In The News March Week 2
ABORIGINAL PEOPLES
Fears ice infiltrating remote Top End community
Northern Territory Police, health services and community stakeholders have met in the remote Top End community of Wadeye, amid a recent spate of health centre admissions linked to the drug ice.
‘Blindness’ behind syphilis epidemic [$]
A syphilis epidemic that has gripped remote Aboriginal communities has been stoked by ‘wilful blindness’.
Adoptions for more Indigenous children should be an option, Minister says
There's a child protection "crisis" in Australia and it should force a change in adoption policies to allow more Indigenous children in care to be adopted, the federal Children's Minister says.
Abused Indigenous children need safe homes, not derailed debate, says peak body
National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples says revived arguments after Tennant Creek allegations could stymie real action
Push to close gap on kids in care [$]
The peak body representing Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people wants the Closing the Gap targets to include goals for getting indigenous kids out of child protection.
Indigenous Australians far more likely to die from cancer, new data shows
Remoteness, social disadvantage and higher rates of smoking all play part in imbalance for preventable cancers
How the #MeToo movement reached Alice Springs
Alice Springs Women's Shelter adopts the global #MeToo campaign, highlighting the record levels of sexual assault and violence central Australian women live with on a daily basis.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-03-15/global-metoo-campaign-resonates-with-indigenous-women/9551842
The origins of Pama-Nyungan, Australia’s largest family of Aboriginal languages
Claire Bowern, Yale University
Why can’t we shut them down? [$]
Nyunggai Warren Mundine
The idea that we can close the gap by moving indigenous people from remote communities to larger towns is appealing. It’s also wrong.
No Joke: Capitalism, Australian Identity and The Threat to Unity
Mike Dowson
Each year, Australia Day ushers in the political calendar. And each year, the polity is more divided. A lot of people seem to feel left out of the party. And it isn’t only Indigenous Australians
https://newmatilda.com/2018/03/14/no-joke-capitalism-australian-identity-threat-unity/
'Saving the children' are the three most dangerous words uttered by white people
Amy McQuire
The long-term traumatic impact of children being taken away from their families deserves more than a short sermon
White adoptions won’t repeat stolen generation [$]
Jeremy Sammut
rhetoric about “stealing” indigenous children again if adoption laws are relaxed ignores that we are not talking about removing children based on their race, but based on proven abuse and neglect and demonstrable family and community dysfunction.
An STI epidemic in young people does not signal sexual abuse
James Ward, South Australian Health & Medical Research Institute; Belinda Hengel, South Australian Health & Medical Research Institute, and John Boffa, Curtin University
Young people in remote Aboriginal communities have high rates of STIs for a number of reasons, including inconsistent condom use and poor access to health services.
https://theconversation.com/an-sti-epidemic-in-young-people-does-not-signal-sexual-abuse-93126
Irish gave us our favourite Aussie slang, and even reached some Aboriginal languages
Howard Manns and Kate Burridge
As Irish settlers entered the Australian melting pot, so too did a hearty dose of their language, giving us some of Australia's favourite slang words, and even reaching some Aboriginal languages too.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-03-15/irish-australian-slang-language-word-origins/9547566
Here's How The Tassie Premier's Abortion Promise Was Exposed By A Former Staffer
A former staffer to Tasmanian premier Will Hodgman spent weeks trying to access a termination before spending $4,500 to have the procedure interstate, a week after the premier promised his state that abortion was accessible.
Syrian refugees singing to soothe the trauma of war
For Syrian refugees who have managed to find safe haven in Australia, the recent weeks of renewed fighting in their home country has led to a spike in demand for counselling services.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-03-11/music-therapy-helps-syrian-refugees-deal-with-trauma/9535040
'It's about human dignity': Artist Ai Weiwei targets Australia's refugee record
Ahead of Sydney's 21st Biennale, world most famous artist and Chinese dissident Ai Weiwei has a message for Australia when it comes to the treatment of asylum seekers.
Anglicare Says Support Service Cuts Are Hurting Asylum Seekers
Asylum seekers are experiencing distress and further hardship because of recent cuts to a government support service, according to Anglicare.
