsp;</p> <p>For decades, the comedy industry has clung to television as its path of ascension, but as the digital age shifts away from terrestrial television, so too do the audiences. Audiences want entertainment that speaks to their reality, that reflects themselves honestly. Itâs increasingly hard to do that on a platform where the viewership, and the funding, is gradually being taken away. Not to say these people donât draw audiences â Kura sold out her shows last year in the NZ Comedy Fest, and Tim sold an 80% house at Q Rangatira for a live record of his podcast âHonest To Who?â.</p> <p>But in a system that depends upon bums-on-seats, the hundreds of thousands of global audience members that are viewing and engaging with online content apparently donât speak to someoneâs comedic credibility.&nbsp;</p> <p>In cinema, television, and international media there has been some increased visibility for MÄori, Pasifika and POC comedians, as well as comedians from all backgrounds. Bubbah on <i>Taskmaster; </i>Courtney Dawson on <i>Celebrity Treasure Island</i>; Kalyani Nagarajan in <i>Raised By Refugees. </i>And thatâs just off the top of my head. But there are still significant (and obvious) milestones still to be reached. The industry may be improving, but there is a long â and necessary â way to go. And while these new opportunities are being embraced, the people tackling them have not appeared out of nowhere. They have been honing their skills, working, standing in the face of an industry that largely ignores them or asks them to play a specific role and That Role Only.</p> <p>In an essay written in 2019, Guy Williams posed the question: â<a href="https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/stage-and-theatre/112904284/guy-williams-where-are-all-the-maori-comedians" target="_blank">where are all the MÄori comedians?</a>â What youâre reading here is my attempt at responding to this pÄtai. In response to it, I find myself asking questions in return: Where are you looking for us? What efforts are you making to look for Indigenous Pacific comedians? In free backyard shows put on by comedians from our South Auckland communities? In the performing arts buildings in East Coast schools? In the under-resourced high school arts programmes? In brown arts collectives working by, and for, our communities? We are here. You will find us here.&nbsp;</p> <p>And for all we are doing to build our community, away from the pressures of stereotyping, tokenism and assimilation, we are not without challenges for funding.&nbsp;</p> <p>The question here isnât, and has never been, in regards to where we <i>are. </i>The question should be: where are you <i>looking </i>for us? Or where do you want us to be for you to acknowledge us? For funders to acknowledge our craft? And for those of us working in this industry: who do we have to be for our work to be acknowledged?&nbsp;</p> <p>When the New Zealand Comedy Industry is mostly centralised in one building in the heart of the Auckland CBD, the type of audience that gets drawn to these shows begins to narrow significantly. Whiteness, as a pervasive attitude, can feel unsafe for a lot of people. Colonial Patriarchy is another structure rooted in whiteness, and when we see a line up dominated by male comics who appease colonial and patriarchal tastes, we ought to ask if our venues are environments that welcome a full spectrum of talent and audience.&nbsp;</p> <p>If you ask me where all the MÄori comedians are, I will tell you that they are here, in Aotearoa. Whether or not we are acknowledged and supported is, of course, another question.</p> <p><i>Bailey Poching is a comedian, actor and writer based in TÄmaki Makaurau.</i></p></div> <p>&nbsp;So many people find themselves churning through the motions of an intensely liberal outlook in their teen years before easing up on a few of those beliefs when entering adulthood. Past arguments with parents who donât agree that âall landlords are morally corruptâ can make you feel a bit squeamish when youâre 35 and seeking renters to help you pay your mortgage.&nbsp;</p> <p>Thereâs also a shifting line in the sand when it comes to what we consider conservative and progressive. Famed feminist Germaine Greer shocked many when she made anti-trans comments in 2015, and it goes to show that being on the front line of a progressive school of thought doesnât mean youâll remain there.&nbsp;</p> <p>Victoria Universityâs Head of Political Science Simon Keller told VICE political opinions of young people will change as they get older. âPerhaps they will become more economically conservative, but I am confident that they never take what we presently regard as conservative positions on sexuality and gender,â said Keller.</p> <p>In the 2023 election, the age bracket with the highest percentage of voters was 65-69-year-olds.&nbsp; The lowest was <a href="https://elections.nz/democracy-in-nz/historical-events/2023-general-election/voter-turnout-statistics/">between 25 and 29</a> â young millennials and older Gen Z.&nbsp;</p> <p>Richard Shaw, Professor of Politics at Massey University, says âvoting and not voting are habit forming.â&nbsp;</p> <p>âIrrespective of the size of the GenY/Z cohort, if they're not used to voting they may just stay away from the formal political process â which would mean that older generations still have influence over electoral and other outcomes,â he says.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>So, sure, our time is gonna come â but whether we take advantage of that is another question entirely.&nbsp;</p> <p><em>Rachel Barker is a writer / producer at VICE NZ in Aotearoa. You can find her @rachellydiab on IG and Letterboxd and see her film criticism on<a href="https://www.youtube.com/@girlonfilm4551"> Youtube</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;</em></p> </description>
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<title>Australia's Massive Military Budget</title>
<description><figure><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/articles/66444ef0fc3a24f9da345607/lede/1715842120352-gettyimages-1436363944.jpeg" alt="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"><figcaption></figcaption></figure> <p>The 2025 federal budget announced on Tuesday <a href="https://www.minister.defence.gov.au/media-releases/2024-05-14/generational-investment-australias-defence"><span>committed an additional $50.3 billion</span></a> to defence over the next decade, bringing our 10-year defence spending to $764.6 billion.</p> <p>$764.6 billion is an extraordinary amount of money, more than double the initial <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/k7z5by/stage-three-tax-cuts-change">cost of the controversial stage 3 tax cuts</a> that have since been amended.</p> <p>To put $700 billion in perspective â making undergraduate university degrees completely free for all domestic students would cost about $7 billion a year or $70 billion over 10 years, <a href="https://futurework.org.au/report/at-the-crossroads/"><span>according to the Australia Institute</span></a>. Just 10 per cent of the defence budget.</p> <p>With the new federal budget, the annual defence bill will hit a record of $53 billion this year, <a href="https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/pubs/rp/BudgetReview202021/AustralianGovernmentExpenditure"><span>up from $39 billion last year</span></a>, and is projected to surpass $100 billion annually by 2033, or 2.4 per cent of our GDP.</p> <p>This is part of a massive defence shakeup to âkeep Australia safeâ amid what the <a href="https://twitter.com/RichardMarlesMP/status/1780423930035253415/photo/1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1780423930035253415%7Ctwgr%5E26106fef105a8d5f345bf2bd806c321fc1f57b4e%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sbs.com.au%2Fnews%2Farticle%2Faustralias-defence-budget-set-to-increase-by-50-billion-over-the-next-decade%2F04c2x7teq"><span>Defence Minister Richard Marles called</span></a> the most challenging strategic environment since World War II.</p> <p>So, just looking at the bonuses included in this budget, defence got an extra $5 billion for this year alone.</p> <p>Thatâs more than Commonwealth Rent Assistance that, for just this year, <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@viceautoday/video/7369016467712527624"><span>gets an extra $500 million</span></a>; more than the $600 million boost to Services Australia, for more staff to help manage the backlog of people trying to access welfare payments; more than the <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@viceautoday/video/7365670312584678664"><span>changes to HECS indexation</span></a> thatâll cost about $3 billion in foregone revenue; and more than the $3.5 billion cost of living relief package in the form of $300 electricity bill rebates for every household.</p> <div><p>At least one NSW Police officer was seen wearing âthin blue lineâ Australian flag patch at a pro-Palestine rally in Sydneyâs Port Botany on Sunday, where 19 people were arrested.</p> <p>Legal Observers New South Wales (LONSW), who attended the rally to witness and document interactions between <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/5d9qkq/melbourne-students-school-strike-for-palestine" target="_blank">activists</a> and police, said âseveralâ officers wore the patches displaying the iconography that has been co-opted by and is now associated with far-right extremist movements.</p> <p>They reported âmany of these officers were the most aggressive with protestorsâ, who were there to blockade Israeli shipping company ZIM that uses the docks. ZIM has been associated with the Israeli military and its killing of Palestinians in Gaza.</p> <p>LONSW also accused police of demonstrating excessive force, throwing several protestors to the ground, using restraint techniques associated with restraint asphyxia, and âviolently pushing manyâ before arresting people for disrupting commerce and trade under <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/jg5nn4/nsw-police-anti-protest-laws" target="_blank">NSWâs harsh anti-protest laws</a>.</p> <p>NSW Police told <i>Guardian Australia</i> the force had ânot received any reports of an officer wearing the patch which is not part of the standard NSWPF uniformâ and that the force respected peopleâs right to protest at the port.</p> <p>But NSW Council for Civil Liberties president Lydia Shelly said the policing of protests in NSW was now âout of controlâ.</p> <div class="article__embed article__embed--vice" data-related-article="true" data-children-count="0"><iframe src="https://www.vice.com/en_au/embed/article/v7bnd8/embed" frameborder="0" style="border:0px none;margin:0px" allowfullscreen="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></iframe></div> <p>âWe are extremely concerned that at the Port Botany protest, Legal Observers NSW observed several police officers wearing a patch that is not part of the standard police issued uniform which has been associated with right-wing extremism,â she said in a <a href="https://www.nswccl.org.au/media_statement_police_response_to_antigenocide_protests" target="_blank">statement</a>.</p> <p>âWe have called on the Premier, the Attorney General and the Police Commissioner to meet with us to discuss concerns about police conduct towards peaceful protestors and legal observers [and] so far, our requests have been denied.â</p> <h2>Misuse of police powers at weekly free Palestine rallies</h2> <p>Legal Observers NSW has attended 14 <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/g5y849/thousands-rally-across-australia-in-solidarity-with-palestine-israel-war" target="_blank">weekly free Palestine street rallies</a> in Sydneyâs CBD and several actions at Port Botany since October and over those months has complied a eight-page report, documenting police behaviour towards protestors including instances of misuse of police powers.</p> <p>âThe <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/3ak4z9/what-have-free-palestine-rallies-australia-achieved" target="_blank">policing of these rallies</a> has been marked by ubiquitous surveillance, police and state pushback and the deployment of higher than usual levels of police resources, including a new protest-focused taskforce âOperation Mealingâ and&nbsp;pro-Palestinian activity focused âOperation Shelterâ, the report reads.</p> <p>Many incidents of misuse of powers in the report document police violence, but many cases of non-violent misuse of powers are also reported, including police asking protestors to remove face coverings, employing mobile CCTV towers at protests, and stopping cars displaying <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/n7eyj8/womad-ziggy-marley-palestine" target="_blank">Palestinian flags</a>, requiring them to remove the flags, then issuing fines for minor infringements such as P plates being tucked under a number plate as the reason for the stop.</p> <p>The report also notes the NSW Police presence at Sydneyâs weekly pro-Palestine rallies is 100-150 officers at the cost of $220,000 a week, despite no incidents of violence or disturbances occurring at the protests.</p> <p>One example the report singles out is as many as 50 police being deployed to guard the <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/epv7qz/mcdonalds-sales-misinformation-israel-boycott" target="_blank">Starbucks</a> on Elizabeth Street despite no incidents occurring in relation to the location.</p> <p>âThe reliance on high visibility policing unduly criminalises protestors and puts them at risk of police assault,â Adam al-Hayek, a spokesperson for LONSW, told VICE.</p> <div class="article__embed article__embed--vice" data-related-article="true" data-children-count="0"><iframe src="https://www.vice.com/en_au/embed/article/epv9gp/embed" frameborder="0" style="border:0px none;margin:0px" allowfullscreen="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></iframe></div> <p>âThe weekly street rallies are well-managed by marshals and do not require the deployment of 100-150 police officers whose primary function appears to be surveilling and harassing protestors.â</p> <p>NSW Greens MP Sue Higginson said the report painted a dark picture of the state of the police force.</p> <p>âThe findings released in todayâs independent observer report are deeply worrying and point to the creeping militarisation and criminalisation in response to peaceful protestors from the NSW Police Force,â Higginson told VICE.</p> <p>âThe highly-militarised state of police deployment we have seen week after week at an event that has consistently been compliant, peaceful and driven by <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/ak39zj/cancelled-palestine-visas-australia" target="_blank">Palestinian community</a> members and families is plainly out of proportion.</p> <p>âItâs time for our police to work with, not against, all members of the community. We want a policing regime that supports healthy, peaceful, democratic action. To achieve this we must demilitarise and deweaponise our general duty police and urgently begin the serious reforms needed to move us towards a policing-by-consent model that supports the integrity of both officers and community members.â</p> <p><i>Aleksandra Bliszczyk is the Deputy Editor of VICE Australia. Follow her on<a href="https://www.instagram.com/aleksbliszczyk/?hl=en" target="_blank"> Instagram</a>.</i></p> <p><i>Get the story that matters most each day. <a href="https://pedestrian.us1.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=2c631b380f2015e8f93fcbc5b&amp;id=77eb92cd03" target="_blank">Subscribe to Australia Todayâs daily newsletter here</a>.</i></p></div> <p>Also compare the $5 extra billion dollars for defence with the <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@viceautoday/video/7367169227117153554"><span>extra $50 million for endometriosis consultation subsidies</span></a>, or the extra $73 million a year to mental health, to establish a national digital mental health referral service, or the $185 million per year to domestic violence victims, <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@viceautoday/video/7363923077400366344"><span>going to the Leaving Violence Program</span></a> that offers $5000 payments to people fleeing abusive homes.</p> <p>To explain a couple of those furtherâŠ</p> <p>Rent Assistance is going up â $19 a fortnight for singles as part of the government's plan to tackle the housing and <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/4a3mvp/coles-woolies-prices-fines">cost of living</a> crisis in its 2025 federal budget.</p> <p>The maximum Commonwealth Rent Assistance payment will increase by 10 per cent from September this year, which will benefit about 1 million recipients on that rate.</p> <p>The current highest payment for a single person is $188.20 a fortnight, or $125.47 for a single person in a <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/5d9a7q/sharehouse-demand-sydney-melbourne-rental">sharehouse</a>, and those will go up $18.80.</p> <p>For families or parents with three or more children it will go up $25 a fortnight to $274.90 a fortnight. </p> <p>This is also before the payments are indexed according to inflation which treasurer Jim Chalmers will add another 5 per cent. to all payments.</p> <p>It will cost the government an additional $1.9 billion over the next five years.</p> <p>The government will also wipe $3 billion of student debt by changing the way itâs indexed. </p> <p>The new move caps the rate of indexation to make sure your debt canât rise faster than your <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/bvjkxq/award-wage-pay-rise">wages</a>. So currently HECS or HELP loans rise a percentage every year according to the CPI, the consumer price index. Thatâs the measure of how the cost of goods and services rise over time. But the WPI, the wage price index measures the rate, on average, of wage growth. So now the government will introduce legislation that means student loan indexation will be calculated on whichever is lower each year, the CPI or the WPI.</p> <p>The policy will also be backdated to June 1, 2023, which means last year's historically high 7.1 per cent indexation will be more than halved to the WPI of of the time which was 3.2 per cent.</p> <p>This will cancel hundreds if not thousands of dollars from most peopleâs HECS debts and mean indexation this year and in future years will be lower than expected and mean that theyâll never grow so fast to the point where the growth outpaces the mandatory repayments from your paychecks.&nbsp;</p> <p><em>Aleksandra Bliszczyk is the Deputy Editor of VICE Australia. Follow her on<a href="https://www.instagram.com/aleksbliszczyk/?hl=en"> Instagram</a>.</em></p> </description>
<link>https://vice.com/en/article/93kjk3/military-budget</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://vice.com/en/article/93kjk3/military-budget</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 16 May 2024 07:01:04 GMT</pubDate>
<author>Aleksandra Bliszczyk, Aleksandra Bliszczyk</author>
<category>Australia Today</category>
<category>Politics</category>
<category>Australia</category>
</item>
<item>
<title>The Government Is Making Porn a Scapegoat for Rising Violence Against Women</title>
<description><figure><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/articles/6632f151934d4280f82fc7a7/lede/1714618063713-gettyimages-2150387211.jpeg" alt="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"><figcaption></figcaption></figure> <p>On Wednesday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced a $925 million initiative to help people flee abusive relationships after a recent uptick in violence against women in Australia. State, territory and federal leaders, who met for an urgent national cabinet meeting following nationwide rallies, also committed to implementing a series of interventions to address young peopleâs access to extreme online misogyny; which specifically cited âviolent <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/topic/porn">pornography</a>â.</p> <p>As a sex worker, the most concerning part of this conversation is the use of the sex industry as a political scapegoat for menâs violence.&nbsp;</p> <p>Letâs be clear: the porn industry was never created to provide <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/y3vvqw/we-asked-people-about-their-terrible-high-school-sex-ed-experiences">sex education</a> to children. But letâs also be honest: if your child is actively seeking out pornography, or so-called âviolent pornographyâ, perhaps thereâs a gap in their learning about sex and sexuality that the education system or a guardian has failed to fill.&nbsp;</p> <p>To prioritise limiting young peopleâs access to pornography and framing certain categories as âviolentâ shows how quickly Australian politicians, <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/88xevp/why-talking-about-sex-is-awkward">educators</a> and parents position themselves as the moral arbiters of sex work, rather than having honest and brave conversations with their kids about consent and sex.&nbsp;</p> <p>Not only do these sentiments perpetuate vilifying and victimising narratives about sex workers, they also simultaneously shift the responsibility of teaching young people about boundaries onto the very pornographers they claim to exhibit âviolenceâ.&nbsp;</p> <div style="max-width: 605px;"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 104.259%; padding-top: 120px;"><iframe src="https://oembed.vice.com/vLAkjup?app=1" style="top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; border: 0;" allowfullscreen="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></iframe></div></div> <p>Pornography <em>can</em> be a way for young people to learn and explore their sexuality in ways the current education system and discussions with their peers do not allow. This is not an endorsement, but it should be an opportunity to work out where we are letting children down on their journeys to self-discovery.</p> <div><p><i>This article originally appeared on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.vice.com/ro" target="_blank">VICE Romania</a>.</i></p> <p>I remember clearly how awkward <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/topic/sex" target="_blank">sex</a> and sex education seemed to me during high school. Since then, I've met guys who couldn't find the <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/topic/clitoris" target="_blank">clit</a> and would be intimidated if I showed them or told them what to do with it. After a while, I didn't even bother trying to explain unless there was a connection between us. Iâve also met guys who felt awkward when I asked them to stop. And Iâve always been struck by how often they tried to avoid any discussions about <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/topic/std" target="_blank">STDs</a>.</p> <p>Letâs face it: Most of these situations could have been avoided if theyâd received proper <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/topic/sex-education" target="_blank">sex education</a> in their school years. So I asked a few guys about the times they think sex ed would have saved them from making embarrassing, and sometimes terrible, mistakes. They shared their stories, using fake names for privacy reasons.</p> <h2>âI wish someone had told me that sperm doesn't travel through waterâ</h2> <p>âI was 19-years-old, my girlfriend was 17, and weâd been together for some time. Iâd never done anything sexual except for some intense touching. One evening we were home alone because her parents had gone on vacation, so we organised something romantic like in the movies. We filled the tub with water and bubbles, got undressed, and got in. We started kissing and caressing each other until, at some point, I ejaculated in the water.</p> <p>Her vagina was far away, but we both freaked out and couldn't sleep all night. The next morning, we went to the pharmacy to get the <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/d3a99m/morning-after-pill-plan-b-history-morality-emergency" target="_blank">morning-after pill</a>. I wish someone had told me that sperm doesn't travel through water and that it's almost impossible to get pregnant from a distance. We wouldâve both avoided a really bad fright.â - <i>Iustin, 26</i></p> <h2>âI thought women peed through their clitorisâ</h2> <p>âWhen I was a teenager, I thought women peed through their clitoris, so I would only stimulate it with my hands, never with my mouth. During the same period, when my then-girlfriend complained about her breasts hurting during ovulation, I suggested I should milk them to ease the pain. It just shows how much I knew about the female body at the time.â - <i>Mircea, 32</i></p> <h2>âI wish someone had told me that I needed to use a lot of lube and not pressure myself to take it all inâ</h2> <p>âI had one of my first sexual experiences â maybe even the first â when I was studying in Spain. I wanted to try anal sex with a man, but I was a bit reluctant. So one night I went out, got really drunk, flirted with a guy at the club, and then went home with him.</p> <div class="article__embed article__embed--vice" data-related-article="true" data-children-count="0"><iframe src="https://www.vice.com/en_uk/embed/article/k7w8qz/embed" frameborder="0" style="border:0px none;margin:0px" allowfullscreen="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></iframe></div> <p>In the room, I realised he had a really big penis, but I was drunk and didn't feel the discomfort. When I got home the next day, I realised I had some bad anal fissures and my anus hurt for a week.</p> <p>Because Iâd never had similar interactions before, I didn't know I was supposed to be careful and take it slow. Luckily, I could find information on the Internet, but I wish someone had told me I needed to use a lot of lube and not pressure myself to take it all in. I also would have liked someone to explain to me how to do an enema, so that I wouldn't get stomach pain or discharge.â <i>- Tony, 27</i></p> <h2>âI had to pay the price for my ignoranceâ</h2> <p>âWhen I think of sex education, I remember a teacher doing a demonstration with a banana and a condom in uni, but thatâs pretty much it. I grew up without a father, and my mum and I never talked about sex. I learnt from older friends and from my own experience. Unfortunately, sometimes I had to pay the price for my ignorance.</p> <div class="article__embed article__embed--vice" data-related-article="true" data-children-count="0"><iframe src="https://www.vice.com/en_uk/embed/article/m7vyk4/embed" frameborder="0" style="border:0px none;margin:0px" allowfullscreen="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></iframe></div> <p>At one point, a girl from another city, who Iâd partied with in the past, came to visit me. That night, we both drank too much and I was rougher than usual in bed. I had tried choking and butt slapping before, but this time I slapped her in the face. I didn't want to hurt her; I was just playing a fantasy.</p> <p>When I talked to her later, I realised how much my behaviour had shocked her. She was shocked at how ignorant I was about boundaries and consent. At the time, I didn't realise that it was a potentially sensitive situation we should have discussed beforehand, and that, without consent, my sex play was abusive and dehumanising towards her.</p> <p>Over time, I've learnt that itâs essential to get informed beforehand and that sex education is a lifelong process.â <i>- Vlad, 33</i></p></div> <p>Additionally, blanket views that all adult content is harmful or has harmful potential, and attempting to restrict young peopleâs access to it, often results in more barriers for sex workers online. Anti-trafficking laws that hold porn websites liable for promoting or facilitating sex work and trafficking introduced in the US in 2018 have been<a href="https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/5050/sex-workers-endangered-fosta-sesta-porn-us-free-speech-woodhull/"> <span>criticised for endangering sex workers further.</span></a> The<a href="https://scarletalliance.org.au/library/response-to-the-esafetys-call-for-evidence-on-age-verification/"> <span>UKâs implementation of age-verification systems online</span></a> has also been slammed by the sex work industry for over-regulation.&nbsp;</p> <p>Can I suggest just getting better parental controls on your devices?</p> <p>This is not the first time the responsibility of shaping well-behaved young men has been put on the sex industry. Last year, senior Liberal Party member Sussan Ley suggested<a href="https://womensagenda.com.au/politics/sussan-ley-misses-fundamental-point-in-calling-for-strip-club-ban/"> <span>a âpauseâ on the opening of new strip clubs</span></a>, citing concerns over the roles theses premises have in influencing young menâs attitudes towards women.&nbsp;</p> <p>But Leyâs attitude ignores the involvement of an autonomous, consenting person in the scenario.</p> <div><p>Being good at sex is somewhat of a myth, but if thereâs anyone whoâs got a handle of how to <i>have good sex</i> itâs the people who work in one of the worldâs most ancient jobs. We wanted some straightforward tips on fingering, dick sucking, oral and standard bouncing â so we asked. These tips arenât about to turn you into a <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/akexbg/how-to-make-a-sex-tape-according-to-a-former-porn-star" target="_blank">porn star</a>, but you might be surprised by the <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/5d38zk/missionary-sex-position-vice-guide" target="_blank">fundamentals of sex</a> that youâve missed.</p> <p>Needless to say, itâs better to ask the specific person youâre sleeping with what <i>they</i> like â all sexual experiences are subjective â but sleeping with tens if not hundreds of people for work does give you a few clues as to what gets <i>most</i> people off. Itâs all well and good to tell people that âconfidence is keyâ or to just âenjoy themselvesâ, but it turns out there are more than a few ways to turn a trick that can be applied to anyoneâs everyday sex life.</p> <p>We went to <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/n7zxy8/a-glossary-of-sex-worker-terminology" target="_blank">the experts</a>: in this case, sex workers Lily, Mia, Samantha and Becca of PĆnekeâs The Bedroom, and hereâs what they had to sayâŠ</p> <h2>Letâs get some basic sex dos and donâts out of the way:</h2> <p>Having good hygiene is a given (including good breath). Commenting on someoneâs weight or appearance is a no-go unless itâs an absolute compliment.</p> <p>And there are a few areas that unquestionably require discussion:</p> <p>Anal or butt play? <i>Discuss it.</i></p> <p>Anything that <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/jgmv48/what-is-kinky-sex" target="_blank">leaves a mark</a>? <i>Discuss it.</i>&nbsp;Bites, bruises and rope burns can put someone in an uncomfortable situation at work or home, so making sure the person being marked is ok with it is a must.</p> <p>Where youâre gonna <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/epz8n4/my-sex-life-with-a-semen-allergy" target="_blank">cum</a>? <i>Discuss it.</i>&nbsp;Thereâs nothing less sexy than someone ruining your makeup or freshly washed hair. And if the <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/3adjv9/how-to-make-safer-sex-hot" target="_blank">contraceptive situation</a> hasnât been made clear, not double checking that your landing pad is approved could end in genuine disaster.</p> <p>With that aside, letâs get into some of the specifics. Hereâs what our sex-work overseers had to say:</p> <h2>HOW TO: HANDJOBS</h2> <p><i>âI always start slow. Be aware of how sensitive their area is and really ease into it. Remember how many nerve endings there are. It is friction!â</i> - Mia</p> <p><i>âUse saliva and lube.â</i>&nbsp; - Samantha</p> <p><i>âIf the handjob goes on too long men [can] lose sensitivity, so you're actually better to stop doing the handjob altogether. Give it a rest and then try again.â</i> - Lily</p> <p><i>âEven if you're not being touched, they want to see that you're into them being aroused. They want to see you turned on as well.â</i> - Samantha</p> <h2>HOW TO: FINGERING</h2> <p><i>âDonât finger a dry pussy really hard. Youâll <a href="https://www.medicinenet.com/can_you_get_thrush_sexually/article.htm" target="_blank">give them thrush.</a>â</i> - Lily</p> <div class="article__embed article__embed--vice" data-related-article="true" data-children-count="0"><iframe src="https://www.vice.com/en_nz/embed/article/93k8dv/embed" frameborder="0" style="border:0px none;margin:0px" allowfullscreen="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></iframe></div> <p><i>âI love my butt being played with, but if youâre gonna put your finger in my butt then in my pussy, all Iâm thinking is urine infection. So donât do that. Itâs hygiene yâknow.â&nbsp; -</i> Mia</p> <p><i>âDefinitely donât start by shoving three fingers in someone at once. You can build up to it, but thatâs not a sexy way to start.â</i> - Becca</p> <p><i>âA finger and clitoral rub at the same time is the best. Fingers in, thumb on clit.â</i> - Lily</p> <p><i>âDonât shove your knuckles into the coochie because they donât do anything.â</i> - Mia</p> <h2>HOW TO SUCK DICK</h2> <p><i>âUse your hand at the base like it's half-hand-job-half-blow-job. Just using your mouth, a lot of men wonât cum.â -</i> Lily</p> <p><i>âGo from the outside, inwards. Lead up from touching the thighs and then you move in and stimulate them⊠A lot of guys like the balls.â</i> - Samantha</p> <p><i>âThe men say it feels better without the condom. Supposedly thereâs a lot of sensitivity lost.â -</i> Lily</p> <p><i>âI think the wetter the better. The more saliva, the more it feels like a pussy.â -</i> Lily</p> <h2>HOW TO EAT SOMEONE OUT</h2> <p><i>âWith facial hair, the smoother the better, or be hairy. But prickly hurts. Itâs like sandpaper.â -</i> Mia</p> <p><i>âDoing the alphabet with your tongue, that was a Cosmopolitan tip⊠donât do that. Donât motorboat. Donât bite. Donât blow. Donât hum. Thatâs another Cosmo tip. It's just weird.â</i> - Lily</p> <p><i>âYouâre sensitive in areas that arenât normally touched, so incorporate the inner thighs, or holding the hips and touching those creases. Do all that kind of stuff as the lead-up, outside of the vagina, and then slowly work your way in.â</i> - Samantha</p> <p><i>âPutting your tongue into the actual vagina doesnât feel that good⊠Itâs not a dick. You wouldnât make someone cum from it.â</i> - Becca</p> <p><i>âThe person needs to be honest if theyâre not into [eating me out]. Because I can tell if theyâre not enjoying it and then I feel like Iâm torturing them.â</i> - Samantha</p> <h2>HOW TO HAVE INTERCOURSE</h2> <p><i>âReplicating what youâve seen in porn is really dangerous and also really obvious. You should never come straight into a sexual encounter with someone you donât know well and choke and slap them. Itâs embarrassing and uncomfortable.â</i> - Becca</p> <div class="article__embed article__embed--vice" data-related-article="true" data-children-count="0"><iframe src="https://www.vice.com/en_nz/embed/article/7kxwnb/embed" frameborder="0" style="border:0px none;margin:0px" allowfullscreen="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></iframe></div> <p><i>âIf there's a massive size difference between you and your partner, be aware to hold your own weight when youâre on top. It happened to me with a partner who was bigger than me, and heâd rest all his weight on me and Iâd start panicking because I couldnât breathe.â</i> - Samantha</p> <p><i>âJackhammering can be painful if youâre not in the mood for it. Just be aware. They have a pelvic bone. They have a cervix. And youâre banging up against it.â -</i> Becca</p> <p><i>âIf sheâs invested in lingerie let her wear it for ten minutes. If sheâs feeling sexy and sheâs dolled herself up, a suspender belt, stockings, donât just rip it off straight away. Make her feel beautiful in what sheâs wearing. And then sheâll want to dress up for you more because youâve shown you appreciate it.â</i> - Lily</p> <p><i>âKiss during sex! It makes you feel so rejected if someone stops kissing you as soon as you start fucking. Itâs awkward.â</i> - Becca</p> <h2>THE âFEEL GOODâ FACTOR</h2> <p><i>âYou've got to be able to pick up what they're feeling. You need to be very in tune with other people. In real layman's examples, itâs whether you'd say like, âI want you to fuck meâ or âI want to make love to youâ. It's a bit of emotional intelligence.â</i> - Samantha</p> <p><i>âI think if one person stands to gain more from the experience than the other, then it's not something that's gonna be enjoyable</i>.â - Mia</p> <p><i>"You can ask what they want without it ruining the mood. Just saying, âDoes it feel good?â âDo you want it faster?â or âWhat can I do for you?â It's not embarrassing.â</i> - Samantha</p> <p>In the end, everyone will have some <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/5d9g8b/worst-std-stories" target="_blank">mortifying moments</a> in their sexual lives and everyone will feel things <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/7kb9zx/how-an-extreme-new-curve-in-my-penis-changed-my-sex-life-peyronies-disease" target="_blank">differently</a> â and thatâs okay folks! We learn, we grow, we throb with undulating desire.</p> <p>We hope the wise words of our sex-worker friends can help you feel on top of the basics so that you know the sex youâre having feels good for everyone involved, inside <i>and</i> out.</p> <p><i>Rachel Barker is a writer / producer at VICE NZ in Aotearoa. You can find her @rachellydiab on IG and Letterboxd and see her film criticism on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@girlonfilm4551" target="_blank">Youtube</a>.</i></p></div> <p>I argue to Sussan Ley that any man who attends <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/y3wbb7/how-nzs-strippers-collectivised-against-allegations-of-bullying-and-harassment-at-work">strip clubs</a> as a ritualistic baptism into manhood will learn lifelong lessons about boundaries should they ever touch a dancer in a place they havenât consented to.</p> <p>The sex industry is not a handbook to intimacy that your child is a perceived victim of, and we should not be enabling men to blame their bad behaviour on porn consumption.&nbsp;</p> <p>All Australians, not just sex workers, should be mature enough to educate themselves and their children that the <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/qjvnem/vice-visits-the-australian-adult-industry-awards">adult industry</a> and porn are built on fantasy, and thatâs okay.&nbsp;</p> <p>When looking at menâs violence against women â very much a reality â letâs look at real solutions.&nbsp;</p> <p>The $925 million pledge <em>over five years,</em> while<a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-05-01/new-coercive-control-ad-campaign-launched-by-nsw-government/103787754"> <span>frontline services are desperate for funding</span></a>, is seriously inadequate. And the <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/jgpkeb/employers-sex-work-cost-of-living">cost of living</a> is continuously rising â making financial hardship a major contributing factor to womenâs inability to escape violent relationships. Meanwhile, the government also<a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/defence-spending-australia-national-strategy-integrated-investment-program/bceed0f7-971a-4c9b-bcb4-d4d76931c070"> <span>pledged a $50 billion boost to defence</span></a> over the next decade and Australiaâs own parliament canât even get its<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/media/2023/dec/08/bruce-lehrmann-brittany-higgins-parliament-house-defamation-trial-grips-australia-ntwnfb"> <span>sexual misconduct problem under control</span></a>.&nbsp;</p> <p>So who really is to blame?</p> <p><em>Darcy Deviant is a sex worker and writer based in Melbourne. Follow Darcy on Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/hole___money/">here</a>.</em></p> </description>
<link>https://vice.com/en/article/m7bngy/government-porn-violence-against-women</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://vice.com/en/article/m7bngy/government-porn-violence-against-women</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 02 May 2024 03:25:24 GMT</pubDate>
<author>Aleksandra Bliszczyk, Darcy Deviant</author>
<category>Australia Today</category>
<category>Politics</category>
<category>Australia</category>
<category>Sex</category>
<category>porn</category>
<category>sex work</category>
</item>
<item>
<title>How Long Until the Majority of Voters Are Gen Y and Gen Z?</title>
<description><figure><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/articles/6631aefa934d4280f82fc24a/lede/1714536022813-istock-1530809356.jpeg" alt="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"><figcaption>Image credit: istock</figcaption></figure> <p>From Brexit to Aotearoaâs own cannabis referendum, weâve seen older generations have the dominant vote on issues that will outlive them.&nbsp;</p> <p>The complaint often lobbied in these situations is that young voters are left living in the world created by those soon to leave it. And right now young people are a minority, fighting against an older class who (depending on who you ask) doesnât care for our future.&nbsp;</p> <p>About a quarter of the 3,688,292 total New Zealanders enrolled in last year's election are over 70.&nbsp;</p> <p>And Gen Y and Gen Z <em>are</em> currently the minority of eligible voters in New Zealand â with 1,598,352 18-44 year olds and 2,089,940 45+ year olds enrolled for the 2023 election.&nbsp;</p> <p>So how long will it be until we make up the majority? A change in the majority generation that makes up a voting block will definitely change how politicians approach policy, but is it really down to, well⊠how much time it takes for older people to die?</p> <p>People born into Generations Y and Z are currently between 12 and 43. This means most of us already <em>are</em> voting â or at least have the ability to.&nbsp;</p> <p>Last year, 452,882 eligible people between 18-44 didnât vote. Will the New Zealanders turning 18 in the next 6 years have the power to bring up those numbers? Itâs unlikely.&nbsp;</p> <div><p>Growing up in Australia, Anzac Day usually means chewy oat biscuits, poppy pins, excursions, trumpets and pretending to fathom what war was like 100 years ago after your teachers tell you to reflect on soldiersâ service and sacrifice during the minuteâs silence.</p> <p>But this year, a <a href="https://www.instagram.com/teachers4palestine_vic/?hl=en" target="_blank">collective</a> of pro-<a href="https://www.vice.com/en/topic/palestine" target="_blank">Palestine</a> school teachers in Victoria is challenging the ways our World War I soldiers are remembered and what aspects of our military history have long been left out of classrooms.&nbsp;</p> <p>The Teachers and <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/5d9qkq/melbourne-students-school-strike-for-palestine" target="_blank">School</a> Staff for Palestine group has this week called for the âAnzac mythologyâ to be âdismantledâ to make way for ârigorous, critical and empowering educationâ around campaigns and massacres in Palestine during WWI.</p> <p>âWe won't be used to convey myths that serve to normalise militarism, we won't use teaching and learning material designed to gloss over the violent imprint that <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/qjv58b/aid-workers-one-australian-killed-in-gaza-after-delivering-food" target="_blank">Australia has left in Palestine</a>,â Lucy Honan, a Teachers and School Staff for Palestine member and secondary history teacher, told VICE.&nbsp;</p> <p>âStudents should have an opportunity to question the official legend that Anzacs were sacrificing their lives for freedom, and think critically about Australia's commitment to the imperialist powers that lay the ground for the creation of Israel, and think about the consequences of this for Palestinians.â</p> <p>In recent months, the group has organised solidarity actions in schools, campaigned to remove <a href="https://www.theeducatoronline.com/k12/news/teachers-launch-boycott-of-stem-programs-funded-by-weapons-companies/284214#:~:text=%E2%80%9CThe%20Victorian%20Education%20Department%20is,School%20Staff%20for%20Palestine%20said." target="_blank">STEM programs sponsored by weapons manufacturers</a> from schools and published teaching materials including a booklet about Anzac campaigns in Palestine that lay the foundation for the creation of Israel.</p> <p>The teaching materials were compiled by the group through weeks of research, in response to âa dearth of teaching resources about the Anzacs in Palestine,â Honan said.</p> <p>âOur students want answers. What is happening in Gaza and why, who is implicated â and why are we being told we can't talk about it at school?â</p> <p>Victorian Education Minister Ben Carroll <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-11-27/victoria-teachers-palestine-solidarity-education-minister/103154342" target="_blank">warned state school teachers late last year</a> not to be political or participate in pro-Palestinian advocacy in schools and said such action was âinflammatory, it's divisive and only sows more seeds of disharmony in our communityâ.</p> <p>Honan said she wasnât surprised by these warnings but that they were contradictory.</p> <p>âBecause we refused to be neutral about the genocide in Gaza, we have been accused by politicians and the Education Department of being too political,â she said.</p> <p>âAnd yet, the agenda of militarism and unthinking nationalism in our schools is overwhelming.â</p> <p>Teachers and School Staff for Palestine hope their resources will help and encourage teachers to think more critically about their history curriculums and allow students the opportunity to question what they are taught and why.</p> <p>âLet teachers teach honestly,â she said.</p> <p>âTeachers must be empowered and supported to teach about Palestine.â</p> <h2>What did the Anzacs do in Palestine?&nbsp;</h2> <p>In 1917, the <a href="https://anzacportal.dva.gov.au/wars-and-missions/ww1/where-australians-served/sinai-and-palestine" target="_blank">ANZACs invaded Palestine</a> to fight the Ottoman Army and, after the third Battle of Gaza on October 31, successfully took control of the land and the people in the name of the British Empire.</p> <p>The final battle of Gaza also included the Allied attack on Beersheba, which had a majority Palestinian Arab population and was captured from the Ottoman Empire.&nbsp;</p> <h2>The Sarafand al-âAmar massacre</h2> <p>The following year, the three brigades of the Anzac Mounted Division remained camped in Palestine waiting for demobilisation, when one Anzac was shot and killed.</p> <p>The troops suspected Palestinians from the town of Sarafand al-âAmar were responsible and a group surrounded the town to demand justice. Their revenge was recorded as a <a href="https://nzhistory.govt.nz/page/anzac-troops-kill-arab-civilians-surafend" target="_blank">massacre of dozens of people</a> â <a href="https://www.palestinechronicle.com/the-sarafand-massacre-and-cover-up/" target="_blank">as many as 137</a> â who were bludgeoned and stabbed to death. The Anzacs then burned the town and nearby camps until the remaining residents were imprisoned or had fled and the town was destroyed.&nbsp;</p> <h2>The creation of Israel&nbsp;</h2> <p>After the British Empire withdrew in 1947, it handed over what it called the âproblem of Palestineâ to the United Nations, ending the British Mandate and establishing the State of Israel. This was when the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians, known as Al Nakba (the catastrophe) began.</p> <p>Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly thanked Anzac soldiers for their service and for paving the way for the creation of the âState of Israelâ.</p> <p>âAnzac soldiers are part of the history and memory of Israel⊠and had not the Australians and New Zealanders overthrown Ottoman rule in Palestine and Syria, the <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2018/11/2/more-than-a-century-on-the-balfour-declaration-explained" target="_blank">Balfour Declaration</a> would have remained mere ink on paper,â <a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-australian-new-zealand-leaders-mark-landmark-wwi-battle/" target="_blank">he said on the 100th anniversary</a> of the battle of Beersheba, attended by the then-Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.</p> <p>Turnbull also spoke at the event and said âthe battle has become part of our history, part of our psycheâ.</p> <p>âHad the Ottoman rule in Palestine and Syria not been overthrown by the Australians and the New Zealanders, the Balfour Declaration would have been empty words.</p> <p>â[The battle] secured the victory that did not create the state of Israel, but enabled its creation,â Turnbull said.</p> <p><i>Aleksandra Bliszczyk is the Deputy Editor of VICE Australia. Follow her on<a href="https://www.instagram.com/aleksbliszczyk/?hl=en" target="_blank"> Instagram</a>.</i></p> <p><i>Get the story that matters most each day. <a href="https://pedestrian.us1.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=2c631b380f2015e8f93fcbc5b&amp;id=77eb92cd03" target="_blank">Subscribe to Australia Todayâs daily newsletter here</a>.</i></p></div> <p>In only 6 years time, the entirety of New Zealandâs âiGenerationâ (has anyone ever called it that?) will be eligible to vote. From that point, weâll theoretically take up about half of the voting body.&nbsp;</p> <p>In 15-20 years, about half of the older age group voters will drop off â or rather, we will encroach on their territory, becoming the main body of voters, with Gen Xers above us and Gen Alpha below.&nbsp;</p> <p>So, in the grand scheme of things, our time to shine is not too far away.&nbsp;</p> <p>Gen Z is arguably in competition with boomers for being the most vocal about their political views online. No generation can be defined by a singular political outlook, but you do get the sense â from perusing everything from X to TikTok to Instagram â that a minority of people under 25 fall into the liberal camp.&nbsp;</p> <p>Maybe itâs because of the echo chamber. Maybe itâs because Gen Y and Z either lean super vocal or say nothing at all.&nbsp;</p> <p>And maybe itâs because the glimmer of idealism has always been associated with youth â although, for a generation facing the 11th hour of climate change, the desperation for change is more than just a matter of preference.&nbsp;</p> <div><p class="article__text--dropcap">Thereâs something in the Indigenous experience, and perhaps in the experiences of all marginalised peoples, that makes us naturally, incredibly funny.</p> <p>In a world where our existence is challenged and our <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsoc.2021.613340/full#:~:text=Tino%20rangatiratanga%20can%20mean%20self,which%20fully%20encapsulates%20its%20meaning." target="_blank">tino rangatiratanga</a> is encroached upon, our humour persists. Thatâs because joy is resistance. In our shared humour we relish in an understanding that doesnât need to be explained, or toned down, or diluted.&nbsp;</p> <p>Iâve been a comic in Aotearoa professionally for almost four years, and in that time Iâve managed to surmise a couple of things.&nbsp;</p> <p>In 2021, I performed for the first time in the NZ International Comedy Fest as a member of Bull Rush, an improv group I still perform with. I remember going to the closing night event with my improv buddies and looking around the room. It wasnât entirely white: The Frickin Dangerous Bro boys, Pax Assadi, Jamaine Ross and James Roque were all there. And Angella Dravid and James Nokise were also present. At the time, I was one of only three Samoan performers in the festival.&nbsp;</p> <p>If youâve been on any Facebook comment thread or internet hellhole forum about New Zealand TV recently, youâd be aware that a lot of our programming, apparently, has fallen victim to the plague of âgoing wokeâ. And for many brown comedians, like myself, this means a small but significant increase in work.&nbsp;</p> <p>Many of us find ourselves being ushered into spaces to make things appear more colourful and inclusive. But in doing so we are loaded with the burden of being tokenised. Frankly, itâs exhausting. And harmful. It can feel like weâre simply there to shroud the reality of bias against our people. Being a token in any space hides a structural disengagement with the entirety of our culture, our <a href="https://teara.govt.nz/en/whakapapa-genealogy" target="_blank">whakapapa</a>, our laughter and our pain. By being here, on this stage, surely my presence signifies the end of racism in the New Zealand comedy industry, right?&nbsp;</p> <p>Not quite.&nbsp;</p> <p class="article__pull-quote">For a long time (and not just in Aotearoa) the term âaudiences'' has been synonymous with âwhite people.â</p> <p>The New Zealand Comedy Industry has always skewed towards a <a href="https://teara.govt.nz/en/cultural-go-betweens/page-2" target="_blank">pÄkehÄ</a> lens.&nbsp;</p> <p>Our nationâs most famous comic, William James Te Wehi Taitoko, changed his name to âBilly T Jamesâ because the pronunciation was easier for Australians. That name was rearranged and anglicised for the ease of pÄkehÄ ears and has since adorned our nation's most coveted comedy award, an act towards assimilation, so as not to deter his white audience.</p> <p>Over the decades, many revered comedians of colour have bent their personas to appease pÄkehÄ for career benefit, and in doing so fed into harm towards our communities. Some of Taitokoâs own work is often a talking point in the portrayal of MÄori identity for its part in enforcing harmful stereotypes.</p> <div class="article__embed" data-related-article="true" data-children-count="0"><div data-iframely-id="08dwnpC" class="article__embed article__embed--iframely"><div style="left:0;width:100%;height:0;position:relative;padding-bottom:56.25%"><iframe data-iframely-url="//oembed.vice.com/08dwnpC" data-img="" style="top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;position:absolute;border:0" allowfullscreen="" allow="encrypted-media *;" frameborder="0" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></iframe></div></div></div> <p>Racism, of course, is fuelled by normalisation in the media like this. One needs only to look towards <i>broâTownâs</i> Jeff Da Maori and <i>Summer Heights High</i>âs Jonah Takalua for their roles in proliferating harmful stereotypes and anti-Indigenous racism.</p> <p>For a long time (and not just in Aotearoa) the term âaudiences'' has been synonymous with âwhite peopleâ. And the people that regularly come to comedy events â or the ones held by the central industry â are predominantly pÄkehÄ.&nbsp;</p> <p>âComedyâ in Aotearoa is viewed as a âwhite thingâ by a lot of brown communities. There are multiple exceptions but there seems to be minimal representation for our communities in the most visible spaces. As a brown comedian who does improv comedy almost every Friday night, I comfortably say that brown audiences have not yet recognised their place in our audiences. And understandably so. Representation can foster a hostile environment when it reduces the vastness of our community into a token or caricature. In some cases, it can foster the longevity of the stereotype.&nbsp;</p> <p>And it is an exhausting conversation topic, particularly for the underrepresented. In the turning tide of âdiversity-hireâ culture, people of marginalised communities are burdened with responsibilities far beyond the call of our actual jobs. As my friend and collaborator Joel McCarthy once said after a particularly challenging call: âItâs fucking exhausting having to pioneer everythingâ.&nbsp;</p> <p>It <i>is</i> exhausting trying to figure out how to make a living in this industry while doing right by ourselves and by the people we stand with. These structures that coerce us into assimilating into (and making allowances for) pÄkehÄ culture are exhausting and, sometimes, dangerous. They can be dangerous to us who risk token elevation as a model minority, and to our communities, who continue to experience the very real and very relentless structural problems that cause collective harm.&nbsp;</p> <p>For some time now the New Zealand comedy industry has found itself pondering questions that many other institutions in this modern age also find themselves pondering.&nbsp;</p> <p>As we look at the massively evident disparity in representation, weâre forced to grapple with the intersections of our society and the way it uplifts a specific type of person above most others.&nbsp;</p> <p>But if tokenized MÄori and Pasifika are being hired for being palatable to a white sensibility, then what good does this really do for our communities? And if we signify to our communities that whiteness is aspirational, then what message are we sending? To fight for a single chair? The smallest chair at the table; the littlest token of funding; a gestural hui. If we operate from the assumption that our communities enjoy laughing, our scope becomes so much wider.&nbsp;</p> <p>Many of our most successful comedians are creating online. Creators like Janaye Henry, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/kumara_chipz/?hl=en" target="_blank">Kura Turuwhenua</a>, Timprovise and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/memoirsofamaori/?hl=en" target="_blank">Charde Heremaia</a> are meeting our audiences where they are. They ask the obvious question: If spaces like the theatre and the comedy club are inaccessible (both financially and geographically), then why not provide laughter in their homes?&nbsp;</p> <p>For decades, the comedy industry has clung to television as its path of ascension, but as the digital age shifts away from terrestrial television, so too do the audiences. Audiences want entertainment that speaks to their reality, that reflects themselves honestly. Itâs increasingly hard to do that on a platform where the viewership, and the funding, is gradually being taken away. Not to say these people donât draw audiences â Kura sold out her shows last year in the NZ Comedy Fest, and Tim sold an 80% house at Q Rangatira for a live record of his podcast âHonest To Who?â.</p> <p>But in a system that depends upon bums-on-seats, the hundreds of thousands of global audience members that are viewing and engaging with online content apparently donât speak to someoneâs comedic credibility.&nbsp;</p> <p>In cinema, television, and international media there has been some increased visibility for MÄori, Pasifika and POC comedians, as well as comedians from all backgrounds. Bubbah on <i>Taskmaster; </i>Courtney Dawson on <i>Celebrity Treasure Island</i>; Kalyani Nagarajan in <i>Raised By Refugees. </i>And thatâs just off the top of my head. But there are still significant (and obvious) milestones still to be reached. The industry may be improving, but there is a long â and necessary â way to go. And while these new opportunities are being embraced, the people tackling them have not appeared out of nowhere. They have been honing their skills, working, standing in the face of an industry that largely ignores them or asks them to play a specific role and That Role Only.</p> <p>In an essay written in 2019, Guy Williams posed the question: â<a href="https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/stage-and-theatre/112904284/guy-williams-where-are-all-the-maori-comedians" target="_blank">where are all the MÄori comedians?</a>â What youâre reading here is my attempt at responding to this pÄtai. In response to it, I find myself asking questions in return: Where are you looking for us? What efforts are you making to look for Indigenous Pacific comedians? In free backyard shows put on by comedians from our South Auckland communities? In the performing arts buildings in East Coast schools? In the under-resourced high school arts programmes? In brown arts collectives working by, and for, our communities? We are here. You will find us here.&nbsp;</p> <p>And for all we are doing to build our community, away from the pressures of stereotyping, tokenism and assimilation, we are not without challenges for funding.&nbsp;</p> <p>The question here isnât, and has never been, in regards to where we <i>are. </i>The question should be: where are you <i>looking </i>for us? Or where do you want us to be for you to acknowledge us? For funders to acknowledge our craft? And for those of us working in this industry: who do we have to be for our work to be acknowledged?&nbsp;</p> <p>When the New Zealand Comedy Industry is mostly centralised in one building in the heart of the Auckland CBD, the type of audience that gets drawn to these shows begins to narrow significantly. Whiteness, as a pervasive attitude, can feel unsafe for a lot of people. Colonial Patriarchy is another structure rooted in whiteness, and when we see a line up dominated by male comics who appease colonial and patriarchal tastes, we ought to ask if our venues are environments that welcome a full spectrum of talent and audience.&nbsp;</p> <p>If you ask me where all the MÄori comedians are, I will tell you that they are here, in Aotearoa. Whether or not we are acknowledged and supported is, of course, another question.</p> <p><i>Bailey Poching is a comedian, actor and writer based in TÄmaki Makaurau.</i></p></div> <p>&nbsp;So many people find themselves churning through the motions of an intensely liberal outlook in their teen years before easing up on a few of those beliefs when entering adulthood. Past arguments with parents who donât agree that âall landlords are morally corruptâ can make you feel a bit squeamish when youâre 35 and seeking renters to help you pay your mortgage.&nbsp;</p> <p>Thereâs also a shifting line in the sand when it comes to what we consider conservative and progressive. Famed feminist Germaine Greer shocked many when she made anti-trans comments in 2015, and it goes to show that being on the front line of a progressive school of thought doesnât mean youâll remain there.&nbsp;</p> <p>Victoria Universityâs Head of Political Science Simon Keller told VICE political opinions of young people will change as they get older. âPerhaps they will become more economically conservative, but I am confident that they never take what we presently regard as conservative positions on sexuality and gender,â said Keller.</p> <p>In the 2023 election, the age bracket with the highest percentage of voters was 65-69-year-olds.&nbsp; The lowest was <a href="https://elections.nz/democracy-in-nz/historical-events/2023-general-election/voter-turnout-statistics/">between 25 and 29</a> â young millennials and older Gen Z.&nbsp;</p> <p>Richard Shaw, Professor of Politics at Massey University, says âvoting and not voting are habit forming.â&nbsp;</p> <p>âIrrespective of the size of the GenY/Z cohort, if they're not used to voting they may just stay away from the formal political process â which would mean that older generations still have influence over electoral and other outcomes,â he says.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>So, sure, our time is gonna come â but whether we take advantage of that is another question entirely.&nbsp;</p> <p><em>Rachel Barker is a writer / producer at VICE NZ in Aotearoa. You can find her @rachellydiab on IG and Letterboxd and see her film criticism on<a href="https://www.youtube.com/@girlonfilm4551"> Youtube</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;</em></p> </description>
<link>https://vice.com/en/article/qjv5k5/how-long-until-the-majority-of-voters-are-gen-y-and-gen-z</link>
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<pubDate>Wed, 01 May 2024 04:19:52 GMT</pubDate>
<author>Rachel Barker, Brad Esposito</auth
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<title>Just 17 Very Good and Extremely Weird VICE Stories About the Internet</title>
<description><figure><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/articles/6617b63a4aeeae23e2ee35ab/lede/1713786406356-7best-of-vice-1440x810.png" alt="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"><figcaption>ILLUSTRATION: HELEN FROST</figcaption></figure> <p>We all know the internet is a crazy place. The mess of it is compounded by the fact weâre all experiencing it in completely different ways: Boomers arguing in Facebook comments, zoomers whoâve never known life pre-dial-up, and millennials stuck, as ever, in the middle.</p> <p>The ~world wide web, for all its sins, has given the world some cracking content, and weâve devoted ourselves to diving into every viral happening and mishap. Like that story of the supremely well-endowed <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/wxeywy/the-untold-story-of-wood-the-well-endowed-man-from-those-coronavirus-texts">guy from the COVID texts</a>, or our ode to that unforgettable 00s <a href="https://www.vice.com/en_uk/article/a35evg/online-humour-random-internet-meme-2000s">âBadger, badger, mushroomâ</a> song, arguably the internetâs first meme?</p> <p>Weâve had a hand in creating these moments too, like the time VICE reporter Oobah Butler made his <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/434gqw/i-made-my-shed-the-top-rated-restaurant-on-tripadvisor">garden shed the top rated restaurant</a> on TripAdvisor. Or when a writer tried to <a href="https://www.vice.com/en_ca/article/a3jgj8/i-tried-to-join-the-illuminati-and-got-scammed">join the Illuminati</a>. We spend way too much time online, basically. Hydrate your eyeballs, grab your sippy cup and scroll through our best internet stories of the past three decades. Because letâs face it, your brain is already decaying â&nbsp;why not hasten along its demise?</p> <div><p>One evening Marie opened her younger brotherâs Oliverâs bedroom door to bring him a mug of tea. She was met with the typical stale smell of urine, cigarette smoke and alcohol, and the audible buzz of men shouting from her brotherâs <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/topic/gaming" target="_blank">gaming</a> headset. As she crept to the window with the intention of opening it, her brother shouted ârape herâ and laughed that bitches need to be raped and disposed of.</p> <p>Marie looked at the 20-year-old in horror, as heâd never spoken like this before. He didnât acknowledge her when she placed the mug next to him.&nbsp;</p> <p>Over the next few weeks Marie â who requested anonymity for both her and her brother due to concerns for their safety â set out to monitor Oliver. When he was gaming, sheâd listen outside his door to what he was saying semi-ironically over the headset. Along with slurs and typical internet <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/topic/4chan" target="_blank">4chan</a> slang she knew like âtriggeredâ and âcuckâ, she noted a few she didnât, including â<a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/7xmaze/learn-to-decode-the-secret-language-of-the-incel-subculture" target="_blank">foid</a>â, something she discovered was an <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/topic/incelshttps://www.vice.com/en/article/m7qqen/what-is-an-incel-how-incel-culture-grew-2010s" target="_blank">incel</a> term for women (âfemale humanoidâ).</p> <p>She also overheard Oliver debating rape statistics. âHe was talking about how men were always being <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/4w7mnj/damaging-myths-surrounding-rape-allegations-might-stop-victims-coming-forward" target="_blank">falsely accused of rape</a>,â she remembers. âFeminists were liars and not to be trusted. I was thinking how horrible this was specifically because weâd had discussions with my mum and him about how I was sexually harassed as a girl.â&nbsp;</p> <div class="article__embed article__embed--vice" data-related-article="true" data-children-count="0"><iframe src="https://www.vice.com/en_uk/embed/article/5dpyaa/embed" frameborder="0" style="border:0px none;margin:0px" allowfullscreen="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></iframe></div> <p>Marie told their mother what she had learned about her brother. The two women waited until Oliver came downstairs and steered him to the kitchen table for a discussion. Marie tentatively talked about what she knew about feminism, but Oliver became so incensed by the debate he threw a glass tumbler at the wall over their heads and charged to his bedroom. They didnât see him leave the room for two days.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>Half of young men in the UK <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/y3zxmy/gen-z-men-attitudes-towards-feminism" target="_blank">now believe</a> that feminism has âgone too far and makes it harder for men to succeedâ. These are the results of a significant study published in July 2020 by anti-extremism charity <a href="https://www.hopenothate.org.uk/" target="_blank">HOPE not Hate</a>. The study, <i>Young People in the Time of COVID-19</i>, surveyed 2,076 16- to 24-year-olds on their ideological beliefs.&nbsp;</p> <p>A growing number of experts across the fields of feminism and anti-extremism were already worried about a young male backlash against young women and their socio-political gains before the pandemic. In fact, HOPE not hate pursued this line of enquiry due to the troubling rise of anti-feminist sentiment theyâd noticed among this age group.&nbsp;</p> <p>Reading this might leave you wondering: what is happening to teenage boys and young men?</p> <p>âSexism in classrooms is nothing new, but the kind of distinctness of it being anti-feminist is something that we've seen in the classrooms, in our online tracking work,â says Rosie Carter, a senior policy officer at the charity.&nbsp;</p> <p>She explains that much of this represents the younger and younger recruitment of boys by the <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/topic/alt-right" target="_blank">alt right</a> and generalised spread of its ideology across social media and the internet. âThe number of issues that the alt right will talk about and look at has grown, and it's all part of a wider pushback against progressive norms â&nbsp;and in some ways it's scariest because of its mainstreaming.â</p> <p>From âincel liteâ culture â in which men wouldnât identify as incels come across and potentially engage with related material â to far-right grooming, elements of online life are having a broadly unexamined negative impact on the ways in which boys and men think and engage in the real world.&nbsp;</p> <p class="text-center">§</p> <p>âMen are trashâ has been a popular phrase and a hashtag since 2016 and since then, millennial and <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/topic/gen-z" target="_blank">Gen Z</a> men have challenged what they see as its reductionism. Meant originally by girls as a deliberately provocative throw-away statement is taken for, as one Urban Dictionary entry puts it, âa generalising and hateful phrase coined by a movement claiming to fight hate and bigotryâ.&nbsp;</p> <p>Ted, a 24-year-old from Kent, told me he might have felt sympathetic towards feminism before, âbut when you get put in the same bracket with the whole âmen are trashâ etcetera, then you think whatâs the point?â&nbsp;</p> <p>Reddit <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/9bkjpz/what-i-learned-spending-a" target="_blank">menâs rights forums</a> are littered with similar origin stories from young men: âI used to identify as a feminist but left the movement when I asked if there are any disadvantages men face. Instead of answering the question, people started taking shots at me,â one wrote. Another noted: âI could not understand the group hating.â</p> <p>What Carter found interesting about the HOPE not hate study results was that young people now were found to be more progressive than previous generations in the ways we stereotypically understand the cohort. They are widely pro-immigration, multiculturalism and are supportive of all sexuality and gender identities. âBut it was distinctly feminism,â Carter says. âItâs an ideology that boys are pushing back against, in the midst of changing social norms.â</p> <p>In all the public attitude research she does around the far right, âit always comes down to this idea of fairnessâ.&nbsp;</p> <p>âIf youâve always been at the top of the hierarchy, and suddenly someoneâs saying, âthatâs not how things should operate, your sense of fairness is tipped and you start looking for answers,ââ Carter says. âMen feel that they have to suddenly work twice as hard because they have to prove themselves.â&nbsp;</p> <p>The context leading up to this point matters: Millennial menâs reckoning with feminism happened hard and fast. It had to â it arrived in conjunction with that of millennial women. In the early 2010s, both millennial and feminist discourse were characterised by <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/qbxnbm/uni-lads-and-lad-culture-three-years-on-clive-martin" target="_blank">lad culture</a>, which predominantly appeared in conversations about male students and university. Its more minor iterations were hyper-masculinised group banter and exposing your genitals when pissed. At worst, it was casual sexual harassment, assault and rape.</p> <div class="article__media"><picture class="article__image"><source media="(max-width: 25em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1622114368053-dd339b.jpeg?resize=400:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1622114368053-dd339b.jpeg?resize=600:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 40.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1622114368053-dd339b.jpeg?resize=650:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1622114368053-dd339b.jpeg?resize=975:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 53.125em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1622114368053-dd339b.jpeg?resize=850:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1622114368053-dd339b.jpeg?resize=1275:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 65.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1622114368053-dd339b.jpeg?resize=1050:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1622114368053-dd339b.jpeg?resize=1575:* 2x"><source media="(min-width: 65.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1622114368053-dd339b.jpeg?resize=1050:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1622114368053-dd339b.jpeg?resize=1575:* 2x"><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1622114368053-dd339b.jpeg" alt="A 2013 protest in London calling on Tesco to stop stocking lads mags like " zoo"="" and="" "nuts""="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></picture><div class="article__image-caption">A 2013 protest in London calling on Tesco to stop stocking lads mags like "Zoo" and "Nuts". Both magazines folded in the 2010s. Photo: Guy Bell/Alamy Live News</div></div> <p>Meanwhile, a booming digital media industry published young womenâs voices on anything affecting them from emotional labour to abortion, amplified by an emerging age of social media. By the mid-2010s, layoffs and publication closures across the industry meant an already dying menâs media took a significant hit. In the UK, <i>FHM</i>, <i>Nuts</i>, <i>Zoo</i>, <i>Shortlist</i> and <i>Front</i> folded and the digital publications that were by lads for lads â&nbsp;<a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/jgejag/unilad-vs-ladbible-online-publishing" target="_blank">Unilad</a>, LADbible â were forced to change.&nbsp;</p> <p>Whether all this meant lad culture died â&nbsp;rather than warped and diverted elsewhere â&nbsp;is up for debate. Hussein Kesvani, a technology and online subculture journalist, argues: âI donât know whether lad culture has died; rather the general consensus is that you shouldnât try to market it.â He notes that Unilad, LADbible, joe.co.uk have lost their identity: âThey tried to keep lads on board but present themselves as socially aware and progressive. That model had a short half-life and just isnât resonant now.â&nbsp;</p> <p>In 2018, #MeToo provided women with an opportunity to talk about sex, dating and rape culture. Arguably, it also provided men in their 20s and 30s at the time to reconcile their own behaviour and review their encounters with women. It suggested a symbiotic relationship: Women speak, and men listen and are able to understand their masculinity through this outpouring.&nbsp;</p> <p>Whether it was ever that simple is increasingly questionable in hindsight.&nbsp;Were there enough spaces for the average man to consider his own gender role? Did straight men even care? And if what it meant to be a millennial woman defined what it meant to be a millennial man, where did that leave younger generations?</p> <p>When writing an <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/kz4kg3/british-teenagers-metoo-movement-gen-z-sexual-assault-call-out-culture" target="_blank">article back in 2019</a> in which I spoke to teenagers about <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/topic/metoo" target="_blank">#MeToo</a>, I found that they felt they werenât part of it, and didnât know what it was or how it affected them. Recent feminist battles have included the gender pay gap and workplace sexism, which are unlikely to register to a generation coming of age into unemployment, freelancing or wannabe entrepreneurship.&nbsp;</p> <p>Millennials were the last generation to genuinely care about menâs publications. For at least half a century, menâs media set the goalposts for behaviour. When it died in the 2010s, the vacuum was filled by brands and social media â&nbsp;where masculinity is only ever implicit or rarely addressed â&nbsp;and incel and alt-right adjacent culture.&nbsp;</p> <p>For Kesvani, the issue of anti-feminist boys stems from the fact thereâs no real blueprint from menâs media or society-at-large for how to be a young man now. âThe lack of blueprint is to do with economic and material reasons, but also cultural reasons too, and cultural reasons can be so hard to define.â&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p class="text-center">§</p> <p>Before the pandemic, womenâs rights campaigner Laura Bates visited one or two schools a week to speak with students about gender inequality. For a decade, the responses would range from shock to giggles, but on the whole, pupils of all genders would be attentive and engaged.&nbsp;</p> <p>A couple of years ago, something changed: A boy sat in the front row, noticeably nervous but excited. Through Batesâs usual routine, he gleefully interrupted to debunk what she was saying with false statistics about rape and claiming men were more likely to be victims. This became the new normal.</p> <p>âBoys were arriving pre-prepared, pre-conditioned almost and they often had things written down that theyâd brought with them as if they were primed in advance,â she says. âThe same arguments were appearing everywhere from inner city London to rural Scotland.â The arguments were factually incorrect, amounting to little more than conspiracy theories and fake news â incorrect ideas and figures about the <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/topic/gender-pay-gap" target="_blank">gender pay gap</a>, false rape allegations and men being more likely to be victims of domestic violence.&nbsp;</p> <p>Bates began to ask the boys where they were learning this material. They always told her âonlineâ. They showed her memes, images and jokes that werenât obviously or directly from manosphere communities but regurgitated their ideologies.</p> <p>This material is so readily available online that itâs practically an omnipresent part of existing in certain areas of the internet â part of an incel lite culture that is almost post-organisational. The online growth of the far right is a significant problem not least because of, as is Batesâ main concern, the number of âneutral boysâ â ones who arenât on menâs rights forums or actively feminist â who are being swayed by the more extremist ideas about women without realising it. &nbsp;</p> <p>Another problem is that extremist groups are accessing boys at younger ages. âIâve read manifestos from leaders of these communities explicitly saying boys as 10 or 11 ought to be their main targets, describing the use of memes and images as a delivery system to get these misogynistic ideas to take hold,â Bates says.&nbsp;</p> <p>The boys and men she interviewed for her latest book <i><a href="https://www.simonandschuster.co.uk/books/Men-Who-Hate-Women/Laura-Bates/9781398504653" target="_blank">Men Who Hate Women</a></i> were as young as 11 when they became involved with such communities on 4chan or YouTube by âgoing down algorithmically supported rabbit holesâ until they reached darker content.</p> <p>One popular method of teen recruitment is through gaming. Recruiters use sites and games as a âhunting groundâ, Bates says, since this is where young men are gathering. âThey can reach them without supervision, particularly boys who are playing multiplayer online games over headphones with people theyâve never met before.â&nbsp;</p> <p>Bates describes the method as subtle: âThey start by dropping sexist jokes into the conversation to see if theyâre receptive and escalate it to private chats, which are obviously meant for people to share gaming tactics, but theyâre using them to groom boys and eventually direct them to these more extreme communities.â&nbsp;</p> <p>Marie and her family are convinced this was how Oliver was targeted. Soon after he began speaking with his new gaming friends every night until the early hours, Marie says his behaviour changed and they started âlosing himâ. He told Marie that his friends were men from all over the world, mostly older, refusing to provide any more information.&nbsp;</p> <div class="article__media"><picture class="article__image"><source media="(max-width: 25em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1622114969778-f4my8j.jpeg?resize=400:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1622114969778-f4my8j.jpeg?resize=600:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 40.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1622114969778-f4my8j.jpeg?resize=650:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1622114969778-f4my8j.jpeg?resize=975:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 53.125em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1622114969778-f4my8j.jpeg?resize=850:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1622114969778-f4my8j.jpeg?resize=1275:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 65.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1622114969778-f4my8j.jpeg?resize=1050:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1622114969778-f4my8j.jpeg?resize=1575:* 2x"><source media="(min-width: 65.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1622114969778-f4my8j.jpeg?resize=1050:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1622114969778-f4my8j.jpeg?resize=1575:* 2x"><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1622114969778-f4my8j.jpeg" alt="men's rights graffiti in london" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></picture><div class="article__image-caption">Men's rights graffiti â&nbsp;now removed â&nbsp;on Millennium Bridge in London, 2015. Photo: Paul Nichols / Alamy Stock Photo</div></div> <p>If we consider that the far right spans incels, menâs rights activists, <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/gyk37y/pickup-artist-study-rachel-oneill-seduction-book" target="_blank">pick-up artists</a> as well as neo-Nazism and alt-right splinter groups, women-hating can be a way to recruit across the board. HOPE not hate found in their study that the young men who feel that feminism has gone too far were also twice as likely to think that jokes about race or religion were acceptable and twice as likely to think that discrimination against white people is as big a problem as discrimination against Black people.