Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs; e.g., cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and respiratory disease) represent a profound threat to the health of the world’s population, accounting for over two-thirds of deaths worldwide and more than half of the global disease burden. Globally, NCD rates continue to rise, with the prevalence of diabetes increasing by 45% between 1990 to 2013
The past 12 months have been, without a doubt, the most exciting in recent history in terms of disclosure of information. The disclosure of information by WikiLeaks, including collateral murder, the Afghanistan and Iraq War logs, Cablegate, the Guantanamo Bay files, the spy files and the global intelligence files
In a stable, prosperous country such as Australia, it can be easy to take democracy for granted. Democracy has become a somewhat dirty word, especially with the ‘Millennial Generation’ (born 1982–2003)
Twenty years ago in 1989, Environment Minister Graham Richardson took a proposal to Cabinet for a 20% reduction in greenhouse emissions by 2005. He was unsuccessful, but two years later Cabinet agreed to a similar proposal, on condition it would not affect the economy. The Opposition Liberal Party after 1987 had a strong climate change policy under Shadow Environment Minister Chris Puplick, and took that policy to subsequent elections
Activists often look to colourful actions to draw attention to issues, and delivering a birthday cake must surely fall into this category. However, AID/WATCH, the small, non-government organisation (NGO) that monitors the quality of overseas aid, never expected that their ironic 60th birthday cake delivered to the World Bank asking it to retire would be described by the Australian Tax Office (ATO) as unacceptable political activity and used against them
Most people care about the welfare of future generations. Parents want their children and grandchildren to live good lives. A British poll found that 64% of citizens think that the needs of future generations should take priority in the division of resources. But political and economic decisions do not reflect this concern. The reluctance of governments to adopt effective policies for mitigating climate change is the most obvious example of a failure to prevent harm to future people
Thirty-three years ago, when I joined the news room of the London Sunday Times, its editor, Harry Evans, gave me ‘Editing and Design’ a five-volume manual of English typography and layout
Debate about human rights in Australia is often polarised. One view commonly expressed is that by Sir Robert Menzies in 1967, just retired as Prime Minister, that ‘the rights of individuals in Australia are as adequately protected as they are in any other country in the world’
Fundamental to the argument in this chapter is that Australia should aspire to the highest possible standards of democratic life. We not only have to be constantly vigilant about the erosion of democratic practices but also fully aware of the initiatives being taken in other countries to strengthen democracy and extend public accountability
Just three years ago WikiLeaks was virtually unknown and its founder, Julian Assange, was next to unrecognisable as a national, let alone global identity.A short time later almost no one could say that they knew nothing about the organisation. Assange’s picture appeared on the front cover of TIME magazine and he was described early in 2011 as the most ‘famous man in the world’