Community
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Saturday’s good reading and listening guide
Ian McAuley’s guide to good reading and listening for the weekend has moved. Continue reading »
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A new home for Saturday’s good reading and listening guide
Ian McAuley’s guide to good reading and listening for the weekend has moved. Continue reading »
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A note to our generous supporters
We’ve been encouraged by the response to our callout last week for donations. Continue reading »
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Even renowned public intellectual Noam Chomsky reads Pearls and Irritations
As Pearls and Irritations continues to grow, our articles are being noticed far and wide, including by linguist Noam Chomsky in a recent lecture. Continue reading »
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Children of Coal: my mother’s story
Judith White grew up in the north of England when it still ran on coal. Her new memoir has her mother Joan at its centre. Continue reading »
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Responsible shopping in Morley to mitigate climate change
An advertorial for the sustainable economy so desperately needed despite the Federal government’s oft-quoted need for a return to business as usual. Continue reading »
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Ageism very much alive in society
Of all the negative isms that fester in daily life, ageism is surely amongst the most prevalent, and unacknowledged. Sure, most people are aware that it’s unacceptable to patronise, put down and denigrate those who are deemed ‘elderly’, ‘old’ or ‘aged’, but somehow these discriminatory practices tend to escape our notice. Continue reading »
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Ageism and the secret to living a long life.
The Archibald is 100 and Peter Wegner has won the 2021 prize for his portrait of 100-year-old artist Guy Warren who commented, “One hundred years is a hell of a lot of experience. I’ve survived the Great Depression, a war, I’ve survived serious medical difficulties and I’ve survived COVID – touch wood. The secret to Continue reading »
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Letter regarding Afghan staff who have worked for the Australian Government in Afghanistan
Dear Prime Minister and Minister for Immigration, The undersigned are a group of Australians who have worked in the Indo Pacific in government, business and the media from the sixties until the present day. Continue reading »
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Classic 100: “The music you can’t live without” on the ABC, which we can’t live without.
Detractors of the ABC might not appreciate how important it is to them personally. Apart from the obvious news and current affairs, a constant major pleasure for us comes from ABC Classic FM. At the moment they are conducting their 2021 Classic 100 countdown. Voting is underway until Monday 7 June. The countdown itself will Continue reading »
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U.S. Foreign Policy Flow Chart
Here’s a handy U.S. foreign policy flow chart. Continue reading »
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An interview with Prof. Ross Garnaut
This is an interview conducted by Michael Lester for Radio Northern Beaches with Ross Garnaut. Continue reading »
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What ‘On the Beach’ tells us about COVID-19 in Australia
By world standards, Australia has achieved an enviable insularity from COVID-19, an effective and almost total community elimination protected by our island status, our placid and astonishingly well-behaved populace, and our location in an almost forgotten corner of the world. Yet there is a history of Australian survival in the face of universal annihilation, one Continue reading »
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How ironic that the Department of Home Affairs sees itself as the guardian of Australian values
A parliamentary report urges the government to work on improving the school curriculum to develop in students ‘‘understanding, empathy, and an openness to diversity’’. It seems the adults in the room also need to learn some lessons. Continue reading »
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Timeless tale about the evils of corrupt power and its enablers
Hans Christian Anderson’s folktale The Emperor’s New Clothes provides a salutary reminder of how easy it is to stay silent about, and remain complicit in, corruption when the consequences of challenging such behaviour risk personal comforts. Continue reading »
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Rethinking 2020: We should never forget it
For millions of people, 2020 was the worst of years. But it also showed humanity at its finest. At times, I find it tempting to want to wish away all memory of 2020. It was a sorrowful, depressing year. Tempting – but wrong. Continue reading »
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Things you learn along the way
Occasionally friends suggest to me that I should write my autobiography. Ruefully I explain that I wrote ‘Things you learn along the way’ 20 years ago. The book sold about 8,000 copies but as far as I know is no longer available. Continue reading »
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2020: a year in review for Pearls and Irritations
Despite the turmoil of 2020, Pearls and Irritations almost tripled in size. Perhaps 2020 was a year where independent comment and analysis was needed and appreciated more than most. Continue reading »
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That’s all she wrote
I never thought I’d say it, but I can no longer go on working. Continue reading »
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Something to think about other than that election
In the past 75 years, there have been two authors who have profoundly demonstrated the effects when language is mangled and distorted and, conversely, how to write clearly and powerfully. Continue reading »
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From our readers: The moral issue of Palestine ‘settlements’
In our letters to the editor this week: NSW Labor’s support for a controversial definition of “anti-Semitism”, Scott Morrison’s sales pitch, negative gearing and action on climate change. Continue reading »
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From our readers: Preserving Australia’s future by electing more independents
In our first letters to the editor column: electing independents to Parliament, the decimation of Australian universities, calling time on Infrastructure Australia, and reflecting on the Catholic Church. Continue reading »
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Losing Paul Barratt
Just before his major surgery in April, Paul Barratt emailed his friends and colleagues, quoting Captain Lawrence Oates: “I am just going outside and it may be some time.” Continue reading »
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In Memory of ‘Hal’ Wootten (1922-2021)
Much has already been written about the inspiring life of Hal Wootten who passed away on July 27 at the age of 98. I do not want to recount all his achievements here but only recall my brief but brilliant encounters with Hal and his enormous contribution to understand and support the Palestinian cause. Continue reading »
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John Mant remembered
John Mant, who died on 10 July 2021 aged 84, leaves a legacy which is still in the making, especially in the field of urban planning. Continue reading »
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Be not afraid: Daniel Berrigan and his fearless nonviolence, at 100
Five years since his death and 100 since his birth, legendary priest, author, poet and activist Daniel Berrigan continues to offer wisdom and insight on living a life of creative nonviolence. Continue reading »
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Vale Edie Mayhew
Prominent Australian Dementia Advocate, Edie Mayhew, died unexpectedly but peacefully aged 69 on 23 June 2020 in Ballarat, Victoria. Continue reading »
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Vale Gary Johnston, founder and sponsor of the Submarines for Australia group
Gary Johnston sadly died after a short illness on 10 March 2021. Gary was the founder of the Submarines for Australia website and the generous sponsor of the associated research, submissions and reports published on the site. Continue reading »
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Hans Kung: a theologian for everyone
Hans Küng died last Tuesday aged 93. I had the honour of knowing him as a friend. He was a rare breed: a theologian who spoke to people of diverse beliefs and none. Continue reading »
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Memories of Chris Hurford
Chris Hurford was an old-fashioned social democrat, a true Labor man with great values who knew the labour movement could lift up the poor without hurting the rich and could support his Labor principles and his Catholic faith not on his sleeve but into action for social improvement. Continue reading »
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Obituary: Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare
With the death of Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare – the man who led Papua New Guinea to independence in 1975 and became Papua New Guinea’s longest-serving member of parliament – the Pacific has lost one of its most prominent and respected leaders. Continue reading »
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Susan Ryan: a fighter for a ‘fair go’
Labor politician and lifelong proponent of equality opportunity, Susan Ryan’s commitment to social justice was fostered by years at Brigidine schools. Continue reading »
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Vale Andrew Mack
The many Australian friends and colleagues of Professor Andrew Mack will be deeply saddened to learn he passed away in Vancouver on 20 January 2021 after a year of serious illness. Continue reading »
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Vale Bishop Geoffrey Robinson
Bishop Geoffrey Robinson died on 29 December 2020 aged 83. In this subdued time of Christmas and New Year celebrations, the sombre news of his passing seems quite apposite. He was a talented, sensitive man who cherished his priestly vocation. Continue reading »
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