&nbsp;</p> <p>âThe far right has increasingly spread, the number of issues theyâll talk about and itâs all part of a wider pushback against progressive norms,â says Carter. Similarly, once youâre within the far-right, that allows you to engage in hate towards other communities. Activists in different groups will feed boys into the others, referring them along.</p> <p>John, 21, was radicalised by the far right when he was in his late teens. He spent two long years in his bedroom in the north of England learning about far-right ideology online and trolling feminists. Mostly he would infiltrate feminist groups or use multiple anonymous Twitter accounts to verbally abuse or harass women any time anything to do with women or feminists were trending or performing well on the platform.&nbsp;</p> <p>âWe knew we could wind them up and provoke those groups easily,â he says today. âThis is gonna sound really daft, but I donât think it was anti-feminism. I was just bored and that was the person I was then. It wasnât that I had a really aggressive mentality towards women or really hated them, it was just about causing a riot.â No one explicitly told him to do it, he says â it was just part of the online culture he grew up in.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>John has his own theories about why boys are successfully groomed by the far-right more than girls. Stereotypically, he thinks boys are angrier, and seek release of anger and frustration. Some do it at football matches, others by participating in sport. âBut some lads never find that release, so a lot of the time people join the far right just because theyâre angry about a situation and donât know what to do with that frustration. It isnât just about hating a certain type of person. At times, it can be a cover for something else. And that cover is the worst thing possible.â</p> <p class="text-center">§</p> <p>How do you <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/mvkn7b/far-right-extremism-deradicalisation-programmes" target="_blank">deradicalise</a> an anti-feminist? Itâs a painstakingly delicate and complex process. At <a href="https://exituk.org/" target="_blank">Exit UK</a>, the leading organisation in the UK for supporting those wanting to leave the far right and their families, every boy or young man will be matched with a mentor. The mentor will deconstruct their ideology slowly over a series of sessions. What they tell boys with woman-hating ideology is simple: What does your mum or sister do for you on a personal day-to-day level? Then they ask: How would you feel if men were talking about your mum or sister in the way you do?</p> <p>But one false step from the mentor and that young man is lost. Exit UK say those that leave are never seen again and very likely return to their hateful community with a hunger to become more extreme.</p> <p>There has been an explosion in referrals over the pandemic. Although involvement with the far right will differ from referral to referral Exit UK had 90 people contact them over 2019. From April of 2020 to February 2021, they had contact with 350 people seeking help.</p> <p>Nigel Bromage, the founder of the company and a former far right member, says he commonly sees a mix of internet irony, 4chan humour and one-upmanship in what boys do and say. âForums will start with sick comments and become more extreme, so by page eight theyâre talking about using rape as a weapon to degrade women.â</p> <div class="article__embed article__embed--vice" data-related-article="true" data-children-count="0"><iframe src="https://www.vice.com/en_uk/embed/article/3aqdwb/embed" frameborder="0" style="border:0px none;margin:0px" allowfullscreen="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></iframe></div> <p>Lonely young men without girlfriends are prime targets. âThey think âIâd like a girlfriendâ and the far right says âWell, you canât get a girlfriend because all the girls have become feminists and left wing.ââ</p> <p>Sometimes referrals come from a young man directly who is aware that he has become brainwashed. Often it will be a family member who refers the younger boys. Sometimes a school will refer them. When Johnâs mother Sarah realised her son had been radicalised, she spoke to a teacher she trusted who watched for signs of him recruiting others at school. Then that teacher, with Sarahâs permission, was able to call Exit UK for a referral.</p> <p>The strain on families with a radicalised family member is significant, and thatâs&nbsp;before considering the potential danger family members themselves are in. Sarah says that John even made an attempt to radicalise her, trying to draw her in with far-right information at home. When she disagreed with him or challenged his views, heâd become angry and agitated.&nbsp;</p> <p>âMany, many nights I lay awake thinking, am I the cause of this?â she says. âEvery mother with a child thatâs been involved with the far right in some way does question themselves and feel responsible. Itâs sad because itâs not their fault, itâs the far right â theyâre very manipulative and selective.â Exit UK has a family support programme to help families and teach them how to have difficult conversations with the radicalised member, who can become angry when confronted.</p> <p>Sarah remembers waiting at home when John was having his first meeting with his mentor. âI expected him to go off the wall and was waiting on tenterhooks all day for that call to say heâd lost his mind.â Instead he returned and they had the first proper conversation Sarah can remember having with her son in years.&nbsp;</p> <p>Today John is polite, his tone bright and friendly down the phone. He describes the relationship he had with his mentor as empathetic and honest. âThere was no predetermined mentality about me. With other people, I felt like they were already judging me and had a default view about me because of the views I had.â&nbsp;</p> <p>Bromage says that mentors are trained to temporarily remove themselves from a difficult conversation if they donât know how to answer â tell the individual they need to make a quick cup of tea or use the bathroom to give themselves time to plan an answer.&nbsp;</p> <p>Due to the rising case load over the pandemic, Exit UK is rapidly training more volunteers to take phone sessions. Bromage is currently deeply concerned that the virus has meant he and other workers are unable to meet men in person, as this is where the most effective work is done; in the physical world, away from a screen.</p> <p>âEngaging online is not the same as a coffee&nbsp;and a chat,â says Bromage. âIt's not as personal, and in many cases it does make things harder to gauge body language, understanding and emotion. Face-to-face engagement helps people relax, they&nbsp;can see those they are speaking to are ordinary people, who simply care and want to bring people away from extremism and danger.â</p> <p class="text-center">§</p> <p>Obviously, not all teenage boys are misogynistic, and Bates is mindful to say that â âbut these movements,â she argues, âhave taken hold much more quickly and more effectively than our current total lack of societal awareness of them would suggestâ.&nbsp;</p> <p>The effect the pandemic will have had on this issue cannot be ignored. Carter is concerned about the context of the early 2020s, pointing to the interest in <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/v7gz53/the-conspiracy-singularity-has-arrived" target="_blank">conspiracy theories</a> and widespread <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/xg8b7j/how-youth-unemployment-impacted-by-coronavirus" target="_blank">youth unemployment</a> rates. âIsolation, feeling hopeless, feeling out of control and that things arenât right â&nbsp;that is the context that we see an increase in people looking to the far right,â she says, adding that work must be done in a post-pandemic landscape around youth unemployment and deprivation.&nbsp;</p> <p>Hope is an important word. Carter believes change can happen when we collectively challenge the prevalence of extremist material on social media platforms and provide education on the topic at a school-level. The way in which all these different far-right inclinations intertwine towards anti-progressiveness means we shouldnât just attempt to tackle anti-feminism alone, either. Teaching should address issues of racism, <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/topic/anti-semitism" target="_blank">anti-semitism</a>, violence and misinformation.</p> <p>Sharing the story of her sonâs extremist views with the school was what gave Sarah hope. âDo not sit on it or try to deal with it on your own,â she advises others in her position. âBy doing so youâre allowing the far right to tighten their grip on your child.â</p> <p>At the end of our call, Bates and I talk about one of these anti-women communities whose information is reaching boys, <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/7bdwyx/inside-the-global-collective-of-straight-male-separatists" target="_blank">Men Going Their Own Way</a> (MGTOW). Level one of their plan for separatism from women involves rejecting marriage and cohabitation, level two rejects long-term relationships with women, three rejects all relationships with women, four is a refusal to do more than necessary for survival and avoid taxation wherever possible and five is to drop out of society altogether.&nbsp;</p> <p>Doesnât this map perfectly onto how someone retreats into their own shell by spending vast amounts of time online, I say. Bates agrees: âI think the tragedy is that if you were on that path there might be real opportunities for intervention. Communities seize upon very real issues, one of them being male <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/topic/mental-health" target="_blank">mental health</a>. These issues make it much easier for the manosphere to pull them in and to take away their hope.â</p> <p><i><b><a href="https://twitter.com/hannahrosewens" target="_blank">@hannahrosewens</a></b></i>&nbsp;&nbsp;</p></div> <div><p>Once upon a time, long before I began selling my face by the acre for features on VICE dot com, I worked other jobs. There was one in particular that really had an impact on me: writing fake reviews on TripAdvisor. Restaurant owners would pay me ÂŁ10 and I'd write a positive review of their place, despite never eating there. Over time, I became obsessed with monitoring the ratings of these businesses. Their fortunes would genuinely turn, and I was the catalyst. </p> <p>This convinced me that TripAdvisor was a false reality â that the meals never took place; that the reviews were all written by other people like me. However, they're not, of course â they're almost all completely genuine. And there was one other factor that seemed impossible to fake: the restaurants themselves. So I moved on.</p> <div class="article__embed article__embed--vice" data-related-article="true"><iframe src="https://www.vice.com/en_uk/embed/article/ywyvwv/oobah-butlers-new-book-how-to-bullsht-your-way-to-number-1?utm_source=stylizedembed_vice.com&amp;utm_campaign=434gqw&amp;site=vice" frameborder="0" style="border:0px none;margin:0px;" allowfullscreen="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></iframe></div><p>And then, one day, sitting in the shed I live in, I had a revelation: within the current climate of misinformation, and society's willingness to believe absolute bullshit, maybe a fake restaurant <i>is</i> possible? Maybe it's exactly the kind of place that could be a hit? </p><hr><p><b><i>WATCH: </i></b><i>The full video of the Shed At Dulwich</i><br></p> <div data-iframely-id="Ld4tEcZ" data-embedded-url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqPARIKHbN8&amp;t=713s" class="article__embed article__embed--iframely"><div style="left:0;width:100%;height:0;position:relative;padding-bottom:56.2493%;" data-iframely-smart-iframe="true"><iframe data-img="" data-iframely-url="//oembed.vice.com/Ld4tEcZ?playerjs=true" style="border:0;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;position:absolute;" allowfullscreen="" data-iframely-smart-iframe="true" frameborder="0" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></iframe></div></div><hr><p>In that moment, it became my mission. With the help of fake reviews, mystique and nonsense, I was going to do it: turn my shed into London's top-rated restaurant on TripAdvisor.</p> <h2>SETTING UP "THE SHED AT DULWICH" â APRIL, 2017</h2> <div class="article__media"> <picture class="article__image"><source media="(max-width: 25em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511976183044-IMG_5746.jpeg?resize=400:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511976183044-IMG_5746.jpeg?resize=600:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 40.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511976183044-IMG_5746.jpeg?resize=650:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511976183044-IMG_5746.jpeg?resize=975:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 53.125em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511976183044-IMG_5746.jpeg?resize=850:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511976183044-IMG_5746.jpeg?resize=1275:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 65.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511976183044-IMG_5746.jpeg?resize=1050:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511976183044-IMG_5746.jpeg?resize=1575:* 2x"><source media="(min-width: 65.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511976183044-IMG_5746.jpeg?resize=1050:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511976183044-IMG_5746.jpeg?resize=1575:* 2x"><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511976183044-IMG_5746.jpeg" alt="1511976183044-IMG_5746" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></picture> <div class="article__image-caption"></div> </div> <p>First of all, let me introduce you to my site: a shed in a south London garden. </p> <p>To get started, I need to get verified, and to do that I need a phone.</p> <div class="article__media"> <picture class="article__image"><source media="(max-width: 25em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511976520422-24169724_1763992326967685_1811006811_o.jpeg?resize=400:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511976520422-24169724_1763992326967685_1811006811_o.jpeg?resize=600:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 40.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511976520422-24169724_1763992326967685_1811006811_o.jpeg?resize=650:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511976520422-24169724_1763992326967685_1811006811_o.jpeg?resize=975:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 53.125em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511976520422-24169724_1763992326967685_1811006811_o.jpeg?resize=850:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511976520422-24169724_1763992326967685_1811006811_o.jpeg?resize=1275:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 65.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511976520422-24169724_1763992326967685_1811006811_o.jpeg?resize=1050:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511976520422-24169724_1763992326967685_1811006811_o.jpeg?resize=1575:* 2x"><source media="(min-width: 65.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511976520422-24169724_1763992326967685_1811006811_o.jpeg?resize=1050:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511976520422-24169724_1763992326967685_1811006811_o.jpeg?resize=1575:* 2x"><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511976520422-24169724_1763992326967685_1811006811_o.jpeg" alt="1511976520422-24169724_1763992326967685_1811006811_o" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></picture> <div class="article__image-caption"></div> </div> <p>One ÂŁ10 burner later and "The Shed at Dulwich" officially exists. Now, I need to list an address â but doing so makes easy work for any skeptical fact checkers. Plus, I don't technically have a door. Instead, I just list the road and call The Shed an "appointment-only restaurant". </p> <p>Onto my online presence: I buy a domain and build <a href="https://www.theshedatdulwich.com/" target="_blank">a website</a>. Hot spots are all about quirks, so to cut through the noise I need a concept silly enough to infuriate your dad. A concept like naming all of our dishes after moods.</p> <div class="article__media"> <picture class="article__image"><source media="(max-width: 25em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511976962234-shed3.png?resize=400:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511976962234-shed3.png?resize=600:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 40.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511976962234-shed3.png?resize=650:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511976962234-shed3.png?resize=975:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 53.125em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511976962234-shed3.png?resize=850:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511976962234-shed3.png?resize=1275:* 2x"><source media="(min-width: 53.125em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511976962234-shed3.png?resize=938:*"><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511976962234-shed3.png" alt="1511976962234-shed3" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></picture> <div class="article__image-caption"></div> </div> <p>Now, some soft focus images of those delicious dishes. </p> <div class="article__media"> <picture class="article__image"><source media="(max-width: 25em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977381295-ChrisBethell-1.jpeg?resize=400:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977381295-ChrisBethell-1.jpeg?resize=600:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 40.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977381295-ChrisBethell-1.jpeg?resize=650:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977381295-ChrisBethell-1.jpeg?resize=975:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 53.125em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977381295-ChrisBethell-1.jpeg?resize=850:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977381295-ChrisBethell-1.jpeg?resize=1275:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 65.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977381295-ChrisBethell-1.jpeg?resize=1050:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977381295-ChrisBethell-1.jpeg?resize=1575:* 2x"><source media="(min-width: 65.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977381295-ChrisBethell-1.jpeg?resize=1050:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977381295-ChrisBethell-1.jpeg?resize=1575:* 2x"><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977381295-ChrisBethell-1.jpeg" alt="1511977381295-ChrisBethell-1" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></picture> <div class="article__image-caption">Photo: Chris Bethell</div> </div> <p>You'd eat this, wouldn't you?</p> <div class="article__media"> <picture class="article__image"><source media="(max-width: 25em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977409280-ChrisBethell-2.jpeg?resize=400:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977409280-ChrisBethell-2.jpeg?resize=600:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 40.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977409280-ChrisBethell-2.jpeg?resize=650:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977409280-ChrisBethell-2.jpeg?resize=975:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 53.125em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977409280-ChrisBethell-2.jpeg?resize=850:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977409280-ChrisBethell-2.jpeg?resize=1275:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 65.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977409280-ChrisBethell-2.jpeg?resize=1050:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977409280-ChrisBethell-2.jpeg?resize=1575:* 2x"><source media="(min-width: 65.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977409280-ChrisBethell-2.jpeg?resize=1050:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977409280-ChrisBethell-2.jpeg?resize=1575:* 2x"><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977409280-ChrisBethell-2.jpeg" alt="1511977409280-ChrisBethell-2" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></picture> <div class="article__image-caption">Photo: Chris Bethell</div> </div> <p>Probably best not to.</p> <div class="article__media"> <picture class="article__image"><source media="(max-width: 25em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977429821-ChrisBethell-5.jpeg?resize=400:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977429821-ChrisBethell-5.jpeg?resize=600:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 40.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977429821-ChrisBethell-5.jpeg?resize=650:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977429821-ChrisBethell-5.jpeg?resize=975:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 53.125em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977429821-ChrisBethell-5.jpeg?resize=850:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977429821-ChrisBethell-5.jpeg?resize=1275:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 65.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977429821-ChrisBethell-5.jpeg?resize=1050:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977429821-ChrisBethell-5.jpeg?resize=1575:* 2x"><source media="(min-width: 65.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977429821-ChrisBethell-5.jpeg?resize=1050:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977429821-ChrisBethell-5.jpeg?resize=1575:* 2x"><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977429821-ChrisBethell-5.jpeg" alt="1511977429821-ChrisBethell-5" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></picture> <div class="article__image-caption">Photo: Chris Bethell</div> </div> <p>No, OK, how aboutâ</p> <div class="article__media"> <picture class="article__image"><source media="(max-width: 25em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977465232-ChrisBethell-6.jpeg?resize=400:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977465232-ChrisBethell-6.jpeg?resize=600:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 40.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977465232-ChrisBethell-6.jpeg?resize=650:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977465232-ChrisBethell-6.jpeg?resize=975:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 53.125em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977465232-ChrisBethell-6.jpeg?resize=850:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977465232-ChrisBethell-6.jpeg?resize=1275:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 65.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977465232-ChrisBethell-6.jpeg?resize=1050:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977465232-ChrisBethell-6.jpeg?resize=1575:* 2x"><source media="(min-width: 65.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977465232-ChrisBethell-6.jpeg?resize=1050:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977465232-ChrisBethell-6.jpeg?resize=1575:* 2x"><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977465232-ChrisBethell-6.jpeg" alt="1511977465232-ChrisBethell-6" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></picture> <div class="article__image-caption">Photo: Chris Bethell</div> </div> <p>This sponge covered in paint, with quenelles of shaving foam.</p> <div class="article__media"> <picture class="article__image"><source media="(max-width: 25em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977539129-ChrisBethell-3.jpeg?resize=400:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977539129-ChrisBethell-3.jpeg?resize=600:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 40.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977539129-ChrisBethell-3.jpeg?resize=650:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977539129-ChrisBethell-3.jpeg?resize=975:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 53.125em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977539129-ChrisBethell-3.jpeg?resize=850:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977539129-ChrisBethell-3.jpeg?resize=1275:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 65.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977539129-ChrisBethell-3.jpeg?resize=1050:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977539129-ChrisBethell-3.jpeg?resize=1575:* 2x"><source media="(min-width: 65.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977539129-ChrisBethell-3.jpeg?resize=1050:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977539129-ChrisBethell-3.jpeg?resize=1575:* 2x"><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977539129-ChrisBethell-3.jpeg" alt="1511977539129-ChrisBethell-3" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></picture> <div class="article__image-caption"></div> </div> <p>Youâre getting it: this isn't what it looks like. </p> <div class="article__media"> <picture class="article__image"><source media="(max-width: 25em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977598728-ChrisBethell-4.jpeg?resize=400:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977598728-ChrisBethell-4.jpeg?resize=600:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 40.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977598728-ChrisBethell-4.jpeg?resize=650:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977598728-ChrisBethell-4.jpeg?resize=975:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 53.125em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977598728-ChrisBethell-4.jpeg?resize=850:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977598728-ChrisBethell-4.jpeg?resize=1275:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 65.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977598728-ChrisBethell-4.jpeg?resize=1050:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977598728-ChrisBethell-4.jpeg?resize=1575:* 2x"><source media="(min-width: 65.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977598728-ChrisBethell-4.jpeg?resize=1050:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977598728-ChrisBethell-4.jpeg?resize=1575:* 2x"><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977598728-ChrisBethell-4.jpeg" alt="1511977598728-ChrisBethell-4" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></picture> <div class="article__image-caption"></div> </div> <p>It's an egg resting on my foot.</p> <p>With the concept, logo (thank you, Tristan Cross) and menu nailed down, it all comes together. <br></p> <p>I submit my TripAdvisor forms; the rest is up to God. </p> <p>On the 5th of May, 2017, I wake up to an email:</p><p class="article__blockquote">Hello,</p> <p class="article__blockquote">Weâre excited to tell you that your listing request has been approved and is on our site for everyone to see.</p> <p class="article__blockquote">[âŠ]</p> <p class="article__blockquote">Thank you for giving us this opportunity to let the TripAdvisor community know about The Shed at Dulwich. </p> <p class="article__blockquote">Best Regards,<br>The TripAdvisor Support Team </p> <p>No, TripAdvisor, I want to thank you for giving me this opportunity to let the community know about The Shed at Dulwich. </p> <h2>GETTING THE SHED TO NUMBER ONE</h2> <p>I start out ranked at 18,149, the worst restaurant in London, according to TripAdvisor. So I'm going to need a lot of reviews. Reviews written by real people on different computers, so the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2aCPXQzChE&amp;t=" target="_blank">anti-scammer technology</a> TripAdvisor utilises doesn't pick up on my hoax.</p> <p>I need convincing reviews, like this one:</p><div class="article__media"><picture class="article__image"><source media="(max-width: 25em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1512493421618-review1.png?resize=400:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1512493421618-review1.png?resize=600:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 40.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1512493421618-review1.png?resize=650:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1512493421618-review1.png?resize=975:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 53.125em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1512493421618-review1.png?resize=850:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1512493421618-review1.png?resize=1275:* 2x"><source media="(min-width: 53.125em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1512493421618-review1.png?resize=1000:*"><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1512493421618-review1.png" alt="1512493421618-review1" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></picture><div class="article__image-caption">(I've mocked up all the screenshots from TripAdvisor btw, because our legal department told me to)</div></div> <p>And not like this:</p> <div class="article__media"> <picture class="article__image"><source media="(max-width: 25em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511978543667-Screen-Shot-2017-10-02-at-164026.png?resize=400:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511978543667-Screen-Shot-2017-10-02-at-164026.png?resize=600:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 40.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511978543667-Screen-Shot-2017-10-02-at-164026.png?resize=650:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511978543667-Screen-Shot-2017-10-02-at-164026.png?resize=975:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 53.125em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511978543667-Screen-Shot-2017-10-02-at-164026.png?resize=850:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511978543667-Screen-Shot-2017-10-02-at-164026.png?resize=1275:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 65.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511978543667-Screen-Shot-2017-10-02-at-164026.png?resize=1050:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511978543667-Screen-Shot-2017-10-02-at-164026.png?resize=1575:* 2x"><source media="(min-width: 65.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511978543667-Screen-Shot-2017-10-02-at-164026.png?resize=1050:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511978543667-Screen-Shot-2017-10-02-at-164026.png?resize=1575:* 2x"><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511978543667-Screen-Shot-2017-10-02-at-164026.png" alt="1511978543667-Screen-Shot-2017-10-02-at-164026" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></picture> <div class="article__image-caption"></div> </div> <p>The celebrity endorsement Shaun Williamson sends me after I meet him in a pub, thoroughly explain my concept and ask for a photo of him eating fancy food in a fancy place, but instead receive one of him eating a roast dinner with a side of chips. </p><p>So I contact friends and acquaintances, and put them to work. </p> <h2>CLIMBING THE RANKS</h2> <p>The first couple of weeks are easy: we crack the top 10,000 in no time, but I don't expect much in the way of inquiries quite yet. Then, one morning, something extraordinary happens: The Shed's burner phone goes off. Startled and hungover, I pick up.</p> <p>"Hello? Is that The Shed?"</p> <p>"⊠Yes?" I sound like a radiator that needs bleeding. </p> <p>"I've heard so much about your restaurant... I know itâs a long shot, as you get booked up so quickly, but I donât suppose you have a table tonight?" </p> <p>Panicking, I abruptly respond: "Sorry, but we're fully booked for the next six weeks" and slam down the phone. I'm stunned. A day later, I feel another vibration: a 70th birthday booking. Four months in advance. Nine people.</p> <div class="article__media"> <picture class="article__image"><source media="(max-width: 25em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511980463339-phone.png?resize=400:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511980463339-phone.png?resize=600:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 40.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511980463339-phone.png?resize=650:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511980463339-phone.png?resize=975:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 53.125em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511980463339-phone.png?resize=850:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511980463339-phone.png?resize=1275:* 2x"><source media="(min-width: 53.125em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511980463339-phone.png?resize=940:*"><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511980463339-phone.png" alt="1511980463339-phone" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></picture> <div class="article__image-caption"></div> </div> <p>Emails? I check my computer: tens of "appointment" requests await. A boyfriend tries to use his girlfriend's job at a children's hospital for leverage. TV executives use their work emails. </p><div class="article__media"><picture class="article__image"><source media="(max-width: 25em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1512555502216-1hos.png?resize=400:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1512555502216-1hos.png?resize=600:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 40.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1512555502216-1hos.png?resize=650:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1512555502216-1hos.png?resize=975:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 53.125em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1512555502216-1hos.png?resize=850:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1512555502216-1hos.png?resize=1275:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 65.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1512555502216-1hos.png?resize=1050:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1512555502216-1hos.png?resize=1575:* 2x"><source media="(min-width: 65.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1512555502216-1hos.png?resize=1050:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1512555502216-1hos.png?resize=1575:* 2x"><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1512555502216-1hos.png" alt="1512555502216-1hos" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></picture><div class="article__image-caption"></div></div> <p>Seemingly overnight, we're now at #1,456. The Shed at Dulwich has suddenly become appealing. How?</p> <p>I realise what it is: the appointments, lack of address and general exclusivity of this place is so alluring that people canât see sense. Theyâre looking at photos of the sole of my foot, drooling. Over the coming months, The Shed's phone rings incessantly.</p><div data-iframely-id="3G3SWxB" data-embedded-url="https://www.youtube.com/embed/052P_nr1Z_w" class="article__embed article__embed--iframely"><div style="left:0;width:100%;height:0;position:relative;padding-bottom:56.2493%;" data-iframely-smart-iframe="true"><iframe data-img="" data-iframely-url="//oembed.vice.com/3G3SWxB?playerjs=true" style="border:0;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;position:absolute;" allowfullscreen="" data-iframely-smart-iframe="true" frameborder="0" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></iframe></div></div> <h2>THINGS ARE GETTING A BIT OUT OF CONTROL</h2> <p>By the end of August, weâre at #156.</p> <div class="article__media"><picture class="article__image"><source media="(max-width: 25em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1512579956603-156shed.png?resize=400:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1512579956603-156shed.png?resize=600:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 40.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1512579956603-156shed.png?resize=650:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1512579956603-156shed.png?resize=975:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 53.125em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1512579956603-156shed.png?resize=850:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1512579956603-156shed.png?resize=1275:* 2x"><source media="(min-width: 53.125em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1512579956603-156shed.png?resize=916:*"><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1512579956603-156shed.png" alt="1512579956603-156shed" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></picture><div class="article__image-caption"><br></div></div><p>And things are starting to get a little out of hand. </p> <div class="article__media"> <picture class="article__image"><source media="(max-width: 25em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511983398488-sample.png?resize=400:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511983398488-sample.png?resize=600:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 40.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511983398488-sample.png?resize=650:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511983398488-sample.png?resize=975:* 2x"><source media="(min-width: 40.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511983398488-sample.png?resize=651:*"><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511983398488-sample.png" alt="1511983398488-sample" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></picture> <div class="article__image-caption"></div> </div> <p>First, companies start using the estimated location of The Shed on Google Maps to get their free samples to me. Then people who want to work at The Shed get in touch, in significant numbers. Then I get an email fro
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<title>Australia's Massive Military Budget</title>
<description><figure><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/articles/66444ef0fc3a24f9da345607/lede/1715842120352-gettyimages-1436363944.jpeg" alt="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"><figcaption></figcaption></figure> <p>The 2025 federal budget announced on Tuesday <a href="https://www.minister.defence.gov.au/media-releases/2024-05-14/generational-investment-australias-defence"><span>committed an additional $50.3 billion</span></a> to defence over the next decade, bringing our 10-year defence spending to $764.6 billion.</p> <p>$764.6 billion is an extraordinary amount of money, more than double the initial <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/k7z5by/stage-three-tax-cuts-change">cost of the controversial stage 3 tax cuts</a> that have since been amended.</p> <p>To put $700 billion in perspective â making undergraduate university degrees completely free for all domestic students would cost about $7 billion a year or $70 billion over 10 years, <a href="https://futurework.org.au/report/at-the-crossroads/"><span>according to the Australia Institute</span></a>. Just 10 per cent of the defence budget.</p> <p>With the new federal budget, the annual defence bill will hit a record of $53 billion this year, <a href="https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/pubs/rp/BudgetReview202021/AustralianGovernmentExpenditure"><span>up from $39 billion last year</span></a>, and is projected to surpass $100 billion annually by 2033, or 2.4 per cent of our GDP.</p> <p>This is part of a massive defence shakeup to âkeep Australia safeâ amid what the <a href="https://twitter.com/RichardMarlesMP/status/1780423930035253415/photo/1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1780423930035253415%7Ctwgr%5E26106fef105a8d5f345bf2bd806c321fc1f57b4e%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sbs.com.au%2Fnews%2Farticle%2Faustralias-defence-budget-set-to-increase-by-50-billion-over-the-next-decade%2F04c2x7teq"><span>Defence Minister Richard Marles called</span></a> the most challenging strategic environment since World War II.</p> <p>So, just looking at the bonuses included in this budget, defence got an extra $5 billion for this year alone.</p> <p>Thatâs more than Commonwealth Rent Assistance that, for just this year, <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@viceautoday/video/7369016467712527624"><span>gets an extra $500 million</span></a>; more than the $600 million boost to Services Australia, for more staff to help manage the backlog of people trying to access welfare payments; more than the <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@viceautoday/video/7365670312584678664"><span>changes to HECS indexation</span></a> thatâll cost about $3 billion in foregone revenue; and more than the $3.5 billion cost of living relief package in the form of $300 electricity bill rebates for every household.</p> <div><p>At least one NSW Police officer was seen wearing âthin blue lineâ Australian flag patch at a pro-Palestine rally in Sydneyâs Port Botany on Sunday, where 19 people were arrested.</p> <p>Legal Observers New South Wales (LONSW), who attended the rally to witness and document interactions between <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/5d9qkq/melbourne-students-school-strike-for-palestine" target="_blank">activists</a> and police, said âseveralâ officers wore the patches displaying the iconography that has been co-opted by and is now associated with far-right extremist movements.</p> <p>They reported âmany of these officers were the most aggressive with protestorsâ, who were there to blockade Israeli shipping company ZIM that uses the docks. ZIM has been associated with the Israeli military and its killing of Palestinians in Gaza.</p> <p>LONSW also accused police of demonstrating excessive force, throwing several protestors to the ground, using restraint techniques associated with restraint asphyxia, and âviolently pushing manyâ before arresting people for disrupting commerce and trade under <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/jg5nn4/nsw-police-anti-protest-laws" target="_blank">NSWâs harsh anti-protest laws</a>.</p> <p>NSW Police told <i>Guardian Australia</i> the force had ânot received any reports of an officer wearing the patch which is not part of the standard NSWPF uniformâ and that the force respected peopleâs right to protest at the port.</p> <p>But NSW Council for Civil Liberties president Lydia Shelly said the policing of protests in NSW was now âout of controlâ.</p> <div class="article__embed article__embed--vice" data-related-article="true" data-children-count="0"><iframe src="https://www.vice.com/en_au/embed/article/v7bnd8/embed" frameborder="0" style="border:0px none;margin:0px" allowfullscreen="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></iframe></div> <p>âWe are extremely concerned that at the Port Botany protest, Legal Observers NSW observed several police officers wearing a patch that is not part of the standard police issued uniform which has been associated with right-wing extremism,â she said in a <a href="https://www.nswccl.org.au/media_statement_police_response_to_antigenocide_protests" target="_blank">statement</a>.</p> <p>âWe have called on the Premier, the Attorney General and the Police Commissioner to meet with us to discuss concerns about police conduct towards peaceful protestors and legal observers [and] so far, our requests have been denied.â</p> <h2>Misuse of police powers at weekly free Palestine rallies</h2> <p>Legal Observers NSW has attended 14 <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/g5y849/thousands-rally-across-australia-in-solidarity-with-palestine-israel-war" target="_blank">weekly free Palestine street rallies</a> in Sydneyâs CBD and several actions at Port Botany since October and over those months has complied a eight-page report, documenting police behaviour towards protestors including instances of misuse of police powers.</p> <p>âThe <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/3ak4z9/what-have-free-palestine-rallies-australia-achieved" target="_blank">policing of these rallies</a> has been marked by ubiquitous surveillance, police and state pushback and the deployment of higher than usual levels of police resources, including a new protest-focused taskforce âOperation Mealingâ and&nbsp;pro-Palestinian activity focused âOperation Shelterâ, the report reads.</p> <p>Many incidents of misuse of powers in the report document police violence, but many cases of non-violent misuse of powers are also reported, including police asking protestors to remove face coverings, employing mobile CCTV towers at protests, and stopping cars displaying <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/n7eyj8/womad-ziggy-marley-palestine" target="_blank">Palestinian flags</a>, requiring them to remove the flags, then issuing fines for minor infringements such as P plates being tucked under a number plate as the reason for the stop.</p> <p>The report also notes the NSW Police presence at Sydneyâs weekly pro-Palestine rallies is 100-150 officers at the cost of $220,000 a week, despite no incidents of violence or disturbances occurring at the protests.</p> <p>One example the report singles out is as many as 50 police being deployed to guard the <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/epv7qz/mcdonalds-sales-misinformation-israel-boycott" target="_blank">Starbucks</a> on Elizabeth Street despite no incidents occurring in relation to the location.</p> <p>âThe reliance on high visibility policing unduly criminalises protestors and puts them at risk of police assault,â Adam al-Hayek, a spokesperson for LONSW, told VICE.</p> <div class="article__embed article__embed--vice" data-related-article="true" data-children-count="0"><iframe src="https://www.vice.com/en_au/embed/article/epv9gp/embed" frameborder="0" style="border:0px none;margin:0px" allowfullscreen="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></iframe></div> <p>âThe weekly street rallies are well-managed by marshals and do not require the deployment of 100-150 police officers whose primary function appears to be surveilling and harassing protestors.â</p> <p>NSW Greens MP Sue Higginson said the report painted a dark picture of the state of the police force.</p> <p>âThe findings released in todayâs independent observer report are deeply worrying and point to the creeping militarisation and criminalisation in response to peaceful protestors from the NSW Police Force,â Higginson told VICE.</p> <p>âThe highly-militarised state of police deployment we have seen week after week at an event that has consistently been compliant, peaceful and driven by <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/ak39zj/cancelled-palestine-visas-australia" target="_blank">Palestinian community</a> members and families is plainly out of proportion.</p> <p>âItâs time for our police to work with, not against, all members of the community. We want a policing regime that supports healthy, peaceful, democratic action. To achieve this we must demilitarise and deweaponise our general duty police and urgently begin the serious reforms needed to move us towards a policing-by-consent model that supports the integrity of both officers and community members.â</p> <p><i>Aleksandra Bliszczyk is the Deputy Editor of VICE Australia. Follow her on<a href="https://www.instagram.com/aleksbliszczyk/?hl=en" target="_blank"> Instagram</a>.</i></p> <p><i>Get the story that matters most each day. <a href="https://pedestrian.us1.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=2c631b380f2015e8f93fcbc5b&amp;id=77eb92cd03" target="_blank">Subscribe to Australia Todayâs daily newsletter here</a>.</i></p></div> <p>Also compare the $5 extra billion dollars for defence with the <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@viceautoday/video/7367169227117153554"><span>extra $50 million for endometriosis consultation subsidies</span></a>, or the extra $73 million a year to mental health, to establish a national digital mental health referral service, or the $185 million per year to domestic violence victims, <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@viceautoday/video/7363923077400366344"><span>going to the Leaving Violence Program</span></a> that offers $5000 payments to people fleeing abusive homes.</p> <p>To explain a couple of those furtherâŠ</p> <p>Rent Assistance is going up â $19 a fortnight for singles as part of the government's plan to tackle the housing and <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/4a3mvp/coles-woolies-prices-fines">cost of living</a> crisis in its 2025 federal budget.</p> <p>The maximum Commonwealth Rent Assistance payment will increase by 10 per cent from September this year, which will benefit about 1 million recipients on that rate.</p> <p>The current highest payment for a single person is $188.20 a fortnight, or $125.47 for a single person in a <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/5d9a7q/sharehouse-demand-sydney-melbourne-rental">sharehouse</a>, and those will go up $18.80.</p> <p>For families or parents with three or more children it will go up $25 a fortnight to $274.90 a fortnight. </p> <p>This is also before the payments are indexed according to inflation which treasurer Jim Chalmers will add another 5 per cent. to all payments.</p> <p>It will cost the government an additional $1.9 billion over the next five years.</p> <p>The government will also wipe $3 billion of student debt by changing the way itâs indexed. </p> <p>The new move caps the rate of indexation to make sure your debt canât rise faster than your <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/bvjkxq/award-wage-pay-rise">wages</a>. So currently HECS or HELP loans rise a percentage every year according to the CPI, the consumer price index. Thatâs the measure of how the cost of goods and services rise over time. But the WPI, the wage price index measures the rate, on average, of wage growth. So now the government will introduce legislation that means student loan indexation will be calculated on whichever is lower each year, the CPI or the WPI.</p> <p>The policy will also be backdated to June 1, 2023, which means last year's historically high 7.1 per cent indexation will be more than halved to the WPI of of the time which was 3.2 per cent.</p> <p>This will cancel hundreds if not thousands of dollars from most peopleâs HECS debts and mean indexation this year and in future years will be lower than expected and mean that theyâll never grow so fast to the point where the growth outpaces the mandatory repayments from your paychecks.&nbsp;</p> <p><em>Aleksandra Bliszczyk is the Deputy Editor of VICE Australia. Follow her on<a href="https://www.instagram.com/aleksbliszczyk/?hl=en"> Instagram</a>.</em></p> </description>
<link>https://vice.com/en/article/93kjk3/military-budget</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://vice.com/en/article/93kjk3/military-budget</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 16 May 2024 07:01:04 GMT</pubDate>
<author>Aleksandra Bliszczyk, Aleksandra Bliszczyk</author>
<category>Australia Today</category>
<category>Politics</category>
<category>Australia</category>
</item>
<item>
<title>The Government Is Making Porn a Scapegoat for Rising Violence Against Women</title>
<description><figure><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/articles/6632f151934d4280f82fc7a7/lede/1714618063713-gettyimages-2150387211.jpeg" alt="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"><figcaption></figcaption></figure> <p>On Wednesday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced a $925 million initiative to help people flee abusive relationships after a recent uptick in violence against women in Australia. State, territory and federal leaders, who met for an urgent national cabinet meeting following nationwide rallies, also committed to implementing a series of interventions to address young peopleâs access to extreme online misogyny; which specifically cited âviolent <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/topic/porn">pornography</a>â.</p> <p>As a sex worker, the most concerning part of this conversation is the use of the sex industry as a political scapegoat for menâs violence.&nbsp;</p> <p>Letâs be clear: the porn industry was never created to provide <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/y3vvqw/we-asked-people-about-their-terrible-high-school-sex-ed-experiences">sex education</a> to children. But letâs also be honest: if your child is actively seeking out pornography, or so-called âviolent pornographyâ, perhaps thereâs a gap in their learning about sex and sexuality that the education system or a guardian has failed to fill.&nbsp;</p> <p>To prioritise limiting young peopleâs access to pornography and framing certain categories as âviolentâ shows how quickly Australian politicians, <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/88xevp/why-talking-about-sex-is-awkward">educators</a> and parents position themselves as the moral arbiters of sex work, rather than having honest and brave conversations with their kids about consent and sex.&nbsp;</p> <p>Not only do these sentiments perpetuate vilifying and victimising narratives about sex workers, they also simultaneously shift the responsibility of teaching young people about boundaries onto the very pornographers they claim to exhibit âviolenceâ.&nbsp;</p> <div style="max-width: 605px;"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 104.259%; padding-top: 120px;"><iframe src="https://oembed.vice.com/vLAkjup?app=1" style="top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; border: 0;" allowfullscreen="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></iframe></div></div> <p>Pornography <em>can</em> be a way for young people to learn and explore their sexuality in ways the current education system and discussions with their peers do not allow. This is not an endorsement, but it should be an opportunity to work out where we are letting children down on their journeys to self-discovery.</p> <div><p><i>This article originally appeared on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.vice.com/ro" target="_blank">VICE Romania</a>.</i></p> <p>I remember clearly how awkward <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/topic/sex" target="_blank">sex</a> and sex education seemed to me during high school. Since then, I've met guys who couldn't find the <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/topic/clitoris" target="_blank">clit</a> and would be intimidated if I showed them or told them what to do with it. After a while, I didn't even bother trying to explain unless there was a connection between us. Iâve also met guys who felt awkward when I asked them to stop. And Iâve always been struck by how often they tried to avoid any discussions about <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/topic/std" target="_blank">STDs</a>.</p> <p>Letâs face it: Most of these situations could have been avoided if theyâd received proper <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/topic/sex-education" target="_blank">sex education</a> in their school years. So I asked a few guys about the times they think sex ed would have saved them from making embarrassing, and sometimes terrible, mistakes. They shared their stories, using fake names for privacy reasons.</p> <h2>âI wish someone had told me that sperm doesn't travel through waterâ</h2> <p>âI was 19-years-old, my girlfriend was 17, and weâd been together for some time. Iâd never done anything sexual except for some intense touching. One evening we were home alone because her parents had gone on vacation, so we organised something romantic like in the movies. We filled the tub with water and bubbles, got undressed, and got in. We started kissing and caressing each other until, at some point, I ejaculated in the water.</p> <p>Her vagina was far away, but we both freaked out and couldn't sleep all night. The next morning, we went to the pharmacy to get the <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/d3a99m/morning-after-pill-plan-b-history-morality-emergency" target="_blank">morning-after pill</a>. I wish someone had told me that sperm doesn't travel through water and that it's almost impossible to get pregnant from a distance. We wouldâve both avoided a really bad fright.â - <i>Iustin, 26</i></p> <h2>âI thought women peed through their clitorisâ</h2> <p>âWhen I was a teenager, I thought women peed through their clitoris, so I would only stimulate it with my hands, never with my mouth. During the same period, when my then-girlfriend complained about her breasts hurting during ovulation, I suggested I should milk them to ease the pain. It just shows how much I knew about the female body at the time.â - <i>Mircea, 32</i></p> <h2>âI wish someone had told me that I needed to use a lot of lube and not pressure myself to take it all inâ</h2> <p>âI had one of my first sexual experiences â maybe even the first â when I was studying in Spain. I wanted to try anal sex with a man, but I was a bit reluctant. So one night I went out, got really drunk, flirted with a guy at the club, and then went home with him.</p> <div class="article__embed article__embed--vice" data-related-article="true" data-children-count="0"><iframe src="https://www.vice.com/en_uk/embed/article/k7w8qz/embed" frameborder="0" style="border:0px none;margin:0px" allowfullscreen="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></iframe></div> <p>In the room, I realised he had a really big penis, but I was drunk and didn't feel the discomfort. When I got home the next day, I realised I had some bad anal fissures and my anus hurt for a week.</p> <p>Because Iâd never had similar interactions before, I didn't know I was supposed to be careful and take it slow. Luckily, I could find information on the Internet, but I wish someone had told me I needed to use a lot of lube and not pressure myself to take it all in. I also would have liked someone to explain to me how to do an enema, so that I wouldn't get stomach pain or discharge.â <i>- Tony, 27</i></p> <h2>âI had to pay the price for my ignoranceâ</h2> <p>âWhen I think of sex education, I remember a teacher doing a demonstration with a banana and a condom in uni, but thatâs pretty much it. I grew up without a father, and my mum and I never talked about sex. I learnt from older friends and from my own experience. Unfortunately, sometimes I had to pay the price for my ignorance.</p> <div class="article__embed article__embed--vice" data-related-article="true" data-children-count="0"><iframe src="https://www.vice.com/en_uk/embed/article/m7vyk4/embed" frameborder="0" style="border:0px none;margin:0px" allowfullscreen="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></iframe></div> <p>At one point, a girl from another city, who Iâd partied with in the past, came to visit me. That night, we both drank too much and I was rougher than usual in bed. I had tried choking and butt slapping before, but this time I slapped her in the face. I didn't want to hurt her; I was just playing a fantasy.</p> <p>When I talked to her later, I realised how much my behaviour had shocked her. She was shocked at how ignorant I was about boundaries and consent. At the time, I didn't realise that it was a potentially sensitive situation we should have discussed beforehand, and that, without consent, my sex play was abusive and dehumanising towards her.</p> <p>Over time, I've learnt that itâs essential to get informed beforehand and that sex education is a lifelong process.â <i>- Vlad, 33</i></p></div> <p>Additionally, blanket views that all adult content is harmful or has harmful potential, and attempting to restrict young peopleâs access to it, often results in more barriers for sex workers online. Anti-trafficking laws that hold porn websites liable for promoting or facilitating sex work and trafficking introduced in the US in 2018 have been<a href="https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/5050/sex-workers-endangered-fosta-sesta-porn-us-free-speech-woodhull/"> <span>criticised for endangering sex workers further.</span></a> The<a href="https://scarletalliance.org.au/library/response-to-the-esafetys-call-for-evidence-on-age-verification/"> <span>UKâs implementation of age-verification systems online</span></a> has also been slammed by the sex work industry for over-regulation.&nbsp;</p> <p>Can I suggest just getting better parental controls on your devices?</p> <p>This is not the first time the responsibility of shaping well-behaved young men has been put on the sex industry. Last year, senior Liberal Party member Sussan Ley suggested<a href="https://womensagenda.com.au/politics/sussan-ley-misses-fundamental-point-in-calling-for-strip-club-ban/"> <span>a âpauseâ on the opening of new strip clubs</span></a>, citing concerns over the roles theses premises have in influencing young menâs attitudes towards women.&nbsp;</p> <p>But Leyâs attitude ignores the involvement of an autonomous, consenting person in the scenario.</p> <div><p>Being good at sex is somewhat of a myth, but if thereâs anyone whoâs got a handle of how to <i>have good sex</i> itâs the people who work in one of the worldâs most ancient jobs. We wanted some straightforward tips on fingering, dick sucking, oral and standard bouncing â so we asked. These tips arenât about to turn you into a <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/akexbg/how-to-make-a-sex-tape-according-to-a-former-porn-star" target="_blank">porn star</a>, but you might be surprised by the <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/5d38zk/missionary-sex-position-vice-guide" target="_blank">fundamentals of sex</a> that youâve missed.</p> <p>Needless to say, itâs better to ask the specific person youâre sleeping with what <i>they</i> like â all sexual experiences are subjective â but sleeping with tens if not hundreds of people for work does give you a few clues as to what gets <i>most</i> people off. Itâs all well and good to tell people that âconfidence is keyâ or to just âenjoy themselvesâ, but it turns out there are more than a few ways to turn a trick that can be applied to anyoneâs everyday sex life.</p> <p>We went to <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/n7zxy8/a-glossary-of-sex-worker-terminology" target="_blank">the experts</a>: in this case, sex workers Lily, Mia, Samantha and Becca of PĆnekeâs The Bedroom, and hereâs what they had to sayâŠ</p> <h2>Letâs get some basic sex dos and donâts out of the way:</h2> <p>Having good hygiene is a given (including good breath). Commenting on someoneâs weight or appearance is a no-go unless itâs an absolute compliment.</p> <p>And there are a few areas that unquestionably require discussion:</p> <p>Anal or butt play? <i>Discuss it.</i></p> <p>Anything that <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/jgmv48/what-is-kinky-sex" target="_blank">leaves a mark</a>? <i>Discuss it.</i>&nbsp;Bites, bruises and rope burns can put someone in an uncomfortable situation at work or home, so making sure the person being marked is ok with it is a must.</p> <p>Where youâre gonna <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/epz8n4/my-sex-life-with-a-semen-allergy" target="_blank">cum</a>? <i>Discuss it.</i>&nbsp;Thereâs nothing less sexy than someone ruining your makeup or freshly washed hair. And if the <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/3adjv9/how-to-make-safer-sex-hot" target="_blank">contraceptive situation</a> hasnât been made clear, not double checking that your landing pad is approved could end in genuine disaster.</p> <p>With that aside, letâs get into some of the specifics. Hereâs what our sex-work overseers had to say:</p> <h2>HOW TO: HANDJOBS</h2> <p><i>âI always start slow. Be aware of how sensitive their area is and really ease into it. Remember how many nerve endings there are. It is friction!â</i> - Mia</p> <p><i>âUse saliva and lube.â</i>&nbsp; - Samantha</p> <p><i>âIf the handjob goes on too long men [can] lose sensitivity, so you're actually better to stop doing the handjob altogether. Give it a rest and then try again.â</i> - Lily</p> <p><i>âEven if you're not being touched, they want to see that you're into them being aroused. They want to see you turned on as well.â</i> - Samantha</p> <h2>HOW TO: FINGERING</h2> <p><i>âDonât finger a dry pussy really hard. Youâll <a href="https://www.medicinenet.com/can_you_get_thrush_sexually/article.htm" target="_blank">give them thrush.</a>â</i> - Lily</p> <div class="article__embed article__embed--vice" data-related-article="true" data-children-count="0"><iframe src="https://www.vice.com/en_nz/embed/article/93k8dv/embed" frameborder="0" style="border:0px none;margin:0px" allowfullscreen="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></iframe></div> <p><i>âI love my butt being played with, but if youâre gonna put your finger in my butt then in my pussy, all Iâm thinking is urine infection. So donât do that. Itâs hygiene yâknow.â&nbsp; -</i> Mia</p> <p><i>âDefinitely donât start by shoving three fingers in someone at once. You can build up to it, but thatâs not a sexy way to start.â</i> - Becca</p> <p><i>âA finger and clitoral rub at the same time is the best. Fingers in, thumb on clit.â</i> - Lily</p> <p><i>âDonât shove your knuckles into the coochie because they donât do anything.â</i> - Mia</p> <h2>HOW TO SUCK DICK</h2> <p><i>âUse your hand at the base like it's half-hand-job-half-blow-job. Just using your mouth, a lot of men wonât cum.â -</i> Lily</p> <p><i>âGo from the outside, inwards. Lead up from touching the thighs and then you move in and stimulate them⊠A lot of guys like the balls.â</i> - Samantha</p> <p><i>âThe men say it feels better without the condom. Supposedly thereâs a lot of sensitivity lost.â -</i> Lily</p> <p><i>âI think the wetter the better. The more saliva, the more it feels like a pussy.â -</i> Lily</p> <h2>HOW TO EAT SOMEONE OUT</h2> <p><i>âWith facial hair, the smoother the better, or be hairy. But prickly hurts. Itâs like sandpaper.â -</i> Mia</p> <p><i>âDoing the alphabet with your tongue, that was a Cosmopolitan tip⊠donât do that. Donât motorboat. Donât bite. Donât blow. Donât hum. Thatâs another Cosmo tip. It's just weird.â</i> - Lily</p> <p><i>âYouâre sensitive in areas that arenât normally touched, so incorporate the inner thighs, or holding the hips and touching those creases. Do all that kind of stuff as the lead-up, outside of the vagina, and then slowly work your way in.â</i> - Samantha</p> <p><i>âPutting your tongue into the actual vagina doesnât feel that good⊠Itâs not a dick. You wouldnât make someone cum from it.â</i> - Becca</p> <p><i>âThe person needs to be honest if theyâre not into [eating me out]. Because I can tell if theyâre not enjoying it and then I feel like Iâm torturing them.â</i> - Samantha</p> <h2>HOW TO HAVE INTERCOURSE</h2> <p><i>âReplicating what youâve seen in porn is really dangerous and also really obvious. You should never come straight into a sexual encounter with someone you donât know well and choke and slap them. Itâs embarrassing and uncomfortable.â</i> - Becca</p> <div class="article__embed article__embed--vice" data-related-article="true" data-children-count="0"><iframe src="https://www.vice.com/en_nz/embed/article/7kxwnb/embed" frameborder="0" style="border:0px none;margin:0px" allowfullscreen="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></iframe></div> <p><i>âIf there's a massive size difference between you and your partner, be aware to hold your own weight when youâre on top. It happened to me with a partner who was bigger than me, and heâd rest all his weight on me and Iâd start panicking because I couldnât breathe.â</i> - Samantha</p> <p><i>âJackhammering can be painful if youâre not in the mood for it. Just be aware. They have a pelvic bone. They have a cervix. And youâre banging up against it.â -</i> Becca</p> <p><i>âIf sheâs invested in lingerie let her wear it for ten minutes. If sheâs feeling sexy and sheâs dolled herself up, a suspender belt, stockings, donât just rip it off straight away. Make her feel beautiful in what sheâs wearing. And then sheâll want to dress up for you more because youâve shown you appreciate it.â</i> - Lily</p> <p><i>âKiss during sex! It makes you feel so rejected if someone stops kissing you as soon as you start fucking. Itâs awkward.â</i> - Becca</p> <h2>THE âFEEL GOODâ FACTOR</h2> <p><i>âYou've got to be able to pick up what they're feeling. You need to be very in tune with other people. In real layman's examples, itâs whether you'd say like, âI want you to fuck meâ or âI want to make love to youâ. It's a bit of emotional intelligence.â</i> - Samantha</p> <p><i>âI think if one person stands to gain more from the experience than the other, then it's not something that's gonna be enjoyable</i>.â - Mia</p> <p><i>"You can ask what they want without it ruining the mood. Just saying, âDoes it feel good?â âDo you want it faster?â or âWhat can I do for you?â It's not embarrassing.â</i> - Samantha</p> <p>In the end, everyone will have some <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/5d9g8b/worst-std-stories" target="_blank">mortifying moments</a> in their sexual lives and everyone will feel things <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/7kb9zx/how-an-extreme-new-curve-in-my-penis-changed-my-sex-life-peyronies-disease" target="_blank">differently</a> â and thatâs okay folks! We learn, we grow, we throb with undulating desire.</p> <p>We hope the wise words of our sex-worker friends can help you feel on top of the basics so that you know the sex youâre having feels good for everyone involved, inside <i>and</i> out.</p> <p><i>Rachel Barker is a writer / producer at VICE NZ in Aotearoa. You can find her @rachellydiab on IG and Letterboxd and see her film criticism on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@girlonfilm4551" target="_blank">Youtube</a>.</i></p></div> <p>I argue to Sussan Ley that any man who attends <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/y3wbb7/how-nzs-strippers-collectivised-against-allegations-of-bullying-and-harassment-at-work">strip clubs</a> as a ritualistic baptism into manhood will learn lifelong lessons about boundaries should they ever touch a dancer in a place they havenât consented to.</p> <p>The sex industry is not a handbook to intimacy that your child is a perceived victim of, and we should not be enabling men to blame their bad behaviour on porn consumption.&nbsp;</p> <p>All Australians, not just sex workers, should be mature enough to educate themselves and their children that the <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/qjvnem/vice-visits-the-australian-adult-industry-awards">adult industry</a> and porn are built on fantasy, and thatâs okay.&nbsp;</p> <p>When looking at menâs violence against women â very much a reality â letâs look at real solutions.&nbsp;</p> <p>The $925 million pledge <em>over five years,</em> while<a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-05-01/new-coercive-control-ad-campaign-launched-by-nsw-government/103787754"> <span>frontline services are desperate for funding</span></a>, is seriously inadequate. And the <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/jgpkeb/employers-sex-work-cost-of-living">cost of living</a> is continuously rising â making financial hardship a major contributing factor to womenâs inability to escape violent relationships. Meanwhile, the government also<a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/defence-spending-australia-national-strategy-integrated-investment-program/bceed0f7-971a-4c9b-bcb4-d4d76931c070"> <span>pledged a $50 billion boost to defence</span></a> over the next decade and Australiaâs own parliament canât even get its<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/media/2023/dec/08/bruce-lehrmann-brittany-higgins-parliament-house-defamation-trial-grips-australia-ntwnfb"> <span>sexual misconduct problem under control</span></a>.&nbsp;</p> <p>So who really is to blame?</p> <p><em>Darcy Deviant is a sex worker and writer based in Melbourne. Follow Darcy on Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/hole___money/">here</a>.</em></p> </description>
<link>https://vice.com/en/article/m7bngy/government-porn-violence-against-women</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://vice.com/en/article/m7bngy/government-porn-violence-against-women</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 02 May 2024 03:25:24 GMT</pubDate>
<author>Aleksandra Bliszczyk, Darcy Deviant</author>
<category>Australia Today</category>
<category>Politics</category>
<category>Australia</category>
<category>Sex</category>
<category>porn</category>
<category>sex work</category>
</item>
<item>
<title>How Long Until the Majority of Voters Are Gen Y and Gen Z?</title>
