Our world seems to be constantly in turmoil. When there is no outright crisis like the COVID-19 pandemic, then there are always contentious issues. Issues such as racism, capitalism, immigration, poverty and gender are constantly under discussion. Generally, these discussions are held to proffer solutions. Due to their near-universal and complex nature, one would expect...
Generally in Australia, we all get along pretty well and feel good about our society. Studies show we have a strong “social cohesion index,” which has remained relatively stable for the past seven years. But we cannot take this for granted, especially if the coronavirus pandemic also leads to a recession. In the context of...
What does genuine economic progress look like? The orthodox answer is that a bigger economy is always better, but this idea is increasingly strained by the knowledge that, on a finite planet, the economy can’t grow for ever. But what is a steady-state economy? Why it is it desirable or necessary? And what would it...
According to the United Nations, the COVID-19 pandemic is likely to cost the world an alarming US$1 trillion this year and there is little evidence to the contrary. Lockdowns and various other policies currently being used across the globe to fight and curb the spread of the virus have directly resulted in near-total halt in...
There have been protests across the United States demanding that states “re-open” their non-essential businesses as part of a concerted, conservative push to re-open the American economy. While it’s true that millions are suffering economically and emotionally as we shelter in place, this push brings forth a terrifying, eugenics-laden question of “when is it safe...
ABUJA, Nigeria: When the coronavirus pandemic hit the world, it’s fair to say, most nations weren’t prepared. Regardless of this though, with typical human fortitude and panache, we have watched as countries across the globe set about fighting the biggest threat mankind has faced in modern times. Since there is no proven strategy or vaccine...
As the Coronavirus pandemic rages on, we have to be vigilant of disaster capitalism and what author and activist Naomi Klein calls the shock doctrine, an exploitation of crises to push through policies while the public is overwhelmed in order to create a “new normal.” The Trump administration has already made alarming moves to deregulate...
A global pandemic is upon us, and we will not be the same after this is over. Millions will die across the world and hundreds of thousands here in the U.S. – and that’s the best-case scenario. It’s overwhelming, it’s scary, and it’s hard to make sense of this slow-moving tragedy that’s unfolding in front...
The world’s richest man and Amazon.com founder Jeff Bezos has decided to throw his wealth behind the climate change battle in a bid to save our environment. The Amazon CEO took to Instagram to announce a new fund to back scientists, activists and organizations working to mitigate the impact of climate change across the globe....
I have to admit that until recently, I had little interest or awareness of local politics. Embarrassingly, my dad is actually a political journalist, specialising in local politics. He even has two published books out on politics, that I haven’t read (soz dad). As I became older, I was slapped with the fact that politics...
When searching for female-led podcasts, the list of shows about fashion, parenting, pop culture, health and wellness seem endless. Run a similar search for women-run political podcasts, however, and very few pop up. While studies show that women are less interested in politics than men, this may change as more women run for public office,...
Amid the ongoing bushfire and coronavirus crises – and the political kerfuffle surrounding the Nationals and Greens – you’d be forgiven for missing the annual release of the federal political donations data this week. Nine months after the 2019 federal election, voters finally get a look at who funded the political parties’ campaigns. The data...