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Religion: Contemporary Issues
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The Life of Mary Ward
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Contemporary Issues
Texts in Society
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Ethical perspectives
Animal welfare
Product testing
Battery eggs
Live exports
Use of animal test data
Australian scientists grow replica human lungs and call for end to animal testing
State committee calls for changes to animal research laws
NSW government stops short of banning 'cruel' animal testing procedures
Animal testing - why is it still happening and what you can do about it
Australia ‘decades’ behind in phasing out battery-farmed eggs, animal advocates say
Battery-farmed eggs to be phased out by 2036 as Australian animal welfare reforms are brought in
Battery caged eggs to be phased out in Australia over the next decade
Egg producers claim 14 years is not long enough to phase out battery cages
Exporting live animals
Australia to phase out live sheep export amid opposition from peak farmers body
Sheep farmers vow to fight export shutdown
WA industry to consider 'legal avenues' if federal government's live sheep export ban goes ahead
Ethical consumerism
FairTrade
Fair wear
Fast fashion
The Aussie companies kicking Fairtrade goals
Australian chocolatiers ditch cocoa's murky colonial history in favour of new trade routes
The sweet spot: is ethical and affordable chocolate possible?
How to vote with your wallet and buy Fairtrade
Fairtrade fast facts
7-Eleven Australia introduces its most sustainable coffee ever
How buying Fairtrade invests in communities
Ethical fashion: A rising trend or empty rhetoric?
At ‘breaking point’, the Australian fashion industry is looking to change
Ethical Fashion: It’s Time To Make Better Fashion Choices
Research shows Australian consumers seek ethical brands
We know sweatshop clothing is bad- and buy it anyway. Here’s how your brain makes excuses
Can you trust the label? Fast fashion under increasing scrutiny over greenwashing
The Importance of Sustainable Fashion
Clothing industry put on notice as fast fashion and unwanted clothing takes environmental toll
Why fast fashion isn’t going anywhere until we raise the minimum wage
Fast fashion craze damaging the planet
Urgent call to reduce Australia’s sizeable fashion footprint and its impact on planetary and human health
Australians buy almost 15kg of clothes every year and most of it ends up in landfill, report finds
Six Easy Tips To Help You Break Up With Fast Fashion
Fast fashion: why your online returns may end up in landfill – and what can be done about it
Why Fast Fashion is a Problem for the Ocean
Racism & discrimination
Black Lives Matter
Deaths in custody
Racism in sport
Charges dropped against organisers of Melbourne Black Lives Matter rally
Charges against organisers of Melbourne’s Black Lives Matter march to be dropped
Black Lives Matter protests spark calls to defund the police
Victoria police withdraw charges against Black Lives Matter protesters
Protesters fail in court bid to challenge COVID-19 lockdown fines
Deaths in custody in Australia 2021-22
Quantifying an Australian crisis: Black deaths in custody
Indigenous deaths in custody rises to 516 since the 1991 royal commission, report says
'Heartbreaking' report shows more Indigenous people died in custody than previous year
Act now on enduring disgrace of Indigenous deaths in custody
Deaths in custody – submission to the United Nations
Racism in sport a 'by-product' of Australia, says former NRL star
Nicky Winmar: AFL faces same racism problem 30 years on
Almost a third of Indigenous AFL athletes and players of colour experienced racism, survey finds
Indigenous players accuse Australian football club of racism
‘Harrowing’ claims of racism, bullying rock Australian football club
Netball Australia rocked by explosive racism allegations amid sponsorship furore
Tensions Over Racism Rock Australian Netball
Criminal responsibility
Raise the age
Youth crime
Youth detention population in Australia 2022
Victoria should raise the age of criminal responsibility now
Why we should not rush to raise the age of criminal responsibility in Australia
Clear support for raising the age of criminal responsibility to 14
The Fight to Raise Australia’s Age of Criminal Responsibility
Daniel Andrews threatens to go it alone to raise the age of criminal responsibility in Victoria
Australians urged to ditch ‘tough on crime’ mindset for youth justice as it does not work
Governments must urgently address youth justice crisis
One simple thing to tackle youth crime (and five harder things), according to those who should know
Youth offenders
Youth detention population in Australia 2022
Youth crime surge as offences by children aged 10 to 14 increase by more than a third
Mental health
Marginalisation & social attitudes
Mental illness stigma
Reducing stigma
Improving Better Access for all Australians
The harsh reality behind latest bid to address mental health stigma, discrimination
Mental health
4 out of 10 Australians keep silent at work about their mental health
War & conflict
Is war justified?
