Vol 33 No 19

02 October 2023

AUSTRALIA

Some things change, some things stay the same
- David Halliday
- 13 October 2023
This vote will be remembered as an opportunity for Australians to grapple with the injustices of history, and imagine a more just way forward. My hope is that each person voting will have done just that – and whether they vote ‘yes’ or ‘no’, that they are making their vote bearing in mind what they think will best reconcile our nation’s past and look forward to a more just future.
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ARTS AND CULTURE

Cults, crimes and coercive control: The Running Grave
- Juliette Hughes
- 13 October 2023
1 Comment
An intricate tale that delves deep into the realm of cults, deception, and the human psyche, The Running Grave goes beyond a mere detective yarn, with a narrative that confronts society's susceptibility to manipulation and questions the very fabric of our beliefs.
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ENVIRONMENT

God in a time of threat
- Andrew Hamilton
- 12 October 2023
3 Comments
Pope Francis' latest Exhortation 'Laudate Deum,' is an evocative sequel to 'Laudato Si’, juxtaposing the urgency of our environmental predicament with the fragility of human hope. Before the upcoming COP28 conference, as nations teeter between action and inertia, the Pope's message is clear: our shared environment, and the most vulnerable among us, hang in the balance.
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AUSTRALIA

Bring the second Australia out of the shadows
- Mark Gaetani
- 12 October 2023
3 Comments
Beneath the facade of Australian prosperity lies a hidden country where over three million citizens, including a staggering 761,000 children, grapple daily with the hard choices that come with poverty. With an urgent need for reform, what policy shifts could bring about the transformation this nation needs?
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EDUCATION

A tale of two school systems
- Sarah Klenbort
- 11 October 2023
9 Comments
Parents face a complex choice: public or private schooling? Overcrowded public classrooms contrast with well-funded private institutions, revealing inequalities in educational resources. Australia's educational landscape reveals not just a tale of two school systems but the underlying values and priorities of a nation.
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AUSTRALIA

Pope Francis' lesson for a polarised world: Focus on the process, not the outcome
- Julian Butler
- 11 October 2023
Amidst a backdrop of polarized decisions and rising populism, at the Synod on Synodality in Rome, Pope Francis emphasises collaborative listening. As he explores decision-making in religious contexts, could prioritising process over outcome reshape our own current political landscape?
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ECONOMICS

What happened to the great reset?
- David James
- 10 October 2023
1 Comment
As Western economies grapple with soaring inflation rates, the once steady financial landscape is shifting, revealing looming challenges beneath mounting global debt. Amid 'Great Reset' calls, many face an uncertain future where the true cost of living is set to be redefined.
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ARTS AND CULTURE

If we ever got to be what we so want to be
- Brian Doyle
- 05 October 2023
3 Comments
It's hard for a guy to cry endlessly and helplessly. It is. Some remote part of you shouts Man, get it together, this is totally beyond the bounds. But I couldn't stop. (From 2018)
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AUSTRALIA

Referendums and reading lists reveal similar societal anxieties
- Andrew Hamilton
- 04 October 2023
4 Comments
An examination of school reading lists and libraries unveils striking parallels with the debates and concerns surrounding the Referendum, highlighting the pervasive societal anxieties and the intricate interplay of national identity and values, and the ongoing need for empathy.
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INTERNATIONAL

Did China support East Timor's independence from Indonesia?
- Pat Walsh
- 04 October 2023
3 Comments
Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao's meeting with China's President Xi Jinping signals deeper cooperation between Timor-Leste and China. This evolving alliance, closely watched by Australia, raises questions about Beijing's motives and Timor-Leste's historical indebtedness. As China expands its influence in the Indo-Pacific, Timor-Leste's diplomatic balancing act comes under scrutiny.
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ARTS AND CULTURE

When poems are like prayers, speaking to us
- Warwick McFadyen
- 04 October 2023
2 Comments
Some people pray in church, some pray alone, some share their prayer through song, and others use poems as prayer. Each carries its own line of faith that they believe unites them with something outside themselves. This union is reached through words written and words said.
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ARTS AND CULTURE

Doubt requires belief: The Fickle Pendulum
- Les Wicks
- 04 October 2023
1 Comment
In The Fickle Pendulum, Paul Scully deftly weaves centuries of human exploration — from the doubt of St Thomas to Galileo's scientific certainties. Journeying through epochs, blending faith with skepticism, Scully makes the arcane comes alive, offering readers a profound immersion into the expanse of human introspection.
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AUSTRALIA

Our country is hurting
- Brian McCoy
- 04 October 2023
6 Comments
The looming referendum challenges us to confront our shared history and consider a united path forward. Amidst the deep-rooted pain and the quest for truth, reconciliation and healing, can this vote be the turning point that signals a brighter, more inclusive future for all?
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AUSTRALIA

Stories of yes
- Michele Frankeni
- 02 October 2023
From cherished family anecdotes to narratives that divide societies, stories have a way of bonding groups and affecting our thinking on the challenges facing our nation. It is our stories that either draw people closer or keep us from recognising the humanity in each other.
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Vol 33 No 19