tag:theconversation.com,2011:/au/articlesThe Conversation – Articles (AU)2024-03-19T06:21:50Ztag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2260202024-03-19T06:21:50Z2024-03-19T06:21:50ZFinally, good news for power bills: energy regulator promises small savings for most customers on the ‘default market offer’<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/582732/original/file-20240319-16-nu9kfi.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=67%2C8%2C5540%2C3724&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">
</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/queensland-australia-common-public-substations-1062133949">chinasong, Shutterstock</a></span></figcaption></figure><p>Electricity customers in four Australian states can breathe a sigh of relief. After two years in a row of 20% <a href="https://theconversation.com/why-are-electricity-prices-going-up-again-and-will-it-ever-end-201869">price increases</a>, power prices have finally stabilised. In many places they’re going down. </p>
<p>The good news is contained in two separate draft decisions today by the <a href="https://www.aer.gov.au/news/articles/news-releases/default-market-offer-dmo-2024-25-draft-determination">Australian Energy Regulator</a> and Victoria’s <a href="https://www.esc.vic.gov.au/electricity-and-gas/prices-tariffs-and-benchmarks/victorian-default-offer/victorian-default-offer-price-review-2024-25">Essential Services Commission</a>, on the maximum price energy retailers can charge electricity consumers under a specific plan that must be offered to all consumers.</p>
<p>The price is officially known as the “<a href="https://www.dcceew.gov.au/energy/programs/price-safety-net">default market offer</a>”. It’s the price you’re charged on a “default” plan with an electricity retailer – in other words, the plan customers are on if they haven’t shopped around to find a better deal from competing retailers. The bottom line is, most of these residential electricity customers should receive price reductions of between 0.4% (A$13) and 7.1% ($211) next financial year. In most cases that’s less than the rate of inflation. </p>
<p>The relief is largely the result of a drop in <a href="https://theconversation.com/wholesale-power-prices-are-falling-fast-but-consumers-will-have-to-wait-for-relief-heres-why-222495">wholesale prices</a> – that’s the price paid to the generators producing electricity. Unfortunately, however, at the same time transmission and distribution prices – or network costs – have gone up. So the savings won’t be as great as they might have been. </p>
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<h2>A big improvement on previous years</h2>
<p>This is the sixth year in which regulators have set default market offers for retail electricity customers. They do it where there is competition in the sector: so in southeast Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia and, separately, Victoria. </p>
<p>It does not include Tasmania, the ACT, Western Australia or the Northern Territory, where the relevant regulator sets the prices and there’s no or very little competition.</p>
<p>About 5-10% of consumers across the states involved are on default plans. The rest have a contract arrangement with a retailer. But the draft decision, if enacted, still directly affects hundreds of thousands of people. And as commentators <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-03-19/aer-flags-price-cuts-for-some-rises-for-others/103602946">have observed</a>, it sends an important market signal about the general direction of electricity prices.</p>
<p>The Australian Energy Regulator says most residential customers on the default market offer can expect to save on their electricity bills in 2024-25. But the offers vary depending where you live. </p>
<p>Have a look at the table above to see what residential customers without “controlled load” can expect. That covers most households. (Controlled load is when you also have an off-peak tariff for hot water heating.)</p>
<p>Some customers will be paying more for electricity. In Southeast Queensland, residential customers will pay 2.7% more, which is an extra $53 on average. </p>
<p>Using an inflation forecast of 3.3%, the Australian Energy Regulator also calculates what they call the “real” year-to-year variation in prices. So even if there’s a small increase in the price for a particular area, it’s less than the rate of inflation. For that example in southeast Queensland, it equates to a decrease of 0.6% and a saving of $12 in real terms. </p>
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<p>Residential customers on the <a href="https://www.esc.vic.gov.au/electricity-and-gas/prices-tariffs-and-benchmarks/victorian-default-offer">Victorian default market offer</a> can expect to save 6.4%. The retail power prices in Victoria are <a href="https://www.afr.com/companies/energy/power-bill-relief-could-be-coming-as-wholesale-electricity-prices-fall-20240130-p5f14e">slightly better than in the other states</a> largely because there are lower wholesale power prices.</p>
<p>All in all it’s a big improvement on the price hikes of <a href="https://theconversation.com/why-are-electricity-prices-going-up-again-and-will-it-ever-end-201869">last year</a> and the year before that. </p>
<p>The final default market offer prices will be released in May, but we can expect little change. </p>
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Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/the-government-will-underwrite-risky-investments-in-renewables-heres-why-thats-a-good-idea-218427">The government will underwrite risky investments in renewables – here's why that's a good idea</a>
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<h2>Network prices are up</h2>
<p>Regulators set the default market offer by itemising all costs retailers are likely to incur in the course of running their business. From that, they calculate the fair price retailers should offer customers on default plans. </p>
<p>Wholesale electricity costs, incurred when retailers buy electricity from generators on the wholesale market, make up <a href="https://www.energyfactsaustralia.org.au/key-issues/energy-costs/">maybe 30–40% of your bill</a>. </p>
<p>The other major cost retailers face is for the electricity transmission and distribution network – that is, the “poles and wires”. These also comprise around 40% of your bill.</p>
<p>The network price is driven by inflation and interest rate rises, and also includes the costs of maintenance, and building new transmission infrastructure to connect renewable energy generators to the grid.</p>
<p>The easing of wholesale prices since their 2022 peak has been offset by increases in these network prices. In fact, network prices have increased by almost as much as wholesale prices have come down. </p>
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Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/wholesale-power-prices-are-falling-fast-but-consumers-will-have-to-wait-for-relief-heres-why-222495">Wholesale power prices are falling fast – but consumers will have to wait for relief. Here's why</a>
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<h2>A difficult ask</h2>
<p>Responding to the draft decision on Tuesday, Federal Energy Minister Chris Bowen <a href="https://minister.dcceew.gov.au/bowen/media-releases/albanese-government-energy-plan-stabilising-energy-prices-after-global-crisis">said</a> it showed the Albanese government was stabilising energy prices.</p>
<p>But Bowen came to office promising to <a href="https://www.chrisbowen.net/media/media-releases-and-op-eds/powering-australia-labor-s-plan-to-create-jobs-cut-power-bills-and-reduce-emissions-by-boosting-renewable-energy/">cut power bills by $275 by 2025</a>. That deadline is not very far away.</p>
<p>Bowen made that commitment in December 2021. Very soon after, <a href="https://theconversation.com/electricity-prices-are-spiking-ten-times-as-much-as-normal-here-are-some-educated-guesses-as-to-why-182849">electricity prices</a> shot through the roof. It’s becoming very difficult to see how the $275 cost reduction will be achieved by next year. </p>
<p>The bottom line is prices have stabilised after a couple of bad years and hopefully the worst is behind us. But, it would be a brave person who attempts to predict where they go from here. There are too many moving parts. Governments should stay the course on policies, and consumers, worried about electricity prices, should go online, compare offers, and to find the best possible deal.</p>
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Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/unsexy-but-vital-why-warnings-over-grid-reliability-are-really-about-building-more-transmission-lines-212603">Unsexy but vital: why warnings over grid reliability are really about building more transmission lines</a>
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<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Tony Wood may have interests in companies impacted by the energy transition through his superannuation fund.</span></em></p>In states with competition between retailers, the energy regulator is promising savings for most customers on the default plan. But it’s small change compared to price hikes. Here’s what to expect.Tony Wood, Program Director, Energy, Grattan InstituteLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2260132024-03-19T04:45:36Z2024-03-19T04:45:36ZWhat’ll happen when Facebook stops paying for news? Here’s what happened when radio stopped paying for music<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/582727/original/file-20240319-22-xag9u9.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=1502%2C732%2C3364%2C1769&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption"></span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">Shutterstock</span></span></figcaption></figure><p>Why are musicians so keen to get played on the radio?</p>
<p>It can’t be because of the money.</p>
<p>In Australia they are paid at rates so low they come close to making streaming services look generous. By law, no radio station can be made to pay more than <a href="https://www5.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/consol_act/ca1968133/s152.html">1%</a> of the station’s gross revenue for all of the music it plays, even if it is an all-music station. By the time the labels have had their cut, the artists get <a href="https://cdn.theconversation.com/static_files/files/3161/Sub28_CRA.pdf">a lot less</a>.</p>
<p><a href="https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id%3A%22chamber%2Fhansards%2F27117%2F0048%22">Legislation</a> now before the Senate would remove the ceiling, allowing radio stations and the representatives of musical artists to negotiate freely, with a final decision made by a tribunal in cases where they can’t reach agreement.</p>
<p>It’s a bit like the legislation set up to arbitrate disputes between platforms such as Facebook and <a href="https://www.accc.gov.au/by-industry/digital-platforms-and-services/news-media-bargaining-code/news-media-bargaining-code">news organisations</a> about the amount to pay for news.</p>
<p>The parallels tell us an awful lot about where the power lies in disputes between platforms and providers. Here’s a hint: it doesn’t lie with providers, whether they provide music, or news, or, for that matter, fruit to Coles and Woolworths.</p>
<h2>Radio pays little for music, and always has</h2>
<p>Here’s what happened with radio.</p>
<p>Legislation dating back to 1968 has given Australian radio stations a blanket right to play whatever music they want so long as they negotiate a payment rate with the relevant collecting society.</p>
<p>If the station and collecting society can’t agree on the rate, the decision is made by an <a href="https://www.copyrighttribunal.gov.au/">independent tribunal</a>, but, for commercial stations, the tribunal is limited to awarding no more than 1% of the station’s gross revenue, and for ABC stations, a mere <a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/582675/original/file-20240318-26-prqomy.PNG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=556&fit=crop&dpr=1">half of one cent</a> per Australian resident per year.</p>
<p>The attorney-general introduced the ceilings to “<a href="https://search.informit.org/doi/10.3316/agispt.20210216043919">allay the fears</a>” of radio stations and initially promised a review after five years, a provision he later <a href="https://search.informit.org/doi/10.3316/agispt.20210216043919">dropped</a> from the final draft of the legislation. A half a century of inflation has rendered the ABC’s ceiling of half a cent per person worth a fraction of what it was.</p>
<h2>The ABC pays half a cent per person</h2>
<p>The ceilings only apply to radio stations and only to the recordings. Television stations (including ABC stations) pay much more per track. </p>
<p>And composers, who are paid separately with no legislated limit, get much more. </p>
<p>This means the composers of <a href="https://youtu.be/PQCH1-ffP-g?si=RhF2m5hjQjJvPUVq">You’re the Voice</a> get paid quite well, but the performer, John Farnham, does not.</p>
<p>The record industry has tried time and time again to remove the ceiling. </p>
<p>In 2010 it even went to the High Court, arguing along the lines of the case depicted in the movie <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2022/mar/19/its-the-vibe-25-years-on-how-the-castle-became-an-australian-classic">The Castle</a> that the constitution prevented the Commonwealth from acquiring property other than “on just terms”. </p>
<p>The High Court said “<a href="https://eresources.hcourt.gov.au/showCase/2012/HCA/8">no</a>”, finding copyright wasn’t property. </p>
<p>Now, independent Senator David Pocock is trying again. </p>
<h2>‘Fair pay for radio play’</h2>
<p>Pocock’s <a href="https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/Bills_Search_Results/Result?bId=s1386">Fair Pay for Radio Play</a> bill would remove the ceilings, allowing the radio industry and the record industry to negotiate “<a href="https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id%3A%22chamber%2Fhansards%2F27117%2F0048%22">a fair rate</a>” subject to adjudication by the Copyright Tribunal.</p>
<p>The radio industry says, if that happens, it will play <a href="https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/download/committees/commsen/27539/toc_pdf/Legal%20and%20Constitutional%20Affairs%20Legislation%20Committee_2024_03_07.pdf;fileType=application%2Fpdf#search=%22committees/commsen/27539/0000%22">less Australian music</a>. It would also ask to be freed from the legislated requirement to play Australian music.</p>
<p>The recording industry talks as if the radio industry is bluffing. </p>
<p>Annabelle Herd, head of the Phonographic Performance Company of Australia, told the Senate hearing </p>
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<p>even if the radio networks stopped playing all Australian music, they would still have to pay to play UK music, Canadian music and music from pretty much every other country in the world. </p>
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<p>It’s a point she might not want to push too far.</p>
<p>In 1970 that’s exactly what happened. In response to what it felt was an over-large demand from the Phonographic Performance Company, the commercial radio industry said no, and refused to play any of its music.</p>
<p>Instead, it played records from independent Australian labels who didn’t charge and got their records pressed in <a href="https://cdn.theconversation.com/static_files/files/3160/1970_RECORD_BAN.pdf">Singapore</a>, and American music, lots of it.</p>
<p>While the industry couldn’t play music from the UK, Canada and a bunch of other countries that were signatories to the relevant copyright treaty, it could play music from the United States, which didn’t charge, and wasn’t.</p>
<h2>When radio called the labels’ bluff</h2>
<p>A disc jockey quoted at the time said he didn’t think the average listener would <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/110321578">notice</a>, and there’s nothing on record to suggest the average listener did.</p>
<p>The Beatles album <a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/let-it-be-mw0000192939">Let it Be</a> was released on May 8. The <a href="https://www.nfsa.gov.au/latest/radio-100-1970-record-ban">record ban</a>, as it was called, came into force on May 16. <a href="https://www.nfsa.gov.au/latest/radio-100-1970-record-ban">The Long and Winding Road</a> cracked the top five just about everywhere it was released, apart from Australia.</p>
<p>Five months later, the record companies caved. The only thing the radio industry offered it was a <a href="https://cdn.theconversation.com/static_files/files/3160/1970_RECORD_BAN.pdf">guaranteed number of advertisements</a> per week. Which had been the radio industry’s point all along. The record companies needed ratio play for exposure. Without it, people were unlikely to buy their discs.</p>
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Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/facebook-wont-keep-paying-australian-media-outlets-for-their-content-are-we-about-to-get-another-news-ban-224857">Facebook won't keep paying Australian media outlets for their content. Are we about to get another news ban?</a>
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<p>It’s possible to stretch parallels too far, but when Facebook temporarily stopped linking to pieces from Australian news sites in 2021, traffic to those sites slid <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2021-03-03/facebook-news-ban-australian-publisher-page-views-rebound/13206616">13%</a>.</p>
<p>The common theme is that – as unfair as it seems – platforms have an awful lot of power over providers. If Coles and Woolworths say no, fruit growers won’t be able to distribute their product; if radio stations say no, artists won’t be as widely disseminated; and if Facebook and its ilk say no, news sites will get fewer clicks.</p>
<p>Facebook has been paying millions of dollars to Australian news sites since the <a href="https://www.acma.gov.au/news-media-bargaining-code">news media bargaining code</a> began in 2021. In February it said when the agreements expire, it will <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-03-02/facebook-google-news-media-deal-media-pay-meta/103534342">pay no more</a>.</p>
<p>The code allows the government to force Facebook to pay, but only if it continues to link to news, and it has given <a href="https://about.fb.com/news/2024/02/update-on-facebook-news-us-australia/">every indication</a> it won’t.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/226013/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Peter Martin is Economics Editor of The Conversation. </span></em></p>Put to the test in 1970, Australia’s radio industry abandoned the record labels that wanted them to pay more. The labels backed down.Peter Martin, Visiting Fellow, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2261192024-03-19T04:32:37Z2024-03-19T04:32:37ZFuture of Anthony Albanese’s religious discrimination legislation is in Peter Dutton’s hands<p>The federal government has flagged draft legislation on religious freedom but Anthony Albanese this week personally told Peter Dutton he won’t proceed with it without opposition approval. </p>
<p>The PM raised the matter with Dutton when they were both aboard a VIP flight on Monday going to the funeral of former Labor minister Joel Fitzgibbon’s son Jack. </p>
<p>One piece of legislation would amend the Sex Discrimination Act that allows religious schools to discriminate on the basis of their values.</p>
<p>The government would remove the right of schools to discriminate against children on any ground but would retain the schools’ right to preference in hiring staff of their faith or who support their values. </p>
<p>The other piece of legislation is a religious discrimination bill that would add faith to the attributes (such as sex and sexuality) on which people are protected from discrimination. </p>
<p>Albanese told caucus on Tuesday: “If there is bipartisan agreement we will proceed. If there is not agreement, now is not the time to have a divisive debate, especially with the rise in antisemitism and Islamophobia”.</p>
<p>He indicated support from the Catholic church, Sydney Anglicans and imams for the government’s approach. </p>
<p>Labor promised before the election it would bring in legislation on religious discrimination. </p>
<p>The attempt by the Coalition government to legislate in this area ended in political disaster for then prime minister Scott Morrison when a number of Liberals crossed the floor over the issue of transgender children. Morrison then pulled the bill.</p>
<p>Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus asked the Australian Law Reform Commission to advise the government on how to protect students and teachers against discrimination on the basis of sexuality and gender identification, while also enabling a school to maintain its religious ethos. </p>
<p>The report will be tabled Thursday – the deadline for doing so. </p>
<p>Dutton, at a news conference later on Tuesday, accused Albanese of a “set up”. He claimed the PM was trying to find a way out of his pre-election promise by saying he couldn’t proceed without bipartisan support. This “talks to the character of the Prime Minister”, who couldn’t be taken at his word.</p>
<p>Dutton said Albanese, who had not given him any document, had made it clear he would not support any parliamentary committee inquiry into the legislation. The Opposition Leader said he had treated the conversation as confidential. </p>
<p>Defending its position that it would not have a parliamentary inquiry into the legislation, the government says that since 2016, there have been at least 10 inquiries, more than 260 hearings and consultations and more than 70,000 submissions into religious discrimination and removing discrimination exemptions from the Sex Discrimination Act.</p>
<p>In an article in the West Australian on Tuesday Shadow Attorney-General Michaelia Cash posed several issues about the as-yet-unseen legislation. </p>
<p>“First, will the government’s reforms drive school fees up? If the government winds back existing protections, it will increase their exposure to litigation,” she asked. </p>
<p>“Second, how will religious schools be able to maintain their values? </p>
<p>"Third, could religious schools now be sued for teaching religious doctrines? </p>
<p>"Fourth, can you now be sued for comments about religion under the proposed legislation?”</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/226119/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Michelle Grattan does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>The prime minister has flagged he has draft legislation on religious freedom waiting in the wings, but unless Peter Dutton agrees to it, it may never see the light of day.Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of CanberraLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2258802024-03-19T04:27:53Z2024-03-19T04:27:53ZWhy scrapping the term ‘long COVID’ would be harmful for people with the condition<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/582695/original/file-20240319-28-gsqe8u.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=0%2C0%2C6000%2C3988&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">
</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/lonely-young-woman-feeling-depressed-stressed-636183893">kitzcorner/Shutterstock</a></span></figcaption></figure><p>The assertion from Queensland’s chief health officer <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-03-15/long-covid-symptoms-queensland-chief-health-officer-john-gerrard/103587836">John Gerrard</a> that it’s time to stop using the term “long COVID” has made waves in <a href="https://www.theaustralian.com.au/breaking-news/long-covid-should-be-scrapped-over-fears-its-probably-harmful-qld-chief-health-officer/news-story/61d3a2328dbfb0e3e0a79b02474bac3e">Australian</a> and <a href="https://nypost.com/2024/03/14/lifestyle/no-such-thing-as-long-covid-health-agency-says-in-shock-claim-unnecessary-fear/">international media</a> over recent days.</p>
<p>Gerrard’s comments were related to <a href="https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1037611">new research</a> from his team finding long-term symptoms of COVID are similar to the ongoing symptoms following other viral infections.</p>
<p>But there are limitations in this research, and problems with Gerrard’s argument we should drop the term “long COVID”. Here’s why.</p>
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<h2>A bit about the research</h2>
<p>The study involved texting a survey to 5,112 Queensland adults who had experienced respiratory symptoms and had sought a PCR test in 2022. Respondents were contacted 12 months after the PCR test. Some had tested positive to COVID, while others had tested positive to influenza or had not tested positive to either disease. </p>
<p>Survey respondents were asked if they had experienced ongoing symptoms or any functional impairment over the previous year. </p>
<p>The study found people with respiratory symptoms can suffer long-term symptoms and impairment, regardless of whether they had COVID, influenza or another respiratory disease. These symptoms are often referred to as “post-viral”, as they linger after a viral infection. </p>
<p>Gerrard’s research will be presented in April at the European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases. It hasn’t been published in a peer-reviewed journal.</p>
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Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/i-have-covid-how-likely-am-i-to-get-long-covid-218808">I have COVID. How likely am I to get long COVID?</a>
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<p>After the research was publicised last Friday, some experts highlighted flaws in the study design. For example, <a href="https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/co-lead-of-long-covid-clinic-says-qld-study-on-covid-is-an-unusual-approach-to-public-health/vi-BB1jV5oA#details">Steven Faux</a>, a long COVID clinician interviewed on ABC’s television news, said the study excluded people who were hospitalised with COVID (therefore leaving out people who had the most severe symptoms). He also noted differing levels of vaccination against COVID and influenza may have influenced the findings. </p>
<p>In addition, Faux pointed out the survey would have excluded many older people who may not use smartphones.</p>
<p>The authors of the research have acknowledged some of these and other limitations in their study.</p>
<h2>Ditching the term ‘long COVID’</h2>
<p>Based on the research findings, <a href="https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1037611">Gerrard said in a press release</a>: </p>
<blockquote>
<p>We believe it is time to stop using terms like ‘long COVID’. They wrongly imply there is something unique and exceptional about longer term symptoms associated with this virus. This terminology can cause unnecessary fear, and in some cases, hypervigilance to longer symptoms that can impede recovery.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>But Gerrard and his team’s findings cannot substantiate these assertions. Their survey only documented symptoms and impairment after respiratory infections. It didn’t ask people how fearful they were, or whether a term such as long COVID made them especially vigilant, for example.</p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="A man sits on a bed, appears exhausted." src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/582697/original/file-20240319-18-aci07e.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/582697/original/file-20240319-18-aci07e.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582697/original/file-20240319-18-aci07e.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582697/original/file-20240319-18-aci07e.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582697/original/file-20240319-18-aci07e.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582697/original/file-20240319-18-aci07e.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582697/original/file-20240319-18-aci07e.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Tens of thousands of Australians, and millions of people worldwide, have long COVID.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/depressed-overweight-man-on-bed-home-1575723550">New Africa/Shutterstock</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>In discussing Gerrard’s conclusions about the terminology, Faux noted that even if only 3% of people develop long COVID (the survey found 3% of people had functional limitations after a year), this would equate to some 150,000 Queenslanders with the condition. He <a href="https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/co-lead-of-long-covid-clinic-says-qld-study-on-covid-is-an-unusual-approach-to-public-health/vi-BB1jV5oA#details">said</a>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>To suggest that by not calling it long COVID you would be […] somehow helping those people not to focus on their symptoms is a curious conclusion from that study.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Another clinician and researcher, Philip Britton, <a href="https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/expert-reaction-long-covid-may-be-no-different-to-other-long-term-virus-effects">criticised Gerrard’s conclusion</a> about the language as “overstated and potentially unhelpful”. He noted the term “long COVID” is recognised by the World Health Organization as a valid description of the condition.</p>
<h2>A cruel irony</h2>
<p>An <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/full/10.1126/science.adl0867">ever-growing body of research</a> continues to show how COVID can cause harm to the body across organ systems and cells. </p>
<p>We know from the experiences shared by people with long COVID that the condition can be highly disabling, preventing them from engaging in study <a href="https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/daniel-has-long-covid-it-has-cost-him-more-than-100-000/j8e18pxji">or paid work</a>. It can also harm relationships with their friends, family members, and <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-12-27/long-covid-mecfs-health-damaging-relationships-crisis/103205564">even their partners</a>.</p>
<p>Despite all this, people with long COVID have often felt gaslit and unheard. When seeking treatment from health-care professionals, many people with long COVID report they have been <a href="http://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/12/1/e050979.abstract">dismissed</a> or turned away. </p>
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<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/social-media-activism-trucker-caps-the-fascinating-story-behind-long-covid-168465">Social media, activism, trucker caps: the fascinating story behind long COVID</a>
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<p>Last Friday – the day Gerrard’s comments were made public – was actually <a href="https://www.longcovidawareness.life/">International Long COVID Awareness Day</a>, organised by activists to draw attention to the condition. </p>
<p>The response from people with long COVID was immediate. They shared their anger <a href="https://twitter.com/SMpwrgr/status/1768456837861618005?s=20">on social media</a> about Gerrard’s comments, especially their timing, on a day designed to generate greater recognition for their illness.</p>
<p>Since the start of the COVID pandemic, patient communities have <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35307048/">fought for recognition</a> of the long-term symptoms many people faced. </p>
<p>The term “<a href="https://theconversation.com/social-media-activism-trucker-caps-the-fascinating-story-behind-long-covid-168465">long COVID</a>” was in fact coined by people suffering persistent symptoms after a COVID infection, who were seeking words to describe what they were going through. </p>
<p>The role people with long COVID have played in defining their condition and bringing medical and public attention to it demonstrates <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7850205/">the possibilities of patient-led expertise</a>. For decades, people with invisible or “silent” conditions such as ME/CFS (myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome) have had to fight ignorance from health-care professionals and stigma from others in their lives. They have often been told their disabling symptoms are <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10819994/">psychosomatic</a>.</p>
<p>Gerrard’s comments, and the media’s amplification of them, repudiates the term “long COVID” that community members have chosen to give their condition an identity and support each other. This is likely to cause distress and exacerbate feelings of abandonment.</p>
<h2>Terminology matters</h2>
<p>The words we use to describe illnesses and conditions are incredibly powerful. <a href="https://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2020/10/01/why-we-need-to-keep-using-the-patient-made-term-long-covid/">Naming a new condition</a> is a step towards better recognition of people’s suffering, and hopefully, better diagnosis, health care, treatment and acceptance by others.</p>
<p>The term “long COVID” provides an easily understandable label to convey patients’ experiences to others. It is well known to the public. It has been routinely used in news media reporting and and in many reputable <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adl0867">medical journal articles</a>. </p>
<p>Most importantly, scrapping the label would further marginalise a large group of people with a chronic illness who have often been left to struggle behind closed doors.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/225880/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Deborah Lupton is affiliated with OzSAGE.</span></em></p>People with long COVID have already fought hard to become visible.Deborah Lupton, SHARP Professor, Vitalities Lab, Centre for Social Research in Health and Social Policy Centre, and the ARC Centre of Excellence for Automated Decision-Making and Society, UNSW SydneyLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2257902024-03-19T03:17:31Z2024-03-19T03:17:31ZThe government wants to fast-track approvals of large infrastructure projects – that’s bad news for NZ’s biodiversity<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/582659/original/file-20240318-20-iz8kas.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=41%2C95%2C3938%2C1981&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">
</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">Getty Images/Gerald Corsi </span></span></figcaption></figure><p>In the latest move to reform environmental laws in New Zealand, the coalition government has introduced a bill to fast-track consenting processes for projects deemed to be of national or regional significance.</p>
<p>The <a href="https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/sc/make-a-submission/document/54SCENV_SCF_083F0A7B-F182-41D5-0897-08DC3E31559C/fast-track-approvals-bill">Fast-track Approvals Bill</a>, introduced under urgency on March 7, would <a href="https://www.bellgully.com/insights/government-s-fast-track-approvals-bill-released-under-100-day-plan/">take precedence over several current environmental laws</a> and give ministers the power to skirt existing approval processes.</p>
<p>Leaders of ten scientific societies that conduct biodiversity research in Aotearoa New Zealand, representing thousands of members (ourselves included), have called on the government to <a href="https://newzealandecology.org/open-letter-coalition-government-scientific-societies-13-march-2024">slow down the pace of reform</a>. </p>
<p>They warn that <a href="https://www.bellgully.com/insights/government-s-fast-track-approvals-bill-released-under-100-day-plan/">decision-making criteria are weighted towards
development</a>, not environmental protection or sustainable resource use, and undermine New Zealand’s obligations to protect the country’s unique and threatened biodiversity.</p>
<p>New Zealand’s economy relies on the environment in many ways. One study <a href="https://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/assets/Publications/Ecosystem-services-in-New-Zealand/3_2_Patterson.pdf">estimated</a> New Zealand’s land-based ecosystem services contributed NZ$57 billion to human welfare in 2012 (27% of the country’s GDP). This includes services such as <a href="http://www.mwpress.co.nz/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/77057/2_11_Newstrom.pdf">crop pollination by insects</a>, erosion control by plants and flood regulation by wetlands. </p>
<p>The fast-track bill requires expert panels to provide recommendations to the relevant ministers within six months of a project being referred to them. This time frame is wholly unsuitable to making <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0195925513001108?casa_token=1abt1A-X3y0AAAAA:zjrU7aX-Mh1FDQfdP0XfQLYzE268A9qBb64jfjnJ6jX8MvSsORW28sAc6t1DcRGAc7pEqDnxvQ">proper assessments</a> of environmental impacts, including those on plants and animals, as surveys will likely be conducted at <a href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/2404742">inappropriate times of the year</a>.</p>
<h2>No time for on-site ecological assessments</h2>
<p>A key requirement of assessing impacts on biodiversity is to undertake <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/07349165.1995.9726099">new ecological surveys</a> of the project site and surrounds. Such surveys identify the threatened species and ecosystems found on the site, catalogue where they are found and estimate their population numbers. </p>
<p>This information is then used to <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/07349165.1995.9726099">determine</a> how those species and ecosystems could be affected, and whether the project could be modified to avoid or mitigate these impacts.</p>
<p>There are currently no directions in the bill for the expert panel to commission new ecological surveys. However, even if panels could do this, the six-month time frame precludes robust ecological surveys.</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/without-a-better-plan-new-zealand-risks-sleepwalking-into-a-biodiversity-extinction-crisis-182279">Without a better plan, New Zealand risks sleepwalking into a biodiversity extinction crisis</a>
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<p>Thorough ecological assessments involve conducting surveys at multiple times throughout the year because certain species will only be present during particular seasons. </p>
<p>For instance, <a href="https://www.doc.govt.nz/get-involved/apply-for-permits/interacting-with-wildlife/applying-to-develop-land-with-native-lizards-and-frog-species/">reptiles, frogs</a>, <a href="https://newzealandecology.org/nzje/3551">invertebrates</a> and <a href="https://www.doc.govt.nz/globalassets/documents/science-and-technical/sap232.pdf">migratory species of birds</a> are usually only detectable during warmer times of the year. Surveys for them during winter are unlikely to find these species. </p>
<p>Even certain plants, such as <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1442-9993.2008.01869.x">orchids</a> that can lie dormant underground as a tuber, have life cycles that make them difficult to detect. Many grasses are <a href="https://keys.lucidcentral.org/keys/v3/AusGrass/key/AusGrass/Media/Html/Guide/bestpractice.htm">best identified</a> when they are in flower.</p>
<p>In many cases, restricting consenting to just six months means expert panels would have to make their assessments based only on existing ecological information. This is known as a “desktop assessment”.</p>
<p>While a useful first step, these are not a replacement for on-the-ground surveys. This is particularly the case in New Zealand, where we have limited data on many species and for many parts of the country. For example, we don’t have sufficient data on most of New Zealand’s <a href="https://www.doc.govt.nz/globalassets/documents/science-and-technical/nztcs35entire-feb2024.pdf">reptiles</a>. </p>
<h2>Evidence-based decisions are critical</h2>
<p>Apart from the proposed fast-tracking of resource consents, the government has already repealed the <a href="https://environment.govt.nz/acts-and-regulations/acts/natural-and-built-environment-act-2023/">Natural and Built Environment Act</a> and the <a href="https://environment.govt.nz/acts-and-regulations/acts/spatial-planning-act-2023/">Spatial Planning Act</a>. Both were enacted only last year as part of a new resource management regime. </p>
<p>The government also plans to replace the <a href="https://environment.govt.nz/publications/national-policy-statement-for-freshwater-management-2020-amended-january-2024/">National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management</a>, which provides direction to local authorities on how to manage activities that affect the health of lakes and rivers.</p>
<p>None of the recent and proposed changes to environmental legislation are responsive to the dual biodiversity and climate crises. They are also inconsistent with the government’s own <a href="https://www.thepost.co.nz/politics/350118150/national-act-coalition-agreement-full">stated goal</a> of evidence-based decision making. </p>
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<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/restoring-ecosystems-to-boost-biodiversity-is-an-urgent-priority-our-eco-index-can-guide-the-way-217092">Restoring ecosystems to boost biodiversity is an urgent priority – our ‘Eco-index’ can guide the way</a>
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<p>New Zealand’s plants, animals, fungi and ecosystems are <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/35002501">globally unique</a>. They underpin key economic sectors, especially primary production and tourism. But they are also threatened with extinction. </p>
<p><a href="https://www.stats.govt.nz/indicators/extinction-threat-to-indigenous-species/">More than 75%</a> of New Zealand’s native species of reptile, bird, bat and freshwater fish are either threatened with extinction or at risk of becoming threatened. </p>
<p>New Zealand has international obligations to conserve biodiversity under the <a href="https://www.cbd.int/countries/profile?country=nz">Convention on Biological Diversity</a>, which was signed in 1993. In 2022, New Zealand joined almost 200 member nations in adopting the <a href="https://www.cbd.int/gbf">Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework</a>, which commits countries to protect 30% of land and ocean globally by 2030. </p>
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<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/despite-its-green-image-nz-has-worlds-highest-proportion-of-species-at-risk-116063">Despite its green image, NZ has world's highest proportion of species at risk</a>
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<p>Much of New Zealand’s most at-risk indigenous biodiversity is <a href="https://newzealandecology.org/nzje/3235.pdf">found on private land</a> and may be subject to detrimental impacts from land use and development pressures. </p>
<p>The fast-tracking agenda threatens to undermine New Zealand’s progress on biodiversity protection and other key environmental issues. It erodes rather than sustains the natural capital on which the economy depends. </p>
<p>New Zealand’s scientific societies are urging the coalition government to allow adequate time for appropriate parliamentary select committee processes and thorough public consultation on the bill. </p>
<p>They call for a comprehensive legislative and policy framework, centred on the protection of environmental values and sustainable resource management, to ensure development occurs in ways that don’t further degrade natural capital.</p>
<hr>
<p><em>The authors thank Dr Fleur Maseyk for her comments and discussions on this piece.</em></p>
<hr><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/225790/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Tim Curran receives funding from the New Zealand Ministry for Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), Fire and Emergency New Zealand, the Hellaby Grasslands Trust, Marlborough District Council, Brian Mason Scientific and Technical Trust, and the Lincoln University Argyle Trust. Tim is the Submissions Coordinator and a past President of the New Zealand Ecological Society, and coordinated and helped draft the open letter to the government referred to in this article.</span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Jo Monks receives funding from the New Zealand Department of Conservation and Auckland Zoological Park. She is Vice President of the New Zealand Ecological Society and a council member of the Society for Research on Amphibians and Reptiles in New Zealand. Jo is a previous employee of the New Zealand Department of Conservation. Jo signed the open letter to government referred to in this article on behalf of the New Zealand Ecological Society.</span></em></p>New Zealand’s plants and animals are globally unique and underpin primary production and tourism. The government’s fast-tracking proposal threatens to erode the natural capital the economy relies on.Tim Curran, Associate Professor of Ecology, Lincoln University, New ZealandJo Monks, Lecturer in Ecology, University of OtagoLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2260102024-03-19T00:41:15Z2024-03-19T00:41:15ZDevil in the details: breaking down the branding of the AFL’s newest team<p>After months of debate and intrigue, the AFL’s 19th and newest team, the Tasmania Devils, finally launched its <a href="https://www.afl.com.au/news/1086666/watch-live-tasmanias-afl-team-revealed">jumper, logo and colours in Devonport</a> this week. </p>
<p>The Devils will wear green, yellow and red, and their guernsey will feature a map of Tasmania with a central red “T”. The club’s logo features a profile of a Tasmanian devil, which chair Grant O’Brien said represented the state’s “proud, tough, determined” characters.</p>
<p>Were there any surprises in the branding? None. Perfectly on brand and what has largely been seen already from Tasmania’s junior state teams. </p>
<p>The difference though was this was the official AFL launch. No turning back. And it had cleared some fairly big hurdles such as <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-05-07/why-the-afl-is-fighting-for-tassie-to-be-the-devils/102310490">reaching an agreement with global entertainment giant Warner Bros</a> over the use of the name, colours and logo. </p>
<p>But why was this day so important?</p>
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<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/the-case-for-a-tasmanian-afl-team-from-an-economists-point-of-view-163166">The case for a Tasmanian AFL team, from an economist's point of view</a>
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<h2>Building the (sports) brand</h2>
<p>Sport has always been the original crowd funding model. Without fans, there is no team, really. So it was great to see the Devils have been saintly with their marketing to their base – <a href="https://membership.tasmaniafc.com/">namely the $10 foundation membership</a>. </p>
<p>Within two hours of the launch, the Devils had sold more than 40,000 foundation memberships at $10 a pop. For comparison, the AFL’s most recent expansion clubs, Gold Coast and Greater Western Sydney, totalled 23,359 and 33,036 members respectively at the end of 2023.</p>
<p><div data-react-class="Tweet" data-react-props="{"tweetId":"1769803408049950814"}"></div></p>
<p>Selling cheap foundation memberships several years ahead of the team’s first game was smart, as it gets some nice hard cash rolling in until match-day revenue and sponsorships arrive. </p>
<p>Next, they gain access to a large database, so critical in breaking down members into different segments, and then tailoring an offering to each. </p>
<p>And of course there is the engagement aspect, which for the Devils is particularly important as both the stadium and team are several years away from AFL action - the club is set to enter the national competition in 2028.</p>
<p>They need to keep these foundation members, these key supporters, <a href="https://www.inderscienceonline.com/doi/abs/10.1504/IJSMM.2009.026756">engaged to keep word of mouth high</a>. And these members aren’t just in Tasmania – they are going to be found everywhere. The team will only play half its games at home, so it is <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/02640410400021567">going to need supporters at games played outside the state</a>. The AFL needs this as well. </p>
<p>It helps that these supporters can call themselves foundation members forever. Powerful word of mouth and nice branding. And 50,000+ in a few short hours says the market agrees. </p>
<p>The Devils though must focus on <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/16184742.2014.944199">retaining those initial members</a> during what will be a long journey before they play their first game at Macquarie Point. </p>
<h2>Why is branding so crucial for sports teams?</h2>
<p>Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are the benchmarks in world sport for why details matter in sports marketing. Think “CR7” and you think of only one person. And what kid would say no to a Messi number 10 jersey? </p>
<p>Both bring in <a href="https://www.sportskeeda.com/football/news-lionel-messi-vs-cristiano-ronaldo-jersey-sales-which-superstar-s-jersey-sold-more">tens of millions per year for their franchise in merchandise and ticket sales</a>. </p>
<p>The biggest sporting brands on earth, such as Barcelona FC, <a href="https://www.fcbarcelona.com/en/news/1601557/barcas-digital-strategy-creates-new-relationship-with-fans-in-order-to-adapt-to-changing-consumer-habits">manage every single detail of their brand image</a> down to the actual colour shade on all brand offerings. </p>
<p>It’s the same for the Devils, not least because of Warner Bros, but also to avoid the <a href="https://footyology.com.au/black-and-white-debate-has-a-colourful-history/">Port Adelaide v Collingwood jersey issue</a>. </p>
<p>The Devils offering had to be unique to every other brand in the AFL, but also use colours in the logo and character which would deepen resonance between team, supporters, and community. </p>
<p>The <strong>colours</strong> of myrtle green, primrose yellow, and rose red do exactly that. That mix and variations are all theirs. They are representative of the colours of Tasmania, and have been used extensively by many other sporting teams from the state. Consistency is so important in sports marketing and this was great to see. </p>
<p>These colours will help drive deeper emotional responses to the brand, and keep supporters engaged at the highest level, thereby helping to attract sponsors. </p>
<p>As for the <strong>brand logo,</strong> there was no other choice than the Tasmanian devil, and it’s a great one. Nearly every other AFL team builds much of their branding around their character and this is something the Devils need to do sooner and not later. </p>
<p>The initial public reaction was almost overwhelmingly positive, and allows the Devils to build that core base of supporters who will fill 23,000 seats every home game. </p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/job-creation-isnt-always-a-good-thing-hobarts-new-stadium-can-only-make-tasmanias-housing-crisis-worse-204806">Job creation isn't always a good thing. Hobart's new stadium can only make Tasmania's housing crisis worse</a>
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<h2>Challenges and next steps for ‘brand Tasmania’</h2>
<p>There will be challenges the brand can’t control, such as the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/apr/26/afl-does-not-regret-past-concussion-management-but-says-understanding-of-brain-injury-has-changed-inquiry-hears">rising concern over concussion</a> and the growth of competitors such as basketball, e-sports and soccer. These may impact the brand but overall will be handled by the AFL itself. </p>
<p>Locally, the brand has to focus on providing as many touch-point experiences as possible, such as meet and greets or merchandise days. Tangibility adds value to sports brands in ways most other brands envy. </p>
<p>And this will help keep the brand community active and vocal, which will help deflect any <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-the-tasmanian-afl-team-turned-into-a-political-football-205846">political challenges to the covered stadium</a>, but also attract other supporters, sponsors and community to the team the closer the start date gets. </p>
<p>With the Devil out of the bag, the challenge for the club will now be to ensure it doesn’t veer too much out of its territory and lose sight of just how hard and long it is going to take before its real prey: that one day in September at the MCG.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/226010/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Andrew Hughes does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>The AFL’s newest team, the Tasmania Devils, launched on Monday night, drawing on its rich football history in a blaze of myrtle green, primrose yellow and rose red.Andrew Hughes, Lecturer, Research School of Management, Australian National UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2258902024-03-19T00:37:16Z2024-03-19T00:37:16ZLed by Leah Purcell’s captivating performance, High Country delivers fresh take on Australian rural noir<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/582408/original/file-20240317-18-a6ms01.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=0%2C25%2C2801%2C4172&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">
</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">Narelle Portanier/Binge</span></span></figcaption></figure><p>“If you don’t know who your mob are, you don’t know who you are,” Detective Andrea “Andie” Whitford (played by Leah Purcell) is told early into the new crime series High Country. </p>
<p>Andie has recently arrived in the lush remote Victorian High Country with her partner Helen Hartley (Sara Wiseman), both trying to put traumas behind them as they start afresh. </p>
<p>Driving along a snaking winding road, Andie finds an isolated Mercedes Benz car. The driver’s door is wide open and the owner has left valuables behind, including keys and wallet. </p>
<p>Doctor Haber (Francis Greenslade) is another in a line of missing persons who have disappeared mysteriously into the rural mountain wilderness.</p>
<p>New in town and without the experience of other local police, Andie – to the decry of her colleagues – is assigned the case of solving a murder and disappearance of two locals that has the agitated town wanting answers.</p>
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<h2>Seasoned hands</h2>
<p>From the opening of this new eight-part series on Binge, High Country feels in steady hands helped by the well-seasoned cast of familiar Australian crime genre actors. Purcell (previously seen in Wentworth Prision) is joined by Aaron Pedersen (Mystery Road), Nicholas Bell (Scrublands), Henry Nixon (The Kettering Incident), Geoff Morrell (Deep Water) and the versatile Northern Irish actor Ian McElhinney.</p>
<p>High Country was created and written by Marcia Gardner and John Ridley whose background includes scripting Australian network crime shows Wentworth Prison and Stingers. They are joined by Wentworth Prision director Kevin Carlin, who directs five of the eight episodes.</p>
<p>With this experience, Gardner, Ridley and Carlin have created a well-plotted and suspenseful procedural crime series that never loses pace or focus. An effective cliff hanger ends each episode making this a very binge-worthy show. </p>
<p>High Country sits within the tradition of uniformed middle-aged female police officers, most notably Jodie Foster in the recent series of True Detective: Night Country and Sarah Lancashire in Happy Valley. </p>
<p>Similar to these series, Andie’s own past comes back to haunt her, forcing her to confront the very thing that she was trying to flee. High Country equally deals with the issues and frustrations of women having to navigate themselves through the gender politics of a male-dominated workforce. </p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/true-detective-night-countrys-indigenous-representation-offers-hope-for-decolonising-television-221348">True Detective: Night Country's indigenous representation offers hope for decolonising television</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<h2>Space for contemplation</h2>
<p>Despite High Country arriving in a packed market of quality crime television and the show always playing within the tropes of the crime genre (dirty cops, historical town secrets, wrongly accused victims) there is enough nuance for it never to feel predictable or cliched.</p>
<p>An important reason for this is Purcell’s captivating performance, equally convincing in the sensitive domestic scenes with her partner and wayward teenager daughter, contrasted against dealing with the white, male, toxic thugs who think they run the town. </p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/582409/original/file-20240317-26-4fd075.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="Leah Purcell in the woods" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/582409/original/file-20240317-26-4fd075.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/582409/original/file-20240317-26-4fd075.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582409/original/file-20240317-26-4fd075.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582409/original/file-20240317-26-4fd075.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582409/original/file-20240317-26-4fd075.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582409/original/file-20240317-26-4fd075.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582409/original/file-20240317-26-4fd075.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Leah Purcell’s performance is captivating.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Sarah Enticknap/Binge</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>High Country possesses a vastness that allows ample opportunity for contemplation. The viewer is invited to delve into the intricacies of the setting and its characters. The writing and cinematography are multi-dimensional, offering depth and complexity that encourages reflection and engagement at each turn.</p>
<h2>Australian rural noir</h2>
<p>The line “if you don’t know who your mob are, you don’t know who you are” is repeated across the series. It also becomes the very thing that Andie must investigate in order to solve the crime. </p>
<p>In the rich tapestry of Australian crime fiction – and as its title would suggest – High Country adds to the rise of what has been dubbed “outback” or “rural” noir, sharing similarity with other recent Australian series such as Scrublands and Mystery Road. </p>
<p>A localised theme emerging through Australian rural noir is the Indigenous detective at the centre of the narrative. This is true of TV shows Mystery Road and High Country and also present in literary rural crime noir such as Julie Janson’s Madukka: The River Serpent (2022), an outback crime novel told from the perspective of a Aboriginal sleuth in her 50s. </p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/582410/original/file-20240317-22-jvi6j4.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="Three policemen." src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/582410/original/file-20240317-22-jvi6j4.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/582410/original/file-20240317-22-jvi6j4.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582410/original/file-20240317-22-jvi6j4.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582410/original/file-20240317-22-jvi6j4.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582410/original/file-20240317-22-jvi6j4.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582410/original/file-20240317-22-jvi6j4.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582410/original/file-20240317-22-jvi6j4.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Andie must confront the boys club of the local police force.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Sarah Enticknap/Binge</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Taking place in the Victorian Alps, High Country was filmed in the region that served as the backdrop for Robert Connelly’s latest feature film, Force of Nature: The Dry 2, which also deals with people missing in the Victorian wilderness. </p>
<p>Set in the close-knit community, the narrative tackles climate change, domestic violence, and Indigenous identity and land possession. Garner and Ridley paint a vivid picture of the ethical and societal ramifications of these challenges on rural populations. </p>
<p>High Country presents a poignant and impactful exploration of environmental crises and domestic turmoil that has every potential to resonate with a broad mainstream streaming audience.</p>
<p><em>High Country is on Binge from today.</em></p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/you-rarely-see-abuse-directed-at-men-a-look-at-the-sexist-abuse-women-police-officers-face-online-200381">'You rarely see abuse directed at men': a look at the sexist abuse women police officers face online</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/225890/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Stephen Gaunson does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>From the opening of this new eight-part series on Binge, High Country feels in steady hands.Stephen Gaunson, Associate Professor in Cinema Studies, RMIT UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2229872024-03-19T00:12:59Z2024-03-19T00:12:59ZThe ‘digital divide’ is already hurting people’s quality of life. Will AI make it better or worse?<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/579788/original/file-20240305-18-nir9gs.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=17%2C22%2C2775%2C1971&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">
</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/road-closed-sign-outback-red-center-1438599635">ChameleonsEye/Shutterstock</a></span></figcaption></figure><p>Today, <a href="https://www.digitalinclusionindex.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/ADII-2023-Summary_FINAL-Remediated.pdf">almost a quarter of Australians</a> are digitally excluded. This means they miss out on the social, educational and economic benefits <a href="https://ctu.ieee.org/benefits-of-closing-the-global-digital-divide/">online connectivity provides</a>.</p>
<p>In the face of this ongoing “digital divide”, countries are now talking about a future of inclusive artificial intelligence (AI).</p>
<p>However, if we don’t learn from current problems with digital exclusion, it will likely spill over into people’s future experiences with AI. That’s the conclusion from our <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s43681-024-00452-3">new research</a> published in the journal AI and Ethics.</p>
<h2>What is the digital divide?</h2>
<p>The digital divide is a <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0040162521007903#bib0030">well-documented social schism</a>. People on the wrong side of it face difficulties when it comes to accessing, affording, or using digital services. These disadvantages significantly reduce their quality of life.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.digitalinclusionindex.org.au/">Decades of research</a> have provided us with a rich understanding of who is most at risk. In Australia, older people, those living in remote areas, people on lower incomes and First Nations peoples are most likely to find themselves digitally excluded.</p>
<p>Zooming out, <a href="https://www.itu.int/itu-d/reports/statistics/facts-figures-2023/">reports</a> show that one-third of the world’s population – representing the poorest countries – remains offline. Globally, the <a href="https://gddindex.com/#:%7E:text=The%20Gender%20Digital%20Divide%20Index%20(GDDI)%20is%20a%20pilot%20benchmarking,gender%20divides%20in%20digital%20development.">digital gender divide</a> also still exists: women, particularly in low and middle-income countries, face substantially more barriers to digital connectivity.</p>
<p>During the COVID pandemic, the impacts of digital inequity became much more obvious. As large swathes of the world’s population had to “shelter in place” – unable to go outside, visit shops, or seek face-to-face contact – anyone without digital access was severely at risk.</p>
<p>Consequences ranged from social isolation to reduced employment opportunities, as well as a lack of access to vital health information. <a href="https://press.un.org/en/2020/sgsm20118.doc.htm">The UN Secretary-General stated in 2020</a> that “the digital divide is now a matter of life and death”. </p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/579789/original/file-20240305-22-cqzgoc.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="A lonely older woman looking out a window while wearing a medical mask." src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/579789/original/file-20240305-22-cqzgoc.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/579789/original/file-20240305-22-cqzgoc.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/579789/original/file-20240305-22-cqzgoc.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/579789/original/file-20240305-22-cqzgoc.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/579789/original/file-20240305-22-cqzgoc.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/579789/original/file-20240305-22-cqzgoc.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/579789/original/file-20240305-22-cqzgoc.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">People without digital access were severely impacted during the COVID pandemic.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/lonely-senior-woman-surgical-mask-sitting-1688780245">Miriam Doerr Martin Frommherz/Shutterstock</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
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<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/digital-inclusion-and-closing-the-gap-how-first-nations-leadership-is-key-to-getting-remote-communities-online-216085">‘Digital inclusion’ and closing the gap: how First Nations leadership is key to getting remote communities online</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<h2>Not just a question of access</h2>
<p>As with most forms of exclusion, the digital divide functions in multiple ways. It was originally defined as a gap between those who have access to computers and the internet and those who do not. But research now shows it’s <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/tesg.12047">not just an issue of access</a>. </p>
<p>Having little or no access leads to reduced familiarity with digital technology, which then erodes confidence, <a href="https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/abs/global-agenda-for-social-justice/tackling-digital-exclusion-counter-social-inequalities-through-digital-inclusion/C9171EE3C4C944FC7712306280EAABDC">fuels disengagement</a>, and ultimately sets in motion <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/0144929X.2021.1882577">an intrinsic sense of not being “digitally capable</a>”.</p>
<p>As AI tools increasingly reshape our workplaces, classrooms and everyday lives, there is a risk AI could deepen, rather than narrow, the digital divide.</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/artificial-intelligence-holds-great-potential-for-both-students-and-teachers-but-only-if-used-wisely-81024">Artificial intelligence holds great potential for both students and teachers – but only if used wisely</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<h2>The role of digital confidence</h2>
<p>To assess the impact of digital exclusion on people’s experiences with AI, in late 2023 we surveyed a representative selection of hundreds of Australian adults. We began by asking them to rate their confidence with digital technology. </p>
<p>We found digital confidence was lower for women, older people, those with reduced salaries, and those with less digital access.</p>
<p>We then asked these same people to comment on their hopes, fears and expectations of AI. Across the board, the data showed that people’s perceptions, attitudes and experiences with AI were linked to how they felt about digital technology in general. </p>
<p>In other words, the more digitally confident people felt, the more positive they were about AI. </p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/giving-ai-direct-control-over-anything-is-a-bad-idea-heres-how-it-could-do-us-real-harm-210168">Giving AI direct control over anything is a bad idea – here's how it could do us real harm</a>
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</p>
<hr>
<p>To build truly inclusive AI, these findings are important to consider for several reasons. First, they confirm that digital confidence is not a privilege shared by all. </p>
