In her autobiography, U.N. ambassador and victim of female genital mutilation Waris Dirie describes how she was subjected, at the age of five, to the most severe form of circumcision and makes a plea for an end to this brutal practice.
So This Is Christmas
The author muses on the real meaning of Christmas and the best ways to celebrate. Is the holiday about religion, about myth, about consumerism, about giving unselfishly?
First-World Problems
As Christmas approaches, Amanda Makrides reminds herself, and us, of just how small are the problems of most people living in the First World.
The Pen and the Sword
The Internet is changing our political environment and we need to change with it. Traditional activism is not dead but it does need social media to help it build momentum and to increase its participant base.
Equality in Love
Marriage equality for all has been on the political agenda in Australia since the last Federal election. Isn’t it a great thing that people are in love and want to get married, to commit to one another and form stable relationships? Apparently not! Gay people in Australia are seeking the right to marry but unfortunately […]
Patience Is A Virtue
“Patience is a virtue.” Unfortunately it’s not a virtue I possess. I want everything to be happening now. Time is ticking away so bring on the “good” stuff. Every minute, every hour counts! My father recently turned 80 and I hope he has many more birthdays to come. I sometimes wish I knew when my innings were […]
In Her Veins
Two years ago, Erin Roberts boarded a plane bound for America to visit her boyfriend. She left Australia as a vibrant 30-year-old, career oriented woman with aspiration for greatness. The sky was the limit but on the flight home she became a victim to deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and collapsed upon arrival at Brisbane Airport. […]
International Day of the Girl Child
October 11th is the International Day of the Girl Child.I started to ponder a few things. If I had been born a boy would I have achieved more or less? If Jesus had been a daughter what would the world be like today? What if Adam had said “No thanks, I don’t fancy any fruit”? […]
Welcome To …..
Nick Earls, an Australian author, recently released his latest collection of stories in Welcome to Normal. Normal being a town in Illinois. As a writer it’s attractive to use unusual names as an attention grabber. I started to think about all the quirky, weird and wonderful town names we have in Australia and how I […]
I’ve Run Out of Eggs
I’ve Run Out of Eggs I’ve run out of eggs what am I to do It’s not like I can buy them all shiny and new I thought about it once, putting them on ice I look back now and wish I’d thought twice My friends all say that I should be happy No more […]