Chemical weapons
If the growing US-China rivalry leads to ‘the worst war ever’, what should Australia do?
We need to talk about war decisions
Australia must avoid war in the region, says Penny Wong
Australia stands with Ukraine with additional military support and sanctions
What would war with China look like for Australia? Part 1
This Anzac Day, beware politicians glossing over war’s evils to justify further military adventurism
Chemical weapons
Chemical weapons remain a concern
Signing ceremony between the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and the Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG), Canberra
Bioterrorism and Australia - where to from here?
Nuclear energy
Australian attitudes
Nuclear vs renewables
Nuclear power at least 15 years away, says regulator
The question of nuclear in Australia’s energy sector
Peter Dutton wants Australia to consider nuclear power. What is it and how would it work?
‘Unproven’ small nuclear reactors would raise Australia’s energy costs and delay renewable uptake, report says
Nuclear power is unlikely for Australia, but let’s have the debate
Nuclear-powered Australia should not be off the table
Nuclear energy too expensive to replace fossil fuels: CSIRO
Is Australia Ever Actually Going to Embrace Nuclear Energy (and Should It)?
Joint media release: Renewables cheapest source of electricity
Nuclear power is dirty, dangerous and wildly expensive. Our shared energy future is renewable, not radioactive
Climate change and environmental degradability
Palm oil
Coral bleaching
Recycling
Water & sanitation
Renewable energy
Desertification
Deforestation
Facts on palm oil
Supply vs sustainability a key challenge for palm oil industry
Driving a sustainable palm oil future
sustainable palm oil banner Sustainable Palm Oil
Why we choose to be palm oil free
Why Is Palm Oil Bad? What’s the Problem with Palm Oil?
Major palm oil companies broke their promise on No Deforestation – recovery is needed
Coral bleaching 101
Annual Summary Report of Coral Reef Condition 2021/22
Atypical weather patterns cause coral bleaching on the Great Barrier Reef, Australia during the 2021–2022 La Niña
Record heat over Great Barrier Reef raises fears of second summer of coral bleaching
Helping the Great Barrier Reef adapt to a changing climate
On a remote Australian island, a small patch of reef is as good as scientists have ever seen it
We all know the Great Barrier Reef is in danger – the UN has just confirmed it. Again
Australia’s backlog of soft plastic could be processed overseas before supermarket scheme is rebooted
Without enough recycling facilities in Australia, some are getting creative with plastic solutions
Big change coming to yellow recycling bins
Recycling alone cannot solve the plastics crisis
Investing in Australia's waste and recycling infrastructure
This is the world's first zero-waste island. Could Australia be next?
How Australia is seeing a 'big shift' on plastic waste
New research: Eight in 10 Australians want manufacturers and retailers to be responsible for recycling plastic packaging
Remote Australians lack access to quality drinking water
Safe access to clean drinking water in spotlight as new report shows how many Australians miss out
Almost 200,000 Australians don't have safe drinking water, new report finds
Countless reports show water is undrinkable in many Indigenous communities. Why has nothing changed?