<p>Second, they show us digital inclusion is about more than just access, or even someone’s digital skills. How confident a person feels in their ability to interact with technology is important too. </p>
<p>Third, they show that if we don’t contend with existing forms of digital exclusion, they are likely to spill over into perceptions, attitudes and experiences with AI. </p>
<p>Currently, <a href="https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2023/09/digital-quality-life-internet-affordability-cybersecurity/">many countries are making headway</a> in their efforts to reduce the digital divide. So we must make sure the rise of AI doesn’t slow these efforts, or worse still, exacerbate the divide.</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/577249/original/file-20240222-22-7cjal0.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="A person working on a laptop with the ChatGPT loading screen displayed." src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/577249/original/file-20240222-22-7cjal0.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/577249/original/file-20240222-22-7cjal0.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/577249/original/file-20240222-22-7cjal0.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/577249/original/file-20240222-22-7cjal0.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/577249/original/file-20240222-22-7cjal0.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/577249/original/file-20240222-22-7cjal0.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/577249/original/file-20240222-22-7cjal0.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">AI tools are already transforming lives – but only if you’re on the right side of the ‘digital divide’.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.pexels.com/photo/a-person-is-using-a-laptop-computer-on-a-table-16094056/">Matheus Bertelli/Pexels</a></span>
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<h2>What should we hope for AI?</h2>
<p>While there <a href="https://theconversation.com/forget-dystopian-scenarios-ai-is-pervasive-today-and-the-risks-are-often-hidden-218222">is a slew of associated risks</a>, when deployed responsibly, AI can make significant positive impacts on society. Some of these can directly target issues of inclusivity.</p>
<p>For example, computer vision can <a href="https://www.monash.edu/news/articles/monash-university-and-tennis-australia-serve-up-world-first-accessible-audio-stream-for-fans-with-blindness-or-low-vision">track the trajectory of a tennis ball</a> during a match, making it audible for blind or low-vision spectators.</p>
<p>AI has been used to analyse <a href="https://www.niaa.gov.au/indigenous-affairs/closing-gap/implementation-measures/csiro-indigenous-jobs-map">online job postings</a> to help boost employment outcomes in under-represented populations such as First Nations peoples. And, while they’re still in the early stages of development, <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41746-022-00560-6">AI-powered chatbots</a> could increase accessibility and affordability of medical services. </p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/to-boost-indigenous-employment-we-need-to-map-job-opportunities-to-skills-and-qualifications-our-new-project-does-just-that-212440">To boost Indigenous employment, we need to map job opportunities to skills and qualifications. Our new project does just that</a>
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</em>
</p>
<hr>
<p>But this responsible AI future can only be delivered if we also address what keeps us digitally divided. To develop and use truly inclusive AI tools, we first have to ensure the feelings of digital exclusion don’t spill over. </p>
<p>This means not only tackling pragmatic issues of access and infrastructure, but also the knock-on effects on people’s levels of engagement, aptitude and confidence with technology.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/222987/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Sarah Bentley works for CSIRO, which receives funding from the Australian Government.</span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Claire Naughtin works for CSIRO, which receives funding from the Australian Government.</span></em></p>The benefits of AI are transforming modern life — but disparities in digital confidence are leaving some behind.Sarah Vivienne Bentley, Research Scientist, Responsible Innovation, Data61, CSIROClaire Naughtin, Principal Research Consultant in Strategic Foresight, Data61Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2257802024-03-18T23:20:44Z2024-03-18T23:20:44Z‘Care is in everything we do and everything we are’: the work of Indigenous women needs to be valued<p>It’s commonly accepted that women do the vast majority of caregiving in Australian society. But less appreciated is that Indigenous women do larger amounts of unpaid care than any other group.</p>
<p>Working with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner’s office, we worked with <a href="https://caepr.cass.anu.edu.au/research/publications/caring-about-care">more than 100 Indigenous women across</a> Australia to talk about their interpretations and experiences of care. </p>
<p>“Mainstream” definitions and measures of care do not include the vast and complex ways care is defined by First Nations women. This includes care not only for people, but for communities, Country and culture. </p>
<p>It means important work goes unrecognised, uncompensated or misunderstood, leading to the marginalisation of this crucial work and the women who do it.</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/definitions-are-often-very-western-this-excludes-us-our-research-shows-how-to-boost-indigenous-participation-in-stem-223465">'Definitions are often very western. This excludes us.' Our research shows how to boost Indigenous participation in STEM</a>
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<h2>Redefining the concept</h2>
<p>The Australian Human Rights Commission’s <a href="https://humanrights.gov.au/our-work/aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-social-justice/publications/wiyi-yani-u-thangani">Wiyi Yani U Thangani</a> report illuminates the crucial importance of the care provided by First Nations women. Our work follows and builds on this report.</p>
<p>An Indigenous woman from the East Kimberley told us:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Well, care for me, as an Indigenous person, is not just caring for your family, it’s caring for your Country.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Another woman from the ACT told us care is a disposition, and a means of respecting culture and heritage: </p>
<blockquote>
<p>[Care is] enveloped in everything we do and everything we are and everything about where we are going and paying homage again to our ancestors and who’s come before us. That’s what care is.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>This notion of care as a strength is an important insight from the women in this study. However, unpaid care is often unrecognised and undervalued in Australian policy, which while prioritising getting women into employment, has neglected funding and supporting the existing unpaid care work that women do. </p>
<p>What is evident from our study is that Indigenous women want more support for the care work they do, as well as better care services largely within Aboriginal community-controlled organisations to assist them in doing it.</p>
<h2>Care has consequences</h2>
<p>Women frequently linked their demanding care loads to ongoing colonisation, which continues to create damage to the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. A woman from greater Sydney said:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>It’s colonial […] It’s just not being able to do things in the way we should be doing them […] because of the colonial structure and things like that. </p>
</blockquote>
<p>This includes the impacts of colonisation on gender roles, child removals, incarceration rates, poor health, poverty, racism and more. </p>
<p>It also includes the impacts of state institutions set up to “care”, but which are <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/sep/01/coalition-hails-success-of-cashless-welfare-card-and-says-kalgoorlie-will-be-next-site">often uncaring</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/first-nations-children-are-still-being-removed-at-disproportionate-rates-cultural-assumptions-about-parenting-need-to-change-169090">may be violent and harmful</a>.</p>
<p>Ultimately, this requires Indigenous people’s care to heal, adding extra demands on existing care loads. </p>
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Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/first-nations-women-dont-always-access-health-care-after-head-injuries-from-family-violence-heres-why-206084">First Nations women don't always access health care after head injuries from family violence. Here's why</a>
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<p>Many of the women interviewed in this study were also tired, and often carers needed care too. Some were in, or had been through, periods of utter exhaustion and illness due to trying to carry their stressful care load. A Central Australian woman told us:</p>
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<p>It’s hard. It’s draining. Every day just exhausted. Sometimes there’s days when I just can’t keep up with it. And I don’t want to listen, just go away. But those are days when they really need help. So yeah, it’s very exhausting.</p>
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<h2>Time is money, but no one gets paid</h2>
<p>Our research also included a time-use survey, which showed that all unpaid care activities accounted for, on average, 62% of our participant women’s time on a usual weekday (about 14.8 hours per day on average), with 48% of their time (around 11.5 hours) spent caring for others and/or caring for Country and culture specifically. </p>
<p>Because (lost) remuneration for this work was raised as a crucial point by Indigenous women during our interviews, we also calculated the approximate market value of this unpaid care work through using hourly award rates for corresponding care activities (sometimes called the replacement method, which understands the cost of this work in the paid market). </p>
<p>The estimated economic value of this work ranged between $223.01 and $457.39 per day (representing an estimated annual salary of between $81,175.64 and $118,921.40). This estimation is conservative as it does not include the multitasking of more than one care activity at the one time.</p>
<p>The estimation raises important questions as to what is owed to Indigenous women, not just because the economy free-rides on unpaid care, but also because much of this care work mops up the mess of colonisation. </p>
<p>Many of the women we spoke to also talked about how unpaid care and paid employment interact. </p>
<p>In addition to their unpaid care roles, most women in paid employment in this study had roles in the community sector which put them at the frontline of caring for community. They saw this work as part of their broader commitment to supporting their families, communities and advancing Indigenous peoples. It is therefore hard to draw a line for these women between paid and unpaid work, meaning it is rare to be able to “switch off”. </p>
<p>Often, employers didn’t realise the amount of unpaid care of this type women do in <a href="https://theconversation.com/during-naidoc-week-many-indigenous-women-are-assigned-unpaid-work-new-research-shows-how-prevalent-this-is-in-the-workplace-208454">their paid work roles</a>, even though this actually makes their paid employment successful. Women are also not paid adequately for these valuable skills.</p>
<h2>A new approach is needed</h2>
<p>Our research follows generations of Indigenous women who have long shown the strength of care, but also looks at how settler society makes this work harder. </p>
<p>This research underlines the importance of a new approach to supporting Indigenous women, in which their voices, ideas and needs are central, and where care is placed at the heart. This is different to just “fitting” Indigenous care into various settler models, policies and measures already in circulation.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/225780/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Elise Klein receives funding from the Gender Institute at the Australian National University. She is a member of the Anti-Poverty Centre, the Accountable Income Management Network and a Co-Director of the Australian Basic Income Lab.</span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Chay Brown receives funding from the Office of Gender Equity and Diversity at the Northern Territory Government. She is affiliated with ANU, Tangentyere Council, and Her Story Mparntwe. </span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Kayla Glynn-Braun is a First Nation Wiradjuri Women whom is a project coordinator at The Equality Institute and Co-Foundered Her Story Consulting and lead on U Right Sis? project, Indigenous Knowledge</span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Janet Hunt and Zoe Staines do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>To First Nations women, ‘care’ is more broad and all-encompassing than traditional definitions. We need a new approach to capturing, and appreciating, their work, paid and unpaid.Elise Klein, Associate professor, Australian National UniversityChay Brown, Managing Director, Her Story Consulting & Postdoctoral fellow, Australian National UniversityJanet Hunt, Honorary Associate Professor, CAEPR, Australian National UniversityKayla Glynn-Braun, Director of Her Story, project coordinator at The Equality Institute, lead on U Right Sis? project, Indigenous KnowledgeZoe Staines, Senior Lecturer, The University of QueenslandLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2254602024-03-18T23:18:23Z2024-03-18T23:18:23ZWith nominations decided, Trump leads Biden in US polls; UK Labour far ahead as election approaches<p>Joe Biden and Donald Trump have both secured their parties’ nominations for the November 5 United States general election by winning a <a href="https://www.thegreenpapers.com/P24/D">majority of all delegates</a> to their parties’ conventions, including delegates not yet allocated. </p>
<p>Both Biden and Trump won their nominations easily, with Biden taking 86.4% of the national Democratic primary vote in contests so far, far ahead of the next closest Marianne Williamson with 3.4%. </p>
<p>In the <a href="https://www.thegreenpapers.com/P24/R">Republican contest</a>, Trump defeated Nikki Haley by 73.4–23.1 in the national popular vote, with the winner takes all/most rules that apply for most Republican contests further benefitting him in delegates.</p>
<p>Conventions that formally elect the nominees will be held in July (for Republicans) and August (Democrats). If either Trump or Biden withdrew prior to the convention, delegates bound to that candidate would need to be persuaded to vote for another candidate. It could be messy to replace either Trump or Biden as the nominee.</p>
<h2>Trump is ahead in general election polls</h2>
<p>By the November 5 general election, Biden will be almost 82 and Trump 78. In the <a href="https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/polls/approval/joe-biden/?ex_cid=abcpromo">FiveThirtyEight aggregates</a>, Biden’s net approval is -16.8, with 55.4% disapproving and 38.6% approving. Trump’s net favourability is -9.7, with 52.5% unfavourable and 42.8% favourable. Recently both Biden’s and Trump’s ratings have dipped, with Biden’s March 7 <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2024/03/07/remarks-of-president-joe-biden-state-of-the-union-address-as-prepared-for-delivery-2/">State of the Union address</a> making no difference.</p>
<p>Biden’s net approval is worse than <a href="https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/biden-approval-rating/">for any other president</a> at this stage of their presidency since scientific polling began in Harry Truman’s presidency (1945–53). John F. Kennedy and Gerald Ford were not president for as long as Biden has been.</p>
<p>There isn’t yet a FiveThirtyEight aggregate for <a href="https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/polls/president-general/2024/national/">general election polls</a>, but, while there are three recent national polls that give Biden one-to-two point leads, the large majority of national polls have Trump ahead, usually by low single-digit margins.</p>
<p>The national popular vote does not decide the presidency. Instead, there are 538 Electoral Votes distributed among the states based mostly on population, and it takes 270 to win. In my previous US politics article in December, I said that this system would probably favour Trump more than the national popular vote margin.</p>
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Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/us-elections-2024-a-biden-vs-trump-rematch-is-very-likely-with-trump-leading-biden-219093">US elections 2024: a Biden vs Trump rematch is very likely, with Trump leading Biden</a>
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<p>US <a href="https://tradingeconomics.com/united-states/consumer-confidence">consumer sentiment</a> surged from 61.3 points in November to 79 in January, the highest it has been since July 2021. In the next two months, consumer sentiment has fallen back a little to 76.5 in March. </p>
<p>The big gains in consumer sentiment were probably due to reduced inflation. However, the latest economic data suggests inflation is increasing again.</p>
<p>Despite the large gain in consumer sentiment, Biden’s ratings in the FiveThirtyEight aggregate have scarcely changed since my December article. This is bad for Biden, as it implies there is something else wrong other than economic sentiment; his age is the obvious answer.</p>
<p>In December I said the two main chances for a Biden revival were improved economic confidence and Trump being convicted. Economic confidence has improved, but without lifting Biden. On the legal front, Trump’s <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-68577638">criminal trials all face delays</a> that may push them back until after the election. </p>
<p>The Supreme Court on March 4 <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-03-05/trump-wins-us-supreme-court-ballot-colorado/103545028">unanimously overturned</a> a Colorado court’s decision, so Trump will be on the ballot paper in all states in November.</p>
<h2>US economic data</h2>
<p>In the <a href="https://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.nr0.htm">February US jobs report</a>, the unemployment rate increased 0.2% from January to 3.9%. While there were 275,000 jobs created in February, there were large downward revisions to job gains in December and January, resulting in 167,000 fewer jobs in those months than previously reported.</p>
<p>Inflation rose 0.4% <a href="https://www.bls.gov/news.release/cpi.nr0.htm">in February</a>, up from 0.3% in January and 0.2% in December. Core inflation also rose 0.4% in February (0.4% in January and 0.3% in December).</p>
<p>Real (inflation-adjusted) <a href="https://www.bls.gov/news.release/realer.t01.htm">hourly earnings</a> were down 0.4% in February, though real weekly earnings were flat owing to a gain in weekly hours worked. But there has been a trend towards fewer weekly hours, resulting in a real hourly wage gain of 1.1% in the last 12 months, but only a 0.5% real weekly gain.</p>
<h2>UK Labour far ahead as general election approaches</h2>
<p>The 650 members of the UK House of Commons are elected by first-past-the-post, where the candidate with more votes than any other wins the seat. The UK has five-year terms, and at the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2019_United_Kingdom_general_election">December 2019 election</a> Boris Johnson led the Conservatives to a thumping victory.</p>
<p>Much has changed since 2019, with Johnson replaced as PM by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boris_Johnson#Premiership_(2019%E2%80%932022)">Liz Truss</a> in September 2022, then Truss was replaced by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liz_Truss#Premiership_(2022)">Rishi Sunak</a> in October 2022.</p>
<p>Labour has led in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opinion_polling_for_the_next_United_Kingdom_general_election#">UK national polls</a> since late 2021, with their lead blowing out during Truss’ short stint as PM. While the Conservatives recovered some ground under Sunak, they have not been in a competitive position since Johnson was PM.</p>
<p>The <a href="https://www.politico.eu/europe-poll-of-polls/united-kingdom/">Politico Poll of polls</a> currently has Labour on 43%, the Conservatives on 24%, the far-right Reform on 12%, the liberal Liberal Democrats on 10%, the Greens on 5% and the Scottish National Party on 2%. The last two national polls, which were conducted after a scandal involving a <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2024/mar/14/tories-urged-return-further-5m-donation-frank-hester">Conservative donor accused of racism</a>, gave Labour 23 and 26-point leads.</p>
<p>The <a href="https://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/prediction_main.html">Electoral Calculus</a> seat forecast in late February, based on estimated vote shares in polls of 43.1% Labour, 25.2% Conservative, 9.9% Lib Dems, 10.2% Reform, 5.9% Greens and 3.2% SNP, was a massive Labour landslide, with Labour winning 455 of the 650 seats, to 113 Conservatives, 40 Lib Dems and 18 SNP.</p>
<p>The Conservatives have also lost six of the last seven <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_Kingdom_by-elections_(2010%E2%80%93present)">byelections</a> in Conservative-held seats since July 2023, five to Labour and one to the Lib Dems. In many of these losses, there were massive swings.</p>
<p>Sunak can call a general election at any time, but it is likely to be held in late 2024, though it could be delayed until <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Next_United_Kingdom_general_election">January 2025</a>.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/225460/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Adrian Beaumont does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>As the Trump v Biden contest shapes up ahead of the US presidential election in November, the polls are not favourable to the incumbent president.Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of MelbourneLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2259012024-03-18T19:22:04Z2024-03-18T19:22:04ZPolitical donations rules are finally in the spotlight – here’s what the government should do<p>Australia’s political donations rules are woefully inadequate, but donations reform is finally on the agenda. The federal government has signalled its interest in reform and will soon <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/big-money-to-be-taken-out-of-politics-in-radical-electoral-overhaul-20240308-p5faxq.html">begin briefing MPs</a> on its plan. Greater transparency on who is donating, caps on donations, and limits on campaign expenditure are all on the table. Here’s what the government should – and shouldn’t – do.</p>
<p>Rules around political donations at the federal level have long lagged the states. Under the federal rules, only donations of more than $16,300 need to be on the public record. Before the last federal election, Labor promised to lower this threshold to $1,000, in line with NSW, Victoria, and Queensland, and it is now seeking to fulfil this promise.</p>
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Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/politics-with-michelle-grattan-special-minister-of-state-don-farrell-wants-donation-and-spending-caps-for-next-election-208107">Politics with Michelle Grattan: Special Minister of State Don Farrell wants donation and spending caps for next election</a>
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<p>Donations from the same donor should also be aggregated by political parties to prevent “donations splitting”.</p>
<p>Quicker reporting of political donations is long overdue. Under the current system, it takes at least seven months and sometimes up to 19 months for a large donation to be made public. Introducing “real time” disclosure requirements would mean that Australians know who’s donating while policy issues – and elections – are still “live”.</p>
<p>These three changes – reducing the donations disclosure threshold, aggregating donations from the same donor, and publishing the data in real time – are all quite simple reforms that could be implemented quickly. And there is likely to be widespread support across parliament for these sorts of transparency measures, so this would be a good place to start. </p>
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<p>Where things get trickier is around caps – on both political donations and campaign spending. Both types of caps were supported by a recent parliamentary committee inquiry into the 2022 election, and Labor has <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/big-money-to-be-taken-out-of-politics-in-radical-electoral-overhaul-20240308-p5faxq.html">signalled its interest</a> in these bigger reforms.</p>
<p>A cap on political donations aims to reduce the influence of any one donor. Clive Palmer’s <a href="https://theconversation.com/big-money-was-spent-on-the-2022-election-but-the-party-with-the-deepest-pockets-didnt-win-198780">record-breaking donations</a> in the lead-up to the 2019 and 2022 federal elections have highlighted the potential for wealthy individuals to have substantial influence in Australian elections. </p>
<p>The trick will be in setting the right level for the cap: low enough to be meaningful, yet high enough to enable new entrants to raise the funds necessary to compete with existing players. Some people show their political support with time, others with money, so donations caps need to allow for different forms of democratic participation too. </p>
<p>Caps on campaign spending would be the real game-changer though. Parties and candidates can currently spend as much money as they can raise, so big money means greater capacity to sell your message to voters.</p>
<p>Capping expenditure in the lead-up to elections would limit the “arms race” to raise more and more funds, and ultimately reduce parties’ dependency on major donors. It is this dependency that <a href="https://grattan.edu.au/report/whos-in-the-room/">“buys” donors substantial access</a> to politicians – and access means opportunities to sway public decisions in the donor’s favour.</p>
<p>Caps on campaign spending would be a big reform to reduce the influence of money in politics. But there are several design issues that still need to be resolved.</p>
<p>Given that other groups, such as unions and industry peak bodies, may campaign on political issues, their political expenditure would also need to be capped. A higher cap should apply for political parties – the primary players in an election – than for third parties.</p>
<p>Independents have warned that spending caps could create <a href="https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Joint/Electoral_Matters/2022federalelection/Interim_Report/Additional_comments_by_Kate_Chaney_MP">barriers for new entrants</a>. A “one-size-fits-all” model would favour the major parties because they are already well known and usually contest every seat. At a minimum, caps are needed both for total spend and per electorate, to prevent major parties pooling their resources to fight just a few seats. </p>
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Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/a-full-ban-on-political-donations-would-level-the-playing-field-but-is-it-the-best-approach-81821">A full ban on political donations would level the playing field – but is it the best approach?</a>
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<p>These challenges are not insurmountable. NSW has long had expenditure caps in place for state elections and offers a model the federal government could follow. </p>
<p>Another way to resolve many of the concerns would be for the cap to apply to political advertising expenditure only. The idea would be to limit political-party and third-party advertising during election campaigns, but not restrict political expression through more grass-roots channels, or at other times. </p>
<p>The government should take the time to get this right. Campaign spending caps would be a bold reform that would strongly benefit from agreement across the parliament. Even if a quick consensus could be reached, the Australian Electoral Commission would still need time to implement the changes, so this reform would not be ready for the next federal election. </p>
<p>The government should take a consultative approach on caps to land a model that has broad support and trust. But there is no need to delay the transparency reforms. If the government moves quickly, Australians could have much better information on who funds political parties when we head to the polls in 2025.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/225901/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>The Grattan Institute began with contributions to its endowment of $15 million from each of the Federal and Victorian Governments, $4 million from BHP Billiton, and $1 million from NAB. In order to safeguard its independence, Grattan Institute’s board controls this endowment. The funds are invested and contribute to funding Grattan Institute's activities. Grattan Institute also receives funding from corporates, foundations, and individuals to support its general activities as disclosed on its website.</span></em></p>There are simple (and some not-so-simple) measures that would make donations more transparent and fairer.Kate Griffiths, Deputy Program Director, Budgets and Government, Grattan InstituteLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2253542024-03-18T19:21:57Z2024-03-18T19:21:57ZStudy links microplastics with human health problems – but there’s still a lot we don’t know<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/582403/original/file-20240317-28-ha8xio.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=62%2C0%2C7008%2C4668&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">
</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/microplastics-hand-air-pollution-aquatic-food-2164471827">Naiyana Somchitkaeo/Shutterstock</a></span></figcaption></figure><p>A <a href="https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2309822">recent study</a> published in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine has linked microplastics with risk to human health.</p>
<p>The study involved patients in Italy who had a condition called carotid artery plaque, where plaque builds up in arteries, potentially blocking blood flow. The researchers analysed plaque specimens from these patients. </p>
<p>They found those with carotid artery plaque who had microplastics and nanoplastics in their plaque had a higher risk of heart attack, stroke, or death (compared with carotid artery plaque patients who didn’t have any micro- or nanoplastics detected in their plaque specimens). </p>
<p>Importantly, the researchers didn’t find the micro- and nanoplastics <em>caused</em> the higher risk, only that it was correlated with it. </p>
<p>So, what are we to make of the new findings? And how does it fit with the broader evidence about microplastics in our <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.aax1157">environment</a> and <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412022001258">our bodies</a>?</p>
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<h2>What are microplastics?</h2>
<p>Microplastics are plastic particles less than five millimetres across. Nanoplastics are less than one micron in size (1,000 microns is equal to one millimetre). The precise size classifications <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2018.01.024">are still a matter of debate</a>. </p>
<p>Microplastics and nanoplastics are created when everyday products – including clothes, food and beverage packaging, home furnishings, plastic bags, toys and toiletries – degrade. Many personal care products contain microsplastics in the form of microbeads.</p>
<p>Plastic is also used widely in agriculture, and can degrade over time into microplastics and nanoplastics.</p>
<p>These particles are made up of common polymers such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene and polyvinyl chloride. The constituent chemical of polyvinyl chloride, vinyl chloride, is <a href="https://wwwn.cdc.gov/TSP/ToxFAQs/ToxFAQsDetails.aspx?faqid=281&toxid=51">considered carcinogenic</a> by the <a href="https://19january2017snapshot.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2016-09/documents/vinyl-chloride.pdf">US Environmental Protection Agency</a>.</p>
<p>Of course, the actual risk of harm depends on your level of exposure. As toxicologists are fond of <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bcpt.12622">saying</a>, it’s the dose that makes the poison, so we need to be careful to not over-interpret emerging research.</p>
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Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/australians-are-washing-microplastics-down-the-drain-and-its-ending-up-on-our-farms-223079">Australians are washing microplastics down the drain and it's ending up on our farms</a>
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<h2>A closer look at the study</h2>
<p>This new study in the New England Journal of Medicine was a small cohort, initially comprising 304 patients. But only 257 completed the follow-up part of the study 34 months later. </p>
<p>The study had a number of limitations. The first is the findings related only to asymptomatic patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy (a procedure to remove carotid artery plaque). This means the findings might not be applicable to the wider population.</p>
<p>The authors also point out that while exposure to microplastics and nanoplastics has been likely increasing in recent decades, heart disease rates have been <a href="https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.115.015293">falling</a>.</p>
<p>That said, the fact so many people in the study had detectable levels of microplastics in their body is notable. The researchers found detectable levels of polyethylene and polyvinyl chloride (two types of plastic) in excised carotid plaque from 58% and 12% of patients, respectively. </p>
<p>These patients were more likely to be younger men with diabetes or heart disease and a history of smoking. There was no substantive difference in where the patients lived.</p>
<p>Inflammation markers in plaque samples were more elevated in patients with detectable levels of microplastics and nanoplastics versus those without. </p>
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<img alt="Plastic bottles washed up on a beach." src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/582404/original/file-20240317-18-nz99jb.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/582404/original/file-20240317-18-nz99jb.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582404/original/file-20240317-18-nz99jb.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582404/original/file-20240317-18-nz99jb.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582404/original/file-20240317-18-nz99jb.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582404/original/file-20240317-18-nz99jb.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582404/original/file-20240317-18-nz99jb.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
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<span class="caption">Microplastics are created when everyday products degrade.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/close-waste-beach-1234533793">JS14/Shutterstock</a></span>
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<p>And, then there’s the headline finding: patients with microplastics and nanoplastics in their plaque had a higher risk of having what doctors call “a primary end point event” (non-fatal heart attack, non-fatal stroke, or death from any cause) than those who did not present with microplastics and nanoplastics in their plaque.</p>
<p>The authors of the study note their results “do not prove causality”.</p>
<p>However, it would be remiss not to be cautious. The history of environmental health is replete with examples of what were initially considered suspect chemicals that avoided proper regulation because of what the US National Research Council refers to as the “<a href="https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/12209/science-and-decisions-advancing-risk-assessment">untested-chemical assumption</a>”. This assumption arises where there is an absence of research demonstrating adverse effects, which obviates the requirement for regulatory action. </p>
<p>In general, more research is required to find out whether or not microplastics cause harm to human health. Until this evidence exists, we should adopt the precautionary principle; absence of evidence should not be taken as evidence of absence.</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/were-all-ingesting-microplastics-at-home-and-these-might-be-toxic-for-our-health-here-are-some-tips-to-reduce-your-risk-159537">We're all ingesting microplastics at home, and these might be toxic for our health. Here are some tips to reduce your risk</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<h2>Global and local action</h2>
<p>Exposure to microplastics in our home, work and outdoor environments is inevitable. Governments across the globe have started to acknowledge we must intervene. </p>
<p>The <a href="https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/nations-agree-end-plastic-pollution">Global Plastics Treaty</a> will be enacted by 175 nations from 2025. The treaty is designed, among other things, to limit microplastic exposure globally. Burdens are greatest <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2022.119957">especially in children</a> and especially those in low-middle income nations. </p>
<p>In Australia, legislation <a href="https://www.epa.vic.gov.au/about-epa/our-programs-and-projects/single-use-plastics-ban">ending single use plastics</a> will help. So too will the increased rollout of <a href="https://recyclingnearyou.com.au/containerdeposit/">container deposit schemes</a> that include plastic bottles.</p>
<p>Microplastics pollution is an area that requires a collaborative approach between researchers, civil societies, industry and government. We believe the formation of a “microplastics national council” would help formulate and co-ordinate strategies to tackle this issue.</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/the-problem-with-oodies-hooded-blankets-are-cosy-but-they-are-not-great-for-oceans-or-our-health-163087">The problem with Oodies: hooded blankets are cosy but they are not great for oceans or our health</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<p>Little things matter. Small actions by individuals can also translate to significant overall environmental and human health benefits. </p>
<p>Choosing natural materials, fabrics, and utensils not made of plastic and disposing of waste thoughtfully and appropriately – including recycling wherever possible – is helpful.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/225354/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Mark Patrick Taylor is a full-time employee of EPA Victoria, appointed to the statutory role of Chief Environmental Scientist.
He previously received funding via an Australian Government Citizen Science Grant (2017-2020), CSG55984 ‘Citizen insights to the composition and risks of household dust’ (the DustSafe project). Outputs from this project included published work on microplastics with Drs Neda Sharifi Soltani and Scott Wilson who were at Macquarie University at that time.
</span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Scott P. Wilson works for the Australian Microplastic Assessment Project run by the not for profit organisation the Total Environment Centre. He has previously received funding from the NSW EPA for research into microplastic source tracking in Deewhy Lagoon and for developing a Microlitter Reduction Framework. </span></em></p>Microplastics are created when everyday products – including clothes, food and beverage packaging, home furnishings, plastic bags, toys and toiletries – degrade.Mark Patrick Taylor, Chief Environmental Scientist, EPA Victoria; Honorary Professor, School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie UniversityScott P. Wilson, Research Director, Australian Microplastic Assessment Project (AUSMAP); Honorary Senior Research Fellow, School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2228042024-03-18T19:21:49Z2024-03-18T19:21:49Z‘I wanted to stop … but I also wanted to pull’. 1 in 50 people have trichotillomania – a new memoir unpacks compulsive hair-pulling<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/581450/original/file-20240312-22-juqvok.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=0%2C0%2C3994%2C3982&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">
</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">The Conversation/Shutterstock</span></span></figcaption></figure><p>Towards the end of Adele Dumont’s affecting memoir <a href="https://scribepublications.com.au/books-authors/books/the-pulling-9781922585912">The Pulling</a>, she thanks the reader, her “stranger”, for the opportunity to unburden herself of her compulsion of 17 years (and since the age of 17): to pull out strands of her hair, regularly and frequently. As a result, a large section of her scalp would eventually lay bare, yet cleverly concealed from others. </p>
<p>Hair-pulling, or <a href="https://theconversation.com/pulling-out-your-hair-in-frustration-what-you-need-to-know-about-trichotillomania-45228">trichotillomania</a>, does not come up much in public conversation. While terms such as ADHD, OCD or PTSD have almost passed into common parlance, hair-pulling is not well known, despite, as the author claims, <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9063575/.">affecting 2% of the population</a> – an incidence greater than that of <a href="https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/schizophrenia">schizophrenia (0.32%)</a> or <a href="https://library.neura.edu.au/bipolar-disorder/epidemiology-bipolar-disorder/prevalence-epidemiology-bipolar-disorder/worldwide-4/index.html">bipolar disorder</a> (around 1% over a lifetime). </p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/pulling-out-your-hair-in-frustration-what-you-need-to-know-about-trichotillomania-45228">Pulling out your hair in frustration? What you need to know about trichotillomania</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<p>But the secrecy and shame that surrounds trichotilllomania mean it is very much a hidden disorder, poorly understood by the general population. <em>Pull your hair out – why don’t you just stop?</em> </p>
<hr>
<p><em>Review: The Pulling – Adele Dumont (Scribe)</em></p>
<hr>
<p>Dumont’s memoir is structured around themes (“inside an episode”, “shame”, “other people”) and starts with an account of her childhood and family upbringing. The quality of the writing and the tender voice quickly drew me into the mystery of this baffling disorder. </p>
<p>Reading it, I was alert for evidence of trauma or abuse, anything that might explain Dumont’s “eventual unravelling”. There are very few clues from childhood. </p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/581470/original/file-20240313-18-g2eevp.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/581470/original/file-20240313-18-g2eevp.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/581470/original/file-20240313-18-g2eevp.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581470/original/file-20240313-18-g2eevp.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581470/original/file-20240313-18-g2eevp.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581470/original/file-20240313-18-g2eevp.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581470/original/file-20240313-18-g2eevp.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581470/original/file-20240313-18-g2eevp.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Adele Dumont’s affecting memoir investigates her trichotillomania, or compulsive hair-pulling.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Scribe</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>Sensing something amiss</h2>
<p>Her parents met while fruit-picking in far-north Queensland; her father was a backpacker from France. Together they spent 15 years moving between orchards and later, with their two daughters, from farm to farm across rural Australia. The family lived in tents and later a caravan, and the young Adele remembers a solitary childhood: lived in nature, but never far from her parents. </p>
<p>The family moved to the outskirts of Sydney for the girls to attend school. In the holidays or on weekends, the young Adele remembers her father lifting her gently from sleep to her bed in the Kombi, waking up in orchards. </p>
<p>Her parents stayed together, despite some “unease in the marriage”. She adored her self-taught French bookworm father, his devotion to her and younger sister (“E”), his capacity to accept others “as they were”. Dumont presents her mother as a psychologically complex character, a little scary. “Mama” was at pains to provide materially for her daughters, but not present in a way that enabled them to relax in their own home.</p>
<p>Mama was devoted to her daughters and they led a frugal (“elemental”) life where nothing was ever wasted. Dumont uses the example of her mother’s tendency to hoard, and her own tendency to hoard secrets, to explain her eventual writing of “this silence and all this story” — lest it be wasted. </p>
<p>Dumont writes of her mother’s “laughter without any happiness in it”. She can’t remember her mother “ever being calm”. Perhaps her mother’s family history might account for this: she had an alcoholic brother who died young and a father diagnosed with PTSD – Dumont recalls him as “emotionally detached and damaged”. </p>
<p>The watchful young Adele falls into a pattern of reasoning that is common to hyperaware and highly empathic children who sense something amiss in the people they love. She feels responsible for, in this case, her mother’s suffering. </p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/can-reading-help-heal-us-and-process-our-emotions-or-is-that-just-a-story-we-tell-ourselves-197789">Can reading help heal us and process our emotions – or is that just a story we tell ourselves?</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<h2>Compensating by being ‘exceptional’</h2>
<p>One possible clue to the origins of the hair-pulling habit is that the young Adele resented comparison with her mother (her thick hair or full cheeks, for example) but loved being noticed for being “just like Papa” for her habit of playing with her hair while reading. This innocuous-seeming gesture was, in Dumont’s words “a convenient cover for what I was really doing”. </p>
<p>Another clue is Dumont’s tendency towards perfectionism and savage self-criticism. Like so many young women who, sadly, are not comfortable about their appearance, Dumont developed “good girl” behaviours and excelled at school, writing and languages. (“To compensate for this ugliness I needed to be exceptional – exceptionally good, exceptionally polite, exceptionally kind.”) She became a teacher of English and taught asylum-seekers in detention, the subject of her first book. </p>
<p>Dumont claims her secret was too “nebulous” to even attempt putting into words. But she manages to powerfully and elegantly deconstruct the experience of a hair-pulling episode, at the same time cautioning her reader (“you”) that this might be painful to bear. </p>
<p>She describes the urge to go to the place “where only [she] could go”, the desire to pull, the trance-like state it engendered. In her transportation, she finds something “unknowable”, a kind of clarity and “grace”: </p>
<blockquote>
<p>Rather than different thoughts all jostling for attention, I am able to discern one strand of thought, which reveals itself as cleanly as a fishbone lifted from its surrounding flesh. This strand of thought distinguishes itself not only in its purity but in its fluidity; roaming and cartwheeling and leaping like a creature released.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Dumont manages very effectively to evoke the full, sensory, “surreal” experience of hair-pulling for her. As a reader, I felt I could enter her world and (almost) comprehend the payoffs of the behaviour. I understood these as something to do with being in flow and claiming an intimate, secret space of oneness with self. There is some enlightenment, yet enough mystery to keep reading. </p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/pulling-out-your-hair-in-frustration-what-you-need-to-know-about-trichotillomania-45228">Pulling out your hair in frustration? What you need to know about trichotillomania</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<h2>Defining compulsions</h2>
<p>There are no simple answers to the problem of trichotillomania: “I wanted to stop pulling, but I also wanted to pull. And one of these desires was always stronger than the other.”</p>
<p>The ambivalence Dumont reveals about her hair-pulling is also reflected in the “irreconcilable” chasm she feels between herself and others, and between her known self and the self revealed to others. It also explains her resistance to therapy. </p>
<figure class="align-right zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/581237/original/file-20240312-22-3mx1s3.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/581237/original/file-20240312-22-3mx1s3.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/581237/original/file-20240312-22-3mx1s3.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=934&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581237/original/file-20240312-22-3mx1s3.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=934&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581237/original/file-20240312-22-3mx1s3.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=934&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581237/original/file-20240312-22-3mx1s3.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=1173&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581237/original/file-20240312-22-3mx1s3.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=1173&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581237/original/file-20240312-22-3mx1s3.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=1173&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
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<span class="caption"></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>It took Dumont 11 years to seek professional help for a disorder that started as a harmless habit and morphed into a significant compulsion that threatened relationships, work, quality of life and her future. Such resistance might resonate with anyone trying to dispense of an unwelcome habit. </p>
<p>There is the sense of not wanting to let go of something that is in some way defining, as Dumont puts it: “Nobody – no professor or psychiatrist – has the power to eradicate my compulsions. They are mine to keep.” </p>
<p>There is also, fortunately for the reader empathising strongly with Dumont’s conflict and pain, a healthy dose of self-dignity at stake (no doubt also familiar to hesitant help-seekers). “Asking someone for help was a form of cheating.”</p>
<p>But the biggest reason for resisting help or even disclosing the habit to those close to her – not even her parents or sister knew – was shame. Shame and being “ashamed at [her] own shame” drew her into a defensive cycle of approaching/resisting help and disclosure. The tension and effort of having to keep the habit secret for fear of being discovered took a toll Dumont admits is “so high it can shape one’s destiny”. </p>
<p>Dumont’s silent plea for the psychologist to whom she would eventually confide could also be “you” – her reader, her stranger. She writes: </p>
<blockquote>
<p>I need her to be tender and patient and sensitive but not to pity me. Professional but not clinical. I need her to understand the gravity of my situation, but not to try to amend it. </p>
</blockquote>
<p>It is a plea for acceptance and a strong aversion to glib solutions. </p>
<p>There is a sharply intellectual quality to this memoir, written by a deeply reflective young woman. By the last page of the memoir, I felt I was indeed Dumont’s intended reader, her stranger, her “you”. I returned her appreciation, grateful for the opportunity to walk a little in her shoes, painful though it was at times – and for her honesty, courage and intimacy. </p>
<p>Dumont’s testimony is written with perceptive insight, both into herself and those around her. She is a gifted and compassionate linguist and writer. </p>
<p>Despite the very specific nature of the subject, the memoir speaks to a broad readership: to anyone who has felt the isolation of difference, whether “being” different or simply feeling it. Hers is at once a brave appeal to readers for understanding and acceptance, and a brave read.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/222804/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Jane Turner Goldsmith does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>Adele Dumont’s affecting memoir, The Pulling, draws the reader into the secrecy, shame and impulses behind trichotilllomania, or compulsive hair-pulling.Jane Turner Goldsmith, PhD candidate, Creative Writing, University of AdelaideLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2253562024-03-18T19:21:43Z2024-03-18T19:21:43ZIntimacy, ‘secret service’ and social climbing: meet the real Villiers women behind Mary & George<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/582101/original/file-20240315-22-3y4x18.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=61%2C24%2C8181%2C5462&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">
</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">Binge</span></span></figcaption></figure><p>Mary & George, the new British television drama series, depicts the real-life story of Mary Villiers and her son George, and their social climbing at the early 17th century English royal court. </p>
<p>George Villiers rose from humble beginnings to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cup-bearer">cup-bearer</a> in 1614, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lords_and_Gentlemen_of_the_Bedchamber">Gentleman of the Bedchamber</a> in 1615, and ultimately to the royal favourite of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_VI_and_I">King James VI & I</a>, amassing many titles and court appointments. In 1623 he was made Duke of Buckingham, the only duke who was not a member of the royal family. </p>
<figure>
<iframe width="440" height="260" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/i3hlTrtnXGo?wmode=transparent&start=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>
</figure>
<p>In Mary & George, Mary moulds George to be James’ lover, where he would become the second-most powerful man in England. But from dizzying heights can come a great fall.</p>
<p>Much of the show is embellished for dramatic effect – it’s unclear if James actually did have sexual relationships with his male favourites, and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Bacon">Sir Francis Bacon</a> did not die of syphilis. </p>
<p>However, other aspects of the show are fact. The Earl and Countess of Somerset were tried and found guilty of <a href="https://humanities.uconn.edu/2019/03/06/scandal-and-murder-in-the-folger-archives/">murder through poisoning</a> (though they weren’t executed) and Frances Coke really was abducted and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frances_Coke,_Viscountess_Purbeck">forced to marry</a> John Villiers (witnesses noted her crying in the ceremony just like depicted). </p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/582421/original/file-20240318-18-4exp03.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="Oil painting" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/582421/original/file-20240318-18-4exp03.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/582421/original/file-20240318-18-4exp03.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=387&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582421/original/file-20240318-18-4exp03.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=387&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582421/original/file-20240318-18-4exp03.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=387&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582421/original/file-20240318-18-4exp03.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=486&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582421/original/file-20240318-18-4exp03.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=486&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582421/original/file-20240318-18-4exp03.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=486&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">The Villiers Family painted in 1628.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:British_School,_17th_century_-_The_Family_of_the_1st_Duke_of_Buckingham_(1592-1628)_-_RCIN_402607_-_Royal_Collection.jpg">Wikimedia Commons</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Although George’s relationship with James is a central focus of the series, the Villiers women – George’s mother, sister and wife – all strategically bolstered the power and influence of their male relatives and ensured their family remained in royal favour.</p>
<p>Here’s what you should know about the real women behind the characters.</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/how-to-make-friends-and-influence-people-as-a-17th-century-woman-87205">How to make friends and influence people (as a 17th-century woman)</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<h2>The mother: Mary Villiers</h2>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/582093/original/file-20240315-22-t6ti75.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="Engraving and photograph" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/582093/original/file-20240315-22-t6ti75.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/582093/original/file-20240315-22-t6ti75.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=376&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582093/original/file-20240315-22-t6ti75.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=376&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582093/original/file-20240315-22-t6ti75.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=376&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582093/original/file-20240315-22-t6ti75.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=473&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582093/original/file-20240315-22-t6ti75.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=473&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582093/original/file-20240315-22-t6ti75.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=473&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">An engraving of Mary Villiers from 1814, and Julianne Moore as Mary Villiers.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mary_Villiers,_Countess_of_Buckingham,_by_George_Perfect_Harding.jpeg">Wikimedia Commons/Binge</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>While the fictional Mary Villiers’ origins are depicted as low-born, the real Mary was from a gentry family with a good name but little money. </p>
<p>Mary’s four children with her first husband, George Villiers, were Susan, John, George and Christopher (“Kit”), who all feature in the show. </p>
<p>She married again to Sir William Rayner, and finally Sir Thomas Compton. She was created Countess of Buckingham in her own right (not tied to a husband) in 1618.</p>
<p>Like many women at this time who could not own property or assets due to the laws of <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/01440365.2022.2092945">coverture</a>, Mary strategically married and used the other avenues available to her – such as social networking – to rise through the ranks of Jacobean society until her death in 1632. </p>
<p>History has not been kind to Mary. Her ambition for her family marked her as greedy, calculating and ruthless, which the show extends to lesbianism and murder despite the absence of any historical evidence.</p>
<h2>The sister: Susan Villiers</h2>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/582402/original/file-20240317-26-45214i.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="Side by side pictures" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/582402/original/file-20240317-26-45214i.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/582402/original/file-20240317-26-45214i.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=529&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582402/original/file-20240317-26-45214i.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=529&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582402/original/file-20240317-26-45214i.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=529&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582402/original/file-20240317-26-45214i.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=665&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582402/original/file-20240317-26-45214i.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=665&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582402/original/file-20240317-26-45214i.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=665&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Susan Feilding, nee Villers, is played by Alice Grant.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Royalist_father_and_Roundhead_son;_being_the_memoirs_of_the_first_and_second_earls_of_Denbigh,_1600-1675_(1915)_(14757234486).jpg">Wikimedia Commons/Binge</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Mary’s only daughter Susan is portrayed in the show as a quiet, timid and boring teenager. In reality Susan, who went by Sue, learned a great deal from her mother and used strategic connections to improve the social standing of her family. </p>
<p>In 1607, before the rise of the Villiers family at court, she married a country gentleman named William Fielding. Sue and William used George’s favour with the king to obtain many offices and titles; they were made the Countess and Earl of Denbigh in 1622. </p>
<p>After Charles I ascended the throne and married French princess <a href="https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/henrietta-maria">Henrietta Maria</a>, Sue was appointed as the most senior <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lady_of_the_Bedchamber">Lady of the Bedchamber</a>. </p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/beheaded-and-exiled-the-two-previous-king-charleses-bookended-the-abolition-of-the-monarchy-190410">Beheaded and exiled: the two previous King Charleses bookended the abolition of the monarchy</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<p>These positions gave her vast influence at court. Surviving papers describe how she was frequently paid for “secret service” for the queen.</p>
<p>Over time, Sue developed a close relationship with Charles and Henrietta Maria, godparents to some of her grandchildren. Her letters show she was concerned with the social position of her own son, his education and his advancement at court. </p>
<p>When the queen fled for France during the English civil wars, Sue went with her and remained until her death in 1652.</p>
<h2>The wife: Katherine Manners</h2>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/582097/original/file-20240315-30-djpnwe.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="Oil painting and photograph" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/582097/original/file-20240315-30-djpnwe.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/582097/original/file-20240315-30-djpnwe.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=374&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582097/original/file-20240315-30-djpnwe.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=374&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582097/original/file-20240315-30-djpnwe.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=374&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582097/original/file-20240315-30-djpnwe.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=470&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582097/original/file-20240315-30-djpnwe.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=470&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582097/original/file-20240315-30-djpnwe.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=470&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Katherine Manners, painted in 1628, is played by Mirren Mack.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/portrait/mw00882/The-Duke-of-Buckingham-and-his-Family?">National Portrait Gallery/Binge</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/">CC BY-NC</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>In the show, George is forced into a partnership with “Katie” Manners when his mother and sister conspire to lock them in a room overnight, risking their reputations. </p>
<p>Young, “fertile” and wealthy, Katie describes herself as the perfect aristocratic wife. </p>
<p>They married in 1620 in a private ceremony witnessed only by James and her father, the Earl of Rutland. Katie became Katherine Villiers, Marchioness and then Duchess of Buckingham. She and George had four children, Mary, Charles, George and Francis. </p>
<p>James was Mary’s doting godfather. In his letters, he called her his grandchild, while Kate and George became his “children” and he their “dear dad”.</p>
<p>As the show depicts, George and the Villiers women became like a new family to James. This intimacy explains the libels which claimed Mary and George killed the king, a rumour the show brings to life. </p>
<p>Katherine, like Mary and Sue, became a Lady of the Bedchamber to Henrietta Maria. Katherine was pregnant when George was assassinated in 1628 and witnessed his death at the Greyhound Inn (where <a href="https://www.yespotteddogge.co.uk/">you can still stay</a>) in Portsmouth. </p>
<p>She went into mourning, commissioning portraits and the <a href="https://www.westminster-abbey.org/abbey-commemorations/commemorations/villiers-family">Buckingham monument at Westminster Abbey</a> in a chapel usually reserved for royalty. She continued to live at York House in London, marked today by its <a href="https://londonist.com/london/history/york-watergate">Watergate</a> near Embankment Station. </p>
<p>Although she and her children remained favourites of Charles, her reconversion to Catholicism in 1628 and marriage to the Irish Catholic Randall MacDonnell in 1635 caused a strain. Katherine spent much of the civil wars in relative poverty in Ghent and Ireland, with her husband often imprisoned for his role in the Irish Confederacy. </p>
<p>She died in 1649, shortly after <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cromwellian_conquest_of_Ireland">Cromwell’s conquest of Ireland</a>, her life and the rule of Charles I both coming to an end.</p>
<p>But the influence of the Villers women in the royal court continued throughout the 17th century. George and Katherine’s daughter Mary married a Stewart, making their royal connections official. </p>
<p>Later generations of Viliers women, including Sue’s daughter Barbara also served in the households of Henrietta Maria and later, Catherine of Braganza, continuing the tradition of royal service and influence that began under Mary and George. </p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/mary-and-george-homosexual-relationships-in-the-time-of-king-james-i-were-forbidden-but-not-uncommon-223522">Mary & George: homosexual relationships in the time of King James I were forbidden – but not uncommon</a>
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</em>
</p>
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<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/225356/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Sarah Bendall receives funding from the Arts and Humanities Research Council UK and Parold Research Fund.</span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Megan Shaw does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>Mary & George depicts the real-life story of Mary Villiers and her son George, and their social climbing at the early 17th century English royal court.Sarah Bendall, Senior Lecturer, Institute for Humanities and Social Sciences, Australian Catholic UniversityMegan Shaw, PhD Candidate in Art History, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata RauLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2251812024-03-18T19:21:34Z2024-03-18T19:21:34ZDo you have 7,513 unread emails in your inbox? Research suggests that’s unwise<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/581813/original/file-20240314-18-q0ect0.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=60%2C13%2C2965%2C2018&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">
