Posts related to 1. Society
Its aims is to explore the features of contemporary societies – feel free to contribute!
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22 April 2017 - My experience in North Korea – an interview with ABC Radio North Coast
Hello,
I was interviewed two days ago by ABC Radio North Coast’s Bruce Mackenzie. He was very friendly and eager to know about my past experience living and working in North Korea. So I describe my impressions of the secretive state, what I enjoyed about it, and what was difficult to witness. He also asks if I was under constant surveillance, or what North Koreans thought of the West. He then moved on to ask for my analysis on the current geopolitical tensions around North Korea’s ambition to develop a nuclear warhead long-range missile capable of hitting the Unites States – and Australia for that matter. I argue that while these tensions are sources of concerns and worth keeping a close eye onto, I do not expect deterioration to the point of a nuclear war.
I hope you enjoy this chat!
http://makingsenseofthings.info/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/170420-itw-with-bruce-mackenzie-abc-radio-north-coast.m4a … Read the rest
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23 August 2016 - My birth story
Louis is now six weeks old and fast asleep beside me. He makes loud grunting noises as he sleeps, sometimes interspersed by soft squeaking and cooing. He’s lying on his back, tightly swaddled to contain his startle reflex. He frowns and smiles, letting out a little cry occasionally when the wind in his tummy gets too much. Last night he fed nearly every hour. We’ve been told he’s going through his first developmental leap, so he’s needing lots of mummy time and feeds. I found myself gently crying after a feed and toilet trip. I was tired. I had started thinking about my birth after feeling how tender my scars still are when I wipe after going to the toilet. I decided that today I would write our story, to process it fully and record it whilst still relatively fresh in my memory.
For nine months I prepared as much … Read the rest
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17 November 2015 - It’s not IS we should fight against – it’s obscurantism
After having published a post yesterday (No more bombs) arguing that the West won’t win peace by dropping more bombs and should instead fight against inequality and injustice, Chris, a follower of Making Sense of Things on Facebook asked if we had “any advice for what people should do to counter [the Islamic State]? Or should it just be allowed to continue? They won’t allow a diplomatic solution, as they believe any negotiation is sacrilegious, let alone voting?” This question is very relevant indeed. How can we negotiate with IS if we can’t even talk with them?
A picture I took in Al-Anbar province, Iraq, on my way to Baghdad from Jordan, May 2003.
I understand that throwing 20 bombs at the Islamic State, like the French warplanes reportedly did two days after the Paris attacks, sounds the right thing to do. It feels good, we get … Read the rest
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16 November 2015 - No more bombs
“#PrayForTheWorld” – Art by Leemarej
I now live in Australia but I’m French. I’ve lived several years in Paris where many of my friends and family members still live. Two of the attacks occurred in the same street where by my best friend lives. His partner’s sister was enjoying drinks with her friends in one of the restaurants were so many people got killed on this tragic Friday the 13th. Luckily she survived.
I was touched by the outpour of solidarity I have received, my warmest thanks to you all. I read lots of articles and watched heaps of media about the Paris attacks. Yet, I started quite rapidly to feel uncomfortable at the world’s focus on this latest wave of terrorist attacks. I’ve lived and worked in countries where such violence is a daily fact of life, including in Iraq, Afghanistan, Yemen, Kenya and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. … Read the rest
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08 March 2015 - I’m sick and tired of International Women’s Day
Today is International Women’s Day. I know we should celebrate this event but the truth is that I’m not in the mood for it. I’m a man, and I’m sick and tired of hearing horrible stories whichever part of the world I travel to, about how badly and unfairly women are treated in their respective society.
I’m sick and tired to know that 35 per cent (35!) of women worldwide have experienced either physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence or non-partner sexual violence.
I’m sick and tired that there are fewer women at the helm of top Australian and US companies than men named Peter or John sitting as chief executive and chair positions.