<description><figure><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/articles/6631aefa934d4280f82fc24a/lede/1714536022813-istock-1530809356.jpeg" alt="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"><figcaption>Image credit: istock</figcaption></figure> <p>From Brexit to Aotearoaâs own cannabis referendum, weâve seen older generations have the dominant vote on issues that will outlive them.&nbsp;</p> <p>The complaint often lobbied in these situations is that young voters are left living in the world created by those soon to leave it. And right now young people are a minority, fighting against an older class who (depending on who you ask) doesnât care for our future.&nbsp;</p> <p>About a quarter of the 3,688,292 total New Zealanders enrolled in last year's election are over 70.&nbsp;</p> <p>And Gen Y and Gen Z <em>are</em> currently the minority of eligible voters in New Zealand â with 1,598,352 18-44 year olds and 2,089,940 45+ year olds enrolled for the 2023 election.&nbsp;</p> <p>So how long will it be until we make up the majority? A change in the majority generation that makes up a voting block will definitely change how politicians approach policy, but is it really down to, well⊠how much time it takes for older people to die?</p> <p>People born into Generations Y and Z are currently between 12 and 43. This means most of us already <em>are</em> voting â or at least have the ability to.&nbsp;</p> <p>Last year, 452,882 eligible people between 18-44 didnât vote. Will the New Zealanders turning 18 in the next 6 years have the power to bring up those numbers? Itâs unlikely.&nbsp;</p> <div><p>Growing up in Australia, Anzac Day usually means chewy oat biscuits, poppy pins, excursions, trumpets and pretending to fathom what war was like 100 years ago after your teachers tell you to reflect on soldiersâ service and sacrifice during the minuteâs silence.</p> <p>But this year, a <a href="https://www.instagram.com/teachers4palestine_vic/?hl=en" target="_blank">collective</a> of pro-<a href="https://www.vice.com/en/topic/palestine" target="_blank">Palestine</a> school teachers in Victoria is challenging the ways our World War I soldiers are remembered and what aspects of our military history have long been left out of classrooms.&nbsp;</p> <p>The Teachers and <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/5d9qkq/melbourne-students-school-strike-for-palestine" target="_blank">School</a> Staff for Palestine group has this week called for the âAnzac mythologyâ to be âdismantledâ to make way for ârigorous, critical and empowering educationâ around campaigns and massacres in Palestine during WWI.</p> <p>âWe won't be used to convey myths that serve to normalise militarism, we won't use teaching and learning material designed to gloss over the violent imprint that <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/qjv58b/aid-workers-one-australian-killed-in-gaza-after-delivering-food" target="_blank">Australia has left in Palestine</a>,â Lucy Honan, a Teachers and School Staff for Palestine member and secondary history teacher, told VICE.&nbsp;</p> <p>âStudents should have an opportunity to question the official legend that Anzacs were sacrificing their lives for freedom, and think critically about Australia's commitment to the imperialist powers that lay the ground for the creation of Israel, and think about the consequences of this for Palestinians.â</p> <p>In recent months, the group has organised solidarity actions in schools, campaigned to remove <a href="https://www.theeducatoronline.com/k12/news/teachers-launch-boycott-of-stem-programs-funded-by-weapons-companies/284214#:~:text=%E2%80%9CThe%20Victorian%20Education%20Department%20is,School%20Staff%20for%20Palestine%20said." target="_blank">STEM programs sponsored by weapons manufacturers</a> from schools and published teaching materials including a booklet about Anzac campaigns in Palestine that lay the foundation for the creation of Israel.</p> <p>The teaching materials were compiled by the group through weeks of research, in response to âa dearth of teaching resources about the Anzacs in Palestine,â Honan said.</p> <p>âOur students want answers. What is happening in Gaza and why, who is implicated â and why are we being told we can't talk about it at school?â</p> <p>Victorian Education Minister Ben Carroll <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-11-27/victoria-teachers-palestine-solidarity-education-minister/103154342" target="_blank">warned state school teachers late last year</a> not to be political or participate in pro-Palestinian advocacy in schools and said such action was âinflammatory, it's divisive and only sows more seeds of disharmony in our communityâ.</p> <p>Honan said she wasnât surprised by these warnings but that they were contradictory.</p> <p>âBecause we refused to be neutral about the genocide in Gaza, we have been accused by politicians and the Education Department of being too political,â she said.</p> <p>âAnd yet, the agenda of militarism and unthinking nationalism in our schools is overwhelming.â</p> <p>Teachers and School Staff for Palestine hope their resources will help and encourage teachers to think more critically about their history curriculums and allow students the opportunity to question what they are taught and why.</p> <p>âLet teachers teach honestly,â she said.</p> <p>âTeachers must be empowered and supported to teach about Palestine.â</p> <h2>What did the Anzacs do in Palestine?&nbsp;</h2> <p>In 1917, the <a href="https://anzacportal.dva.gov.au/wars-and-missions/ww1/where-australians-served/sinai-and-palestine" target="_blank">ANZACs invaded Palestine</a> to fight the Ottoman Army and, after the third Battle of Gaza on October 31, successfully took control of the land and the people in the name of the British Empire.</p> <p>The final battle of Gaza also included the Allied attack on Beersheba, which had a majority Palestinian Arab population and was captured from the Ottoman Empire.&nbsp;</p> <h2>The Sarafand al-âAmar massacre</h2> <p>The following year, the three brigades of the Anzac Mounted Division remained camped in Palestine waiting for demobilisation, when one Anzac was shot and killed.</p> <p>The troops suspected Palestinians from the town of Sarafand al-âAmar were responsible and a group surrounded the town to demand justice. Their revenge was recorded as a <a href="https://nzhistory.govt.nz/page/anzac-troops-kill-arab-civilians-surafend" target="_blank">massacre of dozens of people</a> â <a href="https://www.palestinechronicle.com/the-sarafand-massacre-and-cover-up/" target="_blank">as many as 137</a> â who were bludgeoned and stabbed to death. The Anzacs then burned the town and nearby camps until the remaining residents were imprisoned or had fled and the town was destroyed.&nbsp;</p> <h2>The creation of Israel&nbsp;</h2> <p>After the British Empire withdrew in 1947, it handed over what it called the âproblem of Palestineâ to the United Nations, ending the British Mandate and establishing the State of Israel. This was when the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians, known as Al Nakba (the catastrophe) began.</p> <p>Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly thanked Anzac soldiers for their service and for paving the way for the creation of the âState of Israelâ.</p> <p>âAnzac soldiers are part of the history and memory of Israel⊠and had not the Australians and New Zealanders overthrown Ottoman rule in Palestine and Syria, the <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2018/11/2/more-than-a-century-on-the-balfour-declaration-explained" target="_blank">Balfour Declaration</a> would have remained mere ink on paper,â <a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-australian-new-zealand-leaders-mark-landmark-wwi-battle/" target="_blank">he said on the 100th anniversary</a> of the battle of Beersheba, attended by the then-Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.</p> <p>Turnbull also spoke at the event and said âthe battle has become part of our history, part of our psycheâ.</p> <p>âHad the Ottoman rule in Palestine and Syria not been overthrown by the Australians and the New Zealanders, the Balfour Declaration would have been empty words.</p> <p>â[The battle] secured the victory that did not create the state of Israel, but enabled its creation,â Turnbull said.</p> <p><i>Aleksandra Bliszczyk is the Deputy Editor of VICE Australia. Follow her on<a href="https://www.instagram.com/aleksbliszczyk/?hl=en" target="_blank"> Instagram</a>.</i></p> <p><i>Get the story that matters most each day. <a href="https://pedestrian.us1.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=2c631b380f2015e8f93fcbc5b&amp;id=77eb92cd03" target="_blank">Subscribe to Australia Todayâs daily newsletter here</a>.</i></p></div> <p>In only 6 years time, the entirety of New Zealandâs âiGenerationâ (has anyone ever called it that?) will be eligible to vote. From that point, weâll theoretically take up about half of the voting body.&nbsp;</p> <p>In 15-20 years, about half of the older age group voters will drop off â or rather, we will encroach on their territory, becoming the main body of voters, with Gen Xers above us and Gen Alpha below.&nbsp;</p> <p>So, in the grand scheme of things, our time to shine is not too far away.&nbsp;</p> <p>Gen Z is arguably in competition with boomers for being the most vocal about their political views online. No generation can be defined by a singular political outlook, but you do get the sense â from perusing everything from X to TikTok to Instagram â that a minority of people under 25 fall into the liberal camp.&nbsp;</p> <p>Maybe itâs because of the echo chamber. Maybe itâs because Gen Y and Z either lean super vocal or say nothing at all.&nbsp;</p> <p>And maybe itâs because the glimmer of idealism has always been associated with youth â although, for a generation facing the 11th hour of climate change, the desperation for change is more than just a matter of preference.&nbsp;</p> <div><p class="article__text--dropcap">Thereâs something in the Indigenous experience, and perhaps in the experiences of all marginalised peoples, that makes us naturally, incredibly funny.</p> <p>In a world where our existence is challenged and our <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsoc.2021.613340/full#:~:text=Tino%20rangatiratanga%20can%20mean%20self,which%20fully%20encapsulates%20its%20meaning." target="_blank">tino rangatiratanga</a> is encroached upon, our humour persists. Thatâs because joy is resistance. In our shared humour we relish in an understanding that doesnât need to be explained, or toned down, or diluted.&nbsp;</p> <p>Iâve been a comic in Aotearoa professionally for almost four years, and in that time Iâve managed to surmise a couple of things.&nbsp;</p> <p>In 2021, I performed for the first time in the NZ International Comedy Fest as a member of Bull Rush, an improv group I still perform with. I remember going to the closing night event with my improv buddies and looking around the room. It wasnât entirely white: The Frickin Dangerous Bro boys, Pax Assadi, Jamaine Ross and James Roque were all there. And Angella Dravid and James Nokise were also present. At the time, I was one of only three Samoan performers in the festival.&nbsp;</p> <p>If youâve been on any Facebook comment thread or internet hellhole forum about New Zealand TV recently, youâd be aware that a lot of our programming, apparently, has fallen victim to the plague of âgoing wokeâ. And for many brown comedians, like myself, this means a small but significant increase in work.&nbsp;</p> <p>Many of us find ourselves being ushered into spaces to make things appear more colourful and inclusive. But in doing so we are loaded with the burden of being tokenised. Frankly, itâs exhausting. And harmful. It can feel like weâre simply there to shroud the reality of bias against our people. Being a token in any space hides a structural disengagement with the entirety of our culture, our <a href="https://teara.govt.nz/en/whakapapa-genealogy" target="_blank">whakapapa</a>, our laughter and our pain. By being here, on this stage, surely my presence signifies the end of racism in the New Zealand comedy industry, right?&nbsp;</p> <p>Not quite.&nbsp;</p> <p class="article__pull-quote">For a long time (and not just in Aotearoa) the term âaudiences'' has been synonymous with âwhite people.â</p> <p>The New Zealand Comedy Industry has always skewed towards a <a href="https://teara.govt.nz/en/cultural-go-betweens/page-2" target="_blank">pÄkehÄ</a> lens.&nbsp;</p> <p>Our nationâs most famous comic, William James Te Wehi Taitoko, changed his name to âBilly T Jamesâ because the pronunciation was easier for Australians. That name was rearranged and anglicised for the ease of pÄkehÄ ears and has since adorned our nation's most coveted comedy award, an act towards assimilation, so as not to deter his white audience.</p> <p>Over the decades, many revered comedians of colour have bent their personas to appease pÄkehÄ for career benefit, and in doing so fed into harm towards our communities. Some of Taitokoâs own work is often a talking point in the portrayal of MÄori identity for its part in enforcing harmful stereotypes.</p> <div class="article__embed" data-related-article="true" data-children-count="0"><div data-iframely-id="08dwnpC" class="article__embed article__embed--iframely"><div style="left:0;width:100%;height:0;position:relative;padding-bottom:56.25%"><iframe data-iframely-url="//oembed.vice.com/08dwnpC" data-img="" style="top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;position:absolute;border:0" allowfullscreen="" allow="encrypted-media *;" frameborder="0" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></iframe></div></div></div> <p>Racism, of course, is fuelled by normalisation in the media like this. One needs only to look towards <i>broâTownâs</i> Jeff Da Maori and <i>Summer Heights High</i>âs Jonah Takalua for their roles in proliferating harmful stereotypes and anti-Indigenous racism.</p> <p>For a long time (and not just in Aotearoa) the term âaudiences'' has been synonymous with âwhite peopleâ. And the people that regularly come to comedy events â or the ones held by the central industry â are predominantly pÄkehÄ.&nbsp;</p> <p>âComedyâ in Aotearoa is viewed as a âwhite thingâ by a lot of brown communities. There are multiple exceptions but there seems to be minimal representation for our communities in the most visible spaces. As a brown comedian who does improv comedy almost every Friday night, I comfortably say that brown audiences have not yet recognised their place in our audiences. And understandably so. Representation can foster a hostile environment when it reduces the vastness of our community into a token or caricature. In some cases, it can foster the longevity of the stereotype.&nbsp;</p> <p>And it is an exhausting conversation topic, particularly for the underrepresented. In the turning tide of âdiversity-hireâ culture, people of marginalised communities are burdened with responsibilities far beyond the call of our actual jobs. As my friend and collaborator Joel McCarthy once said after a particularly challenging call: âItâs fucking exhausting having to pioneer everythingâ.&nbsp;</p> <p>It <i>is</i> exhausting trying to figure out how to make a living in this industry while doing right by ourselves and by the people we stand with. These structures that coerce us into assimilating into (and making allowances for) pÄkehÄ culture are exhausting and, sometimes, dangerous. They can be dangerous to us who risk token elevation as a model minority, and to our communities, who continue to experience the very real and very relentless structural problems that cause collective harm.&nbsp;</p> <p>For some time now the New Zealand comedy industry has found itself pondering questions that many other institutions in this modern age also find themselves pondering.&nbsp;</p> <p>As we look at the massively evident disparity in representation, weâre forced to grapple with the intersections of our society and the way it uplifts a specific type of person above most others.&nbsp;</p> <p>But if tokenized MÄori and Pasifika are being hired for being palatable to a white sensibility, then what good does this really do for our communities? And if we signify to our communities that whiteness is aspirational, then what message are we sending? To fight for a single chair? The smallest chair at the table; the littlest token of funding; a gestural hui. If we operate from the assumption that our communities enjoy laughing, our scope becomes so much wider.&nbsp;</p> <p>Many of our most successful comedians are creating online. Creators like Janaye Henry, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/kumara_chipz/?hl=en" target="_blank">Kura Turuwhenua</a>, Timprovise and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/memoirsofamaori/?hl=en" target="_blank">Charde Heremaia</a> are meeting our audiences where they are. They ask the obvious question: If spaces like the theatre and the comedy club are inaccessible (both financially and geographically), then why not provide laughter in their homes?&nbsp;</p> <p>For decades, the comedy industry has clung to television as its path of ascension, but as the digital age shifts away from terrestrial television, so too do the audiences. Audiences want entertainment that speaks to their reality, that reflects themselves honestly. Itâs increasingly hard to do that on a platform where the viewership, and the funding, is gradually being taken away. Not to say these people donât draw audiences â Kura sold out her shows last year in the NZ Comedy Fest, and Tim sold an 80% house at Q Rangatira for a live record of his podcast âHonest To Who?â.</p> <p>But in a system that depends upon bums-on-seats, the hundreds of thousands of global audience members that are viewing and engaging with online content apparently donât speak to someoneâs comedic credibility.&nbsp;</p> <p>In cinema, television, and international media there has been some increased visibility for MÄori, Pasifika and POC comedians, as well as comedians from all backgrounds. Bubbah on <i>Taskmaster; </i>Courtney Dawson on <i>Celebrity Treasure Island</i>; Kalyani Nagarajan in <i>Raised By Refugees. </i>And thatâs just off the top of my head. But there are still significant (and obvious) milestones still to be reached. The industry may be improving, but there is a long â and necessary â way to go. And while these new opportunities are being embraced, the people tackling them have not appeared out of nowhere. They have been honing their skills, working, standing in the face of an industry that largely ignores them or asks them to play a specific role and That Role Only.</p> <p>In an essay written in 2019, Guy Williams posed the question: â<a href="https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/stage-and-theatre/112904284/guy-williams-where-are-all-the-maori-comedians" target="_blank">where are all the MÄori comedians?</a>â What youâre reading here is my attempt at responding to this pÄtai. In response to it, I find myself asking questions in return: Where are you looking for us? What efforts are you making to look for Indigenous Pacific comedians? In free backyard shows put on by comedians from our South Auckland communities? In the performing arts buildings in East Coast schools? In the under-resourced high school arts programmes? In brown arts collectives working by, and for, our communities? We are here. You will find us here.&nbsp;</p> <p>And for all we are doing to build our community, away from the pressures of stereotyping, tokenism and assimilation, we are not without challenges for funding.&nbsp;</p> <p>The question here isnât, and has never been, in regards to where we <i>are. </i>The question should be: where are you <i>looking </i>for us? Or where do you want us to be for you to acknowledge us? For funders to acknowledge our craft? And for those of us working in this industry: who do we have to be for our work to be acknowledged?&nbsp;</p> <p>When the New Zealand Comedy Industry is mostly centralised in one building in the heart of the Auckland CBD, the type of audience that gets drawn to these shows begins to narrow significantly. Whiteness, as a pervasive attitude, can feel unsafe for a lot of people. Colonial Patriarchy is another structure rooted in whiteness, and when we see a line up dominated by male comics who appease colonial and patriarchal tastes, we ought to ask if our venues are environments that welcome a full spectrum of talent and audience.&nbsp;</p> <p>If you ask me where all the MÄori comedians are, I will tell you that they are here, in Aotearoa. Whether or not we are acknowledged and supported is, of course, another question.</p> <p><i>Bailey Poching is a comedian, actor and writer based in TÄmaki Makaurau.</i></p></div> <p>&nbsp;So many people find themselves churning through the motions of an intensely liberal outlook in their teen years before easing up on a few of those beliefs when entering adulthood. Past arguments with parents who donât agree that âall landlords are morally corruptâ can make you feel a bit squeamish when youâre 35 and seeking renters to help you pay your mortgage.&nbsp;</p> <p>Thereâs also a shifting line in the sand when it comes to what we consider conservative and progressive. Famed feminist Germaine Greer shocked many when she made anti-trans comments in 2015, and it goes to show that being on the front line of a progressive school of thought doesnât mean youâll remain there.&nbsp;</p> <p>Victoria Universityâs Head of Political Science Simon Keller told VICE political opinions of young people will change as they get older. âPerhaps they will become more economically conservative, but I am confident that they never take what we presently regard as conservative positions on sexuality and gender,â said Keller.</p> <p>In the 2023 election, the age bracket with the highest percentage of voters was 65-69-year-olds.&nbsp; The lowest was <a href="https://elections.nz/democracy-in-nz/historical-events/2023-general-election/voter-turnout-statistics/">between 25 and 29</a> â young millennials and older Gen Z.&nbsp;</p> <p>Richard Shaw, Professor of Politics at Massey University, says âvoting and not voting are habit forming.â&nbsp;</p> <p>âIrrespective of the size of the GenY/Z cohort, if they're not used to voting they may just stay away from the formal political process â which would mean that older generations still have influence over electoral and other outcomes,â he says.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>So, sure, our time is gonna come â but whether we take advantage of that is another question entirely.&nbsp;</p> <p><em>Rachel Barker is a writer / producer at VICE NZ in Aotearoa. You can find her @rachellydiab on IG and Letterboxd and see her film criticism on<a href="https://www.youtube.com/@girlonfilm4551"> Youtube</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;</em></p> </description>
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<title>Australia's Massive Military Budget</title>
<description><figure><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/articles/66444ef0fc3a24f9da345607/lede/1715842120352-gettyimages-1436363944.jpeg" alt="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"><figcaption></figcaption></figure> <p>The 2025 federal budget announced on Tuesday <a href="https://www.minister.defence.gov.au/media-releases/2024-05-14/generational-investment-australias-defence"><span>committed an additional $50.3 billion</span></a> to defence over the next decade, bringing our 10-year defence spending to $764.6 billion.</p> <p>$764.6 billion is an extraordinary amount of money, more than double the initial <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/k7z5by/stage-three-tax-cuts-change">cost of the controversial stage 3 tax cuts</a> that have since been amended.</p> <p>To put $700 billion in perspective â making undergraduate university degrees completely free for all domestic students would cost about $7 billion a year or $70 billion over 10 years, <a href="https://futurework.org.au/report/at-the-crossroads/"><span>according to the Australia Institute</span></a>. Just 10 per cent of the defence budget.</p> <p>With the new federal budget, the annual defence bill will hit a record of $53 billion this year, <a href="https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/pubs/rp/BudgetReview202021/AustralianGovernmentExpenditure"><span>up from $39 billion last year</span></a>, and is projected to surpass $100 billion annually by 2033, or 2.4 per cent of our GDP.</p> <p>This is part of a massive defence shakeup to âkeep Australia safeâ amid what the <a href="https://twitter.com/RichardMarlesMP/status/1780423930035253415/photo/1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1780423930035253415%7Ctwgr%5E26106fef105a8d5f345bf2bd806c321fc1f57b4e%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sbs.com.au%2Fnews%2Farticle%2Faustralias-defence-budget-set-to-increase-by-50-billion-over-the-next-decade%2F04c2x7teq"><span>Defence Minister Richard Marles called</span></a> the most challenging strategic environment since World War II.</p> <p>So, just looking at the bonuses included in this budget, defence got an extra $5 billion for this year alone.</p> <p>Thatâs more than Commonwealth Rent Assistance that, for just this year, <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@viceautoday/video/7369016467712527624"><span>gets an extra $500 million</span></a>; more than the $600 million boost to Services Australia, for more staff to help manage the backlog of people trying to access welfare payments; more than the <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@viceautoday/video/7365670312584678664"><span>changes to HECS indexation</span></a> thatâll cost about $3 billion in foregone revenue; and more than the $3.5 billion cost of living relief package in the form of $300 electricity bill rebates for every household.</p> <div><p>At least one NSW Police officer was seen wearing âthin blue lineâ Australian flag patch at a pro-Palestine rally in Sydneyâs Port Botany on Sunday, where 19 people were arrested.</p> <p>Legal Observers New South Wales (LONSW), who attended the rally to witness and document interactions between <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/5d9qkq/melbourne-students-school-strike-for-palestine" target="_blank">activists</a> and police, said âseveralâ officers wore the patches displaying the iconography that has been co-opted by and is now associated with far-right extremist movements.</p> <p>They reported âmany of these officers were the most aggressive with protestorsâ, who were there to blockade Israeli shipping company ZIM that uses the docks. ZIM has been associated with the Israeli military and its killing of Palestinians in Gaza.</p> <p>LONSW also accused police of demonstrating excessive force, throwing several protestors to the ground, using restraint techniques associated with restraint asphyxia, and âviolently pushing manyâ before arresting people for disrupting commerce and trade under <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/jg5nn4/nsw-police-anti-protest-laws" target="_blank">NSWâs harsh anti-protest laws</a>.</p> <p>NSW Police told <i>Guardian Australia</i> the force had ânot received any reports of an officer wearing the patch which is not part of the standard NSWPF uniformâ and that the force respected peopleâs right to protest at the port.</p> <p>But NSW Council for Civil Liberties president Lydia Shelly said the policing of protests in NSW was now âout of controlâ.</p> <div class="article__embed article__embed--vice" data-related-article="true" data-children-count="0"><iframe src="https://www.vice.com/en_au/embed/article/v7bnd8/embed" frameborder="0" style="border:0px none;margin:0px" allowfullscreen="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></iframe></div> <p>âWe are extremely concerned that at the Port Botany protest, Legal Observers NSW observed several police officers wearing a patch that is not part of the standard police issued uniform which has been associated with right-wing extremism,â she said in a <a href="https://www.nswccl.org.au/media_statement_police_response_to_antigenocide_protests" target="_blank">statement</a>.</p> <p>âWe have called on the Premier, the Attorney General and the Police Commissioner to meet with us to discuss concerns about police conduct towards peaceful protestors and legal observers [and] so far, our requests have been denied.â</p> <h2>Misuse of police powers at weekly free Palestine rallies</h2> <p>Legal Observers NSW has attended 14 <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/g5y849/thousands-rally-across-australia-in-solidarity-with-palestine-israel-war" target="_blank">weekly free Palestine street rallies</a> in Sydneyâs CBD and several actions at Port Botany since October and over those months has complied a eight-page report, documenting police behaviour towards protestors including instances of misuse of police powers.</p> <p>âThe <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/3ak4z9/what-have-free-palestine-rallies-australia-achieved" target="_blank">policing of these rallies</a> has been marked by ubiquitous surveillance, police and state pushback and the deployment of higher than usual levels of police resources, including a new protest-focused taskforce âOperation Mealingâ and&nbsp;pro-Palestinian activity focused âOperation Shelterâ, the report reads.</p> <p>Many incidents of misuse of powers in the report document police violence, but many cases of non-violent misuse of powers are also reported, including police asking protestors to remove face coverings, employing mobile CCTV towers at protests, and stopping cars displaying <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/n7eyj8/womad-ziggy-marley-palestine" target="_blank">Palestinian flags</a>, requiring them to remove the flags, then issuing fines for minor infringements such as P plates being tucked under a number plate as the reason for the stop.</p> <p>The report also notes the NSW Police presence at Sydneyâs weekly pro-Palestine rallies is 100-150 officers at the cost of $220,000 a week, despite no incidents of violence or disturbances occurring at the protests.</p> <p>One example the report singles out is as many as 50 police being deployed to guard the <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/epv7qz/mcdonalds-sales-misinformation-israel-boycott" target="_blank">Starbucks</a> on Elizabeth Street despite no incidents occurring in relation to the location.</p> <p>âThe reliance on high visibility policing unduly criminalises protestors and puts them at risk of police assault,â Adam al-Hayek, a spokesperson for LONSW, told VICE.</p> <div class="article__embed article__embed--vice" data-related-article="true" data-children-count="0"><iframe src="https://www.vice.com/en_au/embed/article/epv9gp/embed" frameborder="0" style="border:0px none;margin:0px" allowfullscreen="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></iframe></div> <p>âThe weekly street rallies are well-managed by marshals and do not require the deployment of 100-150 police officers whose primary function appears to be surveilling and harassing protestors.â</p> <p>NSW Greens MP Sue Higginson said the report painted a dark picture of the state of the police force.</p> <p>âThe findings released in todayâs independent observer report are deeply worrying and point to the creeping militarisation and criminalisation in response to peaceful protestors from the NSW Police Force,â Higginson told VICE.</p> <p>âThe highly-militarised state of police deployment we have seen week after week at an event that has consistently been compliant, peaceful and driven by <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/ak39zj/cancelled-palestine-visas-australia" target="_blank">Palestinian community</a> members and families is plainly out of proportion.</p> <p>âItâs time for our police to work with, not against, all members of the community. We want a policing regime that supports healthy, peaceful, democratic action. To achieve this we must demilitarise and deweaponise our general duty police and urgently begin the serious reforms needed to move us towards a policing-by-consent model that supports the integrity of both officers and community members.â</p> <p><i>Aleksandra Bliszczyk is the Deputy Editor of VICE Australia. Follow her on<a href="https://www.instagram.com/aleksbliszczyk/?hl=en" target="_blank"> Instagram</a>.</i></p> <p><i>Get the story that matters most each day. <a href="https://pedestrian.us1.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=2c631b380f2015e8f93fcbc5b&amp;id=77eb92cd03" target="_blank">Subscribe to Australia Todayâs daily newsletter here</a>.</i></p></div> <p>Also compare the $5 extra billion dollars for defence with the <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@viceautoday/video/7367169227117153554"><span>extra $50 million for endometriosis consultation subsidies</span></a>, or the extra $73 million a year to mental health, to establish a national digital mental health referral service, or the $185 million per year to domestic violence victims, <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@viceautoday/video/7363923077400366344"><span>going to the Leaving Violence Program</span></a> that offers $5000 payments to people fleeing abusive homes.</p> <p>To explain a couple of those furtherâŠ</p> <p>Rent Assistance is going up â $19 a fortnight for singles as part of the government's plan to tackle the housing and <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/4a3mvp/coles-woolies-prices-fines">cost of living</a> crisis in its 2025 federal budget.</p> <p>The maximum Commonwealth Rent Assistance payment will increase by 10 per cent from September this year, which will benefit about 1 million recipients on that rate.</p> <p>The current highest payment for a single person is $188.20 a fortnight, or $125.47 for a single person in a <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/5d9a7q/sharehouse-demand-sydney-melbourne-rental">sharehouse</a>, and those will go up $18.80.</p> <p>For families or parents with three or more children it will go up $25 a fortnight to $274.90 a fortnight. </p> <p>This is also before the payments are indexed according to inflation which treasurer Jim Chalmers will add another 5 per cent. to all payments.</p> <p>It will cost the government an additional $1.9 billion over the next five years.</p> <p>The government will also wipe $3 billion of student debt by changing the way itâs indexed. </p> <p>The new move caps the rate of indexation to make sure your debt canât rise faster than your <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/bvjkxq/award-wage-pay-rise">wages</a>. So currently HECS or HELP loans rise a percentage every year according to the CPI, the consumer price index. Thatâs the measure of how the cost of goods and services rise over time. But the WPI, the wage price index measures the rate, on average, of wage growth. So now the government will introduce legislation that means student loan indexation will be calculated on whichever is lower each year, the CPI or the WPI.</p> <p>The policy will also be backdated to June 1, 2023, which means last year's historically high 7.1 per cent indexation will be more than halved to the WPI of of the time which was 3.2 per cent.</p> <p>This will cancel hundreds if not thousands of dollars from most peopleâs HECS debts and mean indexation this year and in future years will be lower than expected and mean that theyâll never grow so fast to the point where the growth outpaces the mandatory repayments from your paychecks.&nbsp;</p> <p><em>Aleksandra Bliszczyk is the Deputy Editor of VICE Australia. Follow her on<a href="https://www.instagram.com/aleksbliszczyk/?hl=en"> Instagram</a>.</em></p> </description>
<link>https://vice.com/en/article/93kjk3/military-budget</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://vice.com/en/article/93kjk3/military-budget</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 16 May 2024 07:01:04 GMT</pubDate>
<author>Aleksandra Bliszczyk, Aleksandra Bliszczyk</author>
<category>Australia Today</category>
<category>Politics</category>
<category>Australia</category>
</item>
<item>
<title>The Government Is Making Porn a Scapegoat for Rising Violence Against Women</title>
<description><figure><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/articles/6632f151934d4280f82fc7a7/lede/1714618063713-gettyimages-2150387211.jpeg" alt="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"><figcaption></figcaption></figure> <p>On Wednesday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced a $925 million initiative to help people flee abusive relationships after a recent uptick in violence against women in Australia. State, territory and federal leaders, who met for an urgent national cabinet meeting following nationwide rallies, also committed to implementing a series of interventions to address young peopleâs access to extreme online misogyny; which specifically cited âviolent <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/topic/porn">pornography</a>â.</p> <p>As a sex worker, the most concerning part of this conversation is the use of the sex industry as a political scapegoat for menâs violence.&nbsp;</p> <p>Letâs be clear: the porn industry was never created to provide <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/y3vvqw/we-asked-people-about-their-terrible-high-school-sex-ed-experiences">sex education</a> to children. But letâs also be honest: if your child is actively seeking out pornography, or so-called âviolent pornographyâ, perhaps thereâs a gap in their learning about sex and sexuality that the education system or a guardian has failed to fill.&nbsp;</p> <p>To prioritise limiting young peopleâs access to pornography and framing certain categories as âviolentâ shows how quickly Australian politicians, <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/88xevp/why-talking-about-sex-is-awkward">educators</a> and parents position themselves as the moral arbiters of sex work, rather than having honest and brave conversations with their kids about consent and sex.&nbsp;</p> <p>Not only do these sentiments perpetuate vilifying and victimising narratives about sex workers, they also simultaneously shift the responsibility of teaching young people about boundaries onto the very pornographers they claim to exhibit âviolenceâ.&nbsp;</p> <div style="max-width: 605px;"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 104.259%; padding-top: 120px;"><iframe src="https://oembed.vice.com/vLAkjup?app=1" style="top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; border: 0;" allowfullscreen="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></iframe></div></div> <p>Pornography <em>can</em> be a way for young people to learn and explore their sexuality in ways the current education system and discussions with their peers do not allow. This is not an endorsement, but it should be an opportunity to work out where we are letting children down on their journeys to self-discovery.</p> <div><p><i>This article originally appeared on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.vice.com/ro" target="_blank">VICE Romania</a>.</i></p> <p>I remember clearly how awkward <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/topic/sex" target="_blank">sex</a> and sex education seemed to me during high school. Since then, I've met guys who couldn't find the <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/topic/clitoris" target="_blank">clit</a> and would be intimidated if I showed them or told them what to do with it. After a while, I didn't even bother trying to explain unless there was a connection between us. Iâve also met guys who felt awkward when I asked them to stop. And Iâve always been struck by how often they tried to avoid any discussions about <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/topic/std" target="_blank">STDs</a>.</p> <p>Letâs face it: Most of these situations could have been avoided if theyâd received proper <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/topic/sex-education" target="_blank">sex education</a> in their school years. So I asked a few guys about the times they think sex ed would have saved them from making embarrassing, and sometimes terrible, mistakes. They shared their stories, using fake names for privacy reasons.</p> <h2>âI wish someone had told me that sperm doesn't travel through waterâ</h2> <p>âI was 19-years-old, my girlfriend was 17, and weâd been together for some time. Iâd never done anything sexual except for some intense touching. One evening we were home alone because her parents had gone on vacation, so we organised something romantic like in the movies. We filled the tub with water and bubbles, got undressed, and got in. We started kissing and caressing each other until, at some point, I ejaculated in the water.</p> <p>Her vagina was far away, but we both freaked out and couldn't sleep all night. The next morning, we went to the pharmacy to get the <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/d3a99m/morning-after-pill-plan-b-history-morality-emergency" target="_blank">morning-after pill</a>. I wish someone had told me that sperm doesn't travel through water and that it's almost impossible to get pregnant from a distance. We wouldâve both avoided a really bad fright.â - <i>Iustin, 26</i></p> <h2>âI thought women peed through their clitorisâ</h2> <p>âWhen I was a teenager, I thought women peed through their clitoris, so I would only stimulate it with my hands, never with my mouth. During the same period, when my then-girlfriend complained about her breasts hurting during ovulation, I suggested I should milk them to ease the pain. It just shows how much I knew about the female body at the time.â - <i>Mircea, 32</i></p> <h2>âI wish someone had told me that I needed to use a lot of lube and not pressure myself to take it all inâ</h2> <p>âI had one of my first sexual experiences â maybe even the first â when I was studying in Spain. I wanted to try anal sex with a man, but I was a bit reluctant. So one night I went out, got really drunk, flirted with a guy at the club, and then went home with him.</p> <div class="article__embed article__embed--vice" data-related-article="true" data-children-count="0"><iframe src="https://www.vice.com/en_uk/embed/article/k7w8qz/embed" frameborder="0" style="border:0px none;margin:0px" allowfullscreen="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></iframe></div> <p>In the room, I realised he had a really big penis, but I was drunk and didn't feel the discomfort. When I got home the next day, I realised I had some bad anal fissures and my anus hurt for a week.</p> <p>Because Iâd never had similar interactions before, I didn't know I was supposed to be careful and take it slow. Luckily, I could find information on the Internet, but I wish someone had told me I needed to use a lot of lube and not pressure myself to take it all in. I also would have liked someone to explain to me how to do an enema, so that I wouldn't get stomach pain or discharge.â <i>- Tony, 27</i></p> <h2>âI had to pay the price for my ignoranceâ</h2> <p>âWhen I think of sex education, I remember a teacher doing a demonstration with a banana and a condom in uni, but thatâs pretty much it. I grew up without a father, and my mum and I never talked about sex. I learnt from older friends and from my own experience. Unfortunately, sometimes I had to pay the price for my ignorance.</p> <div class="article__embed article__embed--vice" data-related-article="true" data-children-count="0"><iframe src="https://www.vice.com/en_uk/embed/article/m7vyk4/embed" frameborder="0" style="border:0px none;margin:0px" allowfullscreen="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></iframe></div> <p>At one point, a girl from another city, who Iâd partied with in the past, came to visit me. That night, we both drank too much and I was rougher than usual in bed. I had tried choking and butt slapping before, but this time I slapped her in the face. I didn't want to hurt her; I was just playing a fantasy.</p> <p>When I talked to her later, I realised how much my behaviour had shocked her. She was shocked at how ignorant I was about boundaries and consent. At the time, I didn't realise that it was a potentially sensitive situation we should have discussed beforehand, and that, without consent, my sex play was abusive and dehumanising towards her.</p> <p>Over time, I've learnt that itâs essential to get informed beforehand and that sex education is a lifelong process.â <i>- Vlad, 33</i></p></div> <p>Additionally, blanket views that all adult content is harmful or has harmful potential, and attempting to restrict young peopleâs access to it, often results in more barriers for sex workers online. Anti-trafficking laws that hold porn websites liable for promoting or facilitating sex work and trafficking introduced in the US in 2018 have been<a href="https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/5050/sex-workers-endangered-fosta-sesta-porn-us-free-speech-woodhull/"> <span>criticised for endangering sex workers further.</span></a> The<a href="https://scarletalliance.org.au/library/response-to-the-esafetys-call-for-evidence-on-age-verification/"> <span>UKâs implementation of age-verification systems online</span></a> has also been slammed by the sex work industry for over-regulation.&nbsp;</p> <p>Can I suggest just getting better parental controls on your devices?</p> <p>This is not the first time the responsibility of shaping well-behaved young men has been put on the sex industry. Last year, senior Liberal Party member Sussan Ley suggested<a href="https://womensagenda.com.au/politics/sussan-ley-misses-fundamental-point-in-calling-for-strip-club-ban/"> <span>a âpauseâ on the opening of new strip clubs</span></a>, citing concerns over the roles theses premises have in influencing young menâs attitudes towards women.&nbsp;</p> <p>But Leyâs attitude ignores the involvement of an autonomous, consenting person in the scenario.</p> <div><p>Being good at sex is somewhat of a myth, but if thereâs anyone whoâs got a handle of how to <i>have good sex</i> itâs the people who work in one of the worldâs most ancient jobs. We wanted some straightforward tips on fingering, dick sucking, oral and standard bouncing â so we asked. These tips arenât about to turn you into a <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/akexbg/how-to-make-a-sex-tape-according-to-a-former-porn-star" target="_blank">porn star</a>, but you might be surprised by the <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/5d38zk/missionary-sex-position-vice-guide" target="_blank">fundamentals of sex</a> that youâve missed.</p> <p>Needless to say, itâs better to ask the specific person youâre sleeping with what <i>they</i> like â all sexual experiences are subjective â but sleeping with tens if not hundreds of people for work does give you a few clues as to what gets <i>most</i> people off. Itâs all well and good to tell people that âconfidence is keyâ or to just âenjoy themselvesâ, but it turns out there are more than a few ways to turn a trick that can be applied to anyoneâs everyday sex life.</p> <p>We went to <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/n7zxy8/a-glossary-of-sex-worker-terminology" target="_blank">the experts</a>: in this case, sex workers Lily, Mia, Samantha and Becca of PĆnekeâs The Bedroom, and hereâs what they had to sayâŠ</p> <h2>Letâs get some basic sex dos and donâts out of the way:</h2> <p>Having good hygiene is a given (including good breath). Commenting on someoneâs weight or appearance is a no-go unless itâs an absolute compliment.</p> <p>And there are a few areas that unquestionably require discussion:</p> <p>Anal or butt play? <i>Discuss it.</i></p> <p>Anything that <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/jgmv48/what-is-kinky-sex" target="_blank">leaves a mark</a>? <i>Discuss it.</i>&nbsp;Bites, bruises and rope burns can put someone in an uncomfortable situation at work or home, so making sure the person being marked is ok with it is a must.</p> <p>Where youâre gonna <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/epz8n4/my-sex-life-with-a-semen-allergy" target="_blank">cum</a>? <i>Discuss it.</i>&nbsp;Thereâs nothing less sexy than someone ruining your makeup or freshly washed hair. And if the <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/3adjv9/how-to-make-safer-sex-hot" target="_blank">contraceptive situation</a> hasnât been made clear, not double checking that your landing pad is approved could end in genuine disaster.</p> <p>With that aside, letâs get into some of the specifics. Hereâs what our sex-work overseers had to say:</p> <h2>HOW TO: HANDJOBS</h2> <p><i>âI always start slow. Be aware of how sensitive their area is and really ease into it. Remember how many nerve endings there are. It is friction!â</i> - Mia</p> <p><i>âUse saliva and lube.â</i>&nbsp; - Samantha</p> <p><i>âIf the handjob goes on too long men [can] lose sensitivity, so you're actually better to stop doing the handjob altogether. Give it a rest and then try again.â</i> - Lily</p> <p><i>âEven if you're not being touched, they want to see that you're into them being aroused. They want to see you turned on as well.â</i> - Samantha</p> <h2>HOW TO: FINGERING</h2> <p><i>âDonât finger a dry pussy really hard. Youâll <a href="https://www.medicinenet.com/can_you_get_thrush_sexually/article.htm" target="_blank">give them thrush.</a>â</i> - Lily</p> <div class="article__embed article__embed--vice" data-related-article="true" data-children-count="0"><iframe src="https://www.vice.com/en_nz/embed/article/93k8dv/embed" frameborder="0" style="border:0px none;margin:0px" allowfullscreen="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></iframe></div> <p><i>âI love my butt being played with, but if youâre gonna put your finger in my butt then in my pussy, all Iâm thinking is urine infection. So donât do that. Itâs hygiene yâknow.â&nbsp; -</i> Mia</p> <p><i>âDefinitely donât start by shoving three fingers in someone at once. You can build up to it, but thatâs not a sexy way to start.â</i> - Becca</p> <p><i>âA finger and clitoral rub at the same time is the best. Fingers in, thumb on clit.â</i> - Lily</p> <p><i>âDonât shove your knuckles into the coochie because they donât do anything.â</i> - Mia</p> <h2>HOW TO SUCK DICK</h2> <p><i>âUse your hand at the base like it's half-hand-job-half-blow-job. Just using your mouth, a lot of men wonât cum.â -</i> Lily</p> <p><i>âGo from the outside, inwards. Lead up from touching the thighs and then you move in and stimulate them⊠A lot of guys like the balls.â</i> - Samantha</p> <p><i>âThe men say it feels better without the condom. Supposedly thereâs a lot of sensitivity lost.â -</i> Lily</p> <p><i>âI think the wetter the better. The more saliva, the more it feels like a pussy.â -</i> Lily</p> <h2>HOW TO EAT SOMEONE OUT</h2> <p><i>âWith facial hair, the smoother the better, or be hairy. But prickly hurts. Itâs like sandpaper.â -</i> Mia</p> <p><i>âDoing the alphabet with your tongue, that was a Cosmopolitan tip⊠donât do that. Donât motorboat. Donât bite. Donât blow. Donât hum. Thatâs another Cosmo tip. It's just weird.â</i> - Lily</p> <p><i>âYouâre sensitive in areas that arenât normally touched, so incorporate the inner thighs, or holding the hips and touching those creases. Do all that kind of stuff as the lead-up, outside of the vagina, and then slowly work your way in.â</i> - Samantha</p> <p><i>âPutting your tongue into the actual vagina doesnât feel that good⊠Itâs not a dick. You wouldnât make someone cum from it.â</i> - Becca</p> <p><i>âThe person needs to be honest if theyâre not into [eating me out]. Because I can tell if theyâre not enjoying it and then I feel like Iâm torturing them.â</i> - Samantha</p> <h2>HOW TO HAVE INTERCOURSE</h2> <p><i>âReplicating what youâve seen in porn is really dangerous and also really obvious. You should never come straight into a sexual encounter with someone you donât know well and choke and slap them. Itâs embarrassing and uncomfortable.â</i> - Becca</p> <div class="article__embed article__embed--vice" data-related-article="true" data-children-count="0"><iframe src="https://www.vice.com/en_nz/embed/article/7kxwnb/embed" frameborder="0" style="border:0px none;margin:0px" allowfullscreen="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></iframe></div> <p><i>âIf there's a massive size difference between you and your partner, be aware to hold your own weight when youâre on top. It happened to me with a partner who was bigger than me, and heâd rest all his weight on me and Iâd start panicking because I couldnât breathe.â</i> - Samantha</p> <p><i>âJackhammering can be painful if youâre not in the mood for it. Just be aware. They have a pelvic bone. They have a cervix. And youâre banging up against it.â -</i> Becca</p> <p><i>âIf sheâs invested in lingerie let her wear it for ten minutes. If sheâs feeling sexy and sheâs dolled herself up, a suspender belt, stockings, donât just rip it off straight away. Make her feel beautiful in what sheâs wearing. And then sheâll want to dress up for you more because youâve shown you appreciate it.â</i> - Lily</p> <p><i>âKiss during sex! It makes you feel so rejected if someone stops kissing you as soon as you start fucking. Itâs awkward.â</i> - Becca</p> <h2>THE âFEEL GOODâ FACTOR</h2> <p><i>âYou've got to be able to pick up what they're feeling. You need to be very in tune with other people. In real layman's examples, itâs whether you'd say like, âI want you to fuck meâ or âI want to make love to youâ. It's a bit of emotional intelligence.â</i> - Samantha</p> <p><i>âI think if one person stands to gain more from the experience than the other, then it's not something that's gonna be enjoyable</i>.â - Mia</p> <p><i>"You can ask what they want without it ruining the mood. Just saying, âDoes it feel good?â âDo you want it faster?â or âWhat can I do for you?â It's not embarrassing.â</i> - Samantha</p> <p>In the end, everyone will have some <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/5d9g8b/worst-std-stories" target="_blank">mortifying moments</a> in their sexual lives and everyone will feel things <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/7kb9zx/how-an-extreme-new-curve-in-my-penis-changed-my-sex-life-peyronies-disease" target="_blank">differently</a> â and thatâs okay folks! We learn, we grow, we throb with undulating desire.</p> <p>We hope the wise words of our sex-worker friends can help you feel on top of the basics so that you know the sex youâre having feels good for everyone involved, inside <i>and</i> out.</p> <p><i>Rachel Barker is a writer / producer at VICE NZ in Aotearoa. You can find her @rachellydiab on IG and Letterboxd and see her film criticism on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@girlonfilm4551" target="_blank">Youtube</a>.</i></p></div> <p>I argue to Sussan Ley that any man who attends <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/y3wbb7/how-nzs-strippers-collectivised-against-allegations-of-bullying-and-harassment-at-work">strip clubs</a> as a ritualistic baptism into manhood will learn lifelong lessons about boundaries should they ever touch a dancer in a place they havenât consented to.</p> <p>The sex industry is not a handbook to intimacy that your child is a perceived victim of, and we should not be enabling men to blame their bad behaviour on porn consumption.&nbsp;</p> <p>All Australians, not just sex workers, should be mature enough to educate themselves and their children that the <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/qjvnem/vice-visits-the-australian-adult-industry-awards">adult industry</a> and porn are built on fantasy, and thatâs okay.&nbsp;</p> <p>When looking at menâs violence against women â very much a reality â letâs look at real solutions.&nbsp;</p> <p>The $925 million pledge <em>over five years,</em> while<a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-05-01/new-coercive-control-ad-campaign-launched-by-nsw-government/103787754"> <span>frontline services are desperate for funding</span></a>, is seriously inadequate. And the <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/jgpkeb/employers-sex-work-cost-of-living">cost of living</a> is continuously rising â making financial hardship a major contributing factor to womenâs inability to escape violent relationships. Meanwhile, the government also<a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/defence-spending-australia-national-strategy-integrated-investment-program/bceed0f7-971a-4c9b-bcb4-d4d76931c070"> <span>pledged a $50 billion boost to defence</span></a> over the next decade and Australiaâs own parliament canât even get its<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/media/2023/dec/08/bruce-lehrmann-brittany-higgins-parliament-house-defamation-trial-grips-australia-ntwnfb"> <span>sexual misconduct problem under control</span></a>.&nbsp;</p> <p>So who really is to blame?</p> <p><em>Darcy Deviant is a sex worker and writer based in Melbourne. Follow Darcy on Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/hole___money/">here</a>.</em></p> </description>
<link>https://vice.com/en/article/m7bngy/government-porn-violence-against-women</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://vice.com/en/article/m7bngy/government-porn-violence-against-women</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 02 May 2024 03:25:24 GMT</pubDate>
<author>Aleksandra Bliszczyk, Darcy Deviant</author>
<category>Australia Today</category>
<category>Politics</category>
<category>Australia</category>
<category>Sex</category>
<category>porn</category>
<category>sex work</category>
</item>
<item>
<title>How Long Until the Majority of Voters Are Gen Y and Gen Z?</title>
<description><figure><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/articles/6631aefa934d4280f82fc24a/lede/1714536022813-istock-1530809356.jpeg" alt="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"><figcaption>Image credit: istock</figcaption></figure> <p>From Brexit to Aotearoaâs own cannabis referendum, weâve seen older generations have the dominant vote on issues that will outlive them.&nbsp;</p> <p>The complaint often lobbied in these situations is that young voters are left living in the world created by those soon to leave it. And right now young people are a minority, fighting against an older class who (depending on who you ask) doesnât care for our future.&nbsp;</p> <p>About a quarter of the 3,688,292 total New Zealanders enrolled in last year's election are over 70.&nbsp;</p> <p>And Gen Y and Gen Z <em>are</em> currently the minority of eligible voters in New Zealand â with 1,598,352 18-44 year olds and 2,089,940 45+ year olds enrolled for the 2023 election.&nbsp;</p> <p>So how long will it be until we make up the majority? A change in the majority generation that makes up a voting block will definitely change how politicians approach policy, but is it really down to, well⊠how much time it takes for older people to die?</p> <p>People born into Generations Y and Z are currently between 12 and 43. This means most of us already <em>are</em> voting â or at least have the ability to.&nbsp;</p> <p>Last year, 452,882 eligible people between 18-44 didnât vote. Will the New Zealanders turning 18 in the next 6 years have the power to bring up those numbers? Itâs unlikely.&nbsp;</p> <div><p>Growing up in Australia, Anzac Day usually means chewy oat biscuits, poppy pins, excursions, trumpets and pretending to fathom what war was like 100 years ago after your teachers tell you to reflect on soldiersâ service and sacrifice during the minuteâs silence.</p> <p>But this year, a <a href="https://www.instagram.com/teachers4palestine_vic/?hl=en" target="_blank">collective</a> of pro-<a href="https://www.vice.com/en/topic/palestine" target="_blank">Palestine</a> school teachers in Victoria is challenging the ways our World War I soldiers are remembered and what aspects of our military history have long been left out of classrooms.&nbsp;</p> <p>The Teachers and <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/5d9qkq/melbourne-students-school-strike-for-palestine" target="_blank">School</a> Staff for Palestine group has this week called for the âAnzac mythologyâ to be âdismantledâ to make way for ârigorous, critical and empowering educationâ around campaigns and massacres in Palestine during WWI.</p> <p>âWe won't be used to convey myths that serve to normalise militarism, we won't use teaching and learning material designed to gloss over the violent imprint that <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/qjv58b/aid-workers-one-australian-killed-in-gaza-after-delivering-food" target="_blank">Australia has left in Palestine</a>,â Lucy Honan, a Teachers and School Staff for Palestine member and secondary history teacher, told VICE.&nbsp;</p> <p>âStudents should have an opportunity to question the official legend that Anzacs were sacrificing their lives for freedom, and think critically about Australia's commitment to the imperialist powers that lay the ground for the creation of Israel, and think about the consequences of this for Palestinians.â</p> <p>In recent months, the group has organised solidarity actions in schools, campaigned to remove <a href="https://www.theeducatoronline.com/k12/news/teachers-launch-boycott-of-stem-programs-funded-by-weapons-companies/284214#:~:text=%E2%80%9CThe%20Victorian%20Education%20Department%20is,School%20Staff%20for%20Palestine%20said." target="_blank">STEM programs sponsored by weapons manufacturers</a> from schools and published teaching materials including a booklet about Anzac campaigns in Palestine that lay the foundation for the creation of Israel.</p> <p>The teaching materials were compiled by the group through weeks of research, in response to âa dearth of teaching resources about the Anzacs in Palestine,â Honan said.</p> <p>âOur students want answers. What is happening in Gaza and why, who is implicated â and why are we being told we can't talk about it at school?â</p> <p>Victorian Education Minister Ben Carroll <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-11-27/victoria-teachers-palestine-solidarity-education-minister/103154342" target="_blank">warned state school teachers late last year</a> not to be political or participate in pro-Palestinian advocacy in schools and said such action was âinflammatory, it's divisive and only sows more seeds of disharmony in our communityâ.</p> <p>Honan said she wasnât surprised by these warnings but that they were contradictory.</p> <p>âBecause we refused to be neutral about the genocide in Gaza, we have been accused by politicians and the Education Department of being too political,â she said.</p> <p>âAnd yet, the agenda of militarism and unthinking nationalism in our schools is overwhelming.â</p> <p>Teachers and School Staff for Palestine hope their resources will help and encourage teachers to think more critically about their history curriculums and allow students the opportunity to question what they are taught and why.</p> <p>âLet teachers teach honestly,â she said.</p> <p>âTeachers must be empowered and supported to teach about Palestine.â</p> <h2>What did the Anzacs do in Palestine?&nbsp;</h2> <p>In 1917, the <a href="https://anzacportal.dva.gov.au/wars-and-missions/ww1/where-australians-served/sinai-and-palestine" target="_blank">ANZACs invaded Palestine</a> to fight the Ottoman Army and, after the third Battle of Gaza on October 31, successfully took control of the land and the people in the name of the British Empire.</p> <p>The final battle of Gaza also included the Allied attack on Beersheba, which had a majority Palestinian Arab population and was captured from the Ottoman Empire.&nbsp;</p> <h2>The Sarafand al-âAmar massacre</h2> <p>The following year, the three brigades of the Anzac Mounted Division remained camped in Palestine waiting for demobilisation, when one Anzac was shot and killed.</p> <p>The troops suspected Palestinians from the town of Sarafand al-âAmar were responsible and a group surrounded the town to demand justice. Their revenge was recorded as a <a href="https://nzhistory.govt.nz/page/anzac-troops-kill-arab-civilians-surafend" target="_blank">massacre of dozens of people</a> â <a href="https://www.palestinechronicle.com/the-sarafand-massacre-and-cover-up/" target="_blank">as many as 137</a> â who were bludgeoned and stabbed to death. The Anzacs then burned the town and nearby camps until the remaining residents were imprisoned or had fled and the town was destroyed.&nbsp;</p> <h2>The creation of Israel&nbsp;</h2> <p>After the British Empire withdrew in 1947, it handed over what it called the âproblem of Palestineâ to the United Nations, ending the British Mandate and establishing the State of Israel. This was when the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians, known as Al Nakba (the catastrophe) began.</p> <p>Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly thanked Anzac soldiers for their service and for paving the way for the creation of the âState of Israelâ.</p> <p>âAnzac soldiers are part of the history and memory of Israel⊠and had not the Australians and New Zealanders overthrown Ottoman rule in Palestine and Syria, the <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2018/11/2/more-than-a-century-on-the-balfour-declaration-explained" target="_blank">Balfour Declaration</a> would have remained mere ink on paper,â <a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-australian-new-zealand-leaders-mark-landmark-wwi-battle/" target="_blank">he said on the 100th anniversary</a> of the battle of Beersheba, attended by the then-Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.</p> <p>Turnbull also spoke at the event and said âthe battle has become part of our history, part of our psycheâ.</p> <p>âHad the Ottoman rule in Palestine and Syria not been overthrown by the Australians and the New Zealanders, the Balfour Declaration would have been empty words.</p> <p>â[The battle] secured the victory that did not create the state of Israel, but enabled its creation,â Turnbull said.</p> <p><i>Aleksandra Bliszczyk is the Deputy Editor of VICE Australia. Follow her on<a href="https://www.instagram.com/aleksbliszczyk/?hl=en" target="_blank"> Instagram</a>.</i></p> <p><i>Get the story that matters most each day. <a href="https://pedestrian.us1.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=2c631b380f2015e8f93fcbc5b&amp;id=77eb92cd03" target="_blank">Subscribe to Australia Todayâs daily newsletter here</a>.</i></p></div> <p>In only 6 years time, the entirety of New Zealandâs âiGenerationâ (has anyone ever called it that?) will be eligible to vote. From that point, weâll theoretically take up about half of the voting body.&nbsp;</p> <p>In 15-20 years, about half of the older age group voters will drop off â or rather, we will encroach on their territory, becoming the main body of voters, with Gen Xers above us and Gen Alpha below.&nbsp;</p> <p>So, in the grand scheme of things, our time to shine is not too far away.&nbsp;</p> <p>Gen Z is arguably in competition with boomers for being the most vocal about their political views online. No generation can be defined by a singular political outlook, but you do get the sense â from perusing everything from X to TikTok to Instagram â that a minority of people under 25 fall into the liberal camp.&nbsp;</p> <p>Maybe itâs because of the echo chamber. Maybe itâs because Gen Y and Z either lean super vocal or say nothing at all.&nbsp;</p> <p>And maybe itâs because the glimmer of idealism has always been associated with youth â although, for a generation facing the 11th hour of climate change, the desperation for change is more than just a matter of preference.&nbsp;</p> <div><p class="article__text--dropcap">Thereâs something in the Indigenous experience, and perhaps in the experiences of all marginalised peoples, that makes us naturally, incredibly funny.</p> <p>In a world where our existence is challenged and our <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsoc.2021.613340/full#:~:text=Tino%20rangatiratanga%20can%20mean%20self,which%20fully%20encapsulates%20its%20meaning." target="_blank">tino rangatiratanga</a> is encroached upon, our humour persists. Thatâs because joy is resistance. In our shared humour we relish in an understanding that doesnât need to be explained, or toned down, or diluted.&nbsp;</p> <p>Iâve been a comic in Aotearoa professionally for almost four years, and in that time Iâve managed to surmise a couple of things.&nbsp;</p> <p>In 2021, I performed for the first time in the NZ International Comedy Fest as a member of Bull Rush, an improv group I still perform with. I remember going to the closing night event with my improv buddies and looking around the room. It wasnât entirely white: The Frickin Dangerous Bro boys, Pax Assadi, Jamaine Ross and James Roque were all there. And Angella Dravid and James Nokise were also present. At the time, I was one of only three Samoan performers in the festival.&nbsp;</p> <p>If youâve been on any Facebook comment thread or internet hellhole forum about New Zealand TV recently, youâd be aware that a lot of our programming, apparently, has fallen victim to the plague of âgoing wokeâ. And for many brown comedians, like myself, this means a small but significant increase in work.&nbsp;</p> <p>Many of us find ourselves being ushered into spaces to make things appear more colourful and inclusive. But in doing so we are loaded with the burden of being tokenised. Frankly, itâs exhausting. And harmful. It can feel like weâre simply there to shroud the reality of bias against our people. Being a token in any space hides a structural disengagement with the entirety of our culture, our <a href="https://teara.govt.nz/en/whakapapa-genealogy" target="_blank">whakapapa</a>, our laughter and our pain. By being here, on this stage, surely my presence signifies the end of racism in the New Zealand comedy industry, right?&nbsp;</p> <p>Not quite.&nbsp;</p> <p class="article__pull-quote">For a long time (and not just in Aotearoa) the term âaudiences'' has been synonymous with âwhite people.â</p> <p>The New Zealand Comedy Industry has always skewed towards a <a href="https://teara.govt.nz/en/cultural-go-betweens/page-2" target="_blank">pÄkehÄ</a> lens.&nbsp;</p> <p>Our nationâs most famous comic, William James Te Wehi Taitoko, changed his name to âBilly T Jamesâ because the pronunciation was easier for Australians. That name was rearranged and anglicised for the ease of pÄkehÄ ears and has since adorned our nation's most coveted comedy award, an act towards assimilation, so as not to deter his white audience.</p> <p>Over the decades, many revered comedians of colour have bent their personas to appease pÄkehÄ for career benefit, and in doing so fed into harm towards our communities. Some of Taitokoâs own work is often a talking point in the portrayal of MÄori identity for its part in enforcing harmful stereotypes.</p> <div class="article__embed" data-related-article="true" data-children-count="0"><div data-iframely-id="08dwnpC" class="article__embed article__embed--iframely"><div style="left:0;width:100%;height:0;position:relative;padding-bottom:56.25%"><iframe data-iframely-url="//oembed.vice.com/08dwnpC" data-img="" style="top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;position:absolute;border:0" allowfullscreen="" allow="encrypted-media *;" frameborder="0" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></iframe></div></div></div> <p>Racism, of course, is fuelled by normalisation in the media like this. One needs only to look towards <i>broâTownâs</i> Jeff Da Maori and <i>Summer Heights High</i>âs Jonah Takalua for their roles in proliferating harmful stereotypes and anti-Indigenous racism.</p> <p>For a long time (and not just in Aotearoa) the term âaudiences'' has been synonymous with âwhite peopleâ. And the people that regularly come to comedy events â or the ones held by the central industry â are predominantly pÄkehÄ.&nbsp;</p> <p>âComedyâ in Aotearoa is viewed as a âwhite thingâ by a lot of brown communities. There are multiple exceptions but there seems to be minimal representation for our communities in the most visible spaces. As a brown comedian who does improv comedy almost every Friday night, I comfortably say that brown audiences have not yet recognised their place in our audiences. And understandably so. Representation can foster a hostile environment when it reduces the vastness of our community into a token or caricature. In some cases, it can foster the longevity of the stereotype.&nbsp;</p> <p>And it is an exhausting conversation topic, particularly for the underrepresented. In the turning tide of âdiversity-hireâ culture, people of marginalised communities are burdened with responsibilities far beyond the call of our actual jobs. As my friend and collaborator Joel McCarthy once said after a particularly challenging call: âItâs fucking exhausting having to pioneer everythingâ.&nbsp;</p> <p>It <i>is</i> exhausting trying to figure out how to make a living in this industry while doing right by ourselves and by the people we stand with. These structures that coerce us into assimilating into (and making allowances for) pÄkehÄ culture are exhausting and, sometimes, dangerous. They can be dangerous to us who risk token elevation as a model minority, and to our communities, who continue to experience the very real and very relentless structural problems that cause collective harm.&nbsp;</p> <p>For some time now the New Zealand comedy industry has found itself pondering questions that many other institutions in this modern age also find themselves pondering.&nbsp;</p> <p>As we look at the massively evident disparity in representation, weâre forced to grapple with the intersections of our society and the way it uplifts a specific type of person above most others.&nbsp;</p> <p>But if tokenized MÄori and Pasifika are being hired for being palatable to a white sensibility, then what good does this really do for our communities? And if we signify to our communities that whiteness is aspirational, then what message are we sending? To fight for a single chair? The smallest chair at the table; the littlest token of funding; a gestural hui. If we operate from the assumption that our communities enjoy laughing, our scope becomes so much wider.&nbsp;</p> <p>Many of our most successful comedians are creating online. Creators like Janaye Henry, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/kumara_chipz/?hl=en" target="_blank">Kura Turuwhenua</a>, Timprovise and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/memoirsofamaori/?hl=en" target="_blank">Charde Heremaia</a> are meeting our audiences where they are. They ask the obvious question: If spaces like the theatre and the comedy club are inaccessible (both financially and geographically), then why not provide laughter in their homes?&nbsp;</p> <p>For decades, the comedy industry has clung to television as its path of ascension, but as the digital age shifts away from terrestrial television, so too do the audiences. Audiences want entertainment that speaks to their reality, that reflects themselves honestly. Itâs increasingly hard to do that on a platform where the viewership, and the funding, is gradually being taken away. Not to say these people donât draw audiences â Kura sold out her shows last year in the NZ Comedy Fest, and Tim sold an 80% house at Q Rangatira for a live record of his podcast âHonest To Who?â.</p> <p>But in a system that depends upon bums-on-seats, the hundreds of thousands of global audience members that are viewing and engaging with online content apparently donât speak to someoneâs comedic credibility.&nbsp;</p> <p>In cinema, television, and international media there has been some increased visibility for MÄori, Pasifika and POC comedians, as well as comedians from all backgrounds. Bubbah on <i>Taskmaster; </i>Courtney Dawson on <i>Celebrity Treasure Island</i>; Kalyani Nagarajan in <i>Raised By Refugees. </i>And thatâs just off the top of my head. But there are still significant (and obvious) milestones still to be reached. The industry may be improving, but there is a long â and necessary â way to go. And while these new opportunities are being embraced, the people tackling them have not appeared out of nowhere. They have been honing their skills, working, standing in the face of an industry that largely ignores them or asks them to play a specific role and That Role Only.</p> <p>In an essay written in 2019, Guy Williams posed the question: â<a href="https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/stage-and-theatre/112904284/guy-williams-where-are-all-the-maori-comedians" target="_blank">where are all the MÄori comedians?</a>â What youâre reading here is my attempt at responding to this pÄtai. In response to it, I find myself asking questions in return: Where are you looking for us? What efforts are you making to look for Indigenous Pacific comedians? In free backyard shows put on by comedians from our South Auckland communities? In the performing arts buildings in East Coast schools? In the under-resourced high school arts programmes? In brown arts collectives working by, and for, our communities? We are here. You will find us here.&nbsp;</p> <p>And for all we are doing to build our community, away from the pressures of stereotyping, tokenism and assimilation, we are not without challenges for funding.&nbsp;</p> <p>The question here isnât, and has never been, in regards to where we <i>are. </i>The question should be: where are you <i>looking </i>for us? Or where do you want us to be for you to acknowledge us? For funders to acknowledge our craft? And for those of us working in this industry: who do we have to be for our work to be acknowledged?&nbsp;</p> <p>When the New Zealand Comedy Industry is mostly centralised in one building in the heart of the Auckland CBD, the type of audience that gets drawn to these shows begins to narrow significantly. Whiteness, as a pervasive attitude, can feel unsafe for a lot of people. Colonial Patriarchy is another structure rooted in whiteness, and when we see a line up dominated by male comics who appease colonial and patriarchal tastes, we ought to ask if our venues are environments that welcome a full spectrum of talent and audience.&nbsp;</p> <p>If you ask me where all the MÄori comedians are, I will tell you that they are here, in Aotearoa. Whether or not we are acknowledged and supported is, of course, another question.</p> <p><i>Bailey Poching is a comedian, actor and writer based in TÄmaki Makaurau.</i></p></div> <p>&nbsp;So many people find themselves churning through the motions of an intensely liberal outlook in their teen years before easing up on a few of those beliefs when entering adulthood. Past arguments with parents who donât agree that âall landlords are morally corruptâ can make you feel a bit squeamish when youâre 35 and seeking renters to help you pay your mortgage.&nbsp;</p> <p>Thereâs also a shifting line in the sand when it comes to what we consider conservative and progressive. Famed feminist Germaine Greer shocked many when she made anti-trans comments in 2015, and it goes to show that being on the front line of a progressive school of thought doesnât mean youâll remain there.&nbsp;</p> <p>Victoria Universityâs Head of Political Science Simon Keller told VICE political opinions of young people will change as they get older. âPerhaps they will become more economically conservative, but I am confident that they never take what we presently regard as conservative positions on sexuality and gender,â said Keller.</p> <p>In the 2023 election, the age bracket with the highest percentage of voters was 65-69-year-olds.&nbsp; The lowest was <a href="https://elections.nz/democracy-in-nz/historical-events/2023-general-election/voter-turnout-statistics/">between 25 and 29</a> â young millennials and older Gen Z.&nbsp;</p> <p>Richard Shaw, Professor of Politics at Massey University, says âvoting and not voting are habit forming.â&nbsp;</p> <p>âIrrespective of the size of the GenY/Z cohort, if they're not used to voting they may just stay away from the formal political process â which would mean that older generations still have influence over electoral and other outcomes,â he says.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>So, sure, our time is gonna come â but whether we take advantage of that is another question entirely.&nbsp;</p> <p><em>Rachel Barker is a writer / producer at VICE NZ in Aotearoa. You can find her @rachellydiab on IG and Letterboxd and see her film criticism on<a href="https://www.youtube.com/@girlonfilm4551"> Youtube</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;</em></p> </description>
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<author>Rachel Barker, Brad Esposito</auth
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<title>Just 17 Very Good and Extremely Weird VICE Stories About the Internet</title>
<description><figure><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/articles/6617b63a4aeeae23e2ee35ab/lede/1713786406356-7best-of-vice-1440x810.png" alt="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"><figcaption>ILLUSTRATION: HELEN FROST</figcaption></figure> <p>We all know the internet is a crazy place. The mess of it is compounded by the fact weâre all experiencing it in completely different ways: Boomers arguing in Facebook comments, zoomers whoâve never known life pre-dial-up, and millennials stuck, as ever, in the middle.</p> <p>The ~world wide web, for all its sins, has given the world some cracking content, and weâve devoted ourselves to diving into every viral happening and mishap. Like that story of the supremely well-endowed <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/wxeywy/the-untold-story-of-wood-the-well-endowed-man-from-those-coronavirus-texts">guy from the COVID texts</a>, or our ode to that unforgettable 00s <a href="https://www.vice.com/en_uk/article/a35evg/online-humour-random-internet-meme-2000s">âBadger, badger, mushroomâ</a> song, arguably the internetâs first meme?</p> <p>Weâve had a hand in creating these moments too, like the time VICE reporter Oobah Butler made his <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/434gqw/i-made-my-shed-the-top-rated-restaurant-on-tripadvisor">garden shed the top rated restaurant</a> on TripAdvisor. Or when a writer tried to <a href="https://www.vice.com/en_ca/article/a3jgj8/i-tried-to-join-the-illuminati-and-got-scammed">join the Illuminati</a>. We spend way too much time online, basically. Hydrate your eyeballs, grab your sippy cup and scroll through our best internet stories of the past three decades. Because letâs face it, your brain is already decaying â&nbsp;why not hasten along its demise?</p> <div><p>One evening Marie opened her younger brotherâs Oliverâs bedroom door to bring him a mug of tea. She was met with the typical stale smell of urine, cigarette smoke and alcohol, and the audible buzz of men shouting from her brotherâs <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/topic/gaming" target="_blank">gaming</a> headset. As she crept to the window with the intention of opening it, her brother shouted ârape herâ and laughed that bitches need to be raped and disposed of.</p> <p>Marie looked at the 20-year-old in horror, as heâd never spoken like this before. He didnât acknowledge her when she placed the mug next to him.&nbsp;</p> <p>Over the next few weeks Marie â who requested anonymity for both her and her brother due to concerns for their safety â set out to monitor Oliver. When he was gaming, sheâd listen outside his door to what he was saying semi-ironically over the headset. Along with slurs and typical internet <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/topic/4chan" target="_blank">4chan</a> slang she knew like âtriggeredâ and âcuckâ, she noted a few she didnât, including â<a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/7xmaze/learn-to-decode-the-secret-language-of-the-incel-subculture" target="_blank">foid</a>â, something she discovered was an <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/topic/incelshttps://www.vice.com/en/article/m7qqen/what-is-an-incel-how-incel-culture-grew-2010s" target="_blank">incel</a> term for women (âfemale humanoidâ).</p> <p>She also overheard Oliver debating rape statistics. âHe was talking about how men were always being <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/4w7mnj/damaging-myths-surrounding-rape-allegations-might-stop-victims-coming-forward" target="_blank">falsely accused of rape</a>,â she remembers. âFeminists were liars and not to be trusted. I was thinking how horrible this was specifically because weâd had discussions with my mum and him about how I was sexually harassed as a girl.â&nbsp;</p> <div class="article__embed article__embed--vice" data-related-article="true" data-children-count="0"><iframe src="https://www.vice.com/en_uk/embed/article/5dpyaa/embed" frameborder="0" style="border:0px none;margin:0px" allowfullscreen="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></iframe></div> <p>Marie told their mother what she had learned about her brother. The two women waited until Oliver came downstairs and steered him to the kitchen table for a discussion. Marie tentatively talked about what she knew about feminism, but Oliver became so incensed by the debate he threw a glass tumbler at the wall over their heads and charged to his bedroom. They didnât see him leave the room for two days.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>Half of young men in the UK <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/y3zxmy/gen-z-men-attitudes-towards-feminism" target="_blank">now believe</a> that feminism has âgone too far and makes it harder for men to succeedâ. These are the results of a significant study published in July 2020 by anti-extremism charity <a href="https://www.hopenothate.org.uk/" target="_blank">HOPE not Hate</a>. The study, <i>Young People in the Time of COVID-19</i>, surveyed 2,076 16- to 24-year-olds on their ideological beliefs.&nbsp;</p> <p>A growing number of experts across the fields of feminism and anti-extremism were already worried about a young male backlash against young women and their socio-political gains before the pandemic. In fact, HOPE not hate pursued this line of enquiry due to the troubling rise of anti-feminist sentiment theyâd noticed among this age group.&nbsp;</p> <p>Reading this might leave you wondering: what is happening to teenage boys and young men?</p> <p>âSexism in classrooms is nothing new, but the kind of distinctness of it being anti-feminist is something that we've seen in the classrooms, in our online tracking work,â says Rosie Carter, a senior policy officer at the charity.&nbsp;</p> <p>She explains that much of this represents the younger and younger recruitment of boys by the <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/topic/alt-right" target="_blank">alt right</a> and generalised spread of its ideology across social media and the internet. âThe number of issues that the alt right will talk about and look at has grown, and it's all part of a wider pushback against progressive norms â&nbsp;and in some ways it's scariest because of its mainstreaming.â</p> <p>From âincel liteâ culture â in which men wouldnât identify as incels come across and potentially engage with related material â to far-right grooming, elements of online life are having a broadly unexamined negative impact on the ways in which boys and men think and engage in the real world.&nbsp;</p> <p class="text-center">§</p> <p>âMen are trashâ has been a popular phrase and a hashtag since 2016 and since then, millennial and <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/topic/gen-z" target="_blank">Gen Z</a> men have challenged what they see as its reductionism. Meant originally by girls as a deliberately provocative throw-away statement is taken for, as one Urban Dictionary entry puts it, âa generalising and hateful phrase coined by a movement claiming to fight hate and bigotryâ.&nbsp;</p> <p>Ted, a 24-year-old from Kent, told me he might have felt sympathetic towards feminism before, âbut when you get put in the same bracket with the whole âmen are trashâ etcetera, then you think whatâs the point?â&nbsp;</p> <p>Reddit <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/9bkjpz/what-i-learned-spending-a" target="_blank">menâs rights forums</a> are littered with similar origin stories from young men: âI used to identify as a feminist but left the movement when I asked if there are any disadvantages men face. Instead of answering the question, people started taking shots at me,â one wrote. Another noted: âI could not understand the group hating.â</p> <p>What Carter found interesting about the HOPE not hate study results was that young people now were found to be more progressive than previous generations in the ways we stereotypically understand the cohort. They are widely pro-immigration, multiculturalism and are supportive of all sexuality and gender identities. âBut it was distinctly feminism,â Carter says. âItâs an ideology that boys are pushing back against, in the midst of changing social norms.â</p> <p>In all the public attitude research she does around the far right, âit always comes down to this idea of fairnessâ.&nbsp;</p> <p>âIf youâve always been at the top of the hierarchy, and suddenly someoneâs saying, âthatâs not how things should operate, your sense of fairness is tipped and you start looking for answers,ââ Carter says. âMen feel that they have to suddenly work twice as hard because they have to prove themselves.â&nbsp;</p> <p>The context leading up to this point matters: Millennial menâs reckoning with feminism happened hard and fast. It had to â it arrived in conjunction with that of millennial women. In the early 2010s, both millennial and feminist discourse were characterised by <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/qbxnbm/uni-lads-and-lad-culture-three-years-on-clive-martin" target="_blank">lad culture</a>, which predominantly appeared in conversations about male students and university. Its more minor iterations were hyper-masculinised group banter and exposing your genitals when pissed. At worst, it was casual sexual harassment, assault and rape.</p> <div class="article__media"><picture class="article__image"><source media="(max-width: 25em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1622114368053-dd339b.jpeg?resize=400:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1622114368053-dd339b.jpeg?resize=600:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 40.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1622114368053-dd339b.jpeg?resize=650:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1622114368053-dd339b.jpeg?resize=975:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 53.125em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1622114368053-dd339b.jpeg?resize=850:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1622114368053-dd339b.jpeg?resize=1275:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 65.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1622114368053-dd339b.jpeg?resize=1050:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1622114368053-dd339b.jpeg?resize=1575:* 2x"><source media="(min-width: 65.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1622114368053-dd339b.jpeg?resize=1050:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1622114368053-dd339b.jpeg?resize=1575:* 2x"><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1622114368053-dd339b.jpeg" alt="A 2013 protest in London calling on Tesco to stop stocking lads mags like " zoo"="" and="" "nuts""="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></picture><div class="article__image-caption">A 2013 protest in London calling on Tesco to stop stocking lads mags like "Zoo" and "Nuts". Both magazines folded in the 2010s. Photo: Guy Bell/Alamy Live News</div></div> <p>Meanwhile, a booming digital media industry published young womenâs voices on anything affecting them from emotional labour to abortion, amplified by an emerging age of social media. By the mid-2010s, layoffs and publication closures across the industry meant an already dying menâs media took a significant hit. In the UK, <i>FHM</i>, <i>Nuts</i>, <i>Zoo</i>, <i>Shortlist</i> and <i>Front</i> folded and the digital publications that were by lads for lads â&nbsp;<a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/jgejag/unilad-vs-ladbible-online-publishing" target="_blank">Unilad</a>, LADbible â were forced to change.&nbsp;</p> <p>Whether all this meant lad culture died â&nbsp;rather than warped and diverted elsewhere â&nbsp;is up for debate. Hussein Kesvani, a technology and online subculture journalist, argues: âI donât know whether lad culture has died; rather the general consensus is that you shouldnât try to market it.â He notes that Unilad, LADbible, joe.co.uk have lost their identity: âThey tried to keep lads on board but present themselves as socially aware and progressive. That model had a short half-life and just isnât resonant now.â&nbsp;</p> <p>In 2018, #MeToo provided women with an opportunity to talk about sex, dating and rape culture. Arguably, it also provided men in their 20s and 30s at the time to reconcile their own behaviour and review their encounters with women. It suggested a symbiotic relationship: Women speak, and men listen and are able to understand their masculinity through this outpouring.&nbsp;</p> <p>Whether it was ever that simple is increasingly questionable in hindsight.&nbsp;Were there enough spaces for the average man to consider his own gender role? Did straight men even care? And if what it meant to be a millennial woman defined what it meant to be a millennial man, where did that leave younger generations?</p> <p>When writing an <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/kz4kg3/british-teenagers-metoo-movement-gen-z-sexual-assault-call-out-culture" target="_blank">article back in 2019</a> in which I spoke to teenagers about <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/topic/metoo" target="_blank">#MeToo</a>, I found that they felt they werenât part of it, and didnât know what it was or how it affected them. Recent feminist battles have included the gender pay gap and workplace sexism, which are unlikely to register to a generation coming of age into unemployment, freelancing or wannabe entrepreneurship.&nbsp;</p> <p>Millennials were the last generation to genuinely care about menâs publications. For at least half a century, menâs media set the goalposts for behaviour. When it died in the 2010s, the vacuum was filled by brands and social media â&nbsp;where masculinity is only ever implicit or rarely addressed â&nbsp;and incel and alt-right adjacent culture.&nbsp;</p> <p>For Kesvani, the issue of anti-feminist boys stems from the fact thereâs no real blueprint from menâs media or society-at-large for how to be a young man now. âThe lack of blueprint is to do with economic and material reasons, but also cultural reasons too, and cultural reasons can be so hard to define.