</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/email-inbox-phone-outdoors-list-new-2135776669">Tero Vesalainen/Shutterstock</a></span></figcaption></figure><p>How do you manage your emails? Are you an “<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/oct/04/email-is-a-zombie-that-keeps-rising-from-the-dead-the-endless-pursuit-of-inbox-zero">inbox zero</a>” kind of person, or do you just leave thousands of them unread?</p>
<p>Our new study, published today in the journal <a href="https://informationr.net/infres">Information Research</a>, suggests that leaving all your emails in the inbox is likely to leave you dissatisfied with your personal records management. </p>
<p>In an exploratory survey, we asked participants how they dealt with their personal records such as bills, online subscriptions and similar items. Many of these <a href="https://arxiv.org/abs/2204.13282">arrive by email</a>.</p>
<p>We found that most respondents left their electronic records in their email. Only half saved items such as bills and other documents to other locations, like their computer or the cloud. But having a disorganised inbox also led to problems, including missing bills and losing track of important correspondence.</p>
<h2>The risk of losing track of your emails</h2>
<p>Receiving bills, insurance renewals and other household documents by email <a href="https://www.questline.com/blog/top-reasons-customers-choose-paperless-billing">saves time and money</a>, and reduces unnecessary paper use.</p>
<p>However, there are risks involved if you don’t stay on top of your electronic records. Respondents in our research reported issues such as <a href="https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/drivers-fined-millions-since-new-no-vehicle-registration-sticker-system-introduced-in-nsw/news-story/040a82526edc73eb8c23bce47fd1b8f9">lapsed vehicle registration</a>, failing to cancel <a href="https://newsroom.ing.com.au/unused-subscriptions-and-forgotten-outgoings-could-cost-each-aussie-up-to-1261-a-year/">unwanted subscriptions</a>, and overlooking tax deductions because it was too much trouble finding the receipts. </p>
<p>This suggests late fines and other email oversights could be costing people hundreds of dollars each year.</p>
<p>In addition to the financial costs, research suggests that not sorting and managing electronic records makes it more difficult to put together the information needed at tax time, or for other high-stakes situations, such as loan applications.</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/why-do-i-get-so-much-spam-and-unwanted-email-in-my-inbox-and-how-can-i-get-rid-of-it-208665">Why do I get so much spam and unwanted email in my inbox? And how can I get rid of it?</a>
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<h2>What did we find?</h2>
<p>We surveyed over 300 diverse respondents on their personal electronic records management. Most of them were from Australia, but we also received responses from other countries, such as the United Kingdom, United States, Switzerland, Portugal and elsewhere.</p>
<p>Two-thirds of the respondents used their email to manage personal records, such as bills, receipts, subscriptions and more. Of those, we found that once respondents had dealt with their email, about half of them would sort the emails into folders, while the other half would leave everything in the inbox.</p>
<p>While most sorted their workplace email into folders, they were much less likely to sort their personal email in the same way.</p>
<p>The results also showed that only half (52%) of respondents who left all their email in the inbox were satisfied with their records management, compared to 71% of respondents who sorted their email into folders.</p>
<p>Of the respondents who saved their paperwork in the cloud (Google Drive, iCloud, Dropbox and similar), 83% reported being satisfied with their home records management.</p>
<p>The study was exploratory, so further research will be needed to see if our findings apply more universally. However, our statistical analysis did reveal practices associated with more satisfactory outcomes, and ones that might be better to avoid.</p>
<h2>What can go wrong with an inbox-only approach?</h2>
<p>Based on the responses, we have identified three main problems with leaving all your email in the inbox.</p>
<p>First, users can lose track of the tasks that need to be done. For example, a bill that needs to be paid could slip down the line unnoticed, drowned by other emails.</p>
<p>Second, relying on search to re-find emails means you need to know exactly what you’re looking for. For example, at tax time searching for charity donation receipts depends on remembering what to search for, as well as the exact wording in the email containing the receipt.</p>
<p>Third, many bills and statements are not sent as attachments to emails, <a href="https://publications.archivists.org.au/index.php/asa/article/view/10421">but rather as hyperlinks</a>. If you change your bank or another service provider, those hyperlinks may not be accessible at a later date. Not being able to access missing payslips from a former employer can also cause issues, as shown by the <a href="https://ia.acs.org.au/article/2019/court-finds-robodebt-unlawful.html">Robodebt scandal</a> or the recent case of the Australian Tax Office <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-03-14/ato-reignites-old-debts-individuals-businesses-struggle/103578746">reviving old debts</a>.</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/581489/original/file-20240313-24-614jwk.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=270%2C779%2C3168%2C2001&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="Close-up of a mouse cursor selecting an inbox link with one unread email." src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/581489/original/file-20240313-24-614jwk.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=270%2C779%2C3168%2C2001&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/581489/original/file-20240313-24-614jwk.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=407&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581489/original/file-20240313-24-614jwk.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=407&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581489/original/file-20240313-24-614jwk.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=407&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581489/original/file-20240313-24-614jwk.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=512&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581489/original/file-20240313-24-614jwk.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=512&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581489/original/file-20240313-24-614jwk.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=512&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">You can apply a few simple practices to your email management to minimise stress and financial losses.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/email-menu-on-monitor-screen-127894817">kpatyhka/Shutterstock</a></span>
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<h2>4 tips for better records management</h2>
<p>When we asked respondents to nominate a preferred location for keeping their personal records, they tended to choose a more organised format than their current behaviour. Ideally, only 8% of the respondents would leave everything in their email inbox, unsorted. </p>
<p>Our findings suggest a set of practices that can help you get on top of your electronic records and prevent stress or financial losses:</p>
<ul>
<li><p>sort your email into category folders, or save records in folders in the cloud or on a computer</p></li>
<li><p>download documents that are not attached to emails or sent to you – such as utility bills and all your payslips</p></li>
<li><p>put important renewals in your calendar as reminders, and</p></li>
<li><p>delete junk mail and unsubscribe, so that your inbox can be turned into a to-do list.</p></li>
</ul>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/do-you-answer-emails-outside-work-hours-do-you-send-them-new-research-shows-how-dangerous-this-can-be-160187">Do you answer emails outside work hours? Do you send them? New research shows how dangerous this can be</a>
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</em>
</p>
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<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/225181/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Matt Balogh previously received funding from an Australian Government Research Training Stipend Scholarship.</span></em></p>Managing our electronic records is a big task. But using a few simple tips to turn your inbox into a to-do list can save a lot of problems down the line.Matt Balogh, Adjunct Lecturer, University of New EnglandLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2254462024-03-18T19:21:22Z2024-03-18T19:21:22ZWhat’s the best way to ease rents and improve housing affordability? We modelled 4 of the government’s biggest programs<p><em>This article is part of The Conversation’s series examining the housing crisis. Read the other articles in the series <a href="https://theconversation.com/au/topics/housing-series-2024-153769">here</a>.</em></p>
<hr>
<p>Australian state and federal governments spend money in many ways to ease rental stress and get more Australians into home ownership. Four of the most prominent are:</p>
<ul>
<li><p><a href="https://firsthome.gov.au/">first homeowner grants</a></p></li>
<li><p><a href="https://unohomeloans.com.au/articles/shared-equity-schemes">shared equity schemes</a></p></li>
<li><p><a href="https://www.revenue.nsw.gov.au/taxes-duties-levies-royalties/transfer-duty/first-home-buyers">first homeowner stamp duty exemptions</a></p></li>
<li><p><a href="https://www.dss.gov.au/housing-support/programmes-services/commonwealth-rent-assistance">rent assistance</a>.</p></li>
</ul>
<p>Our team at Victoria University’s Centre of Policy Studies has modelled the economic impact of each of them in a way that allows their outcomes to be <a href="https://www.copsmodels.com/ftp/workpapr/g-344.pdf">compared</a>.</p>
<p>The bad news is that we’ve found none of the four can simultaneously lift affordability for renters, lift affordability for owners, get more Australians into home ownership, and boost economic efficiency.</p>
<p>The good news is we’ve found a mix that could work well.</p>
<p>We used Victoria University’s regional economic model to compare the effect of spending an extra A$500 million on the variant of each of the programs presently available in Victoria.</p>
<p>To better assess the economic impact, we assumed the extra $500 million was paid for by an increase in taxation.</p>
<h2>Grants and shared equity</h2>
<p>We found first homeowner grants improve affordability for owners, slightly improve affordability for renters, and slightly increase home ownership rates, but come with a heavy economic cost.</p>
<p>The cost to <a href="https://www.investopedia.com/terms/e/economic_efficiency.asp">economic efficiency</a> amounts to about 20 cents for every dollar spent. Economic efficiency measures the extent to which inputs such as labour, land and capital are allocated to their most valuable uses.</p>
<p>Importantly, that 20 cents in the dollar cost is the economic cost of the spending, not the cost of raising the revenue to fund it.</p>
<p>With the average economic cost of state government taxation in the vicinity of <a href="https://www.copsmodels.com/ftp/workpapr/g-289.pdf">30 cents</a> per dollar raised, that means every extra dollar raised to be spent on a first home buyer grant has an economic cost of about 50 cents, making it an economically expensive way to get people into homes.</p>
<p>Shared equity schemes in which the government part-owns a home with a buyer have similar costs, but are better at getting people into their own homes.</p>
<h2>Stamp duty discounts</h2>
<p>Our modelling finds that stamp duty discounts for first home buyers have an economic benefit. This is because stamp duty is an extraordinarily inefficient tax that makes it <a href="https://theconversation.com/swapping-stamp-duty-for-land-tax-would-push-down-house-prices-but-push-up-apartment-prices-new-modelling-finds-184381">harder for people to move</a>.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, the model also finds stamp duty discounts will make home ownership even less affordable by pushing up property prices, and make it only slightly easier for the first home owners able to get the discounts. </p>
<h2>Rent assistance</h2>
<p>Rent assistance is delivered by the Commonwealth rather than states to Australians in receipt of Commonwealth benefits. </p>
<p>Our study finds its economic costs are low, just 5 cents for every dollar spent, meaning that raising extra tax and spending it on rent assistance should have a total economic cost of about 35 cents for each dollar raised and spent.</p>
<p>We find it has a significant effect in making rent more affordable, but causes home ownership rates to fall, because it tips the balance for financially strained households in favour of renting rather than buying.</p>
<h2>What works best</h2>
<p>If making shelter more affordable for low-income earners is the number one priority, by far the best way to do it is to boost rent assistance.</p>
<p>While the benefits come at the expense of home ownership, for the renters receiving them, they are worth having.</p>
<p>But rent assistance is federally administered. For a state government, the best way to help both owners and renters at the lowest economic cost appears to be a mix of two thirds first home buyer grants and one third stamp duty discounts. </p>
<p>Our modelling suggests such a blend would have a negligible impact on economic efficiency and home affordability, while allowing more owners to rent and, as a result, make renting more affordable. </p>
<p>However, it would be costly. From a national perspective, the same improvement in rental affordability could be achieved for less than one-tenth the financial cost if the Commonwealth were to fund additional rent assistance.</p>
<p>If nothing else, our modelling proves these decisions are difficult.</p>
<p>No single tool is perfect, but using the right mix of them can help – all the more so if the states and Commonwealth can work together. Our estimates can help.</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/the-help-to-buy-scheme-will-help-but-wont-solve-the-housing-crisis-224956">The Help to Buy scheme will help but won't solve the housing crisis</a>
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<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/225446/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>For the Commonwealth, the best measure is rent assistance. For the states, it’s a mix of two-thirds first homebuyer grants and one-third stamp duty discounts.Jason Nassios, Associate Professor, Centre of Policy Studies, Victoria UniversityJames Giesecke, Professor, Centre of Policy Studies and the Impact Project, Victoria UniversityXianglong Locky Liu, Research fellow, Victoria UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2252682024-03-18T19:21:15Z2024-03-18T19:21:15ZOn a climate rollercoaster: how Australia’s environment fared in the world’s hottest year<p>Global climate <a href="https://wmo.int/media/news/wmo-confirms-2023-smashes-global-temperature-record">records were shattered</a> in 2023, from air and sea temperatures to sea-level rise and sea-ice extent. Scores of countries recorded their hottest year and numerous weather disasters occurred as climate change reared its head. </p>
<p>How did Australia’s environment fare against this onslaught? In short, 2023 was a year of opposites.</p>
<p>For the past nine years, we have trawled through huge volumes of data collected by satellites, measurement stations and surveys by individuals and agencies. We include data on global change, oceans, people, weather, water, soils, vegetation, fire and biodiversity. </p>
<p>Each year, we analyse those data, summarising them in an <a href="https://bit.ly/ausenv2023">annual report</a> that includes an overall Environmental Condition Score and <a href="https://ausenv.online/aer/scorecards/">regional scorecards</a>. These scores provide a relative measure of conditions for agriculture and ecosystems. Scores declined across the country, except in the Northern Territory, but were still relatively good.</p>
<p>However, the updated <a href="https://tsx.org.au/">Threatened Species Index</a> shows the abundance of listed bird, mammal and plant species has continued to decline at a rate of about 3% a year since the turn of the century.</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/581821/original/file-20240314-22-p8uskx.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/581821/original/file-20240314-22-p8uskx.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/581821/original/file-20240314-22-p8uskx.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=357&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581821/original/file-20240314-22-p8uskx.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=357&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581821/original/file-20240314-22-p8uskx.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=357&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581821/original/file-20240314-22-p8uskx.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=448&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581821/original/file-20240314-22-p8uskx.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=448&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581821/original/file-20240314-22-p8uskx.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=448&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
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<span class="caption">Environmental condition indicators for 2023, showing the changes from 2000–2022 average values. Such differences can be part of a long-term trend or within normal variability.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.wenfo.org/aer/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/2023_Australias_Environment_Report-1.pdf">Australia's Environment 2023 Report.</a></span>
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<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/how-2023s-record-heat-worsened-droughts-floods-and-bushfires-around-the-world-220836">How 2023's record heat worsened droughts, floods and bushfires around the world</a>
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<h2>Riding a climate rollercoaster in 2023</h2>
<p>Worldwide, <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-2023s-record-heat-worsened-droughts-floods-and-bushfires-around-the-world-220836">77 countries broke temperature records</a>. Australia was not one of them. Our annual average temperature was 0.53°C below the horror year 2019. Temperatures in the seas around us were below the records of 2022. </p>
<p>Even so, 2023 was among Australia’s eight warmest years in both cases. All eight came after 2005.</p>
<p>However, those numbers are averaged over the year. Dig a bit deeper and it becomes clear 2023 was a climate rollercoaster.</p>
<p>The year started as wet as the previous year ended, but dry and unseasonably warm weather set in from May to October. Soils and wetlands across much of the country started drying rapidly. In the eastern states, the fire season started as early as August. </p>
<p>Nonetheless, there was generally still enough water to support good vegetation growth throughout the unusually warm and sunny winter months.</p>
<p>Fears of a severe fire season were not realised as El Niño’s influence waned in November and rainfall returned, in part due to the warm oceans. Combined with relatively high temperatures, it made for a hot and humid summer. A tropical cyclone and several severe storms caused flooding in Queensland and Victoria in December. </p>
<p>As always, there were regional differences. Northern Australia experienced the best rainfall and growth conditions in several years. This contributed to more grass fires than average during the dry season. On the other hand, the rain did not return to Western Australia and Tasmania, which ended the year dry.</p>
<h2>So how did scores change?</h2>
<p>Every year we calculate an Environmental Condition Score that combines weather, water and vegetation data.</p>
<p>The national score was 7.5 (out of 10). That was 1.2 points lower than for 2022, but still the second-highest score since 2011. </p>
<p>Scores declined across the country except for the Northern Territory, which chalked up a score of 8.8 thanks to a strong monsoon season. With signs of drought developing in parts of Western Australia, it had the lowest score of 5.5.</p>
<p>The Environmental Condition Score reflects environmental conditions, but does not measure the long-term health of natural ecosystems and biodiversity. </p>
<p>Firstly, it relates only to the land and not our oceans. Marine heatwaves damaged ecosystems along the eastern coast. Surveys in the first half of 2023 suggested the recovery of the Great Barrier Reef plateaued. </p>
<p>However, a cyclone and rising ocean temperatures occurred later in the year. In early 2024, <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-great-barrier-reefs-latest-bout-of-bleaching-is-the-fifth-in-eight-summers-the-corals-now-have-almost-no-reprieve-225348">another mass coral bleaching event</a> developed. </p>
<p>Secondly, the score does not capture important processes affecting our many threatened species. Among the greatest dangers are invasive pests and diseases, habitat destruction and damage from severe weather events such as heatwaves and megafires.</p>
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<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/new-ecosystems-unprecedented-climates-more-australian-species-than-ever-are-struggling-to-survive-222375">New ecosystems, unprecedented climates: more Australian species than ever are struggling to survive</a>
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<h2>Threatened species’ declines continued</h2>
<p>The <a href="https://tsx.org.au/">Threatened Species Index</a> captures data from long-term threatened species monitoring. The index is updated annually with a three-year lag, largely due to delays in data processing and sharing. This means the 2023 index includes data up to 2020.</p>
<p>The index showed an unrelenting decline of about 3% in the abundance of Australia’s threatened bird, mammal and plant species each year. This amounts to an overall decline of 61% from 2000 to 2020.</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/581823/original/file-20240314-16-yi6tr0.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="Line graph of Threatened Species Index" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/581823/original/file-20240314-16-yi6tr0.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/581823/original/file-20240314-16-yi6tr0.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=350&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581823/original/file-20240314-16-yi6tr0.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=350&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581823/original/file-20240314-16-yi6tr0.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=350&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581823/original/file-20240314-16-yi6tr0.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=440&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581823/original/file-20240314-16-yi6tr0.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=440&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581823/original/file-20240314-16-yi6tr0.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=440&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Threatened Species Index showing the abundance of different categories of species listed under the EPBC Act relative to 2000.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.wenfo.org/aer/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/2023_Australias_Environment_Report-1.pdf">Australia's Environment 2023 Report</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The index for birds in 2023 revealed declines were most severe for terrestrial birds (62%), followed by migratory shorebirds (47%) and marine birds (24%).</p>
<p>A record 130 species were added to Australia’s <a href="https://www.dcceew.gov.au/environment/biodiversity/threatened/nominations">threatened species lists</a> in 2023. That’s many more than the annual average of 29 species over previous years. The 2019–2020 <a href="https://theconversation.com/200-experts-dissected-the-black-summer-bushfires-in-unprecedented-detail-here-are-6-lessons-to-heed-198989">Black Summer bushfires</a> had direct impacts on half the newly listed species.</p>
<h2>Population boom adds to pressures</h2>
<p>Australia’s population passed <a href="https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/population/population-clock-pyramid">27 million</a> in 2023, a stunning increase of 8 million, or 41%, since 2000. Those extra people all needed living space, food, electricity and transport. </p>
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<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/our-population-is-expected-to-double-in-80-years-we-asked-australians-where-they-want-all-these-people-to-live-176889">Our population is expected to double in 80 years. We asked Australians where they want all these people to live</a>
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<hr>
<p>Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions <a href="https://www.dcceew.gov.au/climate-change/publications/australias-emissions-projections-2023">have risen by 18% since 2000</a>. Despite small declines in the previous four years, emissions increased again in 2023, mostly due to air travel rebounding after COVID-19. </p>
<p>Our emissions per person are the <a href="https://edgar.jrc.ec.europa.eu/report_2023">tenth-highest in the world</a> and more than three times those of the average global citizen. The main reasons are our coal-fired power stations, <a href="https://theconversation.com/australian-passenger-vehicle-emission-rates-are-50-higher-than-the-rest-of-the-world-and-its-getting-worse-222398">inefficient road vehicles</a> and <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/mar/11/how-many-cattle-are-there-in-australia-we-may-be-out-by-10-million">large cattle herd</a>.</p>
<p>Nonetheless, there are reasons to be optimistic. Many other countries have dramatically <a href="https://ourworldindata.org/co2-gdp-decoupling">reduced emissions without compromising economic growth</a> or quality of life. All we have to do is to finally follow their lead.</p>
<p>Our governments have an obvious role to play, but we can do a lot as individuals. We can even save money, by switching to renewable energy and electric vehicles and by eating less beef.</p>
<p>Changing our behaviour will not stop climate change in its tracks, but will slow it down over the next decades and ultimately reverse it. We cannot reverse or even stop all damage to our environment, but we can certainly do much better.</p>
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<p>
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Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/as-australias-net-zero-transition-threatens-to-stall-rooftop-solar-could-help-provide-the-power-we-need-220050">As Australia's net zero transition threatens to stall, rooftop solar could help provide the power we need</a>
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<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/225268/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Australia’s Environment is produced by the ANU Fenner School for Environment & Society and the Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network (TERN), an NCRIS-enabled National Research Infrastructure. Albert Van Dijk receives or has previously received funding from several government-funded agencies, grant schemes and programmes.</span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Tayla Lawrie is a current employee of the Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network (TERN), funded by the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy.</span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Shoshana Rapley does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>Conditions deteriorated in 2023 but were stlil relatively good for ecosystems and agriculture. Unfortunately, the alarming decline of threatened species continued.Albert Van Dijk, Professor, Water and Landscape Dynamics, Fenner School of Environment & Society, Australian National UniversityShoshana Rapley, Research Assistant, Fenner School of Environment & Society, Australian National UniversityTayla Lawrie, Project Manager, Threatened Species Index, The University of QueenslandLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2255692024-03-18T06:11:15Z2024-03-18T06:11:15ZAnime live-action adaptations are often hated by (Western) fans. Are they being too harsh?<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/582456/original/file-20240318-16-8vktzs.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=32%2C9%2C2027%2C1425&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">
</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">IMDB</span></span></figcaption></figure><p>Between Netflix’s 2023 live-action version of One Piece, and its latest take on Avatar: The Last Airbender, fans are once again asking: why are live-action anime adaptations so tricky to get right?</p>
<p>Despite the <a href="https://www.thebobaculture.com/anime/avatar-the-last-airbender-is-not-an-anime">ongoing debate</a> about whether Avatar (2005–08) is indeed an “anime” (since it’s made by US creators), the series has nonetheless gone down as a favourite among Western anime fans. </p>
<p>Netflix’s new rendition is rated highly by <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9018736/ratings/?ref_=tt_ov_rt">fans</a> and <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2024/feb/22/avatar-the-last-airbender-review-a-sparkling-return-for-one-of-the-greatest-fantasy-series-of-all-time">critics</a> alike. Viewers have flocked online to share their opinions on everything from the casting choices, to the sets and costumes, to changes in the story. </p>
<p>But while the new Avatar is being praised, that makes it an outlier in live-action anime adaptations. </p>
<p>What is it about these adaptations that leads to them being so closely scrutinised? And why are they so often met with disappointment? </p>
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<h2>‘Anime’ is evolving</h2>
<p>Before the original Avatar came out, defining “anime” or “Japanimation” was straightforward. Anime were cartoons made in Japan, often based on manga or Japanese comics. </p>
<p>However, Japanese studios are outsourcing more and more of their background and scenery animation to studios in South Korea and South-East Asia, creating only the main character animation in house. </p>
<p>So <a href="https://www.quora.com/Is-anime-only-defined-as-being-animation-from-Japan">anime purists</a> – who often seem to be Western viewers – may argue the above definition is no longer sufficient. (It’s helpful to remember that in Japanese, “anime” refers to all animated material, regardless of country of origin.)</p>
<p>Avatar is noted for its anime-inspired themes and action, and for laying the path for other US-made series such as Voltron (2016–18), and She-Ra and the Princesses of Power (2018–20). Both shows mix 1980s nostalgia with 2010s storytelling and a hybrid animation style. While they may not technically be anime (depending on whom you ask) the overlap can’t be ignored.</p>
<h2>Successful cases</h2>
<p>One successful anime live-action adaptation is the 2008 film Speed Racer, adapted from the 1967–68 anime of the same name. Directed by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wachowskis">the Wachowskis</a>, the film has become a camp classic. It uses the same comic book-style special effects developed for The Matrix franchise, which <a href="https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/how-the-matrix-was-inspired-by-the-greatest-anime-movies-of-all-time">itself was inspired by</a> anime and manga, and particularly by Mamoru Oshii’s 1995 film Ghost in the Shell. </p>
<p>A more recent adaptation success was Netflix’s One Piece. This show has arguably rewritten the rules of live-action anime adaptations by blending original anime and manga story lines with a diverse <a href="https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/one-piece-cast-live-action-netflix">cast of talented young actors</a>. </p>
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<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/582467/original/file-20240318-30-joxjbr.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/582467/original/file-20240318-30-joxjbr.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/582467/original/file-20240318-30-joxjbr.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=338&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582467/original/file-20240318-30-joxjbr.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=338&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582467/original/file-20240318-30-joxjbr.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=338&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582467/original/file-20240318-30-joxjbr.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=424&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582467/original/file-20240318-30-joxjbr.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=424&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582467/original/file-20240318-30-joxjbr.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=424&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
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<span class="caption">The live-action One Piece actors hail from countries including Japan, the UK, Mexico and the US.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">IMDB</span></span>
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<p>Through a mix of expert writing, costuming, characterisation and visual effects, the essence of the long-running manga and anime series is retained for a new audience. The story of the boy who dreams of becoming king of the pirates – published over some 25 years – is distilled into a fast-paced series portrayed through childhood flashbacks and wacky hijinks. </p>
<p>Upon seeing the cast, original One Piece author and creator Oda Eiichiro said the crew <a href="https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/one-piece-creator-eiichiro-oda-netflix-series-snail-phone-1235707079/">was perfect</a>:</p>
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<p>It’s like you’re watching the Straw Hats in real life.</p>
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<h2>Notable failures</h2>
<p>So, does the opinion of the original creator determine the success of an adaptation?</p>
<p>Certainly it may if we consider the infamous 2009 film Dragon Ball: Evolution. This US remake, <a href="https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/one-piece-creator-eiichiro-oda-netflix-series-snail-phone-1235707079/">rated 2.5/10</a> on IMDB, was widely criticised for its lacklustre production and “whitewashing”. </p>
<p>It was such a failure that it inspired Dragon Ball creator Toriyama Akira, who passed away <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/2024/mar/08/akira-toriyama-dragon-ball-creator-manga-series-dies-aged-68">on March 1</a>, to return to the franchise after a 15-year hiatus. Toriyama felt the <a href="https://kotaku.com/didnt-like-hollywoods-dragon-ball-movie-well-neithe-465066558">film didn’t capture</a> the “world” or the “characteristics” of the series.</p>
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<p>Similarly, 2017 live-action film Ghost in the Shell was heavily criticised for its casting of Scarlett Johansson as the Major, with <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2017/mar/31/ghost-in-the-shells-whitewashing-does-hollywood-have-an-asian-problem">fans saying</a> she should have been played by a Japanese actor.</p>
<p>In the various Ghost in the Shell anime, films and manga, the Major is an augmented cyborg whose original identity is never revealed. Indeed, the search for some kind of connection or identity forms part of her character. Johansson’s casting should therefore not really be an issue. Mamoru Oshii himself said there was “no basis” for an “Asian actress” to <a href="https://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/Movies/2016/11/11/Ghost-in-the-Shell-featurette-Original-director-Mamoru-Oshii-praises-Scarlett-Johansson/1151478870706/">play the role</a>. </p>
<p>However, the 2017 film was ultimately too clever for its own good as the final twist reveals the Major is a … <a href="https://www.bustle.com/p/the-ghost-in-the-shell-twist-addresses-whitewashing-claims-in-a-disturbing-way-47138">Japanese woman</a> in a white woman’s body.</p>
<h2>An adaptation problem, or a fan problem?</h2>
<p>Besides issues of whitewashing, what makes anime adaptations so different to other adaptations that might also miss the mark?</p>
<p>For instance, the Marvel films – adapted from the original superhero comics – have <a href="https://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/guide/all-marvel-cinematic-universe-movies-ranked/">delivered hits</a> alongside horrible flops. Yet, one could argue the flops didn’t attract quite as much fan fury as botched anime adaptations often do. </p>
<p>It may be that live-action anime adaptations actually aren’t that bad when judged independently, but the change in medium, language – and the impossible task of casting humans as anime characters – is what sets fans’ collective teeth on edge.</p>
<p>So much of anime’s magic lies in the creativity and imagination of the animators who build massive fantasy worlds brimming with the impossible. Currently, no amount of CGI can perfectly replicate anime world-building.</p>
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<p>There’s also the issue of condensing anime narratives for live action. Whereas anime made for Japanese audiences can have hundreds, or even thousands, of episodes, US-made live-action versions tend to have much shorter seasons due to time and budget constraints. </p>
<p>This means creators have to scrap and condense much of the original content. While these scrapped scenes might be considered “filler” to them, they likely hold a lot of value in fans’ eyes and contribute to making the original anime so compelling.</p>
<h2>Japanese versus Western audiences</h2>
<p>There have been a number of incredibly successful Japanese-language anime and manga live-action adaptations. Some of these have been faithful to the original series, such as <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rurouni_Kenshin_(film)">Ruroni Kenshin</a> (2012-21). Others such as <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nana_(2005_film)">Nana</a> (2005) play with the source material to create new stories.</p>
<p>Anime fans in Japan arguably aren’t as offended by slightly off-kilter adaptations as Western audiences are. Perhaps this is because they’ve been raised on franchises where the same characters appear over and over in different shows, with a different backstory each time. </p>
<p>One example is manga artist <a href="https://tezukainenglish.com/wp/?page_id=912">Tezuka Osamu’s “star system”</a>. Throughout his career, Tezuka has reused the same character designs and names across different series. The character of Shunsaku Ban, for instance, appears as a detective in Metropolis, but as Astro Boy’s teacher in Astro Boy. </p>
<p>These disparate versions exist simultaneously, and fans are free to pick their favourites and ignore the others. It’ll be interesting to see whether this approach is eventually embraced in adaptations made for Western audiences.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/225569/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Emerald L King does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>Live-action anime adaptations have never been more popular. Yet there are many factors that make them difficult – but not impossible – to pull off.Emerald L King, Lecturer in Humanities, University of TasmaniaLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2256762024-03-18T04:13:20Z2024-03-18T04:13:20Z‘Just a mum’: pregnant women and working parents feel overlooked and undervalued in the workplace<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/582423/original/file-20240318-24-m91mul.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=0%2C7%2C4565%2C2434&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">
</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/pregnancy-business-work-concept-smiling-pregnant-624530033">Ground Picture/Shutterstock</a></span></figcaption></figure><p>Pregnant women and workers with children are often unfairly treated by their bosses and colleagues, despite laws to protect against workplace discrimination in Australia, according to a new <a href="https://www.unisa.edu.au/research/cwex/projects/national-study-on-parents-work-conditions-pregnancy-leave-and-return-to-work/">study</a>.</p>
<p>The prevalence of mistreatment has been revealed in the first national review of work-related discrimination, disadvantage and bias among pregnant and parent workers in a decade, undertaken by researchers from the University of South Australia.</p>
<p>More than 1,200 pregnant and parent workers responded to the survey, and despite being an intentionally gender-inclusive study, almost 95% of the respondents identified as female.</p>
<p>Disturbingly, the analysis revealed 91.8% of respondents experienced discrimination during their return-to-work phase, 84.7% during parental leave and 89% while pregnant at work.</p>
<p>One respondent reported:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>I was told I wouldn’t want to return to work as I would be “clucky”. My career was severely impacted by my pregnancy, and I was forced to give up my team leader role.</p>
</blockquote>
<h2>Being overlooked while still in the workplace</h2>
<p>A third of pregnant respondents (32.7%) said they did not receive any information about their upcoming leave entitlements such as whether leave could be extended if there were complications, or if anyone would be checking in with them while they were away.</p>
<p>Many said they missed out on training opportunities they were in line for (21.2%) had they not been pregnant while others said they were ignored or excluded (39%) from work-related activities and decisions as they were about to go on leave.</p>
<p>Just over a quarter (25.4%) felt they needed to hide their pregnant belly while 45.7% were ordered to do work below their competence level in the lead up to their parental leave starting. </p>
<p>One said:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>I was denied permission to wear tights and a belly support while pregnant, despite the fact I was on my feet and had hip pain while working.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Some colleagues gave unsolicited advice and made unwelcome comments about how a pregnant woman looked, prompting a respondent to say:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>We have poor systems for pregnancy in the workplace. Often companies have breastfeeding policies, but nothing for pregnancy. This leaves people open to project their opinion or experience on pregnant people, impacting their experience and often leading to discrimination.</p>
</blockquote>
<h2>Feeling forgotten and excluded</h2>
<p>During parental leave, respondents stated being excluded from communications about work-related or social events.</p>
<p>Many said they would have liked to use “<a href="https://www.fairwork.gov.au/leave/parental-leave/during-parental-leave/keeping-in-touch-days#:%7E:text=A%20keeping%20in%20touch%20day,by%20agreement%20with%20their%20employer.">keep in touch</a>” days which might include attending a planning meeting or doing some training before returning to the office, but were not offered this option.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>My employer (and many others) find it hard to figure out the “keep in touch” days which are available through the government paid parental leave. It would have been nice to be able to easily access these and attend a day here and there.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>And more than half (50.8%) were not told about workplace restructures or other changes in their absence that could affect them on their return.</p>
<p>Also, 21.3% of workers on parental leave were pressured by their manager to begin or finish their leave earlier or later than they wanted to fit in with the workplace’s or management’s needs.</p>
<p>Three quarters of respondents said they would have liked to have extended their time away to care for their child because their partners (in 35.1% of cases) did not get parental leave. </p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/582434/original/file-20240318-20-5l5xyr.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="Woman looking out a window while holding a crying baby" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/582434/original/file-20240318-20-5l5xyr.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/582434/original/file-20240318-20-5l5xyr.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582434/original/file-20240318-20-5l5xyr.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582434/original/file-20240318-20-5l5xyr.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582434/original/file-20240318-20-5l5xyr.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582434/original/file-20240318-20-5l5xyr.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582434/original/file-20240318-20-5l5xyr.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Women on maternity leave say they feel isolated and cut-off from the workplace.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/mother-holds-soothes-crying-baby-white-1102053854">DinaPhoto/Shutterstock</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>When returning to work, parents said they encountered the most discrimination, such as receiving negative comments from managers or co-workers about working part-time or needing flexible work hours (43.9%).</p>
<p>Many had their role dramatically redesigned without any consultation and felt they were being denied opportunities due to working less days.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>I feel I am overlooked and not shortlisted to interview for roles because I work part time. I am highly qualified for these roles.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Just over 45% said they were given fewer opportunities for career advancement and promotions because they were “just a mum” and faced the assumption that they “might get pregnant again” and were therefore unlikely to stay around.</p>
<p>Almost 27% did not have access to appropriate breastfeeding or expressing facilities and, as such, were often forced to express in a locked toilet cubicle or standing up in a cluttered cupboard.</p>
<h2>Attitudes need to change</h2>
<p>Pregnant and parent workers represent a substantial proportion of the Australian workforce. More than <a href="https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/people-and-communities/household-and-families-census/2021">20%</a> of all Australian households have young children.</p>
<p>The 2023 Australian Institute of Health and Welfare reported
the number of children <a href="https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/children-youth/health-of-children">has increased</a> over the last 50 years, with the number estimated to grow to 6.4 million by the year 2048.</p>
<p>Without intervening action, pregnancy and parental work-related discrimination will remain common and socially tolerated, adversely affecting more of the population.</p>
<p>Having a designated Fair Work Ombudsman who focuses especially on pregnant and parent workers would help change attitudes and bring about change.</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/mothers-are-more-likely-to-work-worse-jobs-while-fathers-thrive-in-careers-196992">Mothers are more likely to work worse jobs – while fathers thrive in careers</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<p>Employers need to ensure pregnant and parent workers receive the same opportunities and recognition as other employees. Providing breastfeeding areas and relevant facilities should be mandatory.</p>
<p>Managers have a duty of care and should engage in consultation and discussion with workers at each stage – pregnancy, parental leave and return to work – to establish clear mutual expectations.</p>
<p>There are already anti-discrimination laws in place in Australia that are clearly not being enforced. There needs to be mandatory regulation of employers to ensure they are providing pregnant and parent workers with the professional and personal support needed.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/225676/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Dr Rachael Potter does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>Pregnant women and working parents are often excluded from training and other opportunities despite extensive workplace and anti-discrimination laws.Dr Rachael Potter, Research Associate and Lecturer in Work and Organisational Psychology, University of South AustraliaLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2256612024-03-18T02:57:58Z2024-03-18T02:57:58ZWill the AUKUS deal survive in the event of a Trump presidency? All signs point to yes<p>A year ago, the AUKUS agreement was formally announced between Australian and UK Prime Ministers Anthony Albanese and Rishi Sunak and US President Joe Biden. The agreement mapped out the “<a href="https://www.asa.gov.au/aukus/optimal-pathway">optimal pathway</a>” for Australia, over the next two decades, to acquire between six and eight sub-surface nuclear propulsion boats, or more simply put, nuclear submarines.</p>
<p>The plan to acquire and build them has been the subject of ongoing debate. That’s largely because there’s limited understanding of the <a href="https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/one-year-along-australias-optimal-pathway-to-nuclear-powered-submarines/">need for Australia</a> to acquire submarines of this kind. </p>
<p>Concerns are also emerging over how committed the US really is to the deal, given doubts about whether it has the industrial capability to manufacture enough subs to meet its own needs. All this has fuelled speculation over the project’s viability. </p>
<p>So what is the US obliged to provide Australia with, in terms of submarines, under AUKUS? When will Australia likely get submarines under this deal? And how much can the domestic political and naval challenges facing the US affect how it meets its AUKUS requirements, particularly if Donald Trump is elected president?</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/why-aukus-is-here-to-stay-despite-looming-roadblocks-213112">Why AUKUS is here to stay, despite looming roadblocks</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<h2>The state of play</h2>
<p>Australia is now heavily invested in making AUKUS work, avoiding further <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-06-11/albanese-submarine-deal-with-france/101145042">policy U-turns</a>. </p>
<p>Aided by some deft Australian diplomacy, in December 2023 the US Congress passed the <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/2670">National Defence Authorisation Act</a> which <a href="https://www.minister.defence.gov.au/media-releases/2023-12-15/passage-priority-aukus-submarine-and-export-control-exemption-legislation-united-states-congress">authorised</a> the transfer of three Virginia class submarines to Australia in the 2030s. Given the almost gridlocked US political system, this was once considered inconceivable. </p>
<p>The act also confirmed arrangements for training Australians in US and UK shipyards and, in turn, the maintenance of their submarines in Australia by Australians. </p>
<p>That does not mean, though, that everything is now set on autopilot. Understandably, the US reserves the right to fulfil its own domestic naval needs first. </p>
<p>But fears of the plans being derailed are misplaced, and suggestions Australia reverse course are problematic. Critics referring to the “<a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-03-13/us-defence-announcement-raises-questions-on-aukus-anniversary/103578408">profound impact</a>” of any production slowdown have an important political point to make, drawing attention to the need for urgency and acceleration of the program, not cancellation.</p>
<p>Reports that the rate of production of these Virginia class submarines will dip to 1.3 per year has <a href="https://asiapacificdefencereporter.com/usn-virginia-submarine-production-shortfall-worsens/">generated some alarm</a>. This belies the fact the dip in production was anticipated and plans are underway to rectify the shortfall. The two US manufacturing companies that make submarines of this type, <a href="https://www.gdeb.com/">Electric Boat</a> and <a href="https://hii.com/">Huntington Ingalls Industries</a>, are taking measures to accelerate the rate of manufacture to 2.3 boats per year. </p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/the-aukus-deal-will-be-hotly-debated-at-the-alp-national-conference-but-its-real-vulnerabilities-lie-in-america-211504">The AUKUS deal will be hotly debated at the ALP national conference, but its real vulnerabilities lie in America</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<p>Australia’s <a href="https://pmtranscripts.pmc.gov.au/sites/default/files/AUKUS-factsheet.pdf">financial and personnel contributions</a> are helping. Plans are still in place that will enable Australia to purchase its first second-hand, but refurbished, Virginia class submarine in the mid-2030s.</p>
<p>That seems a long way off. To cover the gap, Australia’s existing diesel-electric Collins class submarines will be retained, supplemented by a <a href="https://www.asa.gov.au/aukus/submarine-rotational-force-west">Submarine Rotational Force-West</a>, which will include UK and US submarines rotating through the Garden Island Naval Facility in Cockburn Sound, south of Fremantle. </p>
<p>While it doesn’t have the recognition of Pearl Harbor, Cockburn Sound is just as significant. In the Pacific war, about 170 allied submarines were based at Cockburn Sound from 1942 to 1945. From there, they protected Allied shipping and interdicted enemy sea lines of communication across the Indian Ocean, as well as the Malacca, Lombok and Sunda straits (in modern-day Indonesia), and across the South China Sea and around Formosa (now Taiwan). </p>
<p>Already, US Navy Virginia class subs have started making routine port calls there. The deterrent effect is already kicking in – and <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/5f0e31c0-957d-4c4f-a6e3-e597881d8fd9#:%7E:text=Concerns%20about%20the,in%20the%20Pacific.">vociferous criticism of AUKUS</a> suggests that some <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_lady_doth_protest_too_much,_methinks">doth protest too much</a>.</p>
<h2>What if Trump comes to power?</h2>
<p>In the meantime, some worry about what effect Trump’s prospective return to office might have on these plans. </p>
<p>AUKUS is understood to be a game-changer, and political leaders in Washington DC, both Democrat and Republican, understand this. It reflects an enduring overlap of Australian and US interests, not just sentimental attachments. </p>
<p>Australia benefits from US technology in bolstering its military and intelligence capabilities, reducing its “<a href="https://www.blackincbooks.com.au/books/fear-abandonment">fear of abandonment</a>”.</p>
<p>In turn, the US retains access to facilities in the East Asian hemisphere to monitor security trends and bolster deterrence in ways that suit their <a href="https://www.statista.com/statistics/188604/united-states-direct-investments-in-the-asia-pacific-region-since-2000/">economic and security interests</a>. This is appreciated by US security <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/09/05/fact-sheet-u-s-asean-comprehensive-strategic-partnership-one-year-on/">partners in Asia</a>. </p>
<p>Moreover, while Trump has been critical of <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/closer-trumps-years-criticizing-nato-defense-spending/story?id=107201586">NATO and other allies</a>, he has broadly avoided criticising Australia. </p>
<p>The overwhelmingly bipartisan December vote in Congress suggests that fears of the agreement losing support in the US are misplaced. There are no indications Trump is set to change that stance, and there are some compelling reasons for the next US administration to stay the course. </p>
<h2>Why do we need new submarines anyway?</h2>
<p>Back home, though, the Australian government’s message on these submarines has been clouded. </p>
<p>Eager to avoid drawing undue attention to the limitations of the current fleet, it has avoided talking up how potent and useful the replacement subs will be. </p>
<p>This is in spite of the fact that no matter how <a href="https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2021/09/collins-class-submarine-upgrade-will-extend-australias-non-nuclear-boats-to-2048/">well maintained and updated</a> the Collins are, such submarines are no longer viable for long-distance transits required for Australian submarine operations. This is not because of some intrinsic fault with the Australian submarines, but due to their ability to be detected from above.</p>
<p>The surveillance web of persistent and almost saturation <a href="https://spacenews.com/chinas-casic-to-begin-launching-vleo-satellites-in-december/#:%7E:text=The%20very-low%20Earth%20orbit%20%28VLEO%29%20constellation%20is%20to,in%20the%20city%20of%20Wuhan%20earlier%20this%20month.">satellite coverage</a>, coupled with drones and artificial intelligence, makes the wake of the submarine funnels are detectable when they raise their snorkel to recharge batteries. </p>
<p>Much of this surveillance is believed to be operating from <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-02-18/china-s-new-antarctic-station-qinling-in-antarctica-australia/103464840">Chinese facilities in Antarctica</a>, <a href="https://spacenews.com/south-africa-joins-chinas-moon-base-project/">southern Africa</a> and <a href="https://features.csis.org/hiddenreach/china-ground-stations-space/">South America</a>. </p>
<p>With stealth of submarines the only real advantage over surface warships, the usefulness of the current fleet on long transits sinks quickly. This leaves nuclear propulsion as the only viable path for countries that must traverse vast ocean distances even to cover their own waters. </p>
<p>For Australia, a transit from any capital city across to Fremantle cannot happen without exposure to detection. In wartime, that presents a catastrophic risk only surmounted by remaining underwater for the duration.</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/the-aukus-deal-will-be-hotly-debated-at-the-alp-national-conference-but-its-real-vulnerabilities-lie-in-america-211504">The AUKUS deal will be hotly debated at the ALP national conference, but its real vulnerabilities lie in America</a>
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</em>
</p>
<hr>
<p>Beyond recouping stealth, the benefits of the new nuclear submarines are considerable. Australian submarines are intended to help manage vital shipping lanes. </p>
<p>The new vessels can travel faster than the current fleet (about 20 knots on average instead of six-and-a-half knots) and stay on station for longer, bolstering the deterrent effect. </p>
<p>The main constraint is food for the crew. A fleet of up to eight nuclear subs should generate three times the effective deployable time compared with the current Australian fleet because it can deploy faster, loiter longer and remain undetected, without needing to recharge batteries.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/225661/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>John Blaxland is Professor of International Security and Intelligence Studies and Director of the Australian National University’s (ANU) North America Liaison Office in Washington DC. He is author of a number of works, including Revealing Secrets: An Unofficial History of Australian Signals Intelligence and the Advent of Cyber (UNSWP, 2023, with Clare Birgin).</span></em></p>Amid reports of a dip in US production of nuclear submarines and concerns about the future of the agreement under Donald Trump, some have questioned the viability of AUKUS. But they need not worry.John Blaxland, Professor, Strategic and Defence Studies Centre, Australian National UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2258982024-03-18T02:53:31Z2024-03-18T02:53:31ZWho will look after us in our final years? A pay rise alone won’t solve aged-care workforce shortages<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/582419/original/file-20240318-28-8rjewg.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=293%2C173%2C6948%2C4191&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">
</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/happy-elderly-woman-talking-friend-sitting-1641889408">Aila Images/Shutterstock</a></span></figcaption></figure><p>Aged-care workers will receive a significant pay increase after the Fair Work Commission <a href="https://www.fwc.gov.au/documents/decisionssigned/pdf/2024fwcfb150.pdf">ruled</a> they deserved substantial wage rises of up to 28%. The federal government <a href="https://ministers.dewr.gov.au/burke/fair-work-decision-aged-care">has committed to</a> the increases, but is yet to announce when they will start. </p>
<p><div data-react-class="Tweet" data-react-props="{"tweetId":"1768557710537068889"}"></div></p>
<p>But while wage rises for aged-care workers are welcome, this measure alone will not fix all workforce problems in the sector. The number of people over 80 is expected to <a href="https://treasury.gov.au/sites/default/files/2023-08/p2023-435150.pdf">triple over the next 40 years</a>, driving an increase in the number of aged care workers needed.</p>
<h2>How did we get here?</h2>
<p>The Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety, which delivered its <a href="https://www.royalcommission.gov.au/aged-care/final-report">final report</a> in March 2021, identified a litany of tragic failures in the regulation and delivery of aged care. </p>
<p>The former Liberal government was dragged reluctantly to accept that a total revamp of the aged-care system was needed. But its <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/ministers/the-hon-greg-hunt-mp/media/respect-care-and-dignity-aged-care-royal-commission-452-million-immediate-response-as-government-commits-to-historic-reform-to-deliver-respect-and-care-for-senior-australians#:%7E:text=Minister%20for%20Senior%20Australians%20and,%2C%20dementia%2C%20food%20and%20nutrition.">weak response</a> left the heavy lifting to the incoming Labor government.</p>
<p>The current government’s response started well, with a <a href="https://theconversation.com/anthony-albanese-offers-2-5-billion-plan-to-fix-crisis-in-aged-care-180419">significant injection of funding</a> and a promising regulatory response. But it too has failed to pursue a visionary response to the problems identified by the Royal Commission.</p>
<p>Action was needed on four fronts:</p>
<ul>
<li>ensuring enough staff to provide care</li>
<li>building a functioning regulatory system to encourage good care and weed out bad providers </li>
<li>designing and introducing a fair payment system to distribute funds to providers and</li>
<li>implementing a financing system to pay for it all and achieve intergenerational equity.</li>
</ul>
<p>A government taskforce which proposed a <a href="https://theconversation.com/what-will-aged-care-look-like-for-the-next-generation-more-of-the-same-but-higher-out-of-pocket-costs-225551">timid response to the fourth challenge</a> – an equitable financing system – was released at the start of last week.</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/what-will-aged-care-look-like-for-the-next-generation-more-of-the-same-but-higher-out-of-pocket-costs-225551">What will aged care look like for the next generation? More of the same but higher out-of-pocket costs</a>
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<hr>
<p>Consultation closed on a <a href="https://media.opan.org.au/uploads/2024/03/240308_Aged-Care-Act-Exposure-Draft-Joint-Submission_FINAL.pdf">very poorly designed new regulatory regime</a> the week before.</p>
<p>But the big news came at end of the week when the Fair Work Commission handed down a further <a href="https://www.fwc.gov.au/documents/decisionssigned/pdf/2024fwcfb150.pdf">determination</a> on what aged-care workers should be paid, confirming and going beyond a previous <a href="https://www.fwc.gov.au/documents/sites/work-value-aged-care/decisions-statements/2022fwcfb200.pdf">interim determination</a>. </p>
<h2>What did the Fair Work Commission find?</h2>
<p>Essentially, the commission determined that work in industries with a high proportion of women workers has been traditionally undervalued in wage-setting. This had consequences for both care workers in the aged-care industry (nurses and <a href="https://training.gov.au/Training/Details/CHC33021">Certificate III-qualified</a> personal-care workers) and indirect care workers (cleaners, food services assistants).</p>
<p>Aged-care staff will now get significant pay increases – 18–28% increase for personal care workers employed under the Aged Care Award, inclusive of the increase awarded in the interim decision. </p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="Older person holding a stabilising bar" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/582420/original/file-20240318-26-tyvjf.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/582420/original/file-20240318-26-tyvjf.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582420/original/file-20240318-26-tyvjf.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582420/original/file-20240318-26-tyvjf.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582420/original/file-20240318-26-tyvjf.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582420/original/file-20240318-26-tyvjf.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582420/original/file-20240318-26-tyvjf.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">The commission determined aged care work was undervalued.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/elderly-woman-holding-on-handrail-safety-774216670">Shutterstock/Toa55</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Indirect care workers were awarded a general increase of 3%. Laundry hands, cleaners and food services assistants will receive a further 3.96% <a href="https://www.fwc.gov.au/documents/decision-summaries/2024fwcfb150-summary.pdf">on the grounds</a> they “interact with residents significantly more regularly than other indirect care employees”.</p>
<p>The final increases for registered and enrolled nurses will be determined in the next few months.</p>
<h2>How has the sector responded?</h2>
<p>There has been no push-back from employer groups or conservative politicians. This suggests the uplift is accepted as fair by all concerned. </p>
<p>The interim increases of up to 15% probably facilitated this acceptance, with the <a href="https://theconversation.com/what-does-the-budget-mean-for-medicare-medicines-aged-care-and-first-nations-health-192842">recognition of the community</a> that care workers should be paid more than fast food workers.</p>
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<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/itll-take-more-than-15-to-beat-the-stigmas-turning-people-off-aged-care-206670">It'll take more than 15% to beat the stigmas turning people off aged care</a>
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</p>
<hr>
<p>There was <a href="https://www.accpa.asn.au/media-releases/accpa-welcomes-further-aged-care-wage-rises">no criticism from aged-care providers</a> either. This is probably because they are facing difficulty in recruiting staff at current wage rates. And because government payments to providers reflect the <a href="https://www.ihacpa.gov.au/">actual cost of aged care</a>, increased payments will automatically flow to providers. </p>
<p>When the increases will flow has yet to be determined. The government is due to give its recommendations for staging implementation by mid-April.</p>
<h2>Is the workforce problem fixed?</h2>
<p>An increase in wages is necessary, but alone is not sufficient to solve workforce shortages. </p>
