Page 463 – Openforum https://www.openforum.com.au Open Forum offers an independent platform for Australian debate Thu, 28 Mar 2024 22:27:37 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=4.9.25 Protecting the world from pandemics https://www.openforum.com.au/protecting-the-world-from-pandemics/ Mon, 18 Mar 2019 21:06:11 +0000 http://www.openforum.com.au/?p=19952 Creating mathematical and computational models of infectious diseases such as pandemic flu gives governments and health policy-makers a toolkit to predict and respond to the threats posed by potential pandemics.

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Why Bitcoin can never be green https://www.openforum.com.au/why-bitcoin-can-never-be-green/ Mon, 18 Mar 2019 21:06:02 +0000 http://www.openforum.com.au/?p=19969 While the initial frenzy has faded, Bitcoin mining still consumes as much as energy as the whole of Denmark around the world and even constant renewable sources such as hydropower cannot balance its environmental impact.

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The elephant in the election room – The immediate existential threat of climate change https://www.openforum.com.au/the-elephant-in-the-election-room-the-immediate-existential-threat-of-climate-change/ Sun, 17 Mar 2019 20:49:51 +0000 http://www.openforum.com.au/?p=19984 Human-induced climate change is happening faster than officially acknowledged, but our leaders continue to ignore or downplay the dangers. To halt our suicidal rush to oblivion, the community must ensure no leader is elected or appointed in this country unless they are committed to emergency action.

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Backing the strengths of young indigenous people https://www.openforum.com.au/backing-the-strengths-of-young-indigenous-people/ Sun, 17 Mar 2019 20:49:40 +0000 http://www.openforum.com.au/?p=19861 Aboriginal youth know who they are and where they want to go, and we need to use these strengths if we are to close the health and employment gap between Australia's disparate populations.

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In fighting online interference, the first line of defence is the mind https://www.openforum.com.au/in-fighting-online-interference-the-first-line-of-defence-is-the-mind/ Sun, 17 Mar 2019 20:49:23 +0000 http://www.openforum.com.au/?p=19923 The internet and social media give authoritarian nations a lever to pull in democracy’s debates through intermediaries who guide opinions in their interest or undermine the legitimacy of democracy itself.

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Let’s learn to love our Aussie accents https://www.openforum.com.au/lets-learn-to-love-our-aussie-accents/ Sat, 16 Mar 2019 21:08:13 +0000 http://www.openforum.com.au/?p=19913 Our views of accents are arbitrary social evaluations rather than intrinsic facts, and we base them on our knowledge and experience of the people who lie behind them. We should embrace our accents as part of who we are.

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Democracy is good for your health https://www.openforum.com.au/democracy-is-good-for-your-health/ Sat, 16 Mar 2019 21:08:05 +0000 http://www.openforum.com.au/?p=19938 Living in a democracy is closely linked with better health for adults thanks to an increase in government spending, according to international researchers.

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ANU research set to shake-up space missions https://www.openforum.com.au/anu-research-set-to-shake-up-space-missions/ Sat, 16 Mar 2019 21:07:58 +0000 http://www.openforum.com.au/?p=19935 A new study from The Australian National University (ANU) has found a number of superthin "2D" materials can not only withstand being sent into space, but potentially thrive in the harsh conditions.

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Solving the Max 8 accident riddle https://www.openforum.com.au/solving-the-max-8-accident-riddle/ Sat, 16 Mar 2019 01:42:06 +0000 http://www.openforum.com.au/?p=19980 Australia’s decision to suspend all Boeing 737 Max 8 flights in and out of the country appears to be a prudent precaution in the wake of 2 recent major accidents.

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Can ‘revisionists’ rule the world? https://www.openforum.com.au/can-revisionists-rule-the-world/ Sat, 16 Mar 2019 01:41:58 +0000 http://www.openforum.com.au/?p=19977 A world disordered by the joint efforts of Russia and China to diminish US power and influence — accelerated by some of the US’s own actions — seems to be the near-term reality we’ll be living through.

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Groundbreaking survey of childhood maltreatment underway https://www.openforum.com.au/groundbreaking-survey-of-childhood-maltreatment-underway/ Sat, 16 Mar 2019 01:41:50 +0000 http://www.openforum.com.au/?p=19941 A $2.3 million five-year study of the prevalence and effects of child maltreatment in Australia, the most comprehensive national study of its type, is underway.

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Children teach the world a climate change lesson https://www.openforum.com.au/children-teach-the-world-a-climate-change-lesson/ Thu, 14 Mar 2019 22:05:47 +0000 http://www.openforum.com.au/?p=19960 The school students of today will suffer the effects of climate change tomorrow. Young people who demand meaningful action on climate change therefore deserve to be heard, rather than ridiculed or silenced.

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