â&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p class="text-center">§</p> <p>Before the pandemic, womenâs rights campaigner Laura Bates visited one or two schools a week to speak with students about gender inequality. For a decade, the responses would range from shock to giggles, but on the whole, pupils of all genders would be attentive and engaged.&nbsp;</p> <p>A couple of years ago, something changed: A boy sat in the front row, noticeably nervous but excited. Through Batesâs usual routine, he gleefully interrupted to debunk what she was saying with false statistics about rape and claiming men were more likely to be victims. This became the new normal.</p> <p>âBoys were arriving pre-prepared, pre-conditioned almost and they often had things written down that theyâd brought with them as if they were primed in advance,â she says. âThe same arguments were appearing everywhere from inner city London to rural Scotland.â The arguments were factually incorrect, amounting to little more than conspiracy theories and fake news â incorrect ideas and figures about the <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/topic/gender-pay-gap" target="_blank">gender pay gap</a>, false rape allegations and men being more likely to be victims of domestic violence.&nbsp;</p> <p>Bates began to ask the boys where they were learning this material. They always told her âonlineâ. They showed her memes, images and jokes that werenât obviously or directly from manosphere communities but regurgitated their ideologies.</p> <p>This material is so readily available online that itâs practically an omnipresent part of existing in certain areas of the internet â part of an incel lite culture that is almost post-organisational. The online growth of the far right is a significant problem not least because of, as is Batesâ main concern, the number of âneutral boysâ â ones who arenât on menâs rights forums or actively feminist â who are being swayed by the more extremist ideas about women without realising it. &nbsp;</p> <p>Another problem is that extremist groups are accessing boys at younger ages. âIâve read manifestos from leaders of these communities explicitly saying boys as 10 or 11 ought to be their main targets, describing the use of memes and images as a delivery system to get these misogynistic ideas to take hold,â Bates says.&nbsp;</p> <p>The boys and men she interviewed for her latest book <i><a href="https://www.simonandschuster.co.uk/books/Men-Who-Hate-Women/Laura-Bates/9781398504653" target="_blank">Men Who Hate Women</a></i> were as young as 11 when they became involved with such communities on 4chan or YouTube by âgoing down algorithmically supported rabbit holesâ until they reached darker content.</p> <p>One popular method of teen recruitment is through gaming. Recruiters use sites and games as a âhunting groundâ, Bates says, since this is where young men are gathering. âThey can reach them without supervision, particularly boys who are playing multiplayer online games over headphones with people theyâve never met before.â&nbsp;</p> <p>Bates describes the method as subtle: âThey start by dropping sexist jokes into the conversation to see if theyâre receptive and escalate it to private chats, which are obviously meant for people to share gaming tactics, but theyâre using them to groom boys and eventually direct them to these more extreme communities.â&nbsp;</p> <p>Marie and her family are convinced this was how Oliver was targeted. Soon after he began speaking with his new gaming friends every night until the early hours, Marie says his behaviour changed and they started âlosing himâ. He told Marie that his friends were men from all over the world, mostly older, refusing to provide any more information.&nbsp;</p> <div class="article__media"><picture class="article__image"><source media="(max-width: 25em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1622114969778-f4my8j.jpeg?resize=400:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1622114969778-f4my8j.jpeg?resize=600:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 40.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1622114969778-f4my8j.jpeg?resize=650:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1622114969778-f4my8j.jpeg?resize=975:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 53.125em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1622114969778-f4my8j.jpeg?resize=850:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1622114969778-f4my8j.jpeg?resize=1275:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 65.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1622114969778-f4my8j.jpeg?resize=1050:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1622114969778-f4my8j.jpeg?resize=1575:* 2x"><source media="(min-width: 65.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1622114969778-f4my8j.jpeg?resize=1050:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1622114969778-f4my8j.jpeg?resize=1575:* 2x"><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1622114969778-f4my8j.jpeg" alt="men's rights graffiti in london" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></picture><div class="article__image-caption">Men's rights graffiti â&nbsp;now removed â&nbsp;on Millennium Bridge in London, 2015. Photo: Paul Nichols / Alamy Stock Photo</div></div> <p>If we consider that the far right spans incels, menâs rights activists, <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/gyk37y/pickup-artist-study-rachel-oneill-seduction-book" target="_blank">pick-up artists</a> as well as neo-Nazism and alt-right splinter groups, women-hating can be a way to recruit across the board. HOPE not hate found in their study that the young men who feel that feminism has gone too far were also twice as likely to think that jokes about race or religion were acceptable and twice as likely to think that discrimination against white people is as big a problem as discrimination against Black people.&nbsp;</p> <p>âThe far right has increasingly spread, the number of issues theyâll talk about and itâs all part of a wider pushback against progressive norms,â says Carter. Similarly, once youâre within the far-right, that allows you to engage in hate towards other communities. Activists in different groups will feed boys into the others, referring them along.</p> <p>John, 21, was radicalised by the far right when he was in his late teens. He spent two long years in his bedroom in the north of England learning about far-right ideology online and trolling feminists. Mostly he would infiltrate feminist groups or use multiple anonymous Twitter accounts to verbally abuse or harass women any time anything to do with women or feminists were trending or performing well on the platform.&nbsp;</p> <p>âWe knew we could wind them up and provoke those groups easily,â he says today. âThis is gonna sound really daft, but I donât think it was anti-feminism. I was just bored and that was the person I was then. It wasnât that I had a really aggressive mentality towards women or really hated them, it was just about causing a riot.â No one explicitly told him to do it, he says â it was just part of the online culture he grew up in.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>John has his own theories about why boys are successfully groomed by the far-right more than girls. Stereotypically, he thinks boys are angrier, and seek release of anger and frustration. Some do it at football matches, others by participating in sport. âBut some lads never find that release, so a lot of the time people join the far right just because theyâre angry about a situation and donât know what to do with that frustration. It isnât just about hating a certain type of person. At times, it can be a cover for something else. And that cover is the worst thing possible.â</p> <p class="text-center">§</p> <p>How do you <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/mvkn7b/far-right-extremism-deradicalisation-programmes" target="_blank">deradicalise</a> an anti-feminist? Itâs a painstakingly delicate and complex process. At <a href="https://exituk.org/" target="_blank">Exit UK</a>, the leading organisation in the UK for supporting those wanting to leave the far right and their families, every boy or young man will be matched with a mentor. The mentor will deconstruct their ideology slowly over a series of sessions. What they tell boys with woman-hating ideology is simple: What does your mum or sister do for you on a personal day-to-day level? Then they ask: How would you feel if men were talking about your mum or sister in the way you do?</p> <p>But one false step from the mentor and that young man is lost. Exit UK say those that leave are never seen again and very likely return to their hateful community with a hunger to become more extreme.</p> <p>There has been an explosion in referrals over the pandemic. Although involvement with the far right will differ from referral to referral Exit UK had 90 people contact them over 2019. From April of 2020 to February 2021, they had contact with 350 people seeking help.</p> <p>Nigel Bromage, the founder of the company and a former far right member, says he commonly sees a mix of internet irony, 4chan humour and one-upmanship in what boys do and say. âForums will start with sick comments and become more extreme, so by page eight theyâre talking about using rape as a weapon to degrade women.â</p> <div class="article__embed article__embed--vice" data-related-article="true" data-children-count="0"><iframe src="https://www.vice.com/en_uk/embed/article/3aqdwb/embed" frameborder="0" style="border:0px none;margin:0px" allowfullscreen="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></iframe></div> <p>Lonely young men without girlfriends are prime targets. âThey think âIâd like a girlfriendâ and the far right says âWell, you canât get a girlfriend because all the girls have become feminists and left wing.ââ</p> <p>Sometimes referrals come from a young man directly who is aware that he has become brainwashed. Often it will be a family member who refers the younger boys. Sometimes a school will refer them. When Johnâs mother Sarah realised her son had been radicalised, she spoke to a teacher she trusted who watched for signs of him recruiting others at school. Then that teacher, with Sarahâs permission, was able to call Exit UK for a referral.</p> <p>The strain on families with a radicalised family member is significant, and thatâs&nbsp;before considering the potential danger family members themselves are in. Sarah says that John even made an attempt to radicalise her, trying to draw her in with far-right information at home. When she disagreed with him or challenged his views, heâd become angry and agitated.&nbsp;</p> <p>âMany, many nights I lay awake thinking, am I the cause of this?â she says. âEvery mother with a child thatâs been involved with the far right in some way does question themselves and feel responsible. Itâs sad because itâs not their fault, itâs the far right â theyâre very manipulative and selective.â Exit UK has a family support programme to help families and teach them how to have difficult conversations with the radicalised member, who can become angry when confronted.</p> <p>Sarah remembers waiting at home when John was having his first meeting with his mentor. âI expected him to go off the wall and was waiting on tenterhooks all day for that call to say heâd lost his mind.â Instead he returned and they had the first proper conversation Sarah can remember having with her son in years.&nbsp;</p> <p>Today John is polite, his tone bright and friendly down the phone. He describes the relationship he had with his mentor as empathetic and honest. âThere was no predetermined mentality about me. With other people, I felt like they were already judging me and had a default view about me because of the views I had.â&nbsp;</p> <p>Bromage says that mentors are trained to temporarily remove themselves from a difficult conversation if they donât know how to answer â tell the individual they need to make a quick cup of tea or use the bathroom to give themselves time to plan an answer.&nbsp;</p> <p>Due to the rising case load over the pandemic, Exit UK is rapidly training more volunteers to take phone sessions. Bromage is currently deeply concerned that the virus has meant he and other workers are unable to meet men in person, as this is where the most effective work is done; in the physical world, away from a screen.</p> <p>âEngaging online is not the same as a coffee&nbsp;and a chat,â says Bromage. âIt's not as personal, and in many cases it does make things harder to gauge body language, understanding and emotion. Face-to-face engagement helps people relax, they&nbsp;can see those they are speaking to are ordinary people, who simply care and want to bring people away from extremism and danger.â</p> <p class="text-center">§</p> <p>Obviously, not all teenage boys are misogynistic, and Bates is mindful to say that â âbut these movements,â she argues, âhave taken hold much more quickly and more effectively than our current total lack of societal awareness of them would suggestâ.&nbsp;</p> <p>The effect the pandemic will have had on this issue cannot be ignored. Carter is concerned about the context of the early 2020s, pointing to the interest in <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/v7gz53/the-conspiracy-singularity-has-arrived" target="_blank">conspiracy theories</a> and widespread <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/xg8b7j/how-youth-unemployment-impacted-by-coronavirus" target="_blank">youth unemployment</a> rates. âIsolation, feeling hopeless, feeling out of control and that things arenât right â&nbsp;that is the context that we see an increase in people looking to the far right,â she says, adding that work must be done in a post-pandemic landscape around youth unemployment and deprivation.&nbsp;</p> <p>Hope is an important word. Carter believes change can happen when we collectively challenge the prevalence of extremist material on social media platforms and provide education on the topic at a school-level. The way in which all these different far-right inclinations intertwine towards anti-progressiveness means we shouldnât just attempt to tackle anti-feminism alone, either. Teaching should address issues of racism, <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/topic/anti-semitism" target="_blank">anti-semitism</a>, violence and misinformation.</p> <p>Sharing the story of her sonâs extremist views with the school was what gave Sarah hope. âDo not sit on it or try to deal with it on your own,â she advises others in her position. âBy doing so youâre allowing the far right to tighten their grip on your child.â</p> <p>At the end of our call, Bates and I talk about one of these anti-women communities whose information is reaching boys, <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/7bdwyx/inside-the-global-collective-of-straight-male-separatists" target="_blank">Men Going Their Own Way</a> (MGTOW). Level one of their plan for separatism from women involves rejecting marriage and cohabitation, level two rejects long-term relationships with women, three rejects all relationships with women, four is a refusal to do more than necessary for survival and avoid taxation wherever possible and five is to drop out of society altogether.&nbsp;</p> <p>Doesnât this map perfectly onto how someone retreats into their own shell by spending vast amounts of time online, I say. Bates agrees: âI think the tragedy is that if you were on that path there might be real opportunities for intervention. Communities seize upon very real issues, one of them being male <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/topic/mental-health" target="_blank">mental health</a>. These issues make it much easier for the manosphere to pull them in and to take away their hope.â</p> <p><i><b><a href="https://twitter.com/hannahrosewens" target="_blank">@hannahrosewens</a></b></i>&nbsp;&nbsp;</p></div> <div><p>Once upon a time, long before I began selling my face by the acre for features on VICE dot com, I worked other jobs. There was one in particular that really had an impact on me: writing fake reviews on TripAdvisor. Restaurant owners would pay me ÂŁ10 and I'd write a positive review of their place, despite never eating there. Over time, I became obsessed with monitoring the ratings of these businesses. Their fortunes would genuinely turn, and I was the catalyst. </p> <p>This convinced me that TripAdvisor was a false reality â that the meals never took place; that the reviews were all written by other people like me. However, they're not, of course â they're almost all completely genuine. And there was one other factor that seemed impossible to fake: the restaurants themselves. So I moved on.</p> <div class="article__embed article__embed--vice" data-related-article="true"><iframe src="https://www.vice.com/en_uk/embed/article/ywyvwv/oobah-butlers-new-book-how-to-bullsht-your-way-to-number-1?utm_source=stylizedembed_vice.com&amp;utm_campaign=434gqw&amp;site=vice" frameborder="0" style="border:0px none;margin:0px;" allowfullscreen="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></iframe></div><p>And then, one day, sitting in the shed I live in, I had a revelation: within the current climate of misinformation, and society's willingness to believe absolute bullshit, maybe a fake restaurant <i>is</i> possible? Maybe it's exactly the kind of place that could be a hit? </p><hr><p><b><i>WATCH: </i></b><i>The full video of the Shed At Dulwich</i><br></p> <div data-iframely-id="Ld4tEcZ" data-embedded-url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqPARIKHbN8&amp;t=713s" class="article__embed article__embed--iframely"><div style="left:0;width:100%;height:0;position:relative;padding-bottom:56.2493%;" data-iframely-smart-iframe="true"><iframe data-img="" data-iframely-url="//oembed.vice.com/Ld4tEcZ?playerjs=true" style="border:0;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;position:absolute;" allowfullscreen="" data-iframely-smart-iframe="true" frameborder="0" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></iframe></div></div><hr><p>In that moment, it became my mission. With the help of fake reviews, mystique and nonsense, I was going to do it: turn my shed into London's top-rated restaurant on TripAdvisor.</p> <h2>SETTING UP "THE SHED AT DULWICH" â APRIL, 2017</h2> <div class="article__media"> <picture class="article__image"><source media="(max-width: 25em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511976183044-IMG_5746.jpeg?resize=400:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511976183044-IMG_5746.jpeg?resize=600:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 40.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511976183044-IMG_5746.jpeg?resize=650:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511976183044-IMG_5746.jpeg?resize=975:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 53.125em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511976183044-IMG_5746.jpeg?resize=850:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511976183044-IMG_5746.jpeg?resize=1275:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 65.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511976183044-IMG_5746.jpeg?resize=1050:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511976183044-IMG_5746.jpeg?resize=1575:* 2x"><source media="(min-width: 65.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511976183044-IMG_5746.jpeg?resize=1050:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511976183044-IMG_5746.jpeg?resize=1575:* 2x"><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511976183044-IMG_5746.jpeg" alt="1511976183044-IMG_5746" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></picture> <div class="article__image-caption"></div> </div> <p>First of all, let me introduce you to my site: a shed in a south London garden. </p> <p>To get started, I need to get verified, and to do that I need a phone.</p> <div class="article__media"> <picture class="article__image"><source media="(max-width: 25em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511976520422-24169724_1763992326967685_1811006811_o.jpeg?resize=400:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511976520422-24169724_1763992326967685_1811006811_o.jpeg?resize=600:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 40.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511976520422-24169724_1763992326967685_1811006811_o.jpeg?resize=650:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511976520422-24169724_1763992326967685_1811006811_o.jpeg?resize=975:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 53.125em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511976520422-24169724_1763992326967685_1811006811_o.jpeg?resize=850:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511976520422-24169724_1763992326967685_1811006811_o.jpeg?resize=1275:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 65.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511976520422-24169724_1763992326967685_1811006811_o.jpeg?resize=1050:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511976520422-24169724_1763992326967685_1811006811_o.jpeg?resize=1575:* 2x"><source media="(min-width: 65.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511976520422-24169724_1763992326967685_1811006811_o.jpeg?resize=1050:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511976520422-24169724_1763992326967685_1811006811_o.jpeg?resize=1575:* 2x"><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511976520422-24169724_1763992326967685_1811006811_o.jpeg" alt="1511976520422-24169724_1763992326967685_1811006811_o" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></picture> <div class="article__image-caption"></div> </div> <p>One ÂŁ10 burner later and "The Shed at Dulwich" officially exists. Now, I need to list an address â but doing so makes easy work for any skeptical fact checkers. Plus, I don't technically have a door. Instead, I just list the road and call The Shed an "appointment-only restaurant". </p> <p>Onto my online presence: I buy a domain and build <a href="https://www.theshedatdulwich.com/" target="_blank">a website</a>. Hot spots are all about quirks, so to cut through the noise I need a concept silly enough to infuriate your dad. A concept like naming all of our dishes after moods.</p> <div class="article__media"> <picture class="article__image"><source media="(max-width: 25em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511976962234-shed3.png?resize=400:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511976962234-shed3.png?resize=600:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 40.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511976962234-shed3.png?resize=650:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511976962234-shed3.png?resize=975:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 53.125em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511976962234-shed3.png?resize=850:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511976962234-shed3.png?resize=1275:* 2x"><source media="(min-width: 53.125em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511976962234-shed3.png?resize=938:*"><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511976962234-shed3.png" alt="1511976962234-shed3" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></picture> <div class="article__image-caption"></div> </div> <p>Now, some soft focus images of those delicious dishes. </p> <div class="article__media"> <picture class="article__image"><source media="(max-width: 25em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977381295-ChrisBethell-1.jpeg?resize=400:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977381295-ChrisBethell-1.jpeg?resize=600:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 40.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977381295-ChrisBethell-1.jpeg?resize=650:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977381295-ChrisBethell-1.jpeg?resize=975:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 53.125em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977381295-ChrisBethell-1.jpeg?resize=850:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977381295-ChrisBethell-1.jpeg?resize=1275:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 65.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977381295-ChrisBethell-1.jpeg?resize=1050:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977381295-ChrisBethell-1.jpeg?resize=1575:* 2x"><source media="(min-width: 65.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977381295-ChrisBethell-1.jpeg?resize=1050:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977381295-ChrisBethell-1.jpeg?resize=1575:* 2x"><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977381295-ChrisBethell-1.jpeg" alt="1511977381295-ChrisBethell-1" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></picture> <div class="article__image-caption">Photo: Chris Bethell</div> </div> <p>You'd eat this, wouldn't you?</p> <div class="article__media"> <picture class="article__image"><source media="(max-width: 25em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977409280-ChrisBethell-2.jpeg?resize=400:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977409280-ChrisBethell-2.jpeg?resize=600:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 40.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977409280-ChrisBethell-2.jpeg?resize=650:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977409280-ChrisBethell-2.jpeg?resize=975:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 53.125em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977409280-ChrisBethell-2.jpeg?resize=850:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977409280-ChrisBethell-2.jpeg?resize=1275:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 65.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977409280-ChrisBethell-2.jpeg?resize=1050:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977409280-ChrisBethell-2.jpeg?resize=1575:* 2x"><source media="(min-width: 65.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977409280-ChrisBethell-2.jpeg?resize=1050:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977409280-ChrisBethell-2.jpeg?resize=1575:* 2x"><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977409280-ChrisBethell-2.jpeg" alt="1511977409280-ChrisBethell-2" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></picture> <div class="article__image-caption">Photo: Chris Bethell</div> </div> <p>Probably best not to.</p> <div class="article__media"> <picture class="article__image"><source media="(max-width: 25em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977429821-ChrisBethell-5.jpeg?resize=400:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977429821-ChrisBethell-5.jpeg?resize=600:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 40.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977429821-ChrisBethell-5.jpeg?resize=650:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977429821-ChrisBethell-5.jpeg?resize=975:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 53.125em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977429821-ChrisBethell-5.jpeg?resize=850:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977429821-ChrisBethell-5.jpeg?resize=1275:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 65.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977429821-ChrisBethell-5.jpeg?resize=1050:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977429821-ChrisBethell-5.jpeg?resize=1575:* 2x"><source media="(min-width: 65.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977429821-ChrisBethell-5.jpeg?resize=1050:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977429821-ChrisBethell-5.jpeg?resize=1575:* 2x"><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977429821-ChrisBethell-5.jpeg" alt="1511977429821-ChrisBethell-5" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></picture> <div class="article__image-caption">Photo: Chris Bethell</div> </div> <p>No, OK, how aboutâ</p> <div class="article__media"> <picture class="article__image"><source media="(max-width: 25em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977465232-ChrisBethell-6.jpeg?resize=400:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977465232-ChrisBethell-6.jpeg?resize=600:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 40.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977465232-ChrisBethell-6.jpeg?resize=650:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977465232-ChrisBethell-6.jpeg?resize=975:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 53.125em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977465232-ChrisBethell-6.jpeg?resize=850:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977465232-ChrisBethell-6.jpeg?resize=1275:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 65.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977465232-ChrisBethell-6.jpeg?resize=1050:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977465232-ChrisBethell-6.jpeg?resize=1575:* 2x"><source media="(min-width: 65.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977465232-ChrisBethell-6.jpeg?resize=1050:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977465232-ChrisBethell-6.jpeg?resize=1575:* 2x"><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977465232-ChrisBethell-6.jpeg" alt="1511977465232-ChrisBethell-6" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></picture> <div class="article__image-caption">Photo: Chris Bethell</div> </div> <p>This sponge covered in paint, with quenelles of shaving foam.</p> <div class="article__media"> <picture class="article__image"><source media="(max-width: 25em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977539129-ChrisBethell-3.jpeg?resize=400:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977539129-ChrisBethell-3.jpeg?resize=600:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 40.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977539129-ChrisBethell-3.jpeg?resize=650:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977539129-ChrisBethell-3.jpeg?resize=975:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 53.125em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977539129-ChrisBethell-3.jpeg?resize=850:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977539129-ChrisBethell-3.jpeg?resize=1275:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 65.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977539129-ChrisBethell-3.jpeg?resize=1050:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977539129-ChrisBethell-3.jpeg?resize=1575:* 2x"><source media="(min-width: 65.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977539129-ChrisBethell-3.jpeg?resize=1050:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977539129-ChrisBethell-3.jpeg?resize=1575:* 2x"><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977539129-ChrisBethell-3.jpeg" alt="1511977539129-ChrisBethell-3" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></picture> <div class="article__image-caption"></div> </div> <p>Youâre getting it: this isn't what it looks like. </p> <div class="article__media"> <picture class="article__image"><source media="(max-width: 25em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977598728-ChrisBethell-4.jpeg?resize=400:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977598728-ChrisBethell-4.jpeg?resize=600:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 40.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977598728-ChrisBethell-4.jpeg?resize=650:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977598728-ChrisBethell-4.jpeg?resize=975:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 53.125em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977598728-ChrisBethell-4.jpeg?resize=850:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977598728-ChrisBethell-4.jpeg?resize=1275:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 65.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977598728-ChrisBethell-4.jpeg?resize=1050:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977598728-ChrisBethell-4.jpeg?resize=1575:* 2x"><source media="(min-width: 65.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977598728-ChrisBethell-4.jpeg?resize=1050:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977598728-ChrisBethell-4.jpeg?resize=1575:* 2x"><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977598728-ChrisBethell-4.jpeg" alt="1511977598728-ChrisBethell-4" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></picture> <div class="article__image-caption"></div> </div> <p>It's an egg resting on my foot.</p> <p>With the concept, logo (thank you, Tristan Cross) and menu nailed down, it all comes together. <br></p> <p>I submit my TripAdvisor forms; the rest is up to God. </p> <p>On the 5th of May, 2017, I wake up to an email:</p><p class="article__blockquote">Hello,</p> <p class="article__blockquote">Weâre excited to tell you that your listing request has been approved and is on our site for everyone to see.</p> <p class="article__blockquote">[âŠ]</p> <p class="article__blockquote">Thank you for giving us this opportunity to let the TripAdvisor community know about The Shed at Dulwich. </p> <p class="article__blockquote">Best Regards,<br>The TripAdvisor Support Team </p> <p>No, TripAdvisor, I want to thank you for giving me this opportunity to let the community know about The Shed at Dulwich. </p> <h2>GETTING THE SHED TO NUMBER ONE</h2> <p>I start out ranked at 18,149, the worst restaurant in London, according to TripAdvisor. So I'm going to need a lot of reviews. Reviews written by real people on different computers, so the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2aCPXQzChE&amp;t=" target="_blank">anti-scammer technology</a> TripAdvisor utilises doesn't pick up on my hoax.</p> <p>I need convincing reviews, like this one:</p><div class="article__media"><picture class="article__image"><source media="(max-width: 25em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1512493421618-review1.png?resize=400:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1512493421618-review1.png?resize=600:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 40.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1512493421618-review1.png?resize=650:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1512493421618-review1.png?resize=975:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 53.125em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1512493421618-review1.png?resize=850:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1512493421618-review1.png?resize=1275:* 2x"><source media="(min-width: 53.125em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1512493421618-review1.png?resize=1000:*"><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1512493421618-review1.png" alt="1512493421618-review1" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></picture><div class="article__image-caption">(I've mocked up all the screenshots from TripAdvisor btw, because our legal department told me to)</div></div> <p>And not like this:</p> <div class="article__media"> <picture class="article__image"><source media="(max-width: 25em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511978543667-Screen-Shot-2017-10-02-at-164026.png?resize=400:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511978543667-Screen-Shot-2017-10-02-at-164026.png?resize=600:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 40.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511978543667-Screen-Shot-2017-10-02-at-164026.png?resize=650:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511978543667-Screen-Shot-2017-10-02-at-164026.png?resize=975:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 53.125em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511978543667-Screen-Shot-2017-10-02-at-164026.png?resize=850:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511978543667-Screen-Shot-2017-10-02-at-164026.png?resize=1275:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 65.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511978543667-Screen-Shot-2017-10-02-at-164026.png?resize=1050:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511978543667-Screen-Shot-2017-10-02-at-164026.png?resize=1575:* 2x"><source media="(min-width: 65.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511978543667-Screen-Shot-2017-10-02-at-164026.png?resize=1050:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511978543667-Screen-Shot-2017-10-02-at-164026.png?resize=1575:* 2x"><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511978543667-Screen-Shot-2017-10-02-at-164026.png" alt="1511978543667-Screen-Shot-2017-10-02-at-164026" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></picture> <div class="article__image-caption"></div> </div> <p>The celebrity endorsement Shaun Williamson sends me after I meet him in a pub, thoroughly explain my concept and ask for a photo of him eating fancy food in a fancy place, but instead receive one of him eating a roast dinner with a side of chips. </p><p>So I contact friends and acquaintances, and put them to work. </p> <h2>CLIMBING THE RANKS</h2> <p>The first couple of weeks are easy: we crack the top 10,000 in no time, but I don't expect much in the way of inquiries quite yet. Then, one morning, something extraordinary happens: The Shed's burner phone goes off. Startled and hungover, I pick up.</p> <p>"Hello? Is that The Shed?"</p> <p>"⊠Yes?" I sound like a radiator that needs bleeding. </p> <p>"I've heard so much about your restaurant... I know itâs a long shot, as you get booked up so quickly, but I donât suppose you have a table tonight?" </p> <p>Panicking, I abruptly respond: "Sorry, but we're fully booked for the next six weeks" and slam down the phone. I'm stunned. A day later, I feel another vibration: a 70th birthday booking. Four months in advance. Nine people.</p> <div class="article__media"> <picture class="article__image"><source media="(max-width: 25em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511980463339-phone.png?resize=400:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511980463339-phone.png?resize=600:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 40.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511980463339-phone.png?resize=650:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511980463339-phone.png?resize=975:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 53.125em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511980463339-phone.png?resize=850:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511980463339-phone.png?resize=1275:* 2x"><source media="(min-width: 53.125em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511980463339-phone.png?resize=940:*"><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511980463339-phone.png" alt="1511980463339-phone" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></picture> <div class="article__image-caption"></div> </div> <p>Emails? I check my computer: tens of "appointment" requests await. A boyfriend tries to use his girlfriend's job at a children's hospital for leverage. TV executives use their work emails. </p><div class="article__media"><picture class="article__image"><source media="(max-width: 25em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1512555502216-1hos.png?resize=400:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1512555502216-1hos.png?resize=600:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 40.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1512555502216-1hos.png?resize=650:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1512555502216-1hos.png?resize=975:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 53.125em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1512555502216-1hos.png?resize=850:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1512555502216-1hos.png?resize=1275:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 65.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1512555502216-1hos.png?resize=1050:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1512555502216-1hos.png?resize=1575:* 2x"><source media="(min-width: 65.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1512555502216-1hos.png?resize=1050:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1512555502216-1hos.png?resize=1575:* 2x"><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1512555502216-1hos.png" alt="1512555502216-1hos" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></picture><div class="article__image-caption"></div></div> <p>Seemingly overnight, we're now at #1,456. The Shed at Dulwich has suddenly become appealing. How?</p> <p>I realise what it is: the appointments, lack of address and general exclusivity of this place is so alluring that people canât see sense. Theyâre looking at photos of the sole of my foot, drooling. Over the coming months, The Shed's phone rings incessantly.</p><div data-iframely-id="3G3SWxB" data-embedded-url="https://www.youtube.com/embed/052P_nr1Z_w" class="article__embed article__embed--iframely"><div style="left:0;width:100%;height:0;position:relative;padding-bottom:56.2493%;" data-iframely-smart-iframe="true"><iframe data-img="" data-iframely-url="//oembed.vice.com/3G3SWxB?playerjs=true" style="border:0;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;position:absolute;" allowfullscreen="" data-iframely-smart-iframe="true" frameborder="0" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></iframe></div></div> <h2>THINGS ARE GETTING A BIT OUT OF CONTROL</h2> <p>By the end of August, weâre at #156.</p> <div class="article__media"><picture class="article__image"><source media="(max-width: 25em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1512579956603-156shed.png?resize=400:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1512579956603-156shed.png?resize=600:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 40.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1512579956603-156shed.png?resize=650:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1512579956603-156shed.png?resize=975:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 53.125em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1512579956603-156shed.png?resize=850:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1512579956603-156shed.png?resize=1275:* 2x"><source media="(min-width: 53.125em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1512579956603-156shed.png?resize=916:*"><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1512579956603-156shed.png" alt="1512579956603-156shed" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></picture><div class="article__image-caption"><br></div></div><p>And things are starting to get a little out of hand. </p> <div class="article__media"> <picture class="article__image"><source media="(max-width: 25em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511983398488-sample.png?resize=400:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511983398488-sample.png?resize=600:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 40.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511983398488-sample.png?resize=650:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511983398488-sample.png?resize=975:* 2x"><source media="(min-width: 40.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511983398488-sample.png?resize=651:*"><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511983398488-sample.png" alt="1511983398488-sample" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></picture> <div class="article__image-caption"></div> </div> <p>First, companies start using the estimated location of The Shed on Google Maps to get their free samples to me. Then people who want to work at The Shed get in touch, in significant numbers. Then I get an email fro
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<title>Australia's Massive Military Budget</title>
<description><figure><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/articles/66444ef0fc3a24f9da345607/lede/1715842120352-gettyimages-1436363944.jpeg" alt="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"><figcaption></figcaption></figure> <p>The 2025 federal budget announced on Tuesday <a href="https://www.minister.defence.gov.au/media-releases/2024-05-14/generational-investment-australias-defence"><span>committed an additional $50.3 billion</span></a> to defence over the next decade, bringing our 10-year defence spending to $764.6 billion.</p> <p>$764.6 billion is an extraordinary amount of money, more than double the initial <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/k7z5by/stage-three-tax-cuts-change">cost of the controversial stage 3 tax cuts</a> that have since been amended.</p> <p>To put $700 billion in perspective â making undergraduate university degrees completely free for all domestic students would cost about $7 billion a year or $70 billion over 10 years, <a href="https://futurework.org.au/report/at-the-crossroads/"><span>according to the Australia Institute</span></a>. Just 10 per cent of the defence budget.</p> <p>With the new federal budget, the annual defence bill will hit a record of $53 billion this year, <a href="https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/pubs/rp/BudgetReview202021/AustralianGovernmentExpenditure"><span>up from $39 billion last year</span></a>, and is projected to surpass $100 billion annually by 2033, or 2.4 per cent of our GDP.</p> <p>This is part of a massive defence shakeup to âkeep Australia safeâ amid what the <a href="https://twitter.com/RichardMarlesMP/status/1780423930035253415/photo/1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1780423930035253415%7Ctwgr%5E26106fef105a8d5f345bf2bd806c321fc1f57b4e%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sbs.com.au%2Fnews%2Farticle%2Faustralias-defence-budget-set-to-increase-by-50-billion-over-the-next-decade%2F04c2x7teq"><span>Defence Minister Richard Marles called</span></a> the most challenging strategic environment since World War II.</p> <p>So, just looking at the bonuses included in this budget, defence got an extra $5 billion for this year alone.</p> <p>Thatâs more than Commonwealth Rent Assistance that, for just this year, <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@viceautoday/video/7369016467712527624"><span>gets an extra $500 million</span></a>; more than the $600 million boost to Services Australia, for more staff to help manage the backlog of people trying to access welfare payments; more than the <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@viceautoday/video/7365670312584678664"><span>changes to HECS indexation</span></a> thatâll cost about $3 billion in foregone revenue; and more than the $3.5 billion cost of living relief package in the form of $300 electricity bill rebates for every household.</p> <div><p>At least one NSW Police officer was seen wearing âthin blue lineâ Australian flag patch at a pro-Palestine rally in Sydneyâs Port Botany on Sunday, where 19 people were arrested.</p> <p>Legal Observers New South Wales (LONSW), who attended the rally to witness and document interactions between <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/5d9qkq/melbourne-students-school-strike-for-palestine" target="_blank">activists</a> and police, said âseveralâ officers wore the patches displaying the iconography that has been co-opted by and is now associated with far-right extremist movements.</p> <p>They reported âmany of these officers were the most aggressive with protestorsâ, who were there to blockade Israeli shipping company ZIM that uses the docks. ZIM has been associated with the Israeli military and its killing of Palestinians in Gaza.</p> <p>LONSW also accused police of demonstrating excessive force, throwing several protestors to the ground, using restraint techniques associated with restraint asphyxia, and âviolently pushing manyâ before arresting people for disrupting commerce and trade under <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/jg5nn4/nsw-police-anti-protest-laws" target="_blank">NSWâs harsh anti-protest laws</a>.</p> <p>NSW Police told <i>Guardian Australia</i> the force had ânot received any reports of an officer wearing the patch which is not part of the standard NSWPF uniformâ and that the force respected peopleâs right to protest at the port.</p> <p>But NSW Council for Civil Liberties president Lydia Shelly said the policing of protests in NSW was now âout of controlâ.</p> <div class="article__embed article__embed--vice" data-related-article="true" data-children-count="0"><iframe src="https://www.vice.com/en_au/embed/article/v7bnd8/embed" frameborder="0" style="border:0px none;margin:0px" allowfullscreen="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></iframe></div> <p>âWe are extremely concerned that at the Port Botany protest, Legal Observers NSW observed several police officers wearing a patch that is not part of the standard police issued uniform which has been associated with right-wing extremism,â she said in a <a href="https://www.nswccl.org.au/media_statement_police_response_to_antigenocide_protests" target="_blank">statement</a>.</p> <p>âWe have called on the Premier, the Attorney General and the Police Commissioner to meet with us to discuss concerns about police conduct towards peaceful protestors and legal observers [and] so far, our requests have been denied.â</p> <h2>Misuse of police powers at weekly free Palestine rallies</h2> <p>Legal Observers NSW has attended 14 <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/g5y849/thousands-rally-across-australia-in-solidarity-with-palestine-israel-war" target="_blank">weekly free Palestine street rallies</a> in Sydneyâs CBD and several actions at Port Botany since October and over those months has complied a eight-page report, documenting police behaviour towards protestors including instances of misuse of police powers.</p> <p>âThe <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/3ak4z9/what-have-free-palestine-rallies-australia-achieved" target="_blank">policing of these rallies</a> has been marked by ubiquitous surveillance, police and state pushback and the deployment of higher than usual levels of police resources, including a new protest-focused taskforce âOperation Mealingâ and&nbsp;pro-Palestinian activity focused âOperation Shelterâ, the report reads.</p> <p>Many incidents of misuse of powers in the report document police violence, but many cases of non-violent misuse of powers are also reported, including police asking protestors to remove face coverings, employing mobile CCTV towers at protests, and stopping cars displaying <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/n7eyj8/womad-ziggy-marley-palestine" target="_blank">Palestinian flags</a>, requiring them to remove the flags, then issuing fines for minor infringements such as P plates being tucked under a number plate as the reason for the stop.</p> <p>The report also notes the NSW Police presence at Sydneyâs weekly pro-Palestine rallies is 100-150 officers at the cost of $220,000 a week, despite no incidents of violence or disturbances occurring at the protests.</p> <p>One example the report singles out is as many as 50 police being deployed to guard the <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/epv7qz/mcdonalds-sales-misinformation-israel-boycott" target="_blank">Starbucks</a> on Elizabeth Street despite no incidents occurring in relation to the location.</p> <p>âThe reliance on high visibility policing unduly criminalises protestors and puts them at risk of police assault,â Adam al-Hayek, a spokesperson for LONSW, told VICE.</p> <div class="article__embed article__embed--vice" data-related-article="true" data-children-count="0"><iframe src="https://www.vice.com/en_au/embed/article/epv9gp/embed" frameborder="0" style="border:0px none;margin:0px" allowfullscreen="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></iframe></div> <p>âThe weekly street rallies are well-managed by marshals and do not require the deployment of 100-150 police officers whose primary function appears to be surveilling and harassing protestors.â</p> <p>NSW Greens MP Sue Higginson said the report painted a dark picture of the state of the police force.</p> <p>âThe findings released in todayâs independent observer report are deeply worrying and point to the creeping militarisation and criminalisation in response to peaceful protestors from the NSW Police Force,â Higginson told VICE.</p> <p>âThe highly-militarised state of police deployment we have seen week after week at an event that has consistently been compliant, peaceful and driven by <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/ak39zj/cancelled-palestine-visas-australia" target="_blank">Palestinian community</a> members and families is plainly out of proportion.</p> <p>âItâs time for our police to work with, not against, all members of the community. We want a policing regime that supports healthy, peaceful, democratic action. To achieve this we must demilitarise and deweaponise our general duty police and urgently begin the serious reforms needed to move us towards a policing-by-consent model that supports the integrity of both officers and community members.â</p> <p><i>Aleksandra Bliszczyk is the Deputy Editor of VICE Australia. Follow her on<a href="https://www.instagram.com/aleksbliszczyk/?hl=en" target="_blank"> Instagram</a>.</i></p> <p><i>Get the story that matters most each day. <a href="https://pedestrian.us1.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=2c631b380f2015e8f93fcbc5b&amp;id=77eb92cd03" target="_blank">Subscribe to Australia Todayâs daily newsletter here</a>.</i></p></div> <p>Also compare the $5 extra billion dollars for defence with the <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@viceautoday/video/7367169227117153554"><span>extra $50 million for endometriosis consultation subsidies</span></a>, or the extra $73 million a year to mental health, to establish a national digital mental health referral service, or the $185 million per year to domestic violence victims, <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@viceautoday/video/7363923077400366344"><span>going to the Leaving Violence Program</span></a> that offers $5000 payments to people fleeing abusive homes.</p> <p>To explain a couple of those furtherâŠ</p> <p>Rent Assistance is going up â $19 a fortnight for singles as part of the government's plan to tackle the housing and <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/4a3mvp/coles-woolies-prices-fines">cost of living</a> crisis in its 2025 federal budget.</p> <p>The maximum Commonwealth Rent Assistance payment will increase by 10 per cent from September this year, which will benefit about 1 million recipients on that rate.</p> <p>The current highest payment for a single person is $188.20 a fortnight, or $125.47 for a single person in a <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/5d9a7q/sharehouse-demand-sydney-melbourne-rental">sharehouse</a>, and those will go up $18.80.</p> <p>For families or parents with three or more children it will go up $25 a fortnight to $274.90 a fortnight. </p> <p>This is also before the payments are indexed according to inflation which treasurer Jim Chalmers will add another 5 per cent. to all payments.</p> <p>It will cost the government an additional $1.9 billion over the next five years.</p> <p>The government will also wipe $3 billion of student debt by changing the way itâs indexed. </p> <p>The new move caps the rate of indexation to make sure your debt canât rise faster than your <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/bvjkxq/award-wage-pay-rise">wages</a>. So currently HECS or HELP loans rise a percentage every year according to the CPI, the consumer price index. Thatâs the measure of how the cost of goods and services rise over time. But the WPI, the wage price index measures the rate, on average, of wage growth. So now the government will introduce legislation that means student loan indexation will be calculated on whichever is lower each year, the CPI or the WPI.</p> <p>The policy will also be backdated to June 1, 2023, which means last year's historically high 7.1 per cent indexation will be more than halved to the WPI of of the time which was 3.2 per cent.</p> <p>This will cancel hundreds if not thousands of dollars from most peopleâs HECS debts and mean indexation this year and in future years will be lower than expected and mean that theyâll never grow so fast to the point where the growth outpaces the mandatory repayments from your paychecks.&nbsp;</p> <p><em>Aleksandra Bliszczyk is the Deputy Editor of VICE Australia. Follow her on<a href="https://www.instagram.com/aleksbliszczyk/?hl=en"> Instagram</a>.</em></p> </description>
<link>https://vice.com/en/article/93kjk3/military-budget</link>
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<pubDate>Thu, 16 May 2024 07:01:04 GMT</pubDate>
<author>Aleksandra Bliszczyk, Aleksandra Bliszczyk</author>
<category>Australia Today</category>
<category>Politics</category>
<category>Australia</category>
</item>
<item>
<title>The Government Is Making Porn a Scapegoat for Rising Violence Against Women</title>
<description><figure><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/articles/6632f151934d4280f82fc7a7/lede/1714618063713-gettyimages-2150387211.jpeg" alt="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"><figcaption></figcaption></figure> <p>On Wednesday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced a $925 million initiative to help people flee abusive relationships after a recent uptick in violence against women in Australia. State, territory and federal leaders, who met for an urgent national cabinet meeting following nationwide rallies, also committed to implementing a series of interventions to address young peopleâs access to extreme online misogyny; which specifically cited âviolent <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/topic/porn">pornography</a>â.</p> <p>As a sex worker, the most concerning part of this conversation is the use of the sex industry as a political scapegoat for menâs violence.&nbsp;</p> <p>Letâs be clear: the porn industry was never created to provide <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/y3vvqw/we-asked-people-about-their-terrible-high-school-sex-ed-experiences">sex education</a> to children. But letâs also be honest: if your child is actively seeking out pornography, or so-called âviolent pornographyâ, perhaps thereâs a gap in their learning about sex and sexuality that the education system or a guardian has failed to fill.&nbsp;</p> <p>To prioritise limiting young peopleâs access to pornography and framing certain categories as âviolentâ shows how quickly Australian politicians, <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/88xevp/why-talking-about-sex-is-awkward">educators</a> and parents position themselves as the moral arbiters of sex work, rather than having honest and brave conversations with their kids about consent and sex.&nbsp;</p> <p>Not only do these sentiments perpetuate vilifying and victimising narratives about sex workers, they also simultaneously shift the responsibility of teaching young people about boundaries onto the very pornographers they claim to exhibit âviolenceâ.&nbsp;</p> <div style="max-width: 605px;"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 104.259%; padding-top: 120px;"><iframe src="https://oembed.vice.com/vLAkjup?app=1" style="top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; border: 0;" allowfullscreen="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></iframe></div></div> <p>Pornography <em>can</em> be a way for young people to learn and explore their sexuality in ways the current education system and discussions with their peers do not allow. This is not an endorsement, but it should be an opportunity to work out where we are letting children down on their journeys to self-discovery.</p> <div><p><i>This article originally appeared on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.vice.com/ro" target="_blank">VICE Romania</a>.</i></p> <p>I remember clearly how awkward <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/topic/sex" target="_blank">sex</a> and sex education seemed to me during high school. Since then, I've met guys who couldn't find the <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/topic/clitoris" target="_blank">clit</a> and would be intimidated if I showed them or told them what to do with it. After a while, I didn't even bother trying to explain unless there was a connection between us. Iâve also met guys who felt awkward when I asked them to stop. And Iâve always been struck by how often they tried to avoid any discussions about <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/topic/std" target="_blank">STDs</a>.</p> <p>Letâs face it: Most of these situations could have been avoided if theyâd received proper <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/topic/sex-education" target="_blank">sex education</a> in their school years. So I asked a few guys about the times they think sex ed would have saved them from making embarrassing, and sometimes terrible, mistakes. They shared their stories, using fake names for privacy reasons.</p> <h2>âI wish someone had told me that sperm doesn't travel through waterâ</h2> <p>âI was 19-years-old, my girlfriend was 17, and weâd been together for some time. Iâd never done anything sexual except for some intense touching. One evening we were home alone because her parents had gone on vacation, so we organised something romantic like in the movies. We filled the tub with water and bubbles, got undressed, and got in. We started kissing and caressing each other until, at some point, I ejaculated in the water.</p> <p>Her vagina was far away, but we both freaked out and couldn't sleep all night. The next morning, we went to the pharmacy to get the <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/d3a99m/morning-after-pill-plan-b-history-morality-emergency" target="_blank">morning-after pill</a>. I wish someone had told me that sperm doesn't travel through water and that it's almost impossible to get pregnant from a distance. We wouldâve both avoided a really bad fright.â - <i>Iustin, 26</i></p> <h2>âI thought women peed through their clitorisâ</h2> <p>âWhen I was a teenager, I thought women peed through their clitoris, so I would only stimulate it with my hands, never with my mouth. During the same period, when my then-girlfriend complained about her breasts hurting during ovulation, I suggested I should milk them to ease the pain. It just shows how much I knew about the female body at the time.â - <i>Mircea, 32</i></p> <h2>âI wish someone had told me that I needed to use a lot of lube and not pressure myself to take it all inâ</h2> <p>âI had one of my first sexual experiences â maybe even the first â when I was studying in Spain. I wanted to try anal sex with a man, but I was a bit reluctant. So one night I went out, got really drunk, flirted with a guy at the club, and then went home with him.</p> <div class="article__embed article__embed--vice" data-related-article="true" data-children-count="0"><iframe src="https://www.vice.com/en_uk/embed/article/k7w8qz/embed" frameborder="0" style="border:0px none;margin:0px" allowfullscreen="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></iframe></div> <p>In the room, I realised he had a really big penis, but I was drunk and didn't feel the discomfort. When I got home the next day, I realised I had some bad anal fissures and my anus hurt for a week.</p> <p>Because Iâd never had similar interactions before, I didn't know I was supposed to be careful and take it slow. Luckily, I could find information on the Internet, but I wish someone had told me I needed to use a lot of lube and not pressure myself to take it all in. I also would have liked someone to explain to me how to do an enema, so that I wouldn't get stomach pain or discharge.â <i>- Tony, 27</i></p> <h2>âI had to pay the price for my ignoranceâ</h2> <p>âWhen I think of sex education, I remember a teacher doing a demonstration with a banana and a condom in uni, but thatâs pretty much it. I grew up without a father, and my mum and I never talked about sex. I learnt from older friends and from my own experience. Unfortunately, sometimes I had to pay the price for my ignorance.</p> <div class="article__embed article__embed--vice" data-related-article="true" data-children-count="0"><iframe src="https://www.vice.com/en_uk/embed/article/m7vyk4/embed" frameborder="0" style="border:0px none;margin:0px" allowfullscreen="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></iframe></div> <p>At one point, a girl from another city, who Iâd partied with in the past, came to visit me. That night, we both drank too much and I was rougher than usual in bed. I had tried choking and butt slapping before, but this time I slapped her in the face. I didn't want to hurt her; I was just playing a fantasy.</p> <p>When I talked to her later, I realised how much my behaviour had shocked her. She was shocked at how ignorant I was about boundaries and consent. At the time, I didn't realise that it was a potentially sensitive situation we should have discussed beforehand, and that, without consent, my sex play was abusive and dehumanising towards her.</p> <p>Over time, I've learnt that itâs essential to get informed beforehand and that sex education is a lifelong process.â <i>- Vlad, 33</i></p></div> <p>Additionally, blanket views that all adult content is harmful or has harmful potential, and attempting to restrict young peopleâs access to it, often results in more barriers for sex workers online. Anti-trafficking laws that hold porn websites liable for promoting or facilitating sex work and trafficking introduced in the US in 2018 have been<a href="https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/5050/sex-workers-endangered-fosta-sesta-porn-us-free-speech-woodhull/"> <span>criticised for endangering sex workers further.</span></a> The<a href="https://scarletalliance.org.au/library/response-to-the-esafetys-call-for-evidence-on-age-verification/"> <span>UKâs implementation of age-verification systems online</span></a> has also been slammed by the sex work industry for over-regulation.&nbsp;</p> <p>Can I suggest just getting better parental controls on your devices?</p> <p>This is not the first time the responsibility of shaping well-behaved young men has been put on the sex industry. Last year, senior Liberal Party member Sussan Ley suggested<a href="https://womensagenda.com.au/politics/sussan-ley-misses-fundamental-point-in-calling-for-strip-club-ban/"> <span>a âpauseâ on the opening of new strip clubs</span></a>, citing concerns over the roles theses premises have in influencing young menâs attitudes towards women.&nbsp;</p> <p>But Leyâs attitude ignores the involvement of an autonomous, consenting person in the scenario.</p> <div><p>Being good at sex is somewhat of a myth, but if thereâs anyone whoâs got a handle of how to <i>have good sex</i> itâs the people who work in one of the worldâs most ancient jobs. We wanted some straightforward tips on fingering, dick sucking, oral and standard bouncing â so we asked. These tips arenât about to turn you into a <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/akexbg/how-to-make-a-sex-tape-according-to-a-former-porn-star" target="_blank">porn star</a>, but you might be surprised by the <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/5d38zk/missionary-sex-position-vice-guide" target="_blank">fundamentals of sex</a> that youâve missed.</p> <p>Needless to say, itâs better to ask the specific person youâre sleeping with what <i>they</i> like â all sexual experiences are subjective â but sleeping with tens if not hundreds of people for work does give you a few clues as to what gets <i>most</i> people off. Itâs all well and good to tell people that âconfidence is keyâ or to just âenjoy themselvesâ, but it turns out there are more than a few ways to turn a trick that can be applied to anyoneâs everyday sex life.</p> <p>We went to <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/n7zxy8/a-glossary-of-sex-worker-terminology" target="_blank">the experts</a>: in this case, sex workers Lily, Mia, Samantha and Becca of PĆnekeâs The Bedroom, and hereâs what they had to sayâŠ</p> <h2>Letâs get some basic sex dos and donâts out of the way:</h2> <p>Having good hygiene is a given (including good breath). Commenting on someoneâs weight or appearance is a no-go unless itâs an absolute compliment.</p> <p>And there are a few areas that unquestionably require discussion:</p> <p>Anal or butt play? <i>Discuss it.</i></p> <p>Anything that <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/jgmv48/what-is-kinky-sex" target="_blank">leaves a mark</a>? <i>Discuss it.</i>&nbsp;Bites, bruises and rope burns can put someone in an uncomfortable situation at work or home, so making sure the person being marked is ok with it is a must.</p> <p>Where youâre gonna <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/epz8n4/my-sex-life-with-a-semen-allergy" target="_blank">cum</a>? <i>Discuss it.</i>&nbsp;Thereâs nothing less sexy than someone ruining your makeup or freshly washed hair. And if the <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/3adjv9/how-to-make-safer-sex-hot" target="_blank">contraceptive situation</a> hasnât been made clear, not double checking that your landing pad is approved could end in genuine disaster.</p> <p>With that aside, letâs get into some of the specifics. Hereâs what our sex-work overseers had to say:</p> <h2>HOW TO: HANDJOBS</h2> <p><i>âI always start slow. Be aware of how sensitive their area is and really ease into it. Remember how many nerve endings there are. It is friction!â</i> - Mia</p> <p><i>âUse saliva and lube.â</i>&nbsp; - Samantha</p> <p><i>âIf the handjob goes on too long men [can] lose sensitivity, so you're actually better to stop doing the handjob altogether. Give it a rest and then try again.â</i> - Lily</p> <p><i>âEven if you're not being touched, they want to see that you're into them being aroused. They want to see you turned on as well.â</i> - Samantha</p> <h2>HOW TO: FINGERING</h2> <p><i>âDonât finger a dry pussy really hard. Youâll <a href="https://www.medicinenet.com/can_you_get_thrush_sexually/article.htm" target="_blank">give them thrush.</a>â</i> - Lily</p> <div class="article__embed article__embed--vice" data-related-article="true" data-children-count="0"><iframe src="https://www.vice.com/en_nz/embed/article/93k8dv/embed" frameborder="0" style="border:0px none;margin:0px" allowfullscreen="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></iframe></div> <p><i>âI love my butt being played with, but if youâre gonna put your finger in my butt then in my pussy, all Iâm thinking is urine infection. So donât do that. Itâs hygiene yâknow.â&nbsp; -</i> Mia</p> <p><i>âDefinitely donât start by shoving three fingers in someone at once. You can build up to it, but thatâs not a sexy way to start.â</i> - Becca</p> <p><i>âA finger and clitoral rub at the same time is the best. Fingers in, thumb on clit.â</i> - Lily</p> <p><i>âDonât shove your knuckles into the coochie because they donât do anything.â</i> - Mia</p> <h2>HOW TO SUCK DICK</h2> <p><i>âUse your hand at the base like it's half-hand-job-half-blow-job. Just using your mouth, a lot of men wonât cum.â -</i> Lily</p> <p><i>âGo from the outside, inwards. Lead up from touching the thighs and then you move in and stimulate them⊠A lot of guys like the balls.â</i> - Samantha</p> <p><i>âThe men say it feels better without the condom. Supposedly thereâs a lot of sensitivity lost.â -</i> Lily</p> <p><i>âI think the wetter the better. The more saliva, the more it feels like a pussy.â -</i> Lily</p> <h2>HOW TO EAT SOMEONE OUT</h2> <p><i>âWith facial hair, the smoother the better, or be hairy. But prickly hurts. Itâs like sandpaper.â -</i> Mia</p> <p><i>âDoing the alphabet with your tongue, that was a Cosmopolitan tip⊠donât do that. Donât motorboat. Donât bite. Donât blow. Donât hum. Thatâs another Cosmo tip. It's just weird.â</i> - Lily</p> <p><i>âYouâre sensitive in areas that arenât normally touched, so incorporate the inner thighs, or holding the hips and touching those creases. Do all that kind of stuff as the lead-up, outside of the vagina, and then slowly work your way in.â</i> - Samantha</p> <p><i>âPutting your tongue into the actual vagina doesnât feel that good⊠Itâs not a dick. You wouldnât make someone cum from it.â</i> - Becca</p> <p><i>âThe person needs to be honest if theyâre not into [eating me out]. Because I can tell if theyâre not enjoying it and then I feel like Iâm torturing them.â</i> - Samantha</p> <h2>HOW TO HAVE INTERCOURSE</h2> <p><i>âReplicating what youâve seen in porn is really dangerous and also really obvious. You should never come straight into a sexual encounter with someone you donât know well and choke and slap them. Itâs embarrassing and uncomfortable.â</i> - Becca</p> <div class="article__embed article__embed--vice" data-related-article="true" data-children-count="0"><iframe src="https://www.vice.com/en_nz/embed/article/7kxwnb/embed" frameborder="0" style="border:0px none;margin:0px" allowfullscreen="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></iframe></div> <p><i>âIf there's a massive size difference between you and your partner, be aware to hold your own weight when youâre on top. It happened to me with a partner who was bigger than me, and heâd rest all his weight on me and Iâd start panicking because I couldnât breathe.â</i> - Samantha</p> <p><i>âJackhammering can be painful if youâre not in the mood for it. Just be aware. They have a pelvic bone. They have a cervix. And youâre banging up against it.â -</i> Becca</p> <p><i>âIf sheâs invested in lingerie let her wear it for ten minutes. If sheâs feeling sexy and sheâs dolled herself up, a suspender belt, stockings, donât just rip it off straight away. Make her feel beautiful in what sheâs wearing. And then sheâll want to dress up for you more because youâve shown you appreciate it.â</i> - Lily</p> <p><i>âKiss during sex! It makes you feel so rejected if someone stops kissing you as soon as you start fucking. Itâs awkward.â</i> - Becca</p> <h2>THE âFEEL GOODâ FACTOR</h2> <p><i>âYou've got to be able to pick up what they're feeling. You need to be very in tune with other people. In real layman's examples, itâs whether you'd say like, âI want you to fuck meâ or âI want to make love to youâ. It's a bit of emotional intelligence.â</i> - Samantha</p> <p><i>âI think if one person stands to gain more from the experience than the other, then it's not something that's gonna be enjoyable</i>.â - Mia</p> <p><i>"You can ask what they want without it ruining the mood. Just saying, âDoes it feel good?â âDo you want it faster?â or âWhat can I do for you?â It's not embarrassing.â</i> - Samantha</p> <p>In the end, everyone will have some <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/5d9g8b/worst-std-stories" target="_blank">mortifying moments</a> in their sexual lives and everyone will feel things <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/7kb9zx/how-an-extreme-new-curve-in-my-penis-changed-my-sex-life-peyronies-disease" target="_blank">differently</a> â and thatâs okay folks! We learn, we grow, we throb with undulating desire.</p> <p>We hope the wise words of our sex-worker friends can help you feel on top of the basics so that you know the sex youâre having feels good for everyone involved, inside <i>and</i> out.</p> <p><i>Rachel Barker is a writer / producer at VICE NZ in Aotearoa. You can find her @rachellydiab on IG and Letterboxd and see her film criticism on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@girlonfilm4551" target="_blank">Youtube</a>.</i></p></div> <p>I argue to Sussan Ley that any man who attends <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/y3wbb7/how-nzs-strippers-collectivised-against-allegations-of-bullying-and-harassment-at-work">strip clubs</a> as a ritualistic baptism into manhood will learn lifelong lessons about boundaries should they ever touch a dancer in a place they havenât consented to.</p> <p>The sex industry is not a handbook to intimacy that your child is a perceived victim of, and we should not be enabling men to blame their bad behaviour on porn consumption.&nbsp;</p> <p>All Australians, not just sex workers, should be mature enough to educate themselves and their children that the <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/qjvnem/vice-visits-the-australian-adult-industry-awards">adult industry</a> and porn are built on fantasy, and thatâs okay.&nbsp;</p> <p>When looking at menâs violence against women â very much a reality â letâs look at real solutions.&nbsp;</p> <p>The $925 million pledge <em>over five years,</em> while<a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-05-01/new-coercive-control-ad-campaign-launched-by-nsw-government/103787754"> <span>frontline services are desperate for funding</span></a>, is seriously inadequate. And the <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/jgpkeb/employers-sex-work-cost-of-living">cost of living</a> is continuously rising â making financial hardship a major contributing factor to womenâs inability to escape violent relationships. Meanwhile, the government also<a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/defence-spending-australia-national-strategy-integrated-investment-program/bceed0f7-971a-4c9b-bcb4-d4d76931c070"> <span>pledged a $50 billion boost to defence</span></a> over the next decade and Australiaâs own parliament canât even get its<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/media/2023/dec/08/bruce-lehrmann-brittany-higgins-parliament-house-defamation-trial-grips-australia-ntwnfb"> <span>sexual misconduct problem under control</span></a>.&nbsp;</p> <p>So who really is to blame?</p> <p><em>Darcy Deviant is a sex worker and writer based in Melbourne. Follow Darcy on Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/hole___money/">here</a>.</em></p> </description>
<link>https://vice.com/en/article/m7bngy/government-porn-violence-against-women</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://vice.com/en/article/m7bngy/government-porn-violence-against-women</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 02 May 2024 03:25:24 GMT</pubDate>
<author>Aleksandra Bliszczyk, Darcy Deviant</author>
<category>Australia Today</category>
<category>Politics</category>
<category>Australia</category>
<category>Sex</category>
<category>porn</category>
<category>sex work</category>
</item>
<item>
<title>How Long Until the Majority of Voters Are Gen Y and Gen Z?</title>