I’m sick and tired that good men all around the world are so much the slaves of their sexual desire that they end up groping, catcalling, lacking respect, hurting, hitting or raping a woman (or … Read the rest
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01 March 2015 - How we silence sexual abuse
Sexual abuse has cast a shadow over my family’s life. My mother was abused as a child by her step father, the man I grew up knowing as my grandfather. My cousin was also abused by him (repeatedly, for years). Friends I went to school with were abused by him. Children I met when I was with my grandmother while she babysat them were abused by him. In fact, I have no idea how many children my grandfather has abused over his lifetime but I suspect the numbers are huge since he is still alive and in his 90s.
I am grateful that I was never abused but what has happened around me has still affected me deeply. My grandmother and grandfather lived very nearby and we saw them regularly – actually, we saw grandma nearly daily. They were an integral part of my childhood and I always held two … Read the rest
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25 October 2014 - This changes everything
Today I’d like to introduce you to Rohan Anderson, if you don’t already know him.
Rohan Anderson is the blogger, photographer, writer, cook, forager, grower and hunter from Whole Larder Love. If you don’t know of him, you should check out his website which details his journey from eating processed food, obesity, anxiety, depression and allergic reactions to ditching his career, growing, hunting, preserving, curing and foraging his food.
(source: http://wholelarderlove.com/)
Despite his inspiring, creative and very real life, recently I’ve read some criticisms of Rohan which have got me thinking. People don’t like him ‘constantly bashing supermarkets’ and complain that not everyone can live like him and his family. Whole Larder Love frequently covers issues with our current food system, media and materialistic consumption in society. It’s true that his posts are full of passion and even frustration which I think some people perceive as judgement but I … Read the rest
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16 September 2014 - Bolivian Story: Gabriel Coimbra, bringing nature to urban Bolivians
I met Gabriel whilst volunteering at Red Monkey, a vegan restaurant in La Paz, Bolivia. At first I knew him as the guy washing dishes and tidying up but I soon learnt that there was so much more to this young man from the Amazon! One day he gave me some soapnuts he had collected… I hadn’t seen these since we were living in Europe, in the eco stores. I was so excited to use them to make soapnut liquid as an all purpose cleaner and natural pesticide for the white flies on my tomatoes. Another time I tried his Andean wild herbs bath salts as well as various other infusions and creations. Gabriel’s knowledge of plants, interest in all things natural and wonderful culinary experiments are impressive. I wish I could have stayed longer to learn from him. He is in the process of developing products and I’m thrilled … Read the rest
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25 July 2014 - Galápagos Islands: remarkable yet preoccupying
We enjoyed last Christmas on the Galapagos Islands, giving ourselves the soulful gift of connecting with nature. We felt incredibly blessed to be in such a unique place on this remarkable planet of ours as animals approached us unguarded, unafraid of humans and as curious about us as we were of them. We wondered at the unique giant tortoises, tame sea lions and abundant bird life.
Our visit was bitter sweet though, as we noticed the effects of tourism and the swell in population on the islands. We wondered if we should really be there, contributing in that way. Locals profess that tourism funds conservation and research but I couldn’t help feel that there would be greater conservation if we didn’t go there at all. My heart felt burdened as I contemplated the magnitude of destruction humans have unleashed on this planet, even in protected areas like this.
People flock … Read the rest
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25 June 2014 - Bolivian Story: Alejandro Barrios
I met Alejandro whilst volunteering at vegan restaurant, Red Monkey, in La Paz, Bolivia. Ale was in charge of baking the bread and making the vegan cakes. I was fascinated by making cakes without eggs, milk or butter and I knew they must be good because Ale is the happiest, most laid back person there… high on life and baked goods! Actually, Ale’s wonderful attitude to life, his joyful presence and playfulness is what kept me going back on Thursdays to help out in the kitchen. I’m so grateful for the time spent with him, exchanging, learning from him and teaching him my sourdough skills too. I hope you enjoy this short interview with a charming Bolivian baker. 🙂
I met you at Red Monkey, where you work as a chef, specialising in cakes and breads… can you tell me how you became a chef and interested in food?… Read the rest
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