Clean, safe water needed for remote Indigenous communities
Clean water, sanitation & hygiene
Water And Sanitation In A Heating World
Renewables
Australia's big clean energy build hits record highs: Clean Energy Australia Report
Clean Technology
Renewable energy contributes record 68.7% of power to Australia’s main grid for brief period
Australia has raised its climate targets and now needs to accelerate its clean energy transition, says new IEA review
Gas power a critical safety net in energy transition set to cost 'trillions', study finds
Australian government to underwrite renewable energy capacity
Australia’s energy sector is changing, should your home change too?
Australia’s environment is ‘poor and deteriorating’ says damning new report
Study finds Australian drylands are vulnerable to the negative impact of overgrazing
Drought-Proofing a Sunburnt Country
5 things you need to know about the global food crisis
An Overview of Land Degradation in Australia
Desertification: Causes, Effects, And Solutions
By the numbers: the state of the world’s soil in 2022
Why Queensland is still ground zero for Australian deforestation
Deforestation: how does Australia fare in global comparisons?
Global Forest Watch: Australia
Large-scale deforestation and land clearing crisis unraveling in Queensland
Labor set to join global 2030 deforestation ban in carbon credit boost
Deforestation: Its Impact and Solutions to Remedy the Issue
Seeing the good for the trees
Australian workers
Exploitation
Bullying & harassment
Trafficking & slavery
Hundreds of thousands of ripped off workers repaid a record $532 million
Fair Work Ombudsman recovers $400k in underpayments from Brisbane businesses
Union launches court case seeking up to $250m from McDonald’s Australia for alleged unpaid wages
Survey of hospitality workers shows abuse, other struggles still rampant in industry
Hostile hospitality? Survey finds decent work conditions still missing from too many menus
Exploitation of migrant workers highlights systemic issue across Australia
Ady moved to Australia for a better life. It took him years to realise his employer was exploiting him
Australia’s public servants reported hundreds of bullying allegations in recent months
20 years of tracking sexual harassment at work shows little improvement. But that could be about to change
Workplace bullying
Chevron Australia finds nearly half its workers have suffered workplace bullying
Poor management the biggest risk factor for workplace bullying
'Isolated and traumatised' workers subject to racist slurs call for employers to do more to stamp out bullying and harassment
Workplace sexual harassment rates aren't getting better. How do we make it stop?
Reports of Human Trafficking and Slavery to AFP reach new high
Human trafficking myths exploded: women offend too, and it’s happening in our own back yard
Eradicating modern slavery: lessons for Australia and the region
Eradicating modern slavery in Australia
Australia’s modern slavery law not working, report says
How 'dark underbelly' and forced labour is helping to fuel Australia's love affair with cheap solar
Penny Wong: Why I’m imposing sanctions on human rights abusers
Emerging technologies
Impact of AI
AI use in medicine
The AI revolution is upon us. These are the jobs at risk and in demand
Australian workers exhausted, unprepared for technology-driven future of work, report says
National jobs summit a chance for Australia to hit reset on artificial intelligence, say business leaders
How artificial intelligence ChatGPT could impact work, education and relationships
Will AI decide if you get your next job? Without legal regulation, you may never even know
The Future of Work
How artificial intelligence is helping to detect heart disease in remote Australia
AI and hands-on medicine converge in remote Australia
Healthcare, law and ethics: AI in healthcare, legal and ethical issues in Australia
Unlocking the Value of AI in Medical Imaging
10 real-world examples of AI in healthcare
Women in the church
Role of women
Ordaining women
Women and the Catholic Church
Recognising the ‘powerhouse of prayer and wisdom’ religious sisters are in Australia
Catholic women’s cries for change to be heard at the Vatican on IWD
We’re told Pentecostal churches like Hillsong are growing in Australia, but they’re not anymore – is there a gender problem?
Pope Francis allows women to vote at upcoming bishops' meeting
What is it about women and the Church?