<description><figure><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/articles/6631aefa934d4280f82fc24a/lede/1714536022813-istock-1530809356.jpeg" alt="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"><figcaption>Image credit: istock</figcaption></figure> <p>From Brexit to Aotearoaâs own cannabis referendum, weâve seen older generations have the dominant vote on issues that will outlive them.&nbsp;</p> <p>The complaint often lobbied in these situations is that young voters are left living in the world created by those soon to leave it. And right now young people are a minority, fighting against an older class who (depending on who you ask) doesnât care for our future.&nbsp;</p> <p>About a quarter of the 3,688,292 total New Zealanders enrolled in last year's election are over 70.&nbsp;</p> <p>And Gen Y and Gen Z <em>are</em> currently the minority of eligible voters in New Zealand â with 1,598,352 18-44 year olds and 2,089,940 45+ year olds enrolled for the 2023 election.&nbsp;</p> <p>So how long will it be until we make up the majority? A change in the majority generation that makes up a voting block will definitely change how politicians approach policy, but is it really down to, well⊠how much time it takes for older people to die?</p> <p>People born into Generations Y and Z are currently between 12 and 43. This means most of us already <em>are</em> voting â or at least have the ability to.&nbsp;</p> <p>Last year, 452,882 eligible people between 18-44 didnât vote. Will the New Zealanders turning 18 in the next 6 years have the power to bring up those numbers? Itâs unlikely.&nbsp;</p> <div><p>Growing up in Australia, Anzac Day usually means chewy oat biscuits, poppy pins, excursions, trumpets and pretending to fathom what war was like 100 years ago after your teachers tell you to reflect on soldiersâ service and sacrifice during the minuteâs silence.</p> <p>But this year, a <a href="https://www.instagram.com/teachers4palestine_vic/?hl=en" target="_blank">collective</a> of pro-<a href="https://www.vice.com/en/topic/palestine" target="_blank">Palestine</a> school teachers in Victoria is challenging the ways our World War I soldiers are remembered and what aspects of our military history have long been left out of classrooms.&nbsp;</p> <p>The Teachers and <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/5d9qkq/melbourne-students-school-strike-for-palestine" target="_blank">School</a> Staff for Palestine group has this week called for the âAnzac mythologyâ to be âdismantledâ to make way for ârigorous, critical and empowering educationâ around campaigns and massacres in Palestine during WWI.</p> <p>âWe won't be used to convey myths that serve to normalise militarism, we won't use teaching and learning material designed to gloss over the violent imprint that <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/qjv58b/aid-workers-one-australian-killed-in-gaza-after-delivering-food" target="_blank">Australia has left in Palestine</a>,â Lucy Honan, a Teachers and School Staff for Palestine member and secondary history teacher, told VICE.&nbsp;</p> <p>âStudents should have an opportunity to question the official legend that Anzacs were sacrificing their lives for freedom, and think critically about Australia's commitment to the imperialist powers that lay the ground for the creation of Israel, and think about the consequences of this for Palestinians.â</p> <p>In recent months, the group has organised solidarity actions in schools, campaigned to remove <a href="https://www.theeducatoronline.com/k12/news/teachers-launch-boycott-of-stem-programs-funded-by-weapons-companies/284214#:~:text=%E2%80%9CThe%20Victorian%20Education%20Department%20is,School%20Staff%20for%20Palestine%20said." target="_blank">STEM programs sponsored by weapons manufacturers</a> from schools and published teaching materials including a booklet about Anzac campaigns in Palestine that lay the foundation for the creation of Israel.</p> <p>The teaching materials were compiled by the group through weeks of research, in response to âa dearth of teaching resources about the Anzacs in Palestine,â Honan said.</p> <p>âOur students want answers. What is happening in Gaza and why, who is implicated â and why are we being told we can't talk about it at school?â</p> <p>Victorian Education Minister Ben Carroll <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-11-27/victoria-teachers-palestine-solidarity-education-minister/103154342" target="_blank">warned state school teachers late last year</a> not to be political or participate in pro-Palestinian advocacy in schools and said such action was âinflammatory, it's divisive and only sows more seeds of disharmony in our communityâ.</p> <p>Honan said she wasnât surprised by these warnings but that they were contradictory.</p> <p>âBecause we refused to be neutral about the genocide in Gaza, we have been accused by politicians and the Education Department of being too political,â she said.</p> <p>âAnd yet, the agenda of militarism and unthinking nationalism in our schools is overwhelming.â</p> <p>Teachers and School Staff for Palestine hope their resources will help and encourage teachers to think more critically about their history curriculums and allow students the opportunity to question what they are taught and why.</p> <p>âLet teachers teach honestly,â she said.</p> <p>âTeachers must be empowered and supported to teach about Palestine.â</p> <h2>What did the Anzacs do in Palestine?&nbsp;</h2> <p>In 1917, the <a href="https://anzacportal.dva.gov.au/wars-and-missions/ww1/where-australians-served/sinai-and-palestine" target="_blank">ANZACs invaded Palestine</a> to fight the Ottoman Army and, after the third Battle of Gaza on October 31, successfully took control of the land and the people in the name of the British Empire.</p> <p>The final battle of Gaza also included the Allied attack on Beersheba, which had a majority Palestinian Arab population and was captured from the Ottoman Empire.&nbsp;</p> <h2>The Sarafand al-âAmar massacre</h2> <p>The following year, the three brigades of the Anzac Mounted Division remained camped in Palestine waiting for demobilisation, when one Anzac was shot and killed.</p> <p>The troops suspected Palestinians from the town of Sarafand al-âAmar were responsible and a group surrounded the town to demand justice. Their revenge was recorded as a <a href="https://nzhistory.govt.nz/page/anzac-troops-kill-arab-civilians-surafend" target="_blank">massacre of dozens of people</a> â <a href="https://www.palestinechronicle.com/the-sarafand-massacre-and-cover-up/" target="_blank">as many as 137</a> â who were bludgeoned and stabbed to death. The Anzacs then burned the town and nearby camps until the remaining residents were imprisoned or had fled and the town was destroyed.&nbsp;</p> <h2>The creation of Israel&nbsp;</h2> <p>After the British Empire withdrew in 1947, it handed over what it called the âproblem of Palestineâ to the United Nations, ending the British Mandate and establishing the State of Israel. This was when the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians, known as Al Nakba (the catastrophe) began.</p> <p>Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly thanked Anzac soldiers for their service and for paving the way for the creation of the âState of Israelâ.</p> <p>âAnzac soldiers are part of the history and memory of Israel⊠and had not the Australians and New Zealanders overthrown Ottoman rule in Palestine and Syria, the <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2018/11/2/more-than-a-century-on-the-balfour-declaration-explained" target="_blank">Balfour Declaration</a> would have remained mere ink on paper,â <a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-australian-new-zealand-leaders-mark-landmark-wwi-battle/" target="_blank">he said on the 100th anniversary</a> of the battle of Beersheba, attended by the then-Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.</p> <p>Turnbull also spoke at the event and said âthe battle has become part of our history, part of our psycheâ.</p> <p>âHad the Ottoman rule in Palestine and Syria not been overthrown by the Australians and the New Zealanders, the Balfour Declaration would have been empty words.</p> <p>â[The battle] secured the victory that did not create the state of Israel, but enabled its creation,â Turnbull said.</p> <p><i>Aleksandra Bliszczyk is the Deputy Editor of VICE Australia. Follow her on<a href="https://www.instagram.com/aleksbliszczyk/?hl=en" target="_blank"> Instagram</a>.</i></p> <p><i>Get the story that matters most each day. <a href="https://pedestrian.us1.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=2c631b380f2015e8f93fcbc5b&amp;id=77eb92cd03" target="_blank">Subscribe to Australia Todayâs daily newsletter here</a>.</i></p></div> <p>In only 6 years time, the entirety of New Zealandâs âiGenerationâ (has anyone ever called it that?) will be eligible to vote. From that point, weâll theoretically take up about half of the voting body.&nbsp;</p> <p>In 15-20 years, about half of the older age group voters will drop off â or rather, we will encroach on their territory, becoming the main body of voters, with Gen Xers above us and Gen Alpha below.&nbsp;</p> <p>So, in the grand scheme of things, our time to shine is not too far away.&nbsp;</p> <p>Gen Z is arguably in competition with boomers for being the most vocal about their political views online. No generation can be defined by a singular political outlook, but you do get the sense â from perusing everything from X to TikTok to Instagram â that a minority of people under 25 fall into the liberal camp.&nbsp;</p> <p>Maybe itâs because of the echo chamber. Maybe itâs because Gen Y and Z either lean super vocal or say nothing at all.&nbsp;</p> <p>And maybe itâs because the glimmer of idealism has always been associated with youth â although, for a generation facing the 11th hour of climate change, the desperation for change is more than just a matter of preference.&nbsp;</p> <div><p class="article__text--dropcap">Thereâs something in the Indigenous experience, and perhaps in the experiences of all marginalised peoples, that makes us naturally, incredibly funny.</p> <p>In a world where our existence is challenged and our <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsoc.2021.613340/full#:~:text=Tino%20rangatiratanga%20can%20mean%20self,which%20fully%20encapsulates%20its%20meaning." target="_blank">tino rangatiratanga</a> is encroached upon, our humour persists. Thatâs because joy is resistance. In our shared humour we relish in an understanding that doesnât need to be explained, or toned down, or diluted.&nbsp;</p> <p>Iâve been a comic in Aotearoa professionally for almost four years, and in that time Iâve managed to surmise a couple of things.&nbsp;</p> <p>In 2021, I performed for the first time in the NZ International Comedy Fest as a member of Bull Rush, an improv group I still perform with. I remember going to the closing night event with my improv buddies and looking around the room. It wasnât entirely white: The Frickin Dangerous Bro boys, Pax Assadi, Jamaine Ross and James Roque were all there. And Angella Dravid and James Nokise were also present. At the time, I was one of only three Samoan performers in the festival.&nbsp;</p> <p>If youâve been on any Facebook comment thread or internet hellhole forum about New Zealand TV recently, youâd be aware that a lot of our programming, apparently, has fallen victim to the plague of âgoing wokeâ. And for many brown comedians, like myself, this means a small but significant increase in work.&nbsp;</p> <p>Many of us find ourselves being ushered into spaces to make things appear more colourful and inclusive. But in doing so we are loaded with the burden of being tokenised. Frankly, itâs exhausting. And harmful. It can feel like weâre simply there to shroud the reality of bias against our people. Being a token in any space hides a structural disengagement with the entirety of our culture, our <a href="https://teara.govt.nz/en/whakapapa-genealogy" target="_blank">whakapapa</a>, our laughter and our pain. By being here, on this stage, surely my presence signifies the end of racism in the New Zealand comedy industry, right?&nbsp;</p> <p>Not quite.&nbsp;</p> <p class="article__pull-quote">For a long time (and not just in Aotearoa) the term âaudiences'' has been synonymous with âwhite people.â</p> <p>The New Zealand Comedy Industry has always skewed towards a <a href="https://teara.govt.nz/en/cultural-go-betweens/page-2" target="_blank">pÄkehÄ</a> lens.&nbsp;</p> <p>Our nationâs most famous comic, William James Te Wehi Taitoko, changed his name to âBilly T Jamesâ because the pronunciation was easier for Australians. That name was rearranged and anglicised for the ease of pÄkehÄ ears and has since adorned our nation's most coveted comedy award, an act towards assimilation, so as not to deter his white audience.</p> <p>Over the decades, many revered comedians of colour have bent their personas to appease pÄkehÄ for career benefit, and in doing so fed into harm towards our communities. Some of Taitokoâs own work is often a talking point in the portrayal of MÄori identity for its part in enforcing harmful stereotypes.</p> <div class="article__embed" data-related-article="true" data-children-count="0"><div data-iframely-id="08dwnpC" class="article__embed article__embed--iframely"><div style="left:0;width:100%;height:0;position:relative;padding-bottom:56.25%"><iframe data-iframely-url="//oembed.vice.com/08dwnpC" data-img="" style="top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;position:absolute;border:0" allowfullscreen="" allow="encrypted-media *;" frameborder="0" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></iframe></div></div></div> <p>Racism, of course, is fuelled by normalisation in the media like this. One needs only to look towards <i>broâTownâs</i> Jeff Da Maori and <i>Summer Heights High</i>âs Jonah Takalua for their roles in proliferating harmful stereotypes and anti-Indigenous racism.</p> <p>For a long time (and not just in Aotearoa) the term âaudiences'' has been synonymous with âwhite peopleâ. And the people that regularly come to comedy events â or the ones held by the central industry â are predominantly pÄkehÄ.&nbsp;</p> <p>âComedyâ in Aotearoa is viewed as a âwhite thingâ by a lot of brown communities. There are multiple exceptions but there seems to be minimal representation for our communities in the most visible spaces. As a brown comedian who does improv comedy almost every Friday night, I comfortably say that brown audiences have not yet recognised their place in our audiences. And understandably so. Representation can foster a hostile environment when it reduces the vastness of our community into a token or caricature. In some cases, it can foster the longevity of the stereotype.&nbsp;</p> <p>And it is an exhausting conversation topic, particularly for the underrepresented. In the turning tide of âdiversity-hireâ culture, people of marginalised communities are burdened with responsibilities far beyond the call of our actual jobs. As my friend and collaborator Joel McCarthy once said after a particularly challenging call: âItâs fucking exhausting having to pioneer everythingâ.&nbsp;</p> <p>It <i>is</i> exhausting trying to figure out how to make a living in this industry while doing right by ourselves and by the people we stand with. These structures that coerce us into assimilating into (and making allowances for) pÄkehÄ culture are exhausting and, sometimes, dangerous. They can be dangerous to us who risk token elevation as a model minority, and to our communities, who continue to experience the very real and very relentless structural problems that cause collective harm.&nbsp;</p> <p>For some time now the New Zealand comedy industry has found itself pondering questions that many other institutions in this modern age also find themselves pondering.&nbsp;</p> <p>As we look at the massively evident disparity in representation, weâre forced to grapple with the intersections of our society and the way it uplifts a specific type of person above most others.&nbsp;</p> <p>But if tokenized MÄori and Pasifika are being hired for being palatable to a white sensibility, then what good does this really do for our communities? And if we signify to our communities that whiteness is aspirational, then what message are we sending? To fight for a single chair? The smallest chair at the table; the littlest token of funding; a gestural hui. If we operate from the assumption that our communities enjoy laughing, our scope becomes so much wider.&nbsp;</p> <p>Many of our most successful comedians are creating online. Creators like Janaye Henry, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/kumara_chipz/?hl=en" target="_blank">Kura Turuwhenua</a>, Timprovise and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/memoirsofamaori/?hl=en" target="_blank">Charde Heremaia</a> are meeting our audiences where they are. They ask the obvious question: If spaces like the theatre and the comedy club are inaccessible (both financially and geographically), then why not provide laughter in their homes?&nbsp;</p> <p>For decades, the comedy industry has clung to television as its path of ascension, but as the digital age shifts away from terrestrial television, so too do the audiences. Audiences want entertainment that speaks to their reality, that reflects themselves honestly. Itâs increasingly hard to do that on a platform where the viewership, and the funding, is gradually being taken away. Not to say these people donât draw audiences â Kura sold out her shows last year in the NZ Comedy Fest, and Tim sold an 80% house at Q Rangatira for a live record of his podcast âHonest To Who?â.</p> <p>But in a system that depends upon bums-on-seats, the hundreds of thousands of global audience members that are viewing and engaging with online content apparently donât speak to someoneâs comedic credibility.&nbsp;</p> <p>In cinema, television, and international media there has been some increased visibility for MÄori, Pasifika and POC comedians, as well as comedians from all backgrounds. Bubbah on <i>Taskmaster; </i>Courtney Dawson on <i>Celebrity Treasure Island</i>; Kalyani Nagarajan in <i>Raised By Refugees. </i>And thatâs just off the top of my head. But there are still significant (and obvious) milestones still to be reached. The industry may be improving, but there is a long â and necessary â way to go. And while these new opportunities are being embraced, the people tackling them have not appeared out of nowhere. They have been honing their skills, working, standing in the face of an industry that largely ignores them or asks them to play a specific role and That Role Only.</p> <p>In an essay written in 2019, Guy Williams posed the question: â<a href="https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/stage-and-theatre/112904284/guy-williams-where-are-all-the-maori-comedians" target="_blank">where are all the MÄori comedians?</a>â What youâre reading here is my attempt at responding to this pÄtai. In response to it, I find myself asking questions in return: Where are you looking for us? What efforts are you making to look for Indigenous Pacific comedians? In free backyard shows put on by comedians from our South Auckland communities? In the performing arts buildings in East Coast schools? In the under-resourced high school arts programmes? In brown arts collectives working by, and for, our communities? We are here. You will find us here.&nbsp;</p> <p>And for all we are doing to build our community, away from the pressures of stereotyping, tokenism and assimilation, we are not without challenges for funding.&nbsp;</p> <p>The question here isnât, and has never been, in regards to where we <i>are. </i>The question should be: where are you <i>looking </i>for us? Or where do you want us to be for you to acknowledge us? For funders to acknowledge our craft? And for those of us working in this industry: who do we have to be for our work to be acknowledged?&nbsp;</p> <p>When the New Zealand Comedy Industry is mostly centralised in one building in the heart of the Auckland CBD, the type of audience that gets drawn to these shows begins to narrow significantly. Whiteness, as a pervasive attitude, can feel unsafe for a lot of people. Colonial Patriarchy is another structure rooted in whiteness, and when we see a line up dominated by male comics who appease colonial and patriarchal tastes, we ought to ask if our venues are environments that welcome a full spectrum of talent and audience.&nbsp;</p> <p>If you ask me where all the MÄori comedians are, I will tell you that they are here, in Aotearoa. Whether or not we are acknowledged and supported is, of course, another question.</p> <p><i>Bailey Poching is a comedian, actor and writer based in TÄmaki Makaurau.</i></p></div> <p>&nbsp;So many people find themselves churning through the motions of an intensely liberal outlook in their teen years before easing up on a few of those beliefs when entering adulthood. Past arguments with parents who donât agree that âall landlords are morally corruptâ can make you feel a bit squeamish when youâre 35 and seeking renters to help you pay your mortgage.&nbsp;</p> <p>Thereâs also a shifting line in the sand when it comes to what we consider conservative and progressive. Famed feminist Germaine Greer shocked many when she made anti-trans comments in 2015, and it goes to show that being on the front line of a progressive school of thought doesnât mean youâll remain there.&nbsp;</p> <p>Victoria Universityâs Head of Political Science Simon Keller told VICE political opinions of young people will change as they get older. âPerhaps they will become more economically conservative, but I am confident that they never take what we presently regard as conservative positions on sexuality and gender,â said Keller.</p> <p>In the 2023 election, the age bracket with the highest percentage of voters was 65-69-year-olds.&nbsp; The lowest was <a href="https://elections.nz/democracy-in-nz/historical-events/2023-general-election/voter-turnout-statistics/">between 25 and 29</a> â young millennials and older Gen Z.&nbsp;</p> <p>Richard Shaw, Professor of Politics at Massey University, says âvoting and not voting are habit forming.â&nbsp;</p> <p>âIrrespective of the size of the GenY/Z cohort, if they're not used to voting they may just stay away from the formal political process â which would mean that older generations still have influence over electoral and other outcomes,â he says.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>So, sure, our time is gonna come â but whether we take advantage of that is another question entirely.&nbsp;</p> <p><em>Rachel Barker is a writer / producer at VICE NZ in Aotearoa. You can find her @rachellydiab on IG and Letterboxd and see her film criticism on<a href="https://www.youtube.com/@girlonfilm4551"> Youtube</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;</em></p> </description>
<link>https://vice.com/en/article/qjv5k5/how-long-until-the-majority-of-voters-are-gen-y-and-gen-z</link>
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<pubDate>Wed, 01 May 2024 04:19:52 GMT</pubDate>
<author>Rachel Barker, Brad Esposito</aut
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<title>Australia's Massive Military Budget</title>
<description><figure><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/articles/66444ef0fc3a24f9da345607/lede/1715842120352-gettyimages-1436363944.jpeg" alt="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"><figcaption></figcaption></figure> <p>The 2025 federal budget announced on Tuesday <a href="https://www.minister.defence.gov.au/media-releases/2024-05-14/generational-investment-australias-defence"><span>committed an additional $50.3 billion</span></a> to defence over the next decade, bringing our 10-year defence spending to $764.6 billion.</p> <p>$764.6 billion is an extraordinary amount of money, more than double the initial <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/k7z5by/stage-three-tax-cuts-change">cost of the controversial stage 3 tax cuts</a> that have since been amended.</p> <p>To put $700 billion in perspective â making undergraduate university degrees completely free for all domestic students would cost about $7 billion a year or $70 billion over 10 years, <a href="https://futurework.org.au/report/at-the-crossroads/"><span>according to the Australia Institute</span></a>. Just 10 per cent of the defence budget.</p> <p>With the new federal budget, the annual defence bill will hit a record of $53 billion this year, <a href="https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/pubs/rp/BudgetReview202021/AustralianGovernmentExpenditure"><span>up from $39 billion last year</span></a>, and is projected to surpass $100 billion annually by 2033, or 2.4 per cent of our GDP.</p> <p>This is part of a massive defence shakeup to âkeep Australia safeâ amid what the <a href="https://twitter.com/RichardMarlesMP/status/1780423930035253415/photo/1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1780423930035253415%7Ctwgr%5E26106fef105a8d5f345bf2bd806c321fc1f57b4e%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sbs.com.au%2Fnews%2Farticle%2Faustralias-defence-budget-set-to-increase-by-50-billion-over-the-next-decade%2F04c2x7teq"><span>Defence Minister Richard Marles called</span></a> the most challenging strategic environment since World War II.</p> <p>So, just looking at the bonuses included in this budget, defence got an extra $5 billion for this year alone.</p> <p>Thatâs more than Commonwealth Rent Assistance that, for just this year, <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@viceautoday/video/7369016467712527624"><span>gets an extra $500 million</span></a>; more than the $600 million boost to Services Australia, for more staff to help manage the backlog of people trying to access welfare payments; more than the <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@viceautoday/video/7365670312584678664"><span>changes to HECS indexation</span></a> thatâll cost about $3 billion in foregone revenue; and more than the $3.5 billion cost of living relief package in the form of $300 electricity bill rebates for every household.</p> <div><p>At least one NSW Police officer was seen wearing âthin blue lineâ Australian flag patch at a pro-Palestine rally in Sydneyâs Port Botany on Sunday, where 19 people were arrested.</p> <p>Legal Observers New South Wales (LONSW), who attended the rally to witness and document interactions between <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/5d9qkq/melbourne-students-school-strike-for-palestine" target="_blank">activists</a> and police, said âseveralâ officers wore the patches displaying the iconography that has been co-opted by and is now associated with far-right extremist movements.</p> <p>They reported âmany of these officers were the most aggressive with protestorsâ, who were there to blockade Israeli shipping company ZIM that uses the docks. ZIM has been associated with the Israeli military and its killing of Palestinians in Gaza.</p> <p>LONSW also accused police of demonstrating excessive force, throwing several protestors to the ground, using restraint techniques associated with restraint asphyxia, and âviolently pushing manyâ before arresting people for disrupting commerce and trade under <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/jg5nn4/nsw-police-anti-protest-laws" target="_blank">NSWâs harsh anti-protest laws</a>.</p> <p>NSW Police told <i>Guardian Australia</i> the force had ânot received any reports of an officer wearing the patch which is not part of the standard NSWPF uniformâ and that the force respected peopleâs right to protest at the port.</p> <p>But NSW Council for Civil Liberties president Lydia Shelly said the policing of protests in NSW was now âout of controlâ.</p> <div class="article__embed article__embed--vice" data-related-article="true" data-children-count="0"><iframe src="https://www.vice.com/en_au/embed/article/v7bnd8/embed" frameborder="0" style="border:0px none;margin:0px" allowfullscreen="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></iframe></div> <p>âWe are extremely concerned that at the Port Botany protest, Legal Observers NSW observed several police officers wearing a patch that is not part of the standard police issued uniform which has been associated with right-wing extremism,â she said in a <a href="https://www.nswccl.org.au/media_statement_police_response_to_antigenocide_protests" target="_blank">statement</a>.</p> <p>âWe have called on the Premier, the Attorney General and the Police Commissioner to meet with us to discuss concerns about police conduct towards peaceful protestors and legal observers [and] so far, our requests have been denied.â</p> <h2>Misuse of police powers at weekly free Palestine rallies</h2> <p>Legal Observers NSW has attended 14 <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/g5y849/thousands-rally-across-australia-in-solidarity-with-palestine-israel-war" target="_blank">weekly free Palestine street rallies</a> in Sydneyâs CBD and several actions at Port Botany since October and over those months has complied a eight-page report, documenting police behaviour towards protestors including instances of misuse of police powers.</p> <p>âThe <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/3ak4z9/what-have-free-palestine-rallies-australia-achieved" target="_blank">policing of these rallies</a> has been marked by ubiquitous surveillance, police and state pushback and the deployment of higher than usual levels of police resources, including a new protest-focused taskforce âOperation Mealingâ and&nbsp;pro-Palestinian activity focused âOperation Shelterâ, the report reads.</p> <p>Many incidents of misuse of powers in the report document police violence, but many cases of non-violent misuse of powers are also reported, including police asking protestors to remove face coverings, employing mobile CCTV towers at protests, and stopping cars displaying <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/n7eyj8/womad-ziggy-marley-palestine" target="_blank">Palestinian flags</a>, requiring them to remove the flags, then issuing fines for minor infringements such as P plates being tucked under a number plate as the reason for the stop.</p> <p>The report also notes the NSW Police presence at Sydneyâs weekly pro-Palestine rallies is 100-150 officers at the cost of $220,000 a week, despite no incidents of violence or disturbances occurring at the protests.</p> <p>One example the report singles out is as many as 50 police being deployed to guard the <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/epv7qz/mcdonalds-sales-misinformation-israel-boycott" target="_blank">Starbucks</a> on Elizabeth Street despite no incidents occurring in relation to the location.</p> <p>âThe reliance on high visibility policing unduly criminalises protestors and puts them at risk of police assault,â Adam al-Hayek, a spokesperson for LONSW, told VICE.</p> <div class="article__embed article__embed--vice" data-related-article="true" data-children-count="0"><iframe src="https://www.vice.com/en_au/embed/article/epv9gp/embed" frameborder="0" style="border:0px none;margin:0px" allowfullscreen="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></iframe></div> <p>âThe weekly street rallies are well-managed by marshals and do not require the deployment of 100-150 police officers whose primary function appears to be surveilling and harassing protestors.â</p> <p>NSW Greens MP Sue Higginson said the report painted a dark picture of the state of the police force.</p> <p>âThe findings released in todayâs independent observer report are deeply worrying and point to the creeping militarisation and criminalisation in response to peaceful protestors from the NSW Police Force,â Higginson told VICE.</p> <p>âThe highly-militarised state of police deployment we have seen week after week at an event that has consistently been compliant, peaceful and driven by <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/ak39zj/cancelled-palestine-visas-australia" target="_blank">Palestinian community</a> members and families is plainly out of proportion.</p> <p>âItâs time for our police to work with, not against, all members of the community. We want a policing regime that supports healthy, peaceful, democratic action. To achieve this we must demilitarise and deweaponise our general duty police and urgently begin the serious reforms needed to move us towards a policing-by-consent model that supports the integrity of both officers and community members.â</p> <p><i>Aleksandra Bliszczyk is the Deputy Editor of VICE Australia. Follow her on<a href="https://www.instagram.com/aleksbliszczyk/?hl=en" target="_blank"> Instagram</a>.</i></p> <p><i>Get the story that matters most each day. <a href="https://pedestrian.us1.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=2c631b380f2015e8f93fcbc5b&amp;id=77eb92cd03" target="_blank">Subscribe to Australia Todayâs daily newsletter here</a>.</i></p></div> <p>Also compare the $5 extra billion dollars for defence with the <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@viceautoday/video/7367169227117153554"><span>extra $50 million for endometriosis consultation subsidies</span></a>, or the extra $73 million a year to mental health, to establish a national digital mental health referral service, or the $185 million per year to domestic violence victims, <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@viceautoday/video/7363923077400366344"><span>going to the Leaving Violence Program</span></a> that offers $5000 payments to people fleeing abusive homes.</p> <p>To explain a couple of those furtherâŠ</p> <p>Rent Assistance is going up â $19 a fortnight for singles as part of the government's plan to tackle the housing and <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/4a3mvp/coles-woolies-prices-fines">cost of living</a> crisis in its 2025 federal budget.</p> <p>The maximum Commonwealth Rent Assistance payment will increase by 10 per cent from September this year, which will benefit about 1 million recipients on that rate.</p> <p>The current highest payment for a single person is $188.20 a fortnight, or $125.47 for a single person in a <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/5d9a7q/sharehouse-demand-sydney-melbourne-rental">sharehouse</a>, and those will go up $18.80.</p> <p>For families or parents with three or more children it will go up $25 a fortnight to $274.90 a fortnight. </p> <p>This is also before the payments are indexed according to inflation which treasurer Jim Chalmers will add another 5 per cent. to all payments.</p> <p>It will cost the government an additional $1.9 billion over the next five years.</p> <p>The government will also wipe $3 billion of student debt by changing the way itâs indexed. </p> <p>The new move caps the rate of indexation to make sure your debt canât rise faster than your <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/bvjkxq/award-wage-pay-rise">wages</a>. So currently HECS or HELP loans rise a percentage every year according to the CPI, the consumer price index. Thatâs the measure of how the cost of goods and services rise over time. But the WPI, the wage price index measures the rate, on average, of wage growth. So now the government will introduce legislation that means student loan indexation will be calculated on whichever is lower each year, the CPI or the WPI.</p> <p>The policy will also be backdated to June 1, 2023, which means last year's historically high 7.1 per cent indexation will be more than halved to the WPI of of the time which was 3.2 per cent.</p> <p>This will cancel hundreds if not thousands of dollars from most peopleâs HECS debts and mean indexation this year and in future years will be lower than expected and mean that theyâll never grow so fast to the point where the growth outpaces the mandatory repayments from your paychecks.&nbsp;</p> <p><em>Aleksandra Bliszczyk is the Deputy Editor of VICE Australia. Follow her on<a href="https://www.instagram.com/aleksbliszczyk/?hl=en"> Instagram</a>.</em></p> </description>
<link>https://vice.com/en/article/93kjk3/military-budget</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://vice.com/en/article/93kjk3/military-budget</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 16 May 2024 07:01:04 GMT</pubDate>
<author>Aleksandra Bliszczyk, Aleksandra Bliszczyk</author>
<category>Australia Today</category>
<category>Politics</category>
<category>Australia</category>
</item>
<item>
<title>The Government Is Making Porn a Scapegoat for Rising Violence Against Women</title>
<description><figure><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/articles/6632f151934d4280f82fc7a7/lede/1714618063713-gettyimages-2150387211.jpeg" alt="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"><figcaption></figcaption></figure> <p>On Wednesday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced a $925 million initiative to help people flee abusive relationships after a recent uptick in violence against women in Australia. State, territory and federal leaders, who met for an urgent national cabinet meeting following nationwide rallies, also committed to implementing a series of interventions to address young peopleâs access to extreme online misogyny; which specifically cited âviolent <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/topic/porn">pornography</a>â.</p> <p>As a sex worker, the most concerning part of this conversation is the use of the sex industry as a political scapegoat for menâs violence.&nbsp;</p> <p>Letâs be clear: the porn industry was never created to provide <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/y3vvqw/we-asked-people-about-their-terrible-high-school-sex-ed-experiences">sex education</a> to children. But letâs also be honest: if your child is actively seeking out pornography, or so-called âviolent pornographyâ, perhaps thereâs a gap in their learning about sex and sexuality that the education system or a guardian has failed to fill.&nbsp;</p> <p>To prioritise limiting young peopleâs access to pornography and framing certain categories as âviolentâ shows how quickly Australian politicians, <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/88xevp/why-talking-about-sex-is-awkward">educators</a> and parents position themselves as the moral arbiters of sex work, rather than having honest and brave conversations with their kids about consent and sex.&nbsp;</p> <p>Not only do these sentiments perpetuate vilifying and victimising narratives about sex workers, they also simultaneously shift the responsibility of teaching young people about boundaries onto the very pornographers they claim to exhibit âviolenceâ.&nbsp;</p> <div style="max-width: 605px;"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 104.259%; padding-top: 120px;"><iframe src="https://oembed.vice.com/vLAkjup?app=1" style="top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; border: 0;" allowfullscreen="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></iframe></div></div> <p>Pornography <em>can</em> be a way for young people to learn and explore their sexuality in ways the current education system and discussions with their peers do not allow. This is not an endorsement, but it should be an opportunity to work out where we are letting children down on their journeys to self-discovery.</p> <div><p><i>This article originally appeared on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.vice.com/ro" target="_blank">VICE Romania</a>.</i></p> <p>I remember clearly how awkward <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/topic/sex" target="_blank">sex</a> and sex education seemed to me during high school. Since then, I've met guys who couldn't find the <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/topic/clitoris" target="_blank">clit</a> and would be intimidated if I showed them or told them what to do with it. After a while, I didn't even bother trying to explain unless there was a connection between us. Iâve also met guys who felt awkward when I asked them to stop. And Iâve always been struck by how often they tried to avoid any discussions about <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/topic/std" target="_blank">STDs</a>.</p> <p>Letâs face it: Most of these situations could have been avoided if theyâd received proper <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/topic/sex-education" target="_blank">sex education</a> in their school years. So I asked a few guys about the times they think sex ed would have saved them from making embarrassing, and sometimes terrible, mistakes. They shared their stories, using fake names for privacy reasons.</p> <h2>âI wish someone had told me that sperm doesn't travel through waterâ</h2> <p>âI was 19-years-old, my girlfriend was 17, and weâd been together for some time. Iâd never done anything sexual except for some intense touching. One evening we were home alone because her parents had gone on vacation, so we organised something romantic like in the movies. We filled the tub with water and bubbles, got undressed, and got in. We started kissing and caressing each other until, at some point, I ejaculated in the water.</p> <p>Her vagina was far away, but we both freaked out and couldn't sleep all night. The next morning, we went to the pharmacy to get the <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/d3a99m/morning-after-pill-plan-b-history-morality-emergency" target="_blank">morning-after pill</a>. I wish someone had told me that sperm doesn't travel through water and that it's almost impossible to get pregnant from a distance. We wouldâve both avoided a really bad fright.â - <i>Iustin, 26</i></p> <h2>âI thought women peed through their clitorisâ</h2> <p>âWhen I was a teenager, I thought women peed through their clitoris, so I would only stimulate it with my hands, never with my mouth. During the same period, when my then-girlfriend complained about her breasts hurting during ovulation, I suggested I should milk them to ease the pain. It just shows how much I knew about the female body at the time.â - <i>Mircea, 32</i></p> <h2>âI wish someone had told me that I needed to use a lot of lube and not pressure myself to take it all inâ</h2> <p>âI had one of my first sexual experiences â maybe even the first â when I was studying in Spain. I wanted to try anal sex with a man, but I was a bit reluctant. So one night I went out, got really drunk, flirted with a guy at the club, and then went home with him.</p> <div class="article__embed article__embed--vice" data-related-article="true" data-children-count="0"><iframe src="https://www.vice.com/en_uk/embed/article/k7w8qz/embed" frameborder="0" style="border:0px none;margin:0px" allowfullscreen="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></iframe></div> <p>In the room, I realised he had a really big penis, but I was drunk and didn't feel the discomfort. When I got home the next day, I realised I had some bad anal fissures and my anus hurt for a week.</p> <p>Because Iâd never had similar interactions before, I didn't know I was supposed to be careful and take it slow. Luckily, I could find information on the Internet, but I wish someone had told me I needed to use a lot of lube and not pressure myself to take it all in. I also would have liked someone to explain to me how to do an enema, so that I wouldn't get stomach pain or discharge.â <i>- Tony, 27</i></p> <h2>âI had to pay the price for my ignoranceâ</h2> <p>âWhen I think of sex education, I remember a teacher doing a demonstration with a banana and a condom in uni, but thatâs pretty much it. I grew up without a father, and my mum and I never talked about sex. I learnt from older friends and from my own experience. Unfortunately, sometimes I had to pay the price for my ignorance.</p> <div class="article__embed article__embed--vice" data-related-article="true" data-children-count="0"><iframe src="https://www.vice.com/en_uk/embed/article/m7vyk4/embed" frameborder="0" style="border:0px none;margin:0px" allowfullscreen="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></iframe></div> <p>At one point, a girl from another city, who Iâd partied with in the past, came to visit me. That night, we both drank too much and I was rougher than usual in bed. I had tried choking and butt slapping before, but this time I slapped her in the face. I didn't want to hurt her; I was just playing a fantasy.</p> <p>When I talked to her later, I realised how much my behaviour had shocked her. She was shocked at how ignorant I was about boundaries and consent. At the time, I didn't realise that it was a potentially sensitive situation we should have discussed beforehand, and that, without consent, my sex play was abusive and dehumanising towards her.</p> <p>Over time, I've learnt that itâs essential to get informed beforehand and that sex education is a lifelong process.â <i>- Vlad, 33</i></p></div> <p>Additionally, blanket views that all adult content is harmful or has harmful potential, and attempting to restrict young peopleâs access to it, often results in more barriers for sex workers online. Anti-trafficking laws that hold porn websites liable for promoting or facilitating sex work and trafficking introduced in the US in 2018 have been<a href="https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/5050/sex-workers-endangered-fosta-sesta-porn-us-free-speech-woodhull/"> <span>criticised for endangering sex workers further.</span></a> The<a href="https://scarletalliance.org.au/library/response-to-the-esafetys-call-for-evidence-on-age-verification/"> <span>UKâs implementation of age-verification systems online</span></a> has also been slammed by the sex work industry for over-regulation.&nbsp;</p> <p>Can I suggest just getting better parental controls on your devices?</p> <p>This is not the first time the responsibility of shaping well-behaved young men has been put on the sex industry. Last year, senior Liberal Party member Sussan Ley suggested<a href="https://womensagenda.com.au/politics/sussan-ley-misses-fundamental-point-in-calling-for-strip-club-ban/"> <span>a âpauseâ on the opening of new strip clubs</span></a>, citing concerns over the roles theses premises have in influencing young menâs attitudes towards women.&nbsp;</p> <p>But Leyâs attitude ignores the involvement of an autonomous, consenting person in the scenario.</p> <div><p>Being good at sex is somewhat of a myth, but if thereâs anyone whoâs got a handle of how to <i>have good sex</i> itâs the people who work in one of the worldâs most ancient jobs. We wanted some straightforward tips on fingering, dick sucking, oral and standard bouncing â so we asked. These tips arenât about to turn you into a <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/akexbg/how-to-make-a-sex-tape-according-to-a-former-porn-star" target="_blank">porn star</a>, but you might be surprised by the <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/5d38zk/missionary-sex-position-vice-guide" target="_blank">fundamentals of sex</a> that youâve missed.</p> <p>Needless to say, itâs better to ask the specific person youâre sleeping with what <i>they</i> like â all sexual experiences are subjective â but sleeping with tens if not hundreds of people for work does give you a few clues as to what gets <i>most</i> people off. Itâs all well and good to tell people that âconfidence is keyâ or to just âenjoy themselvesâ, but it turns out there are more than a few ways to turn a trick that can be applied to anyoneâs everyday sex life.</p> <p>We went to <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/n7zxy8/a-glossary-of-sex-worker-terminology" target="_blank">the experts</a>: in this case, sex workers Lily, Mia, Samantha and Becca of PĆnekeâs The Bedroom, and hereâs what they had to sayâŠ</p> <h2>Letâs get some basic sex dos and donâts out of the way:</h2> <p>Having good hygiene is a given (including good breath). Commenting on someoneâs weight or appearance is a no-go unless itâs an absolute compliment.</p> <p>And there are a few areas that unquestionably require discussion:</p> <p>Anal or butt play? <i>Discuss it.</i></p> <p>Anything that <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/jgmv48/what-is-kinky-sex" target="_blank">leaves a mark</a>? <i>Discuss it.</i>&nbsp;Bites, bruises and rope burns can put someone in an uncomfortable situation at work or home, so making sure the person being marked is ok with it is a must.</p> <p>Where youâre gonna <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/epz8n4/my-sex-life-with-a-semen-allergy" target="_blank">cum</a>? <i>Discuss it.</i>&nbsp;Thereâs nothing less sexy than someone ruining your makeup or freshly washed hair. And if the <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/3adjv9/how-to-make-safer-sex-hot" target="_blank">contraceptive situation</a> hasnât been made clear, not double checking that your landing pad is approved could end in genuine disaster.</p> <p>With that aside, letâs get into some of the specifics. Hereâs what our sex-work overseers had to say:</p> <h2>HOW TO: HANDJOBS</h2> <p><i>âI always start slow. Be aware of how sensitive their area is and really ease into it. Remember how many nerve endings there are. It is friction!â</i> - Mia</p> <p><i>âUse saliva and lube.â</i>&nbsp; - Samantha</p> <p><i>âIf the handjob goes on too long men [can] lose sensitivity, so you're actually better to stop doing the handjob altogether. Give it a rest and then try again.â</i> - Lily</p> <p><i>âEven if you're not being touched, they want to see that you're into them being aroused. They want to see you turned on as well.â</i> - Samantha</p> <h2>HOW TO: FINGERING</h2> <p><i>âDonât finger a dry pussy really hard. Youâll <a href="https://www.medicinenet.com/can_you_get_thrush_sexually/article.htm" target="_blank">give them thrush.</a>â</i> - Lily</p> <div class="article__embed article__embed--vice" data-related-article="true" data-children-count="0"><iframe src="https://www.vice.com/en_nz/embed/article/93k8dv/embed" frameborder="0" style="border:0px none;margin:0px" allowfullscreen="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></iframe></div> <p><i>âI love my butt being played with, but if youâre gonna put your finger in my butt then in my pussy, all Iâm thinking is urine infection. So donât do that. Itâs hygiene yâknow.â&nbsp; -</i> Mia</p> <p><i>âDefinitely donât start by shoving three fingers in someone at once. You can build up to it, but thatâs not a sexy way to start.â</i> - Becca</p> <p><i>âA finger and clitoral rub at the same time is the best. Fingers in, thumb on clit.â</i> - Lily</p> <p><i>âDonât shove your knuckles into the coochie because they donât do anything.â</i> - Mia</p> <h2>HOW TO SUCK DICK</h2> <p><i>âUse your hand at the base like it's half-hand-job-half-blow-job. Just using your mouth, a lot of men wonât cum.â -</i> Lily</p> <p><i>âGo from the outside, inwards. Lead up from touching the thighs and then you move in and stimulate them⊠A lot of guys like the balls.â</i> - Samantha</p> <p><i>âThe men say it feels better without the condom. Supposedly thereâs a lot of sensitivity lost.â -</i> Lily</p> <p><i>âI think the wetter the better. The more saliva, the more it feels like a pussy.â -</i> Lily</p> <h2>HOW TO EAT SOMEONE OUT</h2> <p><i>âWith facial hair, the smoother the better, or be hairy. But prickly hurts. Itâs like sandpaper.â -</i> Mia</p> <p><i>âDoing the alphabet with your tongue, that was a Cosmopolitan tip⊠donât do that. Donât motorboat. Donât bite. Donât blow. Donât hum. Thatâs another Cosmo tip. It's just weird.â</i> - Lily</p> <p><i>âYouâre sensitive in areas that arenât normally touched, so incorporate the inner thighs, or holding the hips and touching those creases. Do all that kind of stuff as the lead-up, outside of the vagina, and then slowly work your way in.â</i> - Samantha</p> <p><i>âPutting your tongue into the actual vagina doesnât feel that good⊠Itâs not a dick. You wouldnât make someone cum from it.â</i> - Becca</p> <p><i>âThe person needs to be honest if theyâre not into [eating me out]. Because I can tell if theyâre not enjoying it and then I feel like Iâm torturing them.â</i> - Samantha</p> <h2>HOW TO HAVE INTERCOURSE</h2> <p><i>âReplicating what youâve seen in porn is really dangerous and also really obvious. You should never come straight into a sexual encounter with someone you donât know well and choke and slap them. Itâs embarrassing and uncomfortable.â</i> - Becca</p> <div class="article__embed article__embed--vice" data-related-article="true" data-children-count="0"><iframe src="https://www.vice.com/en_nz/embed/article/7kxwnb/embed" frameborder="0" style="border:0px none;margin:0px" allowfullscreen="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></iframe></div> <p><i>âIf there's a massive size difference between you and your partner, be aware to hold your own weight when youâre on top. It happened to me with a partner who was bigger than me, and heâd rest all his weight on me and Iâd start panicking because I couldnât breathe.â</i> - Samantha</p> <p><i>âJackhammering can be painful if youâre not in the mood for it. Just be aware. They have a pelvic bone. They have a cervix. And youâre banging up against it.â -</i> Becca</p> <p><i>âIf sheâs invested in lingerie let her wear it for ten minutes. If sheâs feeling sexy and sheâs dolled herself up, a suspender belt, stockings, donât just rip it off straight away. Make her feel beautiful in what sheâs wearing. And then sheâll want to dress up for you more because youâve shown you appreciate it.â</i> - Lily</p> <p><i>âKiss during sex! It makes you feel so rejected if someone stops kissing you as soon as you start fucking. Itâs awkward.â</i> - Becca</p> <h2>THE âFEEL GOODâ FACTOR</h2> <p><i>âYou've got to be able to pick up what they're feeling. You need to be very in tune with other people. In real layman's examples, itâs whether you'd say like, âI want you to fuck meâ or âI want to make love to youâ. It's a bit of emotional intelligence.â</i> - Samantha</p> <p><i>âI think if one person stands to gain more from the experience than the other, then it's not something that's gonna be enjoyable</i>.â - Mia</p> <p><i>"You can ask what they want without it ruining the mood. Just saying, âDoes it feel good?â âDo you want it faster?â or âWhat can I do for you?â It's not embarrassing.â</i> - Samantha</p> <p>In the end, everyone will have some <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/5d9g8b/worst-std-stories" target="_blank">mortifying moments</a> in their sexual lives and everyone will feel things <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/7kb9zx/how-an-extreme-new-curve-in-my-penis-changed-my-sex-life-peyronies-disease" target="_blank">differently</a> â and thatâs okay folks! We learn, we grow, we throb with undulating desire.</p> <p>We hope the wise words of our sex-worker friends can help you feel on top of the basics so that you know the sex youâre having feels good for everyone involved, inside <i>and</i> out.</p> <p><i>Rachel Barker is a writer / producer at VICE NZ in Aotearoa. You can find her @rachellydiab on IG and Letterboxd and see her film criticism on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@girlonfilm4551" target="_blank">Youtube</a>.</i></p></div> <p>I argue to Sussan Ley that any man who attends <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/y3wbb7/how-nzs-strippers-collectivised-against-allegations-of-bullying-and-harassment-at-work">strip clubs</a> as a ritualistic baptism into manhood will learn lifelong lessons about boundaries should they ever touch a dancer in a place they havenât consented to.</p> <p>The sex industry is not a handbook to intimacy that your child is a perceived victim of, and we should not be enabling men to blame their bad behaviour on porn consumption.&nbsp;</p> <p>All Australians, not just sex workers, should be mature enough to educate themselves and their children that the <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/qjvnem/vice-visits-the-australian-adult-industry-awards">adult industry</a> and porn are built on fantasy, and thatâs okay.&nbsp;</p> <p>When looking at menâs violence against women â very much a reality â letâs look at real solutions.&nbsp;</p> <p>The $925 million pledge <em>over five years,</em> while<a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-05-01/new-coercive-control-ad-campaign-launched-by-nsw-government/103787754"> <span>frontline services are desperate for funding</span></a>, is seriously inadequate. And the <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/jgpkeb/employers-sex-work-cost-of-living">cost of living</a> is continuously rising â making financial hardship a major contributing factor to womenâs inability to escape violent relationships. Meanwhile, the government also<a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/defence-spending-australia-national-strategy-integrated-investment-program/bceed0f7-971a-4c9b-bcb4-d4d76931c070"> <span>pledged a $50 billion boost to defence</span></a> over the next decade and Australiaâs own parliament canât even get its<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/media/2023/dec/08/bruce-lehrmann-brittany-higgins-parliament-house-defamation-trial-grips-australia-ntwnfb"> <span>sexual misconduct problem under control</span></a>.&nbsp;</p> <p>So who really is to blame?</p> <p><em>Darcy Deviant is a sex worker and writer based in Melbourne. Follow Darcy on Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/hole___money/">here</a>.</em></p> </description>
<link>https://vice.com/en/article/m7bngy/government-porn-violence-against-women</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://vice.com/en/article/m7bngy/government-porn-violence-against-women</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 02 May 2024 03:25:24 GMT</pubDate>
<author>Aleksandra Bliszczyk, Darcy Deviant</author>
<category>Australia Today</category>
<category>Politics</category>
<category>Australia</category>
<category>Sex</category>
<category>porn</category>
<category>sex work</category>
</item>
<item>
<title>How Long Until the Majority of Voters Are Gen Y and Gen Z?</title>
<description><figure><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/articles/6631aefa934d4280f82fc24a/lede/1714536022813-istock-1530809356.jpeg" alt="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"><figcaption>Image credit: istock</figcaption></figure> <p>From Brexit to Aotearoaâs own cannabis referendum, weâve seen older generations have the dominant vote on issues that will outlive them.&nbsp;</p> <p>The complaint often lobbied in these situations is that young voters are left living in the world created by those soon to leave it. And right now young people are a minority, fighting against an older class who (depending on who you ask) doesnât care for our future.&nbsp;</p> <p>About a quarter of the 3,688,292 total New Zealanders enrolled in last year's election are over 70.&nbsp;</p> <p>And Gen Y and Gen Z <em>are</em> currently the minority of eligible voters in New Zealand â with 1,598,352 18-44 year olds and 2,089,940 45+ year olds enrolled for the 2023 election.&nbsp;</p> <p>So how long will it be until we make up the majority? A change in the majority generation that makes up a voting block will definitely change how politicians approach policy, but is it really down to, well⊠how much time it takes for older people to die?</p> <p>People born into Generations Y and Z are currently between 12 and 43. This means most of us already <em>are</em> voting â or at least have the ability to.&nbsp;</p> <p>Last year, 452,882 eligible people between 18-44 didnât vote. Will the New Zealanders turning 18 in the next 6 years have the power to bring up those numbers? Itâs unlikely.&nbsp;</p> <div><p>Growing up in Australia, Anzac Day usually means chewy oat biscuits, poppy pins, excursions, trumpets and pretending to fathom what war was like 100 years ago after your teachers tell you to reflect on soldiersâ service and sacrifice during the minuteâs silence.</p> <p>But this year, a <a href="https://www.instagram.com/teachers4palestine_vic/?hl=en" target="_blank">collective</a> of pro-<a href="https://www.vice.com/en/topic/palestine" target="_blank">Palestine</a> school teachers in Victoria is challenging the ways our World War I soldiers are remembered and what aspects of our military history have long been left out of classrooms.&nbsp;</p> <p>The Teachers and <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/5d9qkq/melbourne-students-school-strike-for-palestine" target="_blank">School</a> Staff for Palestine group has this week called for the âAnzac mythologyâ to be âdismantledâ to make way for ârigorous, critical and empowering educationâ around campaigns and massacres in Palestine during WWI.</p> <p>âWe won't be used to convey myths that serve to normalise militarism, we won't use teaching and learning material designed to gloss over the violent imprint that <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/qjv58b/aid-workers-one-australian-killed-in-gaza-after-delivering-food" target="_blank">Australia has left in Palestine</a>,â Lucy Honan, a Teachers and School Staff for Palestine member and secondary history teacher, told VICE.&nbsp;</p> <p>âStudents should have an opportunity to question the official legend that Anzacs were sacrificing their lives for freedom, and think critically about Australia's commitment to the imperialist powers that lay the ground for the creation of Israel, and think about the consequences of this for Palestinians.â</p> <p>In recent months, the group has organised solidarity actions in schools, campaigned to remove <a href="https://www.theeducatoronline.com/k12/news/teachers-launch-boycott-of-stem-programs-funded-by-weapons-companies/284214#:~:text=%E2%80%9CThe%20Victorian%20Education%20Department%20is,School%20Staff%20for%20Palestine%20said." target="_blank">STEM programs sponsored by weapons manufacturers</a> from schools and published teaching materials including a booklet about Anzac campaigns in Palestine that lay the foundation for the creation of Israel.</p> <p>The teaching materials were compiled by the group through weeks of research, in response to âa dearth of teaching resources about the Anzacs in Palestine,â Honan said.</p> <p>âOur students want answers. What is happening in Gaza and why, who is implicated â and why are we being told we can't talk about it at school?â</p> <p>Victorian Education Minister Ben Carroll <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-11-27/victoria-teachers-palestine-solidarity-education-minister/103154342" target="_blank">warned state school teachers late last year</a> not to be political or participate in pro-Palestinian advocacy in schools and said such action was âinflammatory, it's divisive and only sows more seeds of disharmony in our communityâ.</p> <p>Honan said she wasnât surprised by these warnings but that they were contradictory.</p> <p>âBecause we refused to be neutral about the genocide in Gaza, we have been accused by politicians and the Education Department of being too political,â she said.</p> <p>âAnd yet, the agenda of militarism and unthinking nationalism in our schools is overwhelming.â</p> <p>Teachers and School Staff for Palestine hope their resources will help and encourage teachers to think more critically about their history curriculums and allow students the opportunity to question what they are taught and why.</p> <p>âLet teachers teach honestly,â she said.</p> <p>âTeachers must be empowered and supported to teach about Palestine.â</p> <h2>What did the Anzacs do in Palestine?&nbsp;</h2> <p>In 1917, the <a href="https://anzacportal.dva.gov.au/wars-and-missions/ww1/where-australians-served/sinai-and-palestine" target="_blank">ANZACs invaded Palestine</a> to fight the Ottoman Army and, after the third Battle of Gaza on October 31, successfully took control of the land and the people in the name of the British Empire.</p> <p>The final battle of Gaza also included the Allied attack on Beersheba, which had a majority Palestinian Arab population and was captured from the Ottoman Empire.&nbsp;</p> <h2>The Sarafand al-âAmar massacre</h2> <p>The following year, the three brigades of the Anzac Mounted Division remained camped in Palestine waiting for demobilisation, when one Anzac was shot and killed.</p> <p>The troops suspected Palestinians from the town of Sarafand al-âAmar were responsible and a group surrounded the town to demand justice. Their revenge was recorded as a <a href="https://nzhistory.govt.nz/page/anzac-troops-kill-arab-civilians-surafend" target="_blank">massacre of dozens of people</a> â <a href="https://www.palestinechronicle.com/the-sarafand-massacre-and-cover-up/" target="_blank">as many as 137</a> â who were bludgeoned and stabbed to death. The Anzacs then burned the town and nearby camps until the remaining residents were imprisoned or had fled and the town was destroyed.&nbsp;</p> <h2>The creation of Israel&nbsp;</h2> <p>After the British Empire withdrew in 1947, it handed over what it called the âproblem of Palestineâ to the United Nations, ending the British Mandate and establishing the State of Israel. This was when the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians, known as Al Nakba (the catastrophe) began.</p> <p>Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly thanked Anzac soldiers for their service and for paving the way for the creation of the âState of Israelâ.</p> <p>âAnzac soldiers are part of the history and memory of Israel⊠and had not the Australians and New Zealanders overthrown Ottoman rule in Palestine and Syria, the <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2018/11/2/more-than-a-century-on-the-balfour-declaration-explained" target="_blank">Balfour Declaration</a> would have remained mere ink on paper,â <a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-australian-new-zealand-leaders-mark-landmark-wwi-battle/" target="_blank">he said on the 100th anniversary</a> of the battle of Beersheba, attended by the then-Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.</p> <p>Turnbull also spoke at the event and said âthe battle has become part of our history, part of our psycheâ.</p> <p>âHad the Ottoman rule in Palestine and Syria not been overthrown by the Australians and the New Zealanders, the Balfour Declaration would have been empty words.</p> <p>â[The battle] secured the victory that did not create the state of Israel, but enabled its creation,â Turnbull said.</p> <p><i>Aleksandra Bliszczyk is the Deputy Editor of VICE Australia. Follow her on<a href="https://www.instagram.com/aleksbliszczyk/?hl=en" target="_blank"> Instagram</a>.</i></p> <p><i>Get the story that matters most each day. <a href="https://pedestrian.us1.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=2c631b380f2015e8f93fcbc5b&amp;id=77eb92cd03" target="_blank">Subscribe to Australia Todayâs daily newsletter here</a>.</i></p></div> <p>In only 6 years time, the entirety of New Zealandâs âiGenerationâ (has anyone ever called it that?) will be eligible to vote. From that point, weâll theoretically take up about half of the voting body.&nbsp;</p> <p>In 15-20 years, about half of the older age group voters will drop off â or rather, we will encroach on their territory, becoming the main body of voters, with Gen Xers above us and Gen Alpha below.&nbsp;</p> <p>So, in the grand scheme of things, our time to shine is not too far away.&nbsp;</p> <p>Gen Z is arguably in competition with boomers for being the most vocal about their political views online. No generation can be defined by a singular political outlook, but you do get the sense â from perusing everything from X to TikTok to Instagram â that a minority of people under 25 fall into the liberal camp.&nbsp;</p> <p>Maybe itâs because of the echo chamber. Maybe itâs because Gen Y and Z either lean super vocal or say nothing at all.&nbsp;</p> <p>And maybe itâs because the glimmer of idealism has always been associated with youth â although, for a generation facing the 11th hour of climate change, the desperation for change is more than just a matter of preference.&nbsp;</p> <div><p class="article__text--dropcap">Thereâs something in the Indigenous experience, and perhaps in the experiences of all marginalised peoples, that makes us naturally, incredibly funny.</p> <p>In a world where our existence is challenged and our <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsoc.2021.613340/full#:~:text=Tino%20rangatiratanga%20can%20mean%20self,which%20fully%20encapsulates%20its%20meaning." target="_blank">tino rangatiratanga</a> is encroached upon, our humour persists. Thatâs because joy is resistance. In our shared humour we relish in an understanding that doesnât need to be explained, or toned down, or diluted.&nbsp;</p> <p>Iâve been a comic in Aotearoa professionally for almost four years, and in that time Iâve managed to surmise a couple of things.&nbsp;</p> <p>In 2021, I performed for the first time in the NZ International Comedy Fest as a member of Bull Rush, an improv group I still perform with. I remember going to the closing night event with my improv buddies and looking around the room. It wasnât entirely white: The Frickin Dangerous Bro boys, Pax Assadi, Jamaine Ross and James Roque were all there. And Angella Dravid and James Nokise were also present. At the time, I was one of only three Samoan performers in the festival.&nbsp;</p> <p>If youâve been on any Facebook comment thread or internet hellhole forum about New Zealand TV recently, youâd be aware that a lot of our programming, apparently, has fallen victim to the plague of âgoing wokeâ. And for many brown comedians, like myself, this means a small but significant increase in work.&nbsp;</p> <p>Many of us find ourselves being ushered into spaces to make things appear more colourful and inclusive. But in doing so we are loaded with the burden of being tokenised. Frankly, itâs exhausting. And harmful. It can feel like weâre simply there to shroud the reality of bias against our people. Being a token in any space hides a structural disengagement with the entirety of our culture, our <a href="https://teara.govt.nz/en/whakapapa-genealogy" target="_blank">whakapapa</a>, our laughter and our pain. By being here, on this stage, surely my presence signifies the end of racism in the New Zealand comedy industry, right?&nbsp;</p> <p>Not quite.&nbsp;</p> <p class="article__pull-quote">For a long time (and not just in Aotearoa) the term âaudiences'' has been synonymous with âwhite people.â</p> <p>The New Zealand Comedy Industry has always skewed towards a <a href="https://teara.govt.nz/en/cultural-go-betweens/page-2" target="_blank">pÄkehÄ</a> lens.&nbsp;</p> <p>Our nationâs most famous comic, William James Te Wehi Taitoko, changed his name to âBilly T Jamesâ because the pronunciation was easier for Australians. That name was rearranged and anglicised for the ease of pÄkehÄ ears and has since adorned our nation's most coveted comedy award, an act towards assimilation, so as not to deter his white audience.</p> <p>Over the decades, many revered comedians of colour have bent their personas to appease pÄkehÄ for career benefit, and in doing so fed into harm towards our communities. Some of Taitokoâs own work is often a talking point in the portrayal of MÄori identity for its part in enforcing harmful stereotypes.</p> <div class="article__embed" data-related-article="true" data-children-count="0"><div data-iframely-id="08dwnpC" class="article__embed article__embed--iframely"><div style="left:0;width:100%;height:0;position:relative;padding-bottom:56.25%"><iframe data-iframely-url="//oembed.vice.com/08dwnpC" data-img="" style="top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;position:absolute;border:0" allowfullscreen="" allow="encrypted-media *;" frameborder="0" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></iframe></div></div></div> <p>Racism, of course, is fuelled by normalisation in the media like this. One needs only to look towards <i>broâTownâs</i> Jeff Da Maori and <i>Summer Heights High</i>âs Jonah Takalua for their roles in proliferating harmful stereotypes and anti-Indigenous racism.</p> <p>For a long time (and not just in Aotearoa) the term âaudiences'' has been synonymous with âwhite peopleâ. And the people that regularly come to comedy events â or the ones held by the central industry â are predominantly pÄkehÄ.&nbsp;</p> <p>âComedyâ in Aotearoa is viewed as a âwhite thingâ by a lot of brown communities. There are multiple exceptions but there seems to be minimal representation for our communities in the most visible spaces. As a brown comedian who does improv comedy almost every Friday night, I comfortably say that brown audiences have not yet recognised their place in our audiences. And understandably so. Representation can foster a hostile environment when it reduces the vastness of our community into a token or caricature. In some cases, it can foster the longevity of the stereotype.&nbsp;</p> <p>And it is an exhausting conversation topic, particularly for the underrepresented. In the turning tide of âdiversity-hireâ culture, people of marginalised communities are burdened with responsibilities far beyond the call of our actual jobs. As my friend and collaborator Joel McCarthy once said after a particularly challenging call: âItâs fucking exhausting having to pioneer everythingâ.&nbsp;</p> <p>It <i>is</i> exhausting trying to figure out how to make a living in this industry while doing right by ourselves and by the people we stand with. These structures that coerce us into assimilating into (and making allowances for) pÄkehÄ culture are exhausting and, sometimes, dangerous. They can be dangerous to us who risk token elevation as a model minority, and to our communities, who continue to experience the very real and very relentless structural problems that cause collective harm.&nbsp;</p> <p>For some time now the New Zealand comedy industry has found itself pondering questions that many other institutions in this modern age also find themselves pondering.&nbsp;</p> <p>As we look at the massively evident disparity in representation, weâre forced to grapple with the intersections of our society and the way it uplifts a specific type of person above most others.&nbsp;</p> <p>But if tokenized MÄori and Pasifika are being hired for being palatable to a white sensibility, then what good does this really do for our communities? And if we signify to our communities that whiteness is aspirational, then what message are we sending? To fight for a single chair? The smallest chair at the table; the littlest token of funding; a gestural hui. If we operate from the assumption that our communities enjoy laughing, our scope becomes so much wider.&nbsp;</p> <p>Many of our most successful comedians are creating online. Creators like Janaye Henry, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/kumara_chipz/?hl=en" target="_blank">Kura Turuwhenua</a>, Timprovise and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/memoirsofamaori/?hl=en" target="_blank">Charde Heremaia</a> are meeting our audiences where they are. They ask the obvious question: If spaces like the theatre and the comedy club are inaccessible (both financially and geographically), then why not provide laughter in their homes?&nbsp;</p> <p>For decades, the comedy industry has clung to television as its path of ascension, but as the digital age shifts away from terrestrial television, so too do the audiences. Audiences want entertainment that speaks to their reality, that reflects themselves honestly. Itâs increasingly hard to do that on a platform where the viewership, and the funding, is gradually being taken away. Not to say these people donât draw audiences â Kura sold out her shows last year in the NZ Comedy Fest, and Tim sold an 80% house at Q Rangatira for a live record of his podcast âHonest To Who?â.</p> <p>But in a system that depends upon bums-on-seats, the hundreds of thousands of global audience members that are viewing and engaging with online content apparently donât speak to someoneâs comedic credibility.&nbsp;</p> <p>In cinema, television, and international media there has been some increased visibility for MÄori, Pasifika and POC comedians, as well as comedians from all backgrounds. Bubbah on <i>Taskmaster; </i>Courtney Dawson on <i>Celebrity Treasure Island</i>; Kalyani Nagarajan in <i>Raised By Refugees. </i>And thatâs just off the top of my head. But there are still significant (and obvious) milestones still to be reached. The industry may be improving, but there is a long â and necessary â way to go. And while these new opportunities are being embraced, the people tackling them have not appeared out of nowhere. They have been honing their skills, working, standing in the face of an industry that largely ignores them or asks them to play a specific role and That Role Only.</p> <p>In an essay written in 2019, Guy Williams posed the question: â<a href="https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/stage-and-theatre/112904284/guy-williams-where-are-all-the-maori-comedians" target="_blank">where are all the MÄori comedians?</a>â What youâre reading here is my attempt at responding to this pÄtai. In response to it, I find myself asking questions in return: Where are you looking for us? What efforts are you making to look for Indigenous Pacific comedians? In free backyard shows put on by comedians from our South Auckland communities? In the performing arts buildings in East Coast schools? In the under-resourced high school arts programmes? In brown arts collectives working by, and for, our communities? We are here. You will find us here.&nbsp;</p> <p>And for all we are doing to build our community, away from the pressures of stereotyping, tokenism and assimilation, we are not without challenges for funding.&nbsp;</p> <p>The question here isnât, and has never been, in regards to where we <i>are. </i>The question should be: where are you <i>looking </i>for us? Or where do you want us to be for you to acknowledge us? For funders to acknowledge our craft? And for those of us working in this industry: who do we have to be for our work to be acknowledged?&nbsp;</p> <p>When the New Zealand Comedy Industry is mostly centralised in one building in the heart of the Auckland CBD, the type of audience that gets drawn to these shows begins to narrow significantly. Whiteness, as a pervasive attitude, can feel unsafe for a lot of people. Colonial Patriarchy is another structure rooted in whiteness, and when we see a line up dominated by male comics who appease colonial and patriarchal tastes, we ought to ask if our venues are environments that welcome a full spectrum of talent and audience.&nbsp;</p> <p>If you ask me where all the MÄori comedians are, I will tell you that they are here, in Aotearoa. Whether or not we are acknowledged and supported is, of course, another question.</p> <p><i>Bailey Poching is a comedian, actor and writer based in TÄmaki Makaurau.</i></p></div> <p>&nbsp;So many people find themselves churning through the motions of an intensely liberal outlook in their teen years before easing up on a few of those beliefs when entering adulthood. Past arguments with parents who donât agree that âall landlords are morally corruptâ can make you feel a bit squeamish when youâre 35 and seeking renters to help you pay your mortgage.&nbsp;</p> <p>Thereâs also a shifting line in the sand when it comes to what we consider conservative and progressive. Famed feminist Germaine Greer shocked many when she made anti-trans comments in 2015, and it goes to show that being on the front line of a progressive school of thought doesnât mean youâll remain there.&nbsp;</p> <p>Victoria Universityâs Head of Political Science Simon Keller told VICE political opinions of young people will change as they get older. âPerhaps they will become more economically conservative, but I am confident that they never take what we presently regard as conservative positions on sexuality and gender,â said Keller.</p> <p>In the 2023 election, the age bracket with the highest percentage of voters was 65-69-year-olds.&nbsp; The lowest was <a href="https://elections.nz/democracy-in-nz/historical-events/2023-general-election/voter-turnout-statistics/">between 25 and 29</a> â young millennials and older Gen Z.&nbsp;</p> <p>Richard Shaw, Professor of Politics at Massey University, says âvoting and not voting are habit forming.â&nbsp;</p> <p>âIrrespective of the size of the GenY/Z cohort, if they're not used to voting they may just stay away from the formal political process â which would mean that older generations still have influence over electoral and other outcomes,â he says.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>So, sure, our time is gonna come â but whether we take advantage of that is another question entirely.&nbsp;</p> <p><em>Rachel Barker is a writer / producer at VICE NZ in Aotearoa. You can find her @rachellydiab on IG and Letterboxd and see her film criticism on<a href="https://www.youtube.com/@girlonfilm4551"> Youtube</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;</em></p> </description>
<link>https://vice.com/en/article/qjv5k5/how-long-until-the-majority-of-voters-are-gen-y-and-gen-z</link>
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<pubDate>Wed, 01 May 2024 04:19:52 GMT</pubDate>
<author>Rachel Barker, Brad Esposito</author>
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<title>Just 17 Very Good and Extremely Weird VICE Stories About the Internet</title>