<p>The health- and social-care workforce is <a href="https://www.jobsandskills.gov.au/data/employment-projections">predicted</a> to grow faster than any other sector over the next decade. The “care economy” will <a href="https://theconversation.com/care-economy-to-balloon-in-an-australia-of-40-5-million-intergenerational-report-211876">grow</a> from around 8% to around 15% of GDP over the next 40 years.</p>
<p>This means a greater proportion of school-leavers will need to be attracted to the aged-care sector. Aged care will also need to attract and retrain workers displaced from industries in decline and attract suitably skilled migrants and refugees with appropriate language skills.</p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="Nursing students practise their skills" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/582422/original/file-20240318-20-x7i1u3.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/582422/original/file-20240318-20-x7i1u3.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582422/original/file-20240318-20-x7i1u3.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582422/original/file-20240318-20-x7i1u3.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582422/original/file-20240318-20-x7i1u3.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582422/original/file-20240318-20-x7i1u3.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582422/original/file-20240318-20-x7i1u3.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Aged care will need to attract workers from other sectors.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/nursing-students-learning-how-rescue-patients-1941429475">nastya_ph/Shutterstock</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The <a href="https://theconversation.com/demand-driven-funding-for-universities-is-frozen-what-does-this-mean-and-should-the-policy-be-restored-116060">caps on university and college enrolments</a> imposed by the previous government, coupled with weak student demand for places in key professions (such as nursing), has meant workforce shortages will continue for a few more years, despite the allure of increased wages. </p>
<p>A significant increase in intakes into university and vocational education college courses preparing students for health and social care is still required. Better pay will help to increase student demand, but funding to expand place numbers will ensure there are enough qualified staff for the aged-care system of the future. </p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/changes-are-coming-for-australias-aged-care-system-heres-what-we-know-so-far-222757">Changes are coming for Australia's aged care system. Here's what we know so far</a>
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<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/225898/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Stephen Duckett is Deputy Chancellor of RMIT University which i.a. provides education for the aged care sector.</span></em></p>While wage rises for aged care workers are welcome, this measure alone will not fix all workforce problems in the sector.Stephen Duckett, Honorary Enterprise Professor, School of Population and Global Health, and Department of General Practice and Primary Care, The University of MelbourneLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2254582024-03-18T02:48:35Z2024-03-18T02:48:35ZVanity, money and ‘angry masculine impastos’: Liam Pieper’s Appreciation is a mordant tale of a tragically flawed artist<p>A nuanced exploration of the value and personal cost of art-making runs through Melbourne writer Liam Pieper’s jaunty new satirical novel <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/198119002-appreciation">Appreciation</a>.</p>
<p>Set in the near present, the novel is about Oli – a gay painter from the country who has learned to capitalise on this fact in public appearances – while also reflecting on “toxic masculinity” in a vague, rote-learned way. Oli paints over-sized, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean-Michel_Basquiat">Basquiat</a>-inspired paintings, with “angry masculine impastos” and “rough impressionist wheatfields”. They have names in an Aussie battler idiom: “Daffo”, or “Thresher”.</p>
<hr>
<p><em>Review: Appreciation – Liam Pieper (Penguin)</em></p>
<hr>
<p>In the outer orbit of Oli’s universe lurks a flock of art “appreciators”. They are portrayed by Pieper as more interested in the long-term appreciating value of the works they’re bidding on than their artistic merits.</p>
<p>The struggle for artistic survival is the main conundrum at the heart of this mordant romp. Artists compete for a modest elite of buyers who in turn, despite their tastes (or lack of them), hold the keys to the wealth and enduring relevance of a select few (Oli being one of them).</p>
<p>Appreciation is Pieper’s fourth novel, (he has also <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/2024/mar/12/liam-pieper-celebrity-ghost-writer-author-bestselling-book">ghostwritten bestsellers</a>). His first, The Toymaker, a work of historical fiction, won the <a href="https://www.penguin.com.au/books/the-toymaker-9780143784623">Christina Stead fiction award</a>. His third, <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/52016160">Sweetness and Light</a>, deals with similar themes to Appreciation, including drug abuse, relationship breakdown, and an examinination of how larger systemic forces underpin personal relationships and the myths we make about ourselves.</p>
<h2>Meeting the artist</h2>
<p>Appreciation opens with a postmodern meta-reflection on the nature of story, before introducing our hero.</p>
<p>Oli has “just enough distinct elements to him”. He is in his early 40s. He drives a Toyota Hilux. He is a little too cavalier about his health, his life, and those around him. He has an incredible tolerance to recreational drugs and alcohol. Despite his recklessness, Oli is good-looking enough that nobody “has ever told him that the story of how he got his tattoo is not interesting”.</p>
<p>As Pieper writes, Oli</p>
<blockquote>
<p>has a way of shuffling into the room like a very old dog, turning his attention on you, and in doing so lighting up your day.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Yet Oli is painfully conceited. At the start of the novel, he gazes at himself in the mirror, in a scene evoking the Baroque painter Caravaggio’s Narcissus. Like the painting, in which Narcissus is entranced by his own reflection, the novel continues in this self-regarding loop, with Oli embarking on a journey of scrutinising his own image.</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/who-was-narcissus-216353">Who was Narcissus?</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<p>Oli quickly trades his reflection in the mirror for perusing his social media platforms. As he scrolls, he harvests jolts of validation from followers who’ve deluded him into thinking “somewhere out there, he is loved”.</p>
<p>Several pages later, we discover how deep-seated Oli’s insecurities are when – despite his success, wealth and endless baggies (of cocaine) – he confesses his favourite sensation is being watched. Oli has no shortage of unlikable or even ugly qualities. Still, he does not eclipse the unlikability of Ottessa Moshfegh’s unnamed protagonist in My Year of Rest and Relaxation (2018), a young woman who tries to chemically sleep for a year.</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/my-year-of-rest-and-relaxation-sad-girl-fetishism-or-cuttingly-funny-feminist-satire-188471">My Year of Rest and Relaxation: 'sad-girl' fetishism or 'cuttingly funny' feminist satire?</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<p>There is something to be said for Pieper’s exploration, in this novel, of the value of ugliness in contemporary art and its ability to challenge our existing conceptions of what we consider “good”. However, throughout the work, mentions of Oli’s art and art-making emerge as afterthoughts. This echoes the sense that his rise to fame has been less about his paintings, and more about personal brand-building.</p>
<p>Oli has forfeited so much – and received so much – for his artistic success he can no longer comprehend the true shape of what’s on the easel, or in the mirror before him.</p>
<h2>Irony</h2>
<p>Oli’s world is populated by two kinds of characters. There are those who are profiting off his success and working for him, such as his agent, Anton. And there are those who are trying to profit off his work through “appreciation”, such as buyers or The Paperman: a critic and arts editor of an influential broadsheet newspaper.</p>
<p>Anton, an old drug-dealer-cum-friend, plays a somewhat paternal role in Oli’s life, overseeing nearly all aspects of his livelihood. It is Anton who arranges Oli’s television appearance on a program “beloved by a left-leaning audience for its soothing politics”, which ultimately leads to his downfall.</p>
<figure class="align-left zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/581545/original/file-20240313-26-a337ji.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="The cover of Appreciation" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/581545/original/file-20240313-26-a337ji.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/581545/original/file-20240313-26-a337ji.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=925&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581545/original/file-20240313-26-a337ji.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=925&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581545/original/file-20240313-26-a337ji.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=925&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581545/original/file-20240313-26-a337ji.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=1163&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581545/original/file-20240313-26-a337ji.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=1163&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581545/original/file-20240313-26-a337ji.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=1163&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
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<span class="caption"></span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Goodreads</span></span>
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<p>As Anton coolly reminds Oli before he gets up on stage under the influence, “too many wealthy and powerful people have invested in Oli over the years, and too deeply, to let him fuck it up now”. However, by this point in the narrative the odds are higher than even Oli himself.</p>
<p>Critic Northrop Frye, in his influential work <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/318116.Anatomy_of_Criticism?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=Z9hRT5eyrB&rank=1">Anatomy of Criticism</a> (1957), defines satire as “militant irony”. Appreciation is peppered with this irony. Giving a speech at the opening night of a rising artist’s first solo exhibition, Oli unabashedly forgets the artist’s name mid-speech. Later, he circumnavigates the after-party searching for the richest guest to schmooze with, whom he ultimately despises for their wealth.</p>
<p>The resounding absurdity in Appreciation is Oli’s painful lack of self-knowledge and awareness (along with the insalubrious behaviours that sustain his art-making). In turn, Oli’s inability to see people for who they are beyond how they can help him reduces the characters in his world to mere outlines. This way of looking at and perceiving others is filtered through the narration. The art collectors are rendered as all parody, and lack any of the idiosyncrasies that give characters true depth and animation.</p>
<p>In Oli’s head, he has assigned the collectors names like “Baron”, who is scornfully described as a “third generation squatter who had inherited enormous wealth and, with it, limitless reserves of white guilt”. </p>
<p>No character – whether it be artist, critic, buyer, those in favour of identity politics or against – is spared from the sharp strikes of Pieper’s sardonic humour.</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/were-laughing-in-an-echo-chamber-its-time-to-rethink-satire-95867">We're laughing in an echo chamber: it's time to rethink satire</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<h2>Oli’s tragic flaw</h2>
<p>On a live television panel “broadly themed around an ongoing national identity crisis”, Oli is confronted with what <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13270.Poetics">Aristotle describes</a> as <em>hamartia</em> — a tragic character flaw that leads to their own undoing.</p>
<p>When pressed by an audience member as to whether his work is perpetuating the toxic masculinity he claims it tries to subvert, Oli is exposed as a woke-fraud. Then, after a clumsy tirade by Oli, the same audience member poses the possibility that he might, in fact, not be a very good artist.</p>
<p>After the burn of public humiliation, a disgruntled Anton explains to Oli that the only path towards salvaging his tainted image is to perform the demoralising task of writing a memoir – and, of course, going on a tour to regional schools.</p>
<p>Despite the gags and Oli’s overwhelming unlikability, his journey to try to rectify his self-destruction results in a great digging into his psyche and past. As Oli reconstructs windows of early adolescence with the help of a ghost-writer, a deep tenderness is stumbled upon. </p>
<p>As these past episodes are recounted, a meditation on the early formation of Oli’s artistic identity develops. A new type of character, Rio, also enters the story. Rio is different from those who dominate Oli’s emotionally numb, transactional present. He is wholly unique and effectively drawn – a hum of the real reverberating through the novel and bringing with it emotional subtlety.</p>
<p>However, as Frye reminds us, in satire the “sardonic vision is the seamy side of the tragic vision” where the “sublime and the ridiculous” are “convex and concave of the same dark lens”. As with Appreciation, in the echo of laughter are shards of truth and tragedy: what has been lost, exploited or given up in the pursuit of an uncompromising vision.</p>
<p>Appreciation is a literary page turner with no shortage of dramatic flair. The wry and incisive narration is reminiscent of the theatrical work of Oscar Wilde.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/225458/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Georgia Phillips does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>The novel Appreciation is a literary page-turner with no shortage of dramatic flair.Georgia Phillips, Lecturer, Creative Writing, University of AdelaideLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2172732024-03-18T02:28:19Z2024-03-18T02:28:19ZEven as the fusion era dawns, we’re still in the Steam Age<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/582432/original/file-20240318-30-py4kah.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=81%2C36%2C5925%2C3971&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">
</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/steam-turbine-rotor-1008297052">SmartS/Shutterstock</a></span></figcaption></figure><p>Steam locomotives clattering along railway tracks. Paddle steamers churning down the Murray. Dreadnought battleships powered by steam engines. </p>
<p>Many of us think the age of steam has ended. But while the steam engine has been superseded by internal combustion engines and now electric motors, the modern world still relies on steam. Almost all thermal power plants, from coal to nuclear, must have steam to function. (Gas plants usually do not).</p>
<p>But why? It’s because of something we discovered millennia ago. In the first century CE, the ancient Greeks invented the aeolipile – a steam turbine. Heat turned water into steam, and steam has a very useful property: it’s an easy-to-make gas that can push. </p>
<p>This simple fact means that even as the dream of fusion power <a href="https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/energy/a46973142/nuclear-fusion/">creeps closer</a>, we will still be in the Steam Age. The first commercial fusion plant will rely on <a href="https://www.iaea.org/bulletin/magnetic-fusion-confinement-with-tokamaks-and-stellarators#:%7E:text=While%20tokamaks%20are%20better%20at,a%20prospective%20fusion%20energy%20plant">cutting-edge technology</a> able to contain plasma far hotter than the sun’s core – but it will still be wedded to a humble steam turbine converting heat to movement to electricity.</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/582437/original/file-20240318-30-bqmy57.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="inside a fusion torus" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/582437/original/file-20240318-30-bqmy57.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/582437/original/file-20240318-30-bqmy57.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582437/original/file-20240318-30-bqmy57.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582437/original/file-20240318-30-bqmy57.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582437/original/file-20240318-30-bqmy57.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582437/original/file-20240318-30-bqmy57.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582437/original/file-20240318-30-bqmy57.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Even high-tech fusion plants will use steam to produce electricity.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:JET_vessel_internal_view.jpg">EUROfusion/Wikimedia Commons</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">CC BY</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>Why are we still reliant on steam?</h2>
<p>Boiling water takes a significant amount of energy, the highest by far of the common liquids we’re familiar with. Water takes about 2.5 times more energy to evaporate than ethanol does, and 60% more than ammonia liquids. </p>
<p>Why do we use steam rather than other gases? Water is cheap, nontoxic and easy to transform from liquid to energetic gas before condensing back to liquid for use again and again.</p>
<p>Steam has lasted this long because we have an abundance of water, covering 71% of Earth’s surface, and water is a useful way to convert thermal energy (heat) to mechanical energy (movement) to electrical energy (electricity). We seek electricity because it can be easily transmitted and can be used to do work for us in many areas. </p>
<p>When water is turned to steam inside a closed container, it expands hugely and increases the pressure. High pressure steam can store huge amounts of heat, as can any gas. If given an outlet, the steam will surge through it with high flow rates. Put a turbine in its exit path and the force of the escaping steam will spin the turbine’s blades. Electromagnets convert this mechanical movement to electricity. The steam condenses back to water and the process starts again. </p>
<p>Steam engines used coal to heat water to create steam to drive the engine. Nuclear fission splits atoms to make heat to boil water. Nuclear fusion will force heavy isotopes of hydrogen (deuterium and tritium) to fuse into helium-3 atoms and create even more heat – to boil water to make steam to drive turbines to make electricity. </p>
<p>If you looked only at the end process in most thermal power plants – coal, diesel, nuclear fission or even nuclear fusion – you would see the old technology of steam taken as far as it can be taken. </p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/nuclear-fusion-breakthrough-decades-of-research-are-still-needed-before-fusion-can-be-used-as-clean-energy-196758">Nuclear fusion breakthrough: Decades of research are still needed before fusion can be used as clean energy</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
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<p>The steam turbines driving the large electrical alternators which produce 60% of the world’s electricity are things of beauty. Hundreds of years of metallurgical technology, design and intricate manufacturing has all but perfected the steam turbine.</p>
<p>Will we keep using steam? New technologies produce electricity without using steam at all. Solar panels rely on incoming photons hitting electrons in silicon and creating a charge, while wind turbines operate like steam turbines except with wind blowing the turbine, not steam. Some forms of energy storage, such as pumped hydro, use turbines but for liquid water, not steam, while batteries use no steam at all. </p>
<p>These technologies are rapidly becoming important sources of energy and storage. But steam isn’t going away. If we use thermal power plants, we’ll likely still be using steam. </p>
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<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/582429/original/file-20240318-28-uxd635.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="steam turbine in power plant" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/582429/original/file-20240318-28-uxd635.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/582429/original/file-20240318-28-uxd635.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=399&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582429/original/file-20240318-28-uxd635.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=399&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582429/original/file-20240318-28-uxd635.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=399&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582429/original/file-20240318-28-uxd635.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=501&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582429/original/file-20240318-28-uxd635.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=501&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582429/original/file-20240318-28-uxd635.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=501&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
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<span class="caption">Thermal power plants rely on giant steam turbines.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/industry-installations-power-turbines-49207051">rtem/Shutterstock</a></span>
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<h2>Why can’t we just convert heat to electricity?</h2>
<p>You might wonder why we need so many steps. Why can’t we convert heat directly to electricity? </p>
<p>It is possible. Thermo-electric devices are already in use in satellites and space probes. </p>
<p>Built from special alloys such as lead-tellurium, these devices rely on a temperature gap between hot and cold junctions between these materials. The greater the temperature difference, the greater voltage they can generate. </p>
<p>The reason these devices aren’t everywhere is they only produce direct current (DC) at low voltages and are between 16–22% efficient at converting heat to electricity. By contrast, state of the art thermal power plants are up to 46% efficient. </p>
<p>If we wanted to run a society on these heat-conversion engines, we’d need large arrays of these devices to produce high enough DC current and then use inverters and transformers to convert it to the alternating current we’re used to. So while you might avoid steam, you end up having to add new conversions to make the electricity useful.</p>
<p>There are other ways to turn heat into electricity. High temperature solid-oxide fuel cells have been under development <a href="https://www.energy.gov/fecm/solid-oxide-fuel-cells">for decades</a>. These run hot, at between 500–1,000°C, and can burn hydrogen or methanol (without an actual flame) to produce DC electricity. </p>
<p>These fuel cells are up to 60% efficient and potentially even higher. While promising, these fuel cells are not yet ready for prime time. They have expensive catalysts and short lifespans due to the intense heat. But progress is <a href="https://www.greencarcongress.com/2023/07/20230713-bosch.html">being made</a>. </p>
<p>Until technologies like these mature, we’re stuck with steam as a way to convert heat to electricity. That’s not so bad – steam works. </p>
<p>When you see a steam locomotive rattle past, you might think it’s a quaint technology of the past. But our civilisation still relies very heavily on steam. If fusion power arrives, steam will help power the future too. The Steam Age never really ended. </p>
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<a href="https://theconversation.com/what-will-power-the-future-elon-musks-battery-packs-or-twiggy-forrests-green-hydrogen-truth-is-well-need-both-191333">What will power the future: Elon Musk's battery packs or Twiggy Forrest's green hydrogen? Truth is, we'll need both</a>
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<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/217273/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Andreas Helwig receives funding from Federal Government Department of Education SURF and RRC research grants. </span></em></p>In the 19th century, the world ran on steam. In the 21st century, little has changed. Every thermal power plant still relies on steam as a final stage.Andreas Helwig, Associate Professor, Electro-Mechanical Engineering, University of Southern QueenslandLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2258862024-03-18T01:38:57Z2024-03-18T01:38:57ZVictims need to be protected – regardless of whether they are testifying in family court or criminal court<p>Victims who experience family violence in Aotearoa New Zealand are treated differently, depending on which part of the justice system they turn to for help. But a <a href="https://www.legislation.govt.nz/bill/member/2024/0030/latest/whole.htm">new member’s bill</a> before parliament could change all that. </p>
<p>Currently, our law guarantees special protections for victims in the criminal justice system but not those in the Family Court.</p>
<p>Victims who testify in criminal proceedings are entitled to give evidence by alternate means, typically some combination of prerecording their evidence and testifying remotely. </p>
<p>While the Family Court can apply these protections to victims who testify in child protection or family law cases, they are not required to do so. In practice, it’s rare to allow victims to testify via these alternate means in Family Court proceedings.</p>
<p>This means people who have experienced family and sexual violence may be required to testify in person in the Family Court. Victims are often face-to-face and with little physical distancing between themselves and their alleged perpetrators.</p>
<h2>Extending protections</h2>
<p>Labour MP Tracey McLellan recently introduced the <a href="https://www.legislation.govt.nz/bill/member/2024/0030/latest/whole.html">Evidence (Giving Evidence of Family Violence) Amendment Bill</a> to extend some of the special protections in criminal proceedings involving family and sexual violence to Family Court proceedings. </p>
<p>This is an important first step to implementing the “no wrong door” principle outlined in the Ministry of Justice’s <a href="https://www.justice.govt.nz/justice-sector-policy/key-initiatives/addressing-family-violence-and-sexual-violence/work-programme/risk-assessment-management-framework/">Family Violence and Risk Assessment Management Framework</a>. The principle is victims should receive a consistent and safe response regardless of which door they knock on for help.</p>
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<a href="https://theconversation.com/taking-the-treaty-out-of-child-protection-law-risks-making-nz-a-global-outlier-225443">Taking the Treaty out of child protection law risks making NZ a global outlier</a>
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<p>If anything, protection for victims is more important in the Family Court than in the criminal courts. This is because family proceedings are private, civil proceedings that the parties initiate and prosecute themselves.</p>
<p>Victims in the criminal courts have police, prosecutors, and support workers from Victim Support to assist them. But victims in the Family Court are often left alone to navigate a complex, hostile system.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, some perpetrators initiate or prolong these proceedings as a form of “<a href="https://www.victimsupport.org.nz/news-stories/time-to-de-weaponise-the-courts-fighting-back-on-litigation-abuse">systems abuse</a>” – weaponising the judicial system to prevent their victims from escaping their control and abuse. This approach inflicts additional harm on victims.</p>
<h2>More support is needed</h2>
<p>The member’s bill is a good step towards improving the system. But more needs to be done to improve the process for victims of violence or abuse.</p>
<p>This includes requiring police to seek protection orders on behalf of victims. In criminal cases, police can seek non-contact restrictions so victims don’t have to pay legal fees to do so for themselves.</p>
<p>In <a href="https://plymouthda.com/the-office/divisions-units/family-protection-division/domestic-violence-unit/abuse-prevention-law-209a/">Massachusetts</a> in the United States, a victim witness advocate from the prosecutor’s office helps victims complete the paperwork for protection orders and offers them the option of filing criminal charges against their abusers, and a court advocate helps them through the proceedings.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, in <a href="https://www.legislation.tas.gov.au/view/html/inforce/current/act-2004-067#HP3@EN">Tasmania</a>, the police can issue final family violence orders on the spot without requiring victims to undergo lengthy and burdensome court processes.</p>
<p>In Aotearoa New Zealand several improvements could be made to make the system less dangerous for victims. </p>
<p>This includes providing victims with free legal representatives (the equivalent of prosecutors) in child custody cases involving family violence or protection order cases. This would mean victims don’t have to spend their life savings (or get into debt) trying to get protection. </p>
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Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/why-its-so-hard-to-prosecute-cases-of-coercive-or-controlling-behaviour-66108">Why it's so hard to prosecute cases of coercive or controlling behaviour</a>
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<p>The Family Court could also be staffed with forensic investigators (the equivalent of police) to investigate claims of abuse and gather supporting evidence so that victims don’t have to struggle to do this themselves.</p>
<p>Children who have experienced family violence could also be given the right to participate safely and directly in proceedings that affect them – as they do when they are complainants in criminal proceedings.</p>
<p>The <a href="https://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2002/0039/latest/DLM157813.html">Victims’ Rights Act</a> and the services of Victim Support could be extended to include child-protection and family law proceedings. Victims would then receive the same support and practical assistance in the Family Court they currently receive in criminal proceedings. </p>
<p>Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) coverage could also be extended for sexual abuse and assault to cover all family violence reports and not just criminal assaults.</p>
<p>Family violence isn’t a family matter. It’s a public health problem and a human rights violation. </p>
<p>When a family violence perpetrator inflicts abuse on other members of their family, we have an obligation as a society to protect their victims from further abuse and help them heal from past trauma. </p>
<p>We must keep working to improve the process for victims who have taken the brave first step of seeking help and find themselves in the Family Court.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/225886/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Carrie Leonetti is a member of the Coalition for the Safety of Women and Children. </span></em></p>Victims in the family court system are often forced to come face-to-face with their alleged attackers when giving evidence. A new bill aims to afford these victims more protection when testifying.Carrie Leonetti, Associate Professor of Law, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata RauLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2259992024-03-18T01:30:49Z2024-03-18T01:30:49ZThe West can’t ‘solve’ its Russia problem. Here’s how it should handle 6 more years of Vladimir Putin<p>In perhaps the least surprising news of the year, Vladimir Putin has <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-03-18/vladimir-putin-wins-russian-election-with-88pc-of-vote/103599008">triumphed</a> at the Russian ballot box and been enthroned for the fifth time as president. He will serve for six more years. </p>
<p>He will be 77 years old in 2030. According to the constitution, which he re-wrote to his benefit in 2020, he then could stand again for a further six-year term.</p>
<p>To put that in perspective, Putin already has ruled Russia as president or prime minister for 24 years, or the equivalent of eight Australian parliamentary terms. In that period, Australia has had eight prime ministers and changed governing party three times. The United States has had five different presidents; the United Kingdom seven different prime ministers. </p>
<p>In contrast to elections in the West, where the outcomes are genuinely in the hands of the voters and adjudicated by independent electoral commissions, Russia is different. As the former UK ambassador to Moscow, Laurie Bristow, <a href="https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/world/europe/ukraine/63275/the-fear-from-within">wrote</a>: </p>
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<p>In Russia, the purpose of elections is to validate the decisions of its rulers, not to discover the will of the people.</p>
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<h2>Putin’s jaded view of the West</h2>
<p>Putin now will appoint a new government. His picks will be intensely scrutinised for clues to a succession plan and future policies. Although he is a master of surprise, we should not count on Putin leaving any time soon. Only four leaders of modern Russia and the USSR have left the top job alive; the rest have died in office of natural or other causes.</p>
<p>Moreover, Putin’s actions over the past two years have been directed at moving Russia from authoritarianism to semi-totalitarianism. The Carnegie Endowment’s Andrei Kolesnikov has <a href="https://carnegieendowment.org/politika/91955?utm_source=carnegieemail&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=announcement&mkt_tok=ODEzLVhZVS00MjIAAAGR4apcAHO5jccv8lB9ZHWg61lChZMHSIeEo-OKlrgfhkwC-iDRpIgkqaAeA7wrrAOonYpxL4TsRrimNthGDvajKsVNS4O4BYhnV_sVykmGqAO2">written persuasively</a> of these tectonic shifts that recall the darkest years of Soviet Stalinism.</p>
<p>Putin has explicitly presented his war of choice in Ukraine as a proxy for a wider, long-term conflict with the West. He believes the West is irresolute, in decline, and easily distracted and deflected. </p>
<p>Former US President Donald Trump’s “have at them” attitude towards US allies and partners, and the woeful Western vacillation over further military aid to Ukraine, will only embolden Putin further. Buoyed by his ritual success in this weekend’s election, he will embark on further risky and provocative adventurism.</p>
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Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/what-can-we-expect-from-six-more-years-of-vladimir-putin-an-increasingly-weak-and-dysfunctional-russia-224259">What can we expect from six more years of Vladimir Putin? An increasingly weak and dysfunctional Russia</a>
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<p>Consequently, Putin – and the ideology of “<a href="https://www.csis.org/analysis/ideology-putinism-it-sustainable">Putinism</a>” – pose a serious challenge for Western governments and policymakers who are genuinely accountable to their electorates, the party room, the parliamentary opposition, a vocal and inquisitorial media and an independent judiciary.</p>
<p>As exiled Russian journalist Mikhail Zygar has argued, part of Putin’s statecraft is directed at making <a href="https://www.foreignaffairs.com/united-states/russias-war-woke">common cause</a> with ultra-conservative Western political elements to contest global “wokeness”, demobilise support for Ukraine, and dull resistance to Russian territorial ambitions in its neighbourhood.</p>
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<h2>How democratic governments need to respond</h2>
<p>Putin is well aware that the inherent fractiousness of democracy and the need to court the fickle voters hobbles democratic governments’ long-term planning. </p>
<p>Moreover, our political culture is predisposed to wanting to “solve” issues. Sometimes, though, problems of the scale posed by Russia or the Middle East can only be managed, not solved – and then only through joint efforts with like-minded allies and partners. That requires persistence and resilience to rise above short-term politicking and the twitches of our “instant expert” social media culture.</p>
<p>It also demands constant investment in building and sustaining public understanding of what really is at stake, beyond the borders of Europe that were drawn in the bloodshed and misery of the second world war. </p>
<p>This is difficult anywhere, not least in the West, where we have had it comparatively easy for most of the post-second world war era. We need stalwart and principled leadership now more than at any other point in the last 50 years. Most of all, we need ongoing serious and informed public conversations about what we value in and wish for in democratic societies, and the price we are willing to pay to attain and preserve that. </p>
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Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/why-the-us-and-its-partners-cannot-afford-to-go-soft-on-support-for-ukraine-now-217538">Why the US and its partners cannot afford to go soft on support for Ukraine now</a>
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<p>That sort of discourse can be hard to generate in our politically rather apathetic society. However, it is vital when the institutions of our democracy are barraged by foreign information manipulation and interference designed to sow doubt and distrust and corrode popular faith in the integrity of our form of government.</p>
<p>Especially in Australia, we have allowed our already limited pool of Russia expertise to atrophy to near-extinction. It is well past time to re-invest, modestly but purposefully, in Russian language and associated studies at our universities. We need to boost “Russia literacy” and comprehension of a country that will remain a significant and disruptive player in the world. This matters to countries that matter to us.</p>
<p>We should also honestly and critically assess the mistaken assumptions and indifference that at times have undermined effective Western policies towards post-Soviet Russia. However, we should not succumb to the propaganda peddled by Putin and his proteges abroad that Moscow is a blameless victim of Western perfidy and deception aimed at destroying the Russian state. </p>
<p>Rather, as Australian professor Mark Edele writes in his recent book, <a href="https://www.mup.com.au/books/russias-war-against-ukraine-paperback-softback">Russia’s War Against Ukraine</a>: </p>
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<p>Russia never came to terms – either as a society or as a polity – with its transformation from a continental empire with global reach into a nation-state and a regional power.</p>
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<p>The Kremlin is marketing Russia as an <a href="https://ecfr.eu/publication/from-russia-with-love-how-moscow-courts-the-global-south/">ally of “the Global South”</a> in resisting resurgent neo-colonialism and championing “multipolarity”. </p>
<p>The Putin thesis is that Ukraine is a patsy of London and Washington, while Moscow is on the side of the formerly colonised. That argument is finding some ready ears, evident in the patchy support for sanctions on Russia. We cannot assume our own Indo-Pacific region is persuaded of the wrongness of the Kremlin’s claims.</p>
<p>The reality confronting us is that of a sullen and resentful Russia, convinced that history, morality and even divinity is on its side in a de facto existential war with the West. </p>
<p>Moreover, as Bristow, my former colleague in Moscow, has <a href="https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/world/europe/ukraine/63275/the-fear-from-within">written</a>: </p>
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<p>we would be unwise to assume that a rising generation of Russians will embrace a more democratic and pro-Western outlook. </p>
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<p>Yet, we must not turn away from those Russians – far from an irrelevant minority – who do not share Putin’s view that the future of their country lies in the perceived glories of its past. The challenge is to articulate what a better future would look like for Russia, beyond confrontation, and to keep that alternative clearly in view.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/225999/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Peter Tesch is the former Australian ambassador to the Russian Federation (2016–19).</span></em></p>Western governments must honestly assess the mistaken assumptions that have undermined effective policies in the past and articulate what a better future would look like for the Russian people.Peter Tesch, Visiting Fellow at the ANU Centre for European Studies, Australian National UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2257892024-03-18T00:27:02Z2024-03-18T00:27:02ZHow safe are Australia’s mines? New analysis shows reform has been stalled for a decade<p>On Sunday August 7 1994, an <a href="https://www.publications.qld.gov.au/dataset/moura-mining-disaster-inquiry-reports/resource/a8e96409-52a3-4075-b4a6-b1224ecc8e63">explosion at the Moura No 2 underground coal mine</a> in Queensland led to the deaths of 11 miners. This tragedy was the catalyst for a major shakeup in the approach to safety in all kinds of mines around Australia over the late 1990s and early 2000s.</p>
<p>Since that time, we have seen <a href="https://data.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/interactive-data/industry/mining">major improvements in safety performance</a>. In 2003, there were 12.4 fatalities per 100,000 workers; a decade later the figure was down to 3.4.</p>
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<p>However, since then progress has slowed if not stalled. Despite the industry’s adoption of risk management systems, competency training, and a shift away from prescriptive regulation in the years following Moura, the rate of deaths and serious injuries has barely changed over the past decade.</p>
<p>Given the huge size and variety of Australia’s mining industry, and the inherent dangers of the work, we may never reach a time when there are no deaths. But zero fatalities must still be the goal.</p>
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<h2>A rise in ‘one-off’ incidents</h2>
<p>In the past, most deaths were due to what are called “principal hazards”. These are major incidents such as fires, explosions and mine flooding that can kill or injure many people. </p>
<p>Most safety work has, for good reason, focused on these hazards, and by my count they are today involved in fewer than 20% of deaths. What this means is that today’s tragedy landscape is more diffuse, with fatalities scattered across a range of different scenarios.</p>
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<p>Now, most deaths are the result of “one-off” events such as being struck by objects, caught in machinery, falling from heights, or vehicle collisions. Addressing all these possibilities is more complex.</p>
<h2>Mental health, fatigue, staff turnover</h2>
<p>Human factors also loom large. Despite a huge increase in mine automation and remote operation technologies that reduce workers’ exposure to hazards, there are indications of <a href="https://www.ecu.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0015/1060080/Michael-Quinlan-Presentation.pdf">worsening mental health</a>, rising fatigue and <a href="https://www.aigroup.com.au/news/reports/2023-economics/factsheet-labour-turnover-in-2023/">high staff turnover</a>, which can erode corporate knowledge.</p>
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<a href="https://theconversation.com/mine-workers-and-their-families-suffer-the-toll-of-shift-work-10897">Mine workers and their families suffer the toll of shift work</a>
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<p>Psychological and social problems such as these affect an <a href="https://minerals.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/MCA_Mental_Health_Blueprint.pdf">estimated 20%</a> of the modern mining workforce. Although there are fewer workers on site, they are often under huge production pressures and the rosters can be very tough on family life. </p>
<p>Poor mental health can compromise decision-making and reduce vigilance, leading to safety problems.</p>
<h2>Slow, steady improvement</h2>
<p>There are some promising developments. The “<a href="https://www.icmm.com/en-gb/guidance/health-safety/2015/ccm-good-practice-guide">critical control management</a>” approach already adopted by <a href="https://www.riotinto.com/en/invest/reports/sustainability-report">Rio Tinto</a> and <a href="https://s24.q4cdn.com/382246808/files/doc_financials/2022/ar/%E2%80%8CNewmont-2022-Annual-Report.pdf">Newmont</a>, among others, has been highly effective. This is a method that identifies a relatively small number of vital controls that can prevent serious incidents, and directs resources towards rigorously designing, implementing and maintaining them.</p>
<p>We are also likely to see future safety gains from <a href="https://www.acarp.com.au/abstracts.aspx?repId=C29001">better equipment design</a>, further advances in automation and remote operation, and mental health initiatives, such as Western Australia’s <a href="https://www.wa.gov.au/organisation/department-of-energy-mines-industry-regulation-and-safety/mental-awareness-respect-and-safety-mars-program">Mental Awareness, Respect and Safety</a> program.</p>
<p>But in an industry that has still averaged <a href="https://data.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/interactive-data/industry/mining">eight fatalities per year</a> over the past decade, more safety reform is overdue. While new technologies and initiatives may be helpful, none will be a “silver bullet”.</p>
<p>Queensland alone has staged three “<a href="https://www.rshq.qld.gov.au/about-us/resources/safety-reset">safety resets</a>” in the past five years, with little result. Real safety improvement will be slow and steady, and will come from diligently and consistently applying proven safety management techniques.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/225789/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>David Cliff has received funding from many different sources including various major mining companies and government regulatory agencies such as Resources Safety And Health Queensland, research funding from various independent and industry funded agencies such as the Australian Coal Association Research Program. He is a member of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, the Mine Managers Association of Australia and various professional bodies such as the Australian Institute of Occupational Health and Safety, and the Royal Australian Chemical Institute.</span></em></p>Mining’s high-tech transformation has dramatically increased safety – but there is plenty more work to be done.David Cliff, Professor of Occupational Health and Safety in Mining, The University of QueenslandLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2257732024-03-17T19:02:01Z2024-03-17T19:02:01ZStamp duty is holding us back from moving homes – we’ve worked out how much<p><em>This article is part of The Conversation’s series examining the housing crisis. Read the other articles in the series <a href="https://theconversation.com/au/topics/housing-series-2024-153769">here</a>.</em></p>
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<p>If just one state of Australia, New South Wales, scrapped its stamp duty on real-estate transactions, about 100,000 more Australians would move homes each year, according to our <a href="https://e61.in/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Stamp-duty-effects-on-purchases-and-moves.pdf">best estimates</a>.</p>
<p>Stamp duty is an unquestioned part of buying a home in Australia – you put your details in an online mortgage calculator, and stamp duty is automatically deducted from the amount you have to contribute.</p>
<p>It’s easy to overlook how much more affordable a home would be without it. </p>
<p>That means it’s also easy to overlook how much more Australians would buy and move if stamp duty wasn’t there.</p>
<p>The 2010 Henry Tax Review found stamp duty was <a href="https://treasury.gov.au/sites/default/files/2019-10/afts_final_report_part_2_vol_1_consolidated.pdf">inequitable</a>. It taxes most the people who most need to or want to move.</p>
<p>The review reported:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Ideally, there would be no role for any stamp duties, including conveyancing stamp duties, in a modern Australian tax system. Recognising the revenue needs of the States, the removal of stamp duty should be achieved through a switch to more efficient taxes, such as those levied on broad consumption or land bases. </p>
</blockquote>
<p>But does stamp duty actually stop anyone moving? It’s a claim more often made than assessed, which is what our team at the <a href="https://e61.in/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Stamp-duty-effects-on-purchases-and-moves.pdf">e61 Institute</a> set out to do.</p>
<p>We used real-estate transaction data and a natural experiment. </p>
<h2>What happened when Queensland hiked stamp duty</h2>
<p>In 2011, Queensland hiked stamp duty for most buyers by removing some concessions for owner-occupiers at short notice. </p>
<p>For owner-occupiers it increased stamp duty by about one percentage point, lifting the average rate from 1.26% of the purchase price to 2.27%.</p>
<p>What we found gives us the best estimate to date of what stamp duty does to home purchases.</p>
<p>A one percentage point increase in stamp duty causes the number of home purchases to decline by 7.2%. </p>
<p>The number of moves (changes of address) falls by about as much.</p>
<p>The effect appears to be indiscriminate. Purchases of houses fell about as much as purchases of apartments, and purchases in cities fell about as much as purchases in regions.</p>
<p>Moves between suburbs and moves interstate dropped by similar rates.</p>
<p>With NSW stamp duty currently averaging about <a href="https://conveyancing.com.au/need-to-know/stamp-duty-nsw">3.5%</a> of the purchase price, our estimates suggest there would be about 25% more purchases and moves by home owners if it were scrapped completely. That’s 100,000 moves.</p>
<p>Victoria’s higher rate of stamp duty, about <a href="https://www.sro.vic.gov.au/rates-taxes-duties-and-levies/general-land-transfer-duty-property-current-rates">4.2%</a>, means if it was scrapped there would be about 30% more purchases. That’s another 90,000 moves.</p>
<h2>Even low headline rates have big effects</h2>
<p>The big effect from small-looking headline rates ought not to be surprising.</p>
<p>When someone buys a home, they typically front up much less cash than the purchase price. While stamp duty seems low as a percentage of the purchase price, it is high as a percentage of the cash the buyer needs to find.</p>
<p>Here’s an example. If stamp duty is 4% of the purchase price, and a purchaser pays $800,000 for a property with a mortgage deposit of $160,000, the $32,000 stamp duty adds 20%, not 4%, to what’s needed. </p>
<p>If the deposit takes five years to save, stamp duty makes it six.</p>
<p>A similar thing happens when an owner-occupier changes address. If the buyer sells a fully owned home for $700,000 and buys a new home for $800,000, the upgrade ought to cost them $100,000. A 4% stamp duty lifts that to $132,000.</p>
<p>Averaged across all Australian cities, stamp duty costs about <a href="https://e61.in/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Stepped-on-by-Stamp-Duty.pdf">five months</a> of after-tax earnings. In Sydney and Melbourne, it’s six.</p>
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<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/stamp-duty-isnt-going-anywhere-until-we-agree-on-what-will-replace-it-197398">Stamp duty isn’t going anywhere until we agree on what will replace it</a>
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<h2>Stamp duty has bracket creep</h2>
<p>This cost has steadily climbed from around <a href="https://e61.in/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Stepped-on-by-Stamp-Duty.pdf">six weeks</a> of total earnings in the 1990s. It has happened because home prices have climbed faster than incomes and because stamp duty has brackets, meaning more buyers have been pushed into higher ones.</p>
<p>Replacing the stamp duty revenue that states have come to rely on would not be easy, but a switch would almost certainly help the economy function better.</p>
<p>The more that people are able to move, the more they will move to jobs to which they are better suited, boosting productivity. </p>
<p>The more that people downsize when they want to, the more housing will be made available for others. </p>
<p>Our findings suggest the costs are far from trivial, making a switch away from stamp duty worthwhile, even if it is disruptive and takes time.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/225773/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Nick Garvin is affiliated with e61 Institute. </span></em></p>New estimates suggest that if just one state, New South Wales, scrapped its stamp duty, an extra 100,000 Australians would move homes each year.Nick Garvin, Adjunct Fellow, Department of Economics, Macquarie UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2203272024-03-17T19:01:55Z2024-03-17T19:01:55ZOutrage is a key performance indicator for Peter Dutton, the ‘bad cop’ of politics. But what does he value?<p>Lech Blaine and Peter Dutton are both from Queensland, where the political culture is tough and masculine and politics south of the border always good for a spot of confected outrage. </p>
<p>So Blaine, author of <a href="https://www.quarterlyessay.com.au/essay/2021/09/top-blokes">Quarterly Essay 83: Top Blokes: The Larrikin Myth, Class and Power</a>, is a good choice to try to make some sense of the federal Liberal Party’s current leader. </p>
<p>Who is Peter Dutton? What drives him? Why did he choose politics? What does power mean to him? And what does he hope to achieve if he wins government? </p>
<hr>
<p><em>Bad Cop: Peter Dutton’s Strongman Politics: Quarterly Essay – Lech Blaine (Black Inc.)</em></p>
<hr>
<p><a href="https://www.blackincbooks.com.au/books/bad-cop">Bad Cop</a>, Blaine’s second Quarterly Essay, mixes straightforward narration of events in Dutton’s life with perceptive interpretation and one-liners like: “Politics would enable Dutton to be the bad cop without fear of physical injury.” </p>
<p>Dutton’s first job was as a policeman, which exposed him to the worst of human behaviour. He took from this experience a suspicion of the legal system’s presumption of innocence and its strict rules of evidence, disdain for those who try to understand human criminality and transgression, and no compassion at all for the criminal and depraved. </p>
<p>When <a href="https://iview.abc.net.au/show/kitchen-cabinet/series/7/video/FA2211H002S00">on Kitchen Cabinet</a>, Annabel Crabb put to him his wife Kirrilly’s description of him as black and white, without shades of grey, he agreed. </p>
<p>But, as Blaine shows, we know much more about the black in Dutton’s world than the white: <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/jan/03/peter-dutton-says-victorians-scared-to-go-out-because-of-african-gang-violence">African gangs</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/fake-refugees-dutton-adopts-an-alternative-fact-to-justify-our-latest-human-rights-violation-78175">illegal immigrants</a>, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2020/feb/25/kristina-keneally-calls-for-bettina-arndt-to-be-stripped-of-australia-day-honour-politics-live">Islamic terrorists</a>, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/nov/22/peter-dutton-lebanese-muslim-comments-dismay-security-services-labor">Lebanese criminals</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/no-peter-dutton-most-deported-kiwis-arent-paedophiles-and-youre-hurting-our-relationship-with-nz-120655">paedophiles</a>, <a href="https://nit.com.au/19-10-2023/8231/this-is-not-what-first-nations-people-want-coalition-of-groups-attack-peter-duttons-call-for-a-royal-commission">Indigenous sexual abusers</a>, <a href="https://www.theage.com.au/national/one-in-five-a-dole-cheat-minister-20050305-gdzq37.html">welfare cheats</a>. </p>
<p>It is a richly peopled world, compared with the bland suburbia and regional Australia he wants to protect, with much more energy expended on blaming and punishing than on praising. Compared with John Howard, with whom he shares aspects of political style, we know little about Dutton’s heroes and what he values about Australia. </p>
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<iframe width="440" height="260" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/bdPM6nKuMJU?wmode=transparent&start=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>
<figcaption><span class="caption">We know little about what Peter Dutton values about Australia.</span></figcaption>
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<h2>In his interests to stoke fear</h2>
<p>Dutton is a boundary rider. As a politician whose main offering is the promise of safety, it is in his interests to stoke fear. </p>
<p>He thrives on conflict and when he is not fighting the criminals and depraved, he is fighting those who are not as alert as he is to danger: human rights advocates, inner-city elites, bleeding hearts, the welfare lobby, the Greens, and of course his arch enemy in our two-party Westminster system, the Labor Party. </p>
<p>Mostly, it seems what he wants is a reaction. For Dutton, says Blaine, outrage from Labor, the Greens and on Twitter is a key performance indicator. Hence his political strategy of abandoning the inner city to Labor, the Greens and the Teals – and winning government from the outer suburbs and the regions. </p>
<p>The big question facing Dutton’s political future and his electoral strategy is whether Australia is quite as fearful and homogeneous as he imagines, or whether, as Blaine argues, he is forever riding a time machine to 2001.</p>
<p>Dutton resigned from the police after he crashed his car during a chase. He shifted into property developing with his father, and then into politics. In 2001, John Howard’s Tampa election, Dutton won the seat of Dickson, which he still holds. </p>
<p>It was, says Blaine, a fateful moment for an ex-policeman with authoritarian tendencies to embark on a political career. But compared with Howard, we have little sense of what else, besides safety and not being Labor, Dutton is offering. </p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/how-the-liberals-lost-the-moral-middle-class-and-now-the-teal-independents-may-well-cash-in-182293">How the Liberals lost the 'moral middle class' - and now the teal independents may well cash in</a>
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<h2>Style over substance</h2>
<p>Howard had enduring policy interests – in economic policy and industrial relations. Does Dutton have any policy interests, besides law and order? He was not even especially competent in his <a href="https://theconversation.com/peter-dutton-becomes-national-security-ministerial-tsar-in-portfolio-shake-up-81186">supersized ministry of Home Affairs</a>, where his obsession with keeping out asylum seekers at any cost distracted him from the border incursions of organised crime and the systemic rorting of the immigration system, together with problems with the award of contracts. </p>
<p>As Minister for Home Affairs, concludes Blaine, “His bad cop act was a triumph of style over substance.” His championing of nuclear power to reduce Australia’s emissions, despite all the <a href="https://www.climatecouncil.org.au/nuclear-power-stations-are-not-appropriate-for-australia-and-probably-never-will-be/">expert evidence</a> it is much more expensive than renewables and will take too long, shows that opposing Labor rather than solving problems is his primary motivation.</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/dutton-wants-a-mature-debate-about-nuclear-power-by-the-time-weve-had-one-new-plants-will-be-too-late-to-replace-coal-224513">Dutton wants a 'mature debate' about nuclear power. By the time we've had one, new plants will be too late to replace coal</a>
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<figure class="align-right zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/581217/original/file-20240312-20-cpokru.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/581217/original/file-20240312-20-cpokru.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/581217/original/file-20240312-20-cpokru.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=737&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581217/original/file-20240312-20-cpokru.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=737&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581217/original/file-20240312-20-cpokru.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=737&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581217/original/file-20240312-20-cpokru.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=926&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581217/original/file-20240312-20-cpokru.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=926&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581217/original/file-20240312-20-cpokru.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=926&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
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<span class="caption">Lech Blaine gives ‘a compelling account of Dutton the strong man’.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Black Inc.</span></span>
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<p>Blaine gives a compelling account of Dutton the strong man, but he also claims that if you watch him for a long time, you see a man who is small and scared. The <a href="https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/P/bo27832683.html">pioneering political psychologist Harold Lasswell says</a> politicians like Dutton, preoccupied with the management of aggression and with provoking reaction, are driven by low self-esteem and a compulsive need for deference. </p>
<p>This fits Blaine’s observation, but I needed more on this side of the man. What is he scared of and why? Of being ignored and irrelevant? Of inner demons that need to be kept under lock and key? Of a world that is changing? All of the above? </p>
<p>Writing about the moving target of a politician seeking power is a tough gig. Some learn as they go, some don’t. It’s too early yet to tell is Dutton is a learner or not – but Blaine has told us what to watch out for.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/220327/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Judith Brett does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>In his second Quarterly Essay, Lech Blaine tries to make sense of former Queensland policeman Peter Dutton. Who is he? What drives him? And what does he hope to achieve if he wins government?Judith Brett, Emeritus Professor of Politics, La Trobe UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2248682024-03-17T19:01:41Z2024-03-17T19:01:41ZNarendra Modi’s economy isn’t booming for India’s unemployed youth. So, why is his party favoured to win another election?<p>India will soon hold the <a href="https://carnegieendowment.org/publications/interactive/india-elects-2024">biggest election ever conducted</a>, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/mar/16/india-to-hold-worlds-biggest-election-in-seven-stages-from-april#:%7E:text=Voting%20will%20be%20staggered%20over,announced%20on%20the%20same%20day.">starting</a> on April 19 and running through early June. Almost 950 million registered voters will be able to cast ballots to elect the 543 members of the Lok Sabha, the lower house of parliament.</p>
<p>The result is not a foregone conclusion, but <a href="https://eastasiaforum.org/2024/01/21/indias-2024-elections-may-bring-a-new-political-epoch/">most analysts expect</a> Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to win another five years in office. After a decade in power, the <a href="https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/mood-of-the-nation-2024-lok-sabha-elections-pm-modi-nda-win-likely-india-alliance-congress-important-issues-2499457-2024-02-08">opinion polls suggest</a> Modi is still well regarded by many Indians and the main opposition parties do not command wide support.</p>
<h2>Slow growth, too few jobs</h2>
<p>This situation might strike some as odd. The Modi government’s record is mixed – especially in managing the economy – and has <a href="https://thewire.in/economy/survey-finds-deep-economic-discontent-job-pessimism-52-say-modis-policies-favour-big-business">disappointed many voters</a>. </p>
<p>To be sure, as the <a href="https://www.business-standard.com/india-news/global-buzz-around-high-growth-rate-of-indian-economy-says-pm-modi-124030400884_1.html">prime minister frequently reminds voters</a>, India has grown faster than many competitors in recent years. But the BJP came to office ten years ago promising <a href="https://theasanforum.org/indias-new-leadership-and-east-asia-1/">double-digit growth rates</a> and it has <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/8299d318-7c35-49a0-9a9a-b8e5abeba7be">never achieved that goal</a>. </p>
<p>Worse still, it has <a href="https://eastasiaforum.org/2023/04/10/indias-workforce-woes/">struggled to generate jobs</a> for the millions of young people who need them. </p>
<p>Critics point to errors in BJP economic policy they think have stifled growth and job creation. These include:</p>
<ul>
<li><p>the shock inflicted in 2016 by the <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-41100610">sudden withdrawal</a> of 85% of India’s paper money, ostensibly to combat corruption</p></li>
<li><p>the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-india-new-delhi-narendra-modi-2bfb76c9d3c0246896425461166078b5">bungled introduction</a> of much-needed reforms to the agricultural sector </p></li>
<li><p>and the ongoing protection of India’s <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/518e516a-df00-47fd-b7b3-183599c47485">big industrial conglomerates</a> from domestic and foreign competition.</p></li>
</ul>
<p>Taken together, <a href="https://www.wsj.com/world/india/india-wanted-a-manufacturing-boom-its-workers-are-back-on-the-farm-instead-e94bb940#">critics charge</a>, these mistakes have left too many people in precarious work and held back investment in manufacturing, which could offer more people more jobs.</p>
<h2>Shoring up a Hindu nationalist base</h2>
<p>Why, then, do so many Indians still support the Modi government? </p>
<p>Part of the answer lies in the BJP’s ability to appeal to multiple constituencies with targeted messages. </p>
<p>Ruling India effectively depends on constructing and maintaining coalitions – either coalitions of parties or coalitions of voters. Modi’s BJP does both. It is supported by <a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/nda-38-vs-opposition-26-full-lists-of-parties-attending-delhi-bengaluru-meets-101689667153538.html">several smaller parties</a> in parliament, but more important in terms of winning elections, is the <a href="https://carnegieendowment.org/2019/04/04/bjp-s-electoral-arithmetic-pub-78678">patchwork quilt of different groups of voters</a> it can marshal.</p>
<p>At the centre of this quilt sits a group of convinced Hindu nationalists, motivated by an ideology known as “<a href="https://theconversation.com/indias-prime-minister-modi-pursues-politics-of-hindu-nationalism-what-does-that-mean-117794">Hindutva</a>”. They argue that India’s society and government should reflect what they believe is the will of the Hindu majority, numbering about 80% of the population.</p>
<p>For decades, they have campaigned to end what they perceive as unreasonable special protections given to religious minorities, including for places of worship and faith-based divorce and child custody laws, as well as the <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/8/5/kashmir-special-status-explained-what-are-articles-370-and-35a">autonomous status</a> of the Muslim-majority state of Jammu and Kashmir.</p>
