Vol 33 No 5

20 March 2023

AUSTRALIA

'Cultural Catholic' lives of public service
- John Warhurst
- 31 March 2023
2 Comments
This life story of Tanya Plibersek, as told with great sensitivity and empathy by Margaret Simons, is a valuable reflection upon the engagement of a progressive modern woman with two of the great institutions in Australian history: the Labor Party and the Catholic Church.
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ARTS AND CULTURE

In love, prefer one another
- Barry Gittins
- 30 March 2023
5 Comments
In a world of differing opinions and clashing worldviews, finding common ground can be a challenge. But by staying curious and open-minded about others' experience and practicing patience and compassion, we can learn to work alongside others with different viewpoints.
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INTERNATIONAL

Ride horses no more
- Andrew Hamilton
- 30 March 2023
4 Comments
The decision by Australia to buy nuclear submarines from the United States and Great Britain inevitably prioritize security over justice, equality, and fraternity. As the world faces the threat of catastrophic global warming, it is time to ask whether submarines are the answer, or whether they distract us from the far greater challenge posed by nature itself.
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AUSTRALIA

The Referendum: Appealing to the heart and mind
- Andrew Hamilton
- 30 March 2023
4 Comments
Frank Brennan’s book An Indigenous Voice to Parliament is important in pointing out the difficulties facing the Referendum, the conditions to be met if it is to be passed, and in implicitly judging the current state of play.
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INTERNATIONAL

Updating modern audiences for old texts
- Kylie Crabbe
- 29 March 2023
2 Comments
The recent decision by Puffin Books to revise new editions of Roald Dahl's corpus has sparked debates about the changing cultural mores of our times and the way we read older texts. Navigating the challenges of reading texts from another time must be accompanied by an awareness of the worldviews that shaped them.
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INTERNATIONAL

Why Singapore needs to shift the conversation around drugs
- Kirsten Han
- 29 March 2023
1 Comment
Singapore's notoriously strict drug laws mean that people caught with over a certain amount of drugs face the death penalty. While the Singaporean government claims its policy deters drug trafficking, critics say there is no evidence that the death penalty is effective, arguing that these policies do not address the root causes of drug use and addiction.
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INTERNATIONAL

AUKUS: Mirage or reality?
- Binoy Kampmark
- 28 March 2023
8 Comments
Australia's decision to partner with the US and the UK for the AUKUS pact has drawn scrutiny with questions looming about acquisition, construction and delivery of the nuclear-propelled submarines and a projected $368 billion outlay for up to eight vessels.
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ARTS AND CULTURE

The disarming force of humour
- Andrew Hamilton
- 27 March 2023
2 Comments
A response to a man begging on the street leads a group of friends to consider the power of humor and humility in difficult conversations. Can these qualities can help guide conversations about difficult topics like banning and censorship?
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ENVIRONMENT

The book corner: Humanity's Moment
- Michele Gierck
- 24 March 2023
Climate science doesn't make for comfortable reading. As the climate crisis continues to escalate, Dr. Joëlle Gergis, prominent climate scientist and one of Australia's lead authors of the IPCC Sixth Assessment Report, offers readers a unique perspective on the urgent need for mass climate action and why we have reason to hope.
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INTERNATIONAL

In times of crisis, strengthening Greek-Turkish connections
- William Gourlay
- 23 March 2023
1 Comment
The tragic train crash in Greece that claimed 57 lives has sparked an unexpected show of solidarity from Turkey. This is not the first time these two nations have come together in times of crisis, and despite a history of conflict and mistrust, recent events have brought the Greeks and Turks closer together, and intercommunality may be on the rise.
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AUSTRALIA

It's time we ended politically induced poverty
- John Falzon
- 23 March 2023
11 Comments
As jobseeker payments are indexed for inflation, increased payments are still well below the minimum wage and age pension. With successive neoliberal governments dismantling social infrastructure, people living in poverty have little means of escape. Poverty is not a personal choice but a political one.
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RELIGION

The inside low-down on Pope Francis
- Andrew Hamilton
- 23 March 2023
10 Comments
Pope Francis's ten-year papacy continues to surprise and puzzle observers measuring him by liberal and conservative polarities. But to understand his actions and words better, it's important to recognise that his framework is not derived from contemporary culture but from Christian faith.
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INTERNATIONAL

The failure of an idea: The Russian sanctions regime
- Binoy Kampmark
- 22 March 2023
3 Comments
Any sanctions regime produces uneven effects. Economic sanctions imposed on Russia are not only unlikely to end the conflict in Ukraine, but they are having unintended consequences, encouraging Moscow to be more resourceful and leading to a shift in global energy markets.
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AUSTRALIA

Wild and free: Living in an urban food forest
- Andreana Reale
- 21 March 2023
1 Comment
In a world where we rely on the market for our daily sustenance, have we forgotten about the edible plants growing in our own backyards? Despite the billions spent on herbicides to dispense with so-called weeds, these plants were once a vital part of our diets and have since been forgotten.
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AUSTRALIA

On humility
- Michael McVeigh
- 21 March 2023
As trust in public institutions continues to erode, the concept of humility takes on a newfound significance. Carlton Football Club's incorporation of humility and integrity into its foundational values is emblematic of this cultural shift.
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Vol 33 No 5