Tamil asylum seeker family remains in Australia after last-minute reprieve
Family taken into detention in dawn raid a week ago reprieved just before take-off to Sri Lanka
Australia considers fast-track visas for white South African farmers
Home affairs minister Peter Dutton says the group deserves ‘special attention’ due to the ‘horrific circumstances’ they face at home
Will changing its offshore detention policy cost Labor government?
Chris Mordd Richards
Only the Labor Party can put an end to mandatory offshore detention
Do not be the person who looks away
Clementine Ford
Why are human beings like Priya, Nadesalingam and their two small daughters being treated like a virus that needs to be eradicated?
There are refugees and then there are refugees
Russell Grenning
Parliament under the new President Ramaphosa has already voted 241 to 83 to change the Constitution and a sense of real panic has been growing.
https://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=19623
Charities and NFPs to be Exempt from Labor’s Tax System Reforms
Peak bodies in the social sector have welcomed news that charity and not-for-profit organisations will be exempt from a Labor Party proposal to scale back refundable franking credit arrangements.
https://probonoaustralia.com.au/news/2018/03/charities-nfps-exempt-labors-tax-system-reforms/
AI is the Future of Fundraising
Using artificial intelligence (AI) to interact with donors will become the “new normal” within a decade, according to an internationally recognised expert.
https://probonoaustralia.com.au/news/2018/03/ai-future-fundraising/
PM urged to beef up charities rules over terror fears
Tougher requirements on charities are needed to stop terrorists exploiting humanitarian aid as cover for extremist activities, a top think tank is warning the Turnbull government.
Jeff Kennett Says Foreign Donations Bill Will “Stifle Australian Philanthropy”
Former Victorian premier and Equity Trustees' chairman Jeff Kennett has warned that the federal government’s proposed foreign donations bill “has gone too far” and “threatens to stifle Australian philanthropy”.
Wealthy welfare cheats forced to repay more than $40 million
Centrelink recoups an average of $43,000 from each of over 1,000 Centrelink clients with unexplained wealth, with the government crackdown revealing one disability support pensioner who had not declared any income over four years had $700,000 deposited into their account over the same period.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-03-16/centrelink-rorters-forced-to-replay-over-$40-million/9553714
Presidents Club dinner reveals fatal flaws in how we think about ethics
Nick Spencer
The event was bad, the timing was worse. As one industry after another was being exposed for sexism, the #metoo campaign gathered momentum and the British celebrated the 100th anniversary of women getting the vote, the Presidents Club in London held a black tie charity dinner. For men only.
Democracy Is The Biggest Victim In Turnbull’s War On Charities
Kyla Tienhaara & John Dryzek
The intent of stalled legislation being pushed by the federal government is clear – to weaken the capacity of charities, particularly environmental groups, to oppose…
https://newmatilda.com/2018/03/15/democracy-big
Archbishop of Canberra and Goulburn Christopher Prowse leaves anti-Ellis defence laws to ACT govt
The Archbishop of Canberra and Goulburn has refused to throw his support behind legislation allowing child sex abuse victims to more easily sue the church.
ACT government fails to implement systematic response to children traumatised by domestic and family violence
Catholic Church denies 'making excuses' over compo for sex abuse victims
Attorney-General Christian Porter claims the church is dragging its feet on payments of up to $200,000 for child sexual abuse victims, but the church says it is being "perfectly reasonable".
Child sex abuse survivors given 'unrealistic' deadline for compensation
Lawyers and advocates say 90 days is ‘inadequate’ for decisions on redress scheme
Calls for Catholic Church to give equal justice to overseas abuse victims
The Catholic Church is being challenged to take responsibility and deal with crimes carried out by church officials overseas, in countries including Papua New Guinea and the Philippines.
Crime down, cocaine up in NSW: report
Major crimes have dropped in NSW over the last two years, new data shows, but cocaine dealing and use has jumped significantly.