<description><figure><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/articles/6617b63a4aeeae23e2ee35ab/lede/1713786406356-7best-of-vice-1440x810.png" alt="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"><figcaption>ILLUSTRATION: HELEN FROST</figcaption></figure> <p>We all know the internet is a crazy place. The mess of it is compounded by the fact weâre all experiencing it in completely different ways: Boomers arguing in Facebook comments, zoomers whoâve never known life pre-dial-up, and millennials stuck, as ever, in the middle.</p> <p>The ~world wide web, for all its sins, has given the world some cracking content, and weâve devoted ourselves to diving into every viral happening and mishap. Like that story of the supremely well-endowed <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/wxeywy/the-untold-story-of-wood-the-well-endowed-man-from-those-coronavirus-texts">guy from the COVID texts</a>, or our ode to that unforgettable 00s <a href="https://www.vice.com/en_uk/article/a35evg/online-humour-random-internet-meme-2000s">âBadger, badger, mushroomâ</a> song, arguably the internetâs first meme?</p> <p>Weâve had a hand in creating these moments too, like the time VICE reporter Oobah Butler made his <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/434gqw/i-made-my-shed-the-top-rated-restaurant-on-tripadvisor">garden shed the top rated restaurant</a> on TripAdvisor. Or when a writer tried to <a href="https://www.vice.com/en_ca/article/a3jgj8/i-tried-to-join-the-illuminati-and-got-scammed">join the Illuminati</a>. We spend way too much time online, basically. Hydrate your eyeballs, grab your sippy cup and scroll through our best internet stories of the past three decades. Because letâs face it, your brain is already decaying â&nbsp;why not hasten along its demise?</p> <div><p>One evening Marie opened her younger brotherâs Oliverâs bedroom door to bring him a mug of tea. She was met with the typical stale smell of urine, cigarette smoke and alcohol, and the audible buzz of men shouting from her brotherâs <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/topic/gaming" target="_blank">gaming</a> headset. As she crept to the window with the intention of opening it, her brother shouted ârape herâ and laughed that bitches need to be raped and disposed of.</p> <p>Marie looked at the 20-year-old in horror, as heâd never spoken like this before. He didnât acknowledge her when she placed the mug next to him.&nbsp;</p> <p>Over the next few weeks Marie â who requested anonymity for both her and her brother due to concerns for their safety â set out to monitor Oliver. When he was gaming, sheâd listen outside his door to what he was saying semi-ironically over the headset. Along with slurs and typical internet <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/topic/4chan" target="_blank">4chan</a> slang she knew like âtriggeredâ and âcuckâ, she noted a few she didnât, including â<a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/7xmaze/learn-to-decode-the-secret-language-of-the-incel-subculture" target="_blank">foid</a>â, something she discovered was an <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/topic/incelshttps://www.vice.com/en/article/m7qqen/what-is-an-incel-how-incel-culture-grew-2010s" target="_blank">incel</a> term for women (âfemale humanoidâ).</p> <p>She also overheard Oliver debating rape statistics. âHe was talking about how men were always being <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/4w7mnj/damaging-myths-surrounding-rape-allegations-might-stop-victims-coming-forward" target="_blank">falsely accused of rape</a>,â she remembers. âFeminists were liars and not to be trusted. I was thinking how horrible this was specifically because weâd had discussions with my mum and him about how I was sexually harassed as a girl.â&nbsp;</p> <div class="article__embed article__embed--vice" data-related-article="true" data-children-count="0"><iframe src="https://www.vice.com/en_uk/embed/article/5dpyaa/embed" frameborder="0" style="border:0px none;margin:0px" allowfullscreen="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></iframe></div> <p>Marie told their mother what she had learned about her brother. The two women waited until Oliver came downstairs and steered him to the kitchen table for a discussion. Marie tentatively talked about what she knew about feminism, but Oliver became so incensed by the debate he threw a glass tumbler at the wall over their heads and charged to his bedroom. They didnât see him leave the room for two days.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>Half of young men in the UK <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/y3zxmy/gen-z-men-attitudes-towards-feminism" target="_blank">now believe</a> that feminism has âgone too far and makes it harder for men to succeedâ. These are the results of a significant study published in July 2020 by anti-extremism charity <a href="https://www.hopenothate.org.uk/" target="_blank">HOPE not Hate</a>. The study, <i>Young People in the Time of COVID-19</i>, surveyed 2,076 16- to 24-year-olds on their ideological beliefs.&nbsp;</p> <p>A growing number of experts across the fields of feminism and anti-extremism were already worried about a young male backlash against young women and their socio-political gains before the pandemic. In fact, HOPE not hate pursued this line of enquiry due to the troubling rise of anti-feminist sentiment theyâd noticed among this age group.&nbsp;</p> <p>Reading this might leave you wondering: what is happening to teenage boys and young men?</p> <p>âSexism in classrooms is nothing new, but the kind of distinctness of it being anti-feminist is something that we've seen in the classrooms, in our online tracking work,â says Rosie Carter, a senior policy officer at the charity.&nbsp;</p> <p>She explains that much of this represents the younger and younger recruitment of boys by the <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/topic/alt-right" target="_blank">alt right</a> and generalised spread of its ideology across social media and the internet. âThe number of issues that the alt right will talk about and look at has grown, and it's all part of a wider pushback against progressive norms â&nbsp;and in some ways it's scariest because of its mainstreaming.â</p> <p>From âincel liteâ culture â in which men wouldnât identify as incels come across and potentially engage with related material â to far-right grooming, elements of online life are having a broadly unexamined negative impact on the ways in which boys and men think and engage in the real world.&nbsp;</p> <p class="text-center">§</p> <p>âMen are trashâ has been a popular phrase and a hashtag since 2016 and since then, millennial and <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/topic/gen-z" target="_blank">Gen Z</a> men have challenged what they see as its reductionism. Meant originally by girls as a deliberately provocative throw-away statement is taken for, as one Urban Dictionary entry puts it, âa generalising and hateful phrase coined by a movement claiming to fight hate and bigotryâ.&nbsp;</p> <p>Ted, a 24-year-old from Kent, told me he might have felt sympathetic towards feminism before, âbut when you get put in the same bracket with the whole âmen are trashâ etcetera, then you think whatâs the point?â&nbsp;</p> <p>Reddit <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/9bkjpz/what-i-learned-spending-a" target="_blank">menâs rights forums</a> are littered with similar origin stories from young men: âI used to identify as a feminist but left the movement when I asked if there are any disadvantages men face. Instead of answering the question, people started taking shots at me,â one wrote. Another noted: âI could not understand the group hating.â</p> <p>What Carter found interesting about the HOPE not hate study results was that young people now were found to be more progressive than previous generations in the ways we stereotypically understand the cohort. They are widely pro-immigration, multiculturalism and are supportive of all sexuality and gender identities. âBut it was distinctly feminism,â Carter says. âItâs an ideology that boys are pushing back against, in the midst of changing social norms.â</p> <p>In all the public attitude research she does around the far right, âit always comes down to this idea of fairnessâ.&nbsp;</p> <p>âIf youâve always been at the top of the hierarchy, and suddenly someoneâs saying, âthatâs not how things should operate, your sense of fairness is tipped and you start looking for answers,ââ Carter says. âMen feel that they have to suddenly work twice as hard because they have to prove themselves.â&nbsp;</p> <p>The context leading up to this point matters: Millennial menâs reckoning with feminism happened hard and fast. It had to â it arrived in conjunction with that of millennial women. In the early 2010s, both millennial and feminist discourse were characterised by <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/qbxnbm/uni-lads-and-lad-culture-three-years-on-clive-martin" target="_blank">lad culture</a>, which predominantly appeared in conversations about male students and university. Its more minor iterations were hyper-masculinised group banter and exposing your genitals when pissed. At worst, it was casual sexual harassment, assault and rape.</p> <div class="article__media"><picture class="article__image"><source media="(max-width: 25em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1622114368053-dd339b.jpeg?resize=400:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1622114368053-dd339b.jpeg?resize=600:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 40.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1622114368053-dd339b.jpeg?resize=650:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1622114368053-dd339b.jpeg?resize=975:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 53.125em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1622114368053-dd339b.jpeg?resize=850:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1622114368053-dd339b.jpeg?resize=1275:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 65.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1622114368053-dd339b.jpeg?resize=1050:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1622114368053-dd339b.jpeg?resize=1575:* 2x"><source media="(min-width: 65.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1622114368053-dd339b.jpeg?resize=1050:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1622114368053-dd339b.jpeg?resize=1575:* 2x"><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1622114368053-dd339b.jpeg" alt="A 2013 protest in London calling on Tesco to stop stocking lads mags like " zoo"="" and="" "nuts""="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></picture><div class="article__image-caption">A 2013 protest in London calling on Tesco to stop stocking lads mags like "Zoo" and "Nuts". Both magazines folded in the 2010s. Photo: Guy Bell/Alamy Live News</div></div> <p>Meanwhile, a booming digital media industry published young womenâs voices on anything affecting them from emotional labour to abortion, amplified by an emerging age of social media. By the mid-2010s, layoffs and publication closures across the industry meant an already dying menâs media took a significant hit. In the UK, <i>FHM</i>, <i>Nuts</i>, <i>Zoo</i>, <i>Shortlist</i> and <i>Front</i> folded and the digital publications that were by lads for lads â&nbsp;<a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/jgejag/unilad-vs-ladbible-online-publishing" target="_blank">Unilad</a>, LADbible â were forced to change.&nbsp;</p> <p>Whether all this meant lad culture died â&nbsp;rather than warped and diverted elsewhere â&nbsp;is up for debate. Hussein Kesvani, a technology and online subculture journalist, argues: âI donât know whether lad culture has died; rather the general consensus is that you shouldnât try to market it.â He notes that Unilad, LADbible, joe.co.uk have lost their identity: âThey tried to keep lads on board but present themselves as socially aware and progressive. That model had a short half-life and just isnât resonant now.â&nbsp;</p> <p>In 2018, #MeToo provided women with an opportunity to talk about sex, dating and rape culture. Arguably, it also provided men in their 20s and 30s at the time to reconcile their own behaviour and review their encounters with women. It suggested a symbiotic relationship: Women speak, and men listen and are able to understand their masculinity through this outpouring.&nbsp;</p> <p>Whether it was ever that simple is increasingly questionable in hindsight.&nbsp;Were there enough spaces for the average man to consider his own gender role? Did straight men even care? And if what it meant to be a millennial woman defined what it meant to be a millennial man, where did that leave younger generations?</p> <p>When writing an <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/kz4kg3/british-teenagers-metoo-movement-gen-z-sexual-assault-call-out-culture" target="_blank">article back in 2019</a> in which I spoke to teenagers about <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/topic/metoo" target="_blank">#MeToo</a>, I found that they felt they werenât part of it, and didnât know what it was or how it affected them. Recent feminist battles have included the gender pay gap and workplace sexism, which are unlikely to register to a generation coming of age into unemployment, freelancing or wannabe entrepreneurship.&nbsp;</p> <p>Millennials were the last generation to genuinely care about menâs publications. For at least half a century, menâs media set the goalposts for behaviour. When it died in the 2010s, the vacuum was filled by brands and social media â&nbsp;where masculinity is only ever implicit or rarely addressed â&nbsp;and incel and alt-right adjacent culture.&nbsp;</p> <p>For Kesvani, the issue of anti-feminist boys stems from the fact thereâs no real blueprint from menâs media or society-at-large for how to be a young man now. âThe lack of blueprint is to do with economic and material reasons, but also cultural reasons too, and cultural reasons can be so hard to define.â&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p class="text-center">§</p> <p>Before the pandemic, womenâs rights campaigner Laura Bates visited one or two schools a week to speak with students about gender inequality. For a decade, the responses would range from shock to giggles, but on the whole, pupils of all genders would be attentive and engaged.&nbsp;</p> <p>A couple of years ago, something changed: A boy sat in the front row, noticeably nervous but excited. Through Batesâs usual routine, he gleefully interrupted to debunk what she was saying with false statistics about rape and claiming men were more likely to be victims. This became the new normal.</p> <p>âBoys were arriving pre-prepared, pre-conditioned almost and they often had things written down that theyâd brought with them as if they were primed in advance,â she says. âThe same arguments were appearing everywhere from inner city London to rural Scotland.â The arguments were factually incorrect, amounting to little more than conspiracy theories and fake news â incorrect ideas and figures about the <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/topic/gender-pay-gap" target="_blank">gender pay gap</a>, false rape allegations and men being more likely to be victims of domestic violence.&nbsp;</p> <p>Bates began to ask the boys where they were learning this material. They always told her âonlineâ. They showed her memes, images and jokes that werenât obviously or directly from manosphere communities but regurgitated their ideologies.</p> <p>This material is so readily available online that itâs practically an omnipresent part of existing in certain areas of the internet â part of an incel lite culture that is almost post-organisational. The online growth of the far right is a significant problem not least because of, as is Batesâ main concern, the number of âneutral boysâ â ones who arenât on menâs rights forums or actively feminist â who are being swayed by the more extremist ideas about women without realising it. &nbsp;</p> <p>Another problem is that extremist groups are accessing boys at younger ages. âIâve read manifestos from leaders of these communities explicitly saying boys as 10 or 11 ought to be their main targets, describing the use of memes and images as a delivery system to get these misogynistic ideas to take hold,â Bates says.&nbsp;</p> <p>The boys and men she interviewed for her latest book <i><a href="https://www.simonandschuster.co.uk/books/Men-Who-Hate-Women/Laura-Bates/9781398504653" target="_blank">Men Who Hate Women</a></i> were as young as 11 when they became involved with such communities on 4chan or YouTube by âgoing down algorithmically supported rabbit holesâ until they reached darker content.</p> <p>One popular method of teen recruitment is through gaming. Recruiters use sites and games as a âhunting groundâ, Bates says, since this is where young men are gathering. âThey can reach them without supervision, particularly boys who are playing multiplayer online games over headphones with people theyâve never met before.â&nbsp;</p> <p>Bates describes the method as subtle: âThey start by dropping sexist jokes into the conversation to see if theyâre receptive and escalate it to private chats, which are obviously meant for people to share gaming tactics, but theyâre using them to groom boys and eventually direct them to these more extreme communities.â&nbsp;</p> <p>Marie and her family are convinced this was how Oliver was targeted. Soon after he began speaking with his new gaming friends every night until the early hours, Marie says his behaviour changed and they started âlosing himâ. He told Marie that his friends were men from all over the world, mostly older, refusing to provide any more information.&nbsp;</p> <div class="article__media"><picture class="article__image"><source media="(max-width: 25em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1622114969778-f4my8j.jpeg?resize=400:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1622114969778-f4my8j.jpeg?resize=600:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 40.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1622114969778-f4my8j.jpeg?resize=650:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1622114969778-f4my8j.jpeg?resize=975:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 53.125em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1622114969778-f4my8j.jpeg?resize=850:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1622114969778-f4my8j.jpeg?resize=1275:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 65.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1622114969778-f4my8j.jpeg?resize=1050:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1622114969778-f4my8j.jpeg?resize=1575:* 2x"><source media="(min-width: 65.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1622114969778-f4my8j.jpeg?resize=1050:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1622114969778-f4my8j.jpeg?resize=1575:* 2x"><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1622114969778-f4my8j.jpeg" alt="men's rights graffiti in london" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></picture><div class="article__image-caption">Men's rights graffiti â&nbsp;now removed â&nbsp;on Millennium Bridge in London, 2015. Photo: Paul Nichols / Alamy Stock Photo</div></div> <p>If we consider that the far right spans incels, menâs rights activists, <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/gyk37y/pickup-artist-study-rachel-oneill-seduction-book" target="_blank">pick-up artists</a> as well as neo-Nazism and alt-right splinter groups, women-hating can be a way to recruit across the board. HOPE not hate found in their study that the young men who feel that feminism has gone too far were also twice as likely to think that jokes about race or religion were acceptable and twice as likely to think that discrimination against white people is as big a problem as discrimination against Black people.&nbsp;</p> <p>âThe far right has increasingly spread, the number of issues theyâll talk about and itâs all part of a wider pushback against progressive norms,â says Carter. Similarly, once youâre within the far-right, that allows you to engage in hate towards other communities. Activists in different groups will feed boys into the others, referring them along.</p> <p>John, 21, was radicalised by the far right when he was in his late teens. He spent two long years in his bedroom in the north of England learning about far-right ideology online and trolling feminists. Mostly he would infiltrate feminist groups or use multiple anonymous Twitter accounts to verbally abuse or harass women any time anything to do with women or feminists were trending or performing well on the platform.&nbsp;</p> <p>âWe knew we could wind them up and provoke those groups easily,â he says today. âThis is gonna sound really daft, but I donât think it was anti-feminism. I was just bored and that was the person I was then. It wasnât that I had a really aggressive mentality towards women or really hated them, it was just about causing a riot.â No one explicitly told him to do it, he says â it was just part of the online culture he grew up in.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>John has his own theories about why boys are successfully groomed by the far-right more than girls. Stereotypically, he thinks boys are angrier, and seek release of anger and frustration. Some do it at football matches, others by participating in sport. âBut some lads never find that release, so a lot of the time people join the far right just because theyâre angry about a situation and donât know what to do with that frustration. It isnât just about hating a certain type of person. At times, it can be a cover for something else. And that cover is the worst thing possible.â</p> <p class="text-center">§</p> <p>How do you <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/mvkn7b/far-right-extremism-deradicalisation-programmes" target="_blank">deradicalise</a> an anti-feminist? Itâs a painstakingly delicate and complex process. At <a href="https://exituk.org/" target="_blank">Exit UK</a>, the leading organisation in the UK for supporting those wanting to leave the far right and their families, every boy or young man will be matched with a mentor. The mentor will deconstruct their ideology slowly over a series of sessions. What they tell boys with woman-hating ideology is simple: What does your mum or sister do for you on a personal day-to-day level? Then they ask: How would you feel if men were talking about your mum or sister in the way you do?</p> <p>But one false step from the mentor and that young man is lost. Exit UK say those that leave are never seen again and very likely return to their hateful community with a hunger to become more extreme.</p> <p>There has been an explosion in referrals over the pandemic. Although involvement with the far right will differ from referral to referral Exit UK had 90 people contact them over 2019. From April of 2020 to February 2021, they had contact with 350 people seeking help.</p> <p>Nigel Bromage, the founder of the company and a former far right member, says he commonly sees a mix of internet irony, 4chan humour and one-upmanship in what boys do and say. âForums will start with sick comments and become more extreme, so by page eight theyâre talking about using rape as a weapon to degrade women.â</p> <div class="article__embed article__embed--vice" data-related-article="true" data-children-count="0"><iframe src="https://www.vice.com/en_uk/embed/article/3aqdwb/embed" frameborder="0" style="border:0px none;margin:0px" allowfullscreen="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></iframe></div> <p>Lonely young men without girlfriends are prime targets. âThey think âIâd like a girlfriendâ and the far right says âWell, you canât get a girlfriend because all the girls have become feminists and left wing.ââ</p> <p>Sometimes referrals come from a young man directly who is aware that he has become brainwashed. Often it will be a family member who refers the younger boys. Sometimes a school will refer them. When Johnâs mother Sarah realised her son had been radicalised, she spoke to a teacher she trusted who watched for signs of him recruiting others at school. Then that teacher, with Sarahâs permission, was able to call Exit UK for a referral.</p> <p>The strain on families with a radicalised family member is significant, and thatâs&nbsp;before considering the potential danger family members themselves are in. Sarah says that John even made an attempt to radicalise her, trying to draw her in with far-right information at home. When she disagreed with him or challenged his views, heâd become angry and agitated.&nbsp;</p> <p>âMany, many nights I lay awake thinking, am I the cause of this?â she says. âEvery mother with a child thatâs been involved with the far right in some way does question themselves and feel responsible. Itâs sad because itâs not their fault, itâs the far right â theyâre very manipulative and selective.â Exit UK has a family support programme to help families and teach them how to have difficult conversations with the radicalised member, who can become angry when confronted.</p> <p>Sarah remembers waiting at home when John was having his first meeting with his mentor. âI expected him to go off the wall and was waiting on tenterhooks all day for that call to say heâd lost his mind.â Instead he returned and they had the first proper conversation Sarah can remember having with her son in years.&nbsp;</p> <p>Today John is polite, his tone bright and friendly down the phone. He describes the relationship he had with his mentor as empathetic and honest. âThere was no predetermined mentality about me. With other people, I felt like they were already judging me and had a default view about me because of the views I had.â&nbsp;</p> <p>Bromage says that mentors are trained to temporarily remove themselves from a difficult conversation if they donât know how to answer â tell the individual they need to make a quick cup of tea or use the bathroom to give themselves time to plan an answer.&nbsp;</p> <p>Due to the rising case load over the pandemic, Exit UK is rapidly training more volunteers to take phone sessions. Bromage is currently deeply concerned that the virus has meant he and other workers are unable to meet men in person, as this is where the most effective work is done; in the physical world, away from a screen.</p> <p>âEngaging online is not the same as a coffee&nbsp;and a chat,â says Bromage. âIt's not as personal, and in many cases it does make things harder to gauge body language, understanding and emotion. Face-to-face engagement helps people relax, they&nbsp;can see those they are speaking to are ordinary people, who simply care and want to bring people away from extremism and danger.â</p> <p class="text-center">§</p> <p>Obviously, not all teenage boys are misogynistic, and Bates is mindful to say that â âbut these movements,â she argues, âhave taken hold much more quickly and more effectively than our current total lack of societal awareness of them would suggestâ.&nbsp;</p> <p>The effect the pandemic will have had on this issue cannot be ignored. Carter is concerned about the context of the early 2020s, pointing to the interest in <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/v7gz53/the-conspiracy-singularity-has-arrived" target="_blank">conspiracy theories</a> and widespread <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/xg8b7j/how-youth-unemployment-impacted-by-coronavirus" target="_blank">youth unemployment</a> rates. âIsolation, feeling hopeless, feeling out of control and that things arenât right â&nbsp;that is the context that we see an increase in people looking to the far right,â she says, adding that work must be done in a post-pandemic landscape around youth unemployment and deprivation.&nbsp;</p> <p>Hope is an important word. Carter believes change can happen when we collectively challenge the prevalence of extremist material on social media platforms and provide education on the topic at a school-level. The way in which all these different far-right inclinations intertwine towards anti-progressiveness means we shouldnât just attempt to tackle anti-feminism alone, either. Teaching should address issues of racism, <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/topic/anti-semitism" target="_blank">anti-semitism</a>, violence and misinformation.</p> <p>Sharing the story of her sonâs extremist views with the school was what gave Sarah hope. âDo not sit on it or try to deal with it on your own,â she advises others in her position. âBy doing so youâre allowing the far right to tighten their grip on your child.â</p> <p>At the end of our call, Bates and I talk about one of these anti-women communities whose information is reaching boys, <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/7bdwyx/inside-the-global-collective-of-straight-male-separatists" target="_blank">Men Going Their Own Way</a> (MGTOW). Level one of their plan for separatism from women involves rejecting marriage and cohabitation, level two rejects long-term relationships with women, three rejects all relationships with women, four is a refusal to do more than necessary for survival and avoid taxation wherever possible and five is to drop out of society altogether.&nbsp;</p> <p>Doesnât this map perfectly onto how someone retreats into their own shell by spending vast amounts of time online, I say. Bates agrees: âI think the tragedy is that if you were on that path there might be real opportunities for intervention. Communities seize upon very real issues, one of them being male <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/topic/mental-health" target="_blank">mental health</a>. These issues make it much easier for the manosphere to pull them in and to take away their hope.â</p> <p><i><b><a href="https://twitter.com/hannahrosewens" target="_blank">@hannahrosewens</a></b></i>&nbsp;&nbsp;</p></div> <div><p>Once upon a time, long before I began selling my face by the acre for features on VICE dot com, I worked other jobs. There was one in particular that really had an impact on me: writing fake reviews on TripAdvisor. Restaurant owners would pay me ÂŁ10 and I'd write a positive review of their place, despite never eating there. Over time, I became obsessed with monitoring the ratings of these businesses. Their fortunes would genuinely turn, and I was the catalyst. </p> <p>This convinced me that TripAdvisor was a false reality â that the meals never took place; that the reviews were all written by other people like me. However, they're not, of course â they're almost all completely genuine. And there was one other factor that seemed impossible to fake: the restaurants themselves. So I moved on.</p> <div class="article__embed article__embed--vice" data-related-article="true"><iframe src="https://www.vice.com/en_uk/embed/article/ywyvwv/oobah-butlers-new-book-how-to-bullsht-your-way-to-number-1?utm_source=stylizedembed_vice.com&amp;utm_campaign=434gqw&amp;site=vice" frameborder="0" style="border:0px none;margin:0px;" allowfullscreen="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></iframe></div><p>And then, one day, sitting in the shed I live in, I had a revelation: within the current climate of misinformation, and society's willingness to believe absolute bullshit, maybe a fake restaurant <i>is</i> possible? Maybe it's exactly the kind of place that could be a hit? </p><hr><p><b><i>WATCH: </i></b><i>The full video of the Shed At Dulwich</i><br></p> <div data-iframely-id="Ld4tEcZ" data-embedded-url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqPARIKHbN8&amp;t=713s" class="article__embed article__embed--iframely"><div style="left:0;width:100%;height:0;position:relative;padding-bottom:56.2493%;" data-iframely-smart-iframe="true"><iframe data-img="" data-iframely-url="//oembed.vice.com/Ld4tEcZ?playerjs=true" style="border:0;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;position:absolute;" allowfullscreen="" data-iframely-smart-iframe="true" frameborder="0" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></iframe></div></div><hr><p>In that moment, it became my mission. With the help of fake reviews, mystique and nonsense, I was going to do it: turn my shed into London's top-rated restaurant on TripAdvisor.</p> <h2>SETTING UP "THE SHED AT DULWICH" â APRIL, 2017</h2> <div class="article__media"> <picture class="article__image"><source media="(max-width: 25em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511976183044-IMG_5746.jpeg?resize=400:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511976183044-IMG_5746.jpeg?resize=600:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 40.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511976183044-IMG_5746.jpeg?resize=650:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511976183044-IMG_5746.jpeg?resize=975:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 53.125em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511976183044-IMG_5746.jpeg?resize=850:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511976183044-IMG_5746.jpeg?resize=1275:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 65.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511976183044-IMG_5746.jpeg?resize=1050:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511976183044-IMG_5746.jpeg?resize=1575:* 2x"><source media="(min-width: 65.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511976183044-IMG_5746.jpeg?resize=1050:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511976183044-IMG_5746.jpeg?resize=1575:* 2x"><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511976183044-IMG_5746.jpeg" alt="1511976183044-IMG_5746" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></picture> <div class="article__image-caption"></div> </div> <p>First of all, let me introduce you to my site: a shed in a south London garden. </p> <p>To get started, I need to get verified, and to do that I need a phone.</p> <div class="article__media"> <picture class="article__image"><source media="(max-width: 25em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511976520422-24169724_1763992326967685_1811006811_o.jpeg?resize=400:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511976520422-24169724_1763992326967685_1811006811_o.jpeg?resize=600:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 40.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511976520422-24169724_1763992326967685_1811006811_o.jpeg?resize=650:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511976520422-24169724_1763992326967685_1811006811_o.jpeg?resize=975:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 53.125em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511976520422-24169724_1763992326967685_1811006811_o.jpeg?resize=850:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511976520422-24169724_1763992326967685_1811006811_o.jpeg?resize=1275:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 65.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511976520422-24169724_1763992326967685_1811006811_o.jpeg?resize=1050:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511976520422-24169724_1763992326967685_1811006811_o.jpeg?resize=1575:* 2x"><source media="(min-width: 65.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511976520422-24169724_1763992326967685_1811006811_o.jpeg?resize=1050:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511976520422-24169724_1763992326967685_1811006811_o.jpeg?resize=1575:* 2x"><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511976520422-24169724_1763992326967685_1811006811_o.jpeg" alt="1511976520422-24169724_1763992326967685_1811006811_o" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></picture> <div class="article__image-caption"></div> </div> <p>One ÂŁ10 burner later and "The Shed at Dulwich" officially exists. Now, I need to list an address â but doing so makes easy work for any skeptical fact checkers. Plus, I don't technically have a door. Instead, I just list the road and call The Shed an "appointment-only restaurant". </p> <p>Onto my online presence: I buy a domain and build <a href="https://www.theshedatdulwich.com/" target="_blank">a website</a>. Hot spots are all about quirks, so to cut through the noise I need a concept silly enough to infuriate your dad. A concept like naming all of our dishes after moods.</p> <div class="article__media"> <picture class="article__image"><source media="(max-width: 25em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511976962234-shed3.png?resize=400:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511976962234-shed3.png?resize=600:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 40.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511976962234-shed3.png?resize=650:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511976962234-shed3.png?resize=975:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 53.125em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511976962234-shed3.png?resize=850:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511976962234-shed3.png?resize=1275:* 2x"><source media="(min-width: 53.125em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511976962234-shed3.png?resize=938:*"><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511976962234-shed3.png" alt="1511976962234-shed3" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></picture> <div class="article__image-caption"></div> </div> <p>Now, some soft focus images of those delicious dishes. </p> <div class="article__media"> <picture class="article__image"><source media="(max-width: 25em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977381295-ChrisBethell-1.jpeg?resize=400:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977381295-ChrisBethell-1.jpeg?resize=600:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 40.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977381295-ChrisBethell-1.jpeg?resize=650:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977381295-ChrisBethell-1.jpeg?resize=975:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 53.125em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977381295-ChrisBethell-1.jpeg?resize=850:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977381295-ChrisBethell-1.jpeg?resize=1275:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 65.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977381295-ChrisBethell-1.jpeg?resize=1050:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977381295-ChrisBethell-1.jpeg?resize=1575:* 2x"><source media="(min-width: 65.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977381295-ChrisBethell-1.jpeg?resize=1050:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977381295-ChrisBethell-1.jpeg?resize=1575:* 2x"><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977381295-ChrisBethell-1.jpeg" alt="1511977381295-ChrisBethell-1" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></picture> <div class="article__image-caption">Photo: Chris Bethell</div> </div> <p>You'd eat this, wouldn't you?</p> <div class="article__media"> <picture class="article__image"><source media="(max-width: 25em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977409280-ChrisBethell-2.jpeg?resize=400:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977409280-ChrisBethell-2.jpeg?resize=600:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 40.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977409280-ChrisBethell-2.jpeg?resize=650:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977409280-ChrisBethell-2.jpeg?resize=975:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 53.125em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977409280-ChrisBethell-2.jpeg?resize=850:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977409280-ChrisBethell-2.jpeg?resize=1275:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 65.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977409280-ChrisBethell-2.jpeg?resize=1050:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977409280-ChrisBethell-2.jpeg?resize=1575:* 2x"><source media="(min-width: 65.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977409280-ChrisBethell-2.jpeg?resize=1050:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977409280-ChrisBethell-2.jpeg?resize=1575:* 2x"><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977409280-ChrisBethell-2.jpeg" alt="1511977409280-ChrisBethell-2" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></picture> <div class="article__image-caption">Photo: Chris Bethell</div> </div> <p>Probably best not to.</p> <div class="article__media"> <picture class="article__image"><source media="(max-width: 25em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977429821-ChrisBethell-5.jpeg?resize=400:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977429821-ChrisBethell-5.jpeg?resize=600:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 40.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977429821-ChrisBethell-5.jpeg?resize=650:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977429821-ChrisBethell-5.jpeg?resize=975:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 53.125em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977429821-ChrisBethell-5.jpeg?resize=850:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977429821-ChrisBethell-5.jpeg?resize=1275:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 65.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977429821-ChrisBethell-5.jpeg?resize=1050:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977429821-ChrisBethell-5.jpeg?resize=1575:* 2x"><source media="(min-width: 65.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977429821-ChrisBethell-5.jpeg?resize=1050:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977429821-ChrisBethell-5.jpeg?resize=1575:* 2x"><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977429821-ChrisBethell-5.jpeg" alt="1511977429821-ChrisBethell-5" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></picture> <div class="article__image-caption">Photo: Chris Bethell</div> </div> <p>No, OK, how aboutâ</p> <div class="article__media"> <picture class="article__image"><source media="(max-width: 25em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977465232-ChrisBethell-6.jpeg?resize=400:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977465232-ChrisBethell-6.jpeg?resize=600:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 40.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977465232-ChrisBethell-6.jpeg?resize=650:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977465232-ChrisBethell-6.jpeg?resize=975:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 53.125em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977465232-ChrisBethell-6.jpeg?resize=850:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977465232-ChrisBethell-6.jpeg?resize=1275:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 65.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977465232-ChrisBethell-6.jpeg?resize=1050:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977465232-ChrisBethell-6.jpeg?resize=1575:* 2x"><source media="(min-width: 65.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977465232-ChrisBethell-6.jpeg?resize=1050:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977465232-ChrisBethell-6.jpeg?resize=1575:* 2x"><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977465232-ChrisBethell-6.jpeg" alt="1511977465232-ChrisBethell-6" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></picture> <div class="article__image-caption">Photo: Chris Bethell</div> </div> <p>This sponge covered in paint, with quenelles of shaving foam.</p> <div class="article__media"> <picture class="article__image"><source media="(max-width: 25em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977539129-ChrisBethell-3.jpeg?resize=400:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977539129-ChrisBethell-3.jpeg?resize=600:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 40.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977539129-ChrisBethell-3.jpeg?resize=650:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977539129-ChrisBethell-3.jpeg?resize=975:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 53.125em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977539129-ChrisBethell-3.jpeg?resize=850:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977539129-ChrisBethell-3.jpeg?resize=1275:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 65.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977539129-ChrisBethell-3.jpeg?resize=1050:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977539129-ChrisBethell-3.jpeg?resize=1575:* 2x"><source media="(min-width: 65.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977539129-ChrisBethell-3.jpeg?resize=1050:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977539129-ChrisBethell-3.jpeg?resize=1575:* 2x"><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977539129-ChrisBethell-3.jpeg" alt="1511977539129-ChrisBethell-3" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></picture> <div class="article__image-caption"></div> </div> <p>Youâre getting it: this isn't what it looks like. </p> <div class="article__media"> <picture class="article__image"><source media="(max-width: 25em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977598728-ChrisBethell-4.jpeg?resize=400:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977598728-ChrisBethell-4.jpeg?resize=600:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 40.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977598728-ChrisBethell-4.jpeg?resize=650:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977598728-ChrisBethell-4.jpeg?resize=975:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 53.125em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977598728-ChrisBethell-4.jpeg?resize=850:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977598728-ChrisBethell-4.jpeg?resize=1275:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 65.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977598728-ChrisBethell-4.jpeg?resize=1050:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977598728-ChrisBethell-4.jpeg?resize=1575:* 2x"><source media="(min-width: 65.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977598728-ChrisBethell-4.jpeg?resize=1050:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977598728-ChrisBethell-4.jpeg?resize=1575:* 2x"><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511977598728-ChrisBethell-4.jpeg" alt="1511977598728-ChrisBethell-4" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></picture> <div class="article__image-caption"></div> </div> <p>It's an egg resting on my foot.</p> <p>With the concept, logo (thank you, Tristan Cross) and menu nailed down, it all comes together. <br></p> <p>I submit my TripAdvisor forms; the rest is up to God. </p> <p>On the 5th of May, 2017, I wake up to an email:</p><p class="article__blockquote">Hello,</p> <p class="article__blockquote">Weâre excited to tell you that your listing request has been approved and is on our site for everyone to see.</p> <p class="article__blockquote">[âŠ]</p> <p class="article__blockquote">Thank you for giving us this opportunity to let the TripAdvisor community know about The Shed at Dulwich. </p> <p class="article__blockquote">Best Regards,<br>The TripAdvisor Support Team </p> <p>No, TripAdvisor, I want to thank you for giving me this opportunity to let the community know about The Shed at Dulwich. </p> <h2>GETTING THE SHED TO NUMBER ONE</h2> <p>I start out ranked at 18,149, the worst restaurant in London, according to TripAdvisor. So I'm going to need a lot of reviews. Reviews written by real people on different computers, so the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2aCPXQzChE&amp;t=" target="_blank">anti-scammer technology</a> TripAdvisor utilises doesn't pick up on my hoax.</p> <p>I need convincing reviews, like this one:</p><div class="article__media"><picture class="article__image"><source media="(max-width: 25em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1512493421618-review1.png?resize=400:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1512493421618-review1.png?resize=600:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 40.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1512493421618-review1.png?resize=650:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1512493421618-review1.png?resize=975:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 53.125em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1512493421618-review1.png?resize=850:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1512493421618-review1.png?resize=1275:* 2x"><source media="(min-width: 53.125em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1512493421618-review1.png?resize=1000:*"><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1512493421618-review1.png" alt="1512493421618-review1" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></picture><div class="article__image-caption">(I've mocked up all the screenshots from TripAdvisor btw, because our legal department told me to)</div></div> <p>And not like this:</p> <div class="article__media"> <picture class="article__image"><source media="(max-width: 25em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511978543667-Screen-Shot-2017-10-02-at-164026.png?resize=400:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511978543667-Screen-Shot-2017-10-02-at-164026.png?resize=600:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 40.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511978543667-Screen-Shot-2017-10-02-at-164026.png?resize=650:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511978543667-Screen-Shot-2017-10-02-at-164026.png?resize=975:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 53.125em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511978543667-Screen-Shot-2017-10-02-at-164026.png?resize=850:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511978543667-Screen-Shot-2017-10-02-at-164026.png?resize=1275:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 65.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511978543667-Screen-Shot-2017-10-02-at-164026.png?resize=1050:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511978543667-Screen-Shot-2017-10-02-at-164026.png?resize=1575:* 2x"><source media="(min-width: 65.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511978543667-Screen-Shot-2017-10-02-at-164026.png?resize=1050:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511978543667-Screen-Shot-2017-10-02-at-164026.png?resize=1575:* 2x"><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511978543667-Screen-Shot-2017-10-02-at-164026.png" alt="1511978543667-Screen-Shot-2017-10-02-at-164026" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></picture> <div class="article__image-caption"></div> </div> <p>The celebrity endorsement Shaun Williamson sends me after I meet him in a pub, thoroughly explain my concept and ask for a photo of him eating fancy food in a fancy place, but instead receive one of him eating a roast dinner with a side of chips. </p><p>So I contact friends and acquaintances, and put them to work. </p> <h2>CLIMBING THE RANKS</h2> <p>The first couple of weeks are easy: we crack the top 10,000 in no time, but I don't expect much in the way of inquiries quite yet. Then, one morning, something extraordinary happens: The Shed's burner phone goes off. Startled and hungover, I pick up.</p> <p>"Hello? Is that The Shed?"</p> <p>"⊠Yes?" I sound like a radiator that needs bleeding. </p> <p>"I've heard so much about your restaurant... I know itâs a long shot, as you get booked up so quickly, but I donât suppose you have a table tonight?" </p> <p>Panicking, I abruptly respond: "Sorry, but we're fully booked for the next six weeks" and slam down the phone. I'm stunned. A day later, I feel another vibration: a 70th birthday booking. Four months in advance. Nine people.</p> <div class="article__media"> <picture class="article__image"><source media="(max-width: 25em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511980463339-phone.png?resize=400:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511980463339-phone.png?resize=600:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 40.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511980463339-phone.png?resize=650:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511980463339-phone.png?resize=975:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 53.125em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511980463339-phone.png?resize=850:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511980463339-phone.png?resize=1275:* 2x"><source media="(min-width: 53.125em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511980463339-phone.png?resize=940:*"><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511980463339-phone.png" alt="1511980463339-phone" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></picture> <div class="article__image-caption"></div> </div> <p>Emails? I check my computer: tens of "appointment" requests await. A boyfriend tries to use his girlfriend's job at a children's hospital for leverage. TV executives use their work emails. </p><div class="article__media"><picture class="article__image"><source media="(max-width: 25em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1512555502216-1hos.png?resize=400:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1512555502216-1hos.png?resize=600:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 40.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1512555502216-1hos.png?resize=650:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1512555502216-1hos.png?resize=975:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 53.125em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1512555502216-1hos.png?resize=850:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1512555502216-1hos.png?resize=1275:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 65.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1512555502216-1hos.png?resize=1050:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1512555502216-1hos.png?resize=1575:* 2x"><source media="(min-width: 65.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1512555502216-1hos.png?resize=1050:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1512555502216-1hos.png?resize=1575:* 2x"><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1512555502216-1hos.png" alt="1512555502216-1hos" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></picture><div class="article__image-caption"></div></div> <p>Seemingly overnight, we're now at #1,456. The Shed at Dulwich has suddenly become appealing. How?</p> <p>I realise what it is: the appointments, lack of address and general exclusivity of this place is so alluring that people canât see sense. Theyâre looking at photos of the sole of my foot, drooling. Over the coming months, The Shed's phone rings incessantly.</p><div data-iframely-id="3G3SWxB" data-embedded-url="https://www.youtube.com/embed/052P_nr1Z_w" class="article__embed article__embed--iframely"><div style="left:0;width:100%;height:0;position:relative;padding-bottom:56.2493%;" data-iframely-smart-iframe="true"><iframe data-img="" data-iframely-url="//oembed.vice.com/3G3SWxB?playerjs=true" style="border:0;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;position:absolute;" allowfullscreen="" data-iframely-smart-iframe="true" frameborder="0" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></iframe></div></div> <h2>THINGS ARE GETTING A BIT OUT OF CONTROL</h2> <p>By the end of August, weâre at #156.</p> <div class="article__media"><picture class="article__image"><source media="(max-width: 25em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1512579956603-156shed.png?resize=400:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1512579956603-156shed.png?resize=600:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 40.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1512579956603-156shed.png?resize=650:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1512579956603-156shed.png?resize=975:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 53.125em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1512579956603-156shed.png?resize=850:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1512579956603-156shed.png?resize=1275:* 2x"><source media="(min-width: 53.125em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1512579956603-156shed.png?resize=916:*"><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1512579956603-156shed.png" alt="1512579956603-156shed" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></picture><div class="article__image-caption"><br></div></div><p>And things are starting to get a little out of hand. </p> <div class="article__media"> <picture class="article__image"><source media="(max-width: 25em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511983398488-sample.png?resize=400:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511983398488-sample.png?resize=600:* 2x"><source media="(max-width: 40.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511983398488-sample.png?resize=650:*, https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511983398488-sample.png?resize=975:* 2x"><source media="(min-width: 40.625em)" srcset="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511983398488-sample.png?resize=651:*"><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1511983398488-sample.png" alt="1511983398488-sample" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></picture> <div class="article__image-caption"></div> </div> <p>First, companies start using the estimated location of The Shed on Google Maps to get their free samples to me. Then people who want to work at The Shed get in touch, in significant numbers. Then I get an email from the co
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<title>Australia's Massive Military Budget</title>
<description><figure><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/articles/66444ef0fc3a24f9da345607/lede/1715842120352-gettyimages-1436363944.jpeg" alt="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"><figcaption></figcaption></figure> <p>The 2025 federal budget announced on Tuesday <a href="https://www.minister.defence.gov.au/media-releases/2024-05-14/generational-investment-australias-defence"><span>committed an additional $50.3 billion</span></a> to defence over the next decade, bringing our 10-year defence spending to $764.6 billion.</p> <p>$764.6 billion is an extraordinary amount of money, more than double the initial <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/k7z5by/stage-three-tax-cuts-change">cost of the controversial stage 3 tax cuts</a> that have since been amended.</p> <p>To put $700 billion in perspective â making undergraduate university degrees completely free for all domestic students would cost about $7 billion a year or $70 billion over 10 years, <a href="https://futurework.org.au/report/at-the-crossroads/"><span>according to the Australia Institute</span></a>. Just 10 per cent of the defence budget.</p> <p>With the new federal budget, the annual defence bill will hit a record of $53 billion this year, <a href="https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/pubs/rp/BudgetReview202021/AustralianGovernmentExpenditure"><span>up from $39 billion last year</span></a>, and is projected to surpass $100 billion annually by 2033, or 2.4 per cent of our GDP.</p> <p>This is part of a massive defence shakeup to âkeep Australia safeâ amid what the <a href="https://twitter.com/RichardMarlesMP/status/1780423930035253415/photo/1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1780423930035253415%7Ctwgr%5E26106fef105a8d5f345bf2bd806c321fc1f57b4e%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sbs.com.au%2Fnews%2Farticle%2Faustralias-defence-budget-set-to-increase-by-50-billion-over-the-next-decade%2F04c2x7teq"><span>Defence Minister Richard Marles called</span></a> the most challenging strategic environment since World War II.</p> <p>So, just looking at the bonuses included in this budget, defence got an extra $5 billion for this year alone.</p> <p>Thatâs more than Commonwealth Rent Assistance that, for just this year, <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@viceautoday/video/7369016467712527624"><span>gets an extra $500 million</span></a>; more than the $600 million boost to Services Australia, for more staff to help manage the backlog of people trying to access welfare payments; more than the <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@viceautoday/video/7365670312584678664"><span>changes to HECS indexation</span></a> thatâll cost about $3 billion in foregone revenue; and more than the $3.5 billion cost of living relief package in the form of $300 electricity bill rebates for every household.</p> <p>Also compare the $5 extra billion dollars for defence with the <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@viceautoday/video/7367169227117153554"><span>extra $50 million for endometriosis consultation subsidies</span></a>, or the extra $73 million a year to mental health, to establish a national digital mental health referral service, or the $185 million per year to domestic violence victims, <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@viceautoday/video/7363923077400366344"><span>going to the Leaving Violence Program</span></a> that offers $5000 payments to people fleeing abusive homes.</p> <p>To explain a couple of those furtherâŠ</p> <p>Rent Assistance is going up â $19 a fortnight for singles as part of the government's plan to tackle the housing and <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/4a3mvp/coles-woolies-prices-fines">cost of living</a> crisis in its 2025 federal budget.</p> <p>The maximum Commonwealth Rent Assistance payment will increase by 10 per cent from September this year, which will benefit about 1 million recipients on that rate.</p> <p>The current highest payment for a single person is $188.20 a fortnight, or $125.47 for a single person in a <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/5d9a7q/sharehouse-demand-sydney-melbourne-rental">sharehouse</a>, and those will go up $18.80.</p> <p>For families or parents with three or more children it will go up $25 a fortnight to $274.90 a fortnight. </p> <p>This is also before the payments are indexed according to inflation which treasurer Jim Chalmers will add another 5 per cent. to all payments.</p> <p>It will cost the government an additional $1.9 billion over the next five years.</p> <p>The government will also wipe $3 billion of student debt by changing the way itâs indexed. </p> <p>The new move caps the rate of indexation to make sure your debt canât rise faster than your <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/bvjkxq/award-wage-pay-rise">wages</a>. So currently HECS or HELP loans rise a percentage every year according to the CPI, the consumer price index. Thatâs the measure of how the cost of goods and services rise over time. But the WPI, the wage price index measures the rate, on average, of wage growth. So now the government will introduce legislation that means student loan indexation will be calculated on whichever is lower each year, the CPI or the WPI.</p> <p>The policy will also be backdated to June 1, 2023, which means last year's historically high 7.1 per cent indexation will be more than halved to the WPI of of the time which was 3.2 per cent.</p> <p>This will cancel hundreds if not thousands of dollars from most peopleâs HECS debts and mean indexation this year and in future years will be lower than expected and mean that theyâll never grow so fast to the point where the growth outpaces the mandatory repayments from your paychecks.&nbsp;</p> <p><em>Aleksandra Bliszczyk is the Deputy Editor of VICE Australia. Follow her on<a href="https://www.instagram.com/aleksbliszczyk/?hl=en"> Instagram</a>.</em></p> </description>
<link>https://vice.com/en/article/93kjk3/military-budget</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://vice.com/en/article/93kjk3/military-budget</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 16 May 2024 07:01:04 GMT</pubDate>
<author>Aleksandra Bliszczyk, Aleksandra Bliszczyk</author>
<category>Australia Today</category>
<category>Politics</category>
<category>Australia</category>
</item>
<item>
<title>The Government Is Making Porn a Scapegoat for Rising Violence Against Women</title>
<description><figure><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/articles/6632f151934d4280f82fc7a7/lede/1714618063713-gettyimages-2150387211.jpeg" alt="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"><figcaption></figcaption></figure> <p>On Wednesday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced a $925 million initiative to help people flee abusive relationships after a recent uptick in violence against women in Australia. State, territory and federal leaders, who met for an urgent national cabinet meeting following nationwide rallies, also committed to implementing a series of interventions to address young peopleâs access to extreme online misogyny; which specifically cited âviolent <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/topic/porn">pornography</a>â.</p> <p>As a sex worker, the most concerning part of this conversation is the use of the sex industry as a political scapegoat for menâs violence.&nbsp;</p> <p>Letâs be clear: the porn industry was never created to provide <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/y3vvqw/we-asked-people-about-their-terrible-high-school-sex-ed-experiences">sex education</a> to children. But letâs also be honest: if your child is actively seeking out pornography, or so-called âviolent pornographyâ, perhaps thereâs a gap in their learning about sex and sexuality that the education system or a guardian has failed to fill.&nbsp;</p> <p>To prioritise limiting young peopleâs access to pornography and framing certain categories as âviolentâ shows how quickly Australian politicians, <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/88xevp/why-talking-about-sex-is-awkward">educators</a> and parents position themselves as the moral arbiters of sex work, rather than having honest and brave conversations with their kids about consent and sex.&nbsp;</p> <p>Not only do these sentiments perpetuate vilifying and victimising narratives about sex workers, they also simultaneously shift the responsibility of teaching young people about boundaries onto the very pornographers they claim to exhibit âviolenceâ.&nbsp;</p> <div style="max-width: 605px;"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 104.259%; padding-top: 120px;"><iframe src="https://oembed.vice.com/vLAkjup?app=1" style="top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; border: 0;" allowfullscreen="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></iframe></div></div> <p>Pornography <em>can</em> be a way for young people to learn and explore their sexuality in ways the current education system and discussions with their peers do not allow. This is not an endorsement, but it should be an opportunity to work out where we are letting children down on their journeys to self-discovery.</p> <p>Additionally, blanket views that all adult content is harmful or has harmful potential, and attempting to restrict young peopleâs access to it, often results in more barriers for sex workers online. Anti-trafficking laws that hold porn websites liable for promoting or facilitating sex work and trafficking introduced in the US in 2018 have been<a href="https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/5050/sex-workers-endangered-fosta-sesta-porn-us-free-speech-woodhull/"> <span>criticised for endangering sex workers further.</span></a> The<a href="https://scarletalliance.org.au/library/response-to-the-esafetys-call-for-evidence-on-age-verification/"> <span>UKâs implementation of age-verification systems online</span></a> has also been slammed by the sex work industry for over-regulation.&nbsp;</p> <p>Can I suggest just getting better parental controls on your devices?</p> <p>This is not the first time the responsibility of shaping well-behaved young men has been put on the sex industry. Last year, senior Liberal Party member Sussan Ley suggested<a href="https://womensagenda.com.au/politics/sussan-ley-misses-fundamental-point-in-calling-for-strip-club-ban/"> <span>a âpauseâ on the opening of new strip clubs</span></a>, citing concerns over the roles theses premises have in influencing young menâs attitudes towards women.&nbsp;</p> <p>But Leyâs attitude ignores the involvement of an autonomous, consenting person in the scenario.</p> <p>I argue to Sussan Ley that any man who attends <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/y3wbb7/how-nzs-strippers-collectivised-against-allegations-of-bullying-and-harassment-at-work">strip clubs</a> as a ritualistic baptism into manhood will learn lifelong lessons about boundaries should they ever touch a dancer in a place they havenât consented to.</p> <p>The sex industry is not a handbook to intimacy that your child is a perceived victim of, and we should not be enabling men to blame their bad behaviour on porn consumption.&nbsp;</p> <p>All Australians, not just sex workers, should be mature enough to educate themselves and their children that the <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/qjvnem/vice-visits-the-australian-adult-industry-awards">adult industry</a> and porn are built on fantasy, and thatâs okay.&nbsp;</p> <p>When looking at menâs violence against women â very much a reality â letâs look at real solutions.&nbsp;</p> <p>The $925 million pledge <em>over five years,</em> while<a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-05-01/new-coercive-control-ad-campaign-launched-by-nsw-government/103787754"> <span>frontline services are desperate for funding</span></a>, is seriously inadequate. And the <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/jgpkeb/employers-sex-work-cost-of-living">cost of living</a> is continuously rising â making financial hardship a major contributing factor to womenâs inability to escape violent relationships. Meanwhile, the government also<a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/defence-spending-australia-national-strategy-integrated-investment-program/bceed0f7-971a-4c9b-bcb4-d4d76931c070"> <span>pledged a $50 billion boost to defence</span></a> over the next decade and Australiaâs own parliament canât even get its<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/media/2023/dec/08/bruce-lehrmann-brittany-higgins-parliament-house-defamation-trial-grips-australia-ntwnfb"> <span>sexual misconduct problem under control</span></a>.&nbsp;</p> <p>So who really is to blame?</p> <p><em>Darcy Deviant is a sex worker and writer based in Melbourne. Follow Darcy on Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/hole___money/">here</a>.</em></p> </description>
<link>https://vice.com/en/article/m7bngy/government-porn-violence-against-women</link>
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<pubDate>Thu, 02 May 2024 03:25:24 GMT</pubDate>
<author>Aleksandra Bliszczyk, Darcy Deviant</author>
<category>Australia Today</category>
<category>Politics</category>
<category>Australia</category>
<category>Sex</category>
<category>porn</category>
<category>sex work</category>
</item>
<item>
<title>How Long Until the Majority of Voters Are Gen Y and Gen Z?</title>
<description><figure><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/articles/6631aefa934d4280f82fc24a/lede/1714536022813-istock-1530809356.jpeg" alt="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"><figcaption>Image credit: istock</figcaption></figure> <p>From Brexit to Aotearoaâs own cannabis referendum, weâve seen older generations have the dominant vote on issues that will outlive them.&nbsp;</p> <p>The complaint often lobbied in these situations is that young voters are left living in the world created by those soon to leave it. And right now young people are a minority, fighting against an older class who (depending on who you ask) doesnât care for our future.&nbsp;</p> <p>About a quarter of the 3,688,292 total New Zealanders enrolled in last year's election are over 70.&nbsp;</p> <p>And Gen Y and Gen Z <em>are</em> currently the minority of eligible voters in New Zealand â with 1,598,352 18-44 year olds and 2,089,940 45+ year olds enrolled for the 2023 election.&nbsp;</p> <p>So how long will it be until we make up the majority? A change in the majority generation that makes up a voting block will definitely change how politicians approach policy, but is it really down to, well⊠how much time it takes for older people to die?</p> <p>People born into Generations Y and Z are currently between 12 and 43. This means most of us already <em>are</em> voting â or at least have the ability to.&nbsp;</p> <p>Last year, 452,882 eligible people between 18-44 didnât vote. Will the New Zealanders turning 18 in the next 6 years have the power to bring up those numbers? Itâs unlikely.&nbsp;</p> <p>In only 6 years time, the entirety of New Zealandâs âiGenerationâ (has anyone ever called it that?) will be eligible to vote. From that point, weâll theoretically take up about half of the voting body.&nbsp;</p> <p>In 15-20 years, about half of the older age group voters will drop off â or rather, we will encroach on their territory, becoming the main body of voters, with Gen Xers above us and Gen Alpha below.&nbsp;</p> <p>So, in the grand scheme of things, our time to shine is not too far away.&nbsp;</p> <p>Gen Z is arguably in competition with boomers for being the most vocal about their political views online. No generation can be defined by a singular political outlook, but you do get the sense â from perusing everything from X to TikTok to Instagram â that a minority of people under 25 fall into the liberal camp.&nbsp;</p> <p>Maybe itâs because of the echo chamber. Maybe itâs because Gen Y and Z either lean super vocal or say nothing at all.&nbsp;</p> <p>And maybe itâs because the glimmer of idealism has always been associated with youth â although, for a generation facing the 11th hour of climate change, the desperation for change is more than just a matter of preference.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;So many people find themselves churning through the motions of an intensely liberal outlook in their teen years before easing up on a few of those beliefs when entering adulthood. Past arguments with parents who donât agree that âall landlords are morally corruptâ can make you feel a bit squeamish when youâre 35 and seeking renters to help you pay your mortgage.&nbsp;</p> <p>Thereâs also a shifting line in the sand when it comes to what we consider conservative and progressive. Famed feminist Germaine Greer shocked many when she made anti-trans comments in 2015, and it goes to show that being on the front line of a progressive school of thought doesnât mean youâll remain there.&nbsp;</p> <p>Victoria Universityâs Head of Political Science Simon Keller told VICE political opinions of young people will change as they get older. âPerhaps they will become more economically conservative, but I am confident that they never take what we presently regard as conservative positions on sexuality and gender,â said Keller.</p> <p>In the 2023 election, the age bracket with the highest percentage of voters was 65-69-year-olds.&nbsp; The lowest was <a href="https://elections.nz/democracy-in-nz/historical-events/2023-general-election/voter-turnout-statistics/">between 25 and 29</a> â young millennials and older Gen Z.&nbsp;</p> <p>Richard Shaw, Professor of Politics at Massey University, says âvoting and not voting are habit forming.â&nbsp;</p> <p>âIrrespective of the size of the GenY/Z cohort, if they're not used to voting they may just stay away from the formal political process â which would mean that older generations still have influence over electoral and other outcomes,â he says.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>So, sure, our time is gonna come â but whether we take advantage of that is another question entirely.&nbsp;</p> <p><em>Rachel Barker is a writer / producer at VICE NZ in Aotearoa. You can find her @rachellydiab on IG and Letterboxd and see her film criticism on<a href="https://www.youtube.com/@girlonfilm4551"> Youtube</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;</em></p> </description>
<link>https://vice.com/en/article/qjv5k5/how-long-until-the-majority-of-voters-are-gen-y-and-gen-z</link>
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<pubDate>Wed, 01 May 2024 04:19:52 GMT</pubDate>
<author>Rachel Barker, Brad Esposito</author>
<category>Around Aotearoa</category>
<category>Politics</category>
<category>Gen Z</category>
<category>News Zealand</category>
<category>election</category>
<category>voting</category>
</item>
<item>
<title>Australia's Peak Union Body Will Ask the Government For a 5% Pay Rise For Workers</title>
<description><figure><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/articles/6602002949e5895f189d50e7/lede/1711409504603-screenshot-2024-03-26-at-103130-am.png" alt="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"><figcaption>The ACTU is calling for a pay rise for minimum and ward workers. Photo:&amp;nbsp;Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images.</figcaption></figure> <p>Australiaâs peak union body has announced it will seek a 5 per cent pay rise for all minimum and award wages as part of its submission to the Annual Wage Review.</p> <p>The Australian Council of Trade Unions says inflation has âeaten awayâ at any award wage rises over the past three years, leaving people about $5,200 worse off, despite recent increases.</p> <p>A 5 per cent increase would lift <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/m7b59b/workers-at-coles-and-woolworths-will-strike-for-living-wages-and-job-security">minimum wage</a> to $24.39 per hour, up from $23.23, or $48,200 annually â an increase of $2,295.</p> <p>Australiaâs minimum and award wages are set by the <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/k7znwx/whats-going-on-with-unpaid-university-internships-in-australia">Fair Work Commission</a>, approved by the federal government, and every year they are reviewed. The Commission sees submissions from unions, employers and state and territory governments before it decides on what the next yearâs wages should be.</p> <p>About 2.9 million people, or one in four workers, are in jobs that pay award wages. The new rates will come into effect on July 1.</p> <p>The ACTU will argue in its submission the modest rise will not result in higher inflation, as many business groups love to argue, because we saw inflation actually fall 3.7 per cent in 2023 after the Fair Work Commission ushered in the <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-06-02/minimum-wage-increased-by-5-75-per-cent-2023/102426044">biggest increase to the minimum wage in 40 years</a> of 8.6 per cent and 5.75 per cent for award wage workers.</p> <p>The 8.6 per cent rise in 2023 translated to an increase of $1.85 an hour.</p> <p>ACTU Secretary Sally McManus said on Tuesday a raise of 5 per cent would help people make up for lost income during a cost-of-living crisis and help boost the economy.</p> <p>âThe lowest paid workers are the ones who are the hardest hit by inflation, they need a 5% pay increase to start to get ahead again and make up for the real wage losses over the last few years,â she said in a <a href="https://www.actu.org.au/media-release/actu-calls-for-5-increase-to-minimum-wages/">statement</a>.</p> <p>The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the peak body which represents employers and business owners, has already announced it would call for an increase of <a href="https://www.afr.com/work-and-careers/workplace/keep-minimum-wage-rise-to-2pc-says-employer-group-20240325-p5fezy">no more than 2 per cent</a> for both minimum and award wage workers because it said they were âover compensatedâ for inflation last year.</p> <p>But the ACTUâs submission will assert that businesses wonât be impacted because Australiaâs free market allows them to âadjust their prices to protect their margins, but workers pay does not move so easilyâ.</p> <p>âThis is why the annual wage review is so important, it is when the lowest paid workers have to chance to catch up, the result makes an enormous difference to millions of families,â McManus said.</p> <p>McManus also said major <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/y3wnz5/why-are-australian-banks-making-record-profits">companiesâ record profits</a> demonstrate that their margins are safe from minor worker pay increases.</p> <p>âA 5 per cent pay increase is fair and reasonable,â she said.</p> <p>âFor some perspective, the <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/93kbm7/customers-are-feeling-the-strain-say-australias-big-four-banks-after-recording-record-profit">CBA posted a $10 billion in profit</a> last financial year. It could pay for the entire union wage claim for 2.9 million workers of 5% and still be one of the most profitable businesses in the country.â</p> <p>Australiaâs rate of inflation as of the <a href="https://www.rba.gov.au/inflation/measures-cpi.html">end of February is 4.1 per cent</a>, down from a peak of around 8 per cent in December 2022 but still above the Reserve Bank of Australiaâs 2-3 per cent target range.</p> <p>And after years of rising costs for <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/jg59qb/victoria-public-housing-towers-inquiry">housing</a>, <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/88x7ab/australian-supermarket-prices-expensive">food</a>, <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/wxjqp4/petrol-prices-should-have-dropped-by-now-but-companies-are-ripping-us-off">petrol</a> and other essentials since the pandemic, workers â especially young workers â are still struggling to make up their losses.</p> <p><em>Aleksandra Bliszczyk is the Deputy Editor of VICE Australia. Follow her on<a href="https://www.instagram.com/aleksbliszczyk/?hl=en"> Instagram</a>.</em></p> <p><em>Get the story that matters most each day. <a href="https://pedestrian.us1.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=2c631b380f2015e8f93fcbc5b&amp;id=77eb92cd03">Subscribe to Australia Todayâs daily newsletter here</a>.</em></p> </description>
<link>https://vice.com/en/article/bvjkxq/award-wage-pay-rise</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://vice.com/en/article/bvjkxq/award-wage-pay-rise</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 26 Mar 2024 00:15:18 GMT</pubDate>
<author>Aleksandra Bliszczyk, Brad Esposito</author>
<category>Australia Today</category>
<category>Money</category>
<category>cost of living</category>
<category>wage</category>
<category>pay</category>
<category>Politics</category>
</item>
<item>
<title>Inquiry Into Victoria's Public Housing Tower Demolition Plan Launched</title>
<description><figure><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/articles/65fba632e6303664e559108e/lede/1710990906894-gettyimages-1268630078.jpeg" alt="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"><figcaption>Melbourne's public housing towers will be demolished and rebuilt. Photo:&amp;nbsp;Daniel Pockett/Getty Images.&amp;nbsp;</figcaption></figure> <p>All 44 of Victoriaâs public housing high-rise towers will be demolished and rebuilt by private developers under a controversial plan announced last year that will soon be the focus of a new <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/topic/politics">parliamentary</a> inquiry.&nbsp;</p> <p>The Greens introduced a motion for an inquiry to the stateâs Upper House, where they hold the balance of power, and on Wednesday it was passed with the support of the Coalition and the crossbench.&nbsp;</p> <p>The inquiry will investigate the reasoning and cost-modelling behind <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/wxjpaq/victorias-new-housing-plan-statement-800000-homes-airbnb-lev">the plan</a> â which was announced by the Andrews Government in September as part of its <a href="https://www.vic.gov.au/housing-statement">Housing Statement</a>, preparing for the next 10 years â as well as whether alternatives were considered and the planâs impact on current public housing residents.&nbsp;</p> <p>The plan acknowledged that Victoriaâs public housing apartment blocks, all built in the 1960s and 70s and now a staple to both the cityâs skyline and local communities, were in disrepair after years of government neglect. But the proposed solution will fund the rebuild by selling or leasing almost all the land to private developers who would replace the public blocks with mixed public, social and <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/88q7ap/a-major-government-housing-policy-will-only-deliver-184-new-affordable-homes-analysis-finds">âaffordableâ</a> private housing.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>More than 10,000 people currently live in Victorian public housing and, while the proposed redevelopments will be able to accommodate 30,000, only 11,000 will be public tenants, just one thousand more than today.&nbsp;</p> <p>Victorian Greens Leader Samantha Ratnam said that, in the 6 months since Labor revealed the plan, it hasnât been transparent or communicative and has refused to answer questions or provide more details â particularly about what will happen to the communities of current residents.&nbsp;</p> <p><a href="https://greens.org.au/vic/news/media-release/greens-secure-inquiry-labors-public-housing-demolition-plan#:~:text=The%20Victorian%20Greens%20have%20secured,and%20the%20progressive%20cross%2Dbench.">She said this inquiry would force the government</a> to âcome cleanâ about how this will help alleviate the public housing crisis and the broader housing crisis.</p> <p>âFor years this government has walked away from public housing and treated public housing residents like second-class citizens. With this inquiry we can help change that.</p> <p>The government claimed the towers were unable to be refurbished and âno longer fit for modern livingâ. Former Premier Daniel Andrews said in September, âWe canât search for perfection and then not deliver anything; weâve got to get on and build more houses.</p> <p>âTheyâre crumbling, theyâve got to go.â&nbsp;</p> <p>But experts have argued the plan, which is not expected to be complete until at least 2050, fails to address the enormous and ever-growing backlog of vulnerable and homeless people on waiting lists for public housing that exists in 2024, let alone what the need will be in 26 years.&nbsp;</p> <p>In a joint letter to the government, urban planning experts from RMIT University said a low supply of homes was just one of many factors driving the housing crisis.</p> <p>âThis is occurring alongside a rapid increase in applicants to the Victorian Housing Register, rapid growth in private rental households approaching the specialist homelessness service, rising rents and unaffordability, and decreased funding for <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/5d9dk8/demand-for-almost-every-type-of-social-service-in-australia-is-increasing">crisis services</a>,â the letter read.</p> <p>The Renters and Housing Union also criticised the plan and said, while it agreed the current public housing was in poor condition and âinadequateâ, the plan was a misguided step with too many undefined or unclear details and gaps. For one, we donât know who these developers, entrusted with the stateâs shrinking public land, will be and what their legal requirements and duties are.&nbsp;</p> <p>âRAHU considers Laborâs Housing Package a draft. We cannot sign off on ambiguous ideals that have not been entirely determined, and cannot be entirely revealed, and may end up being executed in such a way that ends up harming renters,â it <a href="https://rahu.org.au/victorianhousingpackage/">said in a statement</a>.</p> <p>While experts say this proposal will likely make the housing crisis for all renters worse, âgiven the simple fact that hundreds of public housing dwellings will be destroyed before the lengthy rebuild program returns any housing to these sites,â for now, the most pressing concern is for the residents who will be displaced and those on the register who will be forced to wait years longer for an affordable home.&nbsp;</p> <p>âWe could end [the crisis] while rejecting urban sprawl by building up, not out,â RAHUâs spokesperson said.</p> <p>âWe could end it by massively adding to the public housing stock, 10 per cent of all housing in every suburb to put genuine downward pressure on the housing market.&nbsp;</p> <p>âWe could end it by changing the legal definition of affordable housing to mean âno more than 30 per cent of an individualâs incomeâ so that affordable housing can be genuinely affordable. We could end it by restricting property banking and land banking through forceful acquisition.</p> <p>âWe could end it with a genuine attempt at enforcing regulations. We could end it by putting a <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/g5vwdm/australia-is-in-a-housing-crisis-is-it-time-for-a-national-rent-freeze">cap on rental increases</a>.â</p> <p><em>Aleksandra Bliszczyk is the Deputy Editor of VICE Australia. Follow her on<a href="https://www.instagram.com/aleksbliszczyk/?hl=en"> Instagram</a>.</em></p> <p><em>Get the story that matters most each day. <a href="https://pedestrian.us1.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=2c631b380f2015e8f93fcbc5b&amp;id=77eb92cd03">Subscribe to Australia Todayâs daily newsletter here</a>.</em></p> </description>
<link>https://vice.com/en/article/jg59qb/victoria-public-housing-towers-inquiry</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://vice.com/en/article/jg59qb/victoria-public-housing-towers-inquiry</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 21 Mar 2024 03:28:54 GMT</pubDate>
<author>Aleksandra Bliszczyk, Brad Esposito</author>
<category>Australia Today</category>
<category>HOUSING CRISIS</category>
<category>housing</category>
<category>rental crisis</category>
<category>public housing</category>
<category>Politics</category>
<category>Australia</category>
</item>
<item>
<title>What Is UNRWA, the Palestinian Aid Agency, and What Does It Do?</title>
