Why feminism matters: A Sydney Ideas forum

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Why feminism matters: A Sydney Ideas forum

Compared with 30 years ago women are now better represented in politics but there is still more to be done. Hillary Clinton and Julia Gillard are examples of women gaining important leadership positions, but not the top job. So how far have women come in terms of political leadership and shaping the public policy agenda? Do men and women do politics differently? Do women have different interests to men in policy terms? How might contemporary feminism contribute to improving women's position in politics and broader society?

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Irrational Medicare system delivers inverse health care- by Dr Jeremy Sammut

22 feb | Irrational Medicare system delivers inverse health care- by Dr Jeremy Sammut . . read more

Germaine Greer's utopia- by Jasmine-Kim Westendorf

24 mar | Germaine Greer's utopia- by Jasmine-Kim Westendorf . . read more

Priests, sex and the media

7 mar | Media coverage of the Church usually assumes priests form a homogeneous and disciplined body whose uniformity derives from fear of authority. Priests are more like franchisees than employees, independent and always ready to grumble. This does not amount to disaffection.
By Andrew Hamilton

. . read more

NSW Child Porn Laws to Change. Australia, the Philistine State to Stay the Same

10 jan | Yesterday it was announced that the NSW State government has received recommendations to change child pornography laws. The changes would mean that once it is has been established that material is unlawfully pornographic, artistic intention would not be considered relevant. With a multitude of Federal and State protections for child pornography firmly in place this punitive change seems set to make the lives of Sydney's underappreciated art community even more difficult- Sean Maguire- explores why we should focus on the intention and not the reaction . . read more

Boys with knives

24 feb | Adolescence is a time of violent, primitive emotions, of play-acting and the most intensely lived reality. Boys' passionate assertion of relative worth is developmentally necessary. That child's place in the society of his peers is, for that moment, a matter of life and death- by Moira Rayner . . read more

IQ2 Debate:"'The pursuit of happiness is making us miserable"

10 mar | The pursuit of happiness is a life goal which overcomes many of us; it invites us to depart with money, time, energy, and possibly happiness itself to attain it. It seems that in a complex, corporate and digitally connected world that the analysis of how to be happy dominates lifestyle columns, psychiatry visits and doctor's prescription pads-leading many to ask whether our conception of happiness is consumerist, transient and idiotic.

Last night, in the stunning City Recital Hall in Sydney, many of these ideas and more, were debated in the latest IQ2 debate, with interesting implications to what things we should pursue in life, where we should find them and whether we can find them at all- by Sean Maguire . . read more

Gillard sustains population myth

4 jul | I don't know about you, but last time I got on an outrageously late, over-crowded train at peak hour full of apparently longstanding Aussies in business suits, the first thing I thought was: I really wish Australia accepted fewer immigrants.
By Ruby J. Murray . . read more

What to say on Australia Day- by Sean Maguire

26 jan | When travelling overseas I'm sure you've found this problem. Somebody asks you what Australians are like and you struggle to respond. If you're in a country like the US or the UK it's likely that most of our stereotypes will have seeped through; giving you at least some point of reference to explain that we don't all ride kangaroos or always eat shrimp on the barbie.

Yet, when you really think about it I'm sure the vagueness of this place really hits home- Sean Maguire- delves deeper into the ambiguity. . . read more

She Who Must Be Obeid from The Outsider

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Long knives and short memories seem to be the go. Add to that a complete disregard for the empowerment of community by social networks, mobile technology and the culture of the ‘local' and you have the recipe for the demise of parliamentary democracy.

Not that we will be sorry to see it go. What is interesting, however, is when and what will replace the two-party system and the party machines.

AS a first step look out for the proliferation of political parties in the next Australian elections as voters embrace pluralism in a stand against the Obeid's and Tripodi's of this world.

. . read more

The White Australia Paper

23 feb | It has been reported recently that Australia's long awaited defence white paper will have provisions in it for more stringent entry procedures for 10 yet-to-be-named countries.

Does seeing a person primarily as a nation rather than a person seem like the actions of a tolerant people?

And then to cap it off, this growing threat from johnny foreigner seems completely at odds to Rudd's claim that it is in fact home grown terrorists which are the biggest threat to our security.

So which is it?

Should be we be huddled together in fear of the outsider, or should we be constantly looking over each other's shoulders for a sign of external sabotage?

And finally, to finish off this frenzy of finger pointing, in no particular order here is a little prediction of the countries that are making the intelligence community quiver:

1: Somalia

2: Sudan

3: Pakistan

4: Yemen

5: Eritrea

6: Indonesia (for obvious reasons probably wont be on the list)

7: Waziristan

8: Nigeria

9: Afghanistan

10: Iran . . read more

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY!

"Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it." -- Ronald Reagan (1986)

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A Turkish court has charged four senior Israeli military commanders over the killing of nine Turkish activists trying to reach Gaza in 2010.

Ex-military chief of staff Gabi Ashkenazi and former heads of military intelligence, the navy and air force are expected to be tried in absentia.

The nine pro-Palestinian activists were killed after Israeli troops boarded their ship, the Mavi Marmara.

They had been hoping to breach Israel's naval blockade and deliver aid to Gaza.

Ron Paul on Why Bankster Power Must be Eradicated

It is imperative that the American people be educated on the dangers of the Fed and the importance of restoring sound money. Now that nearly 50 years have elapsed since silver was removed from circulation, fewer and fewer Americans have firsthand familiarity with real money.

The laying of the groundwork must begin today, so that the American people will be prepared for the day when the mirage the Fed has created evaporates completely.

Chinese army general calls for 'decisive action' vs PH

China should launch "decisive action" against the Philippines to reinforce Beijing's claim on the disputed Scarborough Shoal, a hardline Chinese army general said Friday.

People's Liberation Army (PLA) Major General Luo Yuan, in a commentary published by state-owned website china.org.cn, said China has not abandoned the idea of "war at all costs" to protect its interests.

"'Peaceful rise and 'period of strategic opportunity' preclude war," said Luo, who has been described by Western media as "hawkish" for his ultranationalist views.

"It is incorrect to assume that China will completely rule out military action in any event during this 'period of strategic opportunity,'" he said, referring to Beijing's dispute with Manila.

Think Again From The Outsider

The great challenge facing everyone who wants to change the world we live in is how do you get traction for your ideas? Gunter Pauli the inventor of the ‘blue economy’ has a novel approach. His missionis to develop globally 100 manufacturing innovations with viable business models that could generate 100 million jobs in 10 years. All with zero emissions and no waste.

The novelty? To drive this revolution in an economic framework that will attract investors and governments in entrepreneurial partnerships that feed self-interest while revolutionising outcomes – particularly in relation to carbon.

The blue economy was initially a report to the Club of Rome recommending innovations inspired by science and biometrics. This is a truly cool equation. Science + Economics = A Better Future.

The Really Big Apple

Recently it was announced that Steve Jobs had an FBI file that detailed his personality, how he ran his company and the possibility that he would be appointed to George Bush Sr.' s government.

What is more interesting about Apple at the moment is the $100bn in cash reserves it's accrued and what it might use them for.

End world hunger?

Take over other companies?

Pay its suicidal employees more?

Whatever it chooses, we should really stop focussing on Jobs' genius and start thinking about how the wealth his genius created can be spent for good.

The Future of Trust - From The Outsider

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