How to remember a friend

Prime Minister Tony Abbott has launched a book with collected works of the late journalist Christopher Pearson. Peter Fritz is part of a group of friends who have gathered some of the best columns and essays in his honour.

Gene patents not so bad

There has been strong opposition to a Federal Court decision that human genes can be controlled by private companies. Medical ethicist Dr Alberto Giubilini says the patenting of genes by private companies is not necessarily a bad thing provided it’s well regulated.

For a better food future

Fair Food Week 2014 from 10-19 October is celebrating fresh, local, community-driven food enterprises, farmers, community gardeners and eating. There are 85 Fair Food events in every state of Australia during the week.

What are voters’ attitudes to constitutional change?

Australians have been asked what they think of a constitutional reform. Bede Harris says the survey indicates that voters are far more willing to consider reform than has previously been supposed.

What happened to our retirement?

Australians born after 1965 will have to work until they are 70 years old. Nicole Orr says we need a greater understanding of the secondary effects this will have on the individual, the economy and the communities of Australia.

Speciesism: why do we love one animal but condemn the other?

Speciesism is a term that describes our discrimination of animals on the basis of them belonging to a certain species. Emmanuel Giuffre from the animal protection institute Voiceless says it is time to rethink our inconsistent relationship with animals.

The intervention versus homelands – shattered ambitions

Homelands began in the 1960s in a political climate of increasing recognition of Indigenous rights and progressive reform. Brendan Howden says homelands offer a more successful and sustainable way forward for remote area Aboriginal people than the intervention model.

Australians an endangered species?

Prime Minister Tony Abbott has raised the terror alert to “high”, meaning the risk of an attack is likely. Laurence Strano says that important questions need to be answered in order to make Australia once again safe from threat.

Disconnect to reconnect

Social September encourages us to press pause – disconnect from our digital lives and reconnect with each other and ourselves. The aim is to create spaces for face-to-face social connection, promoting positive mental health and wellbeing.

Why I’m not on Facebook

The interpretation of ‘social’ in today’s social media often leaves out the actual personal interaction. Allan Catlin says it would be a tragedy if real people contact was lost.

Inspire conversations

Thursday 11 September we are encouraged to meaningfully ask “Are you ok?” There is research suggesting that this simplest of questions can make a difference in suicide prevention.

NAPLAN: it shouldn’t be a testing time

If you have school-age children in Year 3, 5, 7 or 9, you'd be aware that they took the NAPLAN tests (the National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy) in May this year. Robert Randall, CEO of the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA), has some words of advice for parents.