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Category Archives: More than just bread
Brain Can Be Trained in Compassion, Study Shows
Editorial (source 
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Until now, little was scientifically known about the human potential to cultivate compassion – the emotional state of caring for people who are suffering in a way that motivates altruistic behavior. Investigators trained young adults to engage in compassion meditation, an ancient Buddhist technique to increase caring feelings for people who are suffering. (Credit: © byheaven / Fotolia) A new study by researchers at the … Continue reading
Between The Devil and The Deep Blue Sea
Editorial (source )
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Jessie Taylor made a film about asylum seekers waiting in Indonesia for passage to Australia. Jessie is a barrister with a special interest in human rights. Jessie Taylor in conversation with Richard Fidler Audio / Download this mp3 file / Jessie Taylor – Conversations Jessie Taylor (ABC Local) In 2009 she went to Indonesia to record stories of people who had fled their countries. Jessie … Continue reading
Right to Work
Editorial (source )
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The Solution – This campaign is seeking to address the lack of work rights for asylum seekers. This includes those who have arrived post August 13, 2012 and are subject to the no advantage rule and those who arrived prior to August 13, 2012 who have not been granted work rights. Any asylum seeker who arrived by boat post August 13, 2012 will not have … Continue reading
The morality of America’s drone war
Michael Hayworth (source )
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Outrage caused by a leaked US Department of Justice White Paper (which outlines the US government’s legal argument for authorising lethal Drone strikes against American citizens) has reignited heated arguments over the use of Drones in the press. A predator unmanned aerial vehicle (or ‘drone’) © flickr (Diablo Azul) The White House has defended the strikes in the media, claiming “These [drone] strikes are legal, … Continue reading
A Reflection on Australia Day
Julian Burnside (source )
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Australia Day is noted by most Australians as the occasion for a long weekend. For many, it marks the real start of the new year. For Aborigines who bother to think about it, it recalls the invasion of a country their ancestors had occupied for 30,000 years. They may reflect on the fact that, from white settlement on 26 January 1788, it took until 3 … Continue reading
Posted in Humanity, More than just bread
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The Golden rule: Do unto others as you would that they should do unto you”
Julian Burnside (source )
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This principle is found almost universally in moral and religious codes. Here is an alphabetical list of some examples. Ancient Egyptian: “Do for one who may do for you, that you may cause him thus to do.” The Tale of the Eloquent Peasant, (1970 to 1640 BC) Bahá’í Faith: “Ascribe not to any soul that which thou wouldst not have ascribed to thee, and say … Continue reading
Posted in Culture, Ethics, Global issues, Humanity, Morals, More than just bread, Religion, Society
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Human rights movement needs better and bolder leaders
Phil Lynch (source )
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This Human Rights Day, Phil Lynch reflects on the movement’s wins, losses and lessons from the last decade. Just over a decade ago the MV Tampa sailed into Australian waters It was carrying 433 rescued asylum seekers, mainly Afghan Hazaras fleeing the oppressive Taliban. As the Tampa neared Australia, it was commandeered by Australian special forces, an act described by one expert as tantamount to … Continue reading
Political integrity demands more than just words
John Faulkner (source )
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NO ONE ever argues that governments should have less integrity, that elected officials should not be accountable or that public servants should behave unethically. Broad statements of the value of integrity, transparency, accountability and ethics gain general agreement from all sides of politics and from all participants in public debate. But government integrity demands more than general expressions of goodwill. There is a cynicism about … Continue reading
Posted in Corruption, Culture, Ethics, Leadership, Morals, More than just bread, Opinion, Politics
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Rethinking the Fight Against Corruption
Daniel Kaufmann (source )
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Fighting corruption requires a new understanding of how the global problem has evolved, for it is bigger and broader than petty bribery or crooked deals in developing countries. A man reads a newspaper beside a banner erected at the Occupy Dame Street protest, in Dublin (REUTERS/Cathal McNaughton). Merely adopting a new anti-corruption law, creating another commission, or launching another ‘campaign’ will not get the job … Continue reading
Posted in Corruption, Global issues, More than just bread, Opinion
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