<p>Step by step, over the past decade, the Modi government has met many of these demands, locking in the Hindu nationalist base for the BJP. </p>
<p>In 2019, it <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-49234708">revoked the constitutional amendments</a> that limited New Delhi’s rights to determine how Kashmir is governed.</p>
<p>Earlier this year, the prime minister also presided over the opening ceremony of a <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-01-23/narendra-modi-opens-ayodhya-temple-on-site-of-babri-mosque/103374836">new Hindu temple</a> at Ayodhya, on the site of mosque demolished by Hindu nationalist activists in 1992. </p>
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Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/why-a-controversial-hindu-temple-in-india-could-prove-pivotal-to-narendra-modis-party-in-upcoming-elections-219811">Why a controversial Hindu temple in India could prove pivotal to Narendra Modi's party in upcoming elections</a>
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<p>Soon after, the government announced a <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/indias-citizenship-amendment-act-why-is-it-controversial/a-68514701">controversial new law</a> will come into effect that will allow Hindus, Sikhs and others fleeing neighbouring Muslim-majority countries to gain Indian citizenship, but may permit the deportation of Muslims deemed to be illegal immigrants.</p>
<p>And many believe a “<a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/india/what-is-indias-civil-code-why-does-it-anger-muslims-2024-02-07/">uniform civil code</a>” will be next, imposing common marriage, alimony and custody arrangements on all Indian citizens, regardless of religion.</p>
<h2>Courting women and urban, middle-class voters</h2>
<p>The Hindu nationalist core is powerful, but it is not large enough to give the BJP all the seats it needs to govern.</p>
<p>For that reason, the party has also tried to <a href="https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/blink/read/why-the-indian-middle-class-gravitates-towards-modi/article33269351.ece">win over the growing urban middle class</a>. This group is less interested in cultural issues and more concerned with good governance, as well as India’s standing in the world. </p>
<p>In the last two elections, the BJP won their support by promising to crack down on corruption, improve the country’s business environment, build better infrastructure and restore national pride. It is promising to <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/india/indias-modi-pledges-15-bln-spending-splurge-elections-near-2024-03-08/">push on with this program</a> so it can hold on to this bloc of voters, and it likely will, in the absence of convincing alternatives. </p>
<p>At the same time, the BJP will continue to seek the support of the rural poor and women, who might back left-wing parties or not vote at all. </p>
<p>To appeal to these groups in recent years, the Modi government has <a href="https://thewire.in/economy/modi-govts-fiscal-policy-on-welfare-trends-so-far-and-what-to-expect">doubled the funding</a> for a rural income guarantee scheme, and launched other programs, including one to provide midday meals to schoolchildren. </p>
<p>It has facilitated the opening of <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-28962762">bank accounts</a> for tens of millions, including women. This allows them – in principle, at least – to circumvent corrupt officials and feckless husbands when it comes to receiving welfare payments. </p>
<p>The government has also provided millions of rural homes with <a href="https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/modi-speech-bulid-toilets-women-girls-204195-2014-08-15">toilets</a> and <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/Modi-launches-LPG-scheme-for-poor-women/article14295554.ece">cooking gas bottles</a>, arguing both make women safer.</p>
<p>These measures have paid off so far, with more of the <a href="https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/India-election/For-clues-to-BJP-s-landslide-win-look-to-Modi-s-rural-support2">rural poor</a> and more <a href="https://www.indiatoday.in/elections/story/why-more-women-voted-bjp-2022-elections-analysis-1924821-2022-03-13">women</a> voting for the BJP in recent elections.</p>
<p>This time around, the party is looking to consolidate support among women, in particular. It has shepherded a new gender quota bill through parliament, which will <a href="https://carnegieendowment.org/2023/09/26/india-s-new-gender-quota-law-is-win-for-women-mostly-pub-90644">require</a> one third of Lok Sabha seats to be reserved for women from 2029, among other measures.</p>
<h2>A divided and weak opposition</h2>
<p>The Modi government’s success in winning over these groups is impressive, but it must be noted the BJP has <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/elections/lok-sabha-2019/analysis-highest-ever-national-vote-share-for-the-bjp/article27218550.ece">never gained more than 40%</a> of the popular vote in a national election. If it faced a united and effective opposition, it might struggle to win office.</p>
<p>Happily for the BJP, India’s opposition parties are divided and weak. If they could join forces and put their support behind a single, strong candidate to challenge the BJP in individual districts, they might win more seats. However, negotiations to do this have <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/elections/india/alliance-blues-for-india-in-several-states-2935890">proved tortuous</a>.</p>
<p>Worse still, the fragile opposition alliance has not yet named a <a href="https://www.businesstoday.in/india/story/lok-sabha-polls-2024-elections-not-beauty-contests-says-congress-on-india-alliances-pm-face-420882-2024-03-11">credible alternative candidate</a> for the prime ministership. </p>
<p>Congress Party leader Rahul Gandhi, the scion of the Nehru-Gandhi family that led India after independence, is an obvious choice, but is widely seen as an <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/india/rahul-gandhi-prince-indian-politics-who-lost-his-parliament-seat-2023-03-24/">ineffectual dilettante</a>. Successful regional politicians like West Bengal’s Mamata Banerjee have <a href="https://thewire.in/books/book-review-will-mamata-banerjee-be-a-serious-challenger-to-modi-in-2024">limited reach</a> beyond their own states. </p>
<p>Meanwhile, Modi’s <a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2023/08/29/indians-views-of-modi-and-other-national-leaders/#:%7E:text=Indian%20Prime%20Minister%20Narendra%20Modi,have%20a%20very%20favorable%20view.">personal popularity is high</a>. His modest background and personal charisma still appeal to the young and the aspirational, especially in <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-63884247">caste groups historically excluded</a> from power and wealth. </p>
<p>Defeating such a dominant figure will be hard, if not impossible.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/224868/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Ian Hall is affiliated with the Australia India Institute. </span></em></p>Modi’s party has struggled to generate jobs for young people, but is highly adept at marshalling votes to win elections.Ian Hall, Professor of International Relations, Griffith UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2255552024-03-17T19:01:36Z2024-03-17T19:01:36ZSomething felt ‘off’ – how AI messed with our human research, and what we learned<p>All levels of research are being changed by the rise of artificial intelligence (AI). Don’t have time to read that journal article? AI-powered tools such as <a href="https://www.tldrthis.com/">TLDRthis</a> will summarise it for you. </p>
<p>Struggling to find relevant sources for your review? <a href="https://inciteful.xyz/">Inciteful</a> will list suitable articles with just the click of a button. Are your human research participants too expensive or complicated to manage? Not a problem – try <a href="https://www.syntheticusers.com/">synthetic participants</a> instead. </p>
<p>Each of these tools suggests AI could be superior to humans in outlining and explaining concepts or ideas. But can humans be replaced when it comes to qualitative research?</p>
<p>This is something we recently had to grapple with while carrying out unrelated research into <a href="https://compass.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/spc3.12643">mobile dating during the COVID-19 pandemic</a>. And what we found should temper enthusiasm for artificial responses over the words of human participants.</p>
<p><div data-react-class="Tweet" data-react-props="{"tweetId":"1768426948638675367"}"></div></p>
<h2>Encountering AI in our research</h2>
<p>Our research is looking at how people might navigate mobile dating during the pandemic in Aotearoa New Zealand. Our aim was to explore broader social responses to mobile dating as the pandemic progressed and as public health mandates changed over time.</p>
<p>As part of this ongoing research, we prompt participants to develop stories in response to hypothetical scenarios. </p>
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<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/what-happens-when-we-outsource-boring-but-important-work-to-ai-research-shows-we-forget-how-to-do-it-ourselves-223981">What happens when we outsource boring but important work to AI? Research shows we forget how to do it ourselves</a>
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<p>In 2021 and 2022 we received a wide range of intriguing and quirky responses from 110 New Zealanders recruited through Facebook. Each participant received a gift voucher for their time.</p>
<p>Participants described characters navigating the challenges of “Zoom dates” and clashing over vaccination statuses or wearing masks. Others wrote passionate love stories with eyebrow-raising details. Some even broke the fourth wall and wrote directly to us, complaining about the mandatory word length of their stories or the quality of our prompts. </p>
<p>These responses captured the highs and lows of online dating, the boredom and loneliness of lockdown, and the thrills and despair of finding love during the time of COVID-19. </p>
<p>But, perhaps most of all, these responses reminded us of the idiosyncratic and irreverent aspects of human participation in research – the unexpected directions participants go in, or even the unsolicited feedback you can receive when doing research. </p>
<p>But in the latest round of our study in late 2023, something had clearly changed across the 60 stories we received.</p>
<p>This time many of the stories felt “off”. Word choices were quite stilted or overly formal. And each story was quite moralistic in terms of what one “should” do in a situation. </p>
<p>Using AI detection tools, such as ZeroGPT, we concluded participants – or even bots – were using AI to generate story answers for them, possibly to receive the gift voucher for minimal effort.</p>
<p>Contrary to claims that AI can sufficiently replicate human participants in research, we found AI-generated stories to be woeful. </p>
<p>We were reminded that an essential ingredient of any social research is for the data to be based on lived experience. </p>
<h2>Is AI the problem?</h2>
<p>Perhap the biggest threat to human research is not AI, but rather the philosophy that underscores it. </p>
<p>It is worth noting the majority of claims about AI’s capabilities to replace humans come from computer scientists or quantitative social scientists. In these types of studies, human reasoning or behaviour is often measured through scorecards or yes/no statements. </p>
<p>This approach necessarily fits human experience into a framework that can be more easily analysed through computational or artificial interpretation. </p>
<p>In contrast, we are qualitative researchers who are interested in the messy, emotional, lived experience of people’s perspectives on dating. We were drawn to the thrills and disappointments participants originally pointed to with online dating, the frustrations and challenges of trying to use dating apps, as well as the opportunities they might create for intimacy during a time of lockdowns and evolving health mandates. </p>
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<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/ai-is-in-danger-of-becoming-too-male-new-research-121229">AI is in danger of becoming too male – new research</a>
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</em>
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<p>In general, we found AI poorly simulated these experiences. </p>
<p>Some might accept generative AI is here to stay, or that AI should be viewed as offering various tools to researchers. Other researchers might retreat to forms of data collection, such as surveys, that might minimise the interference of unwanted AI participation. </p>
<p>But, based on <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14780887.2024.2311427">our recent research experience</a>, we believe theoretically-driven, qualitative social research is best equipped to detect and protect against AI interference. </p>
<p>There are additional implications for research. The threat of AI as an unwanted participant means researchers will have to work longer or harder to spot imposter participants. </p>
<p>Academic institutions need to start developing policies and practices to reduce the burden on individual researchers trying to carry out research in the changing AI environment. </p>
<p>Regardless of researchers’ theoretical orientation, how we work to limit the involvement of AI is a question for anyone interested in understanding human perspectives or experiences. If anything, the limitations of AI reemphasise the importance of being human in social research.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/225555/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Alexandra Gibson receives funding from Te Apārangi - Royal Society of New Zealand.</span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Alex Beattie does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>Responses to our qualitative survey suggested artificial intelligence was at play. The results were woeful, and researchers will need to work harder to prevent contaminated outcomes.Alexandra Gibson, Senior Lecturer in Health Psychology, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of WellingtonAlex Beattie, Research Fellow, School of Health, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of WellingtonLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2256682024-03-17T19:01:29Z2024-03-17T19:01:29ZWhy is toddler milk so popular? Follow the money<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/582110/original/file-20240315-28-i7q9zu.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=1%2C0%2C997%2C666&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">
</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/toddler-hands-holding-cup-white-fresh-2057012747">FotoDuets/Shutterstock</a></span></figcaption></figure><p>Toddler milk is popular and becoming more so. Just over a <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/jhn.12851">third of Australian toddlers</a> drink it. Parents <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(22)01933-X/fulltext">spend</a> hundreds of millions of dollars on it globally. Around the world, toddler milk makes up nearly half of <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/mcn.13097">total formula milk sales</a>, with a 200% growth since 2005. Growth is expected to continue.</p>
<p>We’re concerned about the growing popularity of toddler milk – about its nutritional content, cost, how it’s marketed, and about the impact on the health and feeding of young children. Some of us voiced our concerns on the <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-03-12/toddler-milk-nutrition-benefits-marketing-parents/103517864">ABC’s 7.30 program recently</a>.</p>
<p>But what’s in toddler milk? How does it compare to cow’s milk? How did it become so popular?</p>
<figure>
<iframe width="440" height="260" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/gOFTZmptaN0?wmode=transparent&start=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>
<figcaption><span class="caption">We shared our concerns about toddler milk and what this means for parents and children.</span></figcaption>
</figure>
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<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/misleading-food-labels-contribute-to-babies-and-toddlers-eating-too-much-sugar-3-things-parents-can-do-194168">Misleading food labels contribute to babies and toddlers eating too much sugar. 3 things parents can do</a>
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</em>
</p>
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<h2>What is toddler milk? Is it healthy?</h2>
<p>Toddler milk is marketed as appropriate for children aged one to three years. This <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10140693/">ultra-processed food</a> <a href="https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/public-health-nutrition/article/nutrition-and-packaging-characteristics-of-toddler-foods-and-milks-in-australia/1C6BA80843B773FC058BD3087D1A22BA">contains</a>:</p>
<ul>
<li><p>skim milk powder (cow, soy or goat)</p></li>
<li><p>vegetable oil</p></li>
<li><p>sugars (including added sugars)</p></li>
<li><p>emulsifiers (to help bind the ingredients and improve the texture)</p></li>
<li><p>added vitamins and minerals.</p></li>
</ul>
<p>Toddler milk <a href="https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/public-health-nutrition/article/nutrition-and-packaging-characteristics-of-toddler-foods-and-milks-in-australia/1C6BA80843B773FC058BD3087D1A22BA">is usually</a> lower in calcium and protein, and higher in sugar and calories than regular cow’s milk. Depending on the brand, a serve of toddler milk can contain as much sugar as a <a href="https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/public-health-nutrition/article/nutrition-and-packaging-characteristics-of-toddler-foods-and-milks-in-australia/1C6BA80843B773FC058BD3087D1A22BA">soft drink</a>. </p>
<p>Even though toddler milks have <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00394-019-01950-5">added vitamins and minerals</a>, these are <a href="https://iris.who.int/bitstream/handle/10665/373358/9789240081864-eng.pdf?sequence=1">found in and better absorbed</a> from <a href="https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/synthetic-vs-natural-nutrients">regular foods and breastmilk</a>. Toddlers do not need the level of nutrients found in these products if they are eating a varied diet. </p>
<p>Global health authorities, including the <a href="https://iris.who.int/bitstream/handle/10665/373358/9789240081864-eng.pdf?sequence=1">World Health Organization</a> (WHO), and Australia’s <a href="https://www.eatforhealth.gov.au/sites/default/files/files/the_guidelines/n56_infant_feeding_guidelines_150917(1).pdf">National Health and Medical Research Council</a>, do not recommend toddler milk for healthy toddlers.</p>
<p>Some children with specific metabolic or dietary medical problems might need tailored alternatives to cow’s milk. However, these products generally are not toddler milks and would be a specific product prescribed by a health-care provider. </p>
<p><a href="https://www.choice.com.au/babies-and-kids/feeding-your-baby/first-foods/articles/are-toddler-milks-necessary">Toddler milk</a> is also up to <a href="https://nutritionj.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12937-022-00765-1">four to five times</a> more expensive than regular cow’s milk. “Premium” toddler milk (the same product, with higher levels of vitamins and minerals) is more expensive. </p>
<p>With the <a href="https://theconversation.com/undernourished-stressed-and-overworked-cost-of-living-pressures-are-taking-a-toll-on-australians-health-223625">cost-of-living crisis</a>, this means families might choose to go without other essentials to afford toddler milk.</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/582090/original/file-20240315-30-3y4x18.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="Woman holding blue plastic spoon of formula powder over open tin of formula, milk bottle in background" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/582090/original/file-20240315-30-3y4x18.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/582090/original/file-20240315-30-3y4x18.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=401&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582090/original/file-20240315-30-3y4x18.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=401&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582090/original/file-20240315-30-3y4x18.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=401&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582090/original/file-20240315-30-3y4x18.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=504&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582090/original/file-20240315-30-3y4x18.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=504&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582090/original/file-20240315-30-3y4x18.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=504&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Toddler milk is more expensive than cow’s milk and contains more sugar.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/powder-milk-blue-spoon-on-light-779728180">Dragana Gordic/Shutterstock</a></span>
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<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/8-everyday-foods-you-might-not-realise-are-ultra-processed-and-how-to-spot-them-197993">8 everyday foods you might not realise are ultra processed – and how to spot them</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
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<h2>How toddler milk was invented</h2>
<p>Toddler milk was created so infant formula companies could <a href="https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/nutritionlibrary/breastfeeding/information-note-cross-promotion-infant-formula.pdf?sfvrsn=81a5b79c_1">get around rules</a> preventing them from advertising their infant formula. </p>
<p>When manufacturers <a href="https://www.jandonline.org/article/S2212-2672(21)01197-7/abstract">claim benefits</a> of their toddler milk, many parents assume these claimed benefits apply to infant formula (known as <a href="https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/nutritionlibrary/breastfeeding/information-note-cross-promotion-infant-formula.pdf?sfvrsn=81a5b79c_1">cross-promotion</a>). In other words, marketing toddler milks also boosts interest in their infant formula.</p>
<p>Manufacturers also create brand loyalty and recognition by making the labels of their toddler milk look similar to their infant formula. For parents who used infant formula, toddler milk is positioned as the next stage in feeding.</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/if-youre-feeding-with-formula-heres-what-you-can-do-to-promote-your-babys-healthy-growth-106165">If you're feeding with formula, here's what you can do to promote your baby's healthy growth</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<h2>How toddler milk became so popular</h2>
<p>Toddler milk is <a href="https://academic.oup.com/nutritionreviews/article-abstract/82/3/425/7172846?redirectedFrom=fulltext&login=false">heavily marketed</a>. Parents <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37203416/">are told</a> toddler milk is healthy and provides extra nutrition. Marketing <a href="https://uconnruddcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2909/2020/09/Infant-Formula-and-Toddler-Milk-Brief_9-23-19.pdf">tells parents</a> it will benefit their child’s growth and development, their brain function and their immune system.</p>
<p>Toddler milk is also presented as a <a href="https://uconnruddcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2909/2020/09/Infant-Formula-and-Toddler-Milk-Brief_9-23-19.pdf">solution</a> to fussy eating, which is common in toddlers.</p>
<p>However, regularly drinking toddler milk could increase the risk of <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Kathy-Cowbrough-2/publication/44645020_Feeding_the_toddler_12_months_to_3_years--challenges_and_opportunities/links/53e2409e0cf2d79877aa22e5/Feeding-the-toddler-12-months-to-3-years--challenges-and-opportunities.pdf">fussiness</a> as it reduces opportunities for toddlers to try new foods. It’s also sweet, needs no chewing, and essentially displaces energy and nutrients that whole foods provide.</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/582092/original/file-20240315-20-3y4x18.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="Toddler wearing bib with food smeared on face" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/582092/original/file-20240315-20-3y4x18.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/582092/original/file-20240315-20-3y4x18.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582092/original/file-20240315-20-3y4x18.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582092/original/file-20240315-20-3y4x18.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582092/original/file-20240315-20-3y4x18.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=502&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582092/original/file-20240315-20-3y4x18.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=502&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582092/original/file-20240315-20-3y4x18.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=502&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Toddler milk is said to help fussy eating, but it may make things worse.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/little-girl-toddler-picking-her-food-492304303">zlikovec/Shutterstock</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/how-to-tell-if-your-kids-fussy-eating-phase-is-normal-92118">How to tell if your kid's 'fussy eating' phase is normal</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<h2>Growing concern</h2>
<p>The <a href="https://www.who.int/news/item/28-04-2022-who-reveals-shocking-extent-of-exploitative-formula-milk-marketing">WHO</a>, along with public health academics, has been raising concerns about the marketing of toddler milk for years.</p>
<p>In Australia, moves to curb how toddler milk is promoted have gone nowhere. Toddler milk is in a category of foods that are <a href="https://www.legislation.gov.au/F2008B00660/asmade/text">allowed to be fortified</a> (to have vitamins and minerals added), with no marketing restrictions. The Australian Competition & Consumer Commission also <a href="https://www.accc.gov.au/media-release/accc-to-reauthorise-agreement-to-not-advertise-infant-formula-seeks-submissions-on-toddler-milk-advertising">has concerns</a> about the rise of toddler milk marketing. Despite this, there is no change in how it’s regulated.</p>
<p>This is in contrast to <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/topics/pregnancy-birth-and-baby/breastfeeding-infant-nutrition/marketing-infant-formula">voluntary marketing restrictions</a> in Australia for infant formula.</p>
<h2>What needs to happen?</h2>
<p>There is <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(22)01933-X/fulltext">enough evidence</a> to show the marketing of commercial milk formula, including toddler milk, influences parents and undermines child health.</p>
<p>So governments need to act to protect parents from this marketing, and to put <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(22)01933-X/fulltext">child health over profits</a>. </p>
<p>Public health authorities and advocates, including us, are calling for the restriction of marketing (not selling) of all formula products for infants and toddlers from birth through to age three years.</p>
<p>Ideally, this would be mandatory, government-enforced marketing restrictions as opposed to <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/topics/pregnancy-birth-and-baby/breastfeeding-infant-nutrition/marketing-infant-formula">industry self-regulation</a> in place currently for infant formulas.</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/essays-on-health-how-food-companies-can-sneak-bias-into-scientific-research-65873">Essays on health: how food companies can sneak bias into scientific research</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<h2>We musn’t blame parents</h2>
<p>Toddlers are eating <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/mcn.13097">more processed foods</a> (including toddler milk) than ever because time-poor parents are seeking a convenient option to ensure their child is getting adequate nutrition.</p>
<p>Formula manufacturers have used this information, and created a demand for an unnecessary product. </p>
<p>Parents want to do the best for their toddlers, but they need to know the marketing behind toddler milks is misleading.</p>
<p>Toddler milk is an unnecessary, unhealthy, expensive product. Toddlers just need whole foods and breastmilk, and/or cow’s milk or a non-dairy, milk alternative.</p>
<p>If parents are worried about their <a href="https://raisingchildren.net.au/toddlers/nutrition-fitness">child’s eating</a>, they should see a health-care professional.</p>
<hr>
<p><em>Anthea Rhodes, a paediatrician from Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne and a lecturer at the University of Melbourne, co-authored this article.</em></p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/225668/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Jennifer McCann is a researcher with the Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN), a co-chair of the Infant and Toddler Foods Alliance, and a member of the Public Health Association of Australia. </span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Karleen Gribble is a member of the Public Health Association of Australia, the World Breastfeeding Trends Initiative, the Australian Breastfeeding Association, the Infant and Toddler Food Research Alliance and the Infant and Young Child Feeding in Emergencies Core Group. </span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Naomi Hull is a member of, and volunteers for, the Australian Breastfeeding Association and is a member of the Public Health Association of Australia. She is also an executive on the Infant and Toddler Food Research Alliance. Naomi is the National Coordinator for the World Breastfeeding Trends Initiative Australia.</span></em></p>Toddler milk is high in sugar and can leave toddlers reluctant to try new foods. It’s also heavily marketed to time-poor parents. We’re worried.Jennifer McCann, Lecturer Nutrition Sciences, Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, Deakin UniversityKarleen Gribble, Adjunct Associate Professor, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Western Sydney UniversityNaomi Hull, PhD candidate, University of SydneyLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2253462024-03-17T19:01:24Z2024-03-17T19:01:24ZSmart meters haven’t delivered the promised benefits to electricity users. Here’s a way to fix the problems<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/582098/original/file-20240315-18-3y4x18.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=0%2C311%2C3642%2C2419&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">
</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/close-modern-smart-grid-residential-digital-108664646">Pi-Lens/Shutterstock</a></span></figcaption></figure><p><a href="https://www.mordorintelligence.com/industry-reports/advanced-metering-infrastructure-market">Billions of dollars</a> are being spent worldwide to modernise electricity grids with smart meters. These meters promise to save households money by making it easier for us to understand and manage our energy use. However, our <a href="https://www.cell.com/cell-reports-physical-science/fulltext/S2666-3864(24)00055-9">new research</a> suggests these promises might not be fully delivered due to a lack of access to high-resolution, real-time energy data.</p>
<p>Smart meters are the enabling technology of modern smart electricity grids. Smart grids can use digital technology to fine-tune the management of electricity supply and demand. This ensures the grid can deliver low-cost and reliable power. </p>
<p>Countries like Australia are racing to install smart meters extensively. Last year the Australian Energy Market Commission <a href="https://www.aemc.gov.au/sites/default/files/2023-08/emo0040_-_metering_review_-_final_report.pdf">recommended</a> a goal of 100% uptake among small customers by 2030. In response, an Australian Energy Council <a href="https://www.energycouncil.com.au/analysis/rushing-to-the-finish-line-can-we-clear-the-hurdles-on-the-way-to-100-smart-meters-by-2030/">article</a> suggested these meters aren’t living up to their potential. </p>
<p>This isn’t just an Australian problem – it’s a global challenge. <a href="https://www.cell.com/cell-reports-physical-science/fulltext/S2666-3864(24)00055-9">Our research</a> offers a solution to unleash the promised benefits of smart meters at least cost. From improving data transmission to protecting our privacy, there’s a lot we can do to make our energy systems smarter and fairer for everyone.</p>
<p><div data-react-class="Tweet" data-react-props="{"tweetId":"1117998554998554625"}"></div></p>
<h2>Why do we need a truly smart grid?</h2>
<p>Our demand for electricity is set to soar as the push to electrify everything gains momentum. The Victorian government, for instance, has <a href="https://www.energy.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0027/691119/Victorias-Gas-Substitution-Roadmap-Update.pdf">banned gas in new homes</a> from 2024. </p>
<p>The International Energy Agency <a href="https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2024/02/green-energy-electricity-demand-growth-iea-report/">forecasts a 3.4% annual rise</a> in electricity consumption from 2024 to 2026. As transportation electrifies, electricity’s share could increase <a href="https://www.irena.org/Energy-Transition/Technology/Transport">from 1% in 2018 to 49% by 2050</a>.</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/cooking-and-heating-without-gas-what-are-the-impacts-of-shifting-to-all-electric-homes-210649">Cooking (and heating) without gas: what are the impacts of shifting to all-electric homes?</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
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<p>To meet this growing demand while cutting carbon emissions, we must ramp up renewable energy production. However, the unpredictable nature of wind and solar power presents challenges for the grid.</p>
<p>To manage highly variable supply and demand, we need to digitise our grid. Advanced technologies such as sensors, machine-learning algorithms and cloud computing will enable us to optimise electricity generation, distribution and consumption. </p>
<p>Smart meters are the cornerstone of such a system. They can provide the detailed, real-time data needed for smart grid applications. </p>
<p>Smart meter deployment has surged globally. The smart meter market is <a href="https://www.mordorintelligence.com/industry-reports/advanced-metering-infrastructure-market">forecast</a> to grow from US$17.5 billion ($A26.6 billion) in 2024 to US$31.8 billion by 2028.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.cell.com/cell-reports-physical-science/fulltext/S2666-3864(24)00055-9">Our research</a> sheds light on this global deployment and its significant challenges. </p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/582087/original/file-20240314-24-3y4x18.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/582087/original/file-20240314-24-3y4x18.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/582087/original/file-20240314-24-3y4x18.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=374&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582087/original/file-20240314-24-3y4x18.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=374&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582087/original/file-20240314-24-3y4x18.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=374&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582087/original/file-20240314-24-3y4x18.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=471&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582087/original/file-20240314-24-3y4x18.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=471&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582087/original/file-20240314-24-3y4x18.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=471&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">A summary of the rollout of smart meters in selected countries. (Data for Australia and US from 2023, Canada, China, Japan and UK from 2022, and Sweden, Estonia and Denmark from 2020. DSO = distribution service operator, IESO = independent electricity system operator)</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.cell.com/cell-reports-physical-science/fulltext/S2666-3864(24)00055-9">Rui Yuan et al 2024</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/">CC BY-NC-ND</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/a-successful-energy-transition-depends-on-managing-when-people-use-power-so-how-do-we-make-demand-more-flexible-213079">A successful energy transition depends on managing when people use power. So how do we make demand more flexible?</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<h2>What will better data allow us to do?</h2>
<p>Grid modernisation and smart meters came with big promises of saving money for consumers. This hasn’t happened. The reason is that many direct benefits to consumers require high-resolution data – and the required level of fine detail in real time isn’t being provided. </p>
<p>For example, as a direct benefit to consumers, <a href="https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/8322199">some machine-learning techniques</a> can help households optimise their energy use by providing insights into exactly how much electricity each appliance is using and when. This information could enable them to lower their electricity bill. These tools can also detect abnormal usage patterns, allowing <a href="https://doi.org/10.1002/int.22876">timely intervention and maintenance</a> of faulty appliances. </p>
<p>However, these applications and <a href="https://www.cell.com/cell-reports-physical-science/fulltext/S2666-3864(24)00055-9">other smart grid benefits</a> for consumers all require high-resolution data. </p>
<iframe title="Smart grid applications, data needs and benefits" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-ZbaZF" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/ZbaZF/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="border: none;" width="100%" height="600" data-external="1"></iframe>
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<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/the-national-electricity-market-wasnt-made-for-a-renewable-energy-future-heres-how-to-fix-it-215067">The National Electricity Market wasn't made for a renewable energy future. Here's how to fix it</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<h2>What obstacles must be overcome?</h2>
<p>We found three major reasons for the current limitations of smart-metering infrastructure. </p>
<p><em>Data transmission</em> is the first big challenge. High-resolution and more frequent data means a higher volume of numbers, which leads to more delays or disruptions to data transmission. </p>
<p>The second challenge is the <em>data warehousing</em> needed for huge volumes of data. It’s expensive too. </p>
<p>Building and running a data warehouse costs <a href="https://ilsr.org/utilities-customer-data-portability-ler155/">US$19,000–$25,000 per terabyte</a> each year. Upgrading from hourly data to every two seconds requires 1,800 times the storage, at an extra cost of US$36 million! And that’s not counting maintenance, backups, or sharing the data.</p>
<p>The third major issue is <em>data privacy</em>. The data can also be exploited by attackers. They could figure out what appliances you have, your home setup, or even your habits. </p>
<p>This can lead to criminal activities or serious invasion of privacy. For example, people could be tracked based on their vehicle-charging patterns. </p>
<p>Even law enforcement uses electricity data in court cases. One case involved the detection of <a href="https://www.csoonline.com/article/546876/microsoft-subnet-are-smart-meters-real-time-surveillance-spies.html">indoor marijuana growing</a>.</p>
<p><div data-react-class="Tweet" data-react-props="{"tweetId":"1217580090944622593"}"></div></p>
<h2>A way forward at the cheapest cost</h2>
<p>Ideally, we need a solution that tackles all the issues using the smart meters we already have. <a href="https://www.cell.com/cell-reports-physical-science/fulltext/S2666-3864(24)00055-9">Our solution</a> is based on discovering repeated patterns within electricity usage data, then dividing these data into two parts. </p>
<p>It’s like a book divided into piles of papers and page numbers, with each then handed to different parties. Neither the page alone nor the page numbers make sense until they are combined. </p>
<p>Similarly, we suggest dividing detailed data into smaller patterns called codewords and their daily representations. We’d send only representations to the data centre, letting users keep their codewords to ensure their privacy. </p>
<p>Patterns of energy use often repeat. By using a single codeword to represent multiple days of similar consumption, we can greatly reduce the amount of data that needs to be transmitted. This would cut data communication and warehousing costs. </p>
<p>Continuous research on software, hardware and regulations is needed to refine the proposed framework for the stages of data collection, transmission, storage and analysis. </p>
<p>It’s important for modern energy consumers to be aware that as well as consuming and generating energy (from rooftop solar systems), they also generate data through their smart meters. This data asset is becoming increasingly valuable in the transition to the net-zero era.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/225346/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Ali Pourmousavi Kani receives funding from Future Battery Industry Cooperative Research Centre (FBICRC) and Watts AS (from Denmark) for his research. He also has done and is currently involved with consulting jobs that are available in his resume. None are related to the topic of this article. </span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Rui Yuan receives funding from the Australian Government Research Training Program and Watts AS (Denmark) for his PhD research. He currently affiliates with Watts AS. </span></em></p>The amount of detailed real-time data a smart grid needs to manage the push for electrification and renewables presents challenges – but there’s an affordable solution.Ali Pourmousavi Kani, Senior Lecturer of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering, University of AdelaideRui Yuan, Industry PhD Candidate, School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering, University of AdelaideLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2255682024-03-17T04:34:47Z2024-03-17T04:34:47ZEconomists say Australia shouldn’t try to transition to net zero by aping the mammoth US Inflation Reduction Act<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/581854/original/file-20240314-20-hxvgy2.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=395%2C919%2C4893%2C2501&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">
</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">Shutterstock</span></span></figcaption></figure><p>Australia’s top economists are pressing Prime Minister Anthony Albanese not to ape US President Joe Biden’s “think big” approach to clean energy.</p>
<p>Biden’s so-called <a href="https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy1830#:%7E:text=The%20Inflation%20Reduction%20Act%20modifies,proportion%20of%20qualified%20apprentices%20from">Inflation Reduction Act</a> – dubbed the <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/08/16/fact-sheet-one-year-in-president-bidens-inflation-reduction-act-is-driving-historic-climate-action-and-investing-in-america-to-create-good-paying-jobs-and-reduce-costs/">largest climate investment</a> in US history – directs nearly US$400 billion (A$605 billion) in federal funding to support clean energy through tax breaks, grants and loan guarantees. Its goal is to <a href="https://www.anthropocenemagazine.org/2023/07/the-u-s-inflation-reduction-act-is-bigger-and-more-far-reaching-than-you-think/">halve US emissions</a> by 2035.</p>
<p>Among the biggest beneficiaries will be US firms producing hydrogen, wind turbines, solar cells and batteries.</p>
<p>In the lead-up to this year’s May budget, Albanese said that, like in the US, he wanted Australia’s government to be a <a href="https://www.pm.gov.au/media/hunter-nexus-dinner">partner</a> in the energy transformation, not just an observer.</p>
<p>He wanted to “think big”. </p>
<p>While Australia need not go “dollar-for-dollar” against the US and other nations in the scale of its spending, it could go “toe-to-toe” on the impact of its programs.</p>
<h2>Not dollar-for-dollar, not toe-to-toe</h2>
<p>Today, in a survey commissioned by the Economic Society of Australia and The Conversation, an overwhelming majority of Australia’s pre-eminent economists cautioned against special support for projects that will drive the energy transition. Instead, most backed grants to innovative firms across the entire economy.</p>
<p>The 44 leading economists who took part have been <a href="https://esacentral.org.au/about-poll">recognised by their peers</a> as Australia’s leaders in fields including economic modelling and budget policy.</p>
<p>Asked whether Australia should ape the US Inflation Reduction Act by subsidising firms in the same industries, provide access to credit for firms that would supply the US, or merely provide more grants to innovative firms across the entire economy, <a href="https://public.flourish.studio/visualisation/17147233/">two-thirds</a> voted for supporting innovation across the economy.</p>
<p>Only four wanted Australia to copy the US.</p>
<hr>
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<p>Two of the experts surveyed declined to pick an option. Economic modeller Warwick McKibbin said labour market and tax reforms were the best ways to encourage new firms. Energy specialist Frank Jotzo said government support needed to deliver returns to the nation, not just prop up company profits.</p>
<p>McKibbin said any support for particular Australian businesses should be in the form of <a href="https://theconversation.com/give-people-and-businesses-money-now-they-can-pay-back-later-if-and-when-they-can-134998">contingent loans</a>, ensuring successful recipients with high cash flows paid back a proportion of their profits. </p>
<p>Mark Cully, a former chief economist with the federal Department of Industry, said there was no point in going head-to-head or toe-to-toe with the United States, the European Union or South Korea in doing things such as making batteries.</p>
<h2>Supply the US revolution, don’t copy it</h2>
<p>Cully said Australia was well placed to supply the resources those countries will need to develop green industries as well as to benefit from what they produce.</p>
<p>But Australian investment in research and development has been falling as a share of GDP for a decade, endangering productivity. The public component of this investment is now just 0.5% of GDP, the least on record.</p>
<p>Funding should be directed to research and development across the economy through institutions such as the CSIRO and business-university linkages, steering clear of “<a href="https://www.afr.com/policy/economy/don-t-revert-to-picking-winners-20220131-p59som">picking winners</a>”.</p>
<p>Speaking before last week’s announcement of <a href="https://www.afr.com/companies/mining/rinehart-backed-arafura-gets-840m-in-taxpayer-aid-for-nt-project-20240313-p5fc6r?cid=f20c2daf1c5b84617195919f17d24b63">A$840 million</a> in government loans to support a rare earths mine backed by Australia’s richest person, Gina Rinehart, economic modeller Janine Dixon said Australia should do all it could to ensure the benefits of public investments stayed with the public rather than private companies.</p>
<p>Economist Saul Eslake said corporate <a href="https://www.investopedia.com/terms/r/rentseeking.asp">rent-seeking</a> (businesses getting special favours) helped Australia slide from being one of the richest countries in the world at federation to being about 26th by the early 1990s, when governments became less supportive.</p>
<p>John Quiggin supported advancing loans to firms that supplied US projects. He said while it was less than optimal, the government was almost certain to support manufacturing, and this was better than building <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-03-14/what-is-aukus-submarine-deal-details-announced/102091510">AUKUS submarines</a>.</p>
<p>Consultant Rana Roy, who voted for no government support, said Australia was experiencing the <a href="https://theconversation.com/prepare-to-hear-about-an-official-recession-unofficially-weve-been-in-one-for-some-time-224963">biggest dive in living standards in half a century</a>. He said the government would be </p>
<blockquote>
<p>better advised to spend the remaining months until the next election concentrating for once on the modest task of preventing a further collapse in Australian living standards. </p>
</blockquote>
<p>The United States would shortly elect its next president and Congress. They might be much less well disposed to the Inflation Reduction Act, leaving Australia with little to respond to.</p>
<h2>Impose conditions</h2>
<p>Many of those surveyed reiterated their support for a carbon tax as the best way of cutting emissions. Many more bemoaned what they said was the futility of “picking winners”. Economist Stefanie Schurer said it had never been a good policy in the past, and would not be in the future, adding:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>this remains true even if other countries do it.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>While eschewing picking winners, economists Adrian Blundell-Wignall, David Byrne, Nicki Hutley and Lisa Magnani said a well-designed grants scheme could encourage investment if it ensured the recipients provided value for money.</p>
<p>Support should be temporary and come with conditions, as in the United States.</p>
<hr>
<p><em>Individual responses. Click to open:</em></p>
<p><iframe id="tc-infographic-1025" class="tc-infographic" height="400px" src="https://cdn.theconversation.com/infographics/1025/2a0d514807b61b254c050fc2f202582299038b43/site/index.html" width="100%" style="border: none" frameborder="0"></iframe></p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/225568/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Peter Martin is Economics Editor of The Conversation and serves on the Central Council of the Economic Society of Australia.</span></em></p>Prime Minister Anthony Albanese wants Australia to go “toe to toe” with the US in supporting green energy. Leading economists surveyed by the Economic Society are unimpressed.Peter Martin, Visiting Fellow, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2226062024-03-15T05:07:18Z2024-03-15T05:07:18Z‘An exceptionally queasy atmosphere’: the unsettling new Aussie horror You’ll Never Find Me<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/582118/original/file-20240315-20-dr4lqu.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=142%2C11%2C7797%2C5249&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">
</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">Credit Ian Routledge. Copyright Lot Film Pty Ltd</span></span></figcaption></figure><p>In the middle of the night, during a terrible thunderstorm, a sodden stranger knocks on Patrick’s door hoping to use a phone. Insomniac Patrick (Brendan Rock) is a paranoid, bearded loner who sits alone in his dimly-lit mobile home as if he is waiting for a dawn that may never come. The nameless, barefoot visitor (Jordan Cowan), a 20-something woman with long dark hair and haunted eyes, seems unsure if she’s stumbled across a saviour, or a predator. </p>
<p>This unexpected encounter opens the Australian psychological horror film You’ll Never Find Me, an unsettling and economical chamber piece that makes effective use of its limited location and its dialogue-heavy script.</p>
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<iframe width="440" height="260" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rJGFdGx-cjw?wmode=transparent&start=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>
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<h2>Shifting identities</h2>
<p>We begin the film unsure about either character’s identity or motivations. “I’m afraid you’ve knocked on the wrong door,” drawls Patrick mournfully. </p>
<p>He shows the visitor initially reluctant but surprisingly tender hospitality and she is uncertain how to respond. At time drags on, Patrick demonstrates a deep willingness to wax lyrical about his take on life’s difficulties. “It’s nice to pass the time with a stranger,” he confesses. </p>
<p>As the storm knocks out the power, it’s unclear whether the visitor will be able to leave. It’s also obvious something more ominous and perhaps infernal is unfolding. </p>
<p>Directed by Josiah Allen and Indianna Bell, the film offers a gothic, moody ambience. The mobile home is isolated from others in the park. It presents a claustrophobic environment and comes to be a character in its own right: it creaks and groans like a ship riding the waves. </p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="A man sits at a table at the end of a hallway." src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/582119/original/file-20240315-22-dge1jl.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/582119/original/file-20240315-22-dge1jl.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=338&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582119/original/file-20240315-22-dge1jl.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=338&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582119/original/file-20240315-22-dge1jl.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=338&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582119/original/file-20240315-22-dge1jl.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=424&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582119/original/file-20240315-22-dge1jl.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=424&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582119/original/file-20240315-22-dge1jl.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=424&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">The mobile home comes to be a character in its own right.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Photo Credit Maxx Corkindale. Copyright Lot Film Pty Ltd</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The shadowy space seems simultaneously too cramped and too spacious, as if everything is being slowly sucked into the strange, curtained-off section at the back of the home. Ratty 1970s décor aside, time does not seem to be passing in a legible manner, something emphasised through an unsettling string-heavy score and slow, invasive tracking shots.</p>
<p>Information is doled out carefully. The visitor finds odd mementos stashed around the house and is confused at her own inability to keep her story straight. Patrick picks anxiously at the edges of forgotten memories, repeatedly describing the night, and his recollections, as “strange”. </p>
<p>Is this all an insomniac’s drifting thoughts, or the pair’s subjective experience of mutual distrust and paranoia? Has the young woman come looking for Patrick, or has he somehow summoned her? </p>
<h2>A careful dance</h2>
<p>You’ll Never Find Me builds successfully on a “<a href="https://theconversation.com/10-years-of-homegrown-horror-hits-talk-to-me-and-the-golden-age-of-aussie-horror-211031">golden decade</a>” of Australian horror. </p>
<p>This period has showcased diverse innovative and internationally-acclaimed films, ranging from maternal horrors The Babadook (2014) and Relic (2020), to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Found_footage_(film_technique)">found footage</a> 70s throwback Late Night with the Devil (2023) and runaway hit supernatural horror Talk to Me (2023). </p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/10-years-of-homegrown-horror-hits-talk-to-me-and-the-golden-age-of-aussie-horror-211031">10 years of homegrown horror hits: Talk To Me and the golden age of Aussie horror</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<p>You’ll Never Find Me also illustrates the importance of an industry pipeline. Writer/director Bell and co-director Allen, as Stakeout Films, found earlier success with shorts Safe Space (2019), Call Connect. (2019) and The Recordist (2020), some of which also featured performances from Rock and Cowan. Each short plays across genres, featuring evocative soundscapes, moody lighting, tense relationships and claustrophobic settings. </p>
<p>These prior relationships are evident in the film’s confident tone and performances. Cowan and Rock have a compelling chemistry. Extreme close ups on their faces and bodies chart the film’s careful, slow-burn dance between threat and disclosure, or vulnerability and dread. </p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/582121/original/file-20240315-24-dr4lqu.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="A bearded man" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/582121/original/file-20240315-24-dr4lqu.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/582121/original/file-20240315-24-dr4lqu.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=338&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582121/original/file-20240315-24-dr4lqu.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=338&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582121/original/file-20240315-24-dr4lqu.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=338&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582121/original/file-20240315-24-dr4lqu.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=424&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582121/original/file-20240315-24-dr4lqu.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=424&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582121/original/file-20240315-24-dr4lqu.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=424&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">At time it feels like we are watching a play.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Photo Credit Maxx Corkindale. Copyright Lot Film Pty Ltd</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The pair move through odd, circular conversations about their life philosophies and past experiences, as if we are watching a play. We’re aware we are witnessing a careful dance – but for a long time it is unclear who might be the biggest threat to whom. </p>
<p>“You’re the one who knocked on my door,” Patrick reminds the visitor, as she becomes increasingly insistent about wanting to leave. Throughout, he posits whether this visitation was a matter of choice or chance, even as the true and terrible nature of the pair’s encounter makes itself known.</p>
<p>You’ll Never Find Me will appeal to audiences who appreciate a rich atmosphere, character-led drama, and creeping yet tense pacing. </p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/582123/original/file-20240315-28-wwqmdg.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="A woman's face, half in shadows." src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/582123/original/file-20240315-28-wwqmdg.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/582123/original/file-20240315-28-wwqmdg.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=338&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582123/original/file-20240315-28-wwqmdg.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=338&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582123/original/file-20240315-28-wwqmdg.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=338&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582123/original/file-20240315-28-wwqmdg.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=424&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582123/original/file-20240315-28-wwqmdg.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=424&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582123/original/file-20240315-28-wwqmdg.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=424&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">The film has a rich atmosphere, character-led drama, and creeping yet tense pacing.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Photo Credit Maxx Corkindale. Copyright Lot Film Pty Ltd</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>For its many strengths, though, the film may divide audiences with its chaotic, surreal final act. As the pair’s conflict comes to a head, the world of the film tilts in a lurid burst of colour, and the narrative doglegs into a conceit that is challenging to pull off. </p>
<p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/mar/14/youll-never-find-me-review-movie-australian-horror">Some may see</a> this climax as a fitting conclusion that upends some of our assumptions about character, relationships and motivation. Some, including myself, may find this nightmarish sequence, and the film’s denouement, displaces much of the film’s fine earlier work – particularly its manipulation of space and point-of-view – in a frustrating manner. </p>
<p>There is no doubt, though, this film exhibits a distinct sensibility, captivating performances and an exceptionally queasy atmosphere. It is further proof low-budget Australian horror is currently a site of significant innovation, and it successfully showcases Bell and Allen’s ability to do an awful lot with limited resources. </p>
<p><em>You’ll Never Find Me is out now in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand.</em></p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/analog-uncanny-how-this-weird-and-experimental-side-of-tiktok-is-forging-the-future-of-horror-222882">‘Analog uncanny’: how this weird and experimental side of TikTok is forging the future of horror</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/222606/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Erin Harrington does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>For its many strengths, the film may divide audiences with its chaotic, surreal final act.Erin Harrington, Senior Lecturer in English and Cultural Studies, University of CanterburyLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2256782024-03-15T04:55:19Z2024-03-15T04:55:19ZThere’s an extra $1 billion on the table for NT schools. This could change lives if spent well<p>The federal and Northern Territory governments have just made a “historic” funding <a href="https://ministers.education.gov.au/anthony-albanese/australian-and-northern-territory-governments-agree-fully-and-fairly-fund-all-nt">announcement</a> of about A$1 billion for schools in the territory. </p>
<p>This includes an extra $737.7 million from the federal government and an extra $350 million from the NT government between 2025 and 2029. This would make the NT only the third Australian jurisdiction (after the ACT and Western Australia) to have “fully funded” public schools. </p>
<p>This means they would get 100% of the “<a href="https://www.education.gov.au/recurrent-funding-schools/schooling-resource-standard">Schooling Resource Standard</a>” which was set up through the so-called Gonski reforms more than a decade ago. This determines how much funding schools get based on student needs. </p>
<p>Federal Education Minister Jason Clare <a href="https://ministers.education.gov.au/anthony-albanese/australian-and-northern-territory-governments-agree-fully-and-fairly-fund-all-nt">described</a> the announcement as a “historic day for public education in the Northern Territory”.</p>
<p>What is the funding for? What do NT schools and students need?</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/as-more-money-is-flagged-for-wa-schools-what-does-fully-funded-really-mean-222400">As more money is flagged for WA schools, what does 'fully funded' really mean?</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<h2>What is the funding for?</h2>
<p>Governments say the funding will provide more resources to improve education outcomes in the NT. Funding will go to the most disadvantaged schools first. It also comes on top of <a href="https://ministers.education.gov.au/king/new-investment-support-better-safer-future-central-australia">$40.4 million</a> dedicated specifically to Central Australian schools in last year’s federal budget. </p>
<p>We already know NT schools need extra support. </p>
<p>Late last month, the NT government released a <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-02-29/nt-government-to-scrap-middle-schools-after-education-review/103530292#">review of secondary education</a> in the territory, produced with Deloitte Access Economics in partnership with Charles Darwin University. </p>
<p>It <a href="https://education.nt.gov.au/reviews-and-consultations/review-of-secondary-education-in-the-northern-territory">found</a> the territory’s education system had higher needs for specialised support for students and teachers than the rest of Australia. </p>
<p>These include high proportions of cultural and linguistic diversity. The territory has the highest proportion of students identifying as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander in Australia (39%). There are than 100 Aboriginal and about 87 other languages spoken in the region.</p>
<p>The population is also extremely geographically dispersed with at least 66% in remote or very remote communities.</p>
<p>There are also high levels of socioeconomic and educational disadvantage. For example, a <a href="https://education.nt.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/1173064/review-of-effective-enrolment-final-report.PDF">2022 report</a> for the territory’s education department noted average household income in very remote areas of the NT was approximately 45% lower than the rest of Australia. </p>
<p>On top of this, there are significant <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-01-18/department-of-education-nt-redeploy-former-teachers/103363310">teacher shortages</a>. </p>
<h2>The importance of student attendance</h2>
<p>Funding is going to need to be flexible so schools can implement programs that meet their local needs. </p>
<p>This includes addressing student attendance at school, which remains a significant issue in the NT. In 2022, <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-04-14/nt-school-attendance-funding-effective-enrolment/102215672">the overall attendance rate</a> was 73% for public schools and 48% for very remote public schools. This rate refers to the proportion of time students attend school, compared to the time they are expected to attend.</p>
<p>The current NT government student <a href="https://education.nt.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/1058421/northern-territory-education-engagement-strategy-2022-2031.pdf">engagement strategy</a> found we need to address attendance through local programs, developed at the school level with support from education department teams. Ruth was the Chair of the Expert Reference Panel for this project. </p>
<p>The strategy was developed through extensive consultation with Indigenous communities and recognises students’ educational outcomes depends on four key areas: </p>
<ol>
<li><p>partnership between families and schools</p></li>
<li><p>having educators with the skills to engage students</p></li>
<li><p>meaningful learning experiences</p></li>
<li><p>supporting students’ wellbeing, inclusion and diversity. </p></li>
</ol>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/universities-accord-theres-a-push-to-increase-indigenous-students-and-voices-in-higher-education-but-we-need-more-detail-and-funding-224739">Universities Accord: there's a push to increase Indigenous students and voices in higher education. But we need more detail and funding</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<h2>But we need more certainty</h2>
<p>It is important to point out governments have so far only signed a “statement of intent”. This means there is no formal commitment yet to this funding. </p>
<p>And we don’t have any certainty beyond 2029. </p>
<p>The statement of intent is part of ongoing negotiations this year for a new <a href="https://theconversation.com/what-is-the-national-school-reform-agreement-and-what-does-it-have-to-do-with-school-funding-202847">National School Reform Agreement</a>. This agreement will outline new policies for education reform from 2025. As part of this, all states and territories are making bilateral arrangements with the federal government over funding for their school systems. </p>