Victoria's crime rate has dropped, but sex offences are on the rise
The latest crime statistics for Victoria show an overall drop, but a sharp rise in sexual offences, which the Government says is driven by royal commissions.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-03-15/victoria-crime-statistics-drop-sex-offences-rise/9549922
LCA: Urgent reform needed on access to justice
Speaking on Wednesday at the National Press Club, the peak national legal representative body argued for immediate changes to the ways Australians can...
https://www.lawyersweekly.com.au/biglaw/22910-lca-urgent-reform-needed-on-access-to-justice
Tasmania leads nation on (prisoner) population growth
Tasmania’s prisoner numbers are growing at the fastest rate in the nation
https://www.examiner.com.au/story/5286507/tassie-lock-ups-leader/?cs=95
Teenagers more likely to plead guilty to crimes they didn't commit
Teenagers are more likely to plead guilty to crimes they did not commit because they are less able to make mature decisions, new research shows.
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-03/uoe-tml031518.php
Take the smart approach to stop filling Tasmania’s prisons [$]
Grant Herring
Getting tough on crime means investing in health and education
National Day of Action against Violence and Bullying: Schools must continue the fight
Michael Lee
The PM's invitation to principals to tackle bullying is welcome on this National Day of Action against Violence and Bullying.
The problem with Victoria's crime rate
Tammy Mills
Victoria experienced its steepest drop in crime in a decade, but the statistics aren’t necessarily changing perceptions.
How to interrupt the pattern of sexual violence
Clementine Ford
It is not beneficial to anyone to pretend that sexual assault is something only Evil Monsters do.
Voluntary euthanasia would win 'overwhelming' backing in Queensland
Campaign advocate says ‘there’s no reason’ a Victoria-style inquiry shouldn’t start in in the state this year
We’ve lost the art of dying well [$]
Michael Jensen
Last week came news that doctors at the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston are being trained to talk to seriously ill patients not just about their health, but about their goals and values.
End-of-Life Care – We Can and Must Do Better
Greg Donnelly
As the debate about euthanasia rages, end-of-life and palliative care is neglected, with both quality and availability lacking. And yet, that's what the majority of dying people need so they can die at home without pain.
https://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=19620
Why is the National Disability Insurance Agency singling out the University of Sydney? [$]
Charlie Lewis
The National Disability Insurance Agency has kept mum about the reams of coverage it has received; why then, is it dedicating an entire page to taking down a University of Sydney report?
https://www.crikey.com.au/2018/03/12/why-is-the-ndia-singling-out-the-university-of-sydney/
Hawking wasn't bound to his wheelchair, he was empowered by it
Shakira Hussein
Eulogies of Stephen Hawking miss the mark in understanding the pop icon and scientist's wheelchair.
https://www.crikey.com.au/2018/03/16/stephen-hawking/
A study suggests structural difference in the brain of transgender people
As published in Scientific Reports, research conducted in Brazil using magnetic resonance imaging points to variations in the volume of the insula, a brain region associated with body image According to scientists, this trait -- detected in transgenders either adherent or not to hormone treatment, strengthens an understanding that the matter is not related to gender ideology.
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-03/fda-ass031418.php
Victoria urges Turnbull to help states crack down on gay 'conversion'
Victoria calls for Turnbull Government to help states crack down on "dangerous quackery” of gay conversion therapy.
Philanthropists Called on to Champion the LGBTQI Community
Australian philanthropists have been called on to “step up” and champion the LGBTQI community, after a new report found just 0.8 per cent of grant-making charities in Australia funded LGBTQI people in 2016.
https://probonoaustralia.com.au/news/2018/03/philanthropists-called-champion-lgbtqi-community/
What it's like being Muslim and LGBTQ
Roqayah Chamseddine
Australia’s LGBTQ community is a vibrant and diverse part of the wider, global fabric of uncompromising gay liberation advocacy, but the media's characterisation of it exists almost entirely through the lens of what is ferociously visible.
Victorian crime statistics reveal disturbing sexual assault trend
It's a crime that leaves victims traumatised for the rest of their lives. Police say almost all offenders have the same thing in common.
Canberra domestic violence perpetrator program rehabilitates violent offenders
When Alan* lost his temper and assaulted his wife and his eldest son, it was the lowest point of his life.