<description><figure><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/articles/65fa6c1149e5895f189d2388/lede/1710910784440-gettyimages-1807583111-1.jpeg" alt="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"><figcaption>Palestinians in Gaza receiving flour</figcaption></figure> <p>The Australian government reversed its decision to pause funding to <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/topic/gaza">Gaza</a> aid organisation UNRWA on Friday after seven weeks of controversy and campaigning by pro-Palestine activists.&nbsp;</p> <p><a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/xgwkeq/penny-wong-visits-israel-palestine-100-days-war-gaza">Foreign Minister Penny Wong</a> said the governmentâs decision to âunfreezeâ <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/xgwpaz/why-did-australia-paused-six-million-in-gaza-aid">$6 million in funding</a>, almost two months after it paused its ties, came because it was clear there was no evidence the agencyâs employees were involved in Hamasâ October 7 attack, as the Israeli government had claimed earlier this year.</p> <p>Wong said Australia had consulted with UNRWA and other UN member states that provide funding and said it had concluded the agency was not a terror organisation, Wong said.&nbsp;</p> <p>âWe know that UNRWA is central and vital to delivering that assistance,â Wong said at a press conference.</p> <p>âItâs a prime consideration in restoring funding to ensure that Australian funding is used appropriately - and we are doing that.</p> <p>âI would also say it is a prime consideration to recognise that we have children and families who are starving. We have a capacity, along with the international community, to assist them and we know that UNRWA is central and vital to delivering that assistance to the people who need it.â</p> <p>This $6 million that was paused due to Israelâs unfounded allegations on UNRWA employees was additional funding the Australian government had announced at the start of the year, on top of the $20 million it already provided this financial year.</p> <p>Wong said the paused funds would be immediately released.</p> <p>Australiaâs reversal comes after the European Union and Canada also paused and restarted their UNRWA funding while they similarly investigated Israelâs claims.</p> <p>Wong also announced the government would give $4 million in extra funding to Unicef and $2 million to a new UN Gaza aid venture, bringing Australiaâs total humanitarian support since the crisis began to $52.5 million.</p> <p>Greens Deputy Leader Mehreen Faruqi, who has been calling for the funding to be reinstated since it was first paused, <a href="https://greens.org.au/nsw/news/media-release/faruqi-reacts-labors-decision-reinstate-unrwa-funding">said in parliament last week</a> there was blood on the Australian governmentâs hands.</p> <p>âFinally, after 48 days and under intense pressure from the Greens and the community, Minister Wong has restored UNRWA funding, which was inexcusably cut off,â she said.</p> <p>âWithout humanitarian aid, children are being starved in the ruins of Gaza and are dying of malnutrition. Restoring UNRWA funding is the bare minimum, the Labor government should publicly pressure Israel to allow aid into all parts of Gaza.&nbsp;</p> <p>âI hope this is the start of the Labor government breaking away from their unquestioning and immoral support of Israel. Now, Labor must call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire, and an end to the occupation and apartheid.â&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <hr><h2>What is UNRWA?</h2> <p>UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East) was established in 1949 by a UN General Assembly resolution, <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/5/15/nakba-mapping-palestinian-villages-destroyed-by-israel-in-1948">months after the ethnic cleansing of Palestine began in May 1948</a> and the State of Israel was established by European-backed Zionist forces. Israelâs occupation drove 700,000 Palestinians from their homes, causing a refugee crisis.</p> <p>The agency was set up to provide direct relief to Palestinian refugees and began operations on May 1, 1950.&nbsp;</p> <p>The program has been repeatedly renewed, over and over, because no solution to the Palestinian refugee crisis has been found and the number of Palestinian refugees eligible for UNRWAâs services has grown from 700,000 to six million.</p> <hr><h2>How does UNRWA operate?</h2> <p>UNRWA is unique because it serves one group of refugees, which it has served across four generations, and delivers services directly to those in need without third-party involvement.</p> <p>Its headquarters are located in Gaza, but it also operates in Jordan, Syria, <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/z3m59x/israel-hezbollah-conflict-lebanon-airstrikes-hamas-war">Lebanon</a> and the West Bank.&nbsp;</p> <p>It is also one of the largest United Nations programmes, with <a href="https://www.unrwa.org/who-we-are/organizational-structure">more than 30,000 staff and volunteers</a>.&nbsp;</p> <hr><h2>Who funds UNRWA?</h2> <p>UNRWA is almost entirely funded by voluntary contributions from the 193 UN member states, including Australia. Almost 90 per cent of its $1.1 billion annual intake comes from foreign governments.</p> <p>Australia, <a href="https://www.unrwa.org/newsroom/press-releases/australia-and-unrwa-sign-aud-90-million-agreement">once the 10th biggest donor to UNRWA</a>, has slipped down the list but has been a longstanding partner and made financial contributions every year since 1951.&nbsp;</p> <hr><h2>What does UNRWA do?&nbsp;</h2> <p>So where does all the UNRWA funding go?&nbsp;UNRWA has a number of goals it sets out to achieve around ending poverty, hunger, poor health and inequality. To do so, it runs its funding down several avenues. Day-to-day these include the <a href="https://www.unrwa.org/what-we-do/education">operation of 706 primary schools</a> across its five regions, <a href="https://www.unrwa.org/what-we-do/health">delivering health services</a> through hospitals, primary health facilities and its own clinics, and maintaining and upgrading refugee camps.&nbsp;</p> <hr><h2>What has changed for UNRWA since October 7?</h2> <p>UNRWA has 13,000 staff working with Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank who are currently facing an unprecedented humanitarian disaster.&nbsp;</p> <p>UNRWA is providing emergency health care and food relief, delivering medical supplies to hospitals and food staples like flour to residents.</p> <p>But the uphill battle itâs fighting is made steeper by allegations from Israel.</p> <p>After <a href="https://twitter.com/Israel_katz/status/1769658900289098140?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1769658900289098140%7Ctwgr%5E36a305cbfd125470b1054e994c4b9f9bcccb1c7c%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.haaretz.com%2Fisrael-news%2F2024-03-18%2Fty-article-live%2Fisraeli-army-launches-new-raid-on-gazas-al-shifa-hospital-says-hamas-regrouped-inside%2F0000018e-4f5b-dfb8-adef-df7f127c0000">Israel accused UNRWA staff</a> of conspiring with Hamas, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/mar/19/un-staff-in-west-bank-accuse-israeli-authorities-of-campaign-of-harassment">new internal documents have revealed</a> UNRWA staff in the West Bank â where the agency <a href="https://www.unrwa.org/where-we-work/west-bank">runs 96 schools and 43 health clinics </a>â have allegedly been harassed and obstructed in their aid work by the Israeli Defense Force and authorities, suggested to be systematically undermining the agency.&nbsp;</p> <p>UNWRA spokesperson Juliette Touma told the <em>Guardian</em> the incidents in the West Bank were âpart of a wider pattern of harassment that we are seeing against UNRWA in the West Bank and Jerusalemâ.</p> <p><em>Aleksandra Bliszczyk is the Deputy Editor of VICE Australia. Follow her on<a href="https://www.instagram.com/aleksbliszczyk/?hl=en"><span> Instagram</span></a>.</em></p> <p><em>Get the story that matters most each day. <a href="https://pedestrian.us1.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=2c631b380f2015e8f93fcbc5b&amp;id=77eb92cd03"><span>Subscribe to Australia Todayâs daily newsletter here</span></a>.</em></p> </description>
<link>https://vice.com/en/article/n7eyw8/unrwa</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://vice.com/en/article/n7eyw8/unrwa</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 20 Mar 2024 05:04:05 GMT</pubDate>
<author>Aleksandra Bliszczyk, Brad Esposito</author>
<category>Politics</category>
<category>Australia Today</category>
</item>
<item>
<title>Trumpâs Master Plan to Defeat His Criminal Cases Isnât Working</title>
<description><figure><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/articles/65ce9e051c58f8a8df9a21b2/lede/1708041036803-trumo-legal-strategy.jpeg" alt="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"><figcaption>Former US President Donald Trump exits New York State Supreme Court in New York, US, on Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024.&amp;nbsp; Photographer: Jeenah Moon/Bloomberg via Getty Images</figcaption></figure> <p>Former President Donald Trump rolled into 2024 with a master plan to defeat his four criminal cases: Utilize his political firepower to delay his trials past the election, then use the presidency to dismantle them.</p> <p>But lately, itâs not working out the way he hoped.&nbsp;</p> <p>After a dizzying series of recent legal decisions, itâs now looking possible that Trump may be forced to go through two criminal trials before Novemberâgiving prosecutors two shots to convict him on felony charges before votes are counted.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>On Thursday, the judge in Trumpâs New York City criminal case officially set Trumpâs first six-week trial to begin on March 25, in a crucial defeat for Trumpâs efforts at delay. The failure could hobble both Trumpâs presidential campaign and his hopes to later use the presidency to thwart prosecutors. <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/g5ynjx/trumps-red-flags-polls-say-a-conviction-would-doom-his-campaign"><span>Many voters say they have misgivings</span></a> about putting a felon in the White House, according to a bevy of recent polls. And if Trump is convicted in this New York State prosecution, he wonât be able to pardon himself even if he wins, because presidential pardons only apply to federal crimes.&nbsp;</p> <p>Justice Juan Merchan breezily dismissed objections from Trumpâs lawyers that spending six weeks in court would unduly keep him off the campaign trail. <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/02/15/nyregion/trump-manhattan-criminal-case"><span>Trump lawyer Todd Blanche called</span></a> the late-March trial date âunfathomable,â because âweâre in the middle of primary season.â&nbsp;</p> <p>Trumpâs team has repeatedly argued that his campaign for the presidency, and the fact that he used to be the president, should give him the right to duck his criminal trials, either temporarily or permanently.&nbsp;</p> <p>Trump has used the calendar to his advantage over and over again as a litigant. But Thursdayâs hearing was only the latest to show the limits of that strategy in his recent attempts to battle criminal prosecutors. He also faced a crucial defeat in Washington D.C. that could yield a second trial in 2024 before election dayâone with higher stakes than in New York, and longer potential criminal sentences.&nbsp;</p> <p>Last week the Washington D.C. Court of Appeals <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/06/us/politics/trump-immunity-appeals-court.html#:~:text=A%20federal%20appeals%20court%20on,his%20loss%20to%20President%20Biden."><span>rejected Trumpâs claims</span></a> that he should enjoy complete criminal immunity as a former president in a landmark decision. That ruling kicks the ball over to the Supreme Court for the next move. But even so, with the start of the trial in Manhattan now fixed, Trumpâs legal calendar appears to leave enough time for a trial in his D.C. case to begin sometime this summer, according to a group of lawyers who wrote a recent detailed analysis <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/k7z5x9/trump-criminal-case-verdict-election"><span>published in Just Security</span></a>.&nbsp;</p> <p>Trumpâs D.C. case for allegedly attempting to subvert the 2020 election had been scheduled to begin in early March, and is currently on hold pending his immunity appeal. But the analysis concluded that, barring any big surprises, the that trial could kick off in June or July, and wrap up in September or October, right before the vote.&nbsp;</p> <p>Trumpâs power to undermine the cases against him would be magnified enormously if he recaptured the presidency before heâs convicted. From the White House, he could order his new Attorney General to simply drop the two federal criminal cases against him in Washington D.C. and South Florida. And his lawyers have also raised the argument that, as a sitting president, any state-level criminal trial would need to be put on hold until the end of his presidency. Itâs unclear whether that would happen, but Trump would, of course, be deprived of that argument if he loses the election or is convicted before taking office.&nbsp;</p> <p>Trumpâs criminal cases in South Florida and Georgia look relatively less likely to begin before the election.&nbsp;</p> <p>In Georgia, Trump was accused of violating the stateâs racketeering statute along with over a dozen codefendants while attempting to reverse his electoral defeat in the Peach state, in a sweeping case brought by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis.&nbsp;</p> <p>Willis has asked for a trial to begin in August, although no firm start-date has yet been set on the calendar.&nbsp;</p> <p>Willis is currently battling accusations of wrongdoing originally raised by one of Trumpsâ codefendants in the case and joined by Trump and others. They argue that Willis had an improper romantic relationship with the lead prosecutor in the case, Nathan Wade. On Thursday, a court in Georgia heard testimony from a personal associate of Willis who claimed that the relationship began earlier than Willis has admitted. Willis also fired back in fiery testimony. It remains to be seen whether the judge overseeing the case will agree that the situation presents a conflict that requires Willisâ removal, <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/m7bwva/trump-probably-cant-use-the-georgia-sex-scandal-to-deep-six-his-prosecution"><span>although many legal experts have said they doubt that will happen</span></a>.&nbsp;</p> <p>In Florida, Trump is accused of violating the Espionage Act by squirreling away classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago beachside estate. In that case, Trump-appointed Judge Aileen Cannon has seemed amenable to delays sought by Trumpâs legal team that could easily push the complex national security trial past November.&nbsp;</p> <p>In New York, Trump is accused of falsifying business records related to hush-money payoffs to an adult film star who claims she slept with Trump.&nbsp;</p> <p>Trump has pleaded not guilty in all cases, and denied all wrongdoing.</p> <p><br></p> </description>
<link>https://vice.com/en/article/n7empd/trumps-master-plan-to-defeat-his-criminal-cases-isnt-working</link>
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<pubDate>Fri, 16 Feb 2024 10:30:00 GMT</pubDate>
<author>Greg Walters, Josh Visser</author>
<category>News</category>
<category>Politics</category>
<category>Crime</category>
<category>Donald Trump</category>
</item>
<item>
<title>A 19-Year-Old Died After Taking âGas Station Heroinâ. His Mom Wonders Why Itâs Still Being Sold Legally.</title>
<description><figure><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/articles/65ce96c4207da9d6f4bcd7f6/lede/1708038219537-johnathon-morrison.png" alt="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"><figcaption>Johnathon Morrison seen in an undated photo. All photos supplied by Kristi Terry.</figcaption></figure> <p>Kristi Terry keeps replaying the last time she saw her son Johnathon Morrison alive.&nbsp;</p> <p>The 19-year-old scholarship student came into her bedroom on the night of Feb. 20, 2019 and asked if it was OK if he cooked some pizza rolls; he didn't want to hog them from his younger sister, who was a fussy eater.&nbsp;</p> <p>Terry, 41, and her husband found it odd that he was asking permission.&nbsp;</p> <p>âWe were like âyou donât have to ask to cook something," she said. In hindsight, she wishes sheâd gotten up to see if he was feeling alright. She wonders if he was feeling sick at that point and was trying to settle his stomach with food.&nbsp;</p> <p>The next morning Terry and her 15-year-old daughter found Morrison unresponsive in his bedroom in Trafford, Alabama. Paramedics spent an hour trying to revive him, but they couldn't. Next to his body was a half-eaten plate of pizza rolls and a nearly empty bottle of tianeptine pills, an unapproved drug known as âgas station heroinâ because of its addictive effects on some users.&nbsp;</p> <p>Morrisonâs cause of death is asphyxia due to aspiration of gastric contentsâmeaning he choked on his vomitâand is considered accidental, according to his autopsy report, which VICE News has obtained. But the high level of tianeptine he had in his system was similar to the level found in another reported tianeptine fatality in which no other drugs were detected, the medical examiner wrote.&nbsp;</p> <figure><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1708038305876-img4094.jpeg" alt="IMG_4094.jpg" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"><figcaption>Kristi Terry and her son Johnathon Morrison.</figcaption></figure> <p>His death is one of the few rare fatal overdoses thatâs been linked to tianeptine, a drug that is&nbsp; sold at gas stations and convenience stores around the U.S. as well as online, often illegally marketed as a dietary supplement or cognitive booster. Tianeptine is a tricyclic antidepressant that is used as medication in over 60 countries around the world, but it is not approved by the Food and Drug Administration for medical use in the U.S., so the versions sold here are unregulated. While at least a dozen states have banned tianeptine, it remains federally unscheduled.&nbsp;</p> <p>Because it also hits opioid receptors in the brain, it can produce euphoria and pain relief. Many users have told VICE News tianeptineâs effects were similar to prescription opioids at first, but were quickly replaced with brutal withdrawal symptoms including insomnia, shakes, nausea, and anxiety. Itâs also been linked to seizures and hospitalizations.&nbsp;</p> <p>But Morrison, a theater and business student at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, didnât know any of that.</p> <p>He stumbled upon tianeptine by chance when he popped into a gas station in search of medication to relieve his migraine, according to his mom. The gas station didnât have Excedrin, but an employee there offered Morrison a bottle of pills called Tianaa, a popular brand of tianeptine.</p> <p>âHe had no clue what he was taking,â said Terry. âThey told him that it was all natural, herbal, and that it was like a powerful Tylenol.â&nbsp;</p> <p>So Morrison took it like Tylenol, popping a couple at a time over the next few hours. In the morning, Terry and her teenage daughter went to check on Morrison after his boss sent a concerned text saying he hadnât turned in a report. They found him lying flat on his bed. While it seemed like he was making a snoring noise, he wasnât breathing.&nbsp;</p> <p>Just three of the 15 tianeptine pills in the bottle remained, Terry said.&nbsp;</p> <p>VICE News has left messages with MT Brands, a Florida-based company that makes Tianaa, but has not yet received a response.&nbsp;</p> <p>The degree to which tianeptine toxicity may have contributed to Morrisonâs death, âeither directly due to the toxic effects of the drug or indirectly by potentially reducing his seizure threshold, remains uncertain,â the autopsy said. His system had therapeutic amounts of a couple of prescription drugs he was taking for his migraines as well as an anti-seizure medication, though Terry said heâd only had two seizures in his life.&nbsp;</p> <p>Dr. Ryan Marino, medical director of toxicology and addiction medicine at University Hospitals in Cleveland, said itâs common for people to vomit and aspirate during drug overdoses because they âlose higher functioning.â&nbsp;</p> <p>âA helpful comparison is alcohol,â he said. âItâs pretty hard to die from drinking alcohol in one night or one sitting. But obviously people can throw up and have bad things happen.â&nbsp;</p> <p>He said itâs not clear that tianeptine causes overdoses by causing people to stop breathing, which is the case for opioids like fentanyl. But he cautioned thereâs not enough data yet on high levels of tianeptine in humans to draw strong conclusions about its toxicity.&nbsp;</p> <p>The FDA, which has issued several consumer <a href="https://www.fda.gov/consumers/health-fraud-scams/tianeptine">alerts</a> about tianeptine in the last few months, said it has received two tianeptine-related death reports since 2015. The agency also said poison control center cases about tianeptine exposure increased from 11 total cases between 2000 and 2013 to 151 cases in 2020 alone. A 2018 <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30149933/">paper</a> analyzing tianeptine deaths worldwide showed that the ones that didnât involve other drugs were tied to respiratory depression or cardiac arrhythmias.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>Despite the fact that deaths are rare, tianeptine users have still reported adverse health reactions to the drug.&nbsp;</p> <p>Chris Ricks, who lives in Mobile, Alabama, was hospitalized for a week in 2021 after taking four bottles of Zazas, another popular tianeptine brand. He was found âurinating and defecating everywhere in the house,â according to a hospital report seen by VICE News, before being admitted into an intensive care unit.&nbsp;</p> <p>âI just remember being out of it, I don't know what was going on,â he said, noting that in hospital he required benzodiazepines to stop him from ripping out his IV.&nbsp;</p> <p>Ricks has been sober from tianeptine since he was discharged in March 2021. At the height of his addiction, he was taking eight bottles a day, spending $80,000 on them in one year.&nbsp;</p> <p>âWithin a month of taking those I looked in the mirror and said âYouâre either headed back to rehab or death,ââ he told VICE News.&nbsp;</p> <figure><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1708038357258-img4092.jpeg" alt="IMG_4092.jpg" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"><figcaption> Johnathon Morrison at his high school graduation. </figcaption></figure> <p>After Morrison died, Terry was determined to get tianeptine banned in Alabama.&nbsp;</p> <p>She testified at a state senate healthcare committee in February 2020.&nbsp;</p> <p>âHe was just the light of my life and he was my best friend,â Terry said, showing a photo of her son to the committee, according to an audio recording of the hearing obtained by VICE News.&nbsp;</p> <p>Her friend explained that Terry had been bedridden with post-traumatic stress disorder since finding Morrison.&nbsp;</p> <p>Also at the hearing was James Morrissette, CEO and founder of MT Brands. He said his tianeptine products were promoted as being for stress and anxiety relief, but âit has taken a direction where people are beginning to abuse the productâ or use it as a âcessation product for opiates.â&nbsp;</p> <p>Morrissette said while Terryâs story was heartbreaking, he supported stronger regulation over banning tianeptine, including increased age limits for customers. He has also <a href="https://www.headquest.com/mt-brands-taking-the-high-road/">accused</a> other tianeptine manufacturers of making subpar products.&nbsp;</p> <p>âThere are other people that are benefiting from this product. And to just turn around and start banning products without having solid meaning behind it, where does it stop?â he said at the hearing.&nbsp;</p> <p>A year later, Alabama became the second state to ban tianeptine. Florida, Arkansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Tennessee, Georgia, Ohio, Oklahoma, Mississippi, and Indiana, have also banned it.&nbsp;</p> <p>In January, citing <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/dy3vvq/gas-station-heroin-tianeptine-zaza-pills">VICE Newsâ previous reporting</a>, a group of five members of Congress <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/xgwpd7/gas-station-heroin-fda-congress">wrote a letter to the FDA</a> asking the agency to âto take immediate action to research and provide guidance on tianeptine use,â including working with the Drug Enforcement Administration to determine if it should be federally scheduled.&nbsp;</p> <p>But bans can have unintended causes, including leading people back to using illicit drugs, especially because thereâs no <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/m7bp5x/people-are-turning-to-reddit-to-get-through-gas-station-heroin-withdrawal">clear-cut detox protocol </a>for coming off of tianeptine. Three former users previously told VICE News their tianeptine use led them back to using street drugs including fentanyl and crack cocaine.&nbsp;</p> <p>In an email, an FDA spokesperson told VICE News it urges consumers not to use any tianeptine product and reiterated that it is not approved for any medical use.&nbsp;</p> <p>âThe FDA will continue to take regulatory actions and alert consumers of safety issues related to tianeptine products,â the statement said.&nbsp;</p> <p>Terry said it makes her âsickâ that there are many Americans who can still easily purchase the drug.&nbsp;</p> <p>She said her son, who had the âbiggest smile and dimplesâ had been saving up for a vintage Mercedes or BMW when he died. Instead, that money paid for his headstone.</p> <p>âI do feel like Johnathonâs story is what got it banned in Alabama. I really do,â she said.&nbsp; âThe senators and everybody had to look at my sonâs picture.â&nbsp;<br></p> </description>
<link>https://vice.com/en/article/v7bna3/gas-station-heroin-johnathon-morrison-death</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://vice.com/en/article/v7bna3/gas-station-heroin-johnathon-morrison-death</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 16 Feb 2024 10:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
<author>Manisha Krishnan, Josh Visser</author>
<category>News</category>
<category>Politics</category>
<category>gas station heroin</category>
<category>Drugs</category>
<category>drug policy</category>
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http://localhost:1200/vice/topic/politics - Success âïž
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<title>Australia's Massive Military Budget</title>
<description><figure><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/articles/66444ef0fc3a24f9da345607/lede/1715842120352-gettyimages-1436363944.jpeg" alt="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"><figcaption></figcaption></figure> <p>The 2025 federal budget announced on Tuesday <a href="https://www.minister.defence.gov.au/media-releases/2024-05-14/generational-investment-australias-defence"><span>committed an additional $50.3 billion</span></a> to defence over the next decade, bringing our 10-year defence spending to $764.6 billion.</p> <p>$764.6 billion is an extraordinary amount of money, more than double the initial <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/k7z5by/stage-three-tax-cuts-change">cost of the controversial stage 3 tax cuts</a> that have since been amended.</p> <p>To put $700 billion in perspective â making undergraduate university degrees completely free for all domestic students would cost about $7 billion a year or $70 billion over 10 years, <a href="https://futurework.org.au/report/at-the-crossroads/"><span>according to the Australia Institute</span></a>. Just 10 per cent of the defence budget.</p> <p>With the new federal budget, the annual defence bill will hit a record of $53 billion this year, <a href="https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/pubs/rp/BudgetReview202021/AustralianGovernmentExpenditure"><span>up from $39 billion last year</span></a>, and is projected to surpass $100 billion annually by 2033, or 2.4 per cent of our GDP.</p> <p>This is part of a massive defence shakeup to âkeep Australia safeâ amid what the <a href="https://twitter.com/RichardMarlesMP/status/1780423930035253415/photo/1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1780423930035253415%7Ctwgr%5E26106fef105a8d5f345bf2bd806c321fc1f57b4e%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sbs.com.au%2Fnews%2Farticle%2Faustralias-defence-budget-set-to-increase-by-50-billion-over-the-next-decade%2F04c2x7teq"><span>Defence Minister Richard Marles called</span></a> the most challenging strategic environment since World War II.</p> <p>So, just looking at the bonuses included in this budget, defence got an extra $5 billion for this year alone.</p> <p>Thatâs more than Commonwealth Rent Assistance that, for just this year, <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@viceautoday/video/7369016467712527624"><span>gets an extra $500 million</span></a>; more than the $600 million boost to Services Australia, for more staff to help manage the backlog of people trying to access welfare payments; more than the <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@viceautoday/video/7365670312584678664"><span>changes to HECS indexation</span></a> thatâll cost about $3 billion in foregone revenue; and more than the $3.5 billion cost of living relief package in the form of $300 electricity bill rebates for every household.</p> <p>Also compare the $5 extra billion dollars for defence with the <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@viceautoday/video/7367169227117153554"><span>extra $50 million for endometriosis consultation subsidies</span></a>, or the extra $73 million a year to mental health, to establish a national digital mental health referral service, or the $185 million per year to domestic violence victims, <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@viceautoday/video/7363923077400366344"><span>going to the Leaving Violence Program</span></a> that offers $5000 payments to people fleeing abusive homes.</p> <p>To explain a couple of those furtherâŠ</p> <p>Rent Assistance is going up â $19 a fortnight for singles as part of the government's plan to tackle the housing and <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/4a3mvp/coles-woolies-prices-fines">cost of living</a> crisis in its 2025 federal budget.</p> <p>The maximum Commonwealth Rent Assistance payment will increase by 10 per cent from September this year, which will benefit about 1 million recipients on that rate.</p> <p>The current highest payment for a single person is $188.20 a fortnight, or $125.47 for a single person in a <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/5d9a7q/sharehouse-demand-sydney-melbourne-rental">sharehouse</a>, and those will go up $18.80.</p> <p>For families or parents with three or more children it will go up $25 a fortnight to $274.90 a fortnight. </p> <p>This is also before the payments are indexed according to inflation which treasurer Jim Chalmers will add another 5 per cent. to all payments.</p> <p>It will cost the government an additional $1.9 billion over the next five years.</p> <p>The government will also wipe $3 billion of student debt by changing the way itâs indexed. </p> <p>The new move caps the rate of indexation to make sure your debt canât rise faster than your <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/bvjkxq/award-wage-pay-rise">wages</a>. So currently HECS or HELP loans rise a percentage every year according to the CPI, the consumer price index. Thatâs the measure of how the cost of goods and services rise over time. But the WPI, the wage price index measures the rate, on average, of wage growth. So now the government will introduce legislation that means student loan indexation will be calculated on whichever is lower each year, the CPI or the WPI.</p> <p>The policy will also be backdated to June 1, 2023, which means last year's historically high 7.1 per cent indexation will be more than halved to the WPI of of the time which was 3.2 per cent.</p> <p>This will cancel hundreds if not thousands of dollars from most peopleâs HECS debts and mean indexation this year and in future years will be lower than expected and mean that theyâll never grow so fast to the point where the growth outpaces the mandatory repayments from your paychecks.&nbsp;</p> <p><em>Aleksandra Bliszczyk is the Deputy Editor of VICE Australia. Follow her on<a href="https://www.instagram.com/aleksbliszczyk/?hl=en"> Instagram</a>.</em></p> </description>
<link>https://vice.com/en/article/93kjk3/military-budget</link>
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<pubDate>Thu, 16 May 2024 07:01:04 GMT</pubDate>
<author>Aleksandra Bliszczyk, Aleksandra Bliszczyk</author>
<category>Australia Today</category>
<category>Politics</category>
<category>Australia</category>
</item>
<item>
<title>The Government Is Making Porn a Scapegoat for Rising Violence Against Women</title>
<description><figure><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/articles/6632f151934d4280f82fc7a7/lede/1714618063713-gettyimages-2150387211.jpeg" alt="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"><figcaption></figcaption></figure> <p>On Wednesday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced a $925 million initiative to help people flee abusive relationships after a recent uptick in violence against women in Australia. State, territory and federal leaders, who met for an urgent national cabinet meeting following nationwide rallies, also committed to implementing a series of interventions to address young peopleâs access to extreme online misogyny; which specifically cited âviolent <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/topic/porn">pornography</a>â.</p> <p>As a sex worker, the most concerning part of this conversation is the use of the sex industry as a political scapegoat for menâs violence.&nbsp;</p> <p>Letâs be clear: the porn industry was never created to provide <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/y3vvqw/we-asked-people-about-their-terrible-high-school-sex-ed-experiences">sex education</a> to children. But letâs also be honest: if your child is actively seeking out pornography, or so-called âviolent pornographyâ, perhaps thereâs a gap in their learning about sex and sexuality that the education system or a guardian has failed to fill.&nbsp;</p> <p>To prioritise limiting young peopleâs access to pornography and framing certain categories as âviolentâ shows how quickly Australian politicians, <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/88xevp/why-talking-about-sex-is-awkward">educators</a> and parents position themselves as the moral arbiters of sex work, rather than having honest and brave conversations with their kids about consent and sex.&nbsp;</p> <p>Not only do these sentiments perpetuate vilifying and victimising narratives about sex workers, they also simultaneously shift the responsibility of teaching young people about boundaries onto the very pornographers they claim to exhibit âviolenceâ.&nbsp;</p> <div style="max-width: 605px;"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 104.259%; padding-top: 120px;"><iframe src="https://oembed.vice.com/vLAkjup?app=1" style="top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; border: 0;" allowfullscreen="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></iframe></div></div> <p>Pornography <em>can</em> be a way for young people to learn and explore their sexuality in ways the current education system and discussions with their peers do not allow. This is not an endorsement, but it should be an opportunity to work out where we are letting children down on their journeys to self-discovery.</p> <p>Additionally, blanket views that all adult content is harmful or has harmful potential, and attempting to restrict young peopleâs access to it, often results in more barriers for sex workers online. Anti-trafficking laws that hold porn websites liable for promoting or facilitating sex work and trafficking introduced in the US in 2018 have been<a href="https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/5050/sex-workers-endangered-fosta-sesta-porn-us-free-speech-woodhull/"> <span>criticised for endangering sex workers further.</span></a> The<a href="https://scarletalliance.org.au/library/response-to-the-esafetys-call-for-evidence-on-age-verification/"> <span>UKâs implementation of age-verification systems online</span></a> has also been slammed by the sex work industry for over-regulation.&nbsp;</p> <p>Can I suggest just getting better parental controls on your devices?</p> <p>This is not the first time the responsibility of shaping well-behaved young men has been put on the sex industry. Last year, senior Liberal Party member Sussan Ley suggested<a href="https://womensagenda.com.au/politics/sussan-ley-misses-fundamental-point-in-calling-for-strip-club-ban/"> <span>a âpauseâ on the opening of new strip clubs</span></a>, citing concerns over the roles theses premises have in influencing young menâs attitudes towards women.&nbsp;</p> <p>But Leyâs attitude ignores the involvement of an autonomous, consenting person in the scenario.</p> <p>I argue to Sussan Ley that any man who attends <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/y3wbb7/how-nzs-strippers-collectivised-against-allegations-of-bullying-and-harassment-at-work">strip clubs</a> as a ritualistic baptism into manhood will learn lifelong lessons about boundaries should they ever touch a dancer in a place they havenât consented to.</p> <p>The sex industry is not a handbook to intimacy that your child is a perceived victim of, and we should not be enabling men to blame their bad behaviour on porn consumption.&nbsp;</p> <p>All Australians, not just sex workers, should be mature enough to educate themselves and their children that the <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/qjvnem/vice-visits-the-australian-adult-industry-awards">adult industry</a> and porn are built on fantasy, and thatâs okay.&nbsp;</p> <p>When looking at menâs violence against women â very much a reality â letâs look at real solutions.&nbsp;</p> <p>The $925 million pledge <em>over five years,</em> while<a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-05-01/new-coercive-control-ad-campaign-launched-by-nsw-government/103787754"> <span>frontline services are desperate for funding</span></a>, is seriously inadequate. And the <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/jgpkeb/employers-sex-work-cost-of-living">cost of living</a> is continuously rising â making financial hardship a major contributing factor to womenâs inability to escape violent relationships. Meanwhile, the government also<a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/defence-spending-australia-national-strategy-integrated-investment-program/bceed0f7-971a-4c9b-bcb4-d4d76931c070"> <span>pledged a $50 billion boost to defence</span></a> over the next decade and Australiaâs own parliament canât even get its<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/media/2023/dec/08/bruce-lehrmann-brittany-higgins-parliament-house-defamation-trial-grips-australia-ntwnfb"> <span>sexual misconduct problem under control</span></a>.&nbsp;</p> <p>So who really is to blame?</p> <p><em>Darcy Deviant is a sex worker and writer based in Melbourne. Follow Darcy on Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/hole___money/">here</a>.</em></p> </description>
<link>https://vice.com/en/article/m7bngy/government-porn-violence-against-women</link>
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<pubDate>Thu, 02 May 2024 03:25:24 GMT</pubDate>
<author>Aleksandra Bliszczyk, Darcy Deviant</author>
<category>Australia Today</category>
<category>Politics</category>
<category>Australia</category>
<category>Sex</category>
<category>porn</category>
<category>sex work</category>
</item>
<item>
<title>How Long Until the Majority of Voters Are Gen Y and Gen Z?</title>
<description><figure><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/articles/6631aefa934d4280f82fc24a/lede/1714536022813-istock-1530809356.jpeg" alt="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"><figcaption>Image credit: istock</figcaption></figure> <p>From Brexit to Aotearoaâs own cannabis referendum, weâve seen older generations have the dominant vote on issues that will outlive them.&nbsp;</p> <p>The complaint often lobbied in these situations is that young voters are left living in the world created by those soon to leave it. And right now young people are a minority, fighting against an older class who (depending on who you ask) doesnât care for our future.&nbsp;</p> <p>About a quarter of the 3,688,292 total New Zealanders enrolled in last year's election are over 70.&nbsp;</p> <p>And Gen Y and Gen Z <em>are</em> currently the minority of eligible voters in New Zealand â with 1,598,352 18-44 year olds and 2,089,940 45+ year olds enrolled for the 2023 election.&nbsp;</p> <p>So how long will it be until we make up the majority? A change in the majority generation that makes up a voting block will definitely change how politicians approach policy, but is it really down to, well⊠how much time it takes for older people to die?</p> <p>People born into Generations Y and Z are currently between 12 and 43. This means most of us already <em>are</em> voting â or at least have the ability to.&nbsp;</p> <p>Last year, 452,882 eligible people between 18-44 didnât vote. Will the New Zealanders turning 18 in the next 6 years have the power to bring up those numbers? Itâs unlikely.&nbsp;</p> <p>In only 6 years time, the entirety of New Zealandâs âiGenerationâ (has anyone ever called it that?) will be eligible to vote. From that point, weâll theoretically take up about half of the voting body.&nbsp;</p> <p>In 15-20 years, about half of the older age group voters will drop off â or rather, we will encroach on their territory, becoming the main body of voters, with Gen Xers above us and Gen Alpha below.&nbsp;</p> <p>So, in the grand scheme of things, our time to shine is not too far away.&nbsp;</p> <p>Gen Z is arguably in competition with boomers for being the most vocal about their political views online. No generation can be defined by a singular political outlook, but you do get the sense â from perusing everything from X to TikTok to Instagram â that a minority of people under 25 fall into the liberal camp.&nbsp;</p> <p>Maybe itâs because of the echo chamber. Maybe itâs because Gen Y and Z either lean super vocal or say nothing at all.&nbsp;</p> <p>And maybe itâs because the glimmer of idealism has always been associated with youth â although, for a generation facing the 11th hour of climate change, the desperation for change is more than just a matter of preference.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;So many people find themselves churning through the motions of an intensely liberal outlook in their teen years before easing up on a few of those beliefs when entering adulthood. Past arguments with parents who donât agree that âall landlords are morally corruptâ can make you feel a bit squeamish when youâre 35 and seeking renters to help you pay your mortgage.&nbsp;</p> <p>Thereâs also a shifting line in the sand when it comes to what we consider conservative and progressive. Famed feminist Germaine Greer shocked many when she made anti-trans comments in 2015, and it goes to show that being on the front line of a progressive school of thought doesnât mean youâll remain there.&nbsp;</p> <p>Victoria Universityâs Head of Political Science Simon Keller told VICE political opinions of young people will change as they get older. âPerhaps they will become more economically conservative, but I am confident that they never take what we presently regard as conservative positions on sexuality and gender,â said Keller.</p> <p>In the 2023 election, the age bracket with the highest percentage of voters was 65-69-year-olds.&nbsp; The lowest was <a href="https://elections.nz/democracy-in-nz/historical-events/2023-general-election/voter-turnout-statistics/">between 25 and 29</a> â young millennials and older Gen Z.&nbsp;</p> <p>Richard Shaw, Professor of Politics at Massey University, says âvoting and not voting are habit forming.â&nbsp;</p> <p>âIrrespective of the size of the GenY/Z cohort, if they're not used to voting they may just stay away from the formal political process â which would mean that older generations still have influence over electoral and other outcomes,â he says.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>So, sure, our time is gonna come â but whether we take advantage of that is another question entirely.&nbsp;</p> <p><em>Rachel Barker is a writer / producer at VICE NZ in Aotearoa. You can find her @rachellydiab on IG and Letterboxd and see her film criticism on<a href="https://www.youtube.com/@girlonfilm4551"> Youtube</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;</em></p> </description>
<link>https://vice.com/en/article/qjv5k5/how-long-until-the-majority-of-voters-are-gen-y-and-gen-z</link>
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<pubDate>Wed, 01 May 2024 04:19:52 GMT</pubDate>
<author>Rachel Barker, Brad Esposito</author>
<category>Around Aotearoa</category>
<category>Politics</category>
<category>Gen Z</category>
<category>News Zealand</category>
<category>election</category>
<category>voting</category>
</item>
<item>
<title>Australia's Peak Union Body Will Ask the Government For a 5% Pay Rise For Workers</title>
<description><figure><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/articles/6602002949e5895f189d50e7/lede/1711409504603-screenshot-2024-03-26-at-103130-am.png" alt="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"><figcaption>The ACTU is calling for a pay rise for minimum and ward workers. Photo:&amp;nbsp;Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images.</figcaption></figure> <p>Australiaâs peak union body has announced it will seek a 5 per cent pay rise for all minimum and award wages as part of its submission to the Annual Wage Review.</p> <p>The Australian Council of Trade Unions says inflation has âeaten awayâ at any award wage rises over the past three years, leaving people about $5,200 worse off, despite recent increases.</p> <p>A 5 per cent increase would lift <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/m7b59b/workers-at-coles-and-woolworths-will-strike-for-living-wages-and-job-security">minimum wage</a> to $24.39 per hour, up from $23.23, or $48,200 annually â an increase of $2,295.</p> <p>Australiaâs minimum and award wages are set by the <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/k7znwx/whats-going-on-with-unpaid-university-internships-in-australia">Fair Work Commission</a>, approved by the federal government, and every year they are reviewed. The Commission sees submissions from unions, employers and state and territory governments before it decides on what the next yearâs wages should be.</p> <p>About 2.9 million people, or one in four workers, are in jobs that pay award wages. The new rates will come into effect on July 1.</p> <p>The ACTU will argue in its submission the modest rise will not result in higher inflation, as many business groups love to argue, because we saw inflation actually fall 3.7 per cent in 2023 after the Fair Work Commission ushered in the <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-06-02/minimum-wage-increased-by-5-75-per-cent-2023/102426044">biggest increase to the minimum wage in 40 years</a> of 8.6 per cent and 5.75 per cent for award wage workers.</p> <p>The 8.6 per cent rise in 2023 translated to an increase of $1.85 an hour.</p> <p>ACTU Secretary Sally McManus said on Tuesday a raise of 5 per cent would help people make up for lost income during a cost-of-living crisis and help boost the economy.</p> <p>âThe lowest paid workers are the ones who are the hardest hit by inflation, they need a 5% pay increase to start to get ahead again and make up for the real wage losses over the last few years,â she said in a <a href="https://www.actu.org.au/media-release/actu-calls-for-5-increase-to-minimum-wages/">statement</a>.</p> <p>The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the peak body which represents employers and business owners, has already announced it would call for an increase of <a href="https://www.afr.com/work-and-careers/workplace/keep-minimum-wage-rise-to-2pc-says-employer-group-20240325-p5fezy">no more than 2 per cent</a> for both minimum and award wage workers because it said they were âover compensatedâ for inflation last year.</p> <p>But the ACTUâs submission will assert that businesses wonât be impacted because Australiaâs free market allows them to âadjust their prices to protect their margins, but workers pay does not move so easilyâ.</p> <p>âThis is why the annual wage review is so important, it is when the lowest paid workers have to chance to catch up, the result makes an enormous difference to millions of families,â McManus said.</p> <p>McManus also said major <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/y3wnz5/why-are-australian-banks-making-record-profits">companiesâ record profits</a> demonstrate that their margins are safe from minor worker pay increases.</p> <p>âA 5 per cent pay increase is fair and reasonable,â she said.</p> <p>âFor some perspective, the <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/93kbm7/customers-are-feeling-the-strain-say-australias-big-four-banks-after-recording-record-profit">CBA posted a $10 billion in profit</a> last financial year. It could pay for the entire union wage claim for 2.9 million workers of 5% and still be one of the most profitable businesses in the country.â</p> <p>Australiaâs rate of inflation as of the <a href="https://www.rba.gov.au/inflation/measures-cpi.html">end of February is 4.1 per cent</a>, down from a peak of around 8 per cent in December 2022 but still above the Reserve Bank of Australiaâs 2-3 per cent target range.</p> <p>And after years of rising costs for <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/jg59qb/victoria-public-housing-towers-inquiry">housing</a>, <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/88x7ab/australian-supermarket-prices-expensive">food</a>, <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/wxjqp4/petrol-prices-should-have-dropped-by-now-but-companies-are-ripping-us-off">petrol</a> and other essentials since the pandemic, workers â especially young workers â are still struggling to make up their losses.</p> <p><em>Aleksandra Bliszczyk is the Deputy Editor of VICE Australia. Follow her on<a href="https://www.instagram.com/aleksbliszczyk/?hl=en"> Instagram</a>.</em></p> <p><em>Get the story that matters most each day. <a href="https://pedestrian.us1.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=2c631b380f2015e8f93fcbc5b&amp;id=77eb92cd03">Subscribe to Australia Todayâs daily newsletter here</a>.</em></p> </description>
<link>https://vice.com/en/article/bvjkxq/award-wage-pay-rise</link>
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<pubDate>Tue, 26 Mar 2024 00:15:18 GMT</pubDate>
<author>Aleksandra Bliszczyk, Brad Esposito</author>
<category>Australia Today</category>
<category>Money</category>
<category>cost of living</category>
<category>wage</category>
<category>pay</category>
<category>Politics</category>
</item>
<item>
<title>Inquiry Into Victoria's Public Housing Tower Demolition Plan Launched</title>
<description><figure><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/articles/65fba632e6303664e559108e/lede/1710990906894-gettyimages-1268630078.jpeg" alt="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"><figcaption>Melbourne's public housing towers will be demolished and rebuilt. Photo:&amp;nbsp;Daniel Pockett/Getty Images.&amp;nbsp;</figcaption></figure> <p>All 44 of Victoriaâs public housing high-rise towers will be demolished and rebuilt by private developers under a controversial plan announced last year that will soon be the focus of a new <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/topic/politics">parliamentary</a> inquiry.&nbsp;</p> <p>The Greens introduced a motion for an inquiry to the stateâs Upper House, where they hold the balance of power, and on Wednesday it was passed with the support of the Coalition and the crossbench.&nbsp;</p> <p>The inquiry will investigate the reasoning and cost-modelling behind <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/wxjpaq/victorias-new-housing-plan-statement-800000-homes-airbnb-lev">the plan</a> â which was announced by the Andrews Government in September as part of its <a href="https://www.vic.gov.au/housing-statement">Housing Statement</a>, preparing for the next 10 years â as well as whether alternatives were considered and the planâs impact on current public housing residents.&nbsp;</p> <p>The plan acknowledged that Victoriaâs public housing apartment blocks, all built in the 1960s and 70s and now a staple to both the cityâs skyline and local communities, were in disrepair after years of government neglect. But the proposed solution will fund the rebuild by selling or leasing almost all the land to private developers who would replace the public blocks with mixed public, social and <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/88q7ap/a-major-government-housing-policy-will-only-deliver-184-new-affordable-homes-analysis-finds">âaffordableâ</a> private housing.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>More than 10,000 people currently live in Victorian public housing and, while the proposed redevelopments will be able to accommodate 30,000, only 11,000 will be public tenants, just one thousand more than today.&nbsp;</p> <p>Victorian Greens Leader Samantha Ratnam said that, in the 6 months since Labor revealed the plan, it hasnât been transparent or communicative and has refused to answer questions or provide more details â particularly about what will happen to the communities of current residents.&nbsp;</p> <p><a href="https://greens.org.au/vic/news/media-release/greens-secure-inquiry-labors-public-housing-demolition-plan#:~:text=The%20Victorian%20Greens%20have%20secured,and%20the%20progressive%20cross%2Dbench.">She said this inquiry would force the government</a> to âcome cleanâ about how this will help alleviate the public housing crisis and the broader housing crisis.</p> <p>âFor years this government has walked away from public housing and treated public housing residents like second-class citizens. With this inquiry we can help change that.</p> <p>The government claimed the towers were unable to be refurbished and âno longer fit for modern livingâ. Former Premier Daniel Andrews said in September, âWe canât search for perfection and then not deliver anything; weâve got to get on and build more houses.</p> <p>âTheyâre crumbling, theyâve got to go.â&nbsp;</p> <p>But experts have argued the plan, which is not expected to be complete until at least 2050, fails to address the enormous and ever-growing backlog of vulnerable and homeless people on waiting lists for public housing that exists in 2024, let alone what the need will be in 26 years.&nbsp;</p> <p>In a joint letter to the government, urban planning experts from RMIT University said a low supply of homes was just one of many factors driving the housing crisis.</p> <p>âThis is occurring alongside a rapid increase in applicants to the Victorian Housing Register, rapid growth in private rental households approaching the specialist homelessness service, rising rents and unaffordability, and decreased funding for <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/5d9dk8/demand-for-almost-every-type-of-social-service-in-australia-is-increasing">crisis services</a>,â the letter read.</p> <p>The Renters and Housing Union also criticised the plan and said, while it agreed the current public housing was in poor condition and âinadequateâ, the plan was a misguided step with too many undefined or unclear details and gaps. For one, we donât know who these developers, entrusted with the stateâs shrinking public land, will be and what their legal requirements and duties are.&nbsp;</p> <p>âRAHU considers Laborâs Housing Package a draft. We cannot sign off on ambiguous ideals that have not been entirely determined, and cannot be entirely revealed, and may end up being executed in such a way that ends up harming renters,â it <a href="https://rahu.org.au/victorianhousingpackage/">said in a statement</a>.</p> <p>While experts say this proposal will likely make the housing crisis for all renters worse, âgiven the simple fact that hundreds of public housing dwellings will be destroyed before the lengthy rebuild program returns any housing to these sites,â for now, the most pressing concern is for the residents who will be displaced and those on the register who will be forced to wait years longer for an affordable home.&nbsp;</p> <p>âWe could end [the crisis] while rejecting urban sprawl by building up, not out,â RAHUâs spokesperson said.</p> <p>âWe could end it by massively adding to the public housing stock, 10 per cent of all housing in every suburb to put genuine downward pressure on the housing market.&nbsp;</p> <p>âWe could end it by changing the legal definition of affordable housing to mean âno more than 30 per cent of an individualâs incomeâ so that affordable housing can be genuinely affordable. We could end it by restricting property banking and land banking through forceful acquisition.</p> <p>âWe could end it with a genuine attempt at enforcing regulations. We could end it by putting a <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/g5vwdm/australia-is-in-a-housing-crisis-is-it-time-for-a-national-rent-freeze">cap on rental increases</a>.â</p> <p><em>Aleksandra Bliszczyk is the Deputy Editor of VICE Australia. Follow her on<a href="https://www.instagram.com/aleksbliszczyk/?hl=en"> Instagram</a>.</em></p> <p><em>Get the story that matters most each day. <a href="https://pedestrian.us1.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=2c631b380f2015e8f93fcbc5b&amp;id=77eb92cd03">Subscribe to Australia Todayâs daily newsletter here</a>.</em></p> </description>
<link>https://vice.com/en/article/jg59qb/victoria-public-housing-towers-inquiry</link>
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<pubDate>Thu, 21 Mar 2024 03:28:54 GMT</pubDate>
<author>Aleksandra Bliszczyk, Brad Esposito</author>
<category>Australia Today</category>
<category>HOUSING CRISIS</category>
<category>housing</category>
<category>rental crisis</category>
<category>public housing</category>
<category>Politics</category>
<category>Australia</category>
</item>
<item>
<title>What Is UNRWA, the Palestinian Aid Agency, and What Does It Do?</title>
<description><figure><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/articles/65fa6c1149e5895f189d2388/lede/1710910784440-gettyimages-1807583111-1.jpeg" alt="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"><figcaption>Palestinians in Gaza receiving flour</figcaption></figure> <p>The Australian government reversed its decision to pause funding to <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/topic/gaza">Gaza</a> aid organisation UNRWA on Friday after seven weeks of controversy and campaigning by pro-Palestine activists.&nbsp;</p> <p><a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/xgwkeq/penny-wong-visits-israel-palestine-100-days-war-gaza">Foreign Minister Penny Wong</a> said the governmentâs decision to âunfreezeâ <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/xgwpaz/why-did-australia-paused-six-million-in-gaza-aid">$6 million in funding</a>, almost two months after it paused its ties, came because it was clear there was no evidence the agencyâs employees were involved in Hamasâ October 7 attack, as the Israeli government had claimed earlier this year.</p> <p>Wong said Australia had consulted with UNRWA and other UN member states that provide funding and said it had concluded the agency was not a terror organisation, Wong said.&nbsp;</p> <p>âWe know that UNRWA is central and vital to delivering that assistance,â Wong said at a press conference.</p> <p>âItâs a prime consideration in restoring funding to ensure that Australian funding is used appropriately - and we are doing that.</p> <p>âI would also say it is a prime consideration to recognise that we have children and families who are starving. We have a capacity, along with the international community, to assist them and we know that UNRWA is central and vital to delivering that assistance to the people who need it.â</p> <p>This $6 million that was paused due to Israelâs unfounded allegations on UNRWA employees was additional funding the Australian government had announced at the start of the year, on top of the $20 million it already provided this financial year.</p> <p>Wong said the paused funds would be immediately released.</p> <p>Australiaâs reversal comes after the European Union and Canada also paused and restarted their UNRWA funding while they similarly investigated Israelâs claims.</p> <p>Wong also announced the government would give $4 million in extra funding to Unicef and $2 million to a new UN Gaza aid venture, bringing Australiaâs total humanitarian support since the crisis began to $52.5 million.</p> <p>Greens Deputy Leader Mehreen Faruqi, who has been calling for the funding to be reinstated since it was first paused, <a href="https://greens.org.au/nsw/news/media-release/faruqi-reacts-labors-decision-reinstate-unrwa-funding">said in parliament last week</a> there was blood on the Australian governmentâs hands.</p> <p>âFinally, after 48 days and under intense pressure from the Greens and the community, Minister Wong has restored UNRWA funding, which was inexcusably cut off,â she said.</p> <p>âWithout humanitarian aid, children are being starved in the ruins of Gaza and are dying of malnutrition. Restoring UNRWA funding is the bare minimum, the Labor government should publicly pressure Israel to allow aid into all parts of Gaza.&nbsp;</p> <p>âI hope this is the start of the Labor government breaking away from their unquestioning and immoral support of Israel. Now, Labor must call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire, and an end to the occupation and apartheid.â&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <hr><h2>What is UNRWA?</h2> <p>UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East) was established in 1949 by a UN General Assembly resolution, <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/5/15/nakba-mapping-palestinian-villages-destroyed-by-israel-in-1948">months after the ethnic cleansing of Palestine began in May 1948</a> and the State of Israel was established by European-backed Zionist forces. Israelâs occupation drove 700,000 Palestinians from their homes, causing a refugee crisis.</p> <p>The agency was set up to provide direct relief to Palestinian refugees and began operations on May 1, 1950.&nbsp;</p> <p>The program has been repeatedly renewed, over and over, because no solution to the Palestinian refugee crisis has been found and the number of Palestinian refugees eligible for UNRWAâs services has grown from 700,000 to six million.</p> <hr><h2>How does UNRWA operate?</h2> <p>UNRWA is unique because it serves one group of refugees, which it has served across four generations, and delivers services directly to those in need without third-party involvement.</p> <p>Its headquarters are located in Gaza, but it also operates in Jordan, Syria, <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/z3m59x/israel-hezbollah-conflict-lebanon-airstrikes-hamas-war">Lebanon</a> and the West Bank.&nbsp;</p> <p>It is also one of the largest United Nations programmes, with <a href="https://www.unrwa.org/who-we-are/organizational-structure">more than 30,000 staff and volunteers</a>.&nbsp;</p> <hr><h2>Who funds UNRWA?</h2> <p>UNRWA is almost entirely funded by voluntary contributions from the 193 UN member states, including Australia. Almost 90 per cent of its $1.1 billion annual intake comes from foreign governments.</p> <p>Australia, <a href="https://www.unrwa.org/newsroom/press-releases/australia-and-unrwa-sign-aud-90-million-agreement">once the 10th biggest donor to UNRWA</a>, has slipped down the list but has been a longstanding partner and made financial contributions every year since 1951.&nbsp;</p> <hr><h2>What does UNRWA do?&nbsp;</h2> <p>So where does all the UNRWA funding go?&nbsp;UNRWA has a number of goals it sets out to achieve around ending poverty, hunger, poor health and inequality. To do so, it runs its funding down several avenues. Day-to-day these include the <a href="https://www.unrwa.org/what-we-do/education">operation of 706 primary schools</a> across its five regions, <a href="https://www.unrwa.org/what-we-do/health">delivering health services</a> through hospitals, primary health facilities and its own clinics, and maintaining and upgrading refugee camps.&nbsp;</p> <hr><h2>What has changed for UNRWA since October 7?</h2> <p>UNRWA has 13,000 staff working with Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank who are currently facing an unprecedented humanitarian disaster.&nbsp;</p> <p>UNRWA is providing emergency health care and food relief, delivering medical supplies to hospitals and food staples like flour to residents.</p> <p>But the uphill battle itâs fighting is made steeper by allegations from Israel.</p> <p>After <a href="https://twitter.com/Israel_katz/status/1769658900289098140?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1769658900289098140%7Ctwgr%5E36a305cbfd125470b1054e994c4b9f9bcccb1c7c%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.haaretz.com%2Fisrael-news%2F2024-03-18%2Fty-article-live%2Fisraeli-army-launches-new-raid-on-gazas-al-shifa-hospital-says-hamas-regrouped-inside%2F0000018e-4f5b-dfb8-adef-df7f127c0000">Israel accused UNRWA staff</a> of conspiring with Hamas, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/mar/19/un-staff-in-west-bank-accuse-israeli-authorities-of-campaign-of-harassment">new internal documents have revealed</a> UNRWA staff in the West Bank â where the agency <a href="https://www.unrwa.org/where-we-work/west-bank">runs 96 schools and 43 health clinics </a>â have allegedly been harassed and obstructed in their aid work by the Israeli Defense Force and authorities, suggested to be systematically undermining the agency.&nbsp;</p> <p>UNWRA spokesperson Juliette Touma told the <em>Guardian</em> the incidents in the West Bank were âpart of a wider pattern of harassment that we are seeing against UNRWA in the West Bank and Jerusalemâ.</p> <p><em>Aleksandra Bliszczyk is the Deputy Editor of VICE Australia. Follow her on<a href="https://www.instagram.com/aleksbliszczyk/?hl=en"><span> Instagram</span></a>.</em></p> <p><em>Get the story that matters most each day. <a href="https://pedestrian.us1.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=2c631b380f2015e8f93fcbc5b&amp;id=77eb92cd03"><span>Subscribe to Australia Todayâs daily newsletter here</span></a>.</em></p> </description>
<link>https://vice.com/en/article/n7eyw8/unrwa</link>
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<pubDate>Wed, 20 Mar 2024 05:04:05 GMT</pubDate>
<author>Aleksandra Bliszczyk, Brad Esposito</author>
<category>Politics</category>
<category>Australia Today</category>
</item>
<item>
<title>Trumpâs Master Plan to Defeat His Criminal Cases Isnât Working</title>
<description><figure><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/articles/65ce9e051c58f8a8df9a21b2/lede/1708041036803-trumo-legal-strategy.jpeg" alt="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"><figcaption>Former US President Donald Trump exits New York State Supreme Court in New York, US, on Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024.&amp;nbsp; Photographer: Jeenah Moon/Bloomberg via Getty Images</figcaption></figure> <p>Former President Donald Trump rolled into 2024 with a master plan to defeat his four criminal cases: Utilize his political firepower to delay his trials past the election, then use the presidency to dismantle them.</p> <p>But lately, itâs not working out the way he hoped.&nbsp;</p> <p>After a dizzying series of recent legal decisions, itâs now looking possible that Trump may be forced to go through two criminal trials before Novemberâgiving prosecutors two shots to convict him on felony charges before votes are counted.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>On Thursday, the judge in Trumpâs New York City criminal case officially set Trumpâs first six-week trial to begin on March 25, in a crucial defeat for Trumpâs efforts at delay. The failure could hobble both Trumpâs presidential campaign and his hopes to later use the presidency to thwart prosecutors. <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/g5ynjx/trumps-red-flags-polls-say-a-conviction-would-doom-his-campaign"><span>Many voters say they have misgivings</span></a> about putting a felon in the White House, according to a bevy of recent polls. And if Trump is convicted in this New York State prosecution, he wonât be able to pardon himself even if he wins, because presidential pardons only apply to federal crimes.&nbsp;</p> <p>Justice Juan Merchan breezily dismissed objections from Trumpâs lawyers that spending six weeks in court would unduly keep him off the campaign trail. <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/02/15/nyregion/trump-manhattan-criminal-case"><span>Trump lawyer Todd Blanche called</span></a> the late-March trial date âunfathomable,â because âweâre in the middle of primary season.â&nbsp;</p> <p>Trumpâs team has repeatedly argued that his campaign for the presidency, and the fact that he used to be the president, should give him the right to duck his criminal trials, either temporarily or permanently.&nbsp;</p> <p>Trump has used the calendar to his advantage over and over again as a litigant. But Thursdayâs hearing was only the latest to show the limits of that strategy in his recent attempts to battle criminal prosecutors. He also faced a crucial defeat in Washington D.C. that could yield a second trial in 2024 before election dayâone with higher stakes than in New York, and longer potential criminal sentences.&nbsp;</p> <p>Last week the Washington D.C. Court of Appeals <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/06/us/politics/trump-immunity-appeals-court.html#:~:text=A%20federal%20appeals%20court%20on,his%20loss%20to%20President%20Biden."><span>rejected Trumpâs claims</span></a> that he should enjoy complete criminal immunity as a former president in a landmark decision. That ruling kicks the ball over to the Supreme Court for the next move. But even so, with the start of the trial in Manhattan now fixed, Trumpâs legal calendar appears to leave enough time for a trial in his D.C. case to begin sometime this summer, according to a group of lawyers who wrote a recent detailed analysis <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/k7z5x9/trump-criminal-case-verdict-election"><span>published in Just Security</span></a>.&nbsp;</p> <p>Trumpâs D.C. case for allegedly attempting to subvert the 2020 election had been scheduled to begin in early March, and is currently on hold pending his immunity appeal. But the analysis concluded that, barring any big surprises, the that trial could kick off in June or July, and wrap up in September or October, right before the vote.&nbsp;</p> <p>Trumpâs power to undermine the cases against him would be magnified enormously if he recaptured the presidency before heâs convicted. From the White House, he could order his new Attorney General to simply drop the two federal criminal cases against him in Washington D.C. and South Florida. And his lawyers have also raised the argument that, as a sitting president, any state-level criminal trial would need to be put on hold until the end of his presidency. Itâs unclear whether that would happen, but Trump would, of course, be deprived of that argument if he loses the election or is convicted before taking office.&nbsp;</p> <p>Trumpâs criminal cases in South Florida and Georgia look relatively less likely to begin before the election.&nbsp;</p> <p>In Georgia, Trump was accused of violating the stateâs racketeering statute along with over a dozen codefendants while attempting to reverse his electoral defeat in the Peach state, in a sweeping case brought by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis.&nbsp;</p> <p>Willis has asked for a trial to begin in August, although no firm start-date has yet been set on the calendar.&nbsp;</p> <p>Willis is currently battling accusations of wrongdoing originally raised by one of Trumpsâ codefendants in the case and joined by Trump and others. They argue that Willis had an improper romantic relationship with the lead prosecutor in the case, Nathan Wade. On Thursday, a court in Georgia heard testimony from a personal associate of Willis who claimed that the relationship began earlier than Willis has admitted. Willis also fired back in fiery testimony. It remains to be seen whether the judge overseeing the case will agree that the situation presents a conflict that requires Willisâ removal, <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/m7bwva/trump-probably-cant-use-the-georgia-sex-scandal-to-deep-six-his-prosecution"><span>although many legal experts have said they doubt that will happen</span></a>.&nbsp;</p> <p>In Florida, Trump is accused of violating the Espionage Act by squirreling away classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago beachside estate. In that case, Trump-appointed Judge Aileen Cannon has seemed amenable to delays sought by Trumpâs legal team that could easily push the complex national security trial past November.&nbsp;</p> <p>In New York, Trump is accused of falsifying business records related to hush-money payoffs to an adult film star who claims she slept with Trump.&nbsp;</p> <p>Trump has pleaded not guilty in all cases, and denied all wrongdoing.</p> <p><br></p> </description>
<link>https://vice.com/en/article/n7empd/trumps-master-plan-to-defeat-his-criminal-cases-isnt-working</link>
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<pubDate>Fri, 16 Feb 2024 10:30:00 GMT</pubDate>
<author>Greg Walters, Josh Visser</author>
<category>News</category>
<category>Politics</category>
<category>Crime</category>
<category>Donald Trump</category>
</item>
<item>
<title>A 19-Year-Old Died After Taking âGas Station Heroinâ. His Mom Wonders Why Itâs Still Being Sold Legally.</title>
<description><figure><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/articles/65ce96c4207da9d6f4bcd7f6/lede/1708038219537-johnathon-morrison.png" alt="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"><figcaption>Johnathon Morrison seen in an undated photo. All photos supplied by Kristi Terry.</figcaption></figure> <p>Kristi Terry keeps replaying the last time she saw her son Johnathon Morrison alive.&nbsp;</p> <p>The 19-year-old scholarship student came into her bedroom on the night of Feb. 20, 2019 and asked if it was OK if he cooked some pizza rolls; he didn't want to hog them from his younger sister, who was a fussy eater.&nbsp;</p> <p>Terry, 41, and her husband found it odd that he was asking permission.&nbsp;</p> <p>âWe were like âyou donât have to ask to cook something," she said. In hindsight, she wishes sheâd gotten up to see if he was feeling alright. She wonders if he was feeling sick at that point and was trying to settle his stomach with food.&nbsp;</p> <p>The next morning Terry and her 15-year-old daughter found Morrison unresponsive in his bedroom in Trafford, Alabama. Paramedics spent an hour trying to revive him, but they couldn't. Next to his body was a half-eaten plate of pizza rolls and a nearly empty bottle of tianeptine pills, an unapproved drug known as âgas station heroinâ because of its addictive effects on some users.&nbsp;</p> <p>Morrisonâs cause of death is asphyxia due to aspiration of gastric contentsâmeaning he choked on his vomitâand is considered accidental, according to his autopsy report, which VICE News has obtained. But the high level of tianeptine he had in his system was similar to the level found in another reported tianeptine fatality in which no other drugs were detected, the medical examiner wrote.&nbsp;</p> <figure><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1708038305876-img4094.jpeg" alt="IMG_4094.jpg" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"><figcaption>Kristi Terry and her son Johnathon Morrison.</figcaption></figure> <p>His death is one of the few rare fatal overdoses thatâs been linked to tianeptine, a drug that is&nbsp; sold at gas stations and convenience stores around the U.S. as well as online, often illegally marketed as a dietary supplement or cognitive booster. Tianeptine is a tricyclic antidepressant that is used as medication in over 60 countries around the world, but it is not approved by the Food and Drug Administration for medical use in the U.S., so the versions sold here are unregulated. While at least a dozen states have banned tianeptine, it remains federally unscheduled.&nbsp;</p> <p>Because it also hits opioid receptors in the brain, it can produce euphoria and pain relief. Many users have told VICE News tianeptineâs effects were similar to prescription opioids at first, but were quickly replaced with brutal withdrawal symptoms including insomnia, shakes, nausea, and anxiety. Itâs also been linked to seizures and hospitalizations.&nbsp;</p> <p>But Morrison, a theater and business student at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, didnât know any of that.</p> <p>He stumbled upon tianeptine by chance when he popped into a gas station in search of medication to relieve his migraine, according to his mom. The gas station didnât have Excedrin, but an employee there offered Morrison a bottle of pills called Tianaa, a popular brand of tianeptine.</p> <p>âHe had no clue what he was taking,â said Terry. âThey told him that it was all natural, herbal, and that it was like a powerful Tylenol.â&nbsp;</p> <p>So Morrison took it like Tylenol, popping a couple at a time over the next few hours. In the morning, Terry and her teenage daughter went to check on Morrison after his boss sent a concerned text saying he hadnât turned in a report. They found him lying flat on his bed. While it seemed like he was making a snoring noise, he wasnât breathing.&nbsp;</p> <p>Just three of the 15 tianeptine pills in the bottle remained, Terry said.&nbsp;</p> <p>VICE News has left messages with MT Brands, a Florida-based company that makes Tianaa, but has not yet received a response.&nbsp;</p> <p>The degree to which tianeptine toxicity may have contributed to Morrisonâs death, âeither directly due to the toxic effects of the drug or indirectly by potentially reducing his seizure threshold, remains uncertain,â the autopsy said. His system had therapeutic amounts of a couple of prescription drugs he was taking for his migraines as well as an anti-seizure medication, though Terry said heâd only had two seizures in his life.&nbsp;</p> <p>Dr. Ryan Marino, medical director of toxicology and addiction medicine at University Hospitals in Cleveland, said itâs common for people to vomit and aspirate during drug overdoses because they âlose higher functioning.â&nbsp;</p> <p>âA helpful comparison is alcohol,â he said. âItâs pretty hard to die from drinking alcohol in one night or one sitting. But obviously people can throw up and have bad things happen.â&nbsp;</p> <p>He said itâs not clear that tianeptine causes overdoses by causing people to stop breathing, which is the case for opioids like fentanyl. But he cautioned thereâs not enough data yet on high levels of tianeptine in humans to draw strong conclusions about its toxicity.&nbsp;</p> <p>The FDA, which has issued several consumer <a href="https://www.fda.gov/consumers/health-fraud-scams/tianeptine">alerts</a> about tianeptine in the last few months, said it has received two tianeptine-related death reports since 2015. The agency also said poison control center cases about tianeptine exposure increased from 11 total cases between 2000 and 2013 to 151 cases in 2020 alone. A 2018 <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30149933/">paper</a> analyzing tianeptine deaths worldwide showed that the ones that didnât involve other drugs were tied to respiratory depression or cardiac arrhythmias.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>Despite the fact that deaths are rare, tianeptine users have still reported adverse health reactions to the drug.&nbsp;</p> <p>Chris Ricks, who lives in Mobile, Alabama, was hospitalized for a week in 2021 after taking four bottles of Zazas, another popular tianeptine brand. He was found âurinating and defecating everywhere in the house,â according to a hospital report seen by VICE News, before being admitted into an intensive care unit.&nbsp;</p> <p>âI just remember being out of it, I don't know what was going on,â he said, noting that in hospital he required benzodiazepines to stop him from ripping out his IV.&nbsp;</p> <p>Ricks has been sober from tianeptine since he was discharged in March 2021. At the height of his addiction, he was taking eight bottles a day, spending $80,000 on them in one year.&nbsp;</p> <p>âWithin a month of taking those I looked in the mirror and said âYouâre either headed back to rehab or death,ââ he told VICE News.&nbsp;</p> <figure><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/_uncategorized/1708038357258-img4092.jpeg" alt="IMG_4092.jpg" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"><figcaption> Johnathon Morrison at his high school graduation. </figcaption></figure> <p>After Morrison died, Terry was determined to get tianeptine banned in Alabama.&nbsp;</p> <p>She testified at a state senate healthcare committee in February 2020.&nbsp;</p> <p>âHe was just the light of my life and he was my best friend,â Terry said, showing a photo of her son to the committee, according to an audio recording of the hearing obtained by VICE News.&nbsp;</p> <p>Her friend explained that Terry had been bedridden with post-traumatic stress disorder since finding Morrison.&nbsp;</p> <p>Also at the hearing was James Morrissette, CEO and founder of MT Brands. He said his tianeptine products were promoted as being for stress and anxiety relief, but âit has taken a direction where people are beginning to abuse the productâ or use it as a âcessation product for opiates.â&nbsp;</p> <p>Morrissette said while Terryâs story was heartbreaking, he supported stronger regulation over banning tianeptine, including increased age limits for customers. He has also <a href="https://www.headquest.com/mt-brands-taking-the-high-road/">accused</a> other tianeptine manufacturers of making subpar products.&nbsp;</p> <p>âThere are other people that are benefiting from this product. And to just turn around and start banning products without having solid meaning behind it, where does it stop?â he said at the hearing.&nbsp;</p> <p>A year later, Alabama became the second state to ban tianeptine. Florida, Arkansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Tennessee, Georgia, Ohio, Oklahoma, Mississippi, and Indiana, have also banned it.&nbsp;</p> <p>In January, citing <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/dy3vvq/gas-station-heroin-tianeptine-zaza-pills">VICE Newsâ previous reporting</a>, a group of five members of Congress <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/xgwpd7/gas-station-heroin-fda-congress">wrote a letter to the FDA</a> asking the agency to âto take immediate action to research and provide guidance on tianeptine use,â including working with the Drug Enforcement Administration to determine if it should be federally scheduled.&nbsp;</p> <p>But bans can have unintended causes, including leading people back to using illicit drugs, especially because thereâs no <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/m7bp5x/people-are-turning-to-reddit-to-get-through-gas-station-heroin-withdrawal">clear-cut detox protocol </a>for coming off of tianeptine. Three former users previously told VICE News their tianeptine use led them back to using street drugs including fentanyl and crack cocaine.&nbsp;</p> <p>In an email, an FDA spokesperson told VICE News it urges consumers not to use any tianeptine product and reiterated that it is not approved for any medical use.&nbsp;</p> <p>âThe FDA will continue to take regulatory actions and alert consumers of safety issues related to tianeptine products,â the statement said.&nbsp;</p> <p>Terry said it makes her âsickâ that there are many Americans who can still easily purchase the drug.&nbsp;</p> <p>She said her son, who had the âbiggest smile and dimplesâ had been saving up for a vintage Mercedes or BMW when he died. Instead, that money paid for his headstone.</p> <p>âI do feel like Johnathonâs story is what got it banned in Alabama. I really do,â she said.&nbsp; âThe senators and everybody had to look at my sonâs picture.â&nbsp;<br></p> </description>
<link>https://vice.com/en/article/v7bna3/gas-station-heroin-johnathon-morrison-death</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://vice.com/en/article/v7bna3/gas-station-heroin-johnathon-morrison-death</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 16 Feb 2024 10:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
<author>Manisha Krishnan, Josh Visser</author>
<category>News</category>
<category>Politics</category>
<category>gas station heroin</category>
<category>Drugs</category>
<category>drug policy</category>
<category>tianept
...
