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Articles by Robert Weir
How a former stay-at-home dad helped transform a misunderstood Kalamazoo neighborhood
This story is part of the Southwest Michigan Journalism Collaborative’s coverage of equitable community development. The SWMJC is a group of 12 regional organizations dedicated to strengthening local journalism. To learn more, visit swmichjournalism.com.
This small but powerful think tank is driving socialism's slow creep in Australia, the UK and beyond
The socialist utopian dream is alive and well in Australia and abroad, despite it not really working anywhere ever. One small society has propelled hardline socialist agendas for more than 100 years and made inroads like no other across the Australian landscape, yet most people are unaware of who they are or what they stand for. The Fabian Society was established in 1884 in Britain as a political think tank, founded on left-wing, socialist thinking and ideology.
Vitalizing the Vine
Steve Walsh’s first impression of the Vine neighborhood, in 1993, was “cool place, a good vibe, and the people are wonderful.” Today, as executive director of the Vine Neighborhood Association, he speaks with passion about this “great neighborhood” with its diverse population of families and retirees; students, entrepreneurs and professionals; musicians, artists, actors and writers.
These ‘attack dog’ Coalition leaders will jump on Labor’s many and frequent controversies once Sussan Ley eventually steps aside
As Labor continues to embroil itself in perpetual dramas and controversies, it is no longer inconceivable the Coalition could win the next federal election. However they still have much to learn from previous mistakes before they can regain their lost seats and bring back voters who flocked to the independents.
Inside the perfect storm of wasteful government spending and tanking private investment that could push Australia into a recession in 2026
While Labor shovels billions into the Clean Energy Finance Corporation and the Australian Renewable Energy Agency, the Australian economy is quietly in freefall. Perhaps those who voted for Anthony Albanese during the last election thought that after a bumpy first term, Labor would now get on with rebuilding the economy and tackle the soaring cost of living.
Labor's solar and wind cover-up is slowly being exposed by damning revelations about the cost of maintaining and disposing of renewables installations | Sky News Australia
The Albanese government is becoming known as a secretive lot, as it continues blocking information from public scrutiny on a daily basis. However, the cover-ups underpinning the renewables dream are slowly beginning to float to the surface. The reality of solar and wind energy is that they are energy intensive to manufacture, while the waste or by-product is enormous when panels and turbines wear out.
‘Cleanest energy source so far’: Nuclear fusion technology the antidote to Australian public’s fear of radioactive waste Original
Exciting things are happening in nuclear energy, and one of the major revolutions underway is nuclear fusion. This technology is no longer in the realms of science fiction. The current nuclear energy process is an atomic reaction called nuclear fission, which is when a neutron slams into a larger atom, splitting them into two smaller atoms.
The ABC's own maths reveals mammoth task ahead decarbonising the atmosphere to meet 2035, 2050 climate targets
Whether net zero can be achieved in Australia by 2050 is no longer the argument, as the massive cost of pursuing such a lofty goal with solar, battery back-up and wind energy become clearer by the day. To achieve just 62-70 per cent net emissions targets by 2035, 100 million tonnes of carbon will need to be pulled out of the atmosphere, according to CSIRO modelling.
The environmental statistic lost on our politicians as Australia clears a path towards renewable energy domination
There is a weird juxtaposition that has played out as governments pretend to lead the way in their pursuit to save the planet from climate change. The argument is that with global warming, the biodiversity of all living creatures around the world is under threat, with rising sea waters due to glacial melting, longer, hotter summers, and increasingly unstable weather patterns.
Amateur hour: First six months of new Labor govt gets a big fat 'F' as economy goes backwards and electricity bills surge
In the past few months it has been quite the disaster for the Labor Party, but it barely gets a mention, while Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Treasurer Jim Chalmers, and the usual Labor suspects continue ruining the economy, all while reshaping Australia into their left-wing dystopia.