Thirty years on, the church is richer for women’s ordination
Australian Catholic Church ‘very open’ to elevating role of women
The ordination of the first female rabbi 50 years ago has brought many changes – and some challenges
First female rabbi answers call of duty
Social media
Donald Trump
Influence & consequence
Regulation
Cyberbullying
Misinformation analyst concerned by 'volume of conspiracy theorising' on Twitter during US midterms
Trump snubs Twitter after reactivation
Twitter's decision to ban Donald Trump breaks open political divide in Australia
Twitter was right to ban Donald Trump
Twitter's decision to ban Donald Trump is chilling if you care about free speech
Social Media and Online Safety report finds serious levels of online harm
‘I want to be an influencer when I grow up’: Influence Index reveals the true power of social media stars
Social Media Addiction
Social media benefits and risks: pre-teens and teenagers
Global study finds 'alarming' link between social media use and eating disorders
The Internet ‘solves more problems than it creates’; but Social Media ‘causes more problems than it solves’
Australia's changing how it regulates the internet — and no-one's paying attention
Australia’s media regulator to get new powers to crack down on online misinformation
Government introduces laws to protect Australians from online misinformation
What social media regulation could look like: Think of pipelines, not utilities
Updated defamation laws for social media coming
Cyberbullying
Child cyberbullying at ‘concerning levels’, Australia’s eSafety commissioner says
Digital self-harm: Rising trend of teens cyberbullying themselves
Health Direct: cyberbullying
'We couldn’t save him': The impact of cyberbullying on an entire community
Gun control
Weapons buybacks
Social response
Over 17,000 weapons surrendered in first year of Australian firearms amnesty
What are 'gun buyback' schemes and how effective are they?
Australia confiscated 650,000 guns. Murders and suicides plummeted.
What can Australia's reaction to a mass shooting teach us about guns and gun control?
How to prevent gun massacres? Look around the world
Queensland shooting triggers biggest firearm reform since gun buyback in Howard Government
Gun control: what makes Australian and US laws so different?
Anthony Albanese confirms gun laws will be discussed at next National Cabinet following Wieambilla police shootings
Australia already has a national gun database – so why has a police shooting prompted calls for a new one?
Not fit for purpose: calls to remove police control of gun registries
3D-printed guns are on the rise in Australia. How can we prevent them being made?
More shootings on Sydney’s streets and yet more police powers – but to what end?
Confronting cultural & ethnic issues
Forced marriage
Child marriages
Forced marriage
Forced marriage fact sheet
Forced marriage as a form of family violence in Victoria
Global Estimates of Modern Slavery Forced Labour and Forced Marriage
Child marriage: facts and how to help
Federal police fear hike in child forced marriage cases as overseas travel restrictions lift
Every girl deserves a childhood and a chance for a bright future
What is forced marriage?
Quick Links
Homelessness & Poverty
Care agencies
COVID
New report reveals soaring demand for community services from increased cost of living
Poverty in Australia 2023
The Extent and Nature of Poverty in Australia
Inquiry into the Extent and Nature of Poverty in Australia
Adequate income support and social housing could end poverty-induced homelessness
Surge in Australians sinking into extreme poverty amid cost-of-living crisis, Salvation Army research reveals
How we can solve the poverty crisis in Australia
The depth of poverty experienced by Australians on income support revealed
1 in 20 young Australians plunged into first-time homelessness during pandemic
Homeless numbers have jumped since COVID housing efforts ended – and the problem is spreading beyond the big cities
Long Covid causing job losses and homelessness in Australia, inquiry hears
Governments housed the homeless in hotels during lockdowns — but now many are back sleeping rough
Job loss, trauma, isolation: COVID hit some people more than others. Were you among them?
