“All men should strive to learn before they die, what they are running from, and to, and why.” – James Thurber
The Latest
Justice or Law?
On 19 August 2021, Pearls & Irritations published a piece by Stuart Rees titled “Biloela and Assange: compliance with governments, not justice” While I generally agree with Stuart, there was a misconception at the heart of his piece. It is true that we have, in... read moreGenocide of Hazaras
The Taliban have taken control of Afghanistan. The Hazara people are at serious risk of genocide right now. It is important that early warnings are taken seriously by the international community. The trauma and experience of war is not the same for everyone in... read moreArts & Culture – From an Ivory Tower?
This is the text of a speech I gave for Agora (based in Cyprus) on 24 November 2021 “From an Ivory Tower” When I first proposed to speak on Arts and Culture, I had the implicit, unthought view that the two were, in substance, the same thing. If there was a difference,... read moreRuth Bader Ginsburg
This is the text of a speech I gave for Agora (a Cyprus-based organisation) in October 2021 Early life and education Ruth Bader Ginsburg was born on March 15, 1933, to Jewish parents with Eastern European roots: Her father (Nathan Bader) was a furrier from the... read moreClimate Change: The Time for Hesitation has Passed
This an interesting century to live in. The world is, largely, run by baby-boomers: people who were born in the 20th century, in the aftermath of the second World War. I confess to being a baby-boomer myself. This is an interesting group of people. At the start of... read moreAlienation to alien nation
I wrote this piece some years ago: in 2013. It was originally the 2013 Tim Costello address. The facts – and the sentiments – are still accurate. I had a conversation with Tim Costello some years ago which significantly changed my way of seeing things. He... read moreObscene Words
(the article below is one of the chapters in my book Word Watching (published by Scribe). But beware, this article contains some words and ideas which will shock some people. Word Watching contains 48 essays about aspects of language. Of course, I recommend that you... read moreWhat Next?
Australia is in an interesting position, right now. An election is due during the next 10 months; the government is daily embarrassed by the plight of the Sri Lankan family from Biloela (but currently held on Christmas Island). The Sri Lankan family from Biloela,... read morePeter Dutton
Peter Dutton MP is the Minister of Home Affairs. Home Affairs was established on 20 December 2017. It combines the national security, law enforcement and emergency management functions of the A-G’s Department, the transport security functions of the Department... read moreWhy does art matter?
23 February 2021 Economic rationalists would point out that most artists are economically unviable. That is true, unfortunately. Creative artists generally have miserable incomes from their art, and survive by teaching or waiting on tables. Performing artists do... read moreQuotations
The redoubtable (but flawed) F.E. Smith (1872-1930) was the subject of a few biographies: FE (hagiography, by his son); Lord Birkenhead by ‘Ephesian’ (Bechofer Roberts); The Glittering Prizes by William Camp – distinctly not hagiography. Incidentally, the phrase ‘the... read moreMagna Carta-myth and reality
Most Australians would, if asked, probably identify Magna Carta as the foundation stone of our legal system. They would have a vague sense that Magna Carta was the start of it in England and that, in 1788, the system built on Magna Carta was transplanted into... read moreHonesty Matters-the Ethics of Daily Life
It is the logic of our times: No subject for immortal verse That we who lived by honest dreams Defend the bad against the worse. (Cecil Day-Lewis Where are the War Poets, 1943) Most people understand intuitively the importance of language. We all use it every day in... read moreMichael Kirby Oration 3 July 2010
PRINCIPLES, PRAGMATISM AND POLITICS Julian Burnside Given that this is the Michael Kirby Oration, allow me a couple of minutes to talk about Michael Kirby. Many years ago, Kirby telephoned me at home at about 8.00 on a Sunday morning. I was awake, but my day had not... read moreDonald J Trump
This is a very good piece written by Australian author Mike Richards: It deals with him by the letters of his name, which is NOT to say he is a man of letters. Donald J Trump, by Mike Richards The essence of Donald Trump’s political personality is actually beyond... read moreHuman Rights & Social Justice
- The National Pro Bono Resource Centre is an independent organisation that supports and promotes pro bono legal services in Australia.
- JusticeConnect: working to provide effective means for people and organisations in need to access justice
The Arts
Jewellery
- Kate Durham’s jewellery: a small sample
- Kate Durham exhibition of jewellery at fortyfive downstairs: Show ran from 17 Sept to 11 Oct
- A VIDEO showing some of Kate’s work and a few photos: here and here
Art, music and theatre
- what’s on at fortyfive downstairs (45 Flinders Lane Melbourne)
- Wolfgang Sievers photographs for sale
- Fine chamber music: Musica Viva Australia
- Look at this remarkable example of art in cut paper: truly amazing
Asylum Seekers
- Australian Human Rights Commission: Facts about asylum seekers and refugees
- Andrew and Renata Kaldor Centre at UNSW: debunking myths about refugees
- New website: Compassion Without Borders
- And find various refugee support groups across Australia here
- Doctors for Refugees
Videos
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