'Good for We': Meknology's Daniel Hodges has found a better way to treat wastewater – Second Wave
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... Encore magazine originally published this Southwest Michigan Journalism Collaborative story here. What if industrial wastewater could be purified and converted into profitable byproducts? Daniel Hodges is planning to do just that in Kalamazoo.
Michigan startup transforms brewery waste into revenue streams
This story is part of the Southwest Michigan Journalism Collaborative’s coverage of equitable community development. SWMJC is a group of 12 regional organizations dedicated to strengthening local journalism. To learn more, visit swmichjournalism.com. What if industrial wastewater could be purified and converted into profitable byproducts? Daniel Hodges is planning to do just that in Kalamazoo.
Australia’s shame: Babies who survive late-term abortions deserve humanity Original
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights says "everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person". So why is it being reported that this human right is not being extended to babies who are born alive after an attempted abortion?
Labor's slide into neo-communism is becoming increasingly noticeable
Australia is well on its way towards neo-Communism and we have a unique band of politicians guiding us there, led by Anthony Albanese, his Labor minions Penny Wong and Jim Chalmers, as well as ex-politicians Dan Andrews and Bob Carr. Labor and these ex-politicians, to name a few, are on full display as the purveyors of Australia’s new-wave shift towards fewer freedoms, an unenterprising future and a greater reliance on government welfare.
'Could have been avoided': Australia's 'sick' economy continues to dive as Labor's big government strategy leaves private sector growth languishing
Australians are in that uncomfortable middle ground somewhere between striving to own a home and never being able to afford the Australian dream. The worst part is how we got here could have been avoided. House and rental prices have surged in the last four years to heights that now make it unattainable for a whole new generation, with 54 per cent of males and 47 per cent of females aged between 18 and 29 choosing to live at home with their parents. The Australian economy is not well.
How on earth did Albanese win the nation over at the last Federal Election, amid Voice failure, productivity and cost of living slump?
When it comes to outcomes in Australian state and federal politics, there have been some surprise developments of late worth noting. Labor now has a whopping 94 seats, with 34 per cent of the national vote going to independent candidates and minor parties – and the majority of those preferencing Labor.
Coles, Woolworths 'falling into line' with new-age tech at the expense of their workers as stories of layoffs due to AI continue to stack up
The future of human replacement, for artificial intelligence is here. No longer the scenario of 10 years down the track, it has begun to chip away across almost all sectors. While a shift towards salient new technologies is inevitable, questions need to be answered on the viability of cutting jobs and whether industries should be allowed to use AI as an excuse to stop employing people, or terminate employment en masse to replace them with AI.
Sweet Success: Papa's Brittle driven by owner's desire to invest in her community
This story originally appeared in Encore Magazine here and is reprinted in Second Wave through the cooperation of the Southwest Michigan Journalism Collaborative. In the fall of 2020, the Rev. Doreen Gardner says her parents “voluntold” her to take on a family tradition of cooking a vast amount of peanut brittle for family and friends at Christmastime.
Robert M. Weir for Encore
Sweet Success: Papa’s Brittle driven by owner’s desire to invest in her community In the summer of 2021, the Rev. Doreen Gardner began making her large batches of brittle in the commercial kitchen space at the small business incubator Can-Do Kalamazoo. Papa’s Brittle went on to win the national NAACP’s Black Entrepreneur Award, which came with a $25,000 award and mentorship from an investor on the ABC reality television series Shark Tank.
Costed energy policy, real cost of living relief: What Sussan Ley must offer voters to haul the Coalition back from pitiful 40-year polling low
The 2025 Federal Election was a landslide victory to Labor and a massive blow to the Liberal Party. Compounding that, data released this week, revealed support for the Coalition has sunk to a 40-year low, although Labor has failed to capitalise on the exodus. Despite the uphill battle the Liberal Party now face, there is no assurance that Labor will secure a next-term win, and in fact, it is now anyone’s game.