Study finds smokers at greater risk of hearing loss
Smoking is associated with increased risk of hearing loss, according to a study of over 50,000 participants over eight years in Nicotine & Tobacco Research, published by Oxford University Press.
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-03/oupu-sfs031218.php
E-cigarettes may be more harmful than beneficial according to evidence-based research
Based on available evidence, Dartmouth researchers quantified the balance of health benefits and harms associated with e-cigarette use at the population level and found that e-cigarettes could substantially increase the number of adolescents and young adults who eventually become cigarette smokers.
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-03/dmc-emb022618.php
Why smoking's killing your chance at a job
Quit smoking to gain employment. That's what it may take, according to experts, as more employers seek to only hire non-smoking workers. And the law says there's nothing wrong with that.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-03-15/why-employers-allowed-hire-non-smokers-only/9546204
Parents fear social media and technology more than drugs, alcohol or smoking
A survey of Australian parents finds almost twice as many fear what their kids get up to online than other adolescent vices like drinking and smoking.
Health experts call for national strategy on child self-harm to curb rates of hospitalisation
Young women and girls are being hospitalised for self-harm at four times the rate of boys, a decade-long study finds, and its lead author says "we need to do better" in the area of mental health support for children.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-03-13/report-on-child-self-harm-rates-of-hospitalisation/9543706
Childhood aggression linked to deficits in executive function
Researchers find that primary school children with reduced cognitive skills for planning and self-restraint are more likely to show increased aggression in middle childhood. The study examined the relationship between aggression and executive function -- a measure of cognitive skills that allow a person to achieve goals by controlling their behavior. The results suggest that helping children to increase their executive function could reduce their aggression.
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-03/f-cal031518.php
Share care at risk in law overhaul [$]
Howard government reforms that enshrined shared care for mothers and fathers after separation could be unwound.
The evidence is in: first-born siblings are better
Jessica Irvine
Take a bow first-born children. New evidence proves what you've always known: you're better than your siblings.
Labor wants to scrap policy giving $2.5 million refunds to some non-taxpayers
The Howard-era policy means some shareholders not paying any tax can convert franking credits into a cash refund of up to $2.5 million from the ATO — and it costs $5 billion a year.
'Staggering': How Australia lost $90 billion in tax
Australia has 'given up on collecting a meaningful amount of revenue from some of its most valuable resources'.
Why economic growth does not necessarily contribute to human happiness
Economic growth in developed countries has a dual effect. On one hand, people's living standards and consumer spending are on the rise, but on the other hand, this does not necessarily make people happy and may in fact erode subjective well-being and lead to economic crises. A new study by an international team that included Francesco Sarracino, HSE LCSR Senior Associate Researcher, examines the reasons behind this phenomenon.
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-03/nruh-weg031318.php
Calls for Collective Action on SDGs To Avoid Legacy of Inequality
Australia’s leading advocates for sustainable development have called for collective action on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to avoid a legacy of inequality and environmental degradation for the next generation of Australians.
https://probonoaustralia.com.au/news/2018/03/calls-collective-action-sdgs-avoid-legacy-inequality/
The Financial Services Royal Commission highlights the vulnerability of many older Australians
Labor's plan to abolish cash refunds for some shareholders reopens the debate about how much government support retirees deserve.
Taxable income means nothing in this tax war
Treasury figures showing that abolishing cash refunds for franking credits will hurt low-income earners are misleading because they are based on taxable income and super isn't counted, experts say.
Bribes, conflicts of interest and hidden fees: Banking royal commission off to incredible start
Daniel Ziffer
Revelations about a tailor pushing $122m in home loans, gym owners assessing peoples' finances, and paper envelopes filled with cash bribes — it has been an astonishing first week of public hearings
How regulation and red tape makes families poorer
Institute of Public Affairs
This report argues that government regulation and subsidies are driving up the prices of key household expenditure items and putting strain on family budgets.
https://www.apo.org.au/node/135841
Labor v Liberal: who best runs the Australian economy?