<p>We also need to acknowledge decades of educational underfunding cannot be reversed in four years. The funding levels required to improve <a href="https://education.nt.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/1061386/education-NT-strategy-2021-2025.pdf">targets</a> around key elements such as early literacy skills, school attendance, NAPLAN results and Year 12 attainment need to be assessed (and potentially changed) through to and beyond 2029.</p>
<h2>How do we make sure funding works?</h2>
<p>The $1 billion flagged by governments will be fundamental to improving educational outcomes in the territory. Current funding arrangements are likely to continue cycles of disadvantage.</p>
<p>But ultimately, investment in NT students is more than just funding. It is about recognising and catering to the complex and unique nature of the educational environment, with culturally relevant teachers and high quality resources. This also needs to include culturally relevant assessment and reporting about student progress. </p>
<p>This – combined with funding certainty – would signal there is a long-term and genuine commitment to future of the NT and our children.</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/what-is-the-national-school-reform-agreement-and-what-does-it-have-to-do-with-school-funding-202847">What is the National School Reform Agreement and what does it have to do with school funding?</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/225678/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Through Charles Darwin University, Ruth Wallace works with the Northern Territory government and the federal government on a project basis. Ruth was a chief investigator in the NT Secondary Review and chair of the Expert Advisory Panel of the Effective Engagement Review both of which are mentioned in this article. The work is independent of NT government influence. </span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Through Charles Darwin University, Tracy Woodroffe works with the Northern Territory government and the federal government on a project basis. The work is independent of government influence.</span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Sally Knipe does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>The federal and NT governments have just made a ‘historic’ funding announcement of about $1 billion for schools in the territory.Ruth Wallace, Director, Northern Institute, Charles Darwin UniversitySally Knipe, Associate Professor Education, Charles Darwin UniversityTracy Woodroffe, 2024 ACSES First Nations Fellow, Senior Lecturer in Indigenous Knowledges, Charles Darwin UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2255782024-03-15T04:03:41Z2024-03-15T04:03:41ZBunnings has toppled Woolworths as Australia’s most ‘trusted’ brand – what makes us trust a brand in the first place?<p>Think of some of the world’s biggest brands: Nike, McDonald’s, Coca-Cola, Apple. With what do you associate them? Are they positive associations? Now consider, do you trust them? </p>
<p>Brand trust is a measure of how customers <em>feel</em> about a brand in terms of how well the brand delivers on its promises. Trust is an important measure for any organisation, large or small. </p>
<p>Whether or not customers trust a brand can be the difference between choosing that brand’s products or services over another. </p>
<p>In Australia, Woolworths <a href="https://www.roymorgan.com/findings/9472-risk-monitor-quartely-update-december-2023">held the title</a> of our most trusted brand for three and a half years. But recent cost-of-living pressures have put supermarkets in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons. </p>
<p>Roy Morgan Research’s <a href="https://www.roymorgan.com/findings/9472-risk-monitor-quartely-update-december-2023">most recent trust rankings</a> show Woolworths has slipped to number two, handing its crown to hardware behemoth Bunnings. </p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/brad-banducci-checks-out-from-woolworths-signalling-a-business-out-of-touch-with-its-customers-224066">Brad Banducci checks out from Woolworths, signalling a business out-of-touch with its customers</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<p>It’s clear that trust is fragile and can be quickly squandered when brands lose touch with those they serve. </p>
<p>So what makes us trust a brand in the first place? And why do we trust some more than others? </p>
<h2>What makes us trust a brand?</h2>
<p>According to customer experience management firm Qualtrics, <a href="https://www.qualtrics.com/au/experience-management/brand/brand-trust/">brand trust</a> is </p>
<blockquote>
<p>the confidence that customers have in a brand’s ability to deliver on what it promises. As a brand consistently meets the expectations it has set in the minds of customers, trust in that brand grows. </p>
</blockquote>
<p>There are many ways to go about measuring brand trust. A typical first step is to ask lots of people what they think, collating their general opinions on product quality and the brand’s customer service experience. </p>
<figure class="align-right ">
<img alt="Woman types customer review using laptop" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/582085/original/file-20240314-20-3hx1q2.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/582085/original/file-20240314-20-3hx1q2.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582085/original/file-20240314-20-3hx1q2.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582085/original/file-20240314-20-3hx1q2.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582085/original/file-20240314-20-3hx1q2.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582085/original/file-20240314-20-3hx1q2.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582085/original/file-20240314-20-3hx1q2.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Customer ratings and reviews are an important factor in assessing overall brand trust.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/customer-review-good-rating-concept-by-1967758090">Ken Stocker/Shutterstock</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>This can be strengthened with more quantifiable elements, including: </p>
<ul>
<li>online ratings and reviews </li>
<li>social media “sentiment” (positive, negative or neutral)</li>
<li>corporate social responsibility activities </li>
<li>philanthropic efforts </li>
<li>customer data security and privacy. </li>
</ul>
<p>Some surveys go even deeper, asking respondents to consider a brand’s vision and mission, its approaches to sustainability and worker standards, and how honest its advertising appears. </p>
<h2>Is this a real and useful metric?</h2>
<p>The qualitative methodology used by <a href="https://www.roymorgan.com/findings/9472-risk-monitor-quartely-update-december-2023">Roy Morgan</a> to determine what Australian consumers think about 1,000 brands has been administered over two decades, so the data can be reliably compared across time. </p>
<p>On measures of both trust and distrust, it asks respondents which brands they trust and why. This approach is useful because it tells us which elements factor into brand trust judgements. </p>
<p><a href="https://roymorgan-cms-prod.s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/07035120/9472-Risk-Monitor-Quartely-Update-December-2023-1-1.pdf">Customer responses</a> about the survey’s most recent winner, Bunnings, show that customer service, product range, value-for-money pricing and generous returns policies are the key drivers of strong trust in its brand. </p>
<p>Here are some examples: </p>
<blockquote>
<p>Great customer service. Love their welcoming staff. Whether it’s nuts and bolts or a new toilet seat, they have it all, value for money.</p>
<p>Great products and price and have a no quibble refund policy.</p>
<p>Great stock range, help is there if you need it and it is my go-to for my gardening and tool needs. Really convenient trading hours, and their return policy is good.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>In addition to trust, there are three other metrics commonly used to assess brand performance: </p>
<ul>
<li><p><strong>brand equity</strong> – the commercial or social value of consumer perceptions of a brand </p></li>
<li><p><strong>brand loyalty</strong> – consumer willingness to consistently choose one brand over others regardless of price or competitor’s efforts</p></li>
<li><p><strong>brand affinity</strong> – the emotional connection and common values between a brand and its customers.</p></li>
</ul>
<p>However, trust is becoming a disproportionately important metric as consumers demand that companies provide <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/bernhardschroeder/2020/01/16/from-the-traditional-to-the-outrageous-four-brands-that-use-honest-transparency-to-build-loyal-customers-with-non-traditional-marketing-and-branding/?sh=6689f81320a1">increased transparency</a> and exhibit greater care for their customers, not just their shareholders.</p>
<h2>Why do Australians trust retailers so much?</h2>
<p>Of Australia’s top ten most trusted brands, seven are retailers – Bunnings, Woolworths, Aldi, Coles, Kmart, Myer and Big W. </p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/582082/original/file-20240314-28-h0xdf4.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="table shows that Bunnings is now Australia's most trusted brand, and Optus the least trusted brand." src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/582082/original/file-20240314-28-h0xdf4.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/582082/original/file-20240314-28-h0xdf4.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=279&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582082/original/file-20240314-28-h0xdf4.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=279&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582082/original/file-20240314-28-h0xdf4.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=279&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582082/original/file-20240314-28-h0xdf4.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=350&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582082/original/file-20240314-28-h0xdf4.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=350&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582082/original/file-20240314-28-h0xdf4.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=350&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">The latest changes to Australia’s most trusted and most distrusted brand rankings.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.roymorgan.com/findings/9472-risk-monitor-quartely-update-december-2023">Roy Morgan Single Source (Australia)</a></span>
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<p>This <a href="https://www.fastcompany.com/90901331/america-most-trusted-brands-companies-report-2023-morning-consult">stands in contrast</a> with the United States, where the most trusted brands are predominantly from the healthcare sector. </p>
<p>So why do retail brands dominate our trust rankings? </p>
<p>They certainly aren’t small local businesses. Our retail sector is <a href="https://www.afr.com/companies/retail/in-the-shopping-trolley-war-the-supermarkets-have-to-give-20240122-p5ez4k">highly concentrated</a>, dominated by a few giant retail brands. </p>
<p>We have only two major department stores (David Jones and Myer), three major discount department stores (Big W, Target and Kmart) and a <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-02-23/a-history-of-the-duopoly-coles-woolworths/103494070">supermarket “duopoly”</a> (Coles and Woolworths). </p>
<p>It’s most likely then that these brands have been enjoying leftover goodwill from the pandemic. </p>
<p>As Australia closed down to tackle COVID-19, the retail sector, and in particular the grocery sector, was credited with enabling customers to <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/inside-story-how-woolworths-and-coles-joined-forces-to-avert-covid-19-disaster-20200611-p551lk.html">safely access</a> food and household goods. </p>
<p>Compared with many other countries, we did not see a predominance of empty shelves across Australia. Retailers in this country stepped up – implementing or improving their online shopping capabilities and ensuring physical stores followed health guidelines and protocols.</p>
<p>Now, with the pandemic behind us and in an environment of high inflation, the <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-02-20/woolworths-coles-supermarket-tactics-grocery-four-corners/103405054">big two supermarkets</a> face <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/feb/20/do-coles-woolworths-specials-actually-offer-savings-choice-survey-supermarket-price-gouging-inquiry">growing distrust</a> and a <a href="https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Supermarket_Prices/SupermarketPrices">public inquiry</a>. </p>
<h2>Lessons from the losers</h2>
<p>After <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/nov/20/optus-scandals-network-outage-cyberattack-ceo-resignation-kelly-bayer-rosmarin">two high profile disasters</a>, Optus finds itself the most distrusted brand in Australia.</p>
<p>Its companions in the “most distrusted” group include social media brands Meta (Facebook), TikTok and X. </p>
<p>Qantas, Medibank Private, Newscorp, Nestle and Amazon also made the top 10. </p>
<p>The main reason consumers distrust brands is for a perceived failure to live up to their promises and responsibilities. </p>
<p>For example, <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2023/09/18/amazon-working-conditions-safety-osha-doj/">worker conditions at multinational firm Amazon</a> are seen by some consumers as a reflection of questionable business practices. </p>
<p>Other brands may have earned a reputation for failing to deliver the basics, like when chronic <a href="https://www.afr.com/companies/transport/compensating-travellers-for-cancelled-flights-long-overdue-20240212-p5f45c">flight delays and cancellations</a> plagued many Qantas customers. </p>
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Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/the-optus-outage-shows-us-the-perils-of-having-vital-networks-in-private-hands-217660">The Optus outage shows us the perils of having vital networks in private hands</a>
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<h2>Lessons from the winners</h2>
<p>On the flip side, consumers have rewarded budget-friendly retailers with increased trust in the most recent rankings. </p>
<p>Aldi, Kmart and Bunnings have improved their standing as trusted brands, no doubt in part because they have helped many Australian consumers deal with tight household budgets. </p>
<p>As discretionary consumer spending continues to tighten, we may see a more permanent consumer shopping <a href="https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/retail/rise-of-the-value-shopper-as-budgets-are-crunched-a-threat-and-opportunity-for-retailers/news-story/9b7a355cfb3866ec60d2ee42b7cbd567">shift towards value for money</a> brands and discounters. </p>
<p>Trust is a fragile thing to maintain once earned. As we move through 2024, Australian companies must pay close attention to their most important asset – strong relationships with those they serve.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/225578/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Louise Grimmer does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>Despite growing wariness of supermarkets, Australians have an enduring trust for retail brands that sets us apart from other countries.Louise Grimmer, Senior Lecturer in Retail Marketing, University of TasmaniaLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2254552024-03-15T01:57:11Z2024-03-15T01:57:11ZDire polls for Labor in Tasmania and Queensland with elections upcoming<p>The Tasmanian state election is on March 23. A <a href="https://australiainstitute.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Polling-Tasmanian-Election-2024-Web.pdf">uComms poll</a> for The Australia Institute, conducted March 4–5 from a sample of 1,174, gave the Liberals 37.1% of the vote, Labor 23.0%, the Greens 13.7%, the Jacqui Lambie Network 8.5%, independents 12.8% and others 5.0%.</p>
<p>The Liberals have governed since winning the 2014 election. If this poll’s Labor vote of 23% is accurate, that would be a dreadful result for Labor ten years after losing power.</p>
<p>By 46–36, respondents thought Tasmania was headed in the wrong, rather than right, direction. A breakdown by voting intentions shows large majorities of all non-Liberal voters thought Tasmania was headed in the wrong direction.</p>
<p>Tasmania uses the proportional Hare Clark system, with five electorates each returning seven members for a total of 35 lower house seats, up from 25 total seats at previous elections. A quota for election is one-eighth of the vote, or 12.5%.</p>
<p>Analyst <a href="https://kevinbonham.blogspot.com/2024/03/ucomms-labor-23-how-much-stock-should.html">Kevin Bonham</a> said the Liberals would be expected to win 14 of the 35 seats if this poll is accurate, Labor ten, the Greens four, the JLN 2–3 and independents 4–5. The Liberals would be well short of the 18 needed for a majority, but much better placed to form government than Labor.</p>
<p>Bonham said that during the 2021 Tasmanian election campaign, uComms released a poll that greatly understated the Liberals. They have changed their methods since to include SMS as well as voice robopolling. They were accurate at the <a href="https://theconversation.com/albaneses-ratings-surge-in-yougov-poll-tasmanian-poll-suggests-difficult-to-form-government-225083">federal Dunkley byelection</a>. Other recent Tasmanian polls also have the Liberals best placed to form a minority government.</p>
<h2>Queensland Newspoll: 54–46 to LNP</h2>
<p>The Queensland state election will be held in October. A <a href="https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/newspoll-queenslands-liberal-national-party-in-box-seat-for-majority-government/news-story/aac713de8fa9f0e67201bc0c64eae6e3">Newspoll</a>, conducted March 7–13 from a sample of 1,037, gave the Liberal National Party a 54–46 lead over Labor, representing a seven-point swing to the LNP since the October 2020 election. Primary votes were 42% LNP, 30% Labor, 13% Greens, 8% One Nation and 7% for all Others.</p>
<p>Labor Premier Steven Miles had a 49% dissatisfied, 38% satisfied rating (net -11), while LNP leader David Crisafulli was at net +14. Crisafulli led Miles as better premier by 43–37. Just 26% thought Labor deserved to be re-elected, while 58% thought it was time to give someone else a go. This is the first Queensland Newspoll since before the 2020 election.</p>
<p>After Miles replaced Annastacia Palaszczuk as Labor leader and premier in December, there were two relatively good uComms polls for Labor, with the <a href="https://theconversation.com/labor-steady-in-newspoll-but-down-in-resolve-its-tied-in-queensland-223853">one in mid-February</a> having a 50–50 tie. But this poll is a reversion to bad polling for a government headed for defeat in October. </p>
<p>Labor has governed in Queensland since 2015, and it was easily the worst state for Labor at the <a href="https://results.aec.gov.au/27966/Website/HouseTppByState-27966.htm">2022 federal election</a>, so a defeat for Labor is the expected outcome.</p>
<p>On Saturday, there will be Queensland state byelections in Labor-held Inala and Ipswich West, and Queensland local government elections, including for the high-profile <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/elections/bcc/2024/guides">Brisbane City Council</a>. Labor won <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/elections/bcc/2024/guide/inal">Inala</a> by 78.2–21.8 and <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/elections/bcc/2024/guide/ipwe">Ipswich West</a> by 64.3–35.7 against the LNP in 2020.</p>
<p>The <a href="https://www.pollbludger.net/2024/03/15/queensland-newspoll-state-by-elections-and-brisbane-city-council/">Poll Bludger</a> reported Friday that a DemosAU poll of the Brisbane City Council, conducted March 8–14 from a sample of 1,034, had the incumbent LNP Brisbane mayor leading Labor by 58–42, and the LNP also likely to retain their majority on the council.</p>
<h2>Federal Freshwater poll steady at 51–49 to Labor</h2>
<p>A national <a href="https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/pm-shows-signs-of-recovery-as-labor-stops-the-rot-20240310-p5fb6x">Freshwater poll</a> for The Australian Financial Review, conducted March 8–10 from a sample of 1,051, gave Labor a 51–49 lead, unchanged since the February Freshwater poll. Primary votes were 39% Coalition (up one), 31% Labor (steady), 14% Greens (steady) and 16% for all Others (down one).</p>
<p>Albanese’s net approval <a href="https://theconversation.com/labor-steady-in-newspoll-but-down-in-resolve-its-tied-in-queensland-223853">was steady</a> at -7, with 45% unfavourable and 37% favourable. Dutton’s net approval fell four points to -13. Albanese’s lead as preferred PM increased to 47–38 from 42–38 in February.</p>
<p>The Coalition’s lead over Labor on best to manage cost of living dropped to three points from six points in February, but they still led Labor by ten points on managing the economy. Cost of living was <a href="https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/what-voters-really-mean-when-they-say-the-cost-of-living-is-hurting-20240310-p5fb6w">rated an important issue</a> by 72%, up three since February, with housing second on 42%.</p>
<h2>Essential poll: Labor regains slight lead</h2>
<p>A national <a href="https://essentialreport.com.au/reports/federal-political-insights">Essential poll</a>, conducted March 6–10 from a sample of 1,126, gave Labor a 48–47 lead including undecided, a reversal of a 48–47 lead for the Coalition last fortnight. Primary votes were 35% Coalition (steady), 32% Labor (up two), 11% Greens (down two), 8% One Nation (up one), 2% UAP (steady), 8% for all Others (steady) and 5% undecided (up one).</p>
<p>Respondents were told that Australia spends $55.6 billion <a href="https://essentialreport.com.au/reports/12-march-2024">on defence</a>, making it the fourth highest expense in the budget. On this spending, 51% thought it about the right amount, 29% too much and 20% not enough.</p>
<p>On Israel’s military action in Gaza, 37% thought Israel should permanently withdraw from Gaza, 20% agree to a temporary ceasefire and 18% thought Israel was justified in continuing its actions.</p>
<p>On Australia’s relationship with China, 67% thought it a complex relationship to be managed, 20% that China is a threat to be confronted and 13% that China is a positive opportunity to be realised. There was no change in these responses since March 2023.</p>
<p>On Australia’s role in global affairs, 38% thought we should be an independent middle power with influence in the Asia-Pacific region, 20% primarily an ally of the United States and 25% said we should do our best not to engage in world affairs.</p>
<h2>Morgan poll and Cook byelection</h2>
<p>A <a href="https://www.roymorgan.com/findings/9487-federal-voting-intention-march-12-2024">national Morgan poll</a>, conducted March 4–10 from a sample of 1,714, gave Labor a 51.5–48.5 lead, a two-point gain for the Coalition since the previous week. Primary votes were 38% Coalition (up 1.5), 32% Labor (down two), 13% Greens (down 0.5), 4% One Nation (up 0.5), 9% independents (up 0.5) and 4% others (steady).</p>
<p>The byelection in former Liberal prime minister Scott Morrison’s <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/elections/cook-by-election-2024">seat of Cook</a> will be held on April 13. At the 2022 election, Morrison defeated Labor by a 62.4–37.6 margin. Candidate nominations close next Thursday, with Labor not expected to contest.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/225455/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Adrian Beaumont does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>Polls aren’t favouring state Labor parties. Based on the latest figures, Labor would struggle to form government in Tasmania, while support for the party in Queensland has dipped.Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of MelbourneLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2242532024-03-15T01:53:33Z2024-03-15T01:53:33ZUltra-fast fashion is a disturbing trend undermining efforts to make the whole industry more sustainable<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/582074/original/file-20240314-22-28steu.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=50%2C10%2C6659%2C4456&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">
</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/young-woman-lying-on-pile-different-2212805919">New Africa, Shutterstock</a></span></figcaption></figure><p>Since the 1990s, <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09593960903498300">fast fashion</a> has enabled everyday people to buy the latest catwalk trends. But the sheer volume of garments being whipped up, sold and soon discarded is <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12940-018-0433-7">contributing to a global sustainability crisis</a>.</p>
<p>Now, just when the fashion industry should be waking up and breaking free of this vicious cycle, it’s heading in the opposite direction. We’re on a downward spiral, from <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s43017-020-0039-9">fast fashion</a> to <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40691-023-00337-9">ultra-fast fashion</a>. The amount of <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s43017-020-0039-9">natural resources consumed and waste produced</a> is snowballing.</p>
<p>Ultra-fast fashion is marked by even faster production cycles, blink-and-you’ll-miss-it trends, and <a href="https://www.marieclaire.com.au/latest-news/what-s-the-real-cost-of-shein/">poor labour practices</a>. Brands like Shein, Boohoo and Cider are liberated from the concept of seasonal collections. Instead they are <a href="https://sk.sagepub.com/cases/strategy-at-shein-the-secrets-of-ultra-fast-fashion">producing garments at breakneck speeds</a> and self-generating <a href="https://www.vogue.com/article/core-aesthetic-microtrends-2023">microtrends</a> such as balletcore, Barbiecore and even mermaidcore. At the same time there is <a href="https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/IJRDM-04-2019-0133/full/html">limited transparency or accountability</a> around clothing supply chains. </p>
<p>The <a href="https://intellectdiscover.com/content/journals/10.1386/infs_00082_7">overproduction and consumption of clothing</a> cannot be allowed to continue. Without change, the industry will account for <a href="https://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/fashion-and-the-circular-economy-deep-dive">26% of the world’s carbon budget</a> for limiting global warming to 2°C by 2050. The fashion industry must take responsibility for its actions. Policymakers also have an important role to play in enabling the necessary shift towards a <a href="https://intellectdiscover.com/content/journals/10.1386/sft_0010_1">more responsible and circular fashion economy</a>. And let’s not forget the power of consumers.</p>
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<figcaption><span class="caption">The dark side of Shein’s success (China Tonight, ABC News)</span></figcaption>
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Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/to-make-our-wardrobes-sustainable-we-must-cut-how-many-new-clothes-we-buy-by-75-179569">To make our wardrobes sustainable, we must cut how many new clothes we buy by 75%</a>
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<h2>Cheap clothing at what cost?</h2>
<p>It was once thought the <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/15487733.2020.1829848">pandemic would trigger a transition</a> to a more sustainable fashion industry. Unfortunately in reality the industry is getting worse, not better. </p>
<p>Most ultra-fast fashion brands emerged in the late 2010s following the most well known, Shein, founded in 2008. These online, direct-to-consumer brands exploded in popularity during lockdowns, with Shein holding the title of the <a href="https://time.com/6247732/shein-climate-change-labor-fashion/">world’s most popular brand in 2020</a>.</p>
<p>Established brands such as Gap introduce <a href="https://www.wired.com/story/fast-cheap-out-of-control-inside-rise-of-shein/">12,000 new items a year and H&M 25,000</a>. But Shein leaves them in the dust, listing 1.3 million items in the same amount of time. How is this even possible? </p>
<p>The ultra-fast fashion model <a href="https://www.wired.com/story/fast-cheap-out-of-control-inside-rise-of-shein/">thrives on data</a> and <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/apr/18/ultra-fast-fashion-retail-sites-shein">addictive social media marketing</a> to create insatiable consumer demand.</p>
<p>But Shein’s incredibly low prices (its website has thousands of items under A$5) come at a human cost. The company’s own 2021 Sustainability and Social Impact Report (later removed from the site) found <a href="https://fashionmagazine.com/style/shein-influencer-trip/">only 2% of its factories and warehouses met its own worker safety standards</a>, with the rest requiring corrective action. </p>
<p>The brand has also forgone in-house designers. Instead it works with independent suppliers who can <a href="https://www.wired.com/story/fast-cheap-out-of-control-inside-rise-of-shein/">design and manufacture a garment in two weeks</a>.</p>
<p>The result is an incredibly profitable business model. Shein filed for an initial public offering (IPO) last year to value the brand at US$136 billion, up from US$2.5 billion in 2018.</p>
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<figcaption><span class="caption">How Shein Built a $66B Fast-Fashion Empire (WSJ)</span></figcaption>
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<p>Shifting from fast to ultra-fast fashion has serious environmental and social consequences. This includes even more exploitative labour practices. Shein garment workers reportedly work <a href="https://www.publiceye.ch/en/media-corner/press-releases/detail/75-hour-weeks-for-shein-public-eye-looks-behind-the-chinese-online-fashion-giants-glitzy-front">75-hour weeks and warehouses operate 24/7</a>. </p>
<p>Ignoring this shift isn’t just a fashion faux pas. Doing so jeopardises national efforts for a more sustainable fashion industry.</p>
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Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/fast-fashion-why-garment-workers-lives-are-still-in-danger-10-years-after-rana-plaza-podcast-203122">Fast Fashion: Why garment workers' lives are still in danger 10 years after Rana Plaza — Podcast</a>
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<h2>A seamless transition to sustainability</h2>
<p>The Australian Fashion Council is leading a <a href="https://ausfashioncouncil.com/program/seamless/">national product stewardship scheme</a> called Seamless that promises to transform the fashion industry by 2030. </p>
<p>The idea is to bring fashion into the <a href="https://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/a-new-textiles-economy">circular economy</a>. Ultimately that means zero waste, but in the meantime raw materials would be kept in the supply chain for as long as possible by designing out and minimising waste. </p>
<p>Members will contribute a four-cent levy for every clothing item they produce or import. </p>
<p>These funds go into clothing collection, research, recycling projects and education campaigns.</p>
<p>BIG W, David Jones, Lorna Jane, Rip Curl, R.M. Williams, THE ICONIC, <a href="https://ausfashioncouncil.com/womenswear-giant-sussan-group-joins-seamless-foundation-members/">Sussan Group</a> and <a href="https://cottonongroup.com.au/news/cotton-on-signs-seamless/">Cotton On</a> are <a href="https://ausfashioncouncil.com/program/seamless/">Seamless Foundation Members</a>. Each has <a href="https://ausfashioncouncil.com/meet-the-foundation-members-of-seamless/">contributed A$100,000</a> to the development of the scheme.</p>
<p>As <a href="https://ausfashioncouncil.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/AFC-NCPSS-Global-Scan-Report.pdf">one of the world’s first</a> industry-led collective product stewardship initiatives for clothing textiles, Seamless presents a unique opportunity to drive change towards a more sustainable and circular fashion industry. </p>
<p>But there is a risk ultra-fast fashion brands <a href="https://stewardshipexcellence.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/White-Paper-Overcoming-Freeriders-September-2021.pdf">may act as freeriders</a> in Seamless, benefiting from the investment and initiatives without making meaningful contributions. Shein and others will continue putting more and more product on the market, which will need to be dealt with at the end of its short life. But if they fail to commit to the scheme, they won’t be the ones paying for that. </p>
<p>The government-funded consortium must also recognise ultra-fast fashion in tackling the industry’s environmental and social sustainability challenges. At the moment they’re only talking about fast fashion and ignoring the rise of ultra-fast fashion. Their global scan, for example, includes a discussion of fast fashion and <a href="https://ausfashioncouncil.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/AFC-NCPSS-Global-Scan-Report.pdf">no mention of ultra-fast fashion</a>. </p>
<p>This also points to a lack of data more broadly in the industry but in the case of Seamless, it could have a big impact if this growing market segment is ignored. </p>
<p>Shein and Temu are estimated to earn a <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-03-08/rise-of-shein-temu-effect-on-australian-retail-ecommerce-future/103546188">combined $2 billion in sales in 2024</a>, with customers from all walks of life.</p>
<p><div data-react-class="InstagramEmbed" data-react-props="{"url":"https://www.instagram.com/reel/CyK4_Z-tRCe","accessToken":"127105130696839|b4b75090c9688d81dfd245afe6052f20"}"></div></p>
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Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/fast-fashions-waste-problem-could-be-solved-by-recycled-textiles-but-brands-need-to-help-boost-production-213802">Fast fashion's waste problem could be solved by recycled textiles but brands need to help boost production</a>
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<h2>The critical crackdown</h2>
<p>Some brands are actively engaged and <a href="https://insideretail.com.au/business/ebay-australia-names-dempstah-as-circular-fashion-fund-winner-202402">working towards a more sustainable future</a>. But others such as Temu are learning from Shein and <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-11-06/fashion-retailer-shein-s-competitors-are-copying-its-super-fast-business-model?sref=Yg3sQEZ2">looking to emulate</a> their business model. </p>
<p>The transition to a more sustainable and responsible fashion industry requires a greater understanding of ultra-fast fashion, urgent systemic changes and collective efforts. </p>
<p>The <a href="https://www.uts.edu.au/isf">Institute for Sustainable Futures</a>, where I work, is a founding member of an international academic research network aimed at tackling the complexities of ultra-fast fashion. That includes how ultra-fast fashion is affecting the livelihoods of garment workers, how it’s fuelling textile waste and underscoring the industry’s struggle to embrace circular economy principles. We’re also investigating how to reshape consumer behaviour, away from <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/education/war-on-waste-shein-haul/102708968">social media-fuelled hauls</a> towards more sustainable consumption particularly among Gen-Z consumers. </p>
<p>Last month, Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek announced a <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-02-21/plibersek-warns-fast-fashion-considering-clothes-levy/103492154">potential intervention</a>, perhaps by introducing minimum environmental standards or a clothing levy by July.</p>
<p>The clock is ticking. It is time to lay the foundation for a more sustainable and just fashion industry. Australia has a <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/1745-5871.12460">rich fashion history</a> and is home to many leading local brands – many of whom have gone global. These brands show us what is possible when good design, sustainability and innovation drive an industry.</p>
<p>Ultimately, our collective choices wield immense power. By understanding the consequences of our fashion habits and advocating for change, we can all be catalysts for a more sustainable and just fashion industry.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/224253/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Taylor Brydges is an Advisor to the Product Stewardship Centre of Excellence, which has provided mentorship to Seamless. </span></em></p>We know fast fashion is bad for the environment. Ultra-fast fashion makes matters worse. This disturbing trend towards disposable clothing is the opposite of sustainable. Here’s what must be done.Taylor Brydges, Research Principal, University of Technology SydneyLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2230052024-03-14T23:25:51Z2024-03-14T23:25:51ZLove, loss and tears – but also laughter: Belvoir’s compelling and skilful staging of Holding the Man<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/582076/original/file-20240314-22-9tv5zm.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=0%2C7%2C1281%2C1908&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">
</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">Brett Boardman/Belvoir</span></span></figcaption></figure><p>Walking through Chippendale on my way to Sydney’s Belvoir Street Theatre, where this production of Holding the Man is playing, I pass by the York Theatre. This was the theatre where, in 1985, Timothy Conigrave, author of the original memoir upon which the play is based, was rehearsing a touring show of Neil Simon’s Brighton Beach Memoirs. He had to excuse himself from one rehearsal for an appointment where he learned his HIV-positive diagnosis. </p>
<p>Then, walking up the hill to Surry Hills, I get to the Belvoir Street Theatre itself. Five years after that initial diagnosis, Conigrave’s play, Thieving Boy, was getting its first rehearsed reading at the Belvoir. He wasn’t able to attend because he’d been kept in hospital with <em>Pneumocystis</em> pneumonia, <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2907978/">PCP</a>, an AIDS-defining illness.</p>
<p>To watch this revival of Tommy Murphy’s beautifully crafted adaptation of Conigrave’s memoir at the Belvoir is to inhabit spaces that are filled with the book’s memories. </p>
<p>One of the things that memoir can do is to hold a space open for memories to live on in the world, personal memories that would otherwise be lost. Conigrave’s 1995 book, Holding the Man, is a rare gift, perfectly capturing what it was like to grow up gay in the decades just before the arrival of HIV. </p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/holding-the-man-and-bringing-hiv-aids-in-australia-to-a-mainstream-audience-43250">Holding the Man, and bringing HIV/AIDS in Australia to a mainstream audience</a>
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</em>
</p>
<hr>
<h2>Noticing the small things</h2>
<p>At the book’s heart is a joyous love story between Tim and his high school sweetheart, John Caleo. There is, of course, the overarching trajectory of John’s death and the impact of HIV on their friends and families. But the book works its remarkable magic on a reader by disarming you with the tiny details of somebody’s life.</p>
<p>It is the small things that are often the most affecting in Conigrave’s writing: what people were wearing, what they were listening to, how they looked in certain turns of the light, the awkwardness and fun of sex, what made them smile or laugh.</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/582077/original/file-20240314-30-o1sneg.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="Actors on stage" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/582077/original/file-20240314-30-o1sneg.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/582077/original/file-20240314-30-o1sneg.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582077/original/file-20240314-30-o1sneg.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582077/original/file-20240314-30-o1sneg.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582077/original/file-20240314-30-o1sneg.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582077/original/file-20240314-30-o1sneg.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582077/original/file-20240314-30-o1sneg.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Tom Conroy is superb in the central role.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Brett Boardman/Belvoir</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Eamon Flack’s production captures well – and with a lovely, light touch – this sense of fleeting memories that are, nevertheless, still available to us. Tom Conroy is superb in the central role. He takes us from nine-year-old Tim to grieving lover with all of the empathy and playfulness that the part requires. Neither Conigrave’s book nor Murphy’s script shy away from Tim’s flaws; he is, at times, petulant and selfish, but always charming, recognisable and human. </p>
<p>Conroy is joined by a wonderful cast: Danny Ball as John, his lover, but also an ensemble of four performers (Russell Dykstra, Rebecca Massey, Guy Simon and Shannen Alyce Quan) who cycle through all the other people in Tim’s life. They are all great, but special mentions for Massey who wears more wigs than Cher and revels in every part. Guy Simon’s two appearances as a schoolfriend’s mum are also an absolute joy.</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/582078/original/file-20240314-20-vsrtmi.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="The cast dance on a pink stage." src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/582078/original/file-20240314-20-vsrtmi.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/582078/original/file-20240314-20-vsrtmi.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582078/original/file-20240314-20-vsrtmi.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582078/original/file-20240314-20-vsrtmi.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582078/original/file-20240314-20-vsrtmi.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582078/original/file-20240314-20-vsrtmi.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582078/original/file-20240314-20-vsrtmi.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
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<span class="caption">Eamon Flack’s production balances tears and laughter.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Brett Boardman/Belvoir</span></span>
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<p>The wit, charm and love of the opening act (schoolboy crushes, dancing, music and a lot of laughter) are balanced well with the pathos of the second half (the endurance of love, loss and tears, but also more laughter). Flack’s direction knits together the constant shifts in focus – an essential part of memoir and of memory plays – with an ease that only seems effortless; this is a compelling and skilful use of stage and script.</p>
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<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/class-queerness-and-illness-in-the-post-crisis-era-rewriting-the-narrative-of-hiv-176466">Class, queerness and illness in the ‘post-crisis’ era: rewriting the narrative of HIV</a>
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</em>
</p>
<hr>
<h2>A timely reminder</h2>
<p>This is also a production that knows it is addressing an audience in 2024, not in 1995, when Conigrave’s book was first published, nor in 2006 when Murphy’s adaptation was first staged. We’ve lived through a lot since, not only the bruising marriage equality vote in Australia, but also a global sense that the lives of queer people might be newly under threat. </p>
<figure class="align-right zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/582075/original/file-20240314-22-ffziqi.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=1%2C0%2C1275%2C1913&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="Two men kiss" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/582075/original/file-20240314-22-ffziqi.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=1%2C0%2C1275%2C1913&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/582075/original/file-20240314-22-ffziqi.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=899&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582075/original/file-20240314-22-ffziqi.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=899&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582075/original/file-20240314-22-ffziqi.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=899&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582075/original/file-20240314-22-ffziqi.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=1130&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582075/original/file-20240314-22-ffziqi.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=1130&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/582075/original/file-20240314-22-ffziqi.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=1130&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
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<span class="caption">This production captures the sense of fleeting memories.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Brett Boardman/Belvoir</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The lives and loves of gay men, our friends and families, are unavoidably threaded through (pulled apart and drawn together) by what happened in the 1980s and 1990s. This production is an important and timely reminder of what was lost, what was gained, and of the precious memories that we need to keep alive.</p>
<p>On the day of the opening night, the NSW parliament was hearing the first reading of a bill that would <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-03-13/gay-conversion-therapy-nsw-parliament-explainer/103580746">outlaw gay conversion practices</a>, the victims of which testify to its corrosive and violent impact on their lives. </p>
<p>Here’s hoping the ban on such practices is one more step in restoring joy to the lives of queer kids in our city and state. </p>
<p><em>Holding the Man is at Belvoir, Sydney, until April 14.</em> </p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/treatments-as-torture-gay-conversion-therapys-deep-roots-in-australia-95588">'Treatments' as torture: gay conversion therapy's deep roots in Australia</a>
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</em>
</p>
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<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/223005/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Huw Griffiths does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>Eamon Flack’s production captures well – and with a lovely, light touch – the sense of fleeting memories that are, nevertheless, still available to us.Huw Griffiths, Associate Professor of English Literature, University of SydneyLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2257872024-03-14T23:24:27Z2024-03-14T23:24:27ZLost in translation: the geopolitical risks of declining foreign language learning in Australia and NZ<p>As the 2024 academic year begins in Australia and New Zealand, optimism over the state of foreign language learning at universities is in short supply.</p>
<p>Languages have taken a post-pandemic battering. In 2023 alone, New Zealand’s Victoria University of Wellington decided to <a href="https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/498474/devastated-victoria-university-axes-229-jobs-and-six-courses">shut down</a> its Greek, Latin and Italian programmes, while the University of Otago in Dunedin opted to <a href="https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/493602/universities-proposed-language-cuts-threaten-new-zealand-s-interests-academics-warn">discontinue</a> German.</p>
<p>In Australia, Sydney’s Macquarie University has <a href="https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/australian-students-seem-to-be-losing-interest-in-languages-should-we-all-be-worried/o5arcr12r">proposed</a> cutting five languages altogether – including German, Italian and Russian. <a href="https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/teu-disgusted-and-horrified-over-aut-decision-to-cut-170-academic-jobs/7TMEVG5RMBCEJYV6D2AGYLFPV4/">Chinese</a>, <a href="https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/australian-students-seem-to-be-losing-interest-in-languages-should-we-all-be-worried/o5arcr12r">Croatian</a>, <a href="https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/unviable-la-trobe-proposes-cutting-humanities-and-education-courses-20201111-p56dqu.html">Hindi</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/closure-of-indonesian-language-programs-in-australian-universities-will-weaken-ties-between-the-two-countries-158894">Indonesian</a> and <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/apr/16/cutting-asian-language-courses-at-australian-universities-hurting-students-job-prospects-experts-say">Japanese</a> are just some of the other languages that have faced funding scrutiny at institutions across Australia and New Zealand since 2020.</p>
<p>The cuts are coming despite the outbreak of new wars and soaring geopolitical tensions. As <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/australia-invest-additional-a111-bln-over-next-decade-defence-2024-02-19/">Australia</a> and <a href="https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/495115/changing-global-tensions-prompt-new-zealand-to-ramp-up-security-and-defence-resources">New Zealand</a> both look to spend billions more on military capabilities, it’s equally vital to support foreign language learning.</p>
<p>Languages are an essential component of the diplomatic and intelligence toolkits. A decline in their teaching and learning has repercussions beyond university campuses.</p>
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<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/closure-of-indonesian-language-programs-in-australian-universities-will-weaken-ties-between-the-two-countries-158894">Closure of Indonesian language programs in Australian universities will weaken ties between the two countries</a>
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</em>
</p>
<hr>
<h2>No strategy for strategic languages</h2>
<p>Disappointingly, scant attention was paid to languages in the recent <a href="https://www.education.gov.au/australian-universities-accord">Australian Universities Accord</a> review of the higher education system.</p>
<p>A rare exception was an observation that promoting Indonesian skills would help Australia to “engage better with our region” – a hint to policymakers about why languages are more than just a “nice to have”. </p>
<p>In New Zealand, unfortunately, the previous Labour government ultimately did not pursue the idea of a <a href="https://assets.education.govt.nz/public/Documents/our-work/information-releases/Advice-Seen-by-our-Ministers/June-2021/10.-1262676-BN-Hipkins_Redacted.pdf">national languages strategy</a>. But both Canberra and Wellington should consider conducting dedicated stocktakes of language learning within the wider diplomatic and societal contexts. </p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/fewer-u-s-college-students-are-studying-a-foreign-language-and-that-spells-trouble-for-national-security-198135">Fewer U.S. college students are studying a foreign language − and that spells trouble for national security</a>
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</p>
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<p>This would be timely, given the apparent wane in learning strategic languages such as Arabic, Russian and Chinese throughout the English-speaking world, even as geopolitical tensions build. All three are official languages of the United Nations. </p>
<p>Despite wars in Ukraine and Gaza, Russian and Arabic both <a href="https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/article282706213.html">failed to feature</a> in the top ten most popular languages studied on one of the biggest language learning apps, Duolingo. Portuguese has overtaken Russian in popularity.</p>
<p>A <a href="https://www.mla.org/Resources/Guidelines-and-Data/Reports-and-Professional-Guidelines/Enrollments-in-Languages-Other-Than-English-in-United-States-Institutions-of-Higher-Education">2021 census</a> by the Modern Language Association showed US university enrolments in Arabic fell by 27.4% compared with 2016 levels. Over the same period, Chinese declined by 14.3% and Russian fell by 13.5%.</p>
<p>In the United Kingdom, enrolments in Chinese studies reduced by 31% between 2012 and 2021, according to <a href="https://www.economist.com/china/2023/08/24/why-fewer-university-students-are-studying-mandarin">figures cited</a> by The Economist.</p>
<p>At Australian and New Zealand institutions, Russian and Arabic are in particularly short supply. No New Zealand university teaches Arabic.</p>
<h2>Some languages on the rise</h2>
<p>For all the pessimism, some green shoots may be pushing through in 2024. Preliminary enrolment data from the University of New England (UNE) in New South Wales suggest German, Italian, Japanese and Spanish student numbers have increased for the first time since 2021.</p>
<p>Some positives can also be found in a <a href="https://www.mla.org/Resources/Guidelines-and-Data/Reports-and-Professional-Guidelines/Enrollments-in-Languages-Other-Than-English-in-United-States-Institutions-of-Higher-Education">US survey</a> of university language enrolments. Learners of Korean at US universities soared by 38.3% from 2016 to 2021. The increase seems to parallel the rise of Korean popular culture in the West.</p>
<p>For universities, the challenge is to integrate near-limitless online resources with language instruction. The learning experience should be as realistic as possible. But it also needs to meet and embrace the diverse needs of learners.</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/in-russias-war-against-ukraine-one-of-the-battlegrounds-is-language-itself-201170">In Russia's war against Ukraine, one of the battlegrounds is language itself</a>
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<p>At UNE, for example, German learners now apply their language skills to create videos and games in German – and design their own grammar worksheets to teach others. The <a href="https://universitiesaustralia.edu.au/policy-submissions/teaching-learning-funding/australian-awards-for-university-teaching/">Australian Awards for University Teaching</a> recently <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/posts/uninewengland_proudtobeune-futurefitfor70years-aaut2023-activity-7168012163909988353-3OeL/">recognised</a> the success of this “portfolio assessment” approach.</p>
<p>Grassroots initiatives also offer inspiration. Informal language exchanges are taking advantage of the healthy post-COVID recovery in international student numbers in both <a href="https://www.afr.com/work-and-careers/education/international-student-numbers-hit-a-record-proving-unis-wrong-20230904-p5e1y0">Australia</a> and <a href="https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/496168/education-sector-says-international-students-flooding-back-into-country">New Zealand</a>.</p>
<p>These gatherings in cafés and pubs, including in <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-10-12/language-learning-exchange-in-canberra-pub/102964322">Canberra</a> and <a href="https://www.eventbrite.co.nz/e/wellington-language-exchange-tickets-846948013307">Wellington</a>, allow participants to practise their chosen languages in an informal setting outside the classroom. The events help learners build confidence and competence. </p>
<p>In a multicultural society, these community events also perform an important social function. They connect local learners with native speakers who are often immigrants or international students.</p>
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<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/3-barriers-that-stop-students-choosing-to-learn-a-language-in-high-school-178033">3 barriers that stop students choosing to learn a language in high school</a>
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<h2>AI is no substitute</h2>
<p>Studying a language inevitably involves gaining insight into another culture and history. The cultural and political dimensions should not be seen as entirely separate.</p>
<p>Across the West, Russian was <a href="https://teara.govt.nz/mi/classical-and-foreign-language-studies/print">widely taught</a> during the Cold War, while the <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/2003/EDUCATION/11/06/security.language.reut/index.html">popularity of Arabic surged</a> after 9/11 and the Iraq War.</p>
<p>But the opposite phenomenon now seems to be happening. Following a further decline in Russian learner numbers, a <a href="https://sras.org/educators/survey/2022-college-survey-of-enrollments-in-russian-language-classes/">US survey reported</a> in 2022 that students appeared keen to “distance themselves from anything Russia related”.</p>
<p>Finding solutions to these challenges will not be easy – but they must be found. While AI technology is improving in leaps and bounds, machine translation will never substitute for the crucial human role foreign language learning plays in understanding other worldviews.</p>
<p>In stormy geopolitical times, this ability is more valuable than ever.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/225787/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>Diplomacy and national security rely on expertise in foreign languages and cultures. Australia and New Zealand need to address the looming deficit in university foreign language courses.Geoffrey Miller, PhD candidate in Politics, University of OtagoMiriam Neigert, Lecturer in German Studies, University of New EnglandLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2251822024-03-14T23:18:30Z2024-03-14T23:18:30ZGuerrilla festival no-photo2024 is highlighting the unseen work of Palestinian photographers in Gaza<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/581178/original/file-20240312-26-zgt90x.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=0%2C0%2C1597%2C1197&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">
</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">no-photo2024</span></span></figcaption></figure><blockquote>
<p>No photos of the war. No photos of its victims. No mention of the hundreds of photographers who have died taking them. We are a group of activists and artists who believe the future will be shaped by those who can see it. We stand together against the forces that refuse to let us. The future is being shaped by art festivals that choose what we see. Hiding behind the pretty face of diversity, while refusing to see the genocide.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>This arresting public statement accompanies a series of large-scale street posters called <a href="https://www.instagram.com/no_photo2024/">no-photo2024</a>. The anonymous artists and activists behind no-photo2024 are highlighting the exclusion of Palestinian photographers from the <a href="https://photo.org.au">PHOTO 2024</a> festival, now showing in Melbourne. </p>
<p>The no-photo2024 posters are strategically placed near PHOTO 2024 venues. Their aim is to highlight the contradiction of excluding the atrocities captured by Palestinian photographers in Gaza. </p>
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<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/australian-medias-instagram-posts-on-gaza-war-have-an-anti-palestine-bias-that-has-real-world-consequences-221609">Australian media's Instagram posts on Gaza war have an anti-Palestine bias. That has real-world consequences</a>
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<hr>
<h2>PHOTO 2024</h2>
<p>Although the organisation behind PHOTO 2024, <a href="https://photo.org.au/about/">Photo Australia</a>, calls itself “apolitical”, the festival <a href="https://www.theage.com.au/culture/art-and-design/selfies-flood-fed-square-in-a-festival-for-the-instagram-age-20210211-p571j6.html">has built its reputation</a> by promoting and commissioning politically charged works by First Nations, African, Middle Eastern and LGBTQI+ photographers. Big names from previous festivals include Hoda Afshar, Christian Thompson, Paul Mpagi Sepuya, Hayley Millar Baker, Broomberg and Chanarin, Mohamed Bourouissa and Aziz Hazara.</p>
<p>The festival commissions new work for outdoor projects and through an open call process invites submissions from artists and photographers worldwide. Applications are assessed by an international jury of leading photography and visual art curators. The festival also stages public programs and incorporates satellite events and exhibitions in collaboration with cultural, education, industry and regional partners. </p>
<p>The festival is well known for setting themes that <a href="https://photo.org.au/channel/photo-live-human-rights">promote photography’s role in challenging power</a>. PHOTO 2021 explored the theme of “the truth” at the height of Donald Trump’s presidency, attracting projects focused on the reliability of photography in social media, fake news and AI. The program that year boasted supporting “<a href="https://photo.org.au/events/photo-live-brook-andrew-and-kate-golding">First Nations truth-telling</a>” and “the experience of <a href="https://photo.org.au/channel/making-of-agonistes">whistleblowers</a> who have spoken out for those whose voices were never meant to be heard”. </p>
<p>This year, the festival continues to promote socio-political issues with the theme “the future is shaped by those who can see it”. Events include an ideas summit exploring <a href="https://photo.org.au/events/ideas-summit">photography as activism</a>, among other timely discussions. The hero image by Morroccan-Belgian photographer Mous Lamrabat presents two African models adorned in fashionable garments <a href="https://www.artdoc.photo/articles/mous-lamrabat-blessings-from-mousganistan">which read</a> “stop terrorising our world”.</p>
<p>But there <a href="https://photo.org.au/artists/">are no photographs</a> from Palestinian photographers.</p>
<p>The Conversation approached PHOTO 2024 for comment. They said:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Over 150 artists are exhibiting at PHOTO 2024 International Festival of Photography, selected in response to a curatorial theme set in 2022. PHOTO Australia did not exclude any artists due to race, religion, nationality, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or any other personal characteristics. PHOTO Australia stands by its values to create an inclusive platform that doesn’t discriminate, censor nor diminish the plethora of expressions artists bring to the world. Artists exhibited by PHOTO Australia were invited directly, or applied to our open call in February 2023 and were selected in consultation with local and international curators. <br>
<br>
The majority of the program is presented by 40 cultural institutions and independent galleries who curated their own exhibitions in response to the theme, and selected artists according to their own curatorial policies.</p>
</blockquote>
<h2>The contract of photography</h2>
<p>The no-photo2024 posters present a black square or rectangle symbolising a redacted photograph. Adjacent descriptive text reveals the hidden narrative of the censored image. Every poster is printed with a caption attributing the text description and the redacted image to a Palestinian photographer.</p>
<p>The juxtaposition of the redacted image and the textual description not only commemorates the efforts of Palestinian photographers but also prompts a broader reflection on the societal and ethical implications of selectively withholding images of atrocity from the public eye. </p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="A poster with a black square and one with text." src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/581477/original/file-20240313-26-3pk095.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/581477/original/file-20240313-26-3pk095.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581477/original/file-20240313-26-3pk095.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581477/original/file-20240313-26-3pk095.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581477/original/file-20240313-26-3pk095.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581477/original/file-20240313-26-3pk095.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581477/original/file-20240313-26-3pk095.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">The posters have been placed on the streets of Melbourne.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">no-photo2024</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The posters expertly draw on the influential work of Israeli writer Ariella Azoulay and the outspoken Jewish-American theorist Judith Butler. </p>
<p>Azoulay’s <a href="https://press.princeton.edu/books/paperback/9781890951894/the-civil-contract-of-photography">The Civil Contract of Photography</a> (2008) explores photography’s political and ethical conditions, proposing it as a social practice linked to citizenship, human rights and sovereignty – not just an art form. </p>
<p>She introduces the idea of a “civil contract” where photography acts as an agreement of mutuality and responsibility between the photographer, subject and the viewer. </p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/581487/original/file-20240313-18-2nfxl2.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="Posters in an ally." src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/581487/original/file-20240313-18-2nfxl2.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/581487/original/file-20240313-18-2nfxl2.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581487/original/file-20240313-18-2nfxl2.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581487/original/file-20240313-18-2nfxl2.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581487/original/file-20240313-18-2nfxl2.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581487/original/file-20240313-18-2nfxl2.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581487/original/file-20240313-18-2nfxl2.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Ariella Azoulay suggests photography can build solidarity.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">no-photo2024</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Azoulay suggests photography can build solidarity. She argues photographs are a form of testimony, bearing witness to injustices and human rights violations. Significantly, she uses Palestine as a critical example of how photography can document the realities of occupation, conflict and resistance.</p>
<p>Azoulay challenges the age-old idea that photographs are simply past moments. She instead views them as active engagements that invite ethical and political participation. In no-photo2024 we have a precise example of putting Azoulay’s theory into practice. </p>
<p>The posters also draw on Judith Butler’s <a href="https://www.versobooks.com/en-gb/products/1900-precarious-life">Precarious Life</a> (2004) and <a href="https://www.versobooks.com/en-gb/products/2081-frames-of-war">Frames of War: When Is Life Grievable?</a> (2009).</p>
<p>Butler asserts the media’s portrayal of individuals through photography, crafts a narrative that privileges some lives over others. They argue the media dictates who we mourn and who we overlook. </p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/581481/original/file-20240313-16-kpsh76.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="Posters on a brick wall." src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/581481/original/file-20240313-16-kpsh76.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/581481/original/file-20240313-16-kpsh76.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581481/original/file-20240313-16-kpsh76.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581481/original/file-20240313-16-kpsh76.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581481/original/file-20240313-16-kpsh76.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581481/original/file-20240313-16-kpsh76.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581481/original/file-20240313-16-kpsh76.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Judith Butler writes the media dictates who we mourn and who we overlook.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">no-photo2024</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>This disparity results from deliberate choices in how images are framed based on politics and race. Hence, they write, our connection (or indifference) to the suffering of others through images is often manipulated, leading to “desensitisation” to the plight of those deemed “other” or less human, an argument first formulated in Susan Sontag’s equally influential <a href="https://www.penguin.com.au/books/regarding-the-pain-of-others-9780141914954">Regarding the Pain of Others</a> (2003). </p>