http://localhost:1200/vice/topic/internet - Success âïž
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<title>Just 17 Very Good and Extremely Weird VICE Stories About the Internet</title>
<description><figure><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/articles/6617b63a4aeeae23e2ee35ab/lede/1713786406356-7best-of-vice-1440x810.png" alt="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"><figcaption>ILLUSTRATION: HELEN FROST</figcaption></figure> <p>We all know the internet is a crazy place. The mess of it is compounded by the fact weâre all experiencing it in completely different ways: Boomers arguing in Facebook comments, zoomers whoâve never known life pre-dial-up, and millennials stuck, as ever, in the middle.</p> <p>The ~world wide web, for all its sins, has given the world some cracking content, and weâve devoted ourselves to diving into every viral happening and mishap. Like that story of the supremely well-endowed <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/wxeywy/the-untold-story-of-wood-the-well-endowed-man-from-those-coronavirus-texts">guy from the COVID texts</a>, or our ode to that unforgettable 00s <a href="https://www.vice.com/en_uk/article/a35evg/online-humour-random-internet-meme-2000s">âBadger, badger, mushroomâ</a> song, arguably the internetâs first meme?</p> <p>Weâve had a hand in creating these moments too, like the time VICE reporter Oobah Butler made his <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/434gqw/i-made-my-shed-the-top-rated-restaurant-on-tripadvisor">garden shed the top rated restaurant</a> on TripAdvisor. Or when a writer tried to <a href="https://www.vice.com/en_ca/article/a3jgj8/i-tried-to-join-the-illuminati-and-got-scammed">join the Illuminati</a>. We spend way too much time online, basically. Hydrate your eyeballs, grab your sippy cup and scroll through our best internet stories of the past three decades. Because letâs face it, your brain is already decaying â&nbsp;why not hasten along its demise?</p> <p></p> </description>
<link>https://vice.com/en/article/z3m7n4/best-internet-culture-stories</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://vice.com/en/article/z3m7n4/best-internet-culture-stories</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 29 Apr 2024 10:30:00 GMT</pubDate>
<author>VICE Staff, VICE Staff</author>
<category>Internet</category>
<category>incels</category>
<category>Gen Z</category>
<category>boomer</category>
<category>Podcasts</category>
<category>Twitter</category>
<category>GIFs</category>
<category>Social Media</category>
<category>Facebook</category>
<category>Catfish</category>
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<item>
<title>Goon Caves and Mafia Phones: Our Best Tech Stories</title>
<description><figure><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/articles/661e37a3b1e2f4f6e9aedb6a/lede/1713784500330-best-of-vice-1440x810.png" alt="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"><figcaption></figcaption></figure> <p>âTech coverageâ can mean many things. To some, it might bring to mind blog posts about the new iOS update; to others, a story about men building extravagant masturbation set-ups with wrap-around screens and projectors blasting porn for hours on end.</p> <p>Behold: some of the best techy, internetty, sciencey stories published on VICE by the Motherboard team over the last few years.</p> <p></p> </description>
<link>https://vice.com/en/article/y3wjvx/goon-caves-and-mafia-phones-our-best-tech-stories</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://vice.com/en/article/y3wjvx/goon-caves-and-mafia-phones-our-best-tech-stories</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 22 Apr 2024 10:30:00 GMT</pubDate>
<author>VICE Staff, VICE Staff</author>
<category>Internet</category>
</item>
<item>
<title>Just a Load of Weird Stories We've Published. Enjoy.</title>
<description><figure><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/articles/6617c6b221a8874850095c6f/lede/1713784652297-2best-of-vice-1440x810.png" alt="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"><figcaption>Illustration: Jordan Austin</figcaption></figure> <p>Depending what year you first came across VICE, you may know us for our award-winning frontline warzone reportage, or you may know us from that time we <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/yvnm4j/gross-jar-v12n9">slowly added loads of horrible shit</a> to a jar and got staffers to smell it. Which is to say: we contain multitudes. </p> <p>Here are a load of stories from the last few years that fall firmly into the latter camp. </p> <p></p> </description>
<link>https://vice.com/en/article/xgw3dw/just-a-load-of-weird-stories-weve-published-enjoy</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://vice.com/en/article/xgw3dw/just-a-load-of-weird-stories-weve-published-enjoy</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 18 Apr 2024 14:20:35 GMT</pubDate>
<author>VICE Staff, VICE Staff</author>
<category>weird</category>
<category>Internet</category>
<category>men</category>
<category>SECRET</category>
<category>subcultures</category>
<category>Fetish</category>
<category>The Best of VICE</category>
</item>
<item>
<title>America's TikTok Ban Passed the Lower House. What Does that Mean for Australia?</title>
<description><figure><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/articles/65f9069b3c30475887f6bb2a/lede/1710818975519-screen-shot-2024-03-19-at-22816-pm.png" alt="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"><figcaption>The United States is set to ban TikTok ahead of the presidential election. Photo by&amp;nbsp;&lt;a href="https://www.gettyimages.com.au/search/photographer?photographer=NurPhoto" class="C7iN6aEXMJMmwzNaEx6g" data-search-type="photographer" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"&gt;&lt;br&gt; NurPhoto&lt;/a&gt;&amp;nbsp;/&amp;nbsp;Contributor via Getty images.</figcaption></figure> <p>Conservative Australian politicians are calling on the government to act after a bill to force TikTok to divest from Chinese ownership passed the United Statesâ lower house last week.</p> <p>On Wednesday the US House of Representatives voted to pass a bill that would give TikTokâs majority Chinese-owned parent company Bytedance just under six months to divest its interest from the app, or it will be banned in the US, its largest market.</p> <p>While the bill is yet to pass the US senate, the proposed banâs implications are significant, and likely to encourage change to Australiaâs legislative approach towards platform regulation.</p> <p>Like the US, Australian intelligence organisations are concerned about the Chinese Communist Partyâs (CCP) access to <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/g5y3k7/tiktok-australia-privacy-commission-inquiry-data-collection">data collected</a> on TikTok. While Bytedance has said it has never and will never share data from the US or Australia with the CCP, under Chinaâs 2017 National Intelligence Law the company could be compelled to do so.</p> <p>Conservative politicians want Australia to follow the USâs lead. Opposition leader Peter Dutton called on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to âshow leadershipâ over the matter.</p> <p>âSo far the Prime Minister hasnât done that. And I think the Prime Minister, particularly at a time like this, doesnât need to be weak. He needs to be strong and show the leadership thatâs required to keep <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/dy3k3w/tiktok-bin-laden-palestine-moral-panic">Australian kids</a> safe online,â Mr Dutton said.</p> <p>Opposition home affairs spokesman James Paterson, who has labelled TikTok a âbad faith actorâ, said Australia should not be âleft behindâ, and that âequivalent legislationâ should be prepared.</p> <p>But Albanese has said his government has <a href="https://www.news.com.au/technology/online/social/anthony-albanese-reveals-australias-plans-on-tiktok-after-us-vote/news-story/9a635ec36c4f97b2b928963786008b8f">no plans</a> to outlaw the app in Australia, stating while the government would continue to follow security advice, it hadnât received any advice to ban TikTok.</p> <p>âYou need to have an argument for it, rather than automatically just ban things,â Albanese told ABC Radio.</p> <p>Is TikTok really a threat to Australiaâs national security?</p> <p>All social media apps should be considered a threat to national security. They collect data on users in Australia, and that information has been sold and influenced in the past to affect civilian behaviour.</p> <p>The most notable example was in 2016, when political consulting firm Cambridge Analytica leaked the Facebook data of 87 million users to Russian intelligence entities, which influenced that yearâs US election. Facebook was fined $5 billion for its recklessness.</p> <p>And in Australia there are growing concerns around TikTokâs <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/wxjb8b/tiktok-its-not-the-algorithm-teens-are-just-pro-palestine">dissemination of content</a>.</p> <p>On Tuesday, the eSafety commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, announced she had issued legal notices to Google, Meta, Twitter/X, WhatsApp, Telegram and Reddit which would force them to report on steps theyâd taken to remove violent and extremist content.</p> <p>TikTok is the only major social media platform that isnât signed up to a <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/media/2024/mar/19/australian-esafety-commissioner-tech-companies-terror-related-content-shared-google-telegram-meta-reddit-">global anti-extremism pact</a>. The Global Internet forum to Counter Terrorism was formed in 2017 and aims to share information to target violent content online.</p> <p>Inman Grant said TikTok was âsort of behind the rest of the companiesâ.</p> <p>Inman Grant <a href="https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/tiktok-lags-on-extremism-as-mps-call-out-graphic-content-on-platform-20240318-p5fd91.html?utm_content=in_other_news&amp;list_name=3C1D28D0-7E1E-4DC0-9DD3-A961CC5360DB&amp;promote_channel=edmail&amp;utm_campaign=am-theage&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_source=newsletter&amp;utm_term=2024-03-19&amp;mbnr=MzA1NzQ4NjI&amp;instance=2024-03-19-06-54-AEDT&amp;jobid=30324985">noted</a> that other members of the group may have been uncomfortable co-operating with a Chinese-owned firm, <em>The Age</em> reported.</p> <p>The use of TikTok on government devices was outlawed in Australia in 2023, with the government citing âsignificant security and privacy risksâ.</p> <p>Australia has precedence for acting on security concerns over Chinese influence. In 2018, the government blocked Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei from rolling out on Australiaâs 5G network, citing concerns over the vulnerability of telecoms systems to subversion for espionage, and interference from a foreign government.</p> <p><em>Arielle Richards is the multimedia reporter at VICE Australia, follow her on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/rari.ferrarri/?hl=en">Instagram</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/godsfavourite_1">Twitter</a>.</em></p> </description>
<link>https://vice.com/en/article/dy39zk/americas-tiktok-ban-passed-the-lower-house-what-does-that-mean-for-australia</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://vice.com/en/article/dy39zk/americas-tiktok-ban-passed-the-lower-house-what-does-that-mean-for-australia</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 19 Mar 2024 04:32:12 GMT</pubDate>
<author>Arielle Richards, Brad Esposito</author>
<category>Australia Today</category>
<category>Australia</category>
<category>VICE Australia</category>
<category>VICE Australia/NZ</category>
<category>Australia/NZ</category>
<category>TikTok</category>
<category>tiktok ban</category>
<category>united states</category>
<category>Internet</category>
<category>privacy</category>
<category>data</category>
<category>Facebook</category>
<category>china</category>
</item>
<item>
<title>NO MORE APPS!!! NO MORE APPS!!!!!!!</title>
<description><figure><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/articles/65c06d607761a980a5fafbf5/lede/1707112065119-edm.jpeg" alt="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"><figcaption>collage: arielle richards /&amp;nbsp;&lt;a href="https://www.istockphoto.com/portfolio/Alhontess?mediatype=illustration" class="photographer cWU9wH5uj9cM5CMFEMVC" data-testid="photographer" target="_blank"&gt;&lt;span class="LnOLJ4WPBg1pjxPKMDBE"&gt;Alhontess&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;,&amp;nbsp;&lt;a href="https://www.istockphoto.com/portfolio/rvlsoft?mediatype=photography" class="photographer cWU9wH5uj9cM5CMFEMVC" data-testid="photographer" target="_blank"&gt;&lt;span class="LnOLJ4WPBg1pjxPKMDBE"&gt;rvlsoft&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt; via istockphoto</figcaption></figure> <p>Ever since I can remember, I have been online.</p> <p>I have bounced across all mainstream social networks â MSN Messenger, Neopets, Myspace, Tumblr, Youtube, Instagram, Twitter, Tiktok. Of that list, only three seem to have stuck.&nbsp;</p> <p>No one wants Bytedance, X, or Meta to wholly contain their online lives, but the answer is not, and never will be <em>more apps</em>.</p> <p>Last week, the newsletter turned cultural juggernaut <em>Perfectly Imperfect</em> <a href="https://www.perfectlyimperfect.fyi/">launched</a> a social network.&nbsp;</p> <p>Created by former Meta engineer and New York White Guy And DJ Tyler Bainbridge, along with two other Guys in 2020, the newsletter is genius in simplicity: what if we asked hot, cool, niche, internet-famous or otherwise notably left-of-field micro celebrities to give us a list of the shit theyâre into right now?&nbsp;</p> <p>Weyes Blood recommended âWax Museumsâ and âOystersâ. Coco &amp; Clair Clair offered âCheese Stick With Caviarâ. Ayo Edebri spoke of âZicam Nasal Swabsâ, âBeing High Maintenanceâ and âSwapping Books With Friendsâ.</p> <p>Recommendations are packaged in a quirked-up, cutesy, star-studded wrapper and shot directly into the culturally undernourished mouths of Manhattanâs sceney, young, tech-inclined elite â and their followers across the world. <em>Perfectly Imperfect</em> is a good idea.&nbsp;</p> <p>The appâs concept takes the newsletterâs thesis that âregular peopleâ â when divested from allegiances to sponsorships and corporate algorithms â are the best tastemakers of our times and puts it all on a reverse-cronological algorithm.&nbsp;</p> <p>Itâs similar to a Tumblr or Twitter feed, in the sense that its user experience is exactly the same, with âre-reccingâ taking the place of âretweetingâ or ârebloggingâ, and âlikingâ replaced by⊠âLikingâ.&nbsp;</p> <p>Bainbridge <a href="https://www.theverge.com/creators/24054294/perfectly-imperfect-pi-fyi-app-tyler-bainbridge">told</a> <em>The Verge</em> in order to develop the app, he manifested getting laid off from his cushy Meta job, succeeded, and spent five months on the pay-off developing what he has named PI.FYI â the internetâs newest social network. âNow Iâm just bleeding money,â he said.&nbsp;</p> <p>But why?</p> <p>It isnât clear why the logical consecutive step from building an excellent media product was to turn it into a new Twitter.&nbsp;</p> <p>The drive to make <em>more social media </em>is a hubristic disease that has spread across the techy corners of the internet, borne when <em>The Social Network</em> revealed just how easily a simple idea could flout naysayers and go on to make billions of dollars and <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/xgwp5z/zuckerberg-meta-earnings-call-ai-we-already-gave-him-all-our-data">effectively own us all</a>.</p> <p>There seems to be a prevailing thought in the tech world that, with an idea good enough, the internet can be fixed. Everyone appears to truly believe they can create the perfect app to rival Instagram or TikTok or become the new Twitter.&nbsp;</p> <p>But they must be stopped.</p> <p>Every new app that crawled out of the woodwork when Elon Musk destroyed Twitter in 2023 promised a utopian, decentralised internet, gatekept from bad faith actors, algorithms and trolls by invite-only mechanisms. At the time, the smaller size of the platforms themselves helped â the bigger an appâs community grows, the more polarising posts must be to gain traction.&nbsp;Itâs almost common knowledge by now.</p> <p>All of a sudden, headlines like â<a href="https://www.wired.com/story/bluesky-is-fun/">I Regret to Inform You that Bluesky is Fun</a>â in <em>Wired</em> and â<a href="https://www.vogue.com/article/i-left-twitter-for-bluesky-and-suddenly-social-media-is-fun-again">I Grudgingly Left Elon Muskâs Twitter for Bluesky â and Suddenly The Internet is Fun Again</a>â in <em>Vogue</em>, circled the internet. The annoying, internet-pilled millennials who were big<strong> </strong>on Twitter relished in the gratification gained from being invited onto new apps. But where are they now? No one has said shit about Bluesky since that one moment in 2023. Mastodon is, as far as I can tell, the sole home of Web3 sycophants. Threads sucks, and if you delete it, youâll delete your Instagram account as well.&nbsp;</p> <p>Bluesky, Mastodon, Threads⊠all attempts to create the perfect social medium, free from whatever happened to Twitter, all irrelevant eight months on.</p> <p>BeReal was once lauded as the little social media platform that could, but the app couldnât handle its own popularity. First came the lags, and then, for users, the actual inconvenience and embarrassment provoked by having to pause and take a picture once a day <em>really hit home</em>. The developers couldnât figure out a way to monetise it, which was cool at first until it meant that no money equalled no desire to make it any better.&nbsp;</p> <p>When was the last time you heard someone exclaim, âOMG, time to BeRealâ?&nbsp;</p> <p>Bainbridgeâs app promises nothing more â a hyper-niche, watered-down community for those <em>in the know</em>, which will, undoubtedly, eke into obscurity.</p> <p>What pisses me off about PI.FYI is the limpid faux nirvana of it all. In the <em>Perfectly Imperfect</em> blog post announcing the appâs release, Bainbridge called it simply âa labour of loveâ and wrote:&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>âDonât worry, this isnât some tech industry sell-out bullshit. Peter Thiel doesnât have his grubby hands on it, and neither do any other investors. Thereâs no trust fund. A 3rd party didnât swoop in and say âhey you should make an app!â No souls were sold in the making.â</p> <p>Shut up shut up shut up!&nbsp;</p> <p>Nobody creates a social network for the good of humanity.&nbsp;</p> <p>Do I think itâs <em>good </em>that an app called âInstagramâ and its parent company âMetaâ owns my entire online life and sells it for ad dollars? No.&nbsp;</p> <p>Do I think the other company running the world ought to be âBytedanceâ with its kingmaker âTikTokâ app? And do I think it is good that more than 2 billion people are similarly owned by these corporations?</p> <p>No. What kind of person would? But another social media network will not save us.</p> <p>It might entertain us, for a while. But the most itâll do, ultimately, is make some NYC rich boys a little bit richer.</p> <p><em>Arielle Richards is the multimedia reporter at VICE Australia, follow her on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/rari.ferrarri/?hl=en">Instagram</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/godsfavourite_1">Twitter</a>.</em></p> </description>
<link>https://vice.com/en/article/5d9akk/please-stop-making-social-networks</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://vice.com/en/article/5d9akk/please-stop-making-social-networks</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 05 Feb 2024 05:53:13 GMT</pubDate>
<author>Arielle Richards, Brad Esposito</author>
<category>ONLINE</category>
<category>Internet</category>
<category>internet culture</category>
<category>Memes</category>
<category>Twitter</category>
<category>Facebook</category>
<category>Instagram</category>
<category>New York</category>
<category>Millennial</category>
<category>Australia</category>
<category>Australia/NZ</category>
<category>VICE Australia/NZ</category>
<category>VICE Australia</category>
<category>VICE AU</category>
<category>Social Media</category>
<category>social network</category>
</item>
<item>
<title>A âShockingâ Amount of the Web Is Already AI-Translated Trash, Scientists Determine</title>
<description><figure><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/articles/65a810b91a77481371ba2552/lede/1705514234136-gettyimages-1434945213.jpeg" alt="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"><figcaption>Image:&amp;nbsp;&lt;br&gt; Delmaine Donson via getty Images</figcaption></figure> <p>A âshockingâ amount of the internet is machine-translated garbage, particularly in languages spoken in Africa and the Global South, a new study has found.&nbsp;</p> <p>Researchers at the Amazon Web Services AI lab found that over half of the sentences on the web have been translated into two or more languages, often with increasingly worse quality due to poor machine translation (MT), which they said raised âserious concernsâ about the training of large language models.&nbsp;</p> <p>âWe actually got interested in this topic because several colleagues who work in MT and are native speakers of low resource languages noted that much of the internet in their native language appeared to be MT generated,â Mehak Dhaliwal, a former applied science intern at AWS and current PhD student at the University of California, Santa Barbara, told Motherboard. âSo the insight really came from the low-resource language speakers, and we did the study to understand the issue better and see how widespread it was.â&nbsp;</p> <p>âWith that said, everyone should be cognizant that content they view on the web may have been generated by a machine,â Dhaliwal added.</p> <p>The study, which was <a href="https://arxiv.org/abs/2401.05749"><span>submitted to the pre-print server arXiv</span></a> last Thursday, generated a corpus of 6.38 billion sentences scraped from the web. It looked at patterns of multi-way parallelism, which describes sets of sentences that are direct translations of one another in three or more languages. It found that most of the internet is translated, as 57.1 percent of the sentences in the corpus were multi-way parallel in at least three languages.&nbsp;</p> <p>Like all machine learning efforts, machine translation is impacted by human bias, and skews toward languages spoken in the Western world and the Global North. Because of this, the quality of the translations varies wildly, with âlow-resourceâ languages from places like Africa having insufficient training data to produce accurate text.</p> <p>âIn general, we observed that most languages tend to have parallel data in the highest-resource languages,â Dhaliwal told Motherboard in an email. âSentences are more likely to have translations in French than a low resource language, simply by virtue of there being much more data in French than a low resource language.â</p> <p>High-resource languages, like English or French, tended to have an average parallelism of 4, meaning that sentences had translational equivalents in three other languages. Low-resource languages, like the African languages Wolof or Xhosa, had an average parallelism of 8.6. Additionally, lower-resource languages tended to have much worse translations.&nbsp;</p> <p>âWe find that highly multi-way parallel translations are significantly lower quality than 2-way parallel translation,â the researchers state in the paper. âThe more languages a sentence has been translated into, the lower quality the translations are, suggesting a higher prevalence of machine translation.â</p> <p>In highly multi-way parallel languages, the study also found a selection bias toward shorter, âmore predictableâ sentences of between 5-10 words. Because of how short the sentences were, researchers found it difficult to characterize their quality. However, âsearching the web for the sentences was enlightening,â the study stated. âThe vast majority came from articles that we characterized as low quality, requiring little or no expertise or advance effort to create, on topics like being taken more seriously at work, being careful about your choices, six tips for new boat owners, deciding to be happy, etc.â</p> <p>The researchers argued that the selection bias toward short sentences from low-quality articles was due to âlow quality content (likely produced to generate ad revenue) being translated via MT en masse into many lower resource languages (again likely for the purpose of generating ad revenue). It also suggests that such data originates in English and is translated into other languages.â&nbsp;</p> <p>This means that a large portion of the internet in lower-resource languages is poorly machine-translated, which poses questions for the development of large language models in those languages, the researchers said.&nbsp;</p> <p>âModern AI is enabled by huge amounts of training data, typically several hundred billion tokens to a few trillion tokens,â the study states. âTraining at this scale is only possible with web-scraped data. Our findings raise numerous concerns for multilingual model builders: Fluency (especially across sentences) and accuracy are lower for MT data, which could produce less fluent models with more hallucinations, and the selection bias indicates the data may be of lower quality, even before considering MT errors.â</p> </description>
<link>https://vice.com/en/article/y3w4gw/a-shocking-amount-of-the-web-is-already-ai-translated-trash-scientists-determine</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://vice.com/en/article/y3w4gw/a-shocking-amount-of-the-web-is-already-ai-translated-trash-scientists-determine</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 17 Jan 2024 17:57:33 GMT</pubDate>
<author>Jules Roscoe, Janus Rose</author>
<category>AI</category>
<category>Internet</category>
<category>machine translation</category>
<category>Artificial Intelligence</category>
<category>large language models</category>
<category>study</category>
</item>
<item>
<title>Haritsu Is the Food Vlogger Cooking â and Eating â Rotting Food</title>
<description><figure><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/articles/65a530ed6cc009e1e59de919/lede/1705333097512-new-project-31.jpeg" alt="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"><figcaption>Haritsu holding a cow's brain that he stored in a rice cooker. Photo:&amp;nbsp;courtesy of Haritsu and via TikTok&amp;nbsp;</figcaption></figure> <p>There are approximately anything from 50 to a hundred ways of <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/a3ay8a/can-you-cook-an-egg-by-screaming-at-it">cooking eggs</a>. For Haritsu, it all starts with the choice of egg. For <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@haritsuuu/video/7196513145874156801"><span>his recipe</span></a>, you need a rotten one with a slimy shell straight out of the Jurassic Age, yielding black and green goo when cracked. Search out the blackened lump that once used to be a yolk, wash it with soap, and then simmer it in oil with some shrivelled vegetables. Viola: spoilt egg and veg omelette. Bon appetit!&nbsp;</p> <p>Millions of people have watched Haritsu (<a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@haritsuuu">@haritsuuu</a>), an Indonesian college dropout living in Japan, cook and devour <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/kzngm3/the-horrible-things-people-have-rotting-in-their-fridges">rotting food</a> on his TikTok channel. Sometimes heâll crack <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@haritsuuu/video/7075520578655882498"><span>ramen into a hot bath</span></a> and eat the noodles while heâs lying in the tub (very <em>Saltburn</em>). Heâs happily <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@haritsuuu/video/7287799333695589633"><span>swallowed mushroom curry with a side of worms</span></a>. One video â&nbsp;in which he opens <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@haritsuuu/video/7293373188078112002"><span>a rice cooker filled with mouldy rice</span></a>, washes it with soap and then cooks it with meat before eating it with a chopstick pulled from his hair â&nbsp;has been watched by 44 million people alone. Whatever and however old it is, heâll eat it.</p> <div style="max-width: 605px;"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 104.259%; padding-top: 120px;"><iframe src="https://oembed.vice.com/HoICvHo?app=1" style="top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; border: 0;" allowfullscreen="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></iframe></div></div> <p>Haritsu has been on TikTok since October 2020 and created his first cooking video in March 2021. In his telling of the story, it all started when he moved from Indonesia to Japan to study International Business. Despite dropping the course early on and leaving his job as a cook in Indonesia, he found his passion on Tiktok: cooking the most <a href="https://video.vice.com/en_ca/video/celebrating-the-diversity-of-the-disgusting-food-museum/5bd8cb28be40771f53022751">disgusting-looking food</a> in existence. VICE thought it was time to have a chat with TikTokâs worst cook, if only to check in on the state of his insides.&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>VICE: Hey Haritsu. So what inspired you to choose this, er, brand for your online content?<br>Haritsu: </strong>Iâve been eating rotten food long before I started the Tiktok account. I have always been a curious person. While others think âwhy should I do that?â, I think âwhy not?â I [will] do anything to not feel bored. So, yeah, this is how I started liking the taste of rotten food. During the time, I was also struggling financially. So I thought maybe if I made a video of it â&nbsp;of myself eating the rotten food â it will be something unique on TikTok. Even though I like nice food like normal people, I donât mind trying out new things. Well, old things. Haha!&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>What was your first taste of rotten food?<br></strong>In 2020. It was two-month-old fungus-covered beef. I still remember how it felt on my hands. It was a thick slime that slipped between my fingers. I was scared but excited. I recall thinking, âCan I eat this?â I thought maybe if I washed it with soap and cooked it, the bacteria and the worms would die. So I cooked [it], but it still tasted like rotten meat. It smelled like a garbage bin. On my tongue, it tasted like what you think sewage water would taste like.&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Whatâs your favourite mouldy food?<br></strong>Um, itâs most probably the rotten tofu that I had. <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/8xyqqz/the-origins-of-fake-meat-are-rooted-in-chinese-cooking">Fresh tofu</a> is supposed to look white, but when I had that tofu it was brown. But it tasted really good â&nbsp;maybe I cooked it right. Every time I eat something new, especially new mouldy food, I think to myself, âahhhhh uhhh, this is how it tastes. Now I know one more thing that others donât.â It makes me feel special.&nbsp;</p> <div style="max-width: 605px;"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 104.259%; padding-top: 120px;"><iframe src="https://oembed.vice.com/maiaYIm?app=1" style="top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; border: 0;" allowfullscreen="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></iframe></div></div> <p><strong>Whatâs the most disgusting food you have had so far?<br></strong>Thereâs two. The first is rotten eggs. Even after washing, it still stinks. The second one is rice covered in layers of fungus and worms. I hate worms. They give me the ick. <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@haritsuuu/video/7281129594026085634?lang=en"><span>Itâs on TikTok. </span></a>When I prepped that food, I felt like puking. I thought to myself, âno moreâ.</p> <p><strong>Wait, so how do you eat worm-filled food when you are scared of them?<br></strong>Haha, I know. Itâs funny that Iâm scared of worms and insects but even then I want to know what they taste like. When I eat food with worms inside, I donât mind them. I always think [that] once I cook the food along with the worms, it will taste good. I try to be brave and do it.&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Do you ever get sick?<br></strong>I never got sick. Even I find it hard to believe that Iâve never even had diarrhoea because of the food I eat. Especially during my first year on TikTok, I was not that popular so all I could afford to eat was the rotten food. But yeah, I think I am freakishly healthier than normal people, or maybe Iâm just used to it by now.&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>What soap do you use? Itâs really popular among your followers.<br></strong>Itâs Kirei Kirei. In Japanese it means âcleanâ. Actually, itâs a hand wash, but I wash my food with it because I think it will clean my food. In fact, the soap is tasteless.&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>How do you prepare your food?<br></strong>I donât have to put in a lot of effort prepping my food. Since I live alone, I only go for grocery shopping once a month or two, so my food goes bad on its own. Most of the stale foods are a couple of months old. People think that my room must stink because of the rotten food, but it doesnât. Well, I donât smell anything much, maybe because I have grown used to it now.&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>What do your friends and family think?<br></strong>Actually, my friends and family like it. They have known me for so long that whenever they watch my videos, they say, âThis is Haritsuuâ. They think my content matches who I am as a person. But my parents get concerned at times â&nbsp;they ask me not to push myself too far. I donât give them any of my mouldy food. When they come over, I cook them fresh food because I donât want to be responsible if they get sick.&nbsp;</p> <div style="max-width: 605px;"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 104.259%; padding-top: 120px;"><iframe src="https://oembed.vice.com/g46zKXD?app=1" style="top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; border: 0;" allowfullscreen="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></iframe></div></div> <p><strong>How are your cats?<br></strong>I have six cats. I spend more money on my cats than myself. I feed them cat food â I will never feed my rotten food to the cats. I only started keeping them six months ago, when I realised that I can afford to house them.</p> <p><strong>What has been the weirdest reaction you have received online?<br></strong>I find it weird that while some people are worried about my health, some wish death upon me. They say, âgo to hellâ and âwhy are you still aliveâ. People think I am mentally sick. But I donât really mind. In the first year, I got a lot of <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/qv7yyq/the-worst-effects-of-online-death-threats-are-things-no-one-can-see">hate comments</a> and it did affect me. But then I started getting more popular with these hate comments, so I donât mind now. Itâs because of the haters that people are now talking about me.&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Why do you think people like watching you?<br></strong>People on the internet like to be shocked. They like seeing things that are uncommon. This is especially true in Japan, where people are known for their cleanliness. They find me so unique. I think in Japan, I am one of the first people to make such content. Now, I am pretty popular in Japan [so] that whenever people see something disgusting, they say, âAhhh. This is Haritsu.â I have seen people go from being, âWhy is he doing this?â to âAhh, because he is Haritsu.â Whenever I go out in Japan, people ask for photos and signatures. Even when I go to restaurants, the staff there ask for a photo with me.&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Any nicknames from fans?<br></strong>Kiwami. I have a tattoo written âKiwamiâ. It means âthe top of the worldâ. I have it on my left hand, which I cook with. I used to be a cook in Indonesia before coming to Japan â I even took a cooking class for a year.&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>How do you feel about your content now?<br></strong>I started TikTok at the rock bottom of my life. That time, I felt like I couldnât do anything right, like my life was just going to be a waste. But I am glad I started my TikTok [...] in Japan. People are warm there and they supported my content from the very beginning. Now, I have more friends and I am happy in my life.&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Do you wish to continue making these videos?<br></strong>Yeah, because this is my brand now. And I like doing it, not just for the content, but because I genuinely like it. Even now when I can afford nice food, I still wish to continue eating rotten food, at least for my content on TikTok and Instagram.&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>One rotten food you fantasise eating?<br></strong>Maybe something really expensive that not a lot of people eat. Like rotten caviar.&nbsp;</p> </description>
<link>https://vice.com/en/article/bvjbwz/haritsu-food-tiktok-vlogger-interview</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://vice.com/en/article/bvjbwz/haritsu-food-tiktok-vlogger-interview</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 15 Jan 2024 16:13:04 GMT</pubDate>
<author>Zing Tsjeng, Dorjee Wangmo</author>
<category>Food</category>
<category>Internet</category>
<category>TikTok</category>
<category>food vlogger</category>
<category>Social Media</category>
<category>japan</category>
</item>
<item>
<title>Australiaâs Privacy Watchdog Has Launched an Inquiry Into TikTokâs Data Collection</title>
<description><figure><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/articles/658e24a073422818afe9dabb/lede/1703814367142-istock-1200715713.jpeg" alt="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"><figcaption>Australiaâs privacy watchdog has launched an inquiry into TikTok for its collection of personal information, even of people who donât have TikTok on their phones. Photo: iStock.&amp;nbsp;</figcaption></figure> <p>The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner has launched an inquiry to investigate whether <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/topic/tiktok">TikTok</a> is harvesting Australiansâ data without their consent and therefore breaching Australiaâs privacy laws.</p> <p>TikTok uses a data collection tool known as pixel to harvest usersâ details including email addresses, phone numbers and internet browsing histories, even if they donât have a TikTok account or the TikTok app on their phone. The pixel can then track a personâs identity and shopping habits by collecting this information without peopleâs knowledge or consent.&nbsp;</p> <p><a href="https://www.tiktok.com/business/en-US/blog/get-started-with-tiktok-pixel?redirected=1"><span>According to TikTokâs website</span></a>, the tracking Pixel can help brands find new customers, optimise campaigns and measure ad performance.</p> <p>It is a piece of code that is placed on a brand or companyâs website, âwhich collects data on user behaviour such as page views, clicks, and conversions by visitors and customers.&nbsp;</p> <p>âThe code allows you to track user actions taken on your site and attribute them to your TikTok ads when they visit your website, which allows actions taken on your site to be attributed to your TikTok ads,â the website reads.</p> <p>âThe TikTok Pixel helps you gain insights into which ads are performing well, which audience types are engaging with your content, and which actions users are taking after clicking on your ads.â</p> <p>Most social media platforms have their own pixel tools to gather data but the TikTok pixel has been found to be sending that information back to TikTokâs servers in China, along with the userâs location, the device theyâre using and their actions online.&nbsp;</p> <p>The inquiry comes after <a href="https://www.theage.com.au/technology/mass-breach-of-privacy-tiktok-under-fire-for-tracking-users-online-20231224-p5etik.html">the Age and Sydney Morning Herald revealed on Tuesday</a> that several Australian brands and organisations were removing the TikTok pixel from their websites over legal and privacy concerns.&nbsp;</p> <p>A spokesperson for Beyond Blue said when journalists alerted the organisation about the issue, they immediately commenced a review of our privacy policy and removed the TikTok pixel from our website.&nbsp;</p> <p>âLike many health organisations, Beyond Blue uses tools such as pixels to help us deliver safe and relevant content to people online,â the Spokesperson told the SMH.&nbsp;</p> <p>Commissioner Angelene Falk who launched the inquiry said in a statement: âWe are making inquiries relating to TikTokâs handling of personal information following the findings made by the UK Information Commissionerâs Office in its investigation into the company.â&nbsp;</p> <p>âThe [Office of the Australian Information Commissioner] is also making inquiries following this recent information which alleges data scraping in regard to TikTokâs practices in order to determine whether to investigate.â</p> <p>This also comes after<a href="https://ministers.ag.gov.au/media-centre/tiktok-ban-government-devices-04-04-2023"> the TikTok app was banned on all Australian government devices</a>&nbsp;over data security concerns in April this year.&nbsp;</p> <p>A TikTok spokeswoman this week denied the pixel breaches Australiaâs privacy laws, but the platform has been facing global scrutiny for several years now because of its parent company ByteDanceâs links to the Chinese Communist Party and the fact that Chinese law requires organisations âsupport, assist and co-operate with the state intelligence workâ.</p> <p><em>See more from Australia Today on <a href="http://vice.com/">vice.com</a> and on <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@viceautoday">TikTok</a>.</em></p> <p><em>Aleksandra Bliszczyk is the Deputy Editor of VICE Australia. Follow her on<a href="https://www.instagram.com/aleksbliszczyk/?hl=en"> Instagram</a>.</em></p> </description>
<link>https://vice.com/en/article/g5y3k7/tiktok-australia-privacy-commission-inquiry-data-collection</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://vice.com/en/article/g5y3k7/tiktok-australia-privacy-commission-inquiry-data-collection</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 29 Dec 2023 01:53:40 GMT</pubDate>
<author>Aleksandra Bliszczyk, Aleksandra Bliszczyk</author>
<category>Australia Today</category>
<category>TikTok</category>
<category>Social Media</category>
<category>ONLINE</category>
<category>Internet</category>
<category>Australia</category>
<category>VICE Australia</category>
<category>privacy</category>
<category>data</category>
</item>
<item>
<title>George Santos, Ziwe, and the Insatiable Internet Content Machine</title>
<description><figure><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/articles/6581e5a825fec27eac604b65/lede/1703011849912-screenshot-2023-12-19-at-15034-pm.png" alt="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"><figcaption>Screengrab via YouTube</figcaption></figure> <p>About 15 minutes into her interview with disgraced former Long Island congressman George Santos, comedian Ziwe Fumudoh asked a question on a lot of people's minds lately: âWhat can we do to get you to go away?â&nbsp;</p> <p>Santos, smirking with his hands and legs both gently folded, responded with a clarity that was otherwise absent throughout much of the sit-down. âStop inviting me to your gigs,â he said. Reaching for an awkward moment that has become expected of her, Fumudoh, who goes by Ziwe professionally, then asked a follow-up for clarification, âThe lesson is to stop inviting you places?â&nbsp;</p> <p>âBut you canât,â he replied, ââcause people want the content.â</p> <div style="max-width: 550px;"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"><iframe src="https://oembed.vice.com/elGryKX?app=1" style="top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; border: 0;" allowfullscreen="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></iframe></div></div> <p>The interview came to pass the same way many of <a href="https://twitter.com/search?lang=en&amp;q=iconic%20guest%20(from%3Aziwe)&amp;src=typed_query"><span>Ziwe's interviews do</span></a>: With a public tweet in which she asked him to come on, adding that he would be an â<a href="https://twitter.com/ziwe/status/1731103672191406482"><span>iconic guest</span></a>.â The tweet received 29,000 likes, a solid number, but one bested by Santosâ own reply: â<a href="https://twitter.com/MrSantosNY/status/1731413115143688606"><span>Letâs do it</span></a>," which received 36,000 likes.&nbsp;</p> <p>Ziweâs satirical interviews have become a kind of rite of passage for celebrities and the recently canceledâcelebrity chef <a href="https://twitter.com/ziwe/status/1276527250133979140?lang=en"><span>Alison Roman</span></a> and accused scammer and general internet person <a href="https://slate.com/culture/2021/05/ziwe-interviews-caroline-calloway-alison-roman-showtime.html"><span>Caroline Calloway</span></a> come to mindâa forum for the sort of self-flagellation that can show one has become in on the joke.</p> <p>Santosâ interview was no different, and it made for good copy, or content, depending on your medium of choice. Under duress, he recited Nicki Minaj lyrics. He admitted he didnât know who James Baldwin and Harvey Milk were (juryâs out on his familiarity with Marsha P. Johnson). He expressed his admiration for Rosa Parks, which allowed Ziwe to quip: âHow else are you like Rosa Parks?â</p> <p>But maybe the joke is on all of us. Since he was expelled from the House of Representatives earlier this month after a frankly impressive series of fabrications, lies, and deceitful activity that have earned him labels ranging from â<a href="https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Fabulist/Mark-Chiusano/9781668043677"><span>The Fabulist</span></a>â to â<a href="https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2023/01/george-santos-the-luckiest-liar-in-politics.html"><span>a walking campaign-finance violation</span></a>,â Santos has transformed from a congressman into nothing more than content, an ethereal internet slush that lives in our broken brains.&nbsp;</p> <p>Santos drives clicks. He sells books. He gets <em>eyeballs</em>, and our inability to look away has gifted him with a power he has been able to wield with a disconcerting self-awareness. Santos rose to political power through lies. That power is gone now, but he has retained the spotlight through a continued manipulation of the media that shows just how willing we are to be spun for a laugh.&nbsp;</p> <p>Santos, in his currently distilled form, makes us feel better about ourselves, in the same way that drunk reality TV stars do when they throw a drink in a friendâs face, and he knows it. His (very serious) alleged crimesâ<a href="https://www.justice.gov/usao-edny/pr/congressman-george-santos-charged-conspiracy-wire-fraud-false-statements-0#:~:text=Credit%20Card%20Fraud-,Congressman%20George%20Santos%20Charged%20With%20Conspiracy%2C%20Wire%20Fraud%2C%20False%20Statements,Theft%2C%20and%20Credit%20Card%20Fraud"><span>ranging from wire fraud to aggravated identity theft</span></a>âalready appear to be fading in the political memory with every comedy show appearance and Cameo video, a small but unambiguously fabulous victory for him.&nbsp;</p> <p>Santosâ political career is over, but his content career could well just be beginning. He understands the incentives at play. So long as he talks, the internet aggregators will transcribe his words. Everything is copy, and Santosâ copy is easily transformed into a quick fix of digital dopamine.&nbsp;</p> <p>The interview inarguably served Ziwe well. It was the first video <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@ziwe/videos"><span>posted to her YouTube account</span></a> in three years, and, more critically, the first since <a href="https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2023/04/unfortunately-there-will-be-no-more-iconic-guests-on-ziwe"><span>Showtime canceled the television version of her show</span></a> earlier this year. As of publication, it has already been viewed more than <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjbkafIMdl8"><span>800,000 times</span></a> since its release on Monday, a number that doesnât reflect its total reach throughout the social web. If it was fun for Santos, it was more critical than that to Ziwe. On her <a href="https://twitter.com/ziwe"><span>Twitter</span></a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/ziwef/?hl=en"><span>Instagram</span></a>, and <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@ziwe?lang=en"><span>TikTok</span></a>, her bios all now identically instruct people to âwatch my interview with george santos now,â a link nearby.&nbsp;</p> <p>The business of these interviews is clear as day: bring on the content machine, pull out words, clip video, edit, and advertise. This is not to say that Ziwe is the problem. She is playing according to the incentives in front of her, and perhaps further exposed Santos as a scammer for the three remaining people who still needed to be convinced. </p> <p>The problem is the insatiable content machine, and the people like Santos who have figured out how to manipulate and otherwise exploit it, if not for personal gain, then to muddy the watersâto make you hear the name George Santos and laugh, not shudder.</p> </description>
<link>https://vice.com/en/article/5d94y8/george-santos-ziwe-interview-content</link>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://vice.com/en/article/5d94y8/george-santos-ziwe-interview-content</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 19 Dec 2023 19:13:24 GMT</pubDate>
<author>Maxwell Strachan, Jordan Pearson</author>
<category>George santos</category>
<category>ziwe</category>
<category>Internet</category>
<category>House of Representatives</category>
<category>Politics</category>
</item>
<item>
<title>The 203 Biggest Pop Culture Moments of 2023</title>
<description><figure><img src="https://video-images.vice.com/articles/657c5e56c645e209ad78237b/lede/1702821288929-12132023203momentsof2023llsite-lede.jpeg" alt="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"><figcaption>Collage: Loe Lee | Images: Getty and Shutterstock</figcaption></figure> <p>Welcome to the end of another year in the Terrible Twenties. (Or the <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/culture/2023-in-review/what-to-call-our-chaotic-era">assholocene</a>, the <a href="https://www.todayintabs.com/p/jackpot?utm_source=post-email-title&amp;publication_id=241398&amp;post_id=139595118&amp;utm_campaign=email-post-title&amp;isFreemail=true&amp;r=785e&amp;utm_medium=email">jackpot</a>, or any number of things that people have come up with to describe our current <em>*gestures wildly*</em>). Things happened, and then they just kept happening, and then everything everywhere all at once. Worse of all: Itâs still happening!! To paraphrase William Gibson: âThe end of the world is already here, itâs just not very evenly distributed.â Itâs nice to be here with you anyway.&nbsp;</p> <p>This was the year that <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/xgwag7/barbenheimer-review-barbie-oppenheimer-movie">Barbenheimer</a> entered the dictionary, being a â<a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/dy35z7/solosexual-what-it-means-why-i-prefer-masturbation">gooner</a>â started meaning more than just being an Arsenal football fan, and AI versions of Homer Simpson and Spongebob Squarepants took over TikTok. Itâs the year of people pleading with celebritiesânay, straight-up beggingâto stop using private jets. Everyone briefly insane over an <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/5d3vx5/ksi-logan-paul-prime-energy-drink-resellers">energy drink</a>. You were either a litty lengy or you werenât. (Maybe youâre a nepo baby, though.)&nbsp;</p> <p>You may have reposted a headline about wild javelinas ripping up golf courses with the words âsheâs so meâ. You became increasingly scared about your screentime, but whenever you did post, you made sure not to show feet (for free, at least). You probably paid way too much money for a concert ticket. Xâformerly known as Twitter, yada yadaâimploded, but youâre still there.</p> <p>What can we say? Itâs been a lot. Donât worry, though. We at VICE used our big brains to come up with a completely subjective list of 203 of the yearâs biggest pop culture moments. Read on for the main characters, the beefs, the silly trends and biggest viral blow-ups. Hereâs to another year of being alive.</p> <p><strong>1) <a href="https://twitter.com/visegrad24/status/1693023170842788168?lang=en">Mexican drug cartels allegedly designed guns with Lana del Reyâs face</a> on the magazine</strong>. Very on-brand for her.</p> <p><strong>2) The death of the MCU. </strong><em>Marvels</em> tanking at the box office. The big yawn of <em>Loki</em> season two. Whatever Oscar Isaac's weird accent was in <em>Moon Knight</em>. Is Marvel done? We can pray!</p> <p><strong>3) All the rich people taking drugs in the desert for Burning Man getting stuck in the mud.</strong></p> <p><strong>4) BeReal dying. </strong>It was fun while it lasted.</p> <p><strong>5) <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@taystapam/video/7213880485766958382?lang=en">The TikTok Child Who Sings With a Goat</a></strong><a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@taystapam/video/7213880485766958382?lang=en">.</a> How Very Very Sweet and Blessed We Are To Live In This Time.</p> <p><strong>6) NYC Mayor Eric Adamsâs âwar on ratsâ. </strong>He appointed a âbloodthirstyâ rat czar to commit a "wholesome slaughterâ. Weird guy!</p> <p><strong>7) "Aren't you guys bankrupt?</strong>"</p> <p><strong>8) M&amp;Ms retiring their âspokescandiesâ. </strong>A victory in the <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/m7gzqa/mms-says-its-spokescandies-are-retiring-amid-conservative-culture-war">conservative culture war against talking chocolate</a>.</p> <p><strong>9) </strong><em><strong>The Idol</strong></em><strong> being trash in a bad way, not a good way.</strong></p> <p><strong>10) <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/7kxqkb/2023-the-year-animals-fought-back">The big animal uprising</a>: </strong>Orcas, otters, bedbugs, feral Canadian pigs are invading the US. Forget AI, start worrying more about animals taking their revenge on humanity.</p> <p><strong>11) Although, actually, do continue worrying about AI art, historyâs worst type of art.</strong></p> <p><strong>12) Men with microphones accosting random women in the street to ask what their bodycount is. </strong>The spiritual cousin of this is redpilled prepubescent boys getting voxpopped and coming out with just the most chauvinistic shit youâve ever heard.</p> <p><strong>13) This oppossum: </strong><a href="https://twitter.com/MattPostSaysHi/status/1720301151197790532">Thatâs me</a>.</p> <div style="max-width: 550px;"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"><iframe src="https://oembed.vice.com/N23L1sw?app=1" style="top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; border: 0;" allowfullscreen="" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></iframe></div></div> <p><strong>14) All the people who got mad about AndrĂ© 3000's flute album.</strong></p> <p><strong>15) Podcasts died</strong>, brah.</p> <p><strong>16) Jada Pinkett Smith. </strong>Everything I have learnt about this womanâs marriage or lack thereof to Will Smith has been against my will.</p> <p><strong>17) <a href="https://mashable.com/article/baby-gronk-rizz-livvy-drip-king-meme-joke-explained">Baby Gronk Rizzed Up Livvy</a></strong>. Really, what more is there to even say?</p> <p><strong>18) The Sphere. </strong>Itâs big, <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/n7ekv7/the-sphere-symbol-of-american-rejuvenation-is-already-running-into-problems">itâs bad</a>, and itâs almost certainly going to give someone a migraine if they look at it for too long.</p> <p><strong>19) Mia Goth <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGF_TmfuDq0">doing her best scream</a>.</strong></p> <p><strong>20) That kissing Shrek filter on TikTok.</strong></p> <p><strong>21) âZac Muffronâ.</strong></p> <p><strong>22) Ozempic. </strong>Big year for non-diabetic people <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/epz93n/ozempic-viral-celebrity-weight-loss-drug">injecting themselves with diabetes medicine</a>.</p> <p><strong>23) Caroline Calloway's book </strong><em><strong>Scammer</strong></em><strong> finally released. </strong>And to positive acclaim as well! Bless her for following through on something.</p> <p><strong>24) <a href="https://boingboing.net/2023/10/06/bings-new-ai-image-creator-shows-mickey-kermit-spongebob-and-more-all-doing-9-11.html">AI Spongebob 9/11</a>: </strong>The kind of phrase the CIA probably used in MKULTRA as a trigger.</p> <p><strong>25) </strong>The rise of <strong>Instagram accounts that steal people's photos and videos</strong> and thank âtheir communityâ for âbeing with themâ from the start, but the curation is on point.</p> <p><strong>26)</strong> <strong>Music well and truly fracturing. </strong>For proof, try <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3S9AczaI4U">this 100 gecs and Basement Jaxx collaboration</a>.</p> <div><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"><iframe data-iframely-url="//oembed.vice.com/LnRu2ch?playerjs=1" data-img="" style="top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; border: 0;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" allow="autoplay *; accelerometer *; clipboard-write *; encrypted-media *; gyroscope *; picture-in-picture *; web-share *;" referrerpolicy="no-referrer"></iframe></div></div> <p><strong>27) The Christmas episode of </strong><em><strong>The Bear.</strong></em><strong> </strong>Maybe the most chaotic episode of television ever broadcast?</p> <p><strong>28) <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@educatorandrea/video/7239737335548562730?q=teachers%20not%20allowed%20to%20wear%20sandals&amp;t=1702486398267">Teenagers got really weird about showing feet</a> </strong>and itâs begun to transcend generat