Stephen Koukoulas
Compare economic growth and growth relative to the US under different governments and a clear picture emerges
How some of the wealthiest Australians pay 'negative' tax
Ben Oquist
One lucky non-taxpayer actually received $2.5 million in "tax credits" in a single year.
Labor's tax reform sets the scene for a real class war
Bernard Keane
https://www.crikey.com.au/2018/03/14/can-labor-get-lucky-on-tax-reform-twice/
Factchecking Coalition claims: is Labor going after Mum and Dad's savings?
Katharine Murphy
How do the PM and treasurer’s terrifying declarations stack up? Here’s Saul Eslake’s verdict
Dividend tax changes would hurt many to catch a few
Ian Henschke
If you think only the rich invest in the stock market and anyone with shares is living high on the hog, think again.
Baby Boomers cry, but Labor is right on dividend tax
John Kehoe
Australians are headed for a generational war between Baby Boomers who have ridden the booms and the rest of us seeking to keep a little more of our hard-earned money.
Forgotten victims of the cashless society
Aubrey Perry
Will compassion dwindle as cards replace cash in the pockets of passers-by?
Australia is a far less equal place than it was in the 1980s
Peter Martin
Where you live matters far more than you might think.
Sydney's billion-dollar pokie-fuelled building boom
The biggest registered clubs in NSW are in the midst of a billion-dollar development spree across Sydney, with poker-machine profits fuelling luxury beachside apartments, a shopping centre, an office tower, and a 2000-seat performing-arts centre.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/sydney-billion-dollar-pokies-building-boom-20180309-p4z3ln.html
FactCheck: would pokies reform in South Australia wipe out ‘many’ of 26,000 jobs?
Koch slams Kennett over Hawthorn's reliance on pokies
David Koch reminded Jeff Kennett that ‘‘family club’’ Hawthorn ripped millions of dollars from Victorian families each year through its poker machines.
Anti-pokies campaign was doomed to fail
Charles Wooley
Italian Renaissance writer Niccolo Machiavelli’s greatest contribution to history was to give politicians a bad name.
Would you live in a Blade Runner city for much cheaper housing?
We allsay we want affordable housing in our cities, but how far are we willing to go for it? With one change this is how our cities could look.
Census reveals a rise in the rate of homelessness in Australia
The rate of homelessness in Australia has increased 4.6 per cent over the last five years, according to new data from the 2016 Census of Population and Housing.
The Australian dream is changing, but some won't give it up without a fight
Get rid of your possessions, sell your furniture — as Australia's population grows and people flood into capital cities, more of us will make the switch to a smaller home or apartment.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-03-14/urban-infill-is-changing-the-australian-dream/9392044
If you're using a mortgage broker, it could be costing you
Customers who use mortgage brokers, on average, have larger and riskier loans, take longer to pay them off and end up paying more interest, the Commonwealth Bank says.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-03-15/banking-royal-commission-mortgage-brokers-cba/9550120
Five-year homelessness funding to provide more stability
For the first time since 2013, an agreement between the federal and state governments has been reached to provide funding in a five-year blocks to let agencies plan long-term to fight rising homelessness.
Residential mortgage price inquiry: interim report
Australian Competition and Consumer Commission
The opaque pricing of discounts offered on residential mortgage rates makes it difficult for customers to make informed choices and disadvantages borrowers who do not regularly review their choice of lender, this report by the ACCC has found.
https://www.apo.org.au/node/136226
How secret 'zoning effect' costs home buyers hundreds of thousands
Jessica Irvine
Home truths about renting a house in Melbourne
Emma Betty Roberts
Who is to blame for the housing crisis and how to solve it
Ross Gittins
Who pushed housing prices so high? We did. Who failed to do what was needed to counter the increase? Our governments.
Affordable housing policy failure still being fuelled by flawed analysis
Nicole Gurran et al
We Need to Talk About The Rising Tragedy of Homeless Elderly People
Andrew Cairns
The rising number of low-income and homeless elderly people being locked out of aged care is one that needs urgent attention
https://probonoaustralia.com.au/news/2018/03/need-talk-rising-tragedy-homeless-elderly-people/
I hope I'm not writing this piece again in five years
Toby Hall
Most people unfamiliar with the problem tend to shrug their shoulders and say it’s just one of those things; that it’s part of modern life. But that is just not true. We absolutely know how to end the problem of homelessness.