<p>Butler dissects how the media’s selective framing of the “other” (Palestinians, in the case of no-photo2024) not only obscures the true impact of violence and war but actively shapes our perception of who deserves to be mourned. Butler views photography’s dual role in perpetuating indifference and promoting a radical shift in our ethical orientation toward action.</p>
<h2>Our shared, precarious world</h2>
<p>no-photo2024 is a powerful call to action. It prompts collective reflection on how images hold the potential to bear witness to atrocities, mobilise public opinion, and contribute to the struggle for human rights and social justice. </p>
<p>One poster reads, “Rubble. Rubble hand. Rubble sleeve. Blooded finger. A fresh tea bag crushed between the rubble. Metal. Rubble. The shadow of a body”. The <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C4G_K3kBJsL/?img_index=3">Instagram post</a> documenting the paired poster states it is “installed near a commercial art gallery that demands silence on Palestine from its artists, fearing a loss of support from their patrons.”</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/581484/original/file-20240313-16-f1l5tl.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="Two posters" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/581484/original/file-20240313-16-f1l5tl.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/581484/original/file-20240313-16-f1l5tl.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581484/original/file-20240313-16-f1l5tl.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581484/original/file-20240313-16-f1l5tl.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581484/original/file-20240313-16-f1l5tl.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581484/original/file-20240313-16-f1l5tl.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581484/original/file-20240313-16-f1l5tl.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Images hold the potential to bear witness to atrocities.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">no-photo2024</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>In this post-photographic AI-driven age, no-photo2024 promotes a much needed conversation about the ethical responsibilities of creating, curating and consuming photographs. It challenges the photographic community to move beyond aesthetic appreciation and engage with images as participants in a shared, precarious world. </p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/australian-writers-festivals-are-engulfed-in-controversy-over-the-war-in-gaza-how-can-they-uphold-their-duty-to-public-debate-224520">Australian writers festivals are engulfed in controversy over the war in Gaza. How can they uphold their duty to public debate?</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/225182/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Cherine Fahd is co-chair of Powerhouse Photography.</span></em></p>The anonymous artists and activists behind no-photo2024 are highlighting the exclusion of Palestinian photographers from PHOTO2024.Cherine Fahd, Associate Professor Visual Communication, University of Technology SydneyLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2237362024-03-14T22:29:22Z2024-03-14T22:29:22ZWhat is minoxidil, the anti-balding hair growth treatment? Here’s what the science says<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/579728/original/file-20240304-24-fy5cnb.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=0%2C0%2C4256%2C2822&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">
</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/hiker-man-backpack-walking-looking-mountain-2024434988">Lia Kos/Shutterstock</a></span></figcaption></figure><p>Hair loss (also known as alopecia) often affects the scalp but can occur anywhere on the body. It’s very common and usually nothing to worry about; about <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022202X15525840">half of Australian men</a> show signs of visible baldness at age 50 and <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022202X15525840">over a quarter of Australian women</a> report hair thinning by the same age. It’s often genetic.</p>
<p>But if you’ve noticed hair loss and are worried by it, see a GP or dermatologist for a diagnosis before trying any treatments. Products claiming to reverse hair loss are everywhere, but few have been scientifically tested for how well they work.</p>
<p>One group of products that have actually been scientifically tested, however, are known as topical minoxidil products. These include products such as Regaine®.</p>
<p>So, do they work? Here’s what the research evidence says, what you can realistically expect and what you need to know if you’re considering this treatment.</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/579711/original/file-20240304-24-7l5aya.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="A happy and handsome man with receding hairline relaxes in a park while listening to headphones." src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/579711/original/file-20240304-24-7l5aya.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/579711/original/file-20240304-24-7l5aya.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/579711/original/file-20240304-24-7l5aya.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/579711/original/file-20240304-24-7l5aya.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/579711/original/file-20240304-24-7l5aya.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/579711/original/file-20240304-24-7l5aya.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/579711/original/file-20240304-24-7l5aya.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Hair loss is very common, and often has a genetic cause.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/mature-man-red-basecap-sunglasses-white-2414090295">TunedIn by Westend61/Shutterstock</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/the-art-of-balding-a-brief-history-of-hairless-men-199531">The art of balding: a brief history of hairless men</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<h2>What is minoxidil – and does it work?</h2>
<p>Topical minoxidil usually comes as a kind of foam or serum you apply to your scalp.</p>
<p>It’s been approved by the <a href="https://www.tga.gov.au/">Therapeutic Goods Administration</a>, Australia’s regulatory authority for therapeutic goods, for the treatment of hereditary hair loss in males and females. Minoxidil is also available in tablet form, but this isn’t currently approved for hair loss (more on that later).</p>
<p>So, is topical minoxidil effective? In short – yes, but the results vary widely from person to person, and it needs to be used consistently over several months to see results.</p>
<p>Scientists don’t know exactly how minoxidil works. It may affect the different phases of the hair life cycle, thereby encouraging growth. It also <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09546634.2021.1945527?casa_token=KhIM_u0u8nwAAAAA:5njp_XE5cHhip454ycvU1p9p_t0VVzpjRu0ozDZ9YqNb04fmhmngWzYeiowZcG5UugLQkTVIzCcj7A">opens up blood vessels</a> near hair follicles. </p>
<p>This increases blood flow, which in turn delivers more oxygen and nutrients to the hair. </p>
<p>While minoxidil is unlikely to restore a full head of thick, lush, hair, it can slow down hair loss and can <a href="https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD007628.pub4/full?highlightAbstract=minoxidil">stimulate regrowth</a>. </p>
<p>It is the over-the-counter option with the most evidence. Two strengths are available: 5% and 2%.</p>
<p>An analysis of randomised controlled trials found minoxidil applied to the scalp twice a day increased the number of hairs per square centimetre by <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28396101/">eight to 15 hairs</a>, with the higher strength treatment having a slightly greater effect. </p>
<h2>Can I use it for non-genetic balding?</h2>
<p>There are many causes of hair loss. The main cause in both males and females is a hereditary condition called androgenic alopecia.</p>
<p>Although topical minoxidil is only approved for use in Australia for androgenic alopecia, there is some evidence it can also help in other conditions that cause hair loss. </p>
<p>For example, it may hasten hair regrowth in patients who have lost hair due to <a href="https://www.jaad.org/article/S0190-9622(96)90500-9/abstract">chemotherapy</a>. </p>
<p>Unfortunately, minoxidil is not effective when the hair follicle is gone, like after a burn injury.</p>
<p>Although small studies have found promising results using minoxidil to promote hair growth on the face (for <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/1346-8138.13312">beard</a> or <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24471459/">eyebrow</a> enhancement), topical minoxidil products are not currently approved for this use. More research is required.</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/579723/original/file-20240304-30-fan36r.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="A man who is balding is admiring a sunset." src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/579723/original/file-20240304-30-fan36r.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/579723/original/file-20240304-30-fan36r.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/579723/original/file-20240304-30-fan36r.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/579723/original/file-20240304-30-fan36r.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/579723/original/file-20240304-30-fan36r.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/579723/original/file-20240304-30-fan36r.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/579723/original/file-20240304-30-fan36r.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">The main cause of hair loss is a hereditary condition called androgenic alopecia.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/silhouette-bald-vacationer-sunglasses-backpack-on-2333317813">tativophotos/Shutterstock</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>What else do I need to know?</h2>
<p>Minoxidil won’t work well for everyone. Early in treatment you might notice a temporary increase in <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22409453/">hair shedding</a>, as it alters the hair cycle to make way for new growth. Minoxidil needs to be trialled for three to six months to determine if it’s effective.</p>
<p>And as it doesn’t cure hair loss, you must <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/jdv.14624?casa_token=P-zW7kDNRs8AAAAA%3AaUgUzxU7lbwBpg1BYPajOfXFhpb_mU5g_ounZ6GtjsLLkHO_AdVQ2Kf-8zZkW80ykBj3N_sOsyn392uc">continue</a> to use it each day to maintain the effect. If you stop, you will start losing the new hair growth <a href="https://www.nps.org.au/assets/medicines/1f8127a5-2a98-4013-a7c3-a53300feb0e5-reduced.pdf">within three to four months</a>.</p>
<p>Minoxidil products may not be suitable for everyone. If you have any medical conditions or take any medications, you should speak with your doctor or pharmacist before using minoxidil products. </p>
<p>It has not been tested for safety in <a href="https://www.nps.org.au/assets/medicines/1f8127a5-2a98-4013-a7c3-a53300feb0e5-reduced.pdf">people under 18, over 65, or those who are pregnant</a>.</p>
<p>You can read the <a href="https://www.nps.org.au/medicine-finder/regaine-for-men-regular-strength-application">consumer medicines information sheet</a> for more information about using over-the-counter minoxidil products. </p>
<p>Many people do not like to use minoxidil solution or foams long-term because they need to be applied everyday day, which can be inconvenient. Or they may notice side effects, such as scalp irritation and changes to hair texture. </p>
<p>Some people <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/jdv.14624?casa_token=P-zW7kDNRs8AAAAA%3AaUgUzxU7lbwBpg1BYPajOfXFhpb_mU5g_ounZ6GtjsLLkHO_AdVQ2Kf-8zZkW80ykBj3N_sOsyn392uc">tolerate the foam products better</a> than the solution, as the solution contains more of a compound called propylene glycol (which can irritate the skin).</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/579725/original/file-20240304-20-fan36r.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="A woman noticed hair in her hairbrush." src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/579725/original/file-20240304-20-fan36r.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/579725/original/file-20240304-20-fan36r.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/579725/original/file-20240304-20-fan36r.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/579725/original/file-20240304-20-fan36r.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/579725/original/file-20240304-20-fan36r.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/579725/original/file-20240304-20-fan36r.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/579725/original/file-20240304-20-fan36r.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Hair loss affects women, too.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/closeup-comb-brush-long-loss-hair-684900076">zentradyi3ell/Shutterstock</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>What about the oral tablet form of minoxidil?</h2>
<p>Minoxidil is also available on prescription as an oral tablet. While traditionally used for high blood pressure, it has also been used as a treatment for hair loss.</p>
<p>In 2020, a <a href="https://www.jaad.org/article/S0190-9622(20)32109-5/abstract">systematic review</a> identified 17 studies involving 634 patients using oral minoxidil for various hair loss conditions. </p>
<p>The authors found oral minoxidil was effective and generally well tolerated in healthy people who were having trouble using the topical products.</p>
<p>The review noted oral minoxidil may increase hair growth over the whole body and may cause heart-related side effects in some patients. More research is required.</p>
<p>In Australia, oral minoxidil is available under the trade name <a href="https://www.nps.org.au/assets/medicines/df29e16f-6464-4652-ba1f-a53300fed275.pdf">Loniten</a>®. However, it is currently only approved for use in high blood pressure. </p>
<p>When people seek a prescription treatment for a non-approved purpose, this is called “off-label” prescribing. Off-label prescribing of oral minoxidil, potentially for use in alopecia, may have contributed to <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10170338/">shortages</a> of Loniten® tablets in recent years. This can reduce availability of this medicine for people who need it for high blood pressure.</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/big-hair-bald-how-much-difference-your-hair-really-makes-to-keep-you-cool-or-warm-201380">Big hair? Bald? How much difference your hair really makes to keep you cool or warm</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/223736/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Jacinta Johnson is Senior Pharmacist for Research within SA Pharmacy and Board Director for the Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia. In the last five years, she has received research funding or consultancy funds (for development and delivery of educational materials) from SA Health, the Medical Research Future Fund, the Hospital Research Foundation – Parkinson's, the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia, the Pharmacy Guild of Australia, the Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia, Mundipharma Pty Ltd, Aspen Pharmacare Australia Pty Ltd, Viatris Pty Ltd. and Reckitt Benckiser (Australia) Pty Ltd. No funding has been received relating to minoxidil.
</span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Kirsten Staff does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>Here’s what you can realistically expect and what you need to know if you’re considering this treatment.Jacinta L. Johnson, Senior Lecturer in Pharmacy Practice, University of South AustraliaKirsten Staff, Senior Lecturer in Pharmacy, University of South AustraliaLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2247482024-03-14T19:25:26Z2024-03-14T19:25:26ZWe teach school kids about safe sex. We need to teach safe sexting too<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/581513/original/file-20240313-16-gquzh6.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=197%2C98%2C5784%2C3889&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">
</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.pexels.com/search/teenager%20cell%20phone/?orientation=landscape">Mart Production/ Pexels </a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">CC BY</a></span></figcaption></figure><p>Sexting involves taking self-made naked or partially naked sexual photos, videos or explicit texts and sending them online or via a mobile phone. They are more commonly referred to as “nudes” or “dick pics” by young people. </p>
<p>A <a href="https://www.latrobe.edu.au/arcshs/work/national-survey-of-secondary-students-and-sexual-health-2022">2021 survey</a> of almost 7,000 Australian teenagers (aged 14 to 18) found sexting was “ordinary practice” for young people. Of those surveyed, 86% reported they had received sexts and 70% said they had sent them. </p>
<p>Our new <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/13634607241237675">research</a> explores Australian teens’ experiences with sexting and sext education. We conducted 49 interviews with 30 young Australians (aged 11 to 17), with 19 repeat interviews a year later. </p>
<p>Our findings show how current messages to simply avoid sexting do not work for young people. While the risks should be acknowledged, education should also include how to be respectful and safe with sexting. </p>
<h2>What are the laws around sexting?</h2>
<p>In most states and territories in Australia, it is legal to have sex when you are 16, but you need to be 18 to sext. </p>
<p>This is because <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14680777.2017.1367699">the creation of sexual images</a> of people who are minors is seen as creating child sexual exploitation materials. This is illegal under Commonwealth laws. </p>
<p>This makes sexting between young people under 18, consenting or otherwise, <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10508-020-01727-6">both legally and ethically complex</a>. </p>
<p>States <a href="https://www.wa.gov.au/system/files/2021-03/intimate-image-laws-faqs.pdf">have diverse practices</a> regarding underage sexting (and police and prosecutors have some discretion). But if you are in possession of a naked image of someone under 18 or send a naked image of someone under 18, you are breaking the law. It is even illegal to own a naked photo of yourself under 18, even if that image is never sent to anyone. </p>
<p>Researchers have argued this legal approach to sexting can end up <a href="https://eprints.qut.edu.au/109550/">punishing those it is supposed to protect</a>. It also adds to the shaming and fear around sexting for young people. </p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="A teenager girl wearing headphones sits on a couch, looking at a phone." src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/581514/original/file-20240313-30-z1f8bf.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/581514/original/file-20240313-30-z1f8bf.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581514/original/file-20240313-30-z1f8bf.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581514/original/file-20240313-30-z1f8bf.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581514/original/file-20240313-30-z1f8bf.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581514/original/file-20240313-30-z1f8bf.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581514/original/file-20240313-30-z1f8bf.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Recent survey research shows more than 80% of Australian teenagers have received a sext.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.pexels.com/photo/girl-in-headphones-using-a-phone-6256002/">Karolina Grabowska/ Pexels</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">CC BY</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>Our research</h2>
<p>Most young people in our study had their first experience of sexting between ten and 13-years-old. In many cases, this was before their first kiss.</p>
<p>But young people in our study said education about sexting in school tends to be based around risks, often in response to a particular incident and is mostly ignored by students. As Max* (12), told us, “it was just basically saying […] ‘don’t send them’”. Lauren (14) said:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>They more veer on the safety side of things […] why nudes are bad […]. </p>
</blockquote>
<p>She argued this didn’t work. </p>
<blockquote>
<p>They [teens] know the warnings, but it just sort of goes in one ear and out the other. I don’t think kids listen to that.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Rightly or wrongly, teens in our study also saw relationships as a safe space for sexting. As Warren (17) noted:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>If I was in a relationship, it’s a bit different ‘cause I trust them, they trust me.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>This “don’t do it” messaging is akin to abstinence-only sex education, which is widely acknowledged to be <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1054139X05004672?casa_token=BO2XKrdl__EAAAAA:s0KQvKyW6my_3b-eQIrB1EST-QBcki1Jz-T5h75bEkbrScvkS6VTXo_LF2CaRSygSOsqION7utM">ineffective and fails to protect young people</a> from pregnancy and STIs. In contrast, comprehensive sexuality education has been proven to <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1525/srsp.2008.5.3.18">delay</a> first sexual experiences and increase contraceptive use. This shows offering young people access to important sexual information can protect them.</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/we-havent-been-taught-about-sex-teens-talk-about-how-to-fix-school-sex-education-206001">'We haven't been taught about sex': teens talk about how to fix school sex education</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<h2>Young people want to be 'be prepared’</h2>
<p>Teens in our study acknowledged sexting had a “dark side”. </p>
<p>For many, their first sext was an unsolicited image known as “<a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0747563222004137?via%3Dihub">cyberflashing</a>”. Many knew of peers who had their own images leaked by other students <a href="https://www.esafety.gov.au/young-people/someone-threatening-to-share-my-nudes">without their consent</a>, even though none said this had happened to them. This sharing and leaking of private images has previously been known as “revenge porn” and forms part of an array of behaviours known as <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1524838016650189?casa_token=pF2nhihTKvMAAAAA%3AGlCJkuqbgvJogSIVntG4oGCCwGMGSe89-2z4XsqE1zgHMn24u-vtUU9rBWCuw-MC1U6w9SmY-Afyog">Technology-Facilitated Sexual Violence</a>, which is illegal.</p>
<p>Teens wished they had been taught about sexting before encountering it so they could “be prepared”. Secondary school students said sexting education should begin in upper primary school with age-appropriate discussions continuing into high school, where, as Tiffany (15) told us, sexting “happens regularly, daily”.</p>
<p>Lauren said education around how to be respectful and consider issues like consent in online safety was also important: </p>
<blockquote>
<p>I think it would be really useful, some people just don’t know, if you send something to someone that it’s obviously ‘private’ […] you just want to share it with that one person.</p>
</blockquote>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="A teenage boy lies on a bed, reaching for his phone on a shelf behind his head." src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/581516/original/file-20240313-28-4oq51f.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/581516/original/file-20240313-28-4oq51f.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581516/original/file-20240313-28-4oq51f.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581516/original/file-20240313-28-4oq51f.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581516/original/file-20240313-28-4oq51f.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581516/original/file-20240313-28-4oq51f.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581516/original/file-20240313-28-4oq51f.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Young people interviewed as part of the research said teenagers ignored messages from schools not to sext.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.pexels.com/photo/teenager-with-smartphone-in-bedroom-7241260/">Eren Li/Pexels</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">CC BY</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>The UK is changing its approach</h2>
<p>Pretending sexting won’t or <a href="https://www.womensforumaustralia.org/no_its_not_ok_for_kids_to_send_headless_nudes">shouldn’t happen</a> because it is illegal is like pretending no one under 16 has sex, no young teenagers drink alcohol and no one takes illicit drugs. We don’t pretend these behaviours don’t exist: we educate for harm minimisation around them. </p>
<p>Recent guidance to schools in the United Kingdom around sexting reduces the emphasis on legal issues, while attempting to <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s42380-019-00050-6">minimise shaming of young people</a> who sext. This approach emphasises young people’s rights and responsibilities to make informed choices over their own bodies and sexual selves. </p>
<p>Indeed, online sex <em>is</em> sex, forming part of a repertoire of sexual behaviours. Offering <a href="https://utpjournals.press/doi/abs/10.3138/cjhs.2017-0017">non-judgmental information</a> acknowledges sexuality as a legitimate part of human development. </p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/20-of-young-people-who-forwarded-nudes-say-they-had-permission-but-only-8-gave-it-why-the-gap-207913">20% of young people who forwarded nudes say they had permission – but only 8% gave it. Why the gap?</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<h2>What can parents and teachers do?</h2>
<p>Parents and teachers can offer balanced information that identifies potential dangers but also <a href="https://theconversation.com/we-havent-been-taught-about-sex-teens-talk-about-how-to-fix-school-sex-education-206001">acknowledges the reality</a> of young people’s behaviours. </p>
<p>Instead of “don’t do it”, teens may be more receptive to discussions about consent and mutual respect for one another’s bodies as they would (and should) in real life.</p>
<p>If things do “go wrong” there are several services available.</p>
<p>The eSafety Commission acknowledges it is important young people know they can always <a href="https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents/issues-and-advice/sending-nudes-sexting">say no to a request to send nudes</a>, and to avoid sharing intimate images and videos without consent . This is both breach of trust and against the law. It also has advice for when <a href="https://www.esafety.gov.au/young-people/my-nudes-have-been-shared">nudes have been shared</a>, if someone is trying to blackmail you over a naked image (“sextortion”) and provides a way to report <a href="https://www.esafety.gov.au/report/how-to-report-serious-online-abuse-illegal-restricted-content">image-based sexual abuse</a>.</p>
<p>You can also make a report to the <a href="https://www.accce.gov.au/">Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation</a> and US-based site <a href="https://takeitdown.ncmec.org/">Take It Down</a> </p>
<p>The federal government’s parenting website, the Raising Children Network also offers balanced <a href="https://raisingchildren.net.au/teens/entertainment-technology/pornography-sexting/sexting-and-teenagers-practical-steps-for-problem-situations">step-by-step</a> guides if your child is asked to send a nude, receives one or has one shared without their consent. </p>
<p>Above all, maintaining an open dialogue and a <a href="https://psychcentral.com/blog/teens-sex-and-technology#summary">shame-free stance</a> will allow young people to feel safe to discuss anything with the adults in their lives. It also helps if teens know parents will help in a crisis, rather than punish them. </p>
<p><em>*Names have been changed.</em></p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/224748/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>This paper is an outcome of the Australian Research Council (ARC) Discovery Project Adolescents' perceptions
of harm from accessing online sexual content (DP 190102435). As such, funding was received from the Australian Research Council.
Additional funding and support was received from both the Securing Digital Futures and Society and Culture research
themes at Edith Cowan University, which supported activities that informed the development of this work.
Giselle is also part of a not-for-profit Relationships and Sexuality education advocacy group, Bloom-Ed, whose views are not expressed here.</span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Lelia Green receives funding from the Australian Research Council (ARC). She is a Co-Chief Investigator on the Discovery Project 'Adolescents’ perceptions of harm from accessing online sexual content' (DP 190102435). As such, funding was received from the Australian Research Council (2019-2023). It should be noted that teen sexting culture was not the focus of this grant, but was raised by teens when they were asked about online sexual content. Lelia also acknowledges significant in-kind support from the School of Arts and Humanities at Edith Cowan University. All views expressed are her own. </span></em></p>New research shows how current messages to ‘simply avoid’ sexting do not work for young people.Giselle Natassia Woodley, Researcher and Phd Candidate, Edith Cowan UniversityLelia Green, Professor of Communications, Edith Cowan UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2256802024-03-14T19:25:21Z2024-03-14T19:25:21ZCould ADHD drugs reduce the risk of early death? Unpacking the findings from a new Swedish study<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/581833/original/file-20240314-23-yi6tr0.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=0%2C0%2C8192%2C5457&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">
</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/young-beautiful-woman-taking-tablet-glass-2177446101">Dragana Gordic/Shutterstock</a></span></figcaption></figure><p>Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can have a considerable impact on the day-to-day functioning and overall wellbeing of people affected. It causes a variety of symptoms including difficulty focusing, impulsivity and hyperactivity. </p>
<p>For many, a diagnosis of ADHD, whether in childhood or adulthood, is life changing. It means finally having an explanation for these challenges, and opens up the opportunity for treatment, including medication.</p>
<p>Although <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-do-stimulants-actually-work-to-reduce-adhd-symptoms-215801">ADHD medications</a> can cause side effects, they generally improve symptoms for people with the disorder, and thereby can significantly boost quality of life.</p>
<p>Now a <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2816084">new study</a> has found being treated for ADHD with medication reduces the risk of early death for people with the disorder. But what can we make of these findings?</p>
<p><div data-react-class="Tweet" data-react-props="{"tweetId":"1768034305169654267"}"></div></p>
<h2>A large study from Sweden</h2>
<p>The study, published this week in JAMA (the prestigious journal of the American Medical Association), was a large cohort study of 148,578 people diagnosed with ADHD in Sweden. It included both adults and children.</p>
<p>In a cohort study, a group of people who share a common characteristic (in this case a diagnosis of ADHD) are followed over time to see how many develop a particular health outcome of interest (in this case the outcome was death). </p>
<p>For this study the researchers calculated the mortality rate over a two-year follow up period for those whose ADHD was treated with medication (a group of around 84,000 people) alongside those whose ADHD was not treated with medication (around 64,000 people). The team then determined if there were any differences between the two groups.</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/adhd-medications-have-doubled-in-the-last-decade-but-other-treatments-can-help-too-191574">ADHD medications have doubled in the last decade – but other treatments can help too</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<h2>What did the results show?</h2>
<p>The study found people who were diagnosed and treated for ADHD had a 19% reduced risk of death from any cause over the two years they were tracked, compared with those who were diagnosed but not treated. </p>
<p>In understanding this result, it’s important – and interesting – to look at the causes of death. The authors separately analysed deaths due to natural causes (physical medical conditions) and deaths due to unnatural causes (for example, unintentional injuries, suicide, or accidental poisonings).</p>
<p>The key result is that while no significant difference was seen between the two groups when examining natural causes of death, the authors found a significant difference for deaths due to unnatural causes.</p>
<h2>So what’s going on?</h2>
<p>Previous studies have suggested ADHD is associated with an increased risk of <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/fullarticle/2789090?">premature death</a> from unnatural causes, such as injury and poisoning.</p>
<p>On a related note, <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32662370/">earlier studies</a> have also suggested taking ADHD medicines may reduce premature deaths. So while this is not the first study to suggest this association, the authors note previous studies addressing this link have generated mixed results and have had significant limitations.</p>
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<p>
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<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/how-do-stimulants-actually-work-to-reduce-adhd-symptoms-215801">How do stimulants actually work to reduce ADHD symptoms?</a>
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</em>
</p>
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<p>In this new study, the authors suggest the reduction in deaths from unnatural causes could be because taking medication alleviates some of the ADHD symptoms responsible for poor outcomes – for example, improving impulse control and decision-making. They note this could reduce fatal accidents.</p>
<p>The authors cite a number of studies that support this hypothesis, including research showing <a href="https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article-abstract/124/1/71/71653/Do-Stimulants-Protect-Against-Psychiatric?redirectedFrom=fulltext">ADHD medications</a> may prevent the onset of mood, anxiety and <a href="https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article-abstract/104/2/e20/62430/Pharmacotherapy-of-Attention-deficit-Hyperactivity?redirectedFrom=fulltext">substance use disorders</a>, and <a href="https://www.biologicalpsychiatryjournal.com/article/S0006-3223(19)31274-0/abstract">lower the risk</a> of accidents and criminality. All this could reasonably be expected to lower the rate of unnatural deaths.</p>
<h2>Strengths and limitations</h2>
<p>Scandinavian countries have well-maintained national registries that collect information on various aspects of citizens’ lives, including their health. This allows researchers to conduct excellent population-based studies. </p>
<p>Along with its robust study design and high-quality data, another strength of this study is its size. The large number of participants – almost 150,000 – gives us confidence the findings were not due to chance.</p>
<p>The fact this study examined both children and adults is another strength. Previous research relating to ADHD has often focused primarily on children.</p>
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<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/how-hormones-and-the-menstrual-cycle-can-affect-women-with-adhd-5-common-questions-210627">How hormones and the menstrual cycle can affect women with ADHD: 5 common questions</a>
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<p>One of the important limitations of this study acknowledged by the authors is that it was observational. Observational studies are where the researchers observe and analyse naturally occurring phenomena without intervening in the lives of the study participants (unlike randomised controlled trials). </p>
<p>The limitation in all observational research is the issue of confounding. This means we cannot be completely sure the differences between the two groups observed were not either partially or entirely due to some other factor apart from taking medication.</p>
<p>Specifically, it’s possible lifestyle factors or other ADHD treatments such as psychological counselling or social support may have influenced the mortality rates in the groups studied.</p>
<p>Another possible limitation is the relatively short follow-up period. What the results would show if participants were followed up for longer is an interesting question, and could be addressed in future research.</p>
<h2>What are the implications?</h2>
<p>Despite some limitations, this study adds to the evidence that diagnosis and treatment for ADHD can make a profound difference to people’s lives. As well as alleviating symptoms of the disorder, this study supports the idea ADHD medication reduces the risk of premature death. </p>
<p>Ultimately, this highlights the importance of diagnosing ADHD early so the appropriate treatment can be given. It also contributes to the body of evidence indicating the need to <a href="https://theconversation.com/with-rising-mental-health-problems-but-a-shortage-of-services-group-therapy-is-offering-new-hope-214711">improve access</a> to mental health care and support more broadly.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/225680/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Hassan Vally does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>The study found people with ADHD who took medication had a lower risk of dying from unnatural causes than those with ADHD who were not taking medication.Hassan Vally, Associate Professor, Epidemiology, Deakin UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2255612024-03-14T19:25:14Z2024-03-14T19:25:14Z‘I’m home’: how co-operative housing could take pressure off Australia’s housing crisis<p><em>This article is part of The Conversation’s series examining the housing crisis. Read the other articles in the series <a href="https://theconversation.com/au/topics/housing-series-2024-153769">here</a>.</em></p>
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<p>At a time when everything from abolishing negative gearing to capping rents are being suggested as ways to reduce Australia’s housing crisis, little attention has been given to housing co-operatives.</p>
<p>A <a href="https://www.cehl.com.au/WhatIsCoopHousing">housing co-op</a> consists of a group of people who share in the management and running of their accommodation. Applicants are have to meet certain criteria, including means testing. Once accepted, they are expected to contribute according to their capacity and ability.</p>
<p>While only a small provider of accommodation in Australia (0.03% of all homes compared to Sweden’s 22%), <a href="https://doi.org/10.26183/0xpp-g320">new research</a> reveals how developing the sector could relieve some of the pressure.</p>
<p>Working with community housing providers and co-operatives across four states and surveying about 300 co-op residents, our research is the first analysis of the operation and impact of Australia’s affordable rental housing co-operatives.</p>
<p>What we found can inform housing policy and choices.</p>
<h2>How membership differs to renting or owning</h2>
<p>Like all co-ops, housing co-operatives are defined by a “one member, one vote” principle. This means, as both tenants and members, residents have a say in how the organisation runs and how homes are maintained.</p>
<p>This is fundamentally different to renting and owning, providing residents with stability and a greater say in their housing.</p>
<p>Tenant-members can make improvements, decide on policy and make the sorts of connections to their home and community usually thought to only be available to homeowners. As one research participant said:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Even though we don’t own the space, there’s a real sense of belonging to the site, to the property.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>In Australia, <a href="https://doi.org/10.26183/0xpp-g320">184 co-operatives</a> provide 3,732 homes. Another 25 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander co-operatives provide 1,287 homes as their sole purpose or within broader community service delivery.</p>
<p><iframe id="bodZO" class="tc-infographic-datawrapper" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/bodZO/" height="400px" width="100%" style="border: none" frameborder="0"></iframe></p>
<p>Although only a small housing contributor in Australia, these nearly 5,000 co-operative homes are a solid base from which the sector can grow.</p>
<h2>The cost and management of co-ops</h2>
<p>To assess the value of housing co-operatives, we looked at sector costs, tenant-members’ inputs and outcomes.</p>
<p>We found the sector’s costs were similar to those of other types of community housing and that greater tenant-member involvement in managing the co-op lowers overall costs.</p>
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<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/huge-housing-costs-make-us-slaves-to-our-jobs-and-unsustainable-growth-but-theres-another-way-203144">Huge housing costs make us slaves to our jobs and unsustainable growth. But there's another way</a>
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<p>Further, tenant-members’ participation in their co-op also develops their skills, leading to other education and employment opportunities.</p>
<p>Tenant-members expressed high levels of satisfaction with their living arrangements, a strong sense of home, solid social bonds, and an improved sense of health and wellbeing. These positives were shared with their children.</p>
<p>Importantly, <a href="https://doi.org/10.26183/0xpp-g320">our study</a> found participants had a strong sense of agency and voice, which is often missing in other housing tenures, especially renting.</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/581180/original/file-20240312-30-jeajp3.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="Two young people working in a community garden" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/581180/original/file-20240312-30-jeajp3.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/581180/original/file-20240312-30-jeajp3.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=424&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581180/original/file-20240312-30-jeajp3.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=424&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581180/original/file-20240312-30-jeajp3.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=424&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581180/original/file-20240312-30-jeajp3.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=533&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581180/original/file-20240312-30-jeajp3.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=533&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581180/original/file-20240312-30-jeajp3.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=533&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Co-operative members had a strong sense of satisfaction and ownership.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.gettyimages.com.au/detail/photo/teens-working-in-an-urban-community-garden-royalty-free-image/82764038?phrase=community+garden+australia&adppopup=true">Lyn Balzer and Tony Perkins/Getty</a></span>
</figcaption>
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<p>We also found the more a tenant-member enjoys getting involved in anything from planning a garden to doing building maintenance, the more they will do for the co-op. This cycle is self-reinforcing.</p>
<p>The value of these effects can be extraordinary, with respondents referring to living and participating in their co-operative as “life-changing”.</p>
<p>Co-operatives clearly provide stable long-term housing, as most survey respondents have lived in their co-operative and/or the co-operative sector for over ten years (46% and 55% respectively) and most (74%) want to live in their co-operative for the rest of their lives.</p>
<h2>What helps housing co-operatives succeed?</h2>
<p>We found three main contributors to co-op success:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>the more a tenant-member participates in running their co-operative, the more they benefit. However, participation needs to be equitable, allowing tenant-members’ contributions to vary throughout their lives and for different tenant-members to participate differently</p></li>
<li><p>the more tenant-members learn about their roles and responsibilities, the better the co-op functions and the greater the benefits</p></li>
<li><p>there is no one right way to be a co-operative. There is value in co-ops being diverse, reflecting diverse tenant-members, locations and incomes.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Co-operatives can help people settle down, grow as individuals, build careers, keep their kids in the same school and contribute to their neighbourhoods.</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/want-to-cut-your-new-home-costs-by-10-or-more-thats-what-building-groups-can-do-212458">Want to cut your new home costs by 10% or more? That's what building groups can do</a>
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</em>
</p>
<hr>
<p>They are an example of how Australia’s housing system could provide more affordable, stable and dignified housing choices. A research participant expressed this best:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>I had to move so many times as a single mother, every time knowing I’d have to urgently find new, safe, continuous housing for three people and pay for every aspect of the move, bond and rent. The pressure, the fear, was insane.</p>
<p>Living here my kids grew up – the neighbours are great, the public transport is there and it’s been a pretty safe and friendly community. Lifelong friendship and family bonds continue. I love gardening here and can stay active as I age […] I love my neighbours. I’m home.</p>
</blockquote>
<h2>Lessons for housing policy</h2>
<p>While Australia has both ownership and rental co-operatives, most Australian co-operatives are affordable rentals, comprising very low-moderate income households as part of the community housing sector.</p>
<p>Our earlier <a href="https://www.westernsydney.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/1494058/articulating_value_in_cooperative_housing_20190125.pdf">report</a> showed in other countries, housing co-operatives form a large share of mainstream housing supply. For example, in Norway housing co-operatives comprise 15% of all homes.</p>
<p>Our new findings suggest Australia’s housing policies can support the growth of housing co-operatives for renters and owners, so more people can enjoy the benefits of affordable, stable homes.</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/the-private-sector-housing-experiment-has-failed-ottawa-must-now-step-up-on-social-housing-222351">The private sector housing experiment has failed: Ottawa must now step up on social housing</a>
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<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/225561/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Louise Crabtree-Hayes receives funding from the Australian Research Council with contributions from community housing providers in the co-operative sector.</span></em></p>Co-operatives make up only a small part of Australia’s accommodation stock but their users say the benefits warrant it being considered as a way of easing the housing crisis.Louise Crabtree-Hayes, Professorial Research Fellow, Institute for Culture and Society, Western Sydney UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2195982024-03-14T19:25:08Z2024-03-14T19:25:08ZMeet the kowari: a pint-sized predator on the fast track to extinction<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/581179/original/file-20240312-24-tb4sa3.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">
</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">Ariana Ananda</span></span></figcaption></figure><p>Australia is home to <a href="https://www.publish.csiro.au/book/7010/">more than 350 species</a> of native mammals, <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.1417301112">87% of which are found nowhere else on Earth</a>. But with 39 of these species <a href="https://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/sprat/public/publicthreatenedlist.pl">already extinct</a> and a further <a href="https://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/sprat/public/publicthreatenedlist.pl">110 listed as threatened</a>, there’s every chance many will vanish before you even knew they existed. So here’s one we think you simply must know (and save), before it’s too late. </p>
<p>The charismatic <a href="https://teamkowari.com.au/kowari/">kowari</a> is a small carnivorous marsupial. It was once common inland but is now found only in the remote deserts of southwest Queensland and northeastern South Australia, in less than 20% of its former range. </p>
<p>This pint-sized predator fits in the palm of your hand. Its bright eyes, bushy tail and big personality make it the perfect poster child for the Australian outback. But with just 1,200 kowari left in the wild, the federal government upgraded its conservation status in November from <a href="http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/sprat/public/publicspecies.pl?taxon_id=329">vulnerable to endangered</a>. </p>
<p>Reversing the decline of the kowari is within our grasp. But we need public support and political will to achieve this. It requires limiting grazing of cattle and sheep, while keeping feral cat numbers under control. </p>
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<iframe width="440" height="260" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WVAmYlHoqs4?wmode=transparent&start=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>
<figcaption><span class="caption">Introducing the kowari (Arid Recovery)</span></figcaption>
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<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/threatened-species-recover-in-fenced-safe-havens-but-their-safety-is-only-temporary-200548">Threatened species recover in fenced safe havens. But their safety is only temporary</a>
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<h2>Meet the kowari</h2>
<p>The <a href="https://teamkowari.com.au/kowari/">kowari</a> (<em>Dasyuroides byrnei</em>) is a skilled hunter that stalks mice, tarantulas, moths, scorpions and even birds. Alert and efficient, they attack their prey voraciously.</p>
<p>Formerly known as the brushy-tailed marsupial rat, or Byrne’s crest-tailed marsupial rat, the kowari is more closely related to Tasmanian Devil and quolls. </p>
<p>The Wangkangurru Yarluyandi People use the name kowari, while the Dieri and Ngameni peoples use the similar-sounding name kariri.</p>
<figure class="align-right zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/581171/original/file-20240312-18-mlrrfx.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="Closeup of the gibber plain showing areas of flat interlocking red pebbles" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/581171/original/file-20240312-18-mlrrfx.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/581171/original/file-20240312-18-mlrrfx.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581171/original/file-20240312-18-mlrrfx.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581171/original/file-20240312-18-mlrrfx.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581171/original/file-20240312-18-mlrrfx.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581171/original/file-20240312-18-mlrrfx.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581171/original/file-20240312-18-mlrrfx.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">The red stony gibber plains could be mistaken for the surface of Mars.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Katherine Moseby</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Kowaris live in stony deserts. They mainly inhabit remote treeless “gibber” plains. These areas of flat, interlocking red pebbles form vast pavements that could be mistaken for the surface of Mars. </p>
<p>In the outback, where temperatures can exceed 50°C, kowaris beat the heat by sheltering in burrows dug into sand mounds. At night they emerge to race across the plains, their head and distinctive brushy tail held high, pausing regularly to scan for predators and prey. </p>
<p>During chilly winter days, kowaris slow their metabolism to conserve energy. They go into a state of <a href="https://theconversation.com/torpor-a-neat-survival-trick-once-thought-rare-in-australian-animals-is-actually-widespread-146409">torpor</a>, which is a daily version of hibernation. </p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/torpor-a-neat-survival-trick-once-thought-rare-in-australian-animals-is-actually-widespread-146409">Torpor: a neat survival trick once thought rare in Australian animals is actually widespread</a>
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<p>At the two main South Australian sites, the number of animals captured in trapping surveys declined by <a href="https://zslpublications.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jzo.12605">85% between 2000 and 2015</a>. At this rate, the species could disappear from the area within two decades.</p>
<p>The entire population is estimated to number as few as 1,200 individuals scattered over just 350 square kilometres. That’s a combined area of less than 20km x 20km. </p>
<p>Based on this evidence, the conservation status of kowaris was upgraded from <a href="http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/sprat/public/publicspecies.pl?taxon_id=329">vulnerable to endangered</a> in November last year.</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/581170/original/file-20240312-18-r54i0o.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="A kowari standing in the desert facing the camera with its long bushy tail stretched out to the right" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/581170/original/file-20240312-18-r54i0o.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/581170/original/file-20240312-18-r54i0o.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=401&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581170/original/file-20240312-18-r54i0o.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=401&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581170/original/file-20240312-18-r54i0o.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=401&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581170/original/file-20240312-18-r54i0o.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581170/original/file-20240312-18-r54i0o.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581170/original/file-20240312-18-r54i0o.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Kowari are now restricted to refuge populations in northeast South Australia and southwest Queensland.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Andrea Tschirner</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>Shrinking populations in the stony desert</h2>
<p>Kowaris have been declining for a while but are suddenly on the fast track to extinction. How can that be, when they live in one of the most vast and remote parts of Australia? </p>
<p>Threats include land degradation from pastoralism, and predation from introduced feral cats and foxes. </p>
<p>But it’s complicated. Threats can combine, having a synergistic effect (greater than the sum of their parts). And then there are climate influences. </p>
<p>Heavy rain in the desert triggers a cascade of events that culminates in an <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-10-10/feral-cats-tear-through-last-wild-bilby-population/5803252">explosion of feral cat numbers</a>. </p>
<p>When conditions dry out again, the cats switch to eating larger or more difficult prey such as bilbies and kowaris, often causing local extinctions. In southwest Queensland, feral cats most likely wiped out one population of kowaris and decimated another. </p>
<p>Huge efforts to control cat plagues have saved the kowari and bilby populations in <a href="https://bioone.org/journals/australian-journal-of-zoology/volume-70/issue-2/ZO22027/Does-reducing-grazing-pressure-or-predation-conserve-kowaris-A-case/10.1071/ZO22027.full">Astrebla Downs National Park</a> from local extinction so far, but other areas have succumbed.</p>
<p>In SA, all the remaining kowari populations are on <a href="https://www.nespthreatenedspecies.edu.au/publications-and-tools/the-kowari-saving-a-central-australian-micro-predator">pastoral stations used for grazing cattle</a>. </p>
<p>Cattle can trample kowari burrows. They can also compact the sand mounds, making it difficult for kowaris to build burrows in the first place. And they eat the plants on the mounds, reducing the availability of both food and shelter. This makes kowaris easy prey. </p>
<p>Over the past few decades, pastoralism has intensified. <a href="https://www.pc.gov.au/research/completed/pastoral-leases#:%7E:text=Pastoral%20leases%20exist%20on%20around,to%20facilitate%20and%20support%20pastoralism.">Nearly half of Australia (44%)</a> is covered in pastoral leases where many threatened species occur. </p>
<p>Domestic stock usually graze close to watering points such as bores and troughs. More and more watering points are being established, to make more of the pastoral lease accessible to stock. So the area protected from grazing is shrinking as cattle encroach further into kowari territory. </p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/581168/original/file-20240312-16-mabhg4.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="A sand mound surrounded by the stony desert gibber plain" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/581168/original/file-20240312-16-mabhg4.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/581168/original/file-20240312-16-mabhg4.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=471&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581168/original/file-20240312-16-mabhg4.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=471&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581168/original/file-20240312-16-mabhg4.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=471&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581168/original/file-20240312-16-mabhg4.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=592&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581168/original/file-20240312-16-mabhg4.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=592&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581168/original/file-20240312-16-mabhg4.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=592&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Kowari burrow in sand mounds that can be trampled and compacted by cattle.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Katherine Moseby</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>How can we save the kowari?</h2>
<p>We have the knowledge and tools required to save this species from extinction. We just need decisive leadership and sufficient funding to put these plans into action. </p>
<p>State governments should provide more resources for desert parks so rangers can monitor feral cat numbers and respond rapidly to plagues. We can make use of new technology such as remote camera traps checked via satellite. These measures would also protect the last remaining stronghold of the bilby in Queensland, another nationally threatened mammal. </p>
<p>The pastoral industry and governments must work together to review watering-point placement and reduce grazing pressure in known kowari habitat. </p>
<p>By closing some pastoral watering points and ensuring a portion of each lease (possibly 20%) is away from waters, we can reduce the harm of stock and provide refuges for threatened species. Pastoral companies could show leadership and implement these actions themselves rather than waiting for governments to act.</p>
<p>In the meantime, reintroductions into safe havens is one stopgap measure helping to prevent imminent kowari extinction. In 2022, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/watch/?ref=search&v=409398861174893&external_log_id=2222a528-17bb-4f25-b0d5-d45d296c0c73&q=ecological%20horizons">12 kowaris were successfully reintroduced</a> to the 123 square km <a href="https://aridrecovery.org.au/kowari/">fenced Arid Recovery Reserve</a> in northern SA. The population has <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AridRecovery/videos/1165149370645281">expanded since release</a>. Removing cats, foxes and domestic stock from the reserve has given kowaris a chance to reclaim a small portion of their former range. </p>
<p>But safe havens are small and we need to act on a larger scale. If we don’t, the kowari may become yet another Australian species lost before you’ve even seen it.</p>
<p><em>Thanks to Genevieve Hayes, former ecologist at Arid Recovery, for coordinating the reintroduction of the kowari at Arid Recovery and commenting on the draft of this article.</em></p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/so-you-want-to-cat-proof-a-bettong-how-living-with-predators-could-help-native-species-survive-170450">So you want to cat-proof a bettong: how living with predators could help native species survive</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/219598/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Katherine Moseby is co-founder and chief scientist at Arid Recovery. She receives contract work from Arid Recovery to assist with conservation and restoration works. </span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Katherine Tuft is Chief Executive at Arid Recovery which has received grant funding from the federal government and other sources to support research and conservation for the kowari.</span></em></p>Blink and you’ll miss it. The kowari is a charismatic marsupial carnivore that needs our help.Katherine Moseby, Associate Professor, UNSW SydneyKatherine Tuft, Visiting Research Fellow, University of AdelaideLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2188002024-03-14T19:24:53Z2024-03-14T19:24:53ZFriday essay: from political bees to talking pigs – how ancient thinkers saw the human-animal divide<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/581424/original/file-20240312-18-f7g0up.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=24%2C8%2C5467%2C3655&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">
</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">Shutterstock</span></span></figcaption></figure><p>What makes us human? What (if anything) sets us apart from all other creatures? Ever since Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution, the answer to these questions has pointed us back to our own animal nature.</p>
<p>Yet the idea that, in one way or another, our humanity is entangled with the non-human has a much longer and more venerable history. In the West, it goes all the way back to Classical antiquity – to Greek and Roman views about humans and animals. </p>
<p>The Greek philosopher Aristotle (384-322) first argued the human stands out from all other animals through the presence of <em>logos</em> (“speech” but also “reason”). Numerous Greek and Roman thinkers engaged in similar attempts to name what, exactly, sets humans apart. </p>
<p>Who or what is man? The arguments these philosophers came up with verged from the obscure to the outright bizarre: The human alone has the capacity to have sex at all seasons and well into old age; the human alone can sit comfortably on his hip bones; the human alone has hands that can build altars to the gods and craft divine statues. No observation seemed too far-fetched or outlandish. </p>
<figure class="align-right zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/581448/original/file-20240312-28-9lkgw1.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="A painting of a bearded man, Aristotle." src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/581448/original/file-20240312-28-9lkgw1.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/581448/original/file-20240312-28-9lkgw1.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=851&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581448/original/file-20240312-28-9lkgw1.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=851&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581448/original/file-20240312-28-9lkgw1.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=851&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581448/original/file-20240312-28-9lkgw1.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=1070&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581448/original/file-20240312-28-9lkgw1.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=1070&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581448/original/file-20240312-28-9lkgw1.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=1070&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Aristotle, as painted by Raphael.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Wikimedia Commons</span>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/">CC BY-NC-SA</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>And yet, above all, the argument that animals lack logos continued to resonate. In classical antiquity it became powerful enough to coin the very word for animals in ancient Greek: <em>ta aloga</em> – “those without logos”. </p>
<p>This position was taken up by the philosophical school of the Stoics and from there came to influence Christianity, with its view of man made in the image of God. </p>
<p>The idea of an insurmountable gap between humans and other animals soon became the dominant paradigm, informing, for instance, the 18th century naturalist <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Carolus-Linnaeus">Carl Linnaeus’s</a> influential classification of the human as <em>homo sapiens</em> (literally: the “wise”, or “rational man”). </p>
<p>The practical implications of this idea cannot be underestimated. What has been termed “<a href="https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/moral-animal/">the moral status of animals</a>” – the question of whether they should be included in considerations of justice – has traditionally been linked to the question of whether they have logos. Because animals differ from humans in lacking both speech and reason (so this line of argument goes) they cannot themselves formulate moral positions. Therefore, they do not warrant inclusion in our moral considerations, or at least not in the same way as humans. </p>
<p>Increasingly, of course, as many contemporary philosophers have pointed out, this idea seems too simple. </p>
<p>New research in the behavioural sciences illustrates the at times astonishing capacities of certain animals: crows and otters using tools to crack open nuts or shells to make their contents available for consumption; octopuses lifting the lids to their tanks and successfully escaping to the ocean through pipes; bees optimising their flight path on repeated trips to a food source.</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/581188/original/file-20240312-24-3u7e8f.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="A pink octopus in a tank." src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/581188/original/file-20240312-24-3u7e8f.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/581188/original/file-20240312-24-3u7e8f.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581188/original/file-20240312-24-3u7e8f.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581188/original/file-20240312-24-3u7e8f.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581188/original/file-20240312-24-3u7e8f.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581188/original/file-20240312-24-3u7e8f.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581188/original/file-20240312-24-3u7e8f.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Octopus have lifted the lids of their tanks and escaped.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/dofleins-octopus-latin-enteroctopus-dofleini-tentacles-2278086727">Victor1153/shutterstock</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>But there is, in fact, a considerable body of evidence from the ancient Greek and Roman worlds showcasing the complex behaviours of different kinds of animals.</p>
