Intelligent and compassionate people can change the world, so let us get on with this. As I draw much closer to becoming an octogenarian early next year, I have found myself finding it more and more difficult to feel hopeful for our world going into the future. I most likely will not be here to Continue reading »
politics
The re-election of the Albanese Government cannot be taken for granted. That is inspite of several credible achievements by Treasurer Chalmers. Recent opinion polls suggest support for the ALP Government is insufficient for even a minority government win. Given the stunning election win by Trump, a similar disaster could happen in Australia. The approach by Continue reading »
China today is not the China of the pre-COVID age, but many commentators think it is still an economy based on cheap manufacturing. Several weeks ago, Thomas Friedman, diplomatic editor of The New York Times, travelled to China and published his impressions in a syndicated article on the country’s “staggering manufacturing muscle”. He concluded that Continue reading »
Donald Trump’s “snatch-and-grab” foreign policy rejects the belief in US primacy and exception that was sliding towards a military confrontation with China. Some have been surprised by the speed with which President Donald Trump is moving on his agenda. Yet, his chief of staff, Susie Wiles, served notice only days after last November’s election, declaring Continue reading »
In the 1860s, as the new colony of Victoria boomed following the discovery of gold, First Peoples were being moved onto missions and reserves, where their lives were tightly controlled. The date of 19 November 2024 marked the 190th anniversary of Edward Henty’s arrival on, an event that began a legacy of dispossession, violence and Continue reading »
The foundation of Australia’s alliance with the US is that there is a shared commitment to the rule of law and constitutional democratic government. We are faced with the choice of waiting until there cannot be a shred of doubt that the US is committed to a dictatorship or beginning the process of cutting our Continue reading »
The early Quakers knew that a deep understanding of the Bible was critical to recognising when they were being fed bullshit cloaked in religious language. By knowing Scripture well, they resisted manipulation and propaganda, ensuring faith remained a force for justice rather than a tool of power. The story of the widow’s mite (Mark 12:41–44) Continue reading »
In the upcoming federal election, there is no real choice. The Labor Party and the Liberal Party have become virtually indistinguishable, offering voters nothing, but well-rehearsed sound bites, nothing to believe in, nothing to fight for, and certainly nothing to get excited about. Both parties tiptoe around hard truths. Both prioritise economic appeasement over bold Continue reading »
The late journalist Alexander Cockburn had a good line on the legacy media. Referring to the little ‘Correction’ boxes that would appear most mornings in The New York Times, he suggested that the principal reason the paper made such a show of its fallibility was to bolster its reputation for veracity. In owning to these... Continue Reading →
Mao Zedong once said: “A single spark can start a prairie fire!” Some think the same may be said now about Taiwan starting a conflict with China that the U.S. and Russia will join leading to a catastrophic global war. The reasons? There are two wars in progress in the world now. Why not a Continue reading »