IMMIGRATION AND MULTICULTURALISM
'We've done an abysmal job': Australia is struggling to handle its swelling population
In 1997 it was estimated Australia would reach a population of 25 million by the middle of this century. We are already there and our cities, schools and roads are not prepared for it.
Intercultural relationships are on the rise, but there are still challenges
Kayla is noticeably taller than her Chinese-Burmese boyfriend, William, but that's not the only reason they get "a lot of looks" when they walk down the street.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-03-11/intercultural-relationships-pros-and-cons/9181434
Dream shattered: ‘Disaster’ tipped for Aussie ‘way of life’
Australian businessman Dick Smith predicts “disaster” for the Aussie “way of life” he grew up loving, as new population data is released.
Migrants must integrate, says minister
Citizenship Minister Alan Tudge says he wants new migrants to demonstrate they've integrated into Australian life before becoming citizens.
Immigration debate shows how we've infantilised government [$]
Bernard Keane
https://www.crikey.com.au/2018/03/13/immigration-debate-shows-weve-infantilised-government/
The problem record immigration is supposed to solve doesn't exist
William Bourke
From a population of 19 million in 2000, Australia has grown to reach nearly 25 million today.
There's a case for immigration, and it's not about us
Peter Martin
The rest of the world has granted us a licence to use the Australian continent on the implicit understanding that we populate it.
Big Australia and bust: Immigration is a drag on our economy and lifestyle
Geoff Davies
Australia can choose not to be 'big' if it wants; both our material income and our quality of life would benefit.
Add migrants and stir carefully [$]
Douglas Murray
Australia needs a rational debate about where our citizens come from.
Women, LGBT people 'invisible' victims of disasters – experts
It's clear they're being disproportionately affected.
https://news.trust.org/item/20180308114259-otaio
Hotter, drier, hungrier: How global warming punishes the world’s poorest
A series of droughts with little recovery time in the intervals has pushed millions to the edge of survival in the Horn of Africa.
Vietnam and U.N. to build storm-proof housing for coastal communities
A new housing scheme aims to increase resilience in Vietnamese coastal communities to the effects of climate change.
https://news.trust.org/item/20180312080130-dwbm2/
Red Cross turns to climate attribution science to prepare for disasters ahead
Understanding how extreme weather and heat waves are changing helps relief organizations like the Red Cross determine where to stockpile emergency supplies.
Last year, 81 million people worldwide experienced severe food insecurity. About 80 percent of them live in Africa. While much of that food insecurity relates to civil war and violence in places like South Sudan and Nigeria, a good portion also stems from a sequence of five severe droughts that began in Ethiopia in 2015 and spread across parts of the continent in the ensuing three years.
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-03/uoc--sl031418.php
Cash payments prompt tropical forest users to harvest less
An experiment conducted with 1,200 villagers in five developing countries found that when people are given cash to conserve, they cut down fewer trees both while they are being paid and after payments cease.
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-03/uoca-cpp031418.php
The greatest moral challenge of our time? It’s how we think about morality itself
Tim Dean, University of Sydney
The best way to think about morality is as a cultural tool that we humans invented to help us live and work together in social situations.
Don’t shoot the messenger when confronted with inconvenient ideas
Russell Blackford, University of Newcastle
Too often, we automatically dismiss ideas with unsettling implications. We need to focus on evidence, and on ordinary fairness and compassion towards others.
https://theconversation.com/dont-shoot-the-messenger-when-confronted-with-inconvenient-ideas-91661
Online dating is saving the ancient Zoroastrian religion
Zoroastrianism was ancient when Jesus was born. Online dating — from a special 'Tinder' to a matchmaker with a digital database of bachelors and bachelorettes — is helping keep the monotheistic faith alive.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-03-11/online-dating-is-saving-ancient-zoroastrian-religion/9513136
A British historian claims to have found compelling new evidence that Jesus was singularly unattractive or possibly even disfigured.