Australia's defence lags behind with not enough munitions to 'last a week' if attacked, as the US puts its house in order
The West’s race to build a better equipped defence force has exposed the gaping holes that many nations face with an almost non-existent manufacturing base and a lack of know-how to get the jobs done. President Trump has taken the reins of the US economy at the eleventh hour and may have just saved it in time to re-establish the workforce and reboot their economy.
Australia and the world's response to city-killing asteroids hitting the Earth may not be too far of a stretch to imagine
Did you know that a fleet of asteroids following Venus’ orbit could one day collide with Earth? These asteroids, or Near-Earth Objects (NEO’s) have the potential to take out entire cities and alter our very existence. Venus travels closer to Earth than any other planet, and there are around 20 known asteroids that orbit with it. Some of them are not completely stable, sparking fears the asteroids could head towards Earth’s elliptical trajectory.
Australia's demand for cheap clothing, cars leaves huge polluters China, India off the hook in emissions targets as they speed ahead in coal power plant production | Sky News Australia
The net zero emissions targets paradox of western democracies to that of two of the world’s largest economies, India and China, has never been clearer as we head towards the highest energy costs Australia has ever seen - while China and India pursue higher GDP’s per year. Australian gas prices have gone up 34 per cent and electricity up 32 per cent since Albanese took office and there is an expected price hike of around nine per cent for some Australian households to come.
Peter Dutton, Keir Starmer leading the way in confused, inconsistent messaging that is turning voters to the Teals and Reform UK
Politicians have always tried to appeal to the popular vote when it suited them, but today’s politicians have become so confusing to the voting public that distrust and disengagement have become a serious problem for the major parties. There has been such an erosion of trust in politicians that a record 33.4 per cent of the federal May 3 votes went to independents and the minor parties.
'Real political force': The Teals look set to capitalise on the Liberal Party's collapse, move on from Labor-Greens alliance
It is easy to portray yourself as the good guys when it comes to fighting climate change. Fighting for the environment is always a winner, as it should be. A virtuous climate-friendly agenda is what multi-millionaire and Climate 200 founder, Simon Holmes à Court wants the Australian public to buy into. But this election has exposed the desperate Teals' complete lack of integrity.
'Atrocious' left-wing media bias letting Albanese off the hook for snide, dismissive comments that would have seen Dutton condemned on every news channel | Sky News Australia
If we are to believe the polls for the May 3 Federal Election, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will win a second term. There will be several reasons why Opposition Leader Peter Dutton’s campaign has not gained enough traction to win – and it has less to do with Mr Dutton and more to do with the media’s biased coverage.
O Canada: Steyn's Song of the Week
Tomorrow, in the first of several elections across His Majesty's dominions this coming week, Canadians go to the polls to decide between a government led by a central banker of no fixed abode or a viral apple-muncher. Incredibly, fortysomething per cent of my compatriots seem inclined to reward the Liberal Party of Canada for their stewardship of the last decade with another four years. I feel in a somewhat elegaic mood for my country.
What Peter Dutton would do in his first 100 days in power to fix Labor's cost of living mess, reduce waste and make Australia affordable again
Promises and policies are coming thick and fast during the battle between an Anthony Albanese Labor government and a Peter Dutton-led Liberal National Party. The public have had three years to experience what Mr Albanese and his hapless treasurer, Jim Chalmers have delivered, and we know what the dystopian story is going to look like if they are reinstalled for Airbus Albanese: Part II.
Australia cannot afford another three years of Labor failing to stand up for Australian interests on the world stage
Anthony Albanese’s tenure as Australian prime minister is no longer viable, purely based on his foreign policies and the nation’s faltering position internationally. Australia has been hit with 25 per cent tariffs on steel and aluminium by the Trump administration, and although no country is immune from the sweeping levies, everything points to Mr Albanese and our ambassador to America Kevin Rudd being on the outer with the US president.
All the signs Australia is sitting on the edge of a recession
The Australian economy has spiralled downwards in a slow demise over the last three years under the Albanese-led Labor government. So many economic indicators point to recession-like conditions under Labor, ones that will continue to drive high inflation and cost-of-living pressures for some time to come. There is a lot of talk about the per capita recession that we have been in, which is when GDP falls per person and economic standing decreases. However, it is worse than that.
