Victim of the state

After a secret ‘trial’ in 2021 at which no evidence was presented, naturalised Australian citizen Yang Hengjun has been sentenced to death by the Chinese communist state for ‘spying’.

Fear of the future

Fear of ageing is really a fear of the unknown – and modern society is making things worse.

Israel under fire

Far from increasing sympathy for the endlessly embattled Jewish state of Israel, there has been a sharp increase in antisemitism around the world since the Hamas terrorist group crossed the border with Gaza on Oct. 7, 2023 to murder 1,400 civilians and kidnap over 200 more.

Who do we choose to care about?

A 24 hour barrage of bad news on social media and endless articles demanding we worry about things we’ve never heard about before or might never happen can sap anyone’s compassion, but can people be encouraged to care more about others beyond their own family and friends?

Freedom of information in the age of AI

There’s been much discussion about how artificial intelligence will affect every part of our society, from school assignments to the music industry, so how will it affect freedom of information laws?

Empowering local transitions towards Society 5.0

The concept of Society 5.0 – a superintelligent society of humans, nature and technology in sustainable balance – was launched in Japan in 2016. A systematic, second track, bottom-up ‘society transition model’ could ease the shift towards this next stage of society.

Defining the ‘common good’

People may agree the need to pursue the “common good” but will then prioritise very different social and moral issues and disagree about practical ways to achieve them.

Adventures in the big tent

People often extol the virtue of open-mindedness, but can there be too much of a good thing?

Taking the pulse on immigration

Opinion polls show that most Australians think immigration rates have climbed too high, but more nuanced polling could help inform the government’s range of strategies to address this complex issue.

Must do more about MDMA

Eight people remain in critical condition after overdosing on MDMA at the Hardmission Festival in Flemington on Saturday night, leading the Victorian Greens to call for more pill testing at such events, but this may not be the best solution.

Think free or die

The right to freedom of thought, however, is more rarely discussed. But thanks to the growing influence of social media, big data and new technology, this “forgotten freedom” needs our urgent attention.

Heads in the sand

Ostriches don’t actually bury their head in the sand, but 40% of people do, choosing to remain ignorant of the world around them to absolve themselves of moral responsibility.