10 happiest countries in the world are among the least religious
The world's happiest countries are also among the least religious, according to a new UN report.
Young people to talk with Pope Francis about future of the church
A thousand Christians from around the globe warn of 'death-dealing forces' in the world today
More than 1,000 evangelicals and missionaries from the World Council of Churches' conference on world mission and evangelism (CWME) have issued a 'Call to Discipleship' warning of 'death-dealing forces' and the 'shocking accumulation of wealth' in the world today.
George Pell and the priest who went to Mardi Gras
Joe Hildebrand
At the very end of a church service I attended with my son on Sunday, the priest said something that left me thinking, “Holy sh*t.”
Contentious school chaplain program is on shaky legal ground
Luke Beck
Requiring a chaplain to be a member of a particular religion is religious discrimination and completely illegal for public schools.
Kids need counsellors, not evangelists [$]
Susie O'Brien
The school chaplaincy program allows evangelical groups with dubious and harmful beliefs to treat our kids as potential recruits. Its funding should not be renewed.
Stephen Hawking believed we don't need God to account for the universe. Was he right?
Mark Woods
We need to talk about Satan: Why has the devil slipped out of view?
Martin Saunders
Angels unawares: How should we welcome visitors to church?
Mark Woods
Hey God, why does bad stuff happen?
Michael Jensen on wrestling with the agony of grief
https://www.eternitynews.com.au/opinion/hey-god-why-does-bad-stuff-happen/
Does the rain have a Father?
Mick Pope
God and climate change
https://www.ethos.org.au/online-resources/Engage-Mail/does-the-rain-have-a-father
Green power and water recycling: be switched on by switching off
Each Australian uses an average of 100,000 litres of water a year, and our electricity use is extreme. Our series Life Swaps looks at ways to reduce the load
How do we reduce food waste? Think like granny
Before health buzzwords and supermarket chains, our grandparents were the masters of reducing food waste not because it was fashionable, but because it was necessary.
How to build a 3-D-printed house in the developing world
The non-profit New Story has successfully built the US's first 3-D-printed home, and now plans to bring its design to the world's poorest regions.
https://www.wired.com/story/new-story-3-d-printed-house/
Growing Need for Urban Forests as Urban Land Expands
New research projecting urban land growth and updating urban forest values suggests that urbanization and urban forests are likely to be one the most important forest ...
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/03/180314101954.htm
Gas vs. Electric: How far can a car go with different fuel sources?
A typical car can travel 30 miles on just one gallon of gasoline. How do electric vehicles stack up?
https://www.wired.com/story/how-far-can-a-car-go-using-different-fuel-sources/
Which items can't be recycled?
Many people think items such as plastic bags and coffee cups can be recycled when they can’t. Here are the do’s and don’ts
'Lazy Lawn Mowers' Can Help Support Suburban Bee Populations and Diversity
Homeowners concerned about the decline of bees, butterflies and other pollinating insects need look no further than their own back yards.
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/03/180314101957.htm
How many children should you have if you care about the planet?
How do you balance your desire to have kids with concerns about their impact on the environment? We get a range of perspectives on this thorny question.
Bottled water: You could be drinking tiny bits of plastic
A single bottle could have dozens or even thousands of microplastic particles
https://time.com/5200680/microplastic-water-bottle-orb-study/
Yes, it’s OK to feed wild birds in your garden – as long as it’s the right food
Darryl Jones, Griffith University
Feeding wild birds is discouraged in Australia despite its popularity in other countries. But many Australians still put fo
od out for the birds, and that's not a problem if it's the right food.
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Men have more reason to fear robots than women do
Matt Wade
The type of work women tend to do is far less easily done by automation.
https://www.theage.com.au/national/men-fear-robots-more-than-women-do-20180309-p4z3pa.html
The threats to union movement are from within
Age editorial
Labour Day comes amid a curious furore over the amalgamation of three unions.
No one should have to pay for the privilege of working
Clare Millar
Taking on an unpaid internship so you can get a job is one thing. Asking students to pay for pleasure of working is another thing entirely.
When good things happen to bad people
Kerri Sackville