A vote for Anthony Albanese at the Federal Election is a vote for the Greens-lite Teals and their hard-left agenda disguised as community values
The Teals are a clayton’s political party, dressed as independents but with the same political ideologies. Insisting that they are independent of each other goes against the overwhelming evidence, from relentless attacks on the LNP and consistent votes in line with the Greens when voting on parliamentary bills. There are a staggering 35 Teal candidates up for election this year, with the new candidates standing in mostly Liberal seats.
'Not interested in the job': Real chance Anthony Albanese hands over reins even if Labor wins, after stumbling his way through his first three years in power | Sky News Australia
As the Federal Election looms, Australians are weighing up what life will be like under another Labor Government, or with a newly elected party in the form of the Liberals/Nationals. This election will define which direction the nation will move towards in terms of energy policy, national debt, inflation and the cost of living, housing infrastructure, and national security, especially relating to anti-Jewish hate.
Hollywood audiences waking up to the 'DEI rat in the room' as the Trump factor turns the tide on nonsensical ideology
The Hollywood movie machine has been in steady decline over recent years, in no small part thanks to its diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives that have infiltrated into casting decisions and storylines. US President Donald Trump has now enlisted a special envoy to help change Hollywood’s flagging box office sales, and change the culture from the inside out, which might be the answer. But more on that in a moment.
Greens sliding into irrelevancy as Adam Bandt's radical leadership strays the party further from its core environmental values
Like all political parties, the Australian Greens look good on paper. However, what they appear to stand for and what is delivered are two different things. It has been a long time since the Greens had a noteworthy win for any environmental policy. The shrine to long-retired Greens idol, Bob Brown, has been left to gather dust as they continue to stray further from environmental issues, and head towards leftist, neo-communist oblivion.
Robert Weir: Your go-to guide of the woke terms pitting the world against itself and categorising everyone as either the oppressor or the oppressed
Woke culture has infiltrated the minds of a generation and despite the ugliness of this new movement, it continues to gain traction, especially with those in positions of power casting themselves as the higher moral authority when it comes to ‘social justice”. Many of us observing social change wonder how progressivism got to such an incredibly awful place. It is no longer the standard liberal viewpoint in play.
'No particular place to go': Anthony Albanese acting like a 'disinterested' prime minister as he presides over one of the worst cost of living crises in decades | Sky News Australia
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has not had a smooth run in the top job as he struggles to find answers to relieve cost of living pressures, all while running from one self-inflicted problem to the next. The Labor Party can no longer blame their economic predicaments on the previous government. While inflation is slowly coming down in the US, the Reserve Bank is in no mood to give an inch yet, and Labor have brought a lot of the pressure on themselves.
Australian politicians ‘diminish climate science’ with their obsession about solar and wind farms that neglects global warming’s other causes
When we hear the term greenhouse gases, there is an instant antipathy about them. Yet, greenhouse gases are what makes life on Earth habitable, trapping the right amount of heat in the atmosphere and providing essential warmth for the diversity of lifeforms to flourish.
Australia’s shocking drop to world’s bottom third in Economic Complexity Index shows manufacturing sector needs drastic reboot
Have you heard of the Harvard Economic Complexity Index? It is a global ranking that calculates the complexity of a nation’s manufacturing capabilities. The ranking assesses “the current state of a country’s productive knowledge” and Australia recently ranked 93 out of 133 countries, the lowest rating yet. In basic terms, the Economic Complexity Index (ECI) is a snapshot of how simple or complex the manufacturing industry is within an economy.
Kamala Harris’ new game plan - to stop laughing, be more coherent - doesn’t quite cut it next to Trump who just wants to give the US a better deal
Donald Trump has been in the public eye for decades. He has been in and out of tabloid news, starred in movie cameos and had his very own show, ‘The Apprentice’. Kamala Harris has also been in the public eye for some time now, although better known in the US for her ascension to Attorney General of the state of California and then becoming internationally known for her role as Vice President. She has wowed audiences and mystified them.