Homelessness statistics
First Nations marginalisation
Close the Gap
Global experiences
Next step towards closing the gap
Closing the Gap requires decisive First Nations voices
Australia still failing to hit more than two-thirds of Closing the Gap targets, new data shows
Australia struggles to 'close the gap' in Indigenous living standards
‘Heartbreaking’ outcomes amid mixed Closing the Gap progress
On the 15th anniversary of the apology to the Stolen Generations, federal government unveils $424 million Closing the Gap plan
Closing the Gap targets widening in serious areas including incarceration and children in out-of-home care
Indigenous peoples face growing challenges to access safe water
10 ways to be a genuine ally to First Nations communities
Indigenous Peoples Still Suffer from Poverty, Climate Change and Loss of Ancestral Lands, Delegates Highlight in Third Committee
We need indigenous communities for a better world
8 Key Issues for Indigenous Peoples in Canada
Determinants of health for Indigenous Australians
Indigenous people detail violent encounters with Thunder Bay police in human rights complaints
Unmarked graves on school grounds force Canada to confront disturbing past
The digital divide
Accessibility
Socio-economics
Left behind
Blueprint to close Australia’s digital divide
Understanding digital inequality
Why addressing digital inequality should be a priority
How can we close the digital divide?
What is digital inequality and the digital divide?
Data and device poverty driving digital divide
COVID-19 exposes Australia’s digital divide
Closing the digital divide in regional Victoria
Study reveals digital divide based on self-efficacy, gender, and SES
Public WiFi community engagement findings
Building digital capability and reducing device poverty
Ensuring no one is left behind means ensuring all Australians are digitally included
Australia's digital divide means 2.8 million people remain 'highly excluded' from internet access
Australia’s digital divide is even greater for Indigenous Australians
‘Digital divide’: report finds some Australian rural mobile data speeds 90% slower than urban
Drug control
Addiction & abuse
Safe injecting rooms
Drug trends and statistics
Illicit drug use
Addiction statistics in Australia
Understanding young people’s alcohol and drug use
Illicit use of drugs
Drug, alcohol and smoking addiction costing Australia billions, new report shows
The one thing uniting both sides of CBD safe injecting room debate
Medically supervised injecting room
Saving Lives - updated results from the MSIR
‘You almost died’: Safe drug use saves lives in Australia
Push for expansion of safe injecting facilities
Experts urge Victoria to provide promised CBD safe injecting room or risk further harm to vulnerable people
Inside Melbourne's controversial supervised injecting centre
Residents 'at a loss' over Melbourne's safe injecting room being made permanent
‘People are dying’: CBD residents call for rush on second injecting room
Nuclear weapons
Submarines
Deal with France
Australia's nuclear-powered submarines
AUKUS Nuclear-Powered Submarine Pathway
How can Australia pay $368 billion for new submarines? Some of the money will be created from thin air
Aukus: nuclear submarines deal will cost Australia up to $368bn
Nuclear-powered submarines are vital to Australia’s defence
Why Australia wants nuclear-powered submarines
Australia sticks to US nuclear subs despite French criticism
Macron says submarine offer to Australia still ‘on the table’
Australia agrees payout to end France submarine spat
Aukus: Australia to pay €555m settlement to French firm
Aukus pact: Australia pays $830m penalty for ditching non-nuclear French submarines
Religious discrimination
Freedom of religion
Religious discrimination
Faith No More? The inadequacy of Australia’s protections for religious freedom
Australians reject discrimination that is based on religious belief: new research
Australia ‘falling behind’ on religious freedom
Labor takes step towards new religious discrimination laws with review of exemptions for schools
2021 Report on International Religious Freedom: Australia
Religious Discrimination
Religious Educational Institutions and Anti-Discrimination Laws
Religious belief or activity
Religion and religious dress
Changes to religious exceptions in anti-discrimination laws
Australian citizens in Syria
Risks and responses repatriating foreign terrorist fighters and families
Australia must rescue citizens from ‘dire’ Syrian detention camps, Red Cross says
Australia: Many Children Returned from Syria Detention Doing Well
Australian families of IS fighters repatriated from Syrian camp
Australia repatriates 17 women and children from Syrian camp
Australians in Syrian detention camps to be brought home by federal government
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