<p>Ancient authors like <a href="https://www.livius.org/articles/person/pliny-the-elder/">Pliny</a>, <a href="https://www.livius.org/sources/content/plutarch/">Plutarch</a>, <a href="https://oxfordre.com/classics/display/10.1093/acrefore/9780199381135.001.0001/acrefore-9780199381135-e-4570">Oppian</a>, <a href="https://www.oxfordreference.com/display/10.1093/oi/authority.20110803095353490">Aelian</a>,<a href="https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/porphyry/"> Porphyry</a>, <a href="https://www.oxfordreference.com/display/10.1093/oi/authority.20110803095431452">Athenaeus </a>and others have dedicated whole books or treatises to this topic, pushing back on the notion of animals as merely “dumb beasts”. </p>
<p>Their views anticipated the modern debate by attributing animals not only with forms of reason; they also highlighted their capacity to suffer, to feel pain and to feel empathy towards each other and, occasionally, even towards members of the human species. </p>
<p>Then there are the human-animal hybrid creatures of the Greek and Roman myths (more on this later) – the Sirens, the Sphinx, the Minotaur. All combine the body parts of human and animal. Individually and collectively they thus raise a fundamental yet potentially disturbing question: what if we are really, in part at least, animal?</p>
<h2>Ancient animal-smarts</h2>
<figure class="align-left ">
<img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/581189/original/file-20240312-26-17ijsr.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/581189/original/file-20240312-26-17ijsr.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=860&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581189/original/file-20240312-26-17ijsr.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=860&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581189/original/file-20240312-26-17ijsr.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=860&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581189/original/file-20240312-26-17ijsr.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=1080&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581189/original/file-20240312-26-17ijsr.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=1080&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581189/original/file-20240312-26-17ijsr.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=1080&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption"></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>In <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/11879565">On the Nature of Animals</a> (late second/early third century CE), Aelian, a Roman author writing in Greek, described fish that helped their unfortunate mates when caught at sea, setting their backs against the trapped creature and “pushing with all their might to try to stop him from being hauled in”. </p>
<p>He wrote, too, of dolphins that helped fisher-folk, pressing the fish in “on all sides” so they couldn’t escape. In return, they were rewarded for their labours by a share of the catch.</p>
<p>He celebrated the clever design of beehives, observing:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>The first thing that they construct are the chambers of their kings, and they are spacious and above all the rest. Round them they put a barrier, as it were a wall or fence, thereby also enhancing their importance of the royal dwelling. </p>
</blockquote>
<p>By parading animal-smarts in action these examples – of which there are hundreds - astonish, inform, and entertain at the same time – similar perhaps to the ubiquitous reels showing animals doing amazing things circulating in modern social media.</p>
<p>Modern ethological studies variously observe animal behaviours which reverberate with Aelian’s examples.</p>
<p>Pairs of <a href="https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/09/150925085344.htm">rabbit fish</a> have been shown to cooperate, with one partner standing on guard protecting the other one while feeding. Honeybees indeed build bigger cells for their queen that are set apart at the bottom of the hive separated by thicker walls. And <a href="https://www.pnas.org/post/podcast/cooperative-fishing-between-humans-and-dolphins">bottlenose dolphins</a> have been found to cooperate with humans in their efforts to capture fish. </p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/581193/original/file-20240312-16-rsj49.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="Dolphins swimming over seagrass." src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/581193/original/file-20240312-16-rsj49.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/581193/original/file-20240312-16-rsj49.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=399&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581193/original/file-20240312-16-rsj49.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=399&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581193/original/file-20240312-16-rsj49.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=399&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581193/original/file-20240312-16-rsj49.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=501&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581193/original/file-20240312-16-rsj49.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=501&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581193/original/file-20240312-16-rsj49.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=501&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Bottlenose dolphins have been seen cooperating with humans while fishing.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Anita Kainrath/shutterstock</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>While not all of the ancient anecdotal evidence is confirmed by modern research, the overall thrust is clear: it deserves to be taken seriously and is part of the ancient conversation of what makes us human. </p>
<h2>The power of storytelling</h2>
<p>Some Greek and Roman thinkers resorted to the medium of storytelling to articulate views that are essentially philosophical in nature. The Greek philosopher Plutarch’s treatise <a href="https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Plutarch/Moralia/Gryllus*.html">Beasts are Rational</a> draws on the famous story from Homer’s Odyssey in which some of Odysseus’ comrades are turned into pigs by the sorceress Circe. </p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/guide-to-the-classics-homers-odyssey-82911">Guide to the Classics: Homer's Odyssey</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<p>Odysseus is eventually able to convince the sorceress to turn them back into human beings. In Plutarch’s rendering of the story he returns to Circe’s island to check whether there are any other Greeks turned animal – and finds a pig named Gryllus (“Grunter”).</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/581192/original/file-20240312-26-tn9od0.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="A painting of men with animal heads." src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/581192/original/file-20240312-26-tn9od0.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/581192/original/file-20240312-26-tn9od0.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=338&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581192/original/file-20240312-26-tn9od0.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=338&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581192/original/file-20240312-26-tn9od0.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=338&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581192/original/file-20240312-26-tn9od0.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=424&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581192/original/file-20240312-26-tn9od0.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=424&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581192/original/file-20240312-26-tn9od0.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=424&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Detail of a wine cup (kylix) depicting scenes from The Odyssey including men turned into animals, circa 560-550 BCE.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Detail_view_-_Odysseus_men_turned_into_animals_by_Circe_receive_antidote_photo_by_Lucas_ancientartpodcast_flickr_cca2.0_8705662763_02d64d713e_o.jpg">Wikimedia Commons</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/">CC BY-NC-SA</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Things take a turn for the unexpected when Grunter declines Odysseus’ offer of help. The reason? He prefers his animal to his human existence.</p>
<p>Grunter sets out to make an impassioned, highly rational case, arguing all animals in one form or another, have reason. Individual species differ from each other merely in the extent of and kind of reason. And, yes, this includes even those animals that have come to serve as the epitome of dumbness: sheep and the ass. </p>
<p>“Please note,” he adds, “that cases of dullness and stupidity in some animals are demonstrated by the cleverness and sharpness of others – as when you compare an ass and a sheep with a fox or a wolf or a bee.”</p>
<p>Grunter is not afraid to push things even further: Don’t individual humans, too, differ from each other in cleverness and wit? Long before the arrival of evolutionary theory, the pig here points towards a gradual view of how certain features, skills, and capacities map onto a continuum of all living creatures (the human included). The implied conclusion: there is no insurmountable gap between the human and other animals.</p>
<p>Grunter’s views are supported by others such as the speaking rooster of Lucian’s <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/11879565">The Dream or the Cock</a> (second century CE). Claiming to be the latest in a long line of previous incarnations that include (brace yourself) – the philosopher Pythagoras, the Cynic philosopher Crates, the Trojan hero Euphorbus, the Greek courtesan Aspasia, and several animals – this rooster-philosopher, too, prefers his animal to his human existence. </p>
<p>Animals, the rooster argues, are content with the basics; humans, by contrast, over-complicate things because they can’t get enough and greedily strive for ever more. </p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/guide-to-the-classics-darwins-the-descent-of-man-150-years-on-sex-race-and-our-lowly-ape-ancestry-155305">Guide to the classics: Darwin's The Descent of Man 150 years on — sex, race and our 'lowly' ape ancestry</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<h2>Myths and hybrid monsters</h2>
<p>Myth is arguably the most influential genre of ancient storytelling. A set of malleable tales of great age and importance, myth constitutes a world apart, a medium just far enough removed from the intricacies (and banalities) of everyday life to allow for the exploration of fundamental questions concerning the human condition. And Greek myths often explore human entanglements with non-human animals in ways that reference the philosophical debate.</p>
<p>The mythical figure of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Minotaur">the Minotaur</a> for example – a hybrid creature sporting the head of a bull and the body of a human male – does not seem to adhere to the norms and conventions applying to either of his composite identities. </p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/580856/original/file-20240310-28-ykqvft.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="A painting of a minotaur." src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/580856/original/file-20240310-28-ykqvft.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/580856/original/file-20240310-28-ykqvft.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=600&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/580856/original/file-20240310-28-ykqvft.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=600&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/580856/original/file-20240310-28-ykqvft.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=600&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/580856/original/file-20240310-28-ykqvft.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=754&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/580856/original/file-20240310-28-ykqvft.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=754&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/580856/original/file-20240310-28-ykqvft.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=754&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Tondo of a Minotaur, circa 515 BC.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tondo_Minotaur_London_E4_MAN.jpg">Wikimedia Commons</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/">CC BY-NC-SA</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>His insatiable appetite for young humans sets him apart from accepted behaviour for both humans and cattle alike, identifying him as monstrous. </p>
<p>But what are monsters for?</p>
<p>This question also applies to another famous hybrid beast of the ancient world: the Theban sphinx. Perched high outside the gates of the city of Thebes, in the region of Boeotia in central Greece, this creature (half woman, half lion, often endowed with an extra set of wings) challenges all wishing to enter with the following riddle: </p>
<blockquote>
<p>What is that which has one voice and yet becomes four-footed and two-footed and three-footed?</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Many try and fail to name the right answer, paying for it with their lives. Until Oedipus comes along. He gives the correct answer and thus busts the beast, which dutifully throws itself to death. </p>
<p>The creature in the riddle is, of course, the human: man first crawls on four legs, then walks on two, until in old age when a walking stick may serve as a third “leg”. And yet despite his clever wit, Oedipus is ultimately unable to use reason to his and the city’s advantage (a situation explored in depth in <a href="https://classics.mit.edu/Sophocles/oedipus.html">Sophocles’ famous tragedy Oedipus the King</a>).</p>
<p>What is the point of the riddle of the Sphinx? This story poses the human as a question but also illustrates the limits of logos in gaining self-understanding. Oedipus can solve the beast’s riddle; yet the riddle of his own humanity remains unresolved until it is too late. Here, the monstrous figure holds up a mirror for the human to recognise himself. </p>
<h2>Speaking animals</h2>
<p>Logos (in the sense of speech) also features prominently in the intervention of another iconic creature from classical antiquity: Xanthus, Achilles’ speaking horse. </p>
<p>On the battlefields of Troy (featured in Homer’s Iliad) Xanthus reminds Achilles of his imminent death. In this way the horse seems to tease all those thinkers (ancient and modern) who have argued the human stands out from all other animals in his capacity to speak in complex sentences.</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/guide-to-the-classics-homers-iliad-80968">Guide to the classics: Homer's Iliad</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/581226/original/file-20240312-30-tn9od0.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="A painting of a Greek god with two horses." src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/581226/original/file-20240312-30-tn9od0.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/581226/original/file-20240312-30-tn9od0.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=570&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581226/original/file-20240312-30-tn9od0.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=570&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581226/original/file-20240312-30-tn9od0.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=570&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581226/original/file-20240312-30-tn9od0.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=716&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581226/original/file-20240312-30-tn9od0.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=716&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581226/original/file-20240312-30-tn9od0.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=716&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Automedon with the Horses of Achilles, painting by Henri Regnault, 1868.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Wikimedia Commons</span>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/">CC BY-NC-SA</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Xanthus’s voice resonates with that of numerous other speaking animals populating Greek and Roman literature, including the gnat of <a href="http://virgil.org/appendix/culex.htm">Pseudo-Virgil’s Culex</a>, the speaking eel in Oppian’s didactic poem <a href="https://www.loebclassics.com/view/oppian-halieutica_fishing/1928/pb_LCL219.279.xml">On Fishing</a>, and the whole chorus of animals speaking to us in ancient fables. </p>
<p>Individually and as a group they raise a question: what if animals could speak to us in human language? What would they have to say to those humans prepared to listen? </p>
<p>As it turns out in these stories, often nothing too flattering. In classical antiquity, speaking animals often use their special position to question or examine the human condition.</p>
<p>Xanthus is a case in point. By reminding Achilles he is fated to die at Troy, the speaking horse reminds the Greek hero of an important aspect of the human condition: his own mortality and the fact that he, too, is ultimately subject to powers beyond human control.</p>
<h2>The political bee</h2>
<p>In Greek and Roman accounts of honeybee politics we find a peculiar human habit with a surprisingly long history: the attribution of political qualities to honeybees. </p>
<p>When we distinguish a “queen bee” from “workers” we are continuing a tradition that goes back to the ancient world (and possibly beyond). Aristotle names honeybees among the <em>zoa politika</em> (the “political animals”) – a category that includes wasps, ants, cranes, and, above all, the human.</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/581201/original/file-20240312-24-r54i0o.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/581201/original/file-20240312-24-r54i0o.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/581201/original/file-20240312-24-r54i0o.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581201/original/file-20240312-24-r54i0o.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581201/original/file-20240312-24-r54i0o.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581201/original/file-20240312-24-r54i0o.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581201/original/file-20240312-24-r54i0o.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581201/original/file-20240312-24-r54i0o.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption"></span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Day_85_-_Sweat_Bee_-_Lasioglossum_species,_Leesylvania_State_Park,_Woodbridge,_Virginia.jpg">Wikimedia Commons</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/">CC BY-NC-SA</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>He and others then set out to explore the intricacies of honeybee society. The ancient Greeks and Romans traditionally considered honeybees to inhabit a monarchy. In line with the gender realities of the ancient world, they imagined this monarchy to be led by a king or male leader. </p>
<p>Does the bee monarch have a stinger? If not, how does he assert his power and leadership? And what does the presence of the obviously unproductive drones in the hive say about the distribution of labour in a community? These are the kind of questions that resonated among Greek and Roman thinkers.</p>
<p>Honeybee society thus provided a perfect microcosm to study a set of questions that concerned human politics and society. The Roman philosopher Seneca, for instance, asserted that the bee monarch leads by <em>clementia</em> (mercy or mildness) - a form of leadership he found woefully lacking in contemporary Roman society. </p>
<h2>Meat and man</h2>
<p>So far we have seen animals mostly playing a symbolic role in Graeco-Roman storytelling. There is also a very real way in which human and animal bodies come to merge: through the human consumption of meat.</p>
<p>The ancient Greeks and Romans were ardent meat-eaters. Indeed meat-eating became a status symbol closely linked to the articulation of masculine identities. </p>
<p>In classical Greece the male citizen received his equal share of meat after communal religious sacrifices carried out by the <em>polis</em> (“city-state”). Meat eating also features prominently in several anecdotes about successful ancient Greek athletes who toned their extraordinary bodies through the consumption of ridiculous amounts of meat.</p>
<p>One of them – a boxer named Theagenes – even claimed to have gobbled up an entire oxen in one sitting. Another one – Milo of Croton – apparently gained his extraordinary strength by carrying a heifer on his back as a young man until both he and the heifer had grown up. </p>
<p>Meanwhile at Rome, the elites sought to outdo each other by hosting ever more lavish dinner parties typically featuring one or several meat dishes. More often than not this involved attempts to serve a bigger or larger quantity of boar than their peers. <a href="https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/secondary/SMIGRA*/Sumtuariae_Leges.html">Roman sumptuary laws</a> eventually sought to control the worst excesses – albeit with limited success. </p>
<h2>The shearwaters of Diomedea</h2>
<p>The real also blends into the imaginary in the story of a special kind of bird. The Scopoli Shearwater (<em>Calonectris Diomedea</em>) is a species common to the Adriatic and other parts of the Mediterranean Sea. One of its outstanding features is that its cries resemble that of a wailing baby. These birds feed on small fish, crustaceans, squid, and zooplankton and are both migratory and pelagic. </p>
<p>The stories told about these birds by several ancient authors bring us to what is perhaps the most momentous way of exploring the human-animal boundary: the idea that in the realm of myth, at least, some humans, under certain conditions, could turn into animals and back again (metamorphosis). </p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/581199/original/file-20240312-28-mfz55.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="A shearwater in the sea." src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/581199/original/file-20240312-28-mfz55.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/581199/original/file-20240312-28-mfz55.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=397&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581199/original/file-20240312-28-mfz55.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=397&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581199/original/file-20240312-28-mfz55.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=397&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581199/original/file-20240312-28-mfz55.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=499&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581199/original/file-20240312-28-mfz55.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=499&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581199/original/file-20240312-28-mfz55.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=499&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">A scopoli shearwater.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">D.serra1/shutterstock</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>According to <a href="https://www.loebclassics.com/view/aelian-characteristics_animals/1958/pb_LCL446.15.xml">Aelian</a>, some shearwaters residing on a rocky, otherwise uninhabited island in the Mediterranean Sea showed puzzling behaviour. They duly ignored all non-Greeks arriving on their island. Yet if Greek people reached their shores they welcomed them with stretched wings, even settling down on their laps as if for a joint meal. </p>
<p>What motivated this curious behaviour? </p>
<p>The backstory explains that the birds were once human. They were the comrades of Diomedes, king of Argos, one of the Greeks fighting at Troy, who is said to have died on the same island now inhabited by the birds. Apparently, upon his death, his friends grieved so heavily the goddess Aphrodite turned them into birds – their cries forever bemoaning the passing of their comrade. </p>
<p>On the face of it this story is merely another example of a myth explaining an outstanding feature in nature (the birds’ endearing <a href="https://www.birdlife.org/news/2021/05/31/seabird-month-corys-shearwater-calonectris-borealis/">human-like cry</a>). Yet there is more to the birds’ curious behaviour than meets the eye. In discriminating between Greeks and non-Greeks the birds seem to recall not only their former humanity but specifically their Greekness; they even seem to engage in the central Greek practice of extending friendship to guests (<em>xenia</em>) and the sharing of food. </p>
<p>In doing so they illustrate a central point of ancient (and many modern) tales of metamorphosis: even though the body may turn animal, the mind remains human. As the seat of logos it contains our humanity while the body adds little, if anything, of substance.</p>
<p>As such, rather than imagining what the world looks like from the point of view of a non-human creature, tales of metamorphosis ultimately come to reaffirm the view that the human stands apart from all other animals. </p>
<h2>And so?</h2>
<figure class="align-left zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/581186/original/file-20240312-26-wyc3p2.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="The Trojan Horse and other stories: book cover" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/581186/original/file-20240312-26-wyc3p2.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/581186/original/file-20240312-26-wyc3p2.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=908&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581186/original/file-20240312-26-wyc3p2.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=908&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581186/original/file-20240312-26-wyc3p2.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=908&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581186/original/file-20240312-26-wyc3p2.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=1141&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581186/original/file-20240312-26-wyc3p2.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=1141&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581186/original/file-20240312-26-wyc3p2.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=1141&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption"></span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Cambridge University Press</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>In the myth of the Minotaur, the Greek hero Theseus eventually enters the labyrinth in which the Minotaur is confined, tracking him down, and slaying him. With the help of a thread given to him by Ariadne, he finds his way back out to tell the tale.</p>
<p>But trying to make sense of the Minotaur and other iconic creatures from the ancient world leads us down a rabbit hole into a place of blurred boundaries: where the human emerges as a contested figure somewhere in the space between mind and body, human and animal parts.</p>
<p>In the end, then, there is no hard and fast boundary separating us from all other creatures – notwithstanding all efforts to dress ourselves up as different.
Rather, it is the <a href="https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/trojan-horse-and-other-stories/6DD8408FDBA4C5C6604536F6EC7406D5">negotiations between different facets of our identity</a> which make us human</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/218800/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Julia Kindt received funding from the Australian Research Council (ARC) and is a member of the Sydney Environment Institute.</span></em></p>What makes us human? Greek and Roman thinkers were preoccupied with this question. And some of their observations of animals foreshadowed recent findings in the behavioural sciences.Julia Kindt, Professor, Department of Classics and Ancient History, University of SydneyLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2240642024-03-14T19:24:44Z2024-03-14T19:24:44ZWhat washing machine settings can I use to make my clothes last longer?<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/581554/original/file-20240313-30-b0w0se.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=194%2C310%2C4780%2C3135&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">
</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/man-accidentally-dyeing-laundry-inside-washing-236885413">Monkey Business Images/Shutterstock</a></span></figcaption></figure><p>Orbiting 400 kilometres above Earth’s surface, the astronauts on the International Space Station live a pretty normal social life, if not for one thing: they happily wear their unwashed clothes <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/centers-and-facilities/glenn/nasa-glenn-interns-take-space-washing-machine-designs-for-a-spin/">for days and weeks at a time</a>. They can’t do their laundry <a href="https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Space_Engineering_Technology/Keeping_your_underwear_clean_on_the_Moon">just yet</a> because water is scarce up there.</p>
<p>But down here on Earth, washing clothes is a large part of our lives. <a href="https://bigee.net/media/filer_public/2013/03/28/bigee_domestic_washing_machines_worldwide_potential_20130328.pdf">It’s estimated</a> that a volume of water equivalent to 21,000 Olympic swimming pools is used every day for domestic laundry worldwide.</p>
<p>Fibres from our clothes make their way into the environment via the air (during use or in the dryer), water (washing) and soil (lint rubbish in landfill). Most of this fibre loss is invisible – we often only notice our favourite clothing is “disappearing” when it’s too late.</p>
<p>How can you ensure your favourite outfit will outlast your wish to wear it? Simple question, complex answer.</p>
<h2>Washing machines are not gentle</h2>
<p>When you clean the filters in your washing machine and dryer, how often do you stop to think that the lint you’re holding <a href="https://theconversation.com/uk-laundry-releases-microfibres-weighing-the-equivalent-of-1-500-buses-each-year-199712"><em>was</em>, in fact, your clothes</a>?</p>
<p>Laundering is harsh on our clothes, and <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0250346">research confirms this</a>. Several factors play a role: the type of washing machine, the washing cycle, detergents, temperature, time, and the type of fabric and yarn construction. </p>
<p>There are two types of domestic washing machines: top-loader and front-loader. Mechanical agitation (the way the machine moves the clothes around) is one of the things that helps ease dirt off the fabric.</p>
<p>Top-loaders have a vertical, bucket-like basket with a paddle, which sloshes clothes around in a large volume of water. Front-loaders have a horizontal bucket which rotates, exposing the clothes to a smaller volume of water – it takes advantage of gravity, not paddles.</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/581556/original/file-20240313-26-zgawjl.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="A person selecting a program on a front loader washing machine panel with buttons." src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/581556/original/file-20240313-26-zgawjl.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/581556/original/file-20240313-26-zgawjl.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581556/original/file-20240313-26-zgawjl.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581556/original/file-20240313-26-zgawjl.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581556/original/file-20240313-26-zgawjl.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581556/original/file-20240313-26-zgawjl.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581556/original/file-20240313-26-zgawjl.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Washing machine programs tend to be carefully programmed to ensure minimal damage to the garments.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.pexels.com/photo/person-using-washing-machine-5591460/">RDNE Stock Project/Pexels</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Top-loading machines <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12541-010-0047-7">tend to be more aggressive</a> towards fabrics than front-loaders due to the different mechanical action and larger volumes of water. </p>
<p>Washing machine panels also present many choices. Shorter, low-temperature programs <a href="https://clevercare.info/more-eco-temperature-tips">are usually sufficient for everyday stains</a>. Choose longer or <a href="https://iprefer30.eu/animations/UK/wash-brochure-uk.pdf">high-temperature programs</a> only for clothing you have concerns about (healthcare uniforms, washable nappies, etc.).</p>
<p>Generally, washing machine programs are carefully selected combinations of water volume, agitation intensity and temperature recommended by the manufacturer. They take into consideration the type of fabric and its level of cleanliness.</p>
<p>Select the wrong program and you can say goodbye to your favourite top. For example, high temperatures or harsh agitation may cause some fibres to weaken and break, causing holes in the garment.</p>
<h2>Some fabrics lose fibres more easily than others</h2>
<p>At a microscopic level, the fabric in our clothes is made of yarns – individual fibres twisted together. The nature and length of the fibres, the way they are twisted and the way the yarns form the fabric can determine how many fibres will be lost during a wash.</p>
<p>In general, if you want to lose fewer fibres, you should wash less frequently, but some fabrics are affected more than others. </p>
<p>Open fabric structures (knits) with loose yarns <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-98836-6">can lose more fibres</a> than tighter ones. Some sports clothing, like running shirts, are made of continuous filament yarn. These fibres are less likely to come loose in the wash. </p>
<p>Cotton fibres are only a few centimetres long. Twisted tightly together into a yarn, they can still escape.</p>
<p>Wool fibres are also short, but have an additional feature: scales, which make wool clothes much more delicate. Wool fibres can come loose like cotton ones, but also tangle with each other during the wash due to their scales. This last aspect is what causes wool garments to shrink when <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/004051756403400303">exposed to heat</a> and agitation.</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/581557/original/file-20240313-22-s1rv88.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="A tangle of white fibres in a loose web." src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/581557/original/file-20240313-22-s1rv88.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/581557/original/file-20240313-22-s1rv88.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581557/original/file-20240313-22-s1rv88.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581557/original/file-20240313-22-s1rv88.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581557/original/file-20240313-22-s1rv88.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=502&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581557/original/file-20240313-22-s1rv88.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=502&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581557/original/file-20240313-22-s1rv88.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=502&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Cotton fibres under a microscope, magnified 100 times.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/fibres-under-microscope-100x-1013172277">Dr. Norbert Lange/Shutterstock</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/laundry-is-a-top-source-of-microplastic-pollution-heres-how-to-clean-your-clothes-more-sustainably-217072">Laundry is a top source of microplastic pollution – here's how to clean your clothes more sustainably</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<h2>Go easy on the chemicals</h2>
<p>The type of detergent and other products you use also makes a difference.</p>
<p>Detergents contain a soap component, enzymes to make stains easier to remove at low temperature, and fragrances. Some contain harsher compounds, such as bleaching or whitening agents.</p>
<p>Modern detergents are very effective at <a href="https://www.choice.com.au/home-and-living/laundry-and-cleaning/laundry-detergents/review-and-compare/laundry-detergents">removing stains such as food</a>, and you don’t need to use much.</p>
<p>An incorrect choice of wash cycles, laundry detergent and bleaching additives could cause disaster. Certain products, like bleach, can <a href="https://site.extension.uga.edu/textiles/textile-basics/understand-your-fibers/">damage some fibres like wool and silk</a>.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, research on <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0269749120366872?via%3Dihub">fabric softeners and other treatments</a> <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0233332&type=printable">continues</a> – there’s no one-size-fits-all answer about their potential impact on our clothes.</p>
<h2>Just skip laundry day</h2>
<p>So, how to ensure your clothes last longer? The main tip is to wash them less often.</p>
<p>When it’s time for a wash, carefully read and follow the care labels. In the future, our washing machines will <a href="https://www.teknoscienze.com/tks_article/trends-in-laundry-by-2030/">recognise fabrics and select the wash cycle</a>. For now, that’s our responsibility.</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/how-to-make-your-clothes-last-longer-its-good-for-your-bank-account-and-the-environment-too-201823">How to make your clothes last longer – it's good for your bank account and the environment too</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<p>And the next time you throw your shirt into the dirty laundry basket, stop. Think of the astronauts orbiting above Earth and ask yourself: if they can go without clean laundry for a few days, maybe I can too? (Although we don’t recommend just burning your dirty undies, either.)</p>
<figure>
<iframe width="440" height="260" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/C1j6KLP492E?wmode=transparent&start=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>
</figure><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/224064/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Alessandra Sutti has received research funding from the Australian Research Council, the Marine Bioproducts Cooperative Research Centre, the Innovative Manufacturing Cooperative Research Centre and by companies participating in associated projects such as the ARC Research Hub for Functional and Sustainable Fibres and the ARC Industrial Transformation Training Centre for Green Chemistry, as well as from industry partners associated with these grants, such as HeiQ Pty Ltd, Xefco Pty Ltd, C. Sea Solutions Pty Ltd (trading as ULUU) and Simba Global Pty/Ltd. Alessandra is a paid member of the HeiQ Innovation Advisory Board, is a member of the American Chemical Society and serves as a volunteer member on Standards Australia ME-009 Committee (Microplastics). She collaborates closely with The GLOBE Program (through GLOBE Italy), The University of California Berkeley and San Francisco State University, co-developing microplastics monitoring protocols and is involved in environmental education programmes.</span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Amol Patil is engaged at the ARC Research Hub for Functional and Sustainable Fibres, a collaboration between Deakin University, the Australian Research Council and industry partners such as Simba Global Pty Ltd, Xefco Pty Ltd, HeiQ Pty Ltd, and Sea Solutions P/L (trading as ULUU). He is also working on a joint project sponsored by HeiQ-Marine bioproducts (MBCRC). </span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Maryam Naebe is the recipient of Discover Natural Fibre Initiative Innovation Award. She has received funding through competitive grants and industry projects including Australian Research Council ARC Research Hub, ARC Discovery Project, Australian Wool Innovation, Cotton Research and Development Corporation, Cotton Incorporated (USA), Ford Motor Company (USA).
</span></em></p>Next time you do your laundry, think like an astronaut – wash your clothes as little as possible.Alessandra Sutti, Associate Professor, Institute for Frontier Materials, Deakin UniversityAmol Patil, Reseach Engineer, Deakin UniversityMaryam Naebe, Associate professor, Deakin UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2239702024-03-14T19:24:37Z2024-03-14T19:24:37ZFrom malaria, to smallpox, to polio – here’s how we know life in ancient Egypt was ravaged by disease<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/581183/original/file-20240312-29-m4tny7.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=55%2C30%2C3338%2C2234&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">
</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">Shutterstock</span></span></figcaption></figure><p>The mention of ancient Egypt usually conjures images of colossal pyramids and precious, golden tombs. </p>
<p>But as with most civilisations, the invisible world of infectious disease underpinned life and death along the Nile. In fact, fear of disease was so pervasive it influenced social and religious customs. It even featured in the statues, monuments and graves of the Kingdom of the Pharaohs. </p>
<p>By studying ancient specimens and artefacts, scientists are uncovering how disease rocked this ancient culture. </p>
<h2>Tutankhamun’s malaria, and other examples</h2>
<p>The most direct evidence of epidemics in ancient Egypt comes from skeletal and DNA evidence obtained from the mummies themselves.</p>
<p>For instance, DNA recovered from the mummy of the boy pharaoh Tutankhamun (1332–1323 BC) led to the discovery he <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20159872/">suffered from malaria</a>, along with several other New Kingdom mummies (circa 1800 BC). </p>
<p>In other examples:</p>
<ul>
<li>skeletal and DNA <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11289521/">evidence found</a> in the city of Abydos suggests one in four people may have had tuberculosis </li>
<li>the mummy of Ramesses V (circa 1149–1145 BC) has scars indicating smallpox </li>
<li>the wives of Mentuhotep II (circa 2000 BC) were buried hastily in a “mass grave”, suggesting <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9186437/">a pandemic</a> had occurred</li>
<li>and the mummies of two pharaohs, Siptah (1197–1191 BC) and Khnum-Nekht (circa 1800 BC), were <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10072-016-2720-9">found with</a> the deformed <a href="https://www.shorelineortho.com/specialties/foot_ankle_equinus.php">equinus</a> foot which is characteristic of the viral disease polio.</li>
</ul>
<h2>Signs of a disease-ravaged people</h2>
<p>Amenhotep III was the ninth pharaoh of the 18th dynasty, and ruled from about 1388–1351 BC.</p>
<p>There are several reasons experts think his reign was marked by a devastating disease outbreak. For instance, two separate carvings from this time depict a priest and a royal couple with the polio dropped-foot. </p>
<figure class="align-right zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/577699/original/file-20240224-30-9gt04r.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/577699/original/file-20240224-30-9gt04r.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/577699/original/file-20240224-30-9gt04r.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=844&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/577699/original/file-20240224-30-9gt04r.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=844&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/577699/original/file-20240224-30-9gt04r.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=844&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/577699/original/file-20240224-30-9gt04r.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=1060&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/577699/original/file-20240224-30-9gt04r.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=1060&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/577699/original/file-20240224-30-9gt04r.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=1060&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">This 18th dynasty panel depicts a polio sufferer.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Polio_Egyptian_Stele.jpg">Wikimedia</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Statues of the lion-headed goddess of disease and health, Sekhmet, also <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33227516/">increased significantly</a>, suggesting a reliance on divine protection.</p>
<p>Another sign of a potential major disease outbreak comes in the form of what may be an early case of quarantine, wherein Amenhotep III moved his palace to the more isolated site of Malqata. This is further supported by the burning of a workers’ cemetery near Thebes. </p>
<p>Grave goods also became less extravagant and tombs less complex during this period, which suggests more burials were needed in a shorter time frame. These burials can’t be explained by war since this was an unusually peaceful period.</p>
<h2>Did disease trigger early monotheism?</h2>
<p>Amenohotep’s son – “the heretic King” Akhenaten (who was also Tutankhamun’s father) – abandoned the old gods of Egypt. In one of the earliest cases of monotheism, Akhenaten made worship of the Sun the official state religion. </p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/577700/original/file-20240224-26-gurcmn.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/577700/original/file-20240224-26-gurcmn.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=755&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/577700/original/file-20240224-26-gurcmn.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=755&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/577700/original/file-20240224-26-gurcmn.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=755&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/577700/original/file-20240224-26-gurcmn.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=949&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/577700/original/file-20240224-26-gurcmn.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=949&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/577700/original/file-20240224-26-gurcmn.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=949&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">This panel (circa 1372-1355 BC) shows Akhenaten, Nefertiti and their daughters adoring the Sun god Aten.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:La_salle_dAkhenaton_(1356-1340_av_J.C.)_(Mus%C3%A9e_du_Caire)_(2076972086).jpg">Wikimedia</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Some <a href="https://www.thecollector.com/akhenaten-monotheism-plague-egypt/">researchers think</a> Akhenaten’s dramatic loss of faith may have been due to the devastating disease he witnessed during his childhood and into his reign, with several of his children and wives having died from disease. But we’ve yet to find clear evidence for the role of disease in shaping his theology.</p>
<p>There’s also no direct DNA evidence of an outbreak under his father, Amenhotep III. There are only descriptions of one <a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.co.uk/history-and-civilisation/2021/01/these-pharaohs-private-letters-expose-how-politics-worked-3300-years-ago">in letters</a> Amenhotep III and Akhenaten exchanged with the Babylonians. </p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/580627/original/file-20240308-16-mt400i.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/580627/original/file-20240308-16-mt400i.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/580627/original/file-20240308-16-mt400i.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=302&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/580627/original/file-20240308-16-mt400i.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=302&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/580627/original/file-20240308-16-mt400i.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=302&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/580627/original/file-20240308-16-mt400i.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=380&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/580627/original/file-20240308-16-mt400i.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=380&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/580627/original/file-20240308-16-mt400i.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=380&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">These clay tablets (circa 14th century BC), inscribed in Babylonian cuneiform, were sent to Amenhotep III or Akhenaten from the ruler Abdi-tirshi of Hazor (modern-day Israel).</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">British Museum</span>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/">CC BY-NC-SA</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>To confirm an outbreak under Amenhotep III, we’d need to first recover pathogen DNA in human remains from this time, has been found in other Egyptian burial sites and for <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21993626/">other pandemics</a>.</p>
<p>Also, while many ancient epidemics are referred to as “plagues”, we can’t confirm whether any outbreaks in ancient Egypt were indeed caused by <em>Yersinia pestis</em>, the bacteria responsible for bubonic plague pandemics <a href="https://www.britannica.com/event/Black-Death">such as the Black Death</a> in Europe (1347-1351). </p>
<p>That said, researchers <a href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/3554655">have confirmed</a> the Nile rat, which was widespread during the time of the Pharaohs, would have been able to carry the <em>Yersinia</em> infection.</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/579796/original/file-20240305-24-p439xf.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/579796/original/file-20240305-24-p439xf.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/579796/original/file-20240305-24-p439xf.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=427&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/579796/original/file-20240305-24-p439xf.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=427&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/579796/original/file-20240305-24-p439xf.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=427&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/579796/original/file-20240305-24-p439xf.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=537&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/579796/original/file-20240305-24-p439xf.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=537&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/579796/original/file-20240305-24-p439xf.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=537&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">This 1811 etching depicts the ancient Plague of Athens (circa 430 BC), which may have been caused by <em>Yersinia</em> or a disease with similar symptoms such as smallpox, typhus or measles.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/image/1047063001">The British Museum</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/">CC BY-NC-SA</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>How were outbreaks managed?</h2>
<p>Much like modern pandemics, factors such as population growth, sanitation, population density and mobilisation for war would have influenced the spread of disease in ancient Egypt. </p>
<p>In the case of war, it’s thought the Hittite army was <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9186437/">weakened by</a> disease spread when it was famously <a href="https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/world-history/world-history-beginnings/ancient-egypt-hittites/a/the-hittites">defeated by</a> Egyptian Pharaoh Ramses the Great in the battle of Kadesh (1274 BC). </p>
<p>In some ways, Egyptian medicine was advanced for its time. While these outbreaks occurred long before the development of antibiotics or vaccines, there is some evidence of public health measures such as the burning of towns and quarantining people. This suggests a basic understanding of how disease spreads. </p>
<p>Diseases caused by microorganisms would have been viewed as supernatural, or as a <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1121911/">corruption of the air</a>. This is similar to other explanations held in different parts of the world, before germ theory was popularised in the 19th century.</p>
<h2>New world, old problems</h2>
<figure class="align-right zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/579797/original/file-20240305-28-cqzgoc.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/579797/original/file-20240305-28-cqzgoc.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/579797/original/file-20240305-28-cqzgoc.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=750&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/579797/original/file-20240305-28-cqzgoc.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=750&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/579797/original/file-20240305-28-cqzgoc.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=750&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/579797/original/file-20240305-28-cqzgoc.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=943&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/579797/original/file-20240305-28-cqzgoc.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=943&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/579797/original/file-20240305-28-cqzgoc.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=943&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
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<span class="caption">The funerary mask of Tutankhamun, who died as a teenager.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:CairoEgMuseumTaaMaskMostlyPhotographed.jpg">Wikimedia</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/">CC BY-SA</a></span>
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<p>Many of the most widespread diseases that afflicted the ancient world are still with us.</p>
<p>Along with Tutankhamun, it’s thought <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(17)30261-X/abstract">up to 70%</a> of the Egyptian population was infected with malaria caused by the <em>Plasmodium falciparum</em> parasite – spread by swarms of mosquitoes occupying the stagnant pools of the Nile delta. </p>
<p>Today, malaria affects about 250 million people, mostly in developing nations. Tuberculosis kills more than a million people each year. And smallpox and polio have only recently been eradicated or controlled through vaccination programs.</p>
<p>More work is yet to be done to detect individual pathogens in Egyptian mummies. This knowledge could shed light on how, throughout history, people much like us have grappled with these unseen organisms.</p>
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<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/did-everyone-in-bridgerton-have-syphilis-just-how-sexy-would-it-really-have-been-in-regency-era-london-180581">Did everyone in Bridgerton have syphilis? Just how sexy would it really have been in Regency era London?</a>
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<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/223970/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Thomas Jeffries does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>Beyond the tombs and riches, life in ancient Egypt wasn’t so luxurious, after all.Thomas Jeffries, Senior Lecturer in Microbiology, Western Sydney UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2254572024-03-14T19:24:28Z2024-03-14T19:24:28ZNZ’s new disclosure scheme for pharma payments to doctors falls short of best practice<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/581495/original/file-20240313-28-ktn1tc.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=60%2C222%2C6679%2C4173&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">
</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">Getty Images</span></span></figcaption></figure><p>Pharmaceutical industry payments to doctors are common, often substantial and can affect clinical decision making. </p>
<p>Seven years after the industry trade association Medicines New Zealand first <a href="https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/71926518/new-zealand-health-workers-accept-hundreds-of-thousands-of-dollars-worth-of-drug-company-gifts">mooted a disclosure system</a>, pharmaceutical companies operating in New Zealand recently revealed their <a href="https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/131175559/under-the-influence-inside-new-zealands-first-disclosure-of-drug-company-payments-to-health-professionals">financial relationships with individual doctors</a> for the first time. </p>
<p>This included disclosure of payments for speaking engagements, consultancies, advisory board memberships, travel costs, attendance at conferences and other sponsored events. </p>
<p>In the absence of relevant legislation, this is a welcome, albeit incomplete, development. It includes only members of Medicines New Zealand, representing less than half the pharmaceutical companies operating in the country. Some member companies did not participate and several payment types (hospitality, conference sponsorship and research funding) were omitted.</p>
<p>Our new <a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/384/bmj-2023-078133.full?ijkey=GoBiOaqsuNpQQ4G&keytype=ref">research</a> analyses international evidence and concludes that such payments should be subject to mandatory, comprehensive and accessible disclosure.</p>
<h2>Why drug company payments are a problem</h2>
<p>Accumulating evidence shows pharmaceutical company payments to doctors <a href="https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/abs/10.7326/M20-5665">influence prescribing</a> and other aspects of healthcare, including research and teaching. The deadly opioid epidemic in the US, for example, has been <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11673-020-09982-x">linked to excessive prescribing</a> resulting from industry promotion. </p>
<p>It may sound like a good thing to have medical experts advising industry about the optimal use of medicines. But receiving payments for such advice has been associated with <a href="https://academic.oup.com/oncolo/article/24/5/632/6439174">impressive increases in prescribing</a> of the sponsor’s product(s). </p>
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<img alt="A man handing a prescription to a pharmacists" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/581775/original/file-20240313-16-d09lmt.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/581775/original/file-20240313-16-d09lmt.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581775/original/file-20240313-16-d09lmt.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581775/original/file-20240313-16-d09lmt.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581775/original/file-20240313-16-d09lmt.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581775/original/file-20240313-16-d09lmt.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581775/original/file-20240313-16-d09lmt.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
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<span class="caption">Pharmaceutical company payments to doctors are linked with increased prescribing of promoted medicines.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.gettyimages.com.au/detail/photo/prescription-royalty-free-image/171296967?phrase=medicine+prescription&adppopup=true">Getty Images</a></span>
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<p>Beyond stimulating the prescription of particular drugs, such payments have been associated with the <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/jlme.12073">distortion of clinical guidelines</a> by influential doctors. This affects medical practice and can result in overdiagnosis, overtreatment and treatment-related harm. </p>
<p>Since pharmaceutical promotion typically focuses on newer, branded medications, an increase in prescriptions is also linked with rising health costs.</p>
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<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/influential-doctors-arent-disclosing-their-drug-company-ties-110888">Influential doctors aren't disclosing their drug company ties</a>
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<h2>Attempts at regulation</h2>
<p>Because of the above concerns, coupled with health professionals’ tendency to favour transparency in principle, disclosure of payments now occurs in most high-income countries. </p>
<p>However, reporting standards for industry payments vary widely, as we discovered when surveying the international evidence.</p>
<p>Court cases in the US have led to billion-dollar fines for illegal pharmaceutical marketing by various <a href="https://www.citizen.org/article/twenty-seven-years-of-pharmaceutical-industry-criminal-and-civil-penalties-1991-through-2017/">companies</a>. The resulting US <a href="https://www.advamed.org/our-work/policy-areas/legal/physician-payments-sunshine-act/">Sunshine Act 2010</a> is the most comprehensive legislative requirement to date for reporting payments to health professionals. </p>
<p>Some European countries and South Korea also legislate disclosure requirements. By contrast, other European countries as well as the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Japan rely on industry to do this. </p>
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<p>Accessibility is an important aspect of disclosure. Currently in New Zealand, a patient would need to search company reports separately to discover how much funding their doctor may have received from pharmaceutical firms marketing medicines they are prescribed. </p>
<p>By contrast, the database mandated by the US Sunshine Act includes all companies and details on whether payments to individual doctors are related to one or more of their products. </p>
<p>Apart from providing patients with easily accessible information about payments received by their doctor, this resource has enabled researchers to document the extensive connections between doctors’ payments and prescribing.</p>
<p>Our analysis indicates that industrial gift giving to doctors is also prominent in low and middle-income countries. Provision of drug samples and support to attend educational events are comparable to the Global North, but typically without disclosure requirements. </p>
<p><a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12913-019-3887-6">Studies</a> in Global South countries suggest doctors receive a broader range of gifts not typically seen in wealthier countries. This can include cash, office supplies, cars, personal travel, domestic cattle, and sexual “favours”.</p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="Chemist examining different medicines." src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/581790/original/file-20240313-16-d3vv52.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/581790/original/file-20240313-16-d3vv52.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581790/original/file-20240313-16-d3vv52.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581790/original/file-20240313-16-d3vv52.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581790/original/file-20240313-16-d3vv52.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581790/original/file-20240313-16-d3vv52.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/581790/original/file-20240313-16-d3vv52.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
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<span class="caption">The pharmaceutical industry typically promotes newer, branded medications, which tend to be more expensive.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.gettyimages.com.au/detail/photo/female-pharmacist-checking-medicines-on-rack-royalty-free-image/1077578330?phrase=drug+companies&adppopup=true">Getty Images</a></span>
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<h2>Arguments in favour of the status quo</h2>
<p>Some pundits have vigorously defended the benefits of doctors interacting with industry. Others have highlighted the administrative burden and uncertain efficacy of enforcing disclosure requirements. </p>
<p>Retaining industry funding for medical education, especially in the Global South, is seen by some as a priority because of resource limitations. But this rationale needs to be balanced against the typical industry focus on a limited range of topics, the inability of many doctors to perceive bias in industry-funded education, and the potential harm from shifting scarce resources to expensive branded products.</p>
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<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/canadians-need-to-know-how-much-money-big-pharma-gives-health-care-providers-but-this-information-is-far-too-difficult-to-find-225066">Canadians need to know how much money Big Pharma gives health-care providers, but this information is far too difficult to find</a>
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<p>As with other payment reporting schemes led by industry, New Zealand’s system falls short of international best practice, both in terms of completeness and ease of access. Worse, it is less comprehensive than many other schemes, with member companies choosing whether to report and recipient doctors able to opt out of disclosure. </p>
<p>Given its relatively late appearance internationally, we had hoped that Medicines New Zealand would implement a disclosure regime reflecting international best practice. Instead, it has chosen a system which is both limited and cumbersome to use, from the standpoint of both patients and researchers.</p>
<h2>Next steps</h2>
<p>Implementing best practice is a substantial challenge, considering different political systems and anticipated pushback from industry and others who benefit from weak or absent disclosure policies. But strong <a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/382/bmj-2023-076173.full">evidence</a> that industry payments play a key role in unethical pharmaceutical marketing provides additional impetus for tightening disclosure requirements. </p>
<p>One might expect that transparent reporting of industry payments would discourage doctors from accepting such largesse. This appears not to have happened in the US. Even with its system of mandatory and comprehensive reporting, the volume and impact of payments persist, possibly because most doctors <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/S0002-9343(01)00660-X">don’t recognise</a> they’ve been influenced. </p>
<p>This suggests transparency requirements may be necessary but not sufficient to address undue industry influence on medical practice. </p>
<p>On a positive note, <a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/346/bmj.f264.short">restricting exposure to pharmaceutical marketing</a> during medical training, coupled with good role modelling by senior doctors, offers a promising means to prioritise evidence-based patient care over company profits.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/225457/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>David Menkes is a paid member of the Mental Health Advisory Committee for PHARMAC. </span></em></p>Growing evidence shows industry payments to doctors play a key role in unethical pharmaceutical marketing. New Zealand’s disclosure scheme fails to capture all companies and payment types.David Menkes, Associate Professor in Psychological Medicine, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata RauLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.