A year of failure for Albanese and Labor
During the election campaign of 2022, one got the impression that Labor Opposition Leader, Anthony Albanese, didn’t take winning the election too seriously. When questioned about the Reserve Bank’s interest rate and unemployment rate, Albanese couldn’t answer either; and this was Labor’s Leader campaigning to be Prime Minister. Elections are said be lost, not won, and this is true of the 2022 election.
Utah prioritizes biggest polluters, not public health
The Tribune recently published an about northern Utah's growing ozone problem. The problem is so significant that the EPA is likely to reclassify our status as "serious," up from "moderate" nonattainment. Unfortunately, the article left out some very important information that Utahns need in order to understand the health consequences of our persistently high ozone and to respond appropriately to the public policy changes that should follow.
Listening is more than words
Whether you are a university student, a parent, or working your way up the business ladder, it is essential that you have great listening skills. It may sound like an obvious statement, and one that is easily dismissed, but addressing your bad listening skills will benefit your everyday life. Active listening is a thing, and most of us should mindfully practice it.
Ontario's Employment Standards Act: New Licensing Requirements For Temporary Help Agencies And Recruiters
The Ontario government passed Bill 27, Working for Workers Act, 2021, on Dec. 2, 2021, which amended the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (ESA), to create a new licensing regime for temporary help agencies (THAs) and recruiters in Ontario. What's changed with the new ESA amendments? Some of the amendments to the new licensing regime for THAs and recruiters were proclaimed into force in July of this year. Other amendments will be proclaimed into force on Jan. 1, 2024.
O Canada: Steyn's Song of the Week
Another Dominion Day has come and gone, but, in lieu of the shrunken and craven jubilations of Justin's reign, here's Steyn on Canada's national anthem: A few years ago, coming back from a family trip to eastern Quebec, we passed through the small town of Kamouraska.
Tendances entourant les facteurs environnementaux, sociaux et de gouvernance (ESG) : dossiers à suivre et choses à savoir
En vedette… Différends, litiges et réclamations Laura M. Wagner et Rick Williams Au pays, des plaintes hautement médiatisées contre des fabricants et des institutions financières ont donné lieu à des amendes et à des pénalités. Ailleurs dans le monde, une tendance a émergé : des actions privées en matière d’écoblanchiment opposant des acteurs sectoriels.
Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Trends: Why it’s important and what you need to know
Spotlight on: Litigation, disputes and claims Laura M. Wagner & Rick Williams In 2022, we saw high profile complaints against manufacturers and financial institutions resulting in fines and penalties. Internationally, we saw a new trend: private action greenwashing claims between industry players. One example came out of Italy, where a company in the textile industry obtained an interim injunction against its competitor to stop it from making false and misleading greenwashing claims.
Opinion: When Being Rational is Grounds for Termination
Have you ever wondered about the phrase, common sense? Simply put, it’s a rational way of thinking that comes naturally to all humans. It’s an innately-provided type of knowledge that is unspoken and unwritten. It’s taken for granted. We acquire such reasoning imperceptibly from the day we are born. Such reasoning keeps us from even contemplating notions that violate our God-given ability to make prudent judgments.
Politicians are not evolving as fast as Covid
It has been more than two years since China unleashed Covid onto the world, and with no end in sight, we should be asking; what could the government have done better? And, what should we do next? As a human collective, we were worried and anxious about this new pandemic, with infections in the thousands across all continents.
#MaskUp or ‘mask-off’? | The Spectator Australia
Before Covid hit, we could barely imagine a reality where the world went into shutdown to safeguard ourselves from a new deadly pandemic. Two years on, and we finally got back to something that looks like life pre-Covid, but there are now increasing calls for mask mandates to be reintroduced, and I for one, am all for it. Despite the slip-ups of our state and federal governments during the first wave of the pandemic, there was a time